Extra Chapter, asking for pink ribbons.

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Seeing Zhao Wencai’s confession, Lian Manman knew that Zhao Wencai must have received the news that the situation in Taicang had collapsed. As for Zhao Wencai’s repeated confessions before, sometimes claiming the matter was related to the Lian Family of Taicang, sometimes saying it wasn’t, those were just Zhao Wencai’s little tricks. Zhao Wencai initially mentioned Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi, hoping that Jinyang County would apprehensively let him out due to concerns about Taicang.

In the end, the Magistrate of Jinyang County did not buy into his account. Zhao Wencai started to panic, wanting to absolve Taicang so that they could get him out, but he was uncertain, hence sending people over to Taicang while his confession changed repeatedly.

Now, with Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi imprisoned, Zhao Wencai had no hope in Taicang anymore, so he wanted to push all the blame onto Taicang and exonerate himself.

This truly exemplifies the saying "easily swelling, easily receding are the mountain streams; easily flipping, easily re-flipping are the hearts of petty people."

Lian Manman wasn’t surprised at all by this.

Wu Lang gave the government official who brought the message a very generous red envelope and skillfully won over him with words. The man promised confidently that if there was any movement inside the yamen, he would immediately report back. He also reassured Wu Lang that from the Magistrate to the petty officials inside the county yamen, their hearts were with the Imperially Bestowed Archway Lian Family, and there was no need to worry about Zhao Wencai dragging them down. When leaving, he told Wu Lang to feel free to command him if he needed anything.

Afterward, Wu Lang went to the county once more, talked with the Magistrate for a long time before returning.

Lian Manman stayed at home, helping Lady Zhang with household chores, seemingly a bit tense outwardly, but inwardly she was confident.

When Wu Lang returned from the county, the family naturally gathered together again. This time, Lian Shouli, Lady Zhao, and Lian Yeye also came over. With such a thing happening in Taicang, the Shouli Family had heard the news and were somewhat panicking.

"Brother, what did the Magistrate say?" Lian Manman asked Wu Lang about the situation in the county yamen.

"There’re documents from Taicang," Wu Lang said, "summoning Third Uncle and our father to Taicang for questioning."

Wu Lang’s words were like a clap of thunder, almost everyone in the house was panicked.

Lian Shouli was flustered, while Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye cried.

"Sister Manman, what should we do? Who did we provoke? We have been living honestly. They are officials, greedy for money, and we have never gained even one Wen from them. They did bad things, we’re so far away, we’ve split the family, what does it have to do with us?" Lian Yeye sat beside Lian Manman, complaining angrily and urgently.

"Since when does the government care about that!" Lian Shouli sighed, "We’re unlucky, just stuck with it."

"What kind of situation is this, never borrowed any good influence from them, just suffering from calamity. Even when at home, we suffered from them, and now after moving so far away, they still trouble us," Lian Yeye said bitterly, "Being stuck with these relatives, we’re truly cursed."

Who doesn’t agree, Lian Manman thought the same angrily.

With Lian Yeye speaking this way, neither Lian Shouli nor Lian Shouxin rebuked her.

"Fourth Aunt," Lady Zhao cried, pleading with Lady Zhang, "Going so far away, stepping into the yamen, even if one doesn’t die, they’ll shed a layer of skin. Fourth Aunt, Wu Lang, think of a way. If the child’s father encounters misfortune, us mother and daughter won’t survive."

Lian Yeye also cried, while Lian Shouli lowered his head without speaking.

The three knew that if Taicang summoned people, Lian Shouli likely couldn’t escape, whereas Lian Shouxin might not be implicated because Shouxin Family had the Imperially Bestowed Archway and Wu Lang as a scholar.

The unluckiest ones were just their family of three.

"Wu Lang..." Lian Shouxin also felt a bit panicked, but he was indeed more confident than Lian Shouli, looking expectantly at Wu Lang.

"Third Uncle, Third Aunt," Wu Lang began, "Don’t worry for now. I talked with the Magistrate; neither Third Uncle nor my father have to go."

The whole room exhaled a sigh of relief, especially Lian Yeye’s family of three, who felt as if the clouds had parted to reveal the moon.

"Wu Lang, Aunt thanks you, Aunt will kneel to you." Lady Zhao stood up intending to kneel before Wu Lang.

Lian Zhizhi and Lian Manman hurriedly stopped her, helping her back to her seat on the kang.

"Fifth Brother, I will kneel to you." Lian Yeye acted quickly. Taking advantage of everyone persuading Lady Zhao, she suddenly knelt down with a thud, bowing to Wu Lang.

"Yeye, what are you doing?" Wu Lang naturally refused to accept her bow, hurriedly sidestepping her.