Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 633 - 326 - Various Thoughts_1

The second watch, seeking pink powder.

*** ...***

Having shooed the ducks into the coop and secured the door, Lian Manman turned around to return.

Lady Zhang glanced in the direction of the east wing room and decided to check on Zhao Xiue’s condition. At the same time, it seemed that noise from their movements was heard in the Upper Room.

"Old Fourth, are you back?" Old Master Lian’s voice came from the Upper Room.

"Father, we’re back," replied Lian Shouxin hastily.

"Come inside to talk," Old Master Lian said.

Lian Shouxin turned his head to look at Lady Zhang and his several children, then walked toward the Upper Room. Wu Lang and Xiao Qi followed closely behind him, also heading to the Upper Room.

After some thought, Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi followed Lady Zhang into the east wing room.

She, too, wanted to see what Zhao Xiue’s current state was.

The east wing room was as untidy as it had always been; upon entering, Lian Manman immediately smelled a strange odor that wasn’t the usual stench of sour rags or foul feet the room was known for, but another kind, somewhat like the scent one would find in a temple.

A partition screen was placed on the brick bed inside the room, dividing the head and foot of the bed and thereby splitting the room into two distinctly separate areas.

The head of the bed, belonged to Lian Shouyi and Lady He, was cluttered with old, ragged, and haphazardly arranged belongings. The foot end of the bed was where Erlang and Zhao Xiue, the young couple, lived; their cupboard and decorations were still fresh, clean, and neatly arranged.

Lady He and Lian Duoduo sat cross-legged at the head of the bed, with Lady He holding a handful of melon seeds, cracking them audibly, while Lian Duoduo clumsily stitched something with a patch of cloth and needlework in her hand.

Upon seeing Lady Zhang arrive with Lian Zhizhi and Lian Manman, Lady He quickly hid the melon seeds back into her bosom and wiped her mouth with the palm of her hand. She shifted slightly on the bed to turn her body around and greeted Lady Zhang.

"Oh, Fourth Auntie is here, come, come sit on the bed," Lady He said loudly.

"I won’t sit. How is Erlang’s wife... feeling any better?" Lady Zhang asked as she looked toward the foot of the bed.

"Better? What better," Lady He heaved a sigh, "Doctor Li saw her, but to no avail. She was frightened by Jizu’s wife, and only after a Great Immortal was brought in today, who danced around invoking spirits for quite some time, did she fall into a confused sleep. All this incense burning and summoning spirits cost us no small sum of money, and we’re still not sure if the illness will even improve. It’s driven me to distraction."

"Fourth Auntie, you know, Jizu’s wife always seemed nice enough when you looked at her, but how could she go and do something like this? What harm have Erlang’s wife and her unborn child done to her? ...I wish we could do without eating or drinking, so we wouldn’t have to take wives or raise children; our whole family works hard just to support their expenditures, and then they’re happy."

Lady He said that Zhao Xiue was asleep, but her voice was still as loud as usual and grew louder as she spoke.

"Second Aunt, let’s speak a little softer. It’s not easy for Erlang’s wife to get some sleep; let’s not wake her with our noise," Lady Zhang didn’t pick up on Lady He’s point and softly reminded her.

"Ah..." Lady He responded with an ’Ah.’ She was used to being careless and never took such matters to heart.

"Let me see..." Lady Zhang whispered as she stepped lightly towards the foot of the bed.

Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi followed.

Zhao Xiue lay at the foot of the bed, her hair spread out over a satin-embroidered pillow, and she was covered with a red satin quilt. With her eyes tightly shut and her breathing steady, she appeared to be soundly asleep.

Lian Manman examined Zhao Xiue’s face carefully. Zhao Xiue hadn’t applied makeup today, looking somewhat pale, but her lips were still rosy. At least to Lian Manman, Zhao Xiue didn’t seem to be seriously hindered. She was sound asleep, likely due to the tumult of the previous night, which must have left her restless.

After seeing Zhao Xiue, the mother and her two daughters walked out of the east wing room, only to meet Erlang hurrying in, holding a wrapped oil-paper package in his hands.

Apparently not expecting to encounter Lady Zhang and the others, Erlang hurriedly hid the oil-paper package back into his bosom before greeting Lady Zhang.

"Fourth Auntie."

"Ah, Erlang, I just saw your wife, she’s fast asleep. You should go in quickly," said Lady Zhang.

"Yes."

Lady Zhang, along with Lian Zhizhi and Lian Manman, exited the east wing room. Lian Manman pursed her lips; she hadn’t seen clearly what was in Erlang’s wrapped oil-paper package, but the fragrance indicated it was definitely not some cheap food item.

Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi were still in the Upper Room, and from the courtyard, one could hear the voices coming from inside.