Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1374 - 701: Another Family Split?

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"If someone really has difficulties and needs us to lend a hand, that’s okay. But we can’t support lazy people, that would harm them." Lian Shouxin said with some anger, calming himself slightly before continuing, "Let’s not talk about others, just Jizu, why is he so frivolous? Isn’t it because he’s never suffered hardships and doesn’t know how hard it is to get each grain of food?"

"They need to experience it themselves, to understand the hardships of farmers, so they can lead a stable life in the future and practice thriftiness in the household. It was agreed upon initially, and Old Master meant the same too. I’ve farmed before, it’s just a few acres, and they don’t need Old Master to lift a finger. If they don’t want to endure hardship and only want ready-made things, won’t they become drifters in the village? Helping them now is not helping, it is harming them."

"Old Master is a bit muddled now, once he thinks clearly, he will understand." Lian Shouxin finally said.

Lian Shouxin washed up, changed into a cloth shirt, and took Xiao Qi to the front yard to eat with the long-term workers. Lady Zhang, Lian Zhizhi, and Lian Manman ate in the backyard.

At the dining table, the women inevitably discussed the matter again.

"Old Master cares for those few people on one hand, and on the other, I feel, Old Master’s words no longer carry the weight they used to... he seems to be losing control over the people in the old house." Lian Manman shared her thoughts with Lady Zhang and Lian Zhizhi, words she hadn’t mentioned earlier to Lian Shouxin.

As to why Old Master Lian lost the authority he once had, ultimately, it can’t be blamed on others. This situation arose after Lian Shouxin lost his temper at the old house last time.

"I just can’t make sense of it, those old folks, with just a few acres, is it really worth all this? The work from the First Master’s household isn’t up to par, but between the two of them, they should be able to act as a laborer. The Second Master’s couple might be a bit lazy, but if you keep an eye on them, they can handle the work in the fields. Si Lang has grown up over the past two years and can be considered a laborer. Liulang is younger but heard to be quite strong and diligent at work. Even if Jizu’s wife and the others don’t work in the fields because of their bound feet, with these few people, they should be able to manage the fieldwork." Lady Zhang counted the heads in the old house, saying.

Compared to when the family was not split, the old house now has fewer laborers, but also fewer fields. Now the ratio of labor to land should be similar to before the split. Yet, this situation now arises, and Lady Zhang is quite puzzled.

"Mom, you can’t look at it that way." Lian Manman thought for a moment, then smiled and said to Lady Zhang, "Think about it, back then it was implicitly understood that the First Master’s household didn’t need to work the fields. Those working the fields were just these few families. Our family goes without saying, even my Third Uncle’s household worked earnestly. At that time, even if the Second Master’s couple was a bit lazy, with us as a comparison and Old Master supervising, they wouldn’t slack too much."

"Now, in the old house, it’s just the two households, and the First Master’s household now has to work the fields, but even with both of them, they might not equal one full laborer. With them as a comparison, would the people from the Second Master’s household be willing to work sincerely?"

"Indeed, the Second Master’s couple can work, but they like to compare. Before, comparing with us always benefitted them. Now, comparing with the First Master’s, they feel they’re losing out. They surely won’t be happy. And Si Lang is also someone who likes to shirk." Lady Zhang nodded after listening.

"This is still internal comparison within the old house." Lian Manman continued, "I guess they might also compare with us. Our family willingly takes on the work, but we could just let the long-term workers handle it, that’s also fine. Plus, with mules and horses, they surely think we have it easier than before."

"Easier my foot, back then it was just a few acres, now it’s so many. Also, we have to manage all these people now, it’s exhausting." Lady Zhang said.

"That’s just it, but I’m afraid they won’t see it that way." Lian Manman said, "Moreover, they might be comparing with my Third Uncle’s household. My Third Uncle doesn’t have land and doesn’t need to work the fields. They must be envious! The other day, Yeye even came over to tell me that the Second Master’s household spoke to Third Uncle, wanting him to come over to help."

"The nerve of him." Lady Zhang snorted, "If they hadn’t schemed against their own brother, Yeye’s father might not have been on the brink of death. Now, even without land, he has a livelihood. And besides, they don’t really lack hands, they’re just lazy."