Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1215 - 620: Joy
Extra update, asking for pink support.
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"Third Brother, what’s the matter?" Lian Shouxin quickly let Lian Shouli sit down and asked.
"It’s this matter." Lian Shouli then took a cloth bag out from his chest and placed it on the kang.
Without Lian Shouli saying anything, everyone recognized the cloth bag at a glance. It was the money Old Master Lian gave to Lian Shouli to grease the wheels. It was because Lian Shouli didn’t want this money that later issues arose. Later, Lady Zhou, Old Master Lian, and others passed away, but the money remained.
"I should have let our dad take it back then," Lian Shouli said to Lian Shouxin, "My mind was in a fog back then, it felt like I wasn’t even myself."
"Third Brother, what’s your plan?" Lian Shouxin glanced at the money bag, then looked up to ask Lian Shouli.
"I’m planning to return it to our dad." Lian Shouli said, "Old Fourth, what do you think?"
Lian Shouxin couldn’t help but take another good look at Lian Shouli. Actually, in some matters, Lian Shouli was quite decisive.
"Third Brother, you decide for yourself on this. In my opinion, any way is fine." Lian Shouxin said.
Wu Lang and Lian Manman, sitting nearby, didn’t speak but exchanged a look, feeling satisfied with what Lian Shouxin said.
"How can any way be fine?" Lian Shouli said in frustration, "Our dad and mom don’t have much income now. Why give money as a gift? I surely can’t accept it."
"Right." Lian Shouxin nodded.
"It’s just that this money needs to be returned..." Lian Shouli, seeing that Lian Shouxin wasn’t very responsive, hesitated, "Yeye can’t go. She just had a quarrel with our mom. If she goes now, it will definitely stir things up again. Yue’s mom..."
Lian Shouli glanced at Lady Zhao as he spoke.
Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye were sitting next to Lady Zhang. Lian Yeye’s expression remained unchanged, but Lady Zhao’s face was a bit pale, as if she hadn’t recovered from a scare.
"Yeye’s mom also doesn’t dare to go." Lian Shouli sighed.
"Third Uncle, is there a reason you can’t go?" Wu Lang asked.
"No." Lian Shouli quickly replied, "I intend to go, but I’m afraid... if I go alone... oh... it might stir things up again, and if..."
As Lian Shouli spoke, he looked at Lian Shouxin, his eyes full of expectation.
The words were obvious enough. Lian Shouli wanted to return the money to the old house but was afraid to go alone and wanted Lian Shouxin to accompany him.
Lian Manman’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, feeling a little displeased. Even among brothers, there are things one can help with and things one must help with, but there are also matters that cannot and should not be helped.
At this time, asking Lian Shouxin to accompany him was evidently inappropriate.
"Dad, haven’t I said it? I’ll just go." Lian Yeye said loudly, blushing, "I’ll go, I won’t say a word, I’ll just put this money on the kang, say a word to my grandpa, and come back. If anyone wants to scold me, let them. I don’t think anyone would dare to hit me."
"You child, won’t that make things even more awkward?" Lian Shouli clearly disagreed. "We definitely can’t accept the money, but... my going, at least to make amends somewhat, it can’t be too awkward."
"Old Fourth, I know it’s a bit inappropriate to ask you to accompany me, but... you know, I’m not good with words. I’m afraid when the time comes, I might say something wrong and make things worse. If you come along, even if you say nothing, it’d be better than me going alone."
Lian Shouxin is not who he used to be; with his presence, Old Master Lian, Lady Zhou, and everyone else at the old house would somewhat restrain themselves.
"Third Brother, since you’ve put it like this, I’ll be honest with you." Lian Shouxin, seeing that Lian Shouli had made his intentions clear, knew he had no choice. "If you’re worried about making things awkward, you really shouldn’t have me go along. If I go, even if nothing is said, I’m afraid the resentment will only deepen."
Upon hearing this, Lian Shouli fell silent.
"Third Brother, don’t overthink. You just go by yourself, our dad won’t say anything. Or, like Yeye suggested, drop off the money and leave. After some time, anything else can be discussed later." Lian Shouxin added.
"Dad, how about I go with you? It’s not appropriate for Uncle Fourth to go." Lian Yeye said.
"Or maybe, Third Uncle, you could let this matter sit for a while. Return the money after a few days, that’s fine too. By then, any anger might have dissipated." Lian Manman suggested.
"Forget it," after thinking for a moment, Lian Shouli said, "I’ll deliver it myself. No need to wait for a few days, to avoid..."
What to save, Lian Shouli ultimately didn’t say.
"Her father, when you go over there, why not take some dishes with you." Seeing Lian Shouli stand up, Lady Zhao said.
Today Old Master Lian, Lady Zhou, and the whole family from the old house left without having dinner. If it were Lady Zhang, no matter how angry she was, she would have sent some food over before mealtime. However, Lady Zhao was probably genuinely frightened at the time, as she hadn’t experienced much, so it didn’t occur to her. Now sitting here at Lian Manman’s house, perhaps she was reminded of how Lian Manman’s family used to handle things, which is why she thought of it.
Lian Shouli nodded, picked up the money bag as if it were a burning hot coal, and went out with Lady Zhao. They were going home to pack some food, which Lian Shouli would then take to the old house.
Lian Yeye didn’t follow Lian Shouli and Lady Zhao back.
"Sister Manman, at home, I advised my dad that this matter shouldn’t be taken to Uncle Fourth," Lian Yeye said quietly to Lian Manman, her face still blushing as she spoke.
Frankly speaking, in many cases, the two adults, Lian Shouli and Lady Zhao, together, weren’t as sensible as the young girl Lian Yeye.
"It’s alright." Lian Manman said to Lian Yeye, "Between our two families, there’s no need to be so formal. No matter who it is, just say what needs to be said. If it’s feasible, there’s naturally no issue. If it’s not, then explain the reasoning; it won’t be taken to heart."
"Okay." Hearing this, Lian Yeye seemed relieved and nodded.
"Sister Manman, I’m not afraid to tell you. My dad, he’s so anxious to return the money for a reason." Lian Yeye paused and told Lian Manman softly, "My dad is scared, scared that in the future our house... might have some trouble."
Trouble, in the jargon of some elderly tenants in Thirty Mile Camp Village, roughly means unresolved issues.
"What kind of trouble could there be?" Lian Manman asked in surprise.
"What else could it be? It’s just that people over at the old house might claim it," Lian Yeye said.
"That’s unlikely." Lian Manman laughed upon hearing this, "Building a house is a big deal, everyone in the village knows about it. You left with nothing and left the original house and everything else. The land for the house was obtained from the village, and you built the house yourself. If anyone there wants to claim it, it would be for nothing."
"Sister Manman, this reasoning is correct. But the people from the old house have never been reasonable... The core issue is that I don’t have a brother!" As Lian Yeye spoke, she seemed to become somewhat deflated.
Lian Manman then realized what Lian Yeye’s family of three was worried about. It wasn’t that she hadn’t thought of this but rather...
"Yeye, as long as your father is around, none of this will matter. If that day ever comes, (when Lian Shouli is no longer around), you and your mother won’t be alone by then." Lian Shouli is in his prime, and even if he and Lady Zhao can’t have another son, in two or three years, Lian Yeye could marry someone who would move into the family, and when they have children, they would carry the Lian surname, so Lian Shouli’s lineage wouldn’t be cut off. This way, even if someone from the old house wanted to seize the property, they wouldn’t succeed.
"Besides, we are here. We live so close, there’s no way we’d let them bully you," Lian Manman assured Lian Yeye.
Lian Manman chatted with Lian Yeye for a while longer, and then, worried about Lady Zhao being home alone, Lian Yeye said her farewells and left.
After seeing Lian Yeye off, Lian Manman recounted the conversation to Lian Shouxin, Lady Zhang, Wu Lang, Lian Zhizhi, and Xiao Qi.
"No wonder they wanted you to go along, turns out they’re worried about this," Lady Zhang said to Lian Shouxin, "Their third uncle thinks quite far ahead."
"I was wondering why my third uncle looked so scared when he saw the money," Wu Lang also commented.
Lian Shouli’s attitude when receiving the money was seen by both Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou. Old Master Lian pretended not to notice, but Lady Zhou’s temperament is different; she chose to react immediately.
"I think my third uncle understands everything. Look at him on the surface, heh heh..." Lian Manman laughed twice, "But in his heart, he’s as guarded as can be against them."
"He’s a bit too defensive," Lian Shouxin thought for a moment and said, "though I do agree with returning the money."
"That’s because the people from the old house have never made a good impression on others," Lady Zhang added.
"The key issue is still having no son, alas..." Lian Shouxin sighed.
Everyone agreed with Lian Shouxin’s view. However, this was a matter that no one could help with.
Lian Shouli took the food to the old house and returned the money, and because Old Master Lian suppressed the issue, Lady Zhou didn’t make a fuss but only looked at Lian Shouli angrily. Lian Shouli returned from the old house unharmed and felt grateful; for many days afterward, he didn’t dare to go to the village again, let alone the old house.
The mountain project was completed, and Mr. Loo put in a lot of effort in the later stages for the inscriptions and plaques. The Shen family was very satisfied and reported it to the court. The Emperor especially appreciated an essay written by Mr. Loo, which, under the guise of celestial beings, described and praised the Emperor’s deep affection and love with the late Empress Shen. The Emperor was greatly pleased and immediately issued an edict, pardoning Mr. Loo’s previous misconduct.
Mr. Loo was naturally overjoyed, and Lian Manman’s family also shared in the excitement.
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Here’s an extra Chapter, Ruoyan dives into writing, aiming for three Chapters soon. Once again, asking for your guaranteed monthly votes! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
