Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 658 - 338: Parents’ Heart_2

"Dad, we aren’t looking to bask in our elder brother’s glory," said Lian Shouxin.

Old Master Lian glanced at Lian Shouxin and sighed. He knew that Lian Shouxin had once been bitten by a snake and for ten years had been afraid of the well rope, or perhaps, Lian Shouxin’s heart had grown cold towards Lian Shouren.

"Old Fourth, you worry too much. I’m still here," Old Master Lian said.

"Grandfather, we don’t want to depend on anyone else’s glory either; please let us live on our own," pleaded Lian Yeye at this moment.

"Childish talk," Old Master Lian simply didn’t take it seriously.

"Grandfather, living together like this, my Granny always bullies my mother, and we can never get enough to eat at the dining table. My mother and I don’t want to put up with this anymore..." Unable to hold back, Lian Yeye yelled out loud.

Old Master Lian froze, his eyes twitching slightly, a flicker of displeasure quickly passing through his gaze.

"Your Granny has her quirks. It’s all because of the poverty at home. I’ve told her off several times, but as soon as she turns a blind eye, she reverts to her old habits. It’ll be different from now on; I’ll have a good talk with her. In the future, if there’s anything, don’t let your mother keep it to herself. Arguing with the elders and talking back isn’t proper. Talk it out with her nicely, and if that doesn’t work, then come to me. We’ve all been young and everyone gets old," he said.

As he spoke, Old Master Lian stood up.

"Today is a day of celebration for our Lian Family. Tidy things up; everyone come and have dinner." Having said that, Old Master Lian walked out.

Lian Shouli sat despondently on the edge of the kang bed, while Lian Yeye was so upset she started to cry.

"Our dad is in a good mood right now. Let’s wait and bring up this matter again in a few days. By then, he should have thought it through, and it’ll be easier to handle," Lian Shouxin consoled Lian Shouli.

"Why won’t Grandpa agree to our family splitting up?" sobbed Lian Yeye.

Indeed, why not? Lian Manman also pondered over this question. It was odd, but she believed in what Old Master Lian had just said. He truly wanted what was best for the whole family, although not everyone necessarily agreed with the outcome.

Wherever there were people, there would be rivalries. In a household like the Lian Family, with dozens of members, things were never as simple as black and white.

For instance, during the division of the family, when Lian Shouyi intended to go through Lian Shouren’s chests and cupboards. If Old Master Lian truly wanted to prevent it, with full effort, pulling in Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli, he likely could have stopped it. But he didn’t do so. The reasons weren’t simple; even the highest-ranking family head, Old Master Lian, couldn’t go entirely against the tide; he had to go with the flow.

Another reason might be Old Master Lian’s soft spot for the grandsons of the second branch of the family.

If it were not so, Old Master Lian could easily have brought up the old talk and made the second branch leave empty-handed. And even with the eastern wing-room, a few acres of land, and a patch of vegetable garden, the second branch’s labor pool was plentiful; by renting some more land, they might scrape by with enough food, but without money, the wedding arrangements for Sanlang and his brothers would definitely be delayed. The dowry was one aspect; they could possibly find brides from similarly poor families who wouldn’t mind the lack of dowry, but the eastern wing-room couldn’t accommodate additional wives, no poor family would marry off their daughters into such a household.

And the impact of the discussion of splitting or not splitting the family on the marriages of the grandchildren was also very real.

Thinking of this, Lian Manman couldn’t help but glance at Lian Shouli. The failure to successfully separate from the main family was partly because of Old Master Lian’s stance, but the lack of firmness in Lian Shouli’s attitude was also one of the important reasons.

Help from fate or from others are external forces; it is most crucial for one to save oneself. Just like what had happened earlier, help from fate and from others was present, but Lian Shouli himself wasn’t strong enough. This was his own affair, and nobody else could replace him.

Lian Yeye had spoken up, but her words lacked weight. Just like Lian Manman had to have the support of Lady Zhang and Lian Shouxin when she spoke up. And Lian Manman was luckier than Lian Yeye; she had siblings, and they all stood with her.

However, Lian Yeye’s courage to confront the issue of Lady Zhou consistently oppressing them, her mother and her, was a step forward; even though Old Master Lian wasn’t very pleased, he still had to take action.

For dinner, the Lian Family Main House arranged four banquet tables: two tables for male guests in the east room, and two tables for female guests in the west room. Brothers Wu Yuchang and Wu Yugui, the village head, neighbors close to the Lian Family, as well as several village elders were present; none came empty-handed, bringing wine, meat or fabric gifts.

Naturally, all these gifts were received by Lady Zhou.

In the west room with the female guests, Lady Zhou sat at the main table, and Lady Wang was invited to the main table as well. Lady Wang then pulled Lady Zhang and Lian Zhizhi to join her; Lady Zhou didn’t object. At another table sat Lian Manman, with Lady He, Lady Zhao, and Zhao Xiue. Serving the dishes and waiting on guests were Lady Gu, Lady Chiang, Lian Yeye, Lian Yaya, and Lian Duo.

When someone suggested Lady Gu join the table for dinner, Lady Zhou stopped it.

"She is the eldest daughter-in-law, and her duty is to oversee the serving of guests. This is the rule of a large household," Lady Zhou’s words echoed those of Old Master Lian. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Yes," agreed Lady Gu, carrying dishes with a smile on her face. She used to sit and be served when she was a scholar’s wife, but now as the head wife of a household, she was required to serve others. Earlier, Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou had made a special effort to speak to her, instructing her to be "humble," "virtuous," to "let others go before and eat after."

Watching Lady Gu bustling back and forth, Lian Manman thought that Old Master Lian had learned from past lessons and was therefore keeping a tight rein on his eldest branch of the family.

Perhaps this was not such a bad thing after all.

×××......×××

Here’s the second update, asking for your likes. The likes have been quite dismal these past few days; your encouragement is requested. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please come to Qidian to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)