Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 724 - 371 Whose advice to follow_1

Old Master Lian lowered his head and glanced at Lian Manman before letting out a soft sigh.

"Grandpa, my eldest uncle can’t do without you," Lian Manman said softly as well. In her eyes, Lian Shouren was somewhat of a mama’s boy in certain aspects. For instance, his complete lack of responsibility during the usury incident, where he took all the benefits for himself but pushed every responsibility onto his aging father. As the eldest son on whom the family had placed great hope, a man well over forty with grandchildren and still wearing a Scholar’s headband, would normally be expected to shoulder the entire family’s responsibility.

"Yes, Dad," Lian Shouxin added, "I think my elder brother might not realize it himself, but in fact, he still needs your help for a few more years."

"Mhm, mhm," Lian Manman nodded vigorously, her large eyes shining brightly as she looked at Old Master Lian.

Earlier in the room, although Lian Shouren didn’t make it explicit, the meaning behind his words was clear to everyone. Lian Shouren had no intention of taking Old Master Lian with him to his new post, and he seemed eager to shed his responsibilities. Regardless of whether Old Master Lian wanted to go, seeing his eldest son act this way, he must be heartbroken.

Lian Manman’s goal was to make Old Master Lian feel important and needed by Lian Shouren.

"Ah, the harvest season is just around the corner, we’ve rented someone else’s land this year, and now to leave so soon, this..." Old Master Lian said, feeling uneasy about leaving home immediately.

Old Master Lian said this because he was considering going with Lian Shouren to his new post.

In her heart, Lian Manman made a victorious gesture. With Old Master Lian accompanying Lian Shouren, Lian Shouren would be constrained, and his actions couldn’t deviate too far from what was proper. Even if he caused trouble, it would be limited. The reason Lian Shouren had arranged for such a rushed departure might be his intention to assume his post early, but it was also possible that he understood Old Master Lian’s psychology and thus wanted to leave without taking his family.

However, as long as Old Master Lian was set on going with Lian Shouren, all other matters were trivial.

"Grandpa, you can rest assured about this," Lian Manman said, "It’s just waiting for the autumn harvest, there’s nothing else. I heard my third uncle say they don’t plan on going with my eldest uncle. Besides, we have us here too. We can surely gather the crops properly and pay the rent as it should be paid. And everything else at home will be taken care of just the same."

"Right, my third brother is good at day-to-day living, with him at home, you have nothing to worry about. We can lend a hand too," Lian Shouxin said.

...

While Lian Manman and Lian Shouxin were persuading Old Master Lian in the back courtyard, the families of Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi were not idle either, focusing their attention on Lady Zhou.

Old Master Lian was the head of the household, but Lady Zhou’s opinion was also of great importance. Moreover, some people wanted to leave Lady Zhou behind no matter what, while others insisted that she must go with them to Hejian Prefecture.

"... I’ve heard that Hejian Prefecture is much worse than our Thirty Mile Camp. This place is a land of feng shui treasures, while that place is poor and desolate. Now, all the serious criminals are sent there. The streets are not safe, nothing like our place here where one could leave their doors unlocked at night," Lian Shouren stood next to Lady Zhou outside the east room window, speaking cautiously.

"The journey alone is four or five hundred miles, and even young people would find it tough. I’ve heard, on the border between our prefecture and Hejian Prefecture, there are bandits who don’t blink an eye at murder. Just thinking about it makes me shudder," Lian Jizu stood on the other side of Lady Zhou and added, "Home is the best, the crops in our fields are said to yield a great harvest this year. Then there’s the front and back courtyards, the chickens, and those few pigs in the pen, a whole wealth of possessions. Granny, if you leave, who knows whose hands all this will fall into."

Lady Zhou stood there without speaking. The words of Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu struck a chord in her heart. She harbored a fear of the world outside the Lian Family Courtyard, and she also thought that if she went to Hejian Prefecture, all these household possessions, especially the pigs and chickens which were hers, would end up in someone else’s hands. How could she bear to part with them.