Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 716 - 367: Good News_1

Lian Manman and Xiao Qi sat under the poplar tree outside the back yard of the shop, listening to Liulang awkwardly recount the conversation he had overheard.

"What did the elder aunt say after the eldest sister-in-law told her about Yingzi?" Lian Manman asked Liulang.

"After the eldest sister-in-law finished talking about Yingzi, she asked the elder aunt how Yingzi managed to run off to the city to find Sister Huahua. The elder aunt was pretty angry, saying she didn’t know, and that Yingzi was shameless. After causing such an embarrassing scene in the village, she still ran off to the Song Family, telling them how close she and Sister Huahua used to be, insisting that Sister Huahua take her in."

Liulang continued to relay what he had heard.

"Huahua is just too kind-hearted, unable to resist a few nice words, and she agreed. With Yingzi at the Song Family, she doesn’t act like a servant nor a guest. Huahua is still in her confinement period, how can she possibly look after her? And Yingzi... she just can’t give people peace of mind. When I came back today, I said I could take her with me since it was on the way. Her parents must be worried after she’s been gone for a few days. She refused to follow me back, saying she needed to stay and take care of Huahua. Pah, she’s afraid to come back, and her intentions are not good... We need to find a way to get Yingzi out of the Song Family."

"Did the elder aunt and eldest sister-in-law mention any plans for that?" Lian Manman asked Liulang.

"Oh..." Liulang wiped his nose with his hand, "I didn’t hear that part, the eldest sister-in-law saw me and they stopped talking."

It turned out that Yingzi, having run away from the Wang Family, had not met her demise; instead, she went to the county town, to the Song Family. Reflecting on past interactions between Yingzi and Lian Huahua, it seemed they were not particularly close. Moreover, Yingzi and Lian Huahua, being unrelated and only from the same village, for someone like Huahua it would have been an extremely simple matter to ask Yingzi to leave. Yet, from what Lady Gu implied, it seemed Huahua was feeling uneasy to broach the subject and needed Lady Gu and Lady Chiang to come up with a plan.

It was really a pity, Lian Manman thought; she actually wanted to know the outcome of Lady Gu and Lady Chiang’s discussion.

"Xiao Liu, think carefully, are you sure you didn’t hear anything else?" Lian Manman continued to question Liulang. Although Liulang was older than Qilang, when it came to cleverness, he fell a long way short of Xiao Qi. To be fair, Liulang was a bit slower than most children.

Liulang looked up at the sky, scratching his head.

"Ah, after the elder aunt heard about Yingzi’s situation, she said she had to quickly send a message to Sister Huahua. She also discussed with the eldest sister-in-law about who would be best to deliver the message. The eldest sister-in-law didn’t respond. The elder aunt also said that neither of them knew how to write, and it would have been better if they did, then they could write a letter instead of having to send someone with an oral message."

"Anything else?" Lian Manman asked again.

"That’s all. Sister Manman, I’ve told you everything I heard, you can’t go back on your word about the bun." Liulang looked earnestly at Lian Manman.

"If I promised you a bun, then you’ll definitely get one. When have you ever seen me not keep my word?" Lian Manman said, and indeed turned and went inside to fetch a bun for Liulang.

Xiao Qi sat on the large wooden bed, motionless.

"How on earth did you manage to hear their conversation, and how come they didn’t notice you at first? What were you doing in the back yard, anyway?" Xiao Qi looked up and asked Liulang.

"I was squatting in the alley taking a dump, right outside there’s the bitter melon plants of old auntie, so neither of them saw me." Liulang said.

"You’re at it again, pooping everywhere you please!" Xiao Qi pointed at Liulang, "Why can’t you use the privy? Last time our grandpa was watering the garden in the backyard, and he stepped in it, that was yours, wasn’t it?"

Liulang coughed awkwardly and looked away.

Xiao Qi could do nothing more about him.

"So, how did they end up noticing you?" Xiao Qi pressed on.

"I, I just happened to fart, and the eldest sister-in-law heard it." Liulang muttered.

Xiao Qi dropped his hand, speechless.

At that moment, Lian Manman came out from the yard, one hand carrying a big bowl of buns, the other hand holding a bowl of soup.

Liulang hurried over to take them.

"Don’t rush, sit down and eat slowly." Lian Manman said.

Liulang didn’t sit on the big bed, but squatted on the ground, devouring a bun in a few bites, choked, picked up the bowl and took a few gulps, then reached for another bun.

"Xiao Liu, eat slowly, no one’s going to steal it from you." Lian Manman reminded him.

"Mhmm, mhmm." Liulang replied but continued to wolf down his food.

"From now on, keep your ears open at home. If you hear anything, come and tell me. I’ll give you more buns to eat." Lian Manman said.

"Don’t worry, Sister Manman. If there’s anything, I’ll definitely tell you." Liulang swallowed the last bite of the bun and, burping contentedly, resolved to keep his ears pricked up in the future. To him, hearing a few words and exchanging them for a meat bun seemed like an excellent deal.