"This... it’s really hard to say." Lian Manman took the money pouch from Lady Zhang’s hand. "Sister-in-law, why don’t you wait here for a bit? I’ll go back to my room and look for it."
What could Lady Chiang say? She could only nod.
Lian Manman then carried the money pouch and headed to the backyard.
Once back in her room, Lian Manman poured out the money from the pouch, counted it, and placed it in the money box. After washing her hands, she grabbed a handful of dried dates and picked up a book, turning to the page she had left off on yesterday. She leisurely read and ate the dates at the sa ti.
After finishing the dates, Lian Manman put down the book and slowly walked back to the front courtyard.
"...Couldn’t find it." Lian Manman shrugged and inford Lady Chiang.
Not finding it, being lost accidentally, or being intentionally destroyed are not the sa thing. In other words, the docunt might still be found later—or perhaps, it might truly never resurface.
Lady Chiang was a smart woman. Naturally, she understood the difference.
If Lian Manman had said it was lost or destroyed, then even if she brought the docunt back up later, Lady Chiang would have a retort ready. But since Lian Manman rely claid she couldn’t find it, what could she say?
Ask Lian Manman to search again?
Lian Manman would agree, but the outco would likely be the sa—"couldn’t find it."
From the beginning, both Lady Zhang and Lian Manman had stated that the docunt was of no importance. If Lady Chiang insisted on forcing the issue, she’d lose face and co off as unreasonable.
Besides, even if Lady Chiang demanded it, the result would still not change.
"This..." Lady Chiang frowned slightly. As clever as she was, she still couldn’t find the right words.
"Sister-in-law, it’s just a tiny matter. Go tell my grandpa and Uncle about it, return the money, and I promise everything will be fine... It’s not even a loan note, so why worry? We’re family—what’s there to be afraid of?" Lian Manman said with a smile.
Lian Manman’s aning was clear: the docunt could exist or not exist. As long as they didn’t provoke her and her family, she wouldn’t have any reason to use the docunt against them.
Lady Chiang froze for a mont before understanding Lian Manman’s intention.
The Fourth Household did not trust them. Today’s loss—there was no escaping it.
"It’s getting late. Let’s start cooking. My father and the others should be back soon," Lian Manman added with a cheerful smile.
"Yes, ti to make dinner," Lady Zhang nodded. "Jizu’s wife, no need for you to help; don’t go getting your clothes dirty."
Here, the word "dirty" (pronounced with a lowered third tone) was a colloquial term often used by the farrs from Thirty Mile Camp, especially elderly folk, aning "to stain."
Lady Zhang and Lian Manman then headed to the kitchen.
"It’s fine. I’m the younger generation; how can I sit back and wait to be served? Clothes getting dirty—it’s a minor matter." Lady Chiang put on a courteous smile and followed Lady Zhang and Lian Manman.
...
Before long, Lian Shouxin and the other n returned from the mountains. Lian Manman carried a teapot into the room to serve them tea. As she entered, she saw Lian Jizu sitting by the fire pit warming himself, grumbling all the while.
"...This village is so bitterly cold. In just a short span, my clothes are soaked through with chill."
"The wind on the mountain is harsh," Lian Shouli remarked, glancing at Lian Jizu as he raised his eyelids.
Likewise, both Wu Lang and Xiao Qi had just co down from the mountain, dressed no warr than Lian Jizu. They were younger than Lian Jizu, yet they showed no complaints. Both appeared calm and unperturbed.
"Brother Jizu, have a cup of hot tea to warm yourself." Lian Manman entered the room and poured tea for everyone.
"Brother Jizu, is it warr over in Taicang than it is here?" After serving Lian Jizu his tea, Lian Manman asked.
"Oh, much warr." Lian Jizu took a sip of tea, exhaled in relief, and gripped the teacup tightly to warm his hands. His face lit up as he said, "Over in Taicang, winters are easy. I could wear just this outfit and still not feel cold. It’s nothing like here. Just last night, I burned through several bundles of firewood, yet it only stayed warm for a short while. By late into the night, I was freezing."
"And the water there is good too," Lian Jizu added as he sipped more tea.
Lian Manman smiled but didn’t comnt.
She had been to Taicang and never found it to be as exceptional as Lian Jizu claid. The temperature difference, over the four hundred miles, was no more than two degrees at most. As for the quality of the water, Lian Manman actually thought the sweet well water of Thirty Mile Camp was superior.
Lian Jizu felt that Taicang was better only because he lived the life of a pampered young master there.
After pouring tea, Lian Manman left the room, followed by Xiao Qi. Seeing the kitchen already had enough people helping, Lian Manman walked with Xiao Qi to the backyard to fetch so fruit for everyone to enjoy.
"The wind on the mountain was strong. Are you cold?" Lian Manman touched Xiao Qi’s round cheeks and asked.
"Nope, I dressed warmly." Xiao Qi shook his head. "I’m not as fussy as Brother Jizu."
Lian Manman couldn’t help but smile softly.
"Didn’t Sister-in-law just say yesterday that since Grandpa and the others wouldn’t co to the gravesite, Brother Jizu should kneel a few extra tis? But earlier on the mountain, he complained about the cold. If Father hadn’t scolded him, he wouldn’t have wanted to kneel at all. Then Father told him to add more soil to the grave, but he didn’t want to do that either..."
"His behavior isn’t right. In the future, none of us can act like him." Lian Manman said firmly.
"Hmm. And Brother always tells to rember Brother Jizu’s behavior as a cautionary tale, to avoid making the sa mistakes."
"Do you know what ’making the sa mistakes’ ans?" Lian Manman asked with a smile.
"Of course I do! Brother explained it to just the day before yesterday," Xiao Qi replied proudly.
...
After finishing lunch, Lian Jizu ntioned that he needed to leave.
"It’s so late already. Didn’t you say you’d leave tomorrow?" Lian Shouxin asked.
Yesterday, when Lian Jizu and Lady Chiang had just arrived, Lian Shouxin had asked about their schedule. Back then, Lian Jizu said they planned to stay two days before departing.
"There’s still a lot to do over in Taicang, and I need to get back to my studies," Lian Jizu explained. "Besides, we need to pass through Jinyang County Town on our way."
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First update delivered, seeking official subscriptions and pink tickets.
There will be a second update tonight. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian to vote for recomndations or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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