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When Lian Jizu ntioned returning to Jinyang County Town, Lian Shouxin responded with an "Oh."
"Before we ca here, the Old Lady instructed us to visit the Grand Madam," Lady Chiang said with a smile.
"Are you planning to stay at my Sister Huahua’s house tonight?" Lian Manman asked.
"Yes, at the Song Family’s house," Lian Jizu nodded in confirmation.
Leaving from Thirty Mile Camp now, it was just the right ti to stay at the Song Family’s house by evening. Lian Manman privately felt that Lian Jizu had altered his schedule because he couldn’t adapt to living at Thirty Mile Camp: "Last night, he woke up freezing in the middle of the night."
"The Grand Madam’s house is spacious, so staying there would be convenient for us. But at the Grand Madam’s place, if we stayed, it would be too much trouble for her," Lady Chiang comnted.
In many cases, the status of married grand-aunts signified their maternal family’s position in the household hierarchy. Hence, each ti Lian Jizu and Lady Chiang visited, they invariably headed to Jinyang County Town to visit Lian Lanlan, and Lian Huahua couldn’t be left out either.
Visiting Lian Lanlan required bringing gifts. As for visiting Lian Huahua, maybe borrowing things from her wasn’t needed anymore.
Lian Manman mused.
Since Lian Jizu and Lady Chiang’s luggage was still at the old house, they had to go back to retrieve it. Lian Shouxin sent Old Zhang, the long-term worker, to the town to help them hire a cart.
When Lian Jizu and Lady Chiang reached the main gate again, they bid farewell to Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang’s family. Then, accompanied by Lian Shouli, Lady Zhao, and Lian Yeye, they headed towards the old house.
Lian Manman’s family stood by the gate, not imdiately going back inside.
Seeing Lian Jizu’s group heading towards the official road, just as Lian Manman was about to turn and enter the house, she noticed two n erging quickly from the village entrance. They hurriedly approached Lian Jizu, bent down to salute him, and then followed his group back towards the village.
"...Those are the two brothers from the Old Woo Family," Lian Shouxin remarked. "Jizu ca this ti, seeming like he planned to cultivate the land, but he hasn’t even bothered to check on the fields."
As the family chatted, they returned to the house. When Old Zhang ca back to announce that Lian Jizu and Lady Chiang had already taken the cart to leave, they let go of the matter as well.
The next day, when Lian Manman saw Lian Yeye, she rembered the events of the day before and decided to ask him about it.
"What did those two brothers from the Old Woo Family say to Brother Jizu yesterday?" Lian Manman inquired.
"Just flattered Brother Jizu; they were all sugar and honey," Lian Yeye replied. "They said they slaughtered a chicken and wanted to invite him over for a al."
Lian Manman let out an "Oh." The brothers of the Old Woo Family acted slightly akin to how one treats their landlord master.
"The night before, when Brother Jizu and the others had just arrived, they ca over once," Lian Yeye added. "That day, they said they wanted to invite Brother Jizu for dinner, but he didn’t agree."
"Were they scared?" Lian Manman chuckled. Last ti, after all, Lian Jizu had summoned the constables, so maybe they feared repercussions. Or perhaps, upon seeing Lian Jizu’s success, they thought flattering him more could earn them so benefits.
"They even kowtowed to Brother Jizu, but he refused to visit their ho. Later, they talked about how spring rains had been sparse, their old mother and wife were ill, they owed debts, and couldn’t afford seeds—all sounding terribly pitiful—and asked Brother Jizu for money," Lian Yeye explained.
So, the intent was clear: they wanted imdiate benefits rather than long-ga favors.
"Did Brother Jizu lend them money?" Lian Manman asked.
"Brother Jizu got so annoyed by their pestering that he threw them a couple of coins. Not sure how much it was," Lian Yeye replied. "Sister-in-law wasn’t pleased; she got on the cart ahead alone and didn’t even speak to Brother Jizu."
Returning ho, Lian Manman told Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang about the matter.
"Jizu is soft-hearted," Lian Shouxin remarked.
"That family, once they latch on, it’s impossible to shake them off. I don’t know why the Old Master favors them so much," Lady Zhang comnted. "We’ve always kept them at a distance and made it clear we’re at odds with the Upper Room. Otherwise, they’d try to entangle us too."
"Being poor isn’t a sin; haven’t we all been there at so point? It’s their character that I can’t stomach," Lady Zhang said after thinking for a mont. "When the Old Master could give them things, they clung to him, calling kinship. When the Old Master fell on hard tis, they stayed away for years. Now, seeing the Upper Room is well-off again, they’re acting like this."
Talking about Old Master Lian, they all sighed collectively.
After the Qingming Festival, farmstead families shed their winter coats in favor of lighter overcoats.
The fish ponds and lotus ponds at Lian Manman’s house had already been dug, with water diverted from the river. Lian Manman sought help from Wu Yugui and Wu Jiaxing, asking the father and son to aid her in purchasing fish fry. That day, Wu Yugui and Wu Jiaxing arrived with their workers to deliver the goods.
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