Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 907 - 463: Subdue_2

Lady Zhou narrowed her eyes slightly. She had caught on—Lian Manman was telling her that if she wanted Lian Shouxin to send her back to Taicang sooner, she had to behave herself in Thirty Mile Camp: no cursing, no making a scene.

"What, after just a few months, your family—it’s you, this little brat calling the shots now?" Lady Zhou glared viciously at Lian Manman.

"Grandma, that’s not how you say it. Don’t you remember? Last time we went to the county to borrow money, it was me who went. Back then, I wasn’t calling the shots either." Lian Manman said with a smile, unafraid of Lady Zhou.

Lady Zhou, right now, was nothing but a paper tiger. She surely understood that if she wanted to return to Taicang, she had to rely on Fourth Household and Lian Shouxin. The heavy-handed tactics she used to control them were no longer effective. Lian Manman made it clear—only by behaving meekly would Fourth Household help her.

Lady Zhou lowered her head and said nothing.

"Grandma, we built new houses—you’ve known about this for a while, haven’t you? Rest up a bit first, then after we eat, you can go visit our new home. Honestly, whether you look at the house or not doesn’t matter; but our Imperially Bestowed Archway—you must see it! When we’re back, I’ll have my dad sweep the ground clean, and my mom waiting for you at the archway."

"In front of the archway, no matter how high an official, they must kneel three times and bow nine times... Haha, but my mom and we don’t have to—we just need to bow on the first and fifteenth. Grandma, rest for now; let me get my aunt and Jizu to accompany you when you go."

After speaking, everyone left the room.

Walking out of the outer room, they saw Lian Jizu and Lian Lanlan coming back through the main gate, carrying firewood. Neither of them was suited to labor, so bits of firewood had scattered all the way along the path.

Lian Manman shot Lian Shouxin a look.

"Ahem, Jizu!" Lian Shouxin called out loudly to Lian Jizu. "Take good care of your grandma. If anything happens to her, I, as your Fourth Uncle, won’t let you off."

That’s exactly right—that’s the kind of presence it needed, Lian Manman nodded to herself in approval.

The group left Lian Family’s main gate, heading toward their own home. Along the way, they ran into villagers who asked them questions. Lian Manman signaled Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang to speak freely about everything except the matter regarding Old Master Lian, such as how Lian Jizu deliberately avoided them, or how Lian Shouren and Lady Gu had asked Lian Lanlan to care for Lady Zhou.

By the time they returned home, it was already past midday. Wu Jiaxing, worried Lian Shouxin might need him for something, hadn’t left. He was helping Xiao Qi and Lian Zhizhi prepare the meal.

It was good to have an older sister at home—otherwise, they’d have to wait until they returned to cook for themselves, and who knew when they would actually eat. She was already starving.

"Sis, what did you make?" Lian Manman asked cheerfully, putting out the table and setting the bowls and chopsticks.

"I cooked both of the fish." Lian Zhizhi told Lian Manman.

Today, Lian Zhizhi had made fish braised with tofu. First, she cleaned and gutted the fish, cut it into chunks, coated it with seasoned batter, and fried it until crispy outside and tender inside. Then, she added plenty of scallions and tofu to braise it together.

A simple, homey preparation, but it was full of flavor and aroma—a favorite of Lian Manman’s.

"Mom, should we send a bowl to Grandma?" Lian Zhizhi furtively asked Lady Zhang.

"Thinking about all her ’kindnesses’ to us—it really doesn’t feel right to give her anything," Lady Zhang said with a sigh. "But forget it. Let’s just be the better people—send her a bowl."

Nobody objected, so Wu Lang headed out with the food box to deliver the dish to Lady Zhou.

After a short while, Wu Lang returned, and only then did everyone start setting the dishes on the table to eat. Naturally, Wu Jiaxing stayed and joined them for the meal.

Now that the interactions were familiar, the dynamics between Lian Zhizhi and Wu Jiaxing had also become more comfortable—not overly close, but with a growing sense of unspoken understanding.

There was a subtle sweetness to it all.

"Sis, did you put sugar in the fish today?" Lian Manman suddenly asked while eating.

"No, I didn’t." Lian Zhizhi, uncertain whether Lian Manman was teasing her, even picked up a piece of fish to carefully taste it.

"No sugar, huh? Then why does it taste a little sweet to me?" Lian Manman said with a gentle smile.

"When you delivered the food, did Grandma say anything about it?" Lady Zhang asked Wu Lang.

"Didn’t say much," Wu Lang replied. Lian Manman’s earlier remarks hadn’t gone to waste; Lady Zhou didn’t dare make a fuss anymore. "...My third uncle heard about the news and came back."

Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye, seated at the same table, paused their chopsticks when Wu Lang mentioned Lian Shouli’s return.

One—the grandson Lady Zhou adored, who had abandoned her and fled; the other—a son she had never liked but would immediately go see her upon hearing about her situation. Would Lady Zhou stop favoring the grandson and start valuing this son instead?

"Third Aunt, Yeye, keep eating. Nothing important... The old shop, you all tidy it up; whenever you’re ready, you can move in." Lian Manman said.

"I’ll head back in a bit; we’ll move over soon." Lian Yeye said.

After dinner, seeing there was nothing else to attend to, Wu Jiaxing said his goodbyes and left. Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye went to organize the old shop, preparing to move in. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Do you think Grandma will come later?" Lady Zhang mused to herself.

"No clue." Lian Manman shook her head.

Lady Zhou might be persuaded by Lian Lanlan to come—or perhaps not. Because if she came, it would mean bowing before the archway; Lady Zhang would be present but wouldn’t have to bow herself. With Lady Zhou’s tendency to assert dominance, she would see this as lowering herself to Lady Zhang and might refuse to show that weakness.

"Manman, when do you plan on having them leave?" Wu Lang asked Lian Manman.

"Let her rest a couple of days. Once they beg us to send them off, then we’ll let them go." Lian Manman thought for a moment and said, "Brother, let’s write a letter to Taicang first."

The previous letter was subtle and veiled, but Old Master Lian hadn’t responded since. The next letter wouldn’t be nearly as polite—they would demand an explanation and firmly press the Upper Room relatives in Taicang.

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Here’s the second update for today—pink votes requested.

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Recommendation: Ruoyan’s completed novel "The Brocade Screen Chronicles," a light house fight farmland tale. Intrigue and life in a grand house, filled with grudges and entanglements.

Book ID: 1771214

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