Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 881 - 450: The Year Is Drawing to a Close

The second shift, seeking support.

＊＊＊＊＊＊

The children carefully packaged the reply letter to Old Master Lian and the stack of hand-copied ’Old Master Lian’s family instructions,’ ensuring everything was wrapped securely. By appearances alone, no one would guess their contents.

These two items were meant to be sent to the County Yamen in Taicang County.

As for the wedding gifts for Sanlang and Miss Wang Qi, Lady Zhang chose two pieces of fine cloth. She planned to have them delivered to Old Wang’s Large Cart Inn.

"Once Sanlang is married, he will no longer be of the Old Lian Family. One piece of cloth is for his clothes, the other for his wife’s clothes," said Lady Zhang.

The reason why the wedding gifts were sent directly to Old Wang’s Large Cart Inn instead of the county office was because the Wang Family was holding the wedding. Naturally, it was their affair. Moreover, if the gifts were to pass through Lian Shouyi and Lady He, there was fear they might not reach Sanlang and Miss Wang Qi.

Lady Zhang and Lian Shouxin held affection for their nephew Sanlang, and Lian Manman bore no ill feelings towards him, even somewhat favorable. Everyone desires beauty. Whether man or woman, good looks are indeed a natural advantage.

Once their preparations were complete, Lian Shouli, Lady Zhao, and Lian Yeye arrived, indecisive and wanting to reference Lian Manman’s family’s preparations for the New Year’s gifts.

"Yeye, you must make your own decisions," Lian Manman whispered to Lian Yeye.

Lady Zhang, using an excuse, took Lady Zhao to the outer room and confided to her the details not mentioned in Old Master Lian’s letter, which she had heard from Lady Wu Wang.

Lady Zhao instantly became distraught.

While Lady Zhang, who had both sons and daughters, worried about Lady Zhou using the same methods against her that she used against Lady Gu, Lady Zhao, without a son, was even more anxious.

Lady Zhao returned from the outer room in tears, as if Lady Zhou was about to force a concubine upon Lian Shouli at any moment.

"What’s happened?" both Lian Shouli and Lian Yeye asked in surprise.

"It’s like this once it’s said. But knowing this, I can’t keep it from you," said Lady Zhang helplessly, then to Lian Yeye, "Ask your mother what happened."

Lian Yeye then asked Lady Zhao.

Between sobs, Lady Zhao spoke of Lady Zhou arranging a concubine for Lian Shouren.

"Yeye’s grandma has long wanted to divorce me because there’s no such precedent in our family, but was stopped by his grandpa. Now the rules have changed...there’s no place for me...," Lady Zhao cried, hugging Lian Yeye, "If I’m gone, death is my only recourse. My unfortunate Yeye, what will you do then?"

Lian Shouxin turned his head away. Lady Zhang and Lady Zhao’s reactions were so similar, which said a lot. One daughter-in-law lamenting Lady Zhou could do such things might suggest her own problems. But when two daughters-in-law felt the same and one had already been treated this way, it’s clear where the problem lies.

"Dad, if grandma wants you to divorce mom, will you?" Lian Yeye asked Lian Shouli.

"Impossible," replied Lian Shouli, "We’ve been through these years, and I’ve never thought of it."

The trio discussed and decided that under no circumstances could Lian Shouli go to Taicang. Both Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye would not go either.

"We’ll handle Sanlang’s wedding gift the same way we did for Erlang. The New Year’s gifts for Taicang and the county...," Lian Shouli, Lady Zhao, and Lian Yeye all looked troubled.

Lian Manman couldn’t make decisions for them. After all, the situations of the two families were different. It wasn’t just a matter of differing economic conditions, but more so the different grudges and debts between their families, the Lian Family Main House, and Lian Lanlan.

"Then we shall not give gifts to either," Lian Yeye said through gritted teeth.

Lady Zhao remained silent.

"It’s not right to give nothing," Lian Shouli muttered.

They returned to discuss further. Eventually, Lian Yeye, with reddened eyes, brought back the wedding gift for Sanlang.

"What about the gifts for Taicang and the county?" Lian Manman asked.

"Nothing at all," said Lian Yeye, "We’re barely getting by now. Each of those places lives better than us. When you’re poor, even if you willingly interact, others disdain you. Better to have nothing at all." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Does the third uncle agree?" Lian Manman inquired again.

"He wants to give, but what else do we have at home? Whatever little we have isn’t even enough to cover the round-trip fare... My dad said, wait until our days improve, and then we’ll compensate," Lian Yeye said.

Lian Manman nodded in understanding.

"Yeye, we too won’t be giving gifts to those places. We have our own reasons, you know all about the matters between us and them. However, because of us, there’s no need for you to interact or cut ties with anyone," Lian Manman spoke slowly.