Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1556 - 791: Courtesy and Boundaries
No need for Lian Yeye to explain in detail. With Lian Manman’s understanding of the old house, she only needed a brief thought to figure out what was going on. Old Master Lian favored Lian Jizu, and as a balance, he made a compromise regarding Si Lang going to Lian Lanlan’s house to stay. This compromise was only reached because Old Master Lian was so enraged that he fainted.
Lady Zhou must be unhappy about this, and since Si Lang will be staying in the city in the future, Lian Lanlan will definitely have to help look after him. Therefore, the annual gifts to Lian Lanlan were increased and scheduled earlier; they would be delivered by Lian Shouyi and Si Lang tomorrow.
Moreover, there’s room for flexibility in this matter. When Lian Shouyi and Si Lang go there and make their request to stay, if Lian Lanlan agrees, everything will be fine. But if she doesn’t, Lian Shouyi and Si Lang must not force the issue.
"Is this a matter of inside versus outside?" Lian Manman raised an eyebrow.
When dealing with Lian Lanlan, the old house is so courteous and proper. They know how to present themselves when asking for help, offering returns, considering others’ perspectives without imposing difficulties. But with us, it’s completely different.
Just because Lian Lanlan married out and is now part of another family, while we all have the surname Lian and are family with the old house? So why is there such a vast difference in treatment between us and Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu?
This is not fundamentally a matter of inside versus outside; it’s a matter of favoritism. It’s about the difference in treatment between those cherished and beloved and those of no significant concern.
"This favoritism knows no bounds," said Lian Manman.
Moreover, this is not just about favoritism.
Even though they’re all their own offspring, they have to categorize them and distance or favor them to different degrees. Why is that? It’s clearly about power and the desire to control others. Throughout history, those who love to play power games are exceptionally adept at this.
The saying goes, "If not of one family, do not enter one door." Essentially, Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou are the same type of people. Lady Zhou doesn’t recognize even one big character, and Old Master Lian hasn’t formally studied. If you were to discuss power games with them, they might not know what that means. But this interest, this desire, is innate for them.
Being able to separate and live apart is truly a bliss.
Reflecting on past hardships and modern sweetness, Lian Manman immediately felt the sky was so blue, the air so fresh, and life now truly beautiful.
Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye hadn’t left when someone outside came to report that Lian Shouli had arrived and wanted to chat with Lian Shouxin.
With Lian Yeye’s previous news, Lian Manman had a sense of what Lian Shouli might say to Lian Shouxin at this time. She excused herself, called Xiao Qi over, whispered a few words, and then sent Xiao Qi to find Lian Shouxin.
Lian Shouxin also needed to be mentally prepared to handle things accordingly.
After making arrangements, Lian Manman returned to the room. Lian Yeye was still sitting there, looking a bit uneasy.
"Sister Manman, my dad... my dad..." Lian Yeye didn’t know what to say. She felt guilty towards Lian Manman family. She and Lady Zhao constantly persuaded Lian Shouli, but their efforts couldn’t fundamentally change anything. "My dad, he... well, I won’t speak for him anymore. He’s just obsessed with one thing. As long as our grandparents hold on, he just... sigh..."
Lian Manman family had been so generous and forgiving towards their family. Before Lian Manman, Lian Yeye couldn’t defend Lian Shouli because she herself knew that what Lian Shouli did was unfair to Lian Manman family.
"Sister Manman, even if... even if something happens, we mustn’t grow distant." After a long silence, Lian Yeye finally spoke again.
Despite her young age, Lian Yeye was understanding and reasonable. This was one of the main reasons why Lian Manman admired, preferred, and was willing to help her family.
Just out of pity for fate, Lian Manman might offer sympathy but not friendship. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
After chatting with Lian Manman for a while longer, Lian Yeye and Lady Zhao took their leave, forcibly taking Lian Shouli with them when they reached the front yard.
Lian Shouxin returned from the front yard with a somewhat gloomy expression.
"What did your third uncle say to you?" Lady Zhang asked. "I’m starting to understand him; he’s just that kind of person. If you don’t want to listen to him, don’t let him speak. If he does, then just don’t listen."
"I know," Lian Shouxin nodded. "He didn’t say much, just that he went to the old house and saw Old Master wasn’t looking well. He also said that this afternoon, Old Master had another episode but refused to let anyone call a doctor, saying it would be too troublesome to bother us, and he felt guilty."
"If it weren’t for Yeye and their mother going to insist on taking him away, I’m sure he would’ve had much more to say to me."
There are some things that Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou aren’t comfortable directly telling Lian Shouxin, but through Lian Shouli, they can occasionally let Lian Shouxin know how pitiful they are and how much they think and care for him. This works much better than Old Master Lian or Lady Zhou expressing it directly to him.
However, such things are okay once or twice. But too many times can inevitably lead to annoyance. After experiencing so much, Lian Shouxin is no longer a child; he knows how to distinguish true from false.
To judge how someone truly feels about you, what matters isn’t their eloquent words but their actions.
No matter how sincere or kind the sentiments expressed by the old house through Lian Shouli, there is not a hint of it in their actions. How can this not be off-putting?
"Dad, what do you think my third uncle meant with his words? Whose side is he on?" Lian Manman suddenly asked.
"He... he didn’t really say much. Between the lines, he seems to think Old Master and Old Lady... have it tough." Lian Shouxin still maintained his long-standing habit of not speaking ill of others. Even if there were faults, he would express them gently and mildly.
"My third uncle comes to our house with less and less to say, just about the old house, Old Master, and Old Lady. How Old Master and Old Lady have been good to us, others might not know, but doesn’t he know? I think he quite enjoys making these trips, doesn’t he?" Lian Manman remarked.
The difference between being forced to convey messages and willingly doing so is significant.
Whether he’s forced or willing, Lian Shouxin can tell without Lian Shouli saying anything.
"...I think he treats this as a kind of livelihood, only not as good as his craftsmanship. People, indeed..." Lian Shouxin, also feeling depressed, spoke truthfully.
Lian Manman family sympathized with Lian Shouli’s situation and knew about his troubles. They not only offered him much support but also showed great tolerance for some of his words and deeds.
However, everything has its limits. Lian Manman thought it might be time to give Lian Shouli a gentle reminder.
An update will be sent first, followed by a second update later.
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