Lian Manman quickly let go of Lady Zhao and went to pull Lian Yeye back to sit on the kang.

The Imperially Bestowed Archway could protect Lian Shouxin, but it couldn’t protect Lian Shouli. The fact that Lian Shouli could avoid being summoned was naturally due to the face of Wu Lang, the Scholar. Otherwise, who would care if he was wronged or not?

"What charge of implication did they commit over there, and why do they want to summon me and your third uncle?" Lian Shouxin asked.

"They embezzled money over there, a quite large amount," Wu Lang said. "I spoke to Lord Magistrate, saying that our two households have never received a single wen from them. The few times we’ve interacted are all accounted for on Manman’s end. Later, we need to ask a few villagers to sign a guarantee for us; with Lord Magistrate’s help, we can get through this time."

"As for the wheat seed case, Zhao Wencai confessed, pushing all the blame to Taicang. It just so happened that officials from Taicang came to fetch people, so we let them take Zhao Wencai and his son to the yamen in Taicang for confrontation."

Wu Lang briefly explained the situation at the county yamen and started organizing people to sign the exemption guarantee for Lian Shouli and Lian Shouxin. It didn’t take much effort, as their interactions with Taicang were very limited, and everyone understood what was going on. Moreover, after Lian Manman’s family split up, they established many good connections in the village. With their family prospering, an Imperially Bestowed Archway, and a Scholar, people were willing to do them a favor.

Having obtained the guarantee, Wu Lang discussed with Lian Manman about preparing a gift to send to the county. When the officials from Taicang took away Zhao Wencai and his son, everyone finally felt at ease.

In the evening, after Lian Manman’s family had dinner, they all sat around on the kang to chat.

Because of the situation in Taicang, everyone’s nerves had been tightly wound these past two days, and now that they were relaxing, they talked more.

"What Yeye said yesterday was so true. These past two days, I’ve been recalling things from the past eight hundred years. The more I think about it, the more I feel Yeye was right," Lady Zhang said.

Lian Shouxin sighed softly and had nothing to say. As for his position in the family now, ah, Lian Shouxin silently pulled Xiao Qi into his arms.

"It’s so difficult for us now, and there’s someone telling my father and my third uncle that our two families should send people to Taicang to rescue my eldest and second uncles," Lian Manman suddenly said.

Everyone’s eyes fell on Lian Shouxin.

"Did someone really say that to you, who was it?" Lady Zhang asked.

"I didn’t agree," Lian Shouxin quickly said. "If I go to Taicang now, wouldn’t I be walking right into it? What’s that called...umm, sheep..."

"Sheep entering a tiger’s mouth," Xiao Qi chimed in.

"Right, entering a tiger’s mouth," Lian Shouxin nodded, stroking Xiao Qi’s head, feeling that his youngest son was the most considerate.

"We have to be clear about this," Lian Manman thought for a moment and said, "If Taicang were struck by a natural disaster, that would be one thing. But now, they’ve committed crimes and done terrible things themselves. If we help them, where would the people they’ve harmed seek justice? Besides, we can’t do anything about this, and we’re not going to oppose the law or rebel."

Lian Manman had no sympathy for Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi’s families who ended up in jail and were to be convicted. Everyone should be responsible for their own actions. If they’ve done bad things and violated the law, they deserve to be punished.

The person who told Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli this was a well-known good person in the village, having some prestige and being of an older age.

Lian Shouxin didn’t agree, and neither did Lian Shouli.

Taicang wanted to summon them for questioning. Here, they used favor to avoid being summoned. If they ran over themselves, what would that be called? Anyone with a bit of sense wouldn’t do that.

And causing this situation was still someone from Taicang. If it weren’t for what someone said over there, they might not have thought to summon Lian Shouli and Lian Shouxin, who had never shown up in Taicang.

But this didn’t mean Lian Shouxin was not concerned about those in Taicang, especially Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou. From the large blister that had formed on his lips, it was clear how anxious he was.

Regarding this, Lian Manman could only offer comfort.

"Father, considering the days, results should have come from over there. Worrying at home doesn’t help," Lian Manman advised Lian Shouxin. "Father, you must take care of yourself for our sake."

"I know," Lian Shouxin said, holding Xiao Qi even tighter.

The family’s comforting words and Xiao Qi’s playful nature improved Lian Shouxin’s mood greatly.

"Father, it’s time to plant winter wheat," Lian Manman reminded Lian Shouxin.

Lian Shouxin, after finishing threshing with his men, led them to the fields to plant the winter wheat. By the time five acres of winter wheat were planted, it was already September.

In the morning, after breakfast, Wu Lang took Xiao Fu to send Xiao Qi to school, while Lian Shouxin and the long-term workers went to the lotus pond across the way. They planned to have both the lotus pond and fish pond dug before the winter freeze. Lady Zhang wasn’t idle either; with many cabbages planted this year, she planned to restart the pickled vegetable workshop.

Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi, on the other hand, were somewhat free. The sisters, along with maid Xiao Xi, moved pots of chrysanthemums from inside to the courtyard, placing them where the sun could shine. This season was when chrysanthemums bloomed the most. Lian Manman thought of replacing the flowers in the front study and chose two pots with the best blooms. Carrying one herself and letting Xiao Xi carry one, she headed toward the front yard.

Just as they stepped out of the passage, they saw Lian Yeye rushing over in a panic.

"Sister Manman, the people from Taicang have returned!" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

****...***

Bonus update! Asking for your pink support (to be continued. If you like this work, please vote for recommendations and monthly votes on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)