Additional update, asking for pink votes.

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When Old Master Lian spoke these words, his attitude was particularly amiable, even carrying a hint of ingratiation.

It seems, no matter what Lian Shouxin said when he entered the room earlier, it had an effect.

"No, you two go ahead, we won’t join the table," said Lady Zhang, glancing at Lian Manman.

"Dad, Mom, you two go ahead, we won’t join the table. These dishes were made especially for you," Lian Shouxin said.

Everyone claimed they had things to do, and in the end, no one in the family sat down at the table, leaving only Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou to have this lunch.

Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou barely moved their chopsticks before saying they were done eating, and they wanted to head back to the old house.

The family naturally tried to keep them, but Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou were insistent, so everyone saw them off. Lady Zhang, Lian Zhizhi, and Lian Manman returned from the doorway. Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi insisted on accompanying Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou back to the old house, with Han Zhong and a long-term worker carrying grains and other items following behind.

These grains would last Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou two months; even if Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi’s families were included, they would last for a few days. The Upper Room had thirty acres of land, twelve of which were specifically maintained by Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli for Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou. These fields were rented to the Woo Family Brothers, and as the autumn harvest had just finished, once they received the rent, Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou could live well in the countryside. Even the whole family could sustain themselves.

Of course, this level of livelihood is by the standard of the average tenant farmer family. And now, the Lian Family Main House people are no different from average tenant farm families; in fact, their status is even lower. Being able to live an average farmer’s life is a great fortune for them.

Along the way, whenever village folks saw Lian Shouxin’s family escorting Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou back to the old house and carrying all those things, they couldn’t help but praise them in passing. Words about Lian Shouxin’s family’s filial piety and how Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou were blessed were common.

"We even offered to have Grandpa and Grandma stay with us, and we would take care of them in the future, but they didn’t want to and insisted on returning," Xiao Qi interjected.

This made people praise Lian Shouxin’s family even more, repeatedly saying Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou were blessed.

...

"... Grandma didn’t have a single smile on her face, and Grandpa’s smile was quite forced," Xiao Qi said while eating a spoonful of pine nut corn, talking to Lady Zhang and Lian Manman.

After returning from the old house, the family finally sat down for a meal.

"Did you just come back as soon as you got to the old house?" Lian Zhizhi asked.

"Grandpa wanted to chat with Dad, and First Uncle and Second Uncle also wanted to chat with Dad. I said we hadn’t eaten yet and needed to go to school, and my brother needed to take me. Dad hadn’t eaten either, and he still had work to do in the afternoon. It was hard to get away," Xiao Qi said. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"They talked about farming honestly to make a living, but I think it’s difficult," Wu Lang said. "As soon as I entered the room, I saw them either sitting or lying around, not tidying anything up. They didn’t take anything, and the cupboard still had old bedding and stuff; they didn’t even take it out to air. They didn’t even boil water, I wonder what they’re waiting for."

"What else could they be waiting for? They’re waiting for us," Lian Manman laughed, "waiting for us to prepare everything for them." At the old house, Old Master Lian, Lian Shouren, and Lian Shouyi wanted to chat with Lian Shouxin, surely to make demands and ask for things.

"It’s a pity they’re not that family," Lady Zhang said.

"We’ve helped as much as we can; from now on, it’s up to them. They are healthy, with houses and land, and as long as they’re not lazy, they should be able to support themselves," Wu Lang said.

Lian Manman nodded.

"Has Third Uncle returned?" Lady Zhang asked Lian Shouxin again.

"Yes, he has. We just reached the main gate and bumped into him," Lian Shouxin said.

"I wonder what their family of three plans to do?" Lady Zhang said, "This time, it’s not like last time when Grandma returned alone. This time they all came back, planning to stay long-term."

"Oh dear, all those vegetables Yeye and the others worked so hard planting, they planned to sell for some money," Lian Manman suddenly said.

"As the old saying goes, ’The clever are slaves to the foolish, the diligent to the lazy,’ alas," Lady Zhang sighed.