Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1671 - 853: Decision
Shang Baorong embroidering on knee pads and shoe insoles had been noticed by Lian Manman and Lady Zhang long ago. In the side courtyard, the young wives and girls were all engaged in tailoring tasks. When Shang Baorong was in the side courtyard, she acted the same as those wives and girls. But in the backyard, Lady Zhang and Lian Manman did sewing tasks. The special knee pads and other items they made for Shen Liu were not only of different materials but also extraordinarily delicate.
Shang Baorong had asked about it before, but of course, Lian Manman and Lady Zhang did not tell her it was specially made for Shen Liu, instead they pointed to something else to cover it up.
Besides helping with the cutting in the side courtyard daily, Shang Baorong also took some tasks home to do. Each time she came to the backyard, she would bring these tasks and work alongside Lian Manman and Lady Zhang.
Lian Manman and Lady Zhang had talked about this matter in private.
Sometimes Lian Manman thought Lady Zhang spoiled her children, but upon reflection, it wasn’t spoiling but tolerance. Lady Zhang was such a tolerant person, not just to her children but also to others.
Regarding Shang Baorong’s embroidery, Lady Zhang’s attitude was to pretend not to see it and let Shang Baorong do her thing.
"We aren’t short of hands here, it’s not like we’re expecting her to do a full person’s work, and she’s not asking for any wages. Young girls like to be fashionable, so let her do what she likes. Whatever she makes, she can keep it for herself if she wants, and if she doesn’t, we’ll just keep it," Lady Zhang said to Lian Manman.
In essence, they didn’t consider Shang Baorong as someone hired to help, just a child tagging along to join in the fun, with a very indulgent attitude.
However, Lady Zhang also knew it wasn’t appropriate to mix such exquisite embroidered items with the tasks everyone else was doing to be sent to the Border Town.
Lian Manman didn’t quite agree with this inwardly, but she said nothing. Today, she couldn’t help but give Shang Baorong a "gentle reminder." Lady Wu Wang, always perceptive, immediately joined in on Lian Manman’s words, more clearly hinting at Shang Baorong.
Regarding someone of such special status as Shang Baorong, this was all they could do.
"I, I’m just used to it. My hands... Once I finish this embroidery, I won’t embroider anymore," Shang Baorong said somewhat embarrassingly as everyone talked.
"I know; it’s called itchy fingers," Lady Wu Wang laughed, "I learned this phrase from the books our Zhizhi studies."
"Does Zhizhi also read and write?" Shang Baorong asked.
The topic then shifted, and no one mentioned the embroidery anymore.
Near noon, Lian Yeye returned from the old house.
"Yeye, have a seat on the kang," Lian Manman called to Lian Yeye. Because Shang Baorong was present, she didn’t immediately ask Lian Yeye about matters at the old house.
Lian Yeye also saw Shang Baorong and hesitated, not speaking up as he usually would upon entering the room.
"So, how did it go? Is everything settled over there?" Lady Zhang asked.
Shang Huaide and Younger Lady Zhou’s family were frequent guests at the old house, so even if Old Master Lian hadn’t asked Shang Huaide to mediate, they should have known the full story long before. Therefore, some things didn’t require being concealed from Shang Baorong.
"I don’t know if it’s settled or not," Lian Yeye replied. "I just saw that they were about to eat, so I came back... My Third Maternal Grandfather is also at the old house helping to mediate."
Saying this, Lian Yeye secretly gave Lian Manman a look.
Lian Manman understood that Shang Huaide had arrived uninvited, also going to the old house to join in.
Recalling the subtle feelings Old Master Lian had vaguely hinted at towards Shang Huaide, Lian Manman felt that this matter was indeed quite delicate.
"Mother, it’s getting late, it’s time for lunch," Lian Manman said to Lady Zhang.
"It is about time to eat," Lady Zhang looked out the window and nodded, instructing someone to set the table.
Shang Baorong was about to get up and go home, but Lady Zhang and the others certainly wouldn’t let her go.
"... We haven’t prepared anything special, just a regular meal. There are no outsiders here, so just eat here and don’t bother going back and forth."
"My father is definitely having lunch at my Second Aunt’s house. At home, it’s just my mother and my younger brother left. I need to hurry home to help my mother cook... It’s less fun for just the two of them to eat," Shang Baorong said, "... I told my mother when I left this morning that I’d be back for lunch."
"I’ll just send someone to invite Third Aunt and our brothers over. Otherwise, we could simply send some food there, so mother and son don’t have to cook," Lady Zhang suggested.
