Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 841 - 429: A Fine Marriage.

The first update of the New Year, seeking support and likes.

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Lian Manman looked down at the tiny female infant swaddled in blankets. The infant seemed extremely frail, with a little face about the size of the kitten Da Hua when she first arrived at their home. Looking up at Zhao Xiue, her complexion appeared rosy and somewhat fuller than when she left Thirty Mile Camp.

When Zhao Xiue was pregnant, she always boasted she was carrying the Lian Family’s first great-grandchild, taking her liberties then. Now that she has given birth to a weak baby girl, it seems only natural for others to be disdainful towards her.

This has nothing to do with the preference for boys over girls.

Zhao Xiue sought sympathy from Lady Zhang.

"...There’s a count for everything eaten, almost to the point of counting the grains of rice in your bowl... With so many mouths to feed in one household all crammed into a few rooms, it’s even less spacious than before we were here... We’ve hired only a manservant and a cook, and the entire family is treated as menial workers."

"At the dinner table, half is fine grain and the other half coarse, and they have us eat the coarse grain. When it’s cold and we need to burn some kindling, the request must be made several times over... We’re confined to this tiny courtyard, forbidden from going out. They say if the Master Magistrate saw us outside, it would reflect poorly on his elder uncle and ruin his reputation with malicious gossip." Lady He complained as well, "Our family of five is squeezed into a single small room without enough space to even turn over."

"My poor daughter," sighed Zhao Xiue’s mother, "Who doesn’t take good care during their first pregnancy? When I arrived yesterday, what did I find? Nothing but cold soup and cold water. Not a speck of oil in the soup. The water in the basin was near freezing. We have hired caregivers in the house, yet none can be called upon when needed. Every day, we have to watch for others’ cues."

"First the flower blooms, then the fruit sets; isn’t that the way it goes? This time it’s a girl, there could be a boy next time," said Zhao Xiue’s sister-in-law.

"What’s wrong with giving birth to a girl? Didn’t she also have a daughter? Flaunting it as if her daughter was gilded in gold whereas my child isn’t even considered a seed of the Old Lian Family. We all have daughters; who can mock whom? Don’t act as if I don’t know what she wishes for behind my back... I was clearly carrying a boy, but out comes a girl. Who knows if she hasn’t used some foul magic..."

The complaints continued without cease, leaving Lady Zhang and Lian Manman as mere listeners, unable to interject.

"Didn’t his Second Uncle and Erlang find any work to do?" Lady Zhang inquired. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

If all the men in the household found jobs and brought in some silver rice, along with Lian Shouren’s salary and side earnings, even with a larger family, life could still be decent.

"Work? They just follow behind his elder uncle every day, not earning a cent," Lady He replied.

"It’s just a lack of capability," Zhao Xiue remarked with a sidelong glance toward the Upper Room, "He’s also a County Magistrate. In this county, besides the Master Magistrate, he holds the highest power. It’s not just about arranging work for a few people; arranging for a hundred would be like child’s play. But would you look at that? He speaks of arranging jobs, and what job does he arrange? Sweeping the streets in front of the Yamen; we can’t afford to lose that face."

"Exactly, no decent jobs, just the grueling ones," Lady He spat disdainfully onto the ground.

Seeing Lady He’s gesture, Zhao Xiue’s eyes shot up in irritation.

Lady He shrank back slightly, her lips quivering as she turned her head away guiltily.

Lian Manman thought to herself upon hearing Zhao Xiue speak in this manner.

Is Lian Shouren’s role as a County Magistrate merely nominal?

Zhao Xiue may have exaggerated, but for a County Magistrate, arranging a few jobs should be manageable. So why can’t Lian Shouren do it? Is it that he doesn’t want to?

That’s unlikely. Having Lian Shouren and Erlang take up jobs would serve as his eyes and ears, and also increase the family’s income. There’s no reason for Lian Shouren to be unwilling.

Then it must be a lack of ability.

Lian Manman recalled what Wu Yugui had said about the typical situation in a county Yamen. The Magistrate naturally holds the greatest authority, managing the administration of the region. As an assistant to the Magistrate, the County Magistrate has a considerable degree of flexibility in official duties. If the Magistrate delegates power, the County Magistrate wields extensive authority. But if the Magistrate is controlling and keeps a tight hold, the County Magistrate may have virtually no power at all.

Wu Yugui also said that if a County Magistrate is not effective, he’s just an official who gets pushed around.

If Lian Shouren can’t even arrange positions for his brothers and nephews, doesn’t that imply he has no influence and holds no power in Taicang County?!

"Fourth Auntie, Manman," at that moment, Lady Chiang called from outside, "Dinner is ready, please come to the Upper Room to eat."

"Alright," Lady Zhang responded, and she stepped out with Lian Manman, taking their leave.