"It’s no bother, no bother at all," Third Old Master Zheng chuckled.
With that, the whole group exited the front door.
Lian Manman secretly wiped away a cold sweat. Lian Xiuxiu had always been reckless, and Third Old Master Zheng was already of advanced age; wasn’t she afraid sothing might happen, that she might not be able to handle the consequences? And human life, isn’t it sothing to be taken seriously?!
After returning from the front door, Lian Manman recounted what she had seen to Lady Zhang, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi.
"It’s all because your grandma spoiled her," Lady Zhang sighed, "Back then, when your old aunt breastfed from , she was as close to as my own. Your grandma wouldn’t let her be close to , hence she spoiled her rotten. Whatever she wanted to do, she did, not only without reprimand but with praise. Anything your old aunt did wrong, I would point it out, and your grandma would scold . How much could your old aunt understand back then? Gradually, she grew distant from and close to your grandma. That’s how the child got skewed. As your old aunt grew older and beca distant from , I thought perhaps your grandma would start teaching her so lessons; but she hardly did, and just let your old aunt grow up on her own."
"Such a temper, how easily can it change after it’s been indulged?" Lian Manman said.
"Exactly, just like a young tree, if it grows crooked and you try to straighten it later, it takes so much effort. And the tree suffers from it too. Your grandma didn’t have the patience or the heart, probably because she didn’t want your old aunt to get hurt," Lady Zhang explained.
"Your old aunt and your sister were about the sa age, barely learning how to walk. I was working outside and let your sister play on the kang (traditional heated bed). Your sister was walking by the window sill, and your old aunt was pushing her from behind, making her fall over and over. She laughed, and your grandma laughed too, delighted that her daughter could push others, treating it like a fun ga," recalled Lady Zhang.
"I went into the house to get sothing and saw it. I scolded your old aunt and told her not to push your sister. Your grandma wouldn’t have it and gave a barrage of scolding," Lady Zhang continued with a sigh.
Lady Zhang never forgot these experiences; she also harbored resentnt. Yet, she had been suppressed by her desire for a good reputation and the so-called etiquette. Now, Lady Zhang was becoming more open-minded and clear-headed each day, and mories of the past surfaced little by little. She was now willing to speak of these matters in front of her children.
In the past, Lady Zhang would never speak of these things, believing it to be unfilial; she felt she should keep silent for the sake of her elders.
"Mother, why did you only see it when you went into the house to get sothing?" Lian Manman, feeling sorry for Lian Zhizhi, asked Lady Zhang, "Didn’t you hear my sister crying?"
"Your sister didn’t cry," replied Lady Zhang.
"But how could she not cry after being pushed down?" Lian Manman wondered, knowing that children are not like adults who can bear pain and grievances.
"Your sister really didn’t cry," Lady Zhang insisted, "It’s strange to say, despite being so young, whenever your sister was wronged, she never cried... Your sister is a good child and has been sensible from a young age."
Lian Manman was montarily stunned, her heart a mix of complex emotions.
"Mother, my sister didn’t cry because she knew, even if she did, you wouldn’t support her, you couldn’t make decisions for her, right?" If there’s no hope in seeking help, then it’s better not to seek at all.
Lian Zhizhi’s sensibility and her never crying were profoundly heartbreaking.
Lady Zhang was also stunned, and slowly, tears began to fall.
What’s done is done; in order to keep living, one must learn to look forward. Therefore, Lian Manman brought up another subject.
"Seeing how Third Old Master Zheng acts, he really does seem to fancy my old aunt quite a bit. What does he fancy about her?" Lian Manman tilted her head, pondering. It must be Lian Xiuxiu’s youth, the saying "there are no ugly won at eighteen" must be true here.
"Sister," Xiao Qi tugged at Lian Manman’s sleeve.
Lian Manman looked down to see Xiao Qi blinking big eyes, seemingly hesitant to speak.
"What is it?" Lian Manman brought her ear closer.
Xiao Qi glanced furtively at Wu Lang to see if he was paying attention to them, and seeing that he wasn’t, quickly whispered in Lian Manman’s ear in a very low voice about what he had overheard.
"My brother and I went to look for our eldest and second uncles to find out where they were drinking. We found the room and went there. From outside the door, we could hear them talking... That old man, oh, I an, our old uncle, said sothing about really fancying our aunt, ntioning how he’s seen many won with all sorts of sches up their sleeves, especially good at playing dumb. He said as soon as he saw our aunt, he knew she was different..."
Lian Manman listened with great interest.
"What else?" Lian Manman asked.
"Also, the laughter of our eldest and second uncles sounded weird. I wanted to listen more, but then my brother covered my ears and told these were all indecent words, not ant for my ears, and that I shouldn’t repeat them."
The stern youth Wu Lang caught Lian Manman’s eye. Certainly, Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi, the two uncles, together with their new uncle-in-law Third Old Master Zheng, must have been discussing so adult topics, which is why Wu Lang didn’t let Xiao Qi listen.
Just then, Wu Lang turned his head and saw Lian Manman and Xiao Qi huddled together in secrecy, which aroused his suspicion, so he gave Xiao Qi a stern look.
Xiao Qi stuck out his tongue and sat quietly beside Lian Manman.
Lian Xiuxiu was very straightforward, just like Lady Zhou, wearing everything on her face. Third Old Master Zheng, having seen plenty of either gentle or scheming won, was suddenly captivated by the vivacious and utterly guileless Lian Xiuxiu in her youth.
A man’s thoughts, won can never fathom, often because n tend to think with their hormones.
In the evening, as usual, Lady Chiang brought over the al. Lady Gu didn’t co, Lady Chiang ntioned she was ill.
"When my old aunt’s family left, my eldest aunt by marriage didn’t co out to see them off," said Lian Manman, "Didn’t my grandma hit her so severely that she couldn’t show her face?"
While they were talking, they heard a knock on the door, followed by the door opening.
****...******
Here’s the third update. To satiate everyone’s curiosity, even our young Xiao Qi has started eavesdropping on adult conversations. If you have any pink tickets, please cast them here. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welco to co to Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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