Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 916 - 468: Worshiping the Archway_2

"Huahua," it’s the local dialect of Thirty Mile Camp, and it roughly means being criticized or gossiped about.

Old Master Lian loved saving face and was even more shrewd than Lady Zhou. That’s why Lian Manman was so confident in telling Lady Zhou that as long as she stopped causing trouble with Old Master Lian when she returned, Aunt Ping’s matters were inconsequential.

"Right, once you’re back, have your eldest brother drive her away, send her off far," Lady Zhou thought for a moment and then nodded.

"Oh, Grandma," Lian Manman seemed to remember something suddenly and asked Lady Zhou, "In Grandpa’s room, who usually takes care of him?"

"We don’t use servants for anything, it’s just fetching food and water—your eldest sister-in-law and your eldest sister-in-law’s daughter-in-law handle it," Lady Zhou replied.

"Hmm, I think Grandpa has gotten used to being industrious. He doesn’t seem to like being waited on," Lian Manman said, and then added another question for Lady Zhou, "Does my eldest sister-in-law still stay in Grandpa’s room at night to keep watch over him?"

"Always pretending to be sick every other day, making her stay up to keep watch—it’s all just torment for me," Lady Zhou replied, her tone dripping with discontent.

It seemed that while Lady Zhou tormented Lady Gu, Lady Gu hadn’t made things much easier for Lady Zhou.

"Grandma, I want to offer you some advice, you might not like hearing it," Lian Manman said.

"What advice?" Lady Zhou asked.

"Grandma, you should treat my eldest sister-in-law better," Lian Manman said, "She’s now the County Magistrate’s wife, my sister Huahua is the young mistress of the Song Family. My eldest sister-in-law has respect and a reputation now... Remember that time when my mother and I visited Taicang? My eldest sister-in-law didn’t hit anyone, nor did she scold anyone. She had a smile on her face. Everyone in and around the county office seemed to be quite intimidated by her."

"She’s also willing to spend generously on gifts and such. When my eldest sister-in-law speaks, many listen, and she has plenty of helpers... Oh, about Aunt Ping—nobody seems able to command her, but my eldest sister-in-law can," Lian Manman continued.

"So maybe, Grandma, you should go back this time and talk to my eldest sister-in-law. She’ll likely help you resolve this matter properly," Lian Manman finished with a smile.

Lady Zhou remained silent for a good while.

"Tomorrow morning, I’ll head back to Taicang," Lady Zhou said, eager to leave, though it was too late in the evening to travel.

"Tomorrow? Grandma, can’t you stay a few more days... Grandpa hasn’t written back yet," Lian Manman feigned concern.

"Tomorrow. If I stay a couple more days, who knows what things over there might turn into," Lady Zhou replied.

"Grandpa hasn’t responded, we would have to take responsibility, and it would be hard to address later," Lian Manman remarked with conviction.

"I’m leaving tomorrow!" Lady Zhou insisted.

"Grandma, you’ve been here for days and haven’t even visited us yet," Lian Manman said.

"What’s there to visit? I’m not going. Tomorrow morning, I’m leaving," Lady Zhou, consumed by her determination, wished she could sprout wings and fly back to Taicang immediately.

"Well, Grandma, how about we wait for you at the archway tomorrow morning?" Leaving this message, Lian Manman and her family bade Lady Zhou goodbye and left the ancestral home.

"Should we let them leave tomorrow?" Back home, Lady Zhang asked Lian Manman.

"Didn’t you see Grandma? She can’t wait to leave. If she wants to go, let her go, but not before bowing at the archway," Lian Manman replied.

That was Lian Manman’s gesture of goodwill to Lady Zhou.

"Manman, what you said to Grandma earlier—are you suspecting that this whole issue with Aunt Ping is my eldest sister-in-law’s doing?" Lady Zhang asked Lian Manman quietly.

"Huh?" Lian Manman reevaluated Lady Zhang intently, "Mom, how did you come to think that?"

If Lady Zhang could think this way, then Lady Zhou certainly would too, Lian Manman thought as she blinked thoughtfully.

"Your eldest sister-in-law is no pushover; it’s not like this is new behavior. Grandma found a concubine for your eldest brother and kept tormenting her—do you think your eldest sister-in-law would just put up with it? Your eldest sister-in-law may seem polite and sweet on the surface, but she has a ruthless streak underneath," Lady Zhang explained.

"I’ve always said Grandpa wouldn’t be capable of pulling something like this at his age—it must be the trap she set," Lian Shouxin chimed in, overhearing the mother-daughter conversation.

"A household in discord—it’s bound to fall into ruin," Lian Shouxin sighed.

In any family, it’s inevitable to have small conflicts—arguments, quarrels, which pass and are forgotten. No one truly wishes ill upon anyone; these minor spats occur in almost every household.

However, the strife between Lady Gu and Lady Zhou was no mere quarrel—it was a bitter, all-out feud. And such feuds rarely ended peacefully.

Within a household, this sort of situation is the most fearsome.

A home without peace.

Who was to blame? Lian Manman couldn’t be bothered to dwell on it.

"Dad, you seem to understand a lot of principles. It hasn’t been easy for our family to reach where we are today. Things are so good for us now—please don’t stir up any ’household discord’ or the like," Lian Manman said to Lian Shouxin.

Lian Manman never missed an opportunity to lecture and educate Lian Shouxin.

"You silly kid! Of course not. I promised your mother," Lian Shouxin replied, feeling a bit embarrassed as he assumed Lian Manman was referring to the concubine issue.

"Household discord—Grandma also bears responsibility for that," Lian Manman said.

"No matter the circumstance moving forward, it’s impossible for Grandma to have any say in our family’s matters. I’m clear on that," Lian Shouxin said.

"Dad, you better remember what you just said today," Lian Manman responded.

"Absolutely. I’m not stupid," Lian Shouxin laughed. These days, he was living lightheartedly. His wife and children were harmonious—he’d have to be mad to let Lady Zhou come and stir things up. "This household belongs to you and your mother."

Early the next morning, Lady Zhou, assisted by Lian Lanlan and Lian Jizu, dressed neatly and arrived at the archway.

************............******** 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

This concludes the current installment—stay tuned for more updates. Please consider voting with pink tickets or monthly tickets on Qidian.com if you enjoy this story. Your support is my greatest motivation to continue writing.