Wu Lang and Lian Manman were speaking, discussing how to convince Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou to stay here for their retirement. However, they wanted to completely sever ties with Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi, and to expel them from the Lian Family.

Old Master Lian listened, feeling secretly distressed. Wu Lang and Lian Manman had occupied the path of filial piety and great righteousness, using the very teachings he often used to instruct others, leaving no flaw in their reasoning that he could criticize.

Staying here for retirement?

Old Master Lian instinctively raised his eyes to look around. He knew the life of Shouxin Family was going well, but having not seen it firsthand, he couldn’t imagine it had reached such a degree. The County Magistrate’s residence of Lian Shouren, those furnishings, were far inferior compared to those in Shouxin Family.

Staying here to retire, without worries of food and clothing, there shouldn’t be anything to fret about. He could see that Shouxin, Lady Zhang, and the children Wu Lang and Lian Manman were not close to him and seemed distant. Upon reflection, he could not blame anyone for this. When Shouxin saw him for the first time, the emotion was genuine from his heart, he could feel it. But later, because he insisted on Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi paying respect to the ancestral archway, Shouxin cried bitterly. After that, Shouxin’s gaze at him changed.

He knew he had hurt Shouxin’s feelings. He also knew that over the years, he had overlooked the children of the Fourth Household. Yet he believed if he truly wanted to stay, the children would not fail to provide for him.

The children had good qualities.

Old Master Lian sighed gently, wiping his eyes.

But, could he stay?

No.

Back when Shouxin Family separated, the various instances, and what happened before heading to Taicang never left his mind. Others wouldn’t forget either. If he stayed here, people would only point thumbs up at Shouxin, Lady Zhang, and Wu Lang in front, praising their good fortune, while stabbing him in the back.

Staying here for retirement would make Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu even more looked down upon.

Moreover, Wu Lang and Lian Manman’s words were very clear; for him to stay, he would have to sever ties with Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi, and expel them from the Lian Family.

He couldn’t bear to do this. When he arrived at Thirty Mile Camp, he already gave up his old face, but for whom, for what?! He had to return to the old house, using his reputation accumulated over the years in the village to support the households of Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi. Besides, living with Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi, everyone here in Shouxin Family valued face, for the sake of him and Lady Zhou, they wouldn’t completely ignore their relatives.

"Being parents is a heartache, Old Fourth, Old Fourth’s wife, you all have children too, ah..." Old Master Lian sighed heavily.

"Each one has lost their conscience, can’t count on them." Lady Zhou suddenly cried out again, "I won’t stay with you, I’m going back to my own home."

Lady Zhou made the decision before Old Master Lian. Actually, on this journey back to Thirty Mile Camp, Lady Zhou had almost despaired about saving Lian Xiuxiu, but upon seeing Shouxin, she had to try. It was heartfelt, beyond her own control.

Shouxin ignored her plea; she was utterly despondent and disheartened. She hadn’t even considered staying in Lian Manman’s family home. The thought of living here made her unable to stand upright; the old house was her home, her world.

"I regret it, I regret it so much. Back then I shouldn’t have left home with Xiuxiu. If I hadn’t left, none of this would have happened." Lady Zhou cried, mumbling to herself.

"Your mother is ill," Old Master Lian sighed, not trying to console Lady Zhou; evidently, Lady Zhou had fallen into this state not just once or twice.

"So heartless, wicked to the point of harming. My Xiuxiu was hurt by her. Now because of my Xiuxiu, she got her life, can I let her be at ease?" Lady Zhou’s eyes were vacant, her hands clenched together, murmuring.

"Old Fourth, Wu Lang, I understand your filial hearts clearly. With your sincere words, everything is worthwhile." Old Master Lian no longer paid attention to Lady Zhou but said to Shouxin and Wu Lang, "Still the same; the palm and back of the hand are both flesh. Your eldest uncle, second uncle, they... ah, made mistakes, but they are still my sons, and connected to you by blood. There is still that whole family, and they all have to continue living."

"In our rural ways, your grandmother and I still have to live with them... Give them a chance to change. After taking such a heavy fall, they know regret and made mistakes. Others can’t be controlled, but as our own family, we should at least give them another chance."

"In the future, even if they want to cause any more trouble, they won’t be able to; they’ll just have to honestly stay at home and farm, being upright farmers..." Old Master Lian finished speaking, sighing deeply once more.

Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, Lian Jizu, and Erlang all returned safely, but Lian Shouren’s Scholar title was stripped; he couldn’t even qualify as a teacher anymore. From Lian Jizu and Erlang onward, for three generations, they could never attempt the imperial exam, let alone become an official.

Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi’s generations must live cautiously, dependent on others.

Whereas the Fourth Household, the children of the Fourth Household have risen, reaching unreachable and untouchable heights.

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

Extra Chapter, seeking support. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit qidian.com to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)