Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 829 - 423: Steamed Bun Clashing with Teeth

Fourth installment, asking for pink hearts.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

Lian Manman approached the front gate and suddenly stopped.

"Mom, Auntie from the third branch, you go back and start cooking. I’ll go check the shop," Lian Manman said. Although she believed that Lian Shouxin would not agree to Lian Lanlan’s request, she still wanted to go back and listen for herself. Only then could she be at ease. "My brother and Xiao Qi should be finishing school soon, I will go meet them so they can come home for dinner."

"Go on," Lady Zhang didn’t stop Lian Manman. She knew her daughter was young but very decisive, and she was becoming more and more astute. With Lian Manman going, she was not worried that Lian Shouxin would suffer a loss to Lian Lanlan.

"Mom, Auntie, I want to go with Sister Manman," Lian Yeye spoke up.

"You all go, but don’t dawdle and play. Come back early for the meal," Lady Zhang and Lady Zhao said.

Lian Manman and Lian Yeye headed to the shop. They entered the outer room from the back door and then stopped.

The two children exchanged a glance and decided not to enter the room, instead, they eavesdropped from the outside.

Inside the room, after an awkward silence, Lian Lanlan had to speak again.

"Old Fourth, our father has sent me a letter," Lian Lanlan had to broach the subject herself, abandoning pride, as Lian Shouxin was reluctant to mention the betrothal. "When I came here last time, I really liked Wu Lang—thought highly of that boy. That’s why, when I wrote back to our father, I mentioned it."

"Our father wrote me a letter yesterday, saying he’d like Wu Lang to have Yin Suo as his wife and had already discussed it with you, to prepare me," said Lian Lanlan, looking expectantly at Lian Shouxin.

At this moment, Lian Shouxin was filled with impatience and helplessness. He always remembered Lian Lanlan as being very generous and appropriate. In social interactions, Lian Lanlan was smart, speaking and acting just right.

But what’s gotten into her this time? Weren’t his and Lady Zhang’s intentions clear enough? Why was Lian Lanlan still stubbornly clinging to this matter?

"Old Fourth," before Lian Shouxin could speak, Lian Lanlan started again, "the last time we talked about Jin Suo and Manman, you didn’t agree. You know how I, your eldest sister, felt...sigh, why did you think your brother-in-law and I were insisting? It’s all for the sake of our family. The kids are familiar with each other, too. You’ve spurned my face, but I didn’t hold a grudge."

"This time, it was our father and mother who decided, and I myself am fond of Wu Lang. You watched Yin Suo grow up; not to boast, but what kind of man wouldn’t she be worthy of? In the county town, we have the county official’s nephew, and the junior son of a third or fourth-rank official from the capital, both sent by the official matchmaker to seek her hand. I declined them all just for the sake of our sibling relationship. Wu Lang isn’t an outsider; he’s my own nephew, and I have a good daughter, so I can’t just give her to someone else."

"Eldest sister, with such suitors, you better just pick out the best for Yin Suo," Lian Shouxin finally spoke up, "Wu Lang’s tutor said to let Wu Lang focus on his studies for now, and we can discuss the issue of marriage in a couple of years."

By the end, Lian Shouxin’s tone grew firmer, clearly fed up with Lian Lanlan’s overbearing words.

"What?" Lian Lanlan was struggling not to lose face.

With a letter from Old Master Lian, she came in person, actively proposing to give Yin Suo to Wu Lang. She was eagerly offering her daughter, and here Lian Shouxin bluntly rebuffed her right away.

In the Lian Family, from Lian Shouren to the younger brothers, none would speak to her in such a manner. Especially Lian Shouxin, in the past, he had always agreed with whatever she said—when did he dare to refuse her?

Lian Shouxin had changed.

"Eldest sister, why do you do this to yourself?" Lian Shouxin raised his voice slightly, "Look, that day about the betrothal, their mother had spoken clearly. Could you not understand? Yet you come to me, speak directly about the betrothal. At the very least, could you mention that their mother didn’t agree to anything? You say nothing and just confuse me like this."

Remembering how Lady Zhang and the children ignored him afterward, Lian Shouxin got somewhat agitated.

"What do you mean, confuse you? You are the man of the house; isn’t it your decision? I didn’t even mention it to her, I came that day to talk to you," Lian Lanlan retorted.

"They started arguing," Lian Manman whispered to Lian Yeye.

"Uncle Four is really angry," Lian Yeye whispered back.

"Yeah," Lian Manman nodded. This was Lian Lanlan’s own doing; initially, Lian Shouxin didn’t speak precisely to give Lian Lanlan face. If Lian Lanlan had been sensible and realized that Lian Shouxin wasn’t interested and left early instead of pushing so hard, Lian Shouxin probably would have held his breath.