Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 776 - 397: Moon Appreciation and Ancient Tales_1

Lian Shouxin, Lian Shouli, Lady Zhang, and Lady Zhao—the four adults—had baijiu in front of them, while Lian Manman, Lian Zhizhi, Wu Lang, Xiao Qi, and Lian Yeye—the children—had grape wine in front of them.

Lian Manman suggested that everyone should start by drinking a cup together.

"...This is the first time we’re celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival like this. Dad, why don’t you say something," Lian Manman said with a smile. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Lian Shouxin looked around, saw that everyone was in high spirits, and also picked up his cup with a smile.

"I’m not good at making speeches or anything like that, so I’ll just speak a few simple truths. Let’s all down this cup of baijiu, and wish that our two families will be together in harmony and that our future will be ever more prosperous!"

"Good!" Lian Manman cheered.

"My dad’s spoken well," Xiao Qi also laughed.

With his younger son and daughter offering such strong support, Lian Shouxin felt comforted, and his face bloomed with a nearly visible smile.

All then raised their cups, with Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli downing their drinks in one go. Lady Zhang moved slightly slower but still finished her cup of baijiu, while Lady Zhao hesitated with her cup in hand.

Lady Zhao didn’t drink alcohol. Neither in her parent’s house nor after she married into the Lian Family did she ever have the opportunity to touch alcohol.

"I really don’t know how to drink," she said somewhat shyly and with a hint of difficulty, noticing that everyone was looking at her.

"Who is born knowing how to drink? It’s just a small cup, just drink it all at once. Don’t hesitate, third aunt by marriage, and just drink it. It’ll just be a burning sensation in your throat," Lady Zhang encouraged her with a smile.

"Yes, third aunt by marriage, you must drink this cup. It’s a good omen," Lian Manman also urged.

"Mom, just drink it," Lian Yeye, sitting beside Lady Zhao, also said with a smile.

"That’s right, just this cup. After that, everyone can do as they please," Lian Shouxin said.

Seeing everyone insisted, Lady Zhao gritted her teeth and brought the cup to her lips. Someone who didn’t drink alcohol, like her, might have been fine if she had just swallowed the liquor in one go. But because she hesitated and tasted the alcohol, it ended up burning her terribly, and her eyelids instantly turned red.

"Alright, let’s eat, everyone dig in," Lady Zhang quickly said with a laugh.

Only then did everyone start eating.

As they chatted and laughed, Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli ate while drinking baijiu. Having had a cup of baijiu, Lady Zhang switched to red wine. However, Lady Zhao refused to even touch the red wine, while Lian Manman and the other children happily drank cup after cup.

This red wine was slightly different from the one sold outside, as it contained less alcohol. What was sold was dry red wine, but what the children were drinking now was just grape wine. It had a softer, sweeter taste, wasn’t intoxicating, and could almost pass for a beverage. Moreover, they were using small cups, like those for baijiu, so each cup was just a small sip, making it a bit of fun for the children.

The sweet potato chunks were fried to a golden crisp and topped with syrup, pulling strands as you picked them up. You would dip them in a bowl of water on the side to break off the strands. They tasted crispy on the outside, tender inside, wonderfully sweet; not just Lian Manman, all the children loved them.

Lady Zhang picked up a piece of carp and placed it in Xiao Qi’s bowl, then turned to see that Lady Zhao looked a bit reserved and quickly chose a lean piece of braised pork, thoroughly soaked in sauce, and placed it in her bowl.

Lady Zhao’s own mother had died early, and before her marriage, she lived under her stepmother’s care. After marrying, she had the misfortune of encountering a mother-in-law like Lady Zhou and furthermore, had not borne a son, which led her to develop a habit of not reaching out for food at the dining table. Even later, when she ate with Lian Manman and the others at Lian’s Shop, this ingrained habit didn’t completely disappear overnight. Without paying attention, Lady Zhao would become reserved, instinctively refraining from serving herself food.

"Third aunt by marriage, it’s just our two families here; what’s there to fear? It’s different from your parent’s house, and it’s also different from the times in the Upper Room," Lady Zhang whispered to Lady Zhao, "Now, you’re the one in charge of your household—you call the shots..."

The meal lasted about half a Chinese hour, leaving Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli slightly intoxicated. For the rest of the afternoon, the family simply stayed at home and rested.

In the evening, thanks to the nap they took earlier in the day, everyone, especially the children like Lian Manman, was full of energy. After a simple dinner, they moved the tables and chairs to the yard. Various kinds of mooncakes, pastries, sunflower seeds, and fruits were laid out, and everyone gathered around the table to enjoy the moon and chat leisurely.