Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 589 - 303: Forcing the Bun to Turn Against_2

"...Zhizhi’s dowry, we haven’t considered it yet. We’ll see and discuss it when the time comes. A family of six, with a meager foundation. We want to provide, but it will depend on whether we can manage it when the time comes." Suppressing the pain that welled up in his heart, Lian Shouxin continued to answer Lady Zhou’s questions.

Lady Zhou did not continue to harp on about Lian Manman. She took out a handkerchief and wiped her nose. The conversation had been going well, but it almost veered off track because of Lian Manman – and into a topic that was very disadvantageous for what she intended to discuss.

That greatly diminished the force of her words.

Lian Manman, that girl, was too non-confrontational. Lady Zhou almost fell for her tricks again.

Lady Zhou glared fiercely at Lian Manman from the corner of her eye, grateful that Lian Shouxin was honest and had not taken the conversation in the direction Lian Manman had led. Her son was still good, as long as she could bring him back to her side in time.

"Old Fourth, don’t give me these empty words." Lady Zhou took a breath and said, "Expecting people to come rushing to propose for Zhizhi without you preparing a decent dowry? You can’t fool me. Same as what I said earlier, I’m not asking you for too much... Whatever you prepare for Zhizhi’s dowry, promise the same amount for Xiuxiu."

While speaking, Lady Zhou stared intently into Lian Shouxin’s eyes.

"This request isn’t too much, is it? She’s your only younger sister. You’re living a good life now, can’t you spare this bit of wealth?"

Lian Manman secretly rolled her eyes. So this was why Lady Zhou had called for Lian Shouxin.

Lian Shouxin was a bit stunned. When they had divided the family, he hadn’t had a single wen of money. It was only because the family worked tirelessly day and night that they managed to secure a comfortable life, living like human beings. Zhizhi’s dowry was currently a blank slate. They had just begun to save for it, and there were still Wu Lang and Xiao Qi’s marriages to consider, as well as Manman’s, each one a significant expense.

As for Xiuxiu’s dowry, Lady Zhou had been saving for many years.

As a brother, he would naturally add to Xiuxiu’s dowry when she got married, but Lady Zhou was demanding that he promise his sister as much as he would for Xiuxiu. Even to him, this request was excessive. It was clearly robbing the poor to benefit the rich!

"Mother, you think I’m a rich man just because my family has had enough to eat for a few days?" Lian Shouxin’s face twisted with agony, "We’re not comparing with other families, even within our own, what has Xiuxiu lacked over the years? What does Zhizhi have? Her mother didn’t leave her even a single hairpin, and I didn’t get any money when we split..."

"Don’t play poor with me. Didn’t you buy those lands with silver coins, and build that house with silver coins? Your shop is raking in money every day, and it’s too much to ask for you to add to your sister’s dowry?" Lady Zhou cut him off fiercely, "I’m not asking for it right now, just give me your word, promise a figure for your sister!"

"Mother, what are you trying to do? We started with nothing. Zhizhi’s future dowry might not even compare to Xiuxiu’s. Why are you so anxious about this?" Lian Shouxin said helplessly.

"Old Fourth, you can’t lose your conscience. How can your heart be so cruel?" Crying again, Lady Zhou pleaded, "Our family isn’t as well-off as before, people look down on us. I can eat coarse grains without complaint, but I have only this one older daughter left. I can’t let her future be compromised. Promise me a figure, everyone will know then, they’ll praise you for being good, and you’ll have fulfilled your sister’s wishes, aiding me and your father. It will be as if you have completed your filial duty to us..."

These words were a concession from Lady Zhou toward Lian Shouxin. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Unlike her usual forceful and unreasonable approach, today’s Lady Zhou knew how to employ both carrot and stick. Lian Manman watched from the side, thinking to herself.

"These are separate matters," Lian Shouxin said with difficulty, "The Wu Family wanted to betroth Zhizhi for her character, nothing to do with the dowry. Even for Xiuxiu, if the family cared only about the dowry, then we wouldn’t marry into it."

Lian Shouxin was rejecting her request, and Lady Zhou was immediately infuriated.

"You bastard, I’ve talked to you nicely and still, you won’t budge an inch. You heartless creature. If I wasn’t at my wit’s end, why would I ask you? Your heart is made of stone, you only recognize silver coins as kin!" Lady Zhou pointed at Lian Shouxin and cursed.

"Mother, why are you begging him? Who asked you to beg him? His heart has been led astray long ago; he doesn’t care about us anymore. I don’t need them to manage what I do," Xiuxiu pouted and tugged at Lady Zhou’s sleeve.

Lady Zhou turned to look at Xiuxiu. Xiuxiu was older than Zhizhi and had a higher generational status, being the older daughter of Old Master Lian and herself. They were a large family group. Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang had only recently moved out to start their own life. In terms of family, parents, siblings, Zhizhi could not compare to Xiuxiu in any aspect. Yet, Zhizhi was proposing a good match right from the start. The only reason was that Lian Shouxin was doing well now, and their whole family was falling behind.

"Old Fourth, Xiuxiu is my only hope, my last concern. I’m begging you, I’m kowtowing to you..." As she spoke, Lady Zhou actually got up and knelt on the kang, ready to kowtow to Lian Shouxin.

"Mother..." Lian Shouxin leapt up. At that moment, he felt like dying.

Was all this really necessary? Did Lady Zhou need to push him that far? It wasn’t as if he was now a wealthy man and Xiuxiu was left with nothing. In reality, it was the opposite.

"Mother, you might as well strangle me!" Lian Shouxin collapsed to his knees, bursting into tears, "I’m unfilial, strangle me and I’ll use this life to repay your kindness. Then you won’t be angry at me anymore..."

Lian Shouxin’s reaction shocked Lian Manman, and even more so Lady Zhou and Xiuxiu.

Lady Zhou’s crying abruptly stopped, and she looked at Lian Shouxin in a daze.

***......***

That’s the second update, seeking your support.

Shouxin "Bun" is at a dead end with no escape, hehe. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation.)