Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 569 - 293 Attention_1
The second watch, a plea for pink.
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"Whether there’s something to do or not, we still have to work the fields!" Lady Chiang’s tone was somewhat bitter as she sat on the edge of the kang bed, her feet moving involuntarily. She had her feet bound small since childhood, and although those days were not particularly good, her family didn’t have any land, and the only tasks she had to do were the household chores. After marrying into the Lian Family, her mother-in-law was her own aunt, and her father-in-law was a Scholar. Her husband also studied, and she did even less of the heavy work around the house.
For her, these past few days of tilling the fields were the first time in her life.
Her bound feet were considered exquisitely small, which over the years, had kept her skin soft and delicate. She rarely walked on regular days. On the first day she went to work in the fields, her feet swelled up by the evening, and they ached all night. She complained to Lian Jizu, saying it was the first time in her life she had to endure such suffering. But what use was complaining? Lian Jizu himself was also reluctant to work the land, and yet he was forced to toil in the fields this time.
Speaking to Lady Gu was also futile. Lady Gu’s situation was the same as hers, and the two shared mutual pity. Having no choice, she tried to let Lady Zhou know about her swollen feet, but even Lady Zhou, who had always doted on her, said nothing this time.
The situation at the Lian Family had changed, and the main culprit forcing them to work the land was Zhao Xiue.
It had been an unwritten rule within the Lian Family, starting with Lady Zhou, that women with small feet did not have to work the fields. It was Zhao Xiue who, with her words, pressured Old Master Lian to drive them out to the land.
Being women with small feet, they found walking in the fields difficult, exhausted to the point of looking utterly wretched. How much work could they really accomplish? 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
All this was Zhao Xiue making things difficult for them, wanting to see their misfortune.
So, even though her feet were in pain, she couldn’t let it show outside. And no matter how tired she was upon returning from the fields, she made sure to clean up neatly, not giving Zhao Xiue any reason to mock her.
Even in front of Lian Zhizhi and Lian Manman, she dared not complain too much.
Lian Zhizhi and Lian Manman both had big feet and had been working the fields from a young age. Now, even though they had split from the family and were doing well, these two sisters still woke up at dawn and worked hard in the fields with the adults.
Even so, with stored-up grievances, someone as internally fortified as Lady Chiang sometimes couldn’t help but express her feelings.
"Whether to work the fields or not, I just do as the Master arranges, without saying a word," Lady Chiang glanced toward the east wing room, "but now in our house, it seems that neither the Master nor the Mistress has the final say, it’s all up to Erlang’s wife. Over all these years since I married in, I’ve never interjected when the family discussed matters. Those were decisions for the elders and your brother Jizu... She’s only been here a few days, and she meddles in everything, wanting to run the household. By no account should she be in charge."
"She talks as if she’s so reasonable, making a lot of noise. In reality, she’s always scheming for her own benefit. She says even women with small feet must work the fields, but if you really take that seriously, then women who are pregnant should be working the fields too. Why doesn’t she say anything about that?"
"She prevents Erlang from working the fields, asking him to go to work, claiming it’s to earn money for the family. Who doesn’t know that ever since she returned, Erlang has been worn to the bone up in the mountains while the money he brings home gets less and less. She has food in her hands every day; where does that money come from? Erlang sneaks off from the mountains to buy her food in the town. Your brother Jizu has seen it more than once."
"Over these years, I’ve never had a quarrel with anyone in the family, but her... That day, when you weren’t around, I don’t know if you heard, she not only scolded me but also dared to curse at your eldest aunt right in her face. I won’t go into the details with you two unmarried young ladies, your ears would be sullied. The things she says, any decent person wouldn’t be able to speak them."
"Although the family has had its bumps over the years, we’ve still lived in harmony... She not only picks fights herself but also incites others to unrest..."
After pouring out her grievances, Lady Chiang felt much better. The Fourth Household, with Lian Shouxin and his wife, as well as the children like Manman, were all honest people. Talking to them didn’t carry the risk of them spreading rumors or stirring up trouble behind her back.
Of course, Lian Manman was somewhat different. Lady Chiang gave Lian Manman a quick glance. Everyone else in the Fourth Household wouldn’t gossip regardless, but if someone provoked Lian Manman, this young girl wouldn’t hold back at all.
