Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 731 - 374 Unbearable Tolerance_2

Lady Zhou’s intention was to have Lian Shouli and Lian Shouxin gather the harvest for them without any compensation. She apparently didn’t consider that, with so much land, even if both families combined their efforts, they wouldn’t be able to manage it alone and would definitely need to hire additional help. And if they hired help, wouldn’t they have to pay them?

At this moment, Lian Shouyi and Lian Shouren secretly exchanged glances. Then Lian Shouren stood up and said he had something to discuss with Old Master Lian, and helped the old master out of the room.

Lian Shouyi stayed behind, his eyes full of calculation.

Lian Manman watched it all with a clear understanding in her heart. Just moments ago, the two brothers were at loggerheads, but now, united by a common interest, they had once again stood together. They had apparently convinced Lady Zhou to speak on their behalf. And now they had maneuvered Old Master Lian away, leaving the room for Lady Zhou to speak her mind.

The situation was dire; Lian Manman narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli, with their kind hearts and soft temperament, were no match for the thick-faced and black-hearted Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi—add Lady Zhou to the mix, and were they just supposed to passively take the blows?

"Well, I won’t make it difficult for you," said Lady Zhou, waving her hand dismissively once Old Master Lian had left. "As for the harvest from the fields, there’s no need for you to bring it over. Cartloads of grain—such a distance is inconvenient. Simply convert it into cash and send it to us."

"After all, once we leave, all this land will fall into your hands. Your eldest brother will take us elderly folks to his new post, where nothing comes without a price. So, you might as well now convert the harvest into silver and hand it to me—it’ll serve as our travel expenses. This year’s, plus the next three years’, might as well give it all to us at once. I won’t ask you for anything extra—just the land, the vegetable gardens, the chickens in the coop, and the pigs in the pen—altogether, let’s say four hundred taels of silver."

Four hundred taels—a tremendous sum demanded. Lady Zhou’s calculations were beyond comprehension. The faces of Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli darkened, while Lian Shouyi next to them seemed positively radiant.

"How the two of you divide the payment is up to you to decide. Get the money ready in the next two days. We need to set out with your eldest brother. Whoever takes over this property and land must come up with four to five hundred taels of silver. You’re actually getting a bargain," Lady Zhou said, looking sternly at Lian Shouli and Lian Shouxin, raising her eyebrows, "Why are you not saying anything? I am your mother, and I’m simply asking you to do this much for me—is that too much to ask?"

Lian Shouli and Lian Shouxin looked at each other, both speechless for the moment.

Lady Zhou’s expression grew uglier, making it clear that without a satisfactory answer from Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli, she was ready to create a scene.

Lian Manman, watching from the side, couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. They had called witnesses from the village for the division of property but had hastily sent them away after just the discussions. And now, these matters were to be negotiated privately with Lady Zhou after everyone else was dismissed. Clearly, some had planned in advance to coerce them into submission.

In front of outsiders, there would undoubtedly be a different story. No need to ponder that—it would be to add luster to the likes of Lian Shouren and the others.

They wanted to continue to exploit them, autocratically take advantage, and covet both face and substance. There were no such convenient deals to be had in this world. Lian Manman lowered her eyelashes, calculating rapidly in her mind.

"Mother, that advantage is better left for others to take. We have a shop and plenty of lands, and there’s just too much for us to manage," Lian Shouxin said forcibly, containing his anger. To Lady Zhou, four hundred taels of silver seemed so effortlessly demanded. Had she considered the hard work they would have to put in to earn that much?

Favoritism and irrationality should have their limits.

"Our family is just three people strong, with only my father as the labor force. Six acres of land—we can manage that well enough. We won’t take this ’advantage’," Lian Yeye promptly added.

Such a direct rejection—how could Lady Zhou swallow her pride at this? She immediately launched into torrential cursing, spewing words like vile offspring, heartless, evil-hearted, and cursed—her language grew increasingly more offensive.

Lian Shouli and Lian Shouxin were both berated to the point of blushing ears, yet they both knew they couldn’t and shouldn’t fork over the four hundred taels of silver. And so they stood defiantly.

Lady Zhou cursed until she was out of breath. Seeing that her sons were resolute and refused to agree, she slapped herself and began wailing dramatically. To punish her unfilial sons, to ensure a comfortable life in Hejian Prefecture, and to provide a hefty dowry for Lian Xiuxiu, she was determined to make these sons bow to her will.

"What sins have I committed to raise sons that are worse than dogs..." Lady Zhou wept and cursed a few times, then kneeled on the heated brick bed in the direction of Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli, crying, "Oh, my dear masters, please have pity on this old woman..."

Lian Shouli and Lian Shouxin both changed color and quickly dodged aside.

Lian Manman pulled Lian Yeye aside, called for Lady Zhang, Lady Zhao, Lian Zhizhi, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi to all come out from the Upper Room.

"What in the world is their mother doing? Does she want to drive us to death?" Lady Zhang said, frowning, "Wu Lang, Xiao Qi, go see what your grandfather is up to. Fetch your grandfather back here. I refuse to believe that he can be so unreasonable."

"Mother, why bother with my grandfather for this? Their mother is pushing us so hard, haven’t we endured and relented enough? Let’s not bear it this time," Lian Manman replied.

"Sister Manman, let’s stand up to her," Lian Yeye said, clenching his fists.

"You two children, what are you planning to do?" Lady Zhang asked anxiously.

Lian Manman, grabbing Lian Yeye, ran into the house and each grabbed a small iron pot and spoon, then headed for the doorway. Xiao Qi, quick-witted, knew precisely what Lian Manman intended and rushed inside to pick up the excess firecrackers that were left over from the opening of their new shop, hoisting them with a pole.

Once outside the gate, Lian Manman and Lian Yeye began to strike the pots, while Xiao Qi lit the firecrackers.

***......****

Second shift, seeking pink.(Story to be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)