Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1422 - 725: Sabotage
Lian Shouxin returned home, feeling a bit downhearted. Lian Manman had already heard from Steward Han Zhong about Lian Shouxin’s situation at the old house, and could only sigh and shake her head.
"The Old Master was never one to be dissatisfied before. He was quite dignified; how on earth... did he become like this now?" After dinner, the family sat around chatting idly, and Lian Shouxin frowned and sighed.
Hearing this, Lian Manman also recalled the past.
"...Back before the family split, my grandpa didn’t fuss about food or clothing. No matter what dishes Grandma whipped up, he was fine as long as he was full. Back then, it seemed easy to cheer him up. When Brother Jizu returned with a bottle of wine for him, he couldn’t stop smiling." Remembering, Lian Manman spoke.
"In those days, whenever a little illness or misfortune struck, we’d never call a doctor. Normally it was just seeds and pickles, and it was only during festivals, or when the main household returned, that we’d see some meat," Lady Zhang said. "Look at the things we give for holidays now; each holiday gift is more than the main household gave in those years. When we go see them, we never go empty-handed, with various good pastries. Throughout the year they’ve tasted them all... We always send them things without asking for anything in return. Back then, when the main household returned, they definitely came for money." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
"Back then, whenever the main household’s family returned, my grandpa’s face was all smiles, and whenever he saw us, he was happier than usual, joyful about everything," Lian Zhizhi said softly.
Xiao Qi said nothing, just exhaled and leaned closer to Lian Manman.
Lian Manman extended her arm, pulling Xiao Qi into her embrace. Before the family split, Xiao Qi, the youngest male grandson of the Lian Family, was not the most favored. His food and clothing, let alone compared to Lian Huahua and Lian Duoduo, were even less than Da Niuniu’s.
Back then, the Old Master was so easily satisfied; how has he become so difficult now?
"I guess if the main household’s share were swapped with ours now, my grandpa would be satisfied too," Lian Manman said with a sneer.
If Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu were the ones owning the archway, numerous shops, fields, silver coins, and promising prospects now, even if the father and son didn’t give anything to the Old Master, the Old Master would feel satisfied, happy, and sleep contentedly through the night.
Emotions are like this; they’re not as straightforward as one plus one equals two, or easily explained. You may be good to someone, but it doesn’t mean that person will be good to you in return.
Ultimately, the Old Master is just biased. Or rather, his heart is entirely with Lian Shouren; he can’t spare his heart to love his other sons. Only when Lian Shouren is happy can the Old Master feel joyful. No matter how well other sons do, no matter how filial they are to him, it all amounts to nothing.
Despite feeling unfair and unwilling, they have no choice but to accept this reality. No matter how hard they try, they can’t genuinely move the Old Master’s heart unless they cater to his favorites.
For instance, buying timber to make coffins and gifting fabric for wraps; those things pleased the Old Master. As such, they’re among the Old Master’s most valued matters.
And the thing that would most please the Old Master is giving preferential treatment to Lian Shouren, ideally revering him almost as if he were an ancestor.
But this is something Lian Manman’s family absolutely cannot do, as it would be too self-tormenting, and against their conscience.
"If you stayed a little longer, do you think the Old Master would ask you for money?" Lady Zhang asked Lian Shouxin.
"I left as soon as I arranged the medicine; I feared staying longer, the Old Master would ask me to nod and agree on a wife for the main household," Lian Shouxin said. "I’m not interested in hearing about that... The money borrowing thing, I wasn’t even thinking about that."
Nowadays, they were doing well enough; taking out a few taels or even dozens wouldn’t bother them. However, money doesn’t just come from the wind; they earn it through hard work and naturally hope to use it wisely.
"I don’t think my grandpa would ask my dad to lend money," Lian Manman said. "My grandpa cares about face and would wait for my dad to offer it on his own."
Hence, the Old Master invited Lian Shouxin over and first declared explicitly that they were financially capable of marrying Lian Shouren. However, when facing the villagers, the Old Master would insist that they were short on funds and needed to borrow money from Lian Shouxin, and that Lian Shouxin would surely not neglect them and would be willing to lend the money.
