Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 922 - 471: Seeing the Letter as if Meeting Face-to-Face (Part 2)

Old Master Lian was still reflecting on himself, saying that regarding Yingzi’s matter, he failed to stop it because of "womanly compassion." He stated that a woman who had lost her chastity had only one path—death. Yingzi was still a hometown girl, and since Lian Shouren indeed had improper relations with her, only by taking her in could Lian Shouren provide Yingzi with a way out.

Lian Manman propped her chin.

The truth was simple: Lian Shouren had slept with Yingzi, and Yingzi clung to him. Lady Zhou openly acknowledged this, so whether or not he wanted to, Lian Shouren had to take her in. Lian Manman thought, Yingzi had already been involved with Wang Youhuai and Song Hailong, and in both cases, she ended up discarded as if she were trash. Failing in those two households, when it came to Lian Shouren, she naturally wouldn’t let go without a fight.

Families like the Wang Family and the Song Family were experts at dealing with women like Yingzi. Meanwhile, the Lian Family of Taicang, having only just transitioned from a simple tenant farming family to the threshold of minor officialdom, was still a blank slate in this regard.

The result was that Song Hailong and Wang Youhuai walked away unscathed, while Lian Shouren got caught red-handed.

Lian Manman sighed.

In his letter, Old Master Lian also sighed deeply. The situation had already reached this point, and there was no alternative. "The men of the Lian Family have never committed acts of moral failure. From now on, we must be cautious and vigilant, never to repeat the mistakes of your brother."

After finishing the explanation about Yingzi, Old Master Lian moved on to clarify the matter concerning Aunt Ping. Unlike the tone when speaking of Yingzi, his anger and helplessness over Aunt Ping’s incident were palpable, even through the written word.

Old Master Lian was furious.

It was pure nonsense, concocted entirely by your mother, who forcefully threw the blame on me. Old Master Lian began with that point.

In Old Master Lian’s account, the matter was very straightforward. Aunt Ping came to the Upper Room to deliver a brazier and then left. Feeling an itch in his trousers, Old Master Lian untied them to scratch for lice. At that moment, Lady Zhou stormed in, furiously accusing him of having an affair with Aunt Ping. No matter how he explained, she refused to believe him. In the end, Aunt Ping was driven to suicidal despair, and the situation spiraled out of control.

In his letter, Old Master Lian acknowledged that in a fit of rage, he retorted to Lady Zhou that he would take Aunt Ping in.

"You all know what your mother’s temper is like," Old Master Lian wrote in the letter, "Ever since we moved to Taicang and after Lian Xiuxiu married, her suspicion and fiery temper have worsened. Even the smallest matter can set her off. Her words and insults leave no room for dignity."

Lian Manman nodded repeatedly as she listened. Lady Zhou’s temper had always been like that. In the past, her anger had been directed toward her sons, daughters-in-law, particularly Lian Shouli’s family and Lian Shouxin’s family. Only recently had it targeted Old Master Lian.

Previously, Old Master Lian showed no sympathy for those subjected to Lady Zhou’s wrath. Now that he was the victim, he turned to them seeking their empathy.

Lian Manman quietly thought to herself, even if Old Master Lian was innocent, she couldn’t bring herself to feel sympathy for him—truly.

The letter continued as Old Master Lian narrated the events further, mentioning Lady Zhou’s obstinacy and her return to Thirty Mile Camp, causing trouble for them. He explained that after Lady Zhou left, he had already sent Aunt Ping away.

Due to Lady Zhou’s paranoid disposition, Aunt Ping, a widow, had her reputation tarnished. Since Old Master Lian couldn’t take her in, he had no choice but to send her far away to live elsewhere, which required money.

Old Master Lian did not specify the exact amount spent, but judging from the tone of the letter, it seemed to be a considerable sum.

"In this matter, your grandfather handled it without being muddled," Lian Shouxin remarked as he listened up to this point.

Lian Manman nodded, recognizing that Old Master Lian was, after all, not the same as Lian Shouren.

Even after sending Aunt Ping away, Old Master Lian’s tone remained heavy with sorrow. He lamented that the reputation he had carefully maintained throughout his life had been ruined in an instant.

Ruined by Lady Zhou.

The overall tone of the letter was exceedingly bleak. After explaining these two incidents, Old Master Lian meandered into long, disorganized ramblings, filled with cryptic and scattered phrasing.

Listening to Wu Lang recite this lengthy passage, Lian Manman heard only anxiety and despair.

The incident with Aunt Ping had deeply wounded Old Master Lian.

The one wielding the sharp axe of Aunt Ping against him was none other than his wife, Lady Zhou. And overshadowing this debacle were faint, indistinct figures and underlying motives. Old Master Lian had sensed them, and it was precisely because he sensed them that the blow had taken a heavier toll.

In truth, if one were to put themselves in his shoes, the fact that Old Master Lian hadn’t coughed up blood or fallen gravely ill was already a testament to his robust health and strong will.

At the end of the letter, Old Master Lian inquired about Wu Lang’s preparation for the exams, encouraging him to bring glory to the Lian Family. He also touched upon Wu Lang’s marriage, stating that there was no rush given Wu Lang’s young age. He stressed that choosing a wife with virtue was paramount; all other considerations were secondary.

Though it was only two simple lines, every word seemed to be steeped in blood and tears.

Lian Manman felt that out of everything Old Master Lian wrote, those last two sentences were what he truly meant to express.

Take a look: I, this old man, married an unvirtuous woman, and it ruined my twilight years. You must learn from my mistakes—when choosing a wife, prioritize virtue and good temperament. Superficial aspects like appearance are irrelevant.

Unlike Lady Zhou, who could lash out without restraint and berate her husband as worse than an animal, Old Master Lian maintained restraint and a semblance of decorum.

"Grandpa’s spirits are no longer what they used to be," Wu Lang murmured thoughtfully after finishing the letter.

****......****

Here’s the second update—asking for your pink bookmarks.

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Recommended completed novel by Ruoyan: "The Brocade Screen Chronicles," a light house fight farmland tale, weaving tales of family disputes and entanglements in a grand household.

Book ID: 1771214

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