The candidates for joining the official post had just been tentatively decided when Lian Shouli brought up the matter of dividing the family. This was, in fact, the third ti Lian Shouli had proposed to live separately. A sudden silence fell over everyone for a mont.
"Old Three, why are you bringing up dividing the family again? Didn’t I make things clear to you last ti? Old Fourth, didn’t you persuade your third brother?" Old Master Lian frowned as he spoke.
"Father, I did persuade him," Lian Shouxin said, "My third brother has thought it through; he’s determined."
"Yes, Dad, I’ve thought everything through. Please just let separate and start a new life." Lian Shouli looked at Old Master Lian, his face full of pleading.
Old Master Lian took two puffs from his dry pipe and then belatedly realized that there was no more tobacco in the bowl. He thodically reached for his tobacco pouch, took a pinch of tobacco, packed it into the bowl, and leisurely lit it before resuming his puffing.
Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi, along with their families, as well as Lady Zhou and Lian Xiuxiu remained silent regarding Lian Shouli’s intention to divide the family. It was unclear whether they had grown accustod to dismissing Lian Shouli, thinking whatever he said carried little weight, or whether they simply did not care about his wish to live separately.
Lian Shouli, Lady Zhao, and Lian Yeye all felt their hearts in their throats, anxiously waiting for Old Master Lian to speak.
Manman was also sowhat nervous. She hoped that Yeye’s family could successfully separate, but she knew full well that getting past Old Master Lian would not be easy.
After a long while, Old Master Lian finally put down his tobacco pipe.
"Old Three, over the years, you’ve suffered quite a bit. But, our whole family has had it tough, not living any good days. Now, with your eldest brother about to take office, our family’s status and circumstances are going to be very different from before. Why do you want to divide the family now? What are you after?... No, I can’t let you split off." Old Master Lian once again rejected Lian Shouli’s request to divide the family.
"Dad," Lian Shouli fell to his knees with a thud, "I’ve considered all the words you’ve said to . I’m after nothing else. I... I have just this one wish."
Lian Shouli, even less articulate than Lian Shouxin, stumbled over his words in his plea for independence and couldn’t say anything more. Old Master Lian, however, was visibly shaken, realizing that separating and living separately had beco Lian Shouli’s sole wish.
Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye also joined Lian Shouli by his side, kneeling down together.
"Grandfather, please let us divide the family. My dad has fallen ill over this." Yeye said.
Lady Zhao covered her mouth, crying silently.
"Old Three, what are you causing a fuss about?" Lady Zhou’s eyebrows shot up in anger as she pointed at Lian Shouli and said, "We’re all living well as a family, right in the middle of discussing important matters, and you’re causing a stir about dividing the family. It has even beco your sole wish, what do you an by that? In this household, were you ever deprived of food or clothes, or has anyone mistreated you?"
"You’re slapping your eldest brother in the face. What have I done to you? How have I wronged you? You’re slapping my face, your father’s face. I’ve raised you from a child, and now you don’t want to be with , you ungrateful wretch. Aren’t you afraid of retribution!"
Lady Zhou’s slaps resounded as she burst into scolding again.
Lian Shouli hung his head, unable to lift it under the barrage of insults.
"Grandfather, Grandma, please have rcy, let us start anew. I will rember your kindness for the rest of my life." Yeye began knocking his head on the floor with thuds.
Lady Zhao followed, knocking her head on the floor, and with no other recourse, Lian Shouli too lowered his head and knocked it forcefully on the ground as if his skull didn’t feel the pain.
Manman watched with a heavy heart. Yeye’s family, it seed, was being driven to desperation. Were they to explain their reasons for wanting to divide the family, not to ntion Lian Shouli and Lady Zhao being too tongue-tied to articulate well, even if they had spoken, what good would it have done? Could they speak of Lady Zhou’s abuse they could no longer bear? Declare they no longer wished to slog like beasts of burden? Point out that with Lian Shouren finally in office, they were of no use anymore and pleaded for their freedom?
In matters of logic, who could triumph over Old Master Lian’s grand sche of family honor and filial piety? In matters of illogic, who could match Lady Zhou?
The stark truth would only incense Old Master Lian, Lady Zhou, and even Lian Shouren, among others. After enduring so much, after so many sacrifices, at this point, there was neither the need nor the appropriate mont to tear off the pretense.
The strategy of playing the victim seed to be the most effective at this mont, more so than any other thod. Regarding the various costs and logical argunts, many in the room were abundantly clear about them and needed no reminding.
This was the strategy Manman had co up with, in the West Wing Room, taking into account the personalities of Lian Shouli’s family mbers.
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