Extra update, asking for pink votes.

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Regarding the course of events, Old Master Lian didn’t seem keen on recounting the details. From the few words Old Master Lian disclosed, Lian Manman learned that the Woo Family Brothers were pulling their old tricks again, claiming a bad harvest and wanting to pay less rent. Moreover, when Old Master Lian requested to reclaim the land, the Woo Family Brothers strongly opposed, saying that if Old Master Lian insisted on reclaiming the land, he must compensate them.

While they were talking inside, footsteps were heard from outside. The servant Xiao Fu had brought Doctor Li from the village.

"I just had Xiao Fu go to get the doctor," Wu Lang explained to everyone.

Doctor Li checked Old Master Lian’s pulse, and Lian Manman led Lian Yeye and Xiao Xi out of the room.

Si Lang, Liulang, Lian Duoduo, and Lian Yaya were all standing in the courtyard. Lian Duoduo was holding Da Niuniu by the hand, while Lian Yaya was cradling Er Niuniu in her arms.

Lian Duoduo snorted when she saw Lian Manman and Lian Yeye coming out and, taking Da Niuniu, headed into the Upper Room towards the west room. Lian Yaya looked timidly at Lian Manman and then at Xiao Xi behind Lian Manman, patting Er Niuniu in her arms and pursing her lips without saying a word. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Si Lang and Liulang stood there, Si Lang still drooping his eyelids, looking upwards at people from below askew, while Liulang looked at people in a straightforward manner.

Lian Yeye and Si Lang were the least compatible. Upon seeing Si Lang, she glared at him.

"Little girl, what’s there to look at?" Si Lang snorted coldly and called Liulang to head out. "Xiao Liu, let’s go catch sparrows."

Liulang stood there without moving.

Si Lang had stolen eggs from Lian Yeye’s family. Now seeing the people on this side of Lian Yeye’s looking unfriendly, he felt somewhat guilty. Seeing Liulang not following him, he snorted again and turned to run off alone.

"Let’s go sit in your room for a while," Lian Manman said to Lian Yeye.

The three young girls headed to the West Wing Room, Liulang first stood there without moving, then slowly followed to stand at the door of the West Wing Room, not moving again.

"Sister Manman, when Grandpa went to collect rent, Liulang also went along," Lian Yeye whispered to Lian Manman.

"Liulang, come inside to talk," Lian Manman called to Liulang.

She had Xiao Xi keep watch at the door while Lian Manman and Lian Yeye brought Liulang into Lian Yeye’s room.

Lian Manman and Lian Yeye sat on the kang and invited Liulang to sit as well.

Liulang didn’t get on the kang. He hugged the stool, moved it to the edge of the kang, and sat down.

"Liulang, you also went to the Old Woo Family with Grandpa?" Lian Manman asked Liulang.

"Yeah." Liulang nodded.

"What exactly happened for Grandpa to pass out?" Lian Manman asked.

Liulang sniffled and slowly recounted to Lian Manman. At first, what he said was roughly the same as what Old Master Lian had said, but when he talked about the events right before Old Master Lian passed out, Liulang mentioned some situations that neither Old Master Lian, Lian Shouren, nor Lian Shouyi had spoken about.

"...They started arguing, the Old Woo Family’s old lady cursed our grandpa, calling him an old fool, and some other kind of old bug. She also said our uncle and Brother Jizu were all from the same mold, no good people... Saying what uncle did to Yingzi, a girl from our village, also saying Brother Jizu... something about taking advantage of his son’s wife..."

Lian Manman was sipping water, and upon hearing this, almost spat out the water in her mouth.

She thought about it for a while. Being taken advantage of in rent and being cheated was not the first time for Old Master Lian. Old Master Lian was psychologically prepared, so how could he have been enraged to this extent? It turned out this was the reason.

No wonder, they didn’t get the rent, the matters weren’t settled, and they were so angry he was carried back on a door plank.

"Liulang, do not dare speak of these words to anyone else in the future. Especially to outsiders, you mustn’t say." Lian Manman hurried to urge Liulang.

"Yeah." Liulang nodded in agreement.

Lian Manman remembered that every time she gathered some news from Liulang, she needed to give him some food. She patted her sleeve but, having rushed out earlier, didn’t prepare anything. She had some silver coins in her purse, though.

Thinking it over, Lian Manman decided against giving Liulang money.

"Liulang, when we go back later, come by the shop once on your own. Just find Yeye, I’ll have Yeye prepare some food for you," Lian Manman said to Liulang. "Although it can’t compare to what you eat in Taicang."

Liulang’s face turned slightly red, and without saying a word, he got off the stool and moved the stool back to its original place.

"Well, I’ll be going now." With that, Liulang went out.

"Just now... did Liulang’s face turn red?" Lian Manman asked Lian Yeye.