Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 889 - 454: Bid Farewell to the Old and Welcome the New
First update, seeking support.
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In the inner courtyard of Lian Manman’s new residence, the Upper Room faces south and is organized in a traditional layout with one central well-lit room and four dimmer side rooms, making a total of five rooms. In the middle bright room, which faces north and south, there is a partition. Entering the door, on both sides are coal stoves, while on the north side of the partition, there are storage spaces, with basin frames and shelves and such. Above the north door, which is also the back door, there is a rectangular wooden structure resembling a small house.
This wooden structure, also facing south, has simple and elegant painted carvings on its planks, and in front, there are two doors that open opposite one another. Right now, those two doors are open, and following Lian Manman’s gesture, Lian Shouxin can see the inside of the small structure.
Placed right in the center inside is a piece of dazzling yellow silk, on which is set the Imperially Bestowed Archway and gold, honoring Lian Manman’s family with an imperial edict.
On the ground slightly below the small structure, there is an altar table where top-quality sandalwood incense is inserted into the censer, gently burning. Besides that, various fruits and pastries are also placed on the altar table.
Lian Shouxin was a bit puzzled; ever since the imperial edict had been brought in, it had been enshrined here. Now, during the Chinese New Year, it was only natural to burn incense and offer tribute in front of the imperial edict. However, this was not the same as ancestor worship.
"Father, from now on, when our family celebrates the New Year, we will venerate the imperial edict," Lian Manman said, clearly understanding Lian Shouxin’s thoughts and speaking with a smile.
"Father, you listen to Xiao Qi reading to you every day, and you also have heard quite a bit of Mr. Loo’s teachings... The relationships between ruler and minister, as well as father and son, place the ruler and minister first. In loyalty and filial piety, loyalty comes first too. Father, don’t you always say that the emperor’s grace is boundless and you don’t know how to repay it?"
"My father has taken Great Grandfather and Great Grandma’s spirit tablets to Taicang. During the three annual festivals and four seasons, with the legitimate branches present, such as my eldest uncle, there’s no lack of offerings to be made," she continued. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
"For our family, venerating and worshipping the imperial edict is the most proper and fitting," Lian Manman informed Lian Shouxin.
There were some plans Lian Manman didn’t intend to discuss with Lian Shouxin yet.
In the graveyard of Nanshan, the only ancestors of the Lian Family were Old Master Lian’s father and mother. Tracing further back, not only were there no grave markers, but even their names were uncertain. Of course, this didn’t rule out the possibility that Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu knew. However, Lian Manman was certain that Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi did not know.
Unless belonging to a prestigious and tradition-valuing large clan, ordinary tenant farmer families, who might not even have had scholars, would not speak of family or clan records.
Despite Old Master Lian’s emphasis on propriety and the value of education, hoping fervently that his eldest son could distinguish himself and bring glory to his ancestors through the imperial exams, the Lian Family lacked its own family and clan records.
Even though Lian Shouren finally became an official, prompting the Lian Family to need clan and family records, where could Lian Manman’s family, which had already separated, possibly be placed? Moreover, why should they bother to claim a position?
To compile family and clan records, it should be done by themselves. This great matter was not something Lian Manman anticipated from Lian Shouxin; in her plan, this task was meant for Wu Lang and Xiao Qi to accomplish.
After Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang pass away, with Wu Lang and Xiao Qi establishing the ancestral hall and compiling the records, Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang will then become the ancestors of this clan and household.
Their family started from scratch, with various grievances and incompatibilities with the Upper Room, so such an approach was reasonable and proper.
This idea, Lian Manman had only shared privately with Wu Lang, who at the time nodded silently and then dedicated himself even more to his studies.
Whether to share this plan with Lian Shouxin in the future is a matter for later. Now, it was enough to establish the tradition of worshipping the imperial edict and archway during the festival, as it was the foundation of their family’s prosperity.
"Ah..." Lian Shouxin let out a sound of realization, at a loss for words for a moment.
"Father, we have prepared all the paper money for the tomb visit tomorrow," Lian Manman added.
Though the family didn’t worship or venerate at home, Lian Manman did not object to Lian Shouxin visiting the graves and burning paper money during the festivals.
With Old Master Lian’s entire household in Taicang, despite Lian Jizu coming to collect rent at the end of autumn, they had no plans to return to visit the graves and burn paper money during the New Year’s celebration. Instead, they entrusted Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli to take Wu Lang and Xiao Qi.
"Father, let’s do it this way," Wu Lang entered from outside and said.
"... Alright," Lian Shouxin nodded.
Lian Manman and Wu Lang exchanged a knowing look, secretly delighted in their hearts.
...
As night fell, large red lanterns were lit on both sides of the Imperially Bestowed Archway at the entrance to the Lian Family’s residence. In the front courtyard’s main hall and study, as well as at Mr. Loo’s room entrance, red lanterns were hung. Besides the Upper Room entrance in the inner courtyard, lanterns were also hung beside each pillar on the side promenades.
