Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 755 - 386: Farewell_2
They watched the carriage until it disappeared beyond the village entrance, and then everyone slowly made their way back.
The families of Lian Manman and Lian Yeye continued to live in the old house without moving. This was at the insistence of Old Master Lian, and the two families had agreed. Old Master Lian had declared that they could do as they pleased once he was gone, but as long as he lived, no one was to move. Some villagers had also come to persuade them, saying it would be too shameful for Old Master Lian and Lian Shouren if they moved before Lian Shouren left.
With only the two families remaining, Lian Yeye joyfully ran around the front and back courtyards for a while.
"... After a few more days, once the new house over there is built and everything is in order, we’ll move in," the two families sat down to discuss their future plans. The new house for Manman’s Family was nearly completed except for the living quarters, and although the furniture had been ordered, it would still be some time before delivery. "Third brother, what are your plans? If you want, you could move in with us when the time comes."
"That’s out of the question," Lian Shouli replied, "I’ll continue to live in this old house. I need to take care of the front and back courtyards. It was entrusted to me by our father, and I cannot let it fall into ruin when he returns."
"In these next two or three years, we plan to save money. By the time my grandpa and the others return, our house should be built, and we’ll move out," Lian Yeye said.
Lady Zhao nodded along.
It seemed that this family of three had already discussed it.
"Third brother, when you’re ready to build your house, don’t wait until you’ve saved enough money. Just let me know," Lian Shouxin said, meaning that he could lend money to Lian Shouli for the construction.
"Alright, Old Fourth, I’ll see how it goes. If it’s not enough, I’ll indeed have to ask you for a loan," Lian Shouli didn’t beat around the bush.
"Sister-in-law, the twenty chickens left by the Upper Room are now yours," Lady Zhang announced.
"How can that be? Those were given to you by grandma," protested Lady Zhao hastily.
"Grandma..." Lady Zhang sighed, without continuing on the subject, but instead said, "You deserve them. It’s mainly you and Yeye who have been digging wild vegetables to feed the chickens. Manman has already discussed this with her grandpa. As soon as grandma mentioned giving them to us, we had planned to pass them on to you."
After some back and forth, Lady Zhao gratefully accepted the twenty chickens. It wasn’t the season for chickens to lay eggs, so if Lady Zhao wanted to raise chicks herself, she would have to wait until next year. Having twenty chickens at hand would make life much more abundant and relaxed.
Lian Shouli spoke of his plans for the future.
"There are only three of us, Yeye’s mother isn’t in the best of health, and farming is too strenuous for us. I plan to work as a carpenter in the future. Yeye’s mother and Yeye still want to work in the shop."
Now that the people from the Upper Room were gone, Lian Shouli felt more at ease to speak up.
Lian Manman nodded silently, thinking Lian Shouli’s plans were very practical. With no sons in the family, they lacked labor, which made farming difficult. Competing with households that had more sons and laborers would always be an uphill battle.
Instead of competing in labor, earning money through skill was a good way out. That Lian Shouli came up with this idea showed he was far from foolish.
"What else is there to say, with a diligent and honest person like your third sister-in-law, even if we wanted to hire her, we’d need to be lucky," Lady Zhang said.
The family exchanged glances, and Lady Zhang gestured for Lian Manman to speak.
"I’ve also found a job for Yeye," Lian Manman said with a smile, "We’ve agreed that she will take over the laundry business from now on."
Lian Manman’s family not only ran a breakfast shop but had also been doing the laundry business for a while. This business might seem small, but it added up to a decent income each month.
Lian Yeye taking over the laundry business meant only having to collect clothes and delegate the washing to the wives in the village, allowing her to earn money. Everything was already set up, and Lian Yeye had previously helped Lian Manman, so she was well acquainted with the process.
Lian Shouli, Lady Zhao, and Lian Yeye all understood that this was Lian Manman’s family’s way of giving them money. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂
For a daughter of a tenant farmer’s family, earning a few strings of money in a month was a blessing that no one dared to dream of before.
"Uncle Four, Aunt Four, Sister Manman..." Lian Yeye began to sob with gratitude.
"Don’t cry, don’t cry, our days will get better from now on," Lady Zhang comforted Yeye, pulling her close.
"Yeye, the business is yours now, whether you make money or not is up to you," Lian Manman said cheerfully, "Yeye, you have to show them what you’re made of."
"Yeah," Lian Yeye wiped away her tears and clenched her fists. She was determined to prove herself and show the entire village that her family, even without a son, was no worse than any other. When the people from the Upper Room returned, she wanted them to see that without them, their family of three had lived well. "Sister Manman, I will definitely prove myself."
Lian Manman smiled; she admired people with spirit and determination.
About ten days after the Upper Room people left, He Laoliu sold his remaining house and few acres of land, arranged for his wife and children in a shoddy shack, and set off alone.
"He said he had made arrangements with your family’s Old Master and the Second Old Master, and he was going to seek fortune with them," Chunzhu’s Wife told this to Lady Zhang, "He said he would make big money there and later bring his family over."
"That, that’s impossible," Lady Zhang was incredulous. He Laoliu still owed money to the Lian Family, and Old Master Lian was thoroughly annoyed with him. Moreover, after that incident, He Laoliu had also offended Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi. If He Laoliu sought their help, who would show him a friendly face? "How can he say the arrangements are made? That’s out of the question."
"Someone heard He Laoliu say this himself," Chunzhu’s Wife replied with a shake of her head.
This news sparked much discussion within Lian Manman’s family, but they soon forgot about it.
The most hectic yet most joyful harvest season for the tenant farmers had arrived!
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