Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1389 - 708: Reasoning (Part 2)
Lady Zhou suffered a major blow, but Lian Shouxin was unmoved.
"You crawled out of my womb, and you compare her to me? Is she your mother?" Lady Zhou said harshly.
"She’s the mother of my children," Lian Shouxin said in a deep voice.
Lady Zhou sobbed, cursing Lian Shouxin for being heartless, but could say no more.
Such reasoning, when spoken by a son facing his mother, has the greatest effect.
"There’s one more thing: Caiyun’s dowry was bought with their own money." While other things might be left unsaid, Lian Shouxin had to clarify matters regarding the Zhang Family. "Their own girl is their treasure; why would they need me to pay? Don’t project your intentions onto others."
Lian Shouxin glanced at Lian Shouyi and Lady He.
"Is this what you two whispered about in front of the old lady? Sneaking around my house like thieves, the next time the guard and watchman catch you, you’ll be treated as thieves, so don’t say I turn my back on you." Lian Shouxin said.
Lian Shouyi and Lady He were both embarrassed. These two dared not speak against the matters of Shouxin Family, only daring to grumble behind Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou. The quarrel today between Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou arose precisely because of Lady He’s embellished words, claiming that Lian Shouxin bought three carts full of things worth hundreds of taels of silver, all as a dowry for Zhang Caiyun.
"I can’t believe you didn’t add even One Wen Money," Lady Zhou chimed in at this point, "You didn’t accompany them, so how do you know whose money was spent? Do you know what kind of life the Zhang Family leads? Can they afford all those things?"
Knowing that it was Lady Zhang who took people to buy things in the city, Lady Zhou had long assumed that Lady Zhang spent the Lian Family’s money on the Zhang Family.
"Say what you may about me, but don’t drag the Zhangs into this; this also involves the Old Lu Family. If they hear something and come knocking, I won’t be partial to family over reason." Lian Shouxin said.
Lian Shouyi and Lady He immediately changed their expressions.
Lian Shouyi and Lady He feared being beaten, but not Lady Zhou. After all, she was Lian Shouxin’s mother, and it wasn’t as if Zhang Qingnian and other juniors, or even Lady Li, would hit her.
"... Old Fourth, I’m doing this for your own good. You have some money now, but you can’t waste it like this. I don’t know how much you’ve given the Zhang Family, but look at how much you’ve prepared for Zhizhi? And how much for Wu Lang and Xiao Qi, those are rightfully theirs. But a girl like Zhizhi, what you’ve prepared from start to finish, even on the surface, is enough for three or four brides. If you prepare this much for Zhizhi, for Manman’s turn, it’ll have to be doubled, right?" Lady Zhou didn’t press on the Zhang Caiyun issue any further, considering herself as having stepped back, caring for Lian Shouxin, "A girl, you give her so much, does it speak well of the family?"
"Do you know what people say outside? A girl you give so much, yet you ignore your nephews? Would Erlang have to go to the Luo Family to work like a horse if you could spare even a tenth for him? Si Lang is at marriageable age too, yet he hasn’t got a match, and then there’s Liulang. Are you going to watch your nephews become bachelors?"
The preference for sons over daughters, where daughters can’t compare to nephews because daughters marry into other families and carry on someone else’s bloodline, while nephews carry on their own family’s bloodline. This is the mindset many men in this era hold or are indoctrinated with. Sometimes, it’s even enforced.
Fortunately, Lian Shouxin didn’t think this way.
Lian Shouxin stood up abruptly, startling Lady Zhou.
"Mother, I’ve heard you’ve been preparing a dowry for Xiuxiu early on, right? Have you prepared anything for Zhizhi and Manman?" Lian Shouxin asked Lady Zhou.
"I..." Lady Zhou was speechless.
"Right, Zhizhi and Manman are my daughters. You can prepare for your own daughter; I’ll prepare for mine. Isn’t that reasonable?" Lian Shouxin continued.
"Let’s not talk about anything else, just Erlang and the others, are their parents dead? No, they’re all fine here, without illness or worry, active and meddling around, not doing any serious work, just gossiping around." Lian Shouxin was infuriated, and when honest people say harsh words, it’s without mercy.
Being called out by Lian Shouxin, neither Lian Shouyi nor Lady He dared to speak.
"We’ve long since split the family up, and I’m not responsible for their matters. Likewise, they shouldn’t interfere with mine. Instead of fretting over unnecessary things, they should get some work done. Always wanting ready-made, what a shame!"
After saying this, Lian Shouxin didn’t look at anyone and marched out.
"Old Fourth has changed, he’s become a different person..." Lady Zhou said in anguish to the falling door curtain, "My good son, it’s all because of the family split, someone misled him..."
Lian Shouli, who had accompanied Lian Shouxin and remained invisible, seeing no one was paying attention to him, promptly followed Lian Shouxin out.
"Old Fourth, our mother is just that way. As long as we know the truth, it’s fine. In front of her, anyway..." Lian Shouli cautiously caught up with Lian Shouxin. But before he could finish, they met Old Master Lian, Lian Shouren, and Lian Jizu head-on.
"Old Fourth is here, why are you leaving so soon?" Old Master Lian said. Noticing Lian Shouxin’s unhappy face, he added, "Old Fourth, your mother is confused, you don’t have to listen to her, nor take it to heart."
"Father, you should keep tighter control over the gossiping mouths in this courtyard. You’re in charge in this courtyard. Don’t drag the Zhang and Lu families into this. Once face is lost among relatives, you can’t reclaim it," said Lian Shouxin. Without waiting for Old Master Lian’s reply, he strode off.
Midnight, seeking votes of support. (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to vote for me on Qidian (qidian.com), your support is my greatest motivation.)
