Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 86 - 49: Breaking Through_1

In the dead of night, a chubby Chapter, seeking subscriptions, pink likes, and rewards. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

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Lady Zhou and Lian Xiuxiu were left to care for Lady Zhang, which greatly worried Lian Manman. The two of them didn’t seem at all capable of taking good care of someone, let alone since the person in their care was a village woman in their eyes. Even if they reluctantly fulfilled their duty of care because of what Old Master Lian had said, who knows if they showed Lady Zhang a cold face behind her back or made mean remarks to her, making her suffer silently? Lady Zhang was in her small confinement period, which could not be taken lightly. Should any mistakes occur and she be left with lingering health issues, it would affect her for a lifetime.

After hearing Lian Manman’s words, Old Master Lian’s face stiffened, and he was silent for a long while.

"Then, Manman, you stay and take care of your mother," Old Master Lian said. During the harvest season, every able-bodied worker was extremely valuable, which showed great tolerance on Old Master Lian’s part.

Lian Manman had originally wanted Lian Zhizhi to stay, as the chores at Lian Zhizhi’s home were better managed, and she was more attentive. However, after another thought, Lian Manman nodded in agreement.

"Father, let Xiao Qi stay as well. He can’t do much work in the fields anyway. When my mother wakes up, she refuses to speak. If Xiao Qi stayed at home to chat with my mother, she would recover faster," Lian Manman added to Old Master Lian.

So it was settled that while the others went to work in the fields, Lian Manman and Xiao Qi stayed behind to care for Lady Zhang.

With the workers gone, the Lian Family’s courtyard quieted down. Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu were supposedly reading in the house, while Lady Zhou and Lian Xiuxiu took care of Lian Yaya in the Upper Room, not venturing outside.

Lady Zhang lay on the brick bed with her eyes closed, while Lian Manman had Xiao Qi hold Lady Zhang’s hand and sit by her side.

"Mother, are you thirsty?" Lian Manman asked.

Lady Zhang shook her head gently.

"Mother, the ones who are gone can’t come back. Don’t think about anything else; think about us, especially about Xiao Qi, who cried himself hoarse yesterday," Lian Manman said.

Lady Zhang stirred.

This morning, after Lady Zhang had taken her medicine, she had only eaten a little and had since remained silent, refusing to eat or drink anything.

"Mother, think about it. If something were to happen to you, how would our family get by? Who would look after us, feed us, and clothe us? Can we really rely on grandma and aunt? If there’s a stepmother, things are already tight enough for us. The older ones among us might just survive, but Xiao Qi is still so young; what would become of him?"

At the mention of a stepmother and the prospect of not surviving, Xiao Qi immediately pouted, on the verge of tears.

"Mother won’t die," Lady Zhang hurriedly patted Xiao Qi’s hand, finally speaking.

"Mother, you rest. Getting better is the most important thing right now. I’ll find something for you to eat," Lian Manman reassured her.

Lian Manman left Xiao Qi with Lady Zhang and came out of the West Wing Room. Considering how much blood Lady Zhang had lost, she needed to be well-nourished. Lian Manman planned to ask Lady Zhou for some eggs to make poached eggs for Lady Zhang.

Upon entering the Upper Room, Lian Manman saw Lian Yaya picking beans, while Lady Zhou and Lian Xiuxiu sat at the edge of the brick bed doing needlework.

"What brings you here, has your mother woken up?" Lady Zhou asked as soon as she saw Lian Manman.

"My mother just woke up, saying she’s hungry," Lian Manman said, "Grandma, give me some eggs, I want to boil them for my mother."

"What eggs? Haven’t they all been used for cooking in the past few days?" Lady Zhou said.

"Grandma, there were four eggs laid yesterday that haven’t been eaten," Lian Manman said. It was they who had caught the chickens and watched Lady Zhou checking under them for eggs yesterday morning before heading to the fields.

Lady Zhou seemed to ponder for a moment before she got down from the brick bed and reached into the Chinese basket on the cupboard, giving Lian Manman two eggs.

"Grandma, give me two more, please. My mother lost so much blood yesterday. If she recovers, she can also go to work in the fields sooner," Lian Manman said to Lady Zhou.

Lady Zhou frowned as if she was about to scold her but, for some reason, held back and took out one more egg.

"Three, no more," Lady Zhou stated.

Three would have to do. Lian Manman accepted the eggs.

"Just cook them here on the stove, the firewood is ready," Lady Zhou said, following Lian Manman out.

"That’s fine," Lian Manman replied. She had intended to take them to the West Wing Room to cook, but since Lady Zhou suggested doing it here, it wasn’t a big deal, so she happily agreed.

"You do it yourself, be careful with the fire. I’m going to check on your mother," Lady Zhou said, watching Lian Manman light the fire under the stove, then she exited out the front and headed toward the West Wing Room.

Lian Manman added a ladle of water to the pot, just as Xiao Qi walked in from outside.

"Why aren’t you with mom?" Lian Manman asked.

"Grandma told me to come out to help with the fire," Xiao Qi replied.

Sensing something, Lian Manman stopped tending the fire and left the Upper Room. The door to the West Wing Room was closed, and Lian Manman didn’t try to open it, but quietly moved toward the window instead.