Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 682 - 350 Expectation_2

"We’ve been here for half the day," Lian Shouren said with a hint of dissatisfaction, "The Sixth Master has arrived, why didn’t you send a message home? We only found out from the people on the street. By the time we hurried over, it was already too late."

Lian Shouxin let Old Master Lian and the other two into the shop.

"Dad, I was in the fields when Master Shen Liu arrived. Someone from the shop had to come fetch me. By the time I got back, I couldn’t get away," Lian Shouxin explained to Old Master Lian.

"Father, Master Shen Liu’s visit this time is different from the before. This is our shop, but we don’t get to have a say in anything. Where we go, where we sit, coming in, going out, we still have to follow someone else’s commands," Lian Manman poured a cup of tea for Old Master Lian and said with a smile.

"That’s right, I saw it just now. The County Magistrate wanted to enter, but those soldiers stopped him. They only let him in after Master Shen Liu gave the word," Lian Jizu commented, his face full of shock and envy.

"Didn’t the Sixth Master see the visiting card I sent?" Lian Shouren leaned forward and asked Lian Shouxin.

"Big brother, I saw it. The visiting cards requesting an audience with the Sixth Master filled an entire large tray. The Sixth Master didn’t even look at them, he just called for the County Magistrate and two other people," Lian Shouxin replied.

Master Shen Liu had come for the corn this time and seemed very busy. Even Scholar Wang had not been granted an audience. Lian Shouren, having donated for his Jiansheng title, his visiting card would be even less likely to catch Master Shen Liu’s attention.

"Just the County Magistrate was seen. Even our village’s Scholar Wang had sent in his card and wasn’t granted an audience. So many elders waiting outside, and only one or two were seen. That we weren’t seen is within expectations," Old Master Lian said slowly, after taking a sip of tea.

"Dad, last time the Sixth Master specifically asked to meet us alone, he treats us differently. Now that I’ve also donated for a Jiansheng title, I’m no lesser than his Graduate... We were just late. If we had received the news earlier and come sooner, we might have seen him," Lian Shouren said, glancing at Lian Shouxin with the implication that not meeting Master Shen Liu this time was entirely Lian Shouxin’s fault. If Lian Shouxin had sent him a message sooner or mentioned him in front of Master Shen Liu later, then surely Master Shen Liu would have agreed to meet him.

"Old Fourth, nobody else’s not getting a chance to speak, that’s one thing, but you were right there, just a word away... why didn’t you..." Lian Shouren complained with a sour tone, "Old Fourth, we’re brothers. If you eat meat, at least leave some soup for your big brother."

"Big brother, what status does Master Shen Liu have, and what status do I have? In front of him, I answer only what I’m asked, and if I’m not asked, I don’t have a place to speak. It’s not just me, even the County Magistrate has to behave the same in front of him. You talk about meat and soup, you’re an educated man and I’m just a coarse fellow. Teach me what that means, let me understand it clearly," Lian Shouxin got somewhat angry upon hearing Lian Shouren’s harsh words.

"This isn’t Old Fourth’s fault," Old Master Lian interjected, gesturing for the two brothers to stop arguing. "With the status of Master Shen Liu, even the County Magistrate of our county can’t curry favor with him. Old Fourth, a farmer, he doesn’t know about these bureaucratic matters. Even if he had the intention, he wouldn’t know what to do."

Old Master Lian pacified Lian Shouren and Lian Shouxin, then turned to ask Lian Shouxin again.

"Old Fourth, Master Shen Liu came this time for the Golden Corn, right?"

Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu both fixed their gaze on Lian Shouxin, evidently, they were also interested in the answer.

"Yes, Dad," Lian Shouxin nodded.

"The corn, I only saw you planting them. The seeds were given by Master Shen Liu, right? I haven’t asked much about this before, so what did he say about the corn this time?" Old Master Lian inquired.

"Well," Lian Shouxin glanced at Lian Manman and saw her nod slightly before he continued, "the corn seeds belong to the Shen Family, and now, Master Shen Liu has let us continue planting them. When autumn comes, he will send people here."

"Master Shen Liu didn’t specify anything in particular, but the idea is that the corn is the Shen Family’s. We just need to take good care of it and see how Master Shen Liu arranges things in the autumn," Lian Shouxin pondered, then added, "Master Shen Liu’s meaning is clear: we just need to know about the corn ourselves, not talk or ask too much about it, nor discuss it with others."

Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu gaped, speechless after hearing Lian Shouxin’s explanation. The way Lian Shouxin spoke so definitively made it clear that no one else had a say in the matter of the corn.

Old Master Lian sighed.

"Since that’s the case, then you should take good care of it for them... It’s also luck, yes..." Old Master Lian looked at Lian Shouxin but wasn’t sure how to continue.

This wasn’t just about luck but also an opportunity, relying on the powerful support of Master Shen Liu. However, with Lian Shouxin’s current situation, at most he could make some profit by relying on this support. But if Lian Shouren could rely on this powerful support, he could achieve great success and bring glory to the Lian Family.

For Lian Shouren to rely on Master Shen Liu’s support, Lian Shouxin needed to make a significant effort, to build connections and bridge gaps. He had hinted this to Lian Shouxin before but had not spelled it out. Old Master Lian wasn’t sure if Lian Shouxin hadn’t understood or what, but nothing had come of it.

Lian Shouxin must have misunderstood, Old Master Lian thought. After all, Lian Shouxin was uneducated, always straightforward, maybe too honest for a farmer, and these things, Lian Shouxin probably didn’t understand. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

It seemed that it was time to clearly explain the situation and rationale to Lian Shouxin.

"Old Fourth, I’m happy for you. Tonight, have your mother cook a couple of dishes and come eat in the Upper Room. I want to have a good chat with you."

***...****

Posting a second update, as it’s almost the end of the month, I ask for everyone’s generous support. (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)