Second shift, requesting pink.
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The condition should be the Zhou family’s lineage, still respectable even if fallen.
Lady Zhou married Old Master Lian because it was Er Ya’s grandfather and grandmother who facilitated the match. Lian Manman knew this for a long ti, because whenever Lady Zhou got into a row with Old Master Lian, she would cry and curse Er Ya’s grandfather, claiming that if he hadn’t spoken so highly of Old Master Lian back then, she wouldn’t have married him and suffered a lifeti.
On the Zhou’s side, it shouldn’t be that there’s no one left. Yet, all these years, they have never interacted with these two aunts at Thirty Mile Camp, there must be a reason.
Lian Manman wanted to hear more from Er Ya’s grandmother. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as hoped, as Er Ya’s grandmother just said those few words and changed the topic.
"Manman, has your grandfather written to you yet? How is your grandfather and grandmother’s health? It’s been almost a year since they left, right?" Er Ya’s grandmother asked.
Nearby, Wu Yuchang’s wife discreetly winked at her mother-in-law.
"My grandfather and grandmother are in great health. My grandfather hasn’t written for quite a few days now, probably because there’s a lot of things going on there." Lian Manman replied.
"Ah." Er Ya’s grandmother responded with an "Ah," and didn’t ask further.
Lian Manman sat for a little while longer before taking her leave.
Yuchang’s Wife had already emptied the water chestnuts from the basket into a wooden tub at ho and went to the garden to pick so sweet girl lons, filling a basket full for Lian Manman.
Lian Manman made a token effort to decline, but then thanked her and accepted it. The farmstead families value this kind of reciprocity, which makes relationships closer, and it’s good to see.
On the way back, passing by the old residence, Lian Manman decided to go in.
The old residence is ho only to Lian Shouli, Lady Zhao, and Lian Yeye, but it’s maintained very neatly, not at all inferior to when Old Master Lian was there. According to Lian Yeye, it’s largely thanks to Lian Shouli. Lian Shouli works on the mountain during the day; he gets up early every day and cleans the yard and the empty rooms in the evening.
There are two pigsties at the east and west, the eastern one vacant and used to store firewood. The western one was originally allocated for Lian Manman’s family but is now used by Lian Yeye’s family, housing three piglets caught this spring, now weighing over a hundred pounds.
In the passage between the pigsties and the courtyard walls, a row of okra plants line the path. Walking further in, there are vegetable gardens on both east and west sides. The west vegetable garden is full of tobacco. Tobacco is very degrading to the soil. Last year, Old Master Lian planted tobacco in the east garden, so this year it has to be rotated to the west garden.
Lian Shouli doesn’t smoke; he’s said to have planted this for Old Master Lian. Of course, Old Master Lian can’t smoke them anymore, so once dried well, they can be sold at the market.
Good tobacco can fetch a very good price at the market.
The east vegetable garden has several fras of string beans, cucumbers, along with eggplants, peppers, pumpkins, etc.
With just this variety of vegetables, it’s enough to feed Lian Yeye’s family of three.
Lian Manman carried the basket to the door of the West Wing Room and called out for Lian Yeye, but no one answered. She saw both the front and back doors of the Upper Room open and figured Lian Yeye must be in the back yard. So, she placed the basket by the window of the West Wing Room, asked Da Pang and Second Fatty to wait nearby, and went to the backyard herself.
In the backyard’s vegetable garden, Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye were watering the plants.
Even though the vegetable garden at the front already suffices for Lian Yeye’s family, they’re hardworking, naturally not letting any land go to waste. The backyard vegetable garden is also full of various lons and vegetables, with not even the corners spared.
"Third Aunt, Yeye." Lian Manman greeted them.
"Sister Manman."
"Manman is here."
Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye both looked up and responded with smiles.
"Go play with your Sister Manman. There’s only these two plots left; I can finish watering them myself soon." Lady Zhao said to Lian Yeye.
"Third Aunt, let lend a hand here. It’ll be faster." Lian Manman rolled up her sleeves, eager to help.
"You mustn’t." Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye were insistent in refusing Lian Manman’s help, "It’s just a little more, only a matter of a short ti. No need for you, Manman, go talk with Yeye in his room."
Lian Manman and Lian Yeye walked back, Lian Yeye went to pluck so cucumbers from the nearby rack.
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