Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 632 - 325 Parting Collapse_1
Zhao Xiue’s condition at night wasn’t fully known to Lian Manman until the next day from what Lady Zhang told her.
"One moment she was faint and unconscious, the next she was wailing, complaining of stomach pain. Her second aunt-in-law was restless the whole time, watching her made everyone’s heart fret. Doctor Li stayed most of the night. When asked about her pulse, Doctor Li was vague and just prescribed a lot of medicine for sustaining pregnancy, saying if the second son’s wife kept going like this, it would be hard to keep the baby."
As Lady Zhang said this, she let out a faint sigh.
"If something really happened to the child in the second son’s wife’s belly, it wouldn’t be easy to explain to Jizu’s wife. Last night, every time Jizu’s wife entered the West Wing Room, the second son’s wife got startled. Everyone’s saying that the second son’s wife is like this because she was bullied and frightened by Jizu’s wife yesterday afternoon. Now, her second uncle has even gone out to find someone to perform an exorcism."
Lian Manman began to sense something fishy.
"Mother, why was Doctor Li’s diagnosis so uncertain? Is there something going on here?"
At this moment, they were inside the shop, with the workers outside busy with their tasks. Unless called by the family, they wouldn’t come inside. Currently, only Lady Zhang, Lian Manman, and Lian Zhizhi were inside. Even so, Lady Zhang glanced around before speaking hesitantly.
"This is just between us women, and I’m only guessing," Lady Zhang whispered, "I feel that the second son’s wife doesn’t really have any issue."
"Mother, are you saying Sister-in-law Xiue was just pretending last night?" Lian Manman’s eyes widened.
"I’ve given birth to a few of you after all, I can tell whether being pregnant is going well or not. That spirit and energy of the second son’s wife doesn’t seem like there’s a real problem. And the way Doctor Li spoke and acted was also a bit odd. I always felt that the words he said to your second aunt-in-law and the second son’s wife were suggesting that if she kept making a fuss, it really would harm the child in her womb." Lady Zhang shared her suspicions.
"If Sister-in-law Xiue was pretending, then my second uncle and second aunt-in-law must be in on it too!" Lian Manman said, suggesting that the second branch of the family was putting on an act.
Lady Zhang snorted.
All kinds of accidents can happen during pregnancy and childbirth. Zhao Xiue was being overly dramatic, and the entire second branch of the family was causing a fuss alongside her. Thus, even if Doctor Li found nothing unusual in Zhao Xiue’s pulse, he wouldn’t make a definitive statement.
"You see, even when second aunt-in-law and Sister-in-law Xiue normally quarrel, in a crisis, they still come together as family," Lian Zhizhi said.
"Your eldest aunt-in-law and Jizu’s wife have also noticed it. When they talked to me and your third aunt-in-law, Jizu’s wife was crying miserably, and through what your eldest aunt-in-law said, she seemed to want me to clarify the matter," Lady Zhang said with a slight frown.
"Mother, did you say anything?" Lian Manman asked urgently.
"Do you think I’m a fool?" Lady Zhang gave Lian Manman a look, "They were crying and talking, trying to soften my heart. Your eldest aunt-in-law implied that since the matter involved Jizu’s wife, it was not their place to speak up. If they did, others might suspect they had ulterior motives. But if I spoke up, it would be seen as legitimate and believable by others. Last night, your eldest aunt-in-law didn’t skimp on flattering me..."
"So, what did you say to them, Mother?" asked Lian Manman.
"What could I say? You know how your eldest aunt-in-law talks. She beats around the bush, so I just pretended not to understand, hummed and hawed, and she couldn’t do anything about it," Lady Zhang said, "This is a scheme your second uncle and second aunt-in-law have all agreed upon. Why should I speak up and earn their resentment? In front of your grandmother, my words are not as effective as your eldest aunt-in-law’s and Jizu’s wife’s. If I said something, I’d inevitably be involved in endless quarrels, and they wouldn’t say anything not because they’re mute but because they fear they won’t be able to explain if something really happens to the second son’s wife."
"Mother, I believe you, you’re definitely not a fool," Lian Manman gripped Lady Zhang’s arm and shook it.
"Off you go, making fun of your mother now," Lady Zhang said with a smile.
"Then, did my third aunt-in-law say anything?" Lian Manman asked again.
"No, I didn’t let her. Besides, when your third aunt-in-law is in front of your grandmother, she can’t even get a complete sentence out," Lady Zhang said.
"Alas," Lian Manman sighed, "My third aunt-in-law, with her temperament, had to end up with my grandmother. When will this ever end?"
"Indeed," agreed Lian Zhizhi with a nod.
"Yeye just said that your second uncle’s family didn’t go to work on the mountain today, only your third uncle did," Lady Zhang mentioned, "What are they making a fuss for? Just because of what happened yesterday afternoon, to give Jizu’s wife a hard time?"
"Definitely not," Lian Zhizhi and Lian Manman said in unison.
None of them continued the conversation, only Lady Zhang shook her head and sighed.
Lian Shouxin walked in from outside.
"So, did you talk to Old Huang about that thing?" Lady Zhang asked.
"Yeah," Lian Shouxin nodded, "Old Huang said that for the second and third brothers, and the second and third sons, advancing a few hundred Wen Money wouldn’t be a problem... But with the second brother and the others not going to work today, this fuss they’ve stirred up..."
"Father, with my grandfather and grandmother in the Upper Room, and both my eldest and second uncles being older and in their prime, wouldn’t they have a sense of what’s going on? Why bother sighing and worrying for nothing? Father, you’re the only backbone in our Lian Family, and with so much going on now, who’s helping you worry?" Lian Manman said.
"I’m just... I’m just feeling anxious for your grandfather’s sake," Lian Shouxin responded, "Fine, I know, my worrying is in vain."
"Dad, we’re running low on flour in the shop. We need to place a pre-order with Wang’s..." Lian Manman said as she opened the ledger and started discussing the shop’s various matters with Lian Shouxin.
They stayed in the shop until evening when Wu Lang and Xiao Qi both returned from private school.
"It’s time to cook, let’s go back," Lady Zhang said.
"I’ll go drive the ducks back," Lian Manman spoke as she walked outside.
"Sister, I’ll go with you," Xiao Qi hastily dropped his schoolbag and followed Lian Manman out.
The ducks had grown to a medium size, different from chickens; ducks are always raised in the yard because they’ll lay fewer eggs if kept there. To get ducks that are plump and lay many eggs, they must be driven down to the river.
Lian Manman’s family bought a piece of land right next to the river, and that stretch of river beach also belonged to them. Additionally, there was a mixed forest extending from the riverbank into their larges parcel of land. It was also part of their property.
Ever since the ducklings were big enough, Lian Manman drove them over to the river every morning and let them into the water, free-ranging them like this. In the evening, she would drive the ducks back out of the river and take them back to the old family home.
Ducks raised in this way laid more eggs and their meat was tastier. Moreover, this method saved a significant amount of feed. After doing this to and from the river so many times, the group of ducks had developed a conditioned reflex. In the morning, as soon as Lian Manman opened the gate to the chicken pen, they would make their way over by themselves, and in the evening, they would return on their own without her having to drive them back—it was quite reassuring.
However, Lian Manman didn’t neglect them because of this and still insisted on "escorting" them twice a day.
Today, Lian Manman went to drive the ducks a bit earlier than usual, and the group of ducks were still comfortably floating on the river. Bathing in the river every day, the ducks kept their feathers clean and glossy. Each one had developed a round, plump backside - quite adorable to behold.
Lian Manman and Xiao Qi each held a long tree branch, standing on the bank and gently driving the ducks ashore, joining up with Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang on the walk back to the old family home.
"The ducks grew up well this year," Lady Zhang commented as they walked, observing the waddling fat backsides of the female ducks, "In a few days when the hottest part of summer sets in, they will start laying eggs."
"Mom, what if they lay eggs all over the place then?" Xiao Qi asked.
"We’ll have to keep an eye on them." Lady Zhang replied.
When ducks start laying eggs, it’s important to watch them to ensure they develop a habit of laying in a designated place. Once this habit is formed, it saves a lot of hassle later on, and it’s the same with hens.
Generally, tenant farmer’s ducks would still automatically return home to lay eggs, even if they freerange during the day. However, some ducks lay their eggs in nests in the grass by the river. Usually, children from the tenant farmer’s families check on them from time to time. Additionally, the diligent farmers, seeing ducks from families they know laying eggs, would even take the initiative to inform them.
They don’t even need to walk to the house; just standing in the street in front of their gate, or courtyard walls that are low and close to just a few other homes, one can call out from their own yard.
"Mom, our house is a bit far from this river," Lian Manman said.
"That’s true indeed."
"Mom, I noticed our ducks like to squat in the woods; how about we lay some grass nests there?" Xiao Qi, holding a willow branch and puffing up his bun-like face, suggested to Lady Zhang, "If we make the nests nice and comfortable, they would surely prefer to lay their eggs in them."
"Xiao Qi, that’s a good idea," Lian Manman said.
The woods were right next to the riverbank and belonged to their family. Now that they have planted trees along the boundaries of the land they purchased, it was not easy for others to intrude. Turning this woodland into a nesting area for ducks was suitable and very safe.
"This idea might just work," Lady Zhang said with a laugh.
"Mom, let Xiao Qi and me take care of laying the grass nests," Wu Lang said, "We know how to make the nests comfortable."
"Yes, yes, leave it to my brother and me," Xiao Qi chimed in eagerly as if afraid someone might snatch the task away from him.
"Alright, it’s all yours," Lady Zhang responded.
"Xiao Qi is really useful!" Lian Manman laughed.
The family, herding the ducks and chuckling together, entered through the gates of the Lian family home and immediately sensed an atmosphere that was a little off.
"I hope nothing bad’s happened," Lian Shouxin murmured.
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Here’s the first update, seeking your votes. There will be a second update later this evening (to be continued. If you like this work, please feel welcome to vote and support at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)
