Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1380 - 704: Observing Subtle Signs to Infer the Larger Picture
Third watch, requesting pink blossoms.
"I know. She calls me a hundred and eighty times a day, if I don’t answer once, she says you went out. Your granny is really shrewd." Lady He said, contradicting what she said earlier, yet somehow not contradictory.
"So do you go back for meals? Does she give you food?" Lian Manman asked again.
"Why wouldn’t I go back for meals? The grain harvested has my share, and so does the grain Erlang provides." Lady He was finally a bit moved, "You all have split off, living well, and only we are left suffering."
On this topic, she needed no prompting as Lady He went on and on.
"Everyone knows about the big boss and his son. They’re just show-offs, useless in the fields. Just those two grown men aren’t even worth one of our men. Inside the house and out, it’s our people doing all the work." Lady He said, leaning forward towards Lady Zhao, even clapping her hands to show her indignation.
"We’re worn out from hard labor, can’t even eat an extra bite. The Old Master and his wife still favor their eldest son and grandson... When we go to the fields, the Old Master assigns work, ensuring the easy tasks go to his eldest son and grandson. Our Xiao Liu is still young, yet his workload exceeds Jizu’s. We work so hard, yet the Old Master shows us no kindness. That day in the fields, he nearly struck Erlang’s father with a hoe. He wouldn’t even lift a finger against his eldest son or grandson."
Lian Manman and Lian Yeye exchanged a glance, realizing Lady He’s dissatisfaction with Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou. Her dissatisfaction mirrored that of Lian Shouyi and their group.
If she expresses such discontent here, Lady He would likely share it at others’ homes too.
Surely, Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou can’t be completely unaware of this. Yet Lady He can still visit doors, indicating that they truly can’t control Lian Shouyi’s group.
"As a wife, I’m still an elder. But who sees me as a human?" Lady He continued, "Take the autumn harvest for instance. Everyone goes to the fields, leaving the old lady alone to cook. She refused. If someone else is to stay back for her, shouldn’t it be me? But they ignore me and leave Jizu’s wife behind. I slogged through the autumn in the fields, my back almost breaking, filthy and exhausted, not like a human at all. Meanwhile, Jizu’s wife only cooks, never setting foot in the fields."
"They bully me like this, don’t treat me like a human, treat me like a beast of burden!" Lady He spat, her voice vigorous with anger.
Though Lian Manman and Lian Yeye were seated afar, they instinctively shifted back. Poor Lady Zhao, she was being subjected to Lady He’s spit-laden outburst right in her face.
"Even if they treat me like a beast, they should at least let me eat my fill." Lady He, catching her breath, continued, "She won’t let me eat to my content, and if I want an extra serving of vegetables, she glares at me, even scolding me."
"During the autumn harvest, she doesn’t let you eat enough either?" Lian Manman asked.
From what she knew, normally Old Master Lian wouldn’t interfere with meals. But during the busy farming season, Old Master Lian would pay particular attention to meal issues, instructing Lady Zhou on each meal’s dishes. And he would care for those working in the field yet eating at Lady Zhou’s table.
During those days, although the dishes on Lady Zhou’s table were monitored, the food was plentiful and open.
"Those few days mean nothing." Lady He replied lightly, sidestepping the topic. "Even now I have the grain Erlang provides, yet she won’t let me eat my fill. Every meal she chastises me, says I should eat elsewhere, saving rations for good people. Saving for who? Who am I saving for? It’s all just her eldest son and grandson. If we just work without eating it makes her happy."
It’s unquestionable that Lady Zhou is harsh to her daughters-in-law, but starving Lady He might be connected to her going out every day.
Listening to Lady He complain about Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou, she seemed unable to stop once she started. Lian Manman suddenly had a thought.
"Second Aunt, I heard rumors that you and Second Uncle want to separate from the family?" Lian Manman looked at Lady He, asking.
