"It’s not such a long journey, and it’s not like we’re asking dad and mom to walk there, we’re going to hire a carriage, right?" Lian Shouyi said, "Our house, land, and crops, none of it will matter if we leave, we still have Old Three and Old Fourth, don’t we? Let them handle the autumn harvest, then send the yields to us in Hejian Prefecture, how convenient that would be."
Lian Shouyi’s words flowed smoothly without a pause for thought, obviously, he’d long considered these plans and was well-prepared, Lian Manman thought. Moreover, in Lian Shouyi’s envisioned delegation, Old Three Lian Shouli was not included. Honest Lian Shouli was forever overlooked. Or more precisely, if there were benefits, he was certainly ignored. Yet, if there was a burden to bear, he would be the first to co to mind.
On one side was Lian Shouren and on the other, Lian Shouyi. Though both were smiling on the surface, their words were full of sparring, each trying to overturn the other, and at the sa ti, persuade Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou to act according to their wishes. However, both sides were prepared, and neither could outdo the other.
Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou had yet to express their opinions.
And neither Lian Shouren nor Lian Shouyi dared to press too hard, fearing that the old couple would give an answer they feared. They were both intent on rebutting the other, so Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou could only go along with them.
Lian Manman estimated that, between Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi, Lian Shouyi currently had the advantage. But Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou were especially patient today, leaving her unsure of their true intentions.
As Lian Manman pondered this, Old Master Lian suddenly put down his smoking pipe and without a word, got off the kang and walked towards the door.
"Dad." Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi, both taken aback, called out in unison, "Dad, where are you going?"
"You keep talking, I’m going out for so fresh air," Old Master Lian said, lifted the door curtain, and went out.
Old Master Lian was in a bad mood, and Lian Manman imdiately understood. Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi saw it too, but they were too preoccupied with their own concerns to pay attention to Old Master Lian.
"Big brother, just take sister-in-law and Jizu to enjoy the good life, leaving dad, mom, and brothers behind at ho. Big brother, if you do this, it’s not right... If I accidentally slip up, your position as an official might not be secure."
"Old Second, what nonsense are you spouting. Going to take office is a tough job, there’s no pleasure in it. Rest assured, you stay at ho and look after our parents, I won’t treat you unfairly."
Lady Zhou put down the cloth in her hands, pulled Lian Xiuxiu off the kang, and walked outside as well.
"Mom, where are you going?"
"I’m going to feed the chickens," Lady Zhou said irritably and stord out, letting the curtain fall behind her.
Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi finally realized sothing was amiss and stopped their argunt.
Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli’s families silently left the house.
"Where did Old Master go?" Lian Shouxin asked upon not finding Old Master Lian in the courtyard.
"My grandpa went to the back yard," Liulang answered from out of nowhere. Ever since he struck a deal with Lian Manman — buns in exchange for information — Liulang had beco... even more elusive.
"I’m going to check on Old Master," Lian Shouxin said, worried that Old Master Lian might be harboring unspoken resentnts.
"Dad, I’ll go with you," Lian Manman said.
Lian Manman followed Lian Shouxin to the back yard and found Old Master Lian weeding among the cabbage patches with a hoe in hand.
"Dad, take a break. I’ll do it," Lian Shouxin offered.
"No need, this is just a bit of exercise for ," Old Master Lian replied.
Lian Shouxin, aware that Old Master Lian was venting his frustrations through work, stood by at the edge of the vegetable garden.
"Dad, the tempers of my big brother and my second brother have always been like this, don’t take it to heart," Lian Shouxin racked his brains for words to comfort Old Master Lian.
Old Master Lian sighed deeply but said nothing.
"Grandpa, do you really want to go with my uncle or would you prefer to stay in the village?" Lian Manman asked.
"Old Fourth, what do you think about this?" Old Master Lian stopped hoeing and addressed Lian Shouxin.
"Well, whatever works. Dad, you do as you please," Lian Shouxin replied.
Lian Manman coughed softly.
"It’s just that with my big brother’s temperant, being so far away as an official without anyone to keep an eye on him, it’s quite worrying," Lian Shouxin quickly added.
"Yeah, Grandpa. My uncle will be the parental official, holding people’s fates in his hands. Grandpa, you’ve said it yourself, my uncle has a soft ear. If he gets to know any ill-intentioned people there, wouldn’t that be a ss?" Lian Manman interjected.
Actually, Lian Manman wanted to express her worry about any potential ill deeds from Lian Shouren himself, but considering her audience was Lian Shouren’s own father, she held back and spoke cautiously.
Old Master Lian sighed again. He didn’t need Lian Shouxin and Lian Manman to remind him of the events of the past year. Without supervision, he truly worried about Lian Shouren.
However, he was also uneasy about leaving ho and reluctant to part with everything here. At heart, Old Master Lian was a farr, with a deep attachnt to the land beneath his feet.
"Grandpa, just watch over my uncle for a few years. Once you’re reassured by my uncle, you can co back. Our village, our house, and land don’t grow legs—they won’t run away," Lian Manman seeing Old Master Lian’s reluctance, urged, "Grandpa, don’t you always say we should prioritize matters? Right now, looking after my uncle is the most important thing."
*********
Second update, begging for pink. (To be continued. If you like this work, welco to Qidian (qidian) to vote for it, contribute monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)
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