Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 828 - 422: Missed Opportunity_2

Wu Lang had already prepared the ink, brush, paper, and inkstone, and began to compose his reply.

"A direct rejection would not be appropriate," Wu Lang carefully considered his words as he spoke, "just say Mr. Loo advised me to focus on my studies first and talk about marriage in two years."

Although he was angry, when it came to actually writing the letter to Old Master Lian, Wu Lang still managed to keep his anger in check and thought of a more tactful way to decline.

Lian Manman was happy for Wu Lang.

"That’s good." Both Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang agreed.

"Brother, look at the letter our grandpa wrote to us, it’s so long. We should write more as well, especially tell grandpa in detail about the marriage proposal Aunt talked about the other day, in dad’s tone. Aunt loves to lie; we must let grandpa know, so he won’t just believe everything she says later on," Lian Manman said.

"Hmm." Wu Lang nodded.

"Erlang’s wife has given birth. Should we send gifts to her?" Lady Zhang discussed with Lian Shouxin, "Even though it’s really far away, it’s also inconvenient."

In this era, transportation was inconvenient. From Thirty Mile Camp to Taicang County, travelling by horse cart could take about three days, and the round-trip fare for tenant farmers was a considerable expense. There was a common saying among tenant farmers: distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors. This included a layer of meaning that close relationships, even if one wanted to keep up, were limited by objective conditions.

Providing gifts for motherhood was not a big deal but also not a trivial matter. If close by, a basket of eggs would be a very respectable gift, but being so far away made it difficult.

Typically, tenant farmers would save up small gifts and give them during major events, or just neglect these small gestures completely. Regardless of the method, it always involved reciprocity.

"Mom, isn’t the hometown of Sister-in-law Xiu E just in the town?" Lian Manman then said, "Let’s see what they do. If they don’t go, we don’t need to go either. If they do go, we’ll prepare the gifts and let them take it over."

"Right, that’s what we’ll do." Lady Zhang nodded with a smile, "It’s always my Manman who thinks quickly."

...

The next day, before Wu Lang could send off the letter, Lian Lanlan had already arrived at their doorstep in a carriage.

It was not yet midday, and Lian Manman’s family was all in the shop.

"Auntie has arrived." Yeye ran into the house with an empty wooden basin, "The carriage is stopped outside, and Auntie is heading to our shop."

"Is she alone?" Lian Manman hurriedly asked.

"Just her," Ye Ye nodded.

Lian Lanlan being rejected the last time she proposed a marriage, and receiving a letter from Old Master Lian only yesterday, her showing up in person today could not be coincidental.

It was likely that Old Master had sent a letter to Lian Shouxin while sending one to Lian Lanlan as well.

As these thoughts crossed her mind, Lian Lanlan had already lifted the curtain and walked in.

Lady Zhang felt conflicted, she despised Lian Lanlan and would rather have her driven out, but since the visitor had arrived, she couldn’t just ignore her. Yet if she were to welcome her warmly, she wasn’t willing. Previously, she might have compromised, but now, she was no longer willing to do so.

"You’re all home," Lian Lanlan, all smiles, greeted everyone upon seeing them.

"Ah," everyone responded, their enthusiasm lacking.

"Big sister," Lian Shouxin called out.

"You guys talk." Lady Zhang said briefly, then turned and left the room.

Lian Manman followed Lady Zhang, and both Lady Zhao and Yeye also came out.

...

"Just letting your dad talk to her, will that work?" On the way home, Lady Zhang asked Lian Manman.

"Anyhow, she has no regard for us, and I don’t want to deal with her. Whatever she has to say or do, let her speak with my dad then. Everything has been discussed and decided with my dad. She can’t decide on anything else; whatever she says will be in vain. After a while, she will realize this herself and leave," Lian Manman said, then signaled to Lady Zhao and Yeye, "Let’s hurry, we’ll have lunch back home."

...

In the shop, only Lian Shouxin and Lian Lanlan remained.

Seeing the women all go out, Lian Lanlan was somewhat displeased. Not that she wanted to talk to them, but she wasn’t satisfied with their lack of close greetings and attentiveness. However, because she had more important matters to discuss with only Lian Shouxin, and it was sufficient to talk only to him, she didn’t dwell too much on the others leaving.

"Old Fourth, about the postpartum gifts for Erlang’s wife, how do you plan to handle it?" Lian Lanlan asked Lian Shouxin.

"That matter, what would I, a man, know about? It’s all up to the children’s mother," Lian Shouxin responded.

Lian Lanlan just hmm-ed, with Lady Zhang not there, the topic couldn’t continue. However, she wasn’t here for this reason anyway—it was merely a pretext since it’s about marrying off a daughter, and she didn’t want to appear too eager.

Lian Shouxin, knowing about Erlang’s wife giving birth meant he had received Old Master’s letter. Then next, Lian Shouxin should be the one to bring up the matter of Wu Lang and Yin Suo."

Lian Lanlan waited for Lian Shouxin to speak, but Lian Shouxin sat quietly and said nothing.

After a while, Lian Lanlan could no longer wait.

"Old Fourth, did dad send you a letter?" Lian Lanlan asked.

"Ah," Lian Shouxin replied briefly, then said nothing more.

Lady Zhang and Lian Manman had made it clear with him, they would no longer interact with Lian Lanlan. Lian Lanlan not being driven out was just for his sake.

And he, in turn, must uphold the dignity of his wife and children.

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Delivering the third update, asking for support. Support bids double, one ticket counts as two, urgently needing your support.

Today updated nine thousand words, will dive back to write, striving for a fourth update.

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Recommended Ruoyan’s completed book "The Most Enchanting" fantasy version of My Wild Girlfriend, no more than five hundred thousand words, moderate length. There is a direct link below, click to reach directly.

Book number: 2184407 (to be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote on startup (qidian.com) for recommendations, monthly tickets, your support is my biggest motivation.)