Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 847 - 432: Xiuxiu Gets Married

First update, seeking pink hearts. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

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Today, all of Lian Lanlan’s behavior was an olive branch extended toward Lady Zhang. To everyone including Lady Zhou and Old Master Lian, Lian Lanlan appeared magnanimous, deserving praise and regard as a good person. Yet, none of these stopped Lian Lanlan from filing complaints against Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang behind Lady Zhou’s back.

Given this, it was not unreasonable for Lian Manman to exploit this pleasing attitude for her own advantage.

Lady Zhang then asked Wu Lang, how the meal on the main table was, whether it was good or whether he was full.

"It was quite good. Grandpa had me sit by his side," Wu Lang replied.

Hearing Wu Lang say this, Lady Zhang felt relieved. There were no second-rate dishes at Old Master Lian’s table.

"...Those coarse flour buns on the table today, they were specially prepared for me," Lady Zhang suddenly sighed and said, "When I first married into the Lian Family, during the holidays and such, if there was polished rice and fine flour served, not all dishes were made from them; there would always be some coarse grains set aside. Once on the table, your grandmother wouldn’t say who that coarse food was for, just placing it in front of me and your Third Aunt."

"Your Third Aunt and I were clear as day about it, those were meant for us to eat. And we honestly just went along with it, eating the coarse food. Back in those days, I thought, as a daughter-in-law, shouldn’t I be showing filial piety to the elders and taking care of my sisters-in-law and such? If I didn’t eat the coarse grains, who would? Over time, I realized something was wrong. But I was too thin-skinned, ... if I had dared not to eat the coarse grains and gone for the fine food, your grandmother’s temper would have surely resulted in a three-day, non-stop scolding session... so I thought, it’s not worth it to be called greedy."

"Mother, you didn’t quite understand back then, it wasn’t about being greedy or not," Lian Manman said. Lady Zhang had been brainwashed by Lady Zhou’s scolding.

"Hmm, now mother understands. It’s just that old habit,...seeing two types of buns today, my hand just automatically reached for the coarse one," Lady Zhang sighed.

"Mother, you probably thought, if you ate the coarse ones, it would leave more of the fine ones for us," Xiao Qi said.

These words made Lady Zhang feel a warm comfort, nearly bringing her to tears.

What Xiao Qi said was true; many mothers would rather eat chaff and swallow vegetables just so their children could have a better bite.

"I never told you, but during the first few years after I joined this family, during New Year’s, the house would have chicken and meat, and we’d even buy other delicacies. In our family, we would only eat one meal of it, and any leftover good dishes wouldn’t be served the next meal. The uncooked meat was also left unprepared. Your grandmother would then hurry me to visit my family, waiting for me to leave so she could serve the good dishes and cook the meat once I was gone. By the time I returned from my mother’s house, those delicacies were all gone. Ah..." Lady Zhang let out a long sigh.

These were events she had never spoken of before. Lady Zhang was more talkative tonight; perhaps it was because Lian Xiuxiu was about to get married, and the scene evoked memories of her time as a newlywed.

"Mother, from now on, you’ll be in charge of our house; in a year or two, you’ll have forgotten all those old, lousy habits and matters," Lian Manman said.

"Hmm." Lady Zhang nodded in agreement, reaching out her hand to tuck in Lian Manman’s blanket.

After a night’s sleep, everyone woke up early the next morning and had a simple breakfast. Then the County Magistrate’s small courtyard bustled with activity. Women of Manners came to dress Lian Xiuxiu for the wedding. Lady Zhang moved forward a few steps, as if wanting to help, but then noticing the crowd, she refrained from pushing her way forward.

Soon, the wedding procession arrived. Lian Manman wanted to see the new groom who was said to be more handsome than the bride, but unfortunately, sitting on the horse was not a handsome young man, but a bearded middle-aged one.

"It’s the eldest son of Third Old Master Zheng’s family," someone was heard saying.

It turns out that in Taicang County, it’s not necessarily customary for the groom to personally receive the bride. In fact, this custom is common in other places as well.

On the other side, Lian Xiuxiu, in a bright red wedding dress with a red veil over her head, was carried out by the matrons and placed in the bridal sedan. The wedding procession then moved off amid the sound of gongs and drums.

Lady Zhou leaned against the doorframe, her eyes red, with Lian Lanlan beside her, offering quiet consolation. She was essentially saying that all girls have this day when they marry well and settle down, and as a mother, she should be happy about it.