First change, requesting support.

**********

Separate the provisions for Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou from the shared income-generating properties of the Upper Room. This way, we can best ensure the sustenance and clothing needs of the elderly couple.

These people from the Upper Room have returned to the countryside, claiming they want to live honestly by farming the land. The Lian Manman family has already provided them transitional grain; they also have thirty acres of land rent to sustain themselves for the coming year. It’s not just the Lian Manman family watching; the entire village is observing to see if the Upper Room can match their actions with their words.

But now, the transitional grain is almost gone, and Old Master Lian, Lian Shouren, and Lian Shouyi went to demand the land rent, ultimately to no avail. Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi returned empty-handed, whereas Old Master Lian was carried back and then Wu Lang had to send for a doctor and bear the expenses of Old Master Lian’s medicine and care.

Old Master Lian is advanced in age, while Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi are in their prime. From this incident, everyone can see that these two brothers lack capability.

Lian Shouxin’s faction has already proposed to take in Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou for their retirement, but the old couple refused, insisting on staying with their eldest and second son. Now Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi’s factions cannot provide for or take care of Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou, which is highly unfilial as sons. Measures should be taken to prevent Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou from suffering hardship, living meal to meal, which aligns perfectly with filial duty and earns widespread praise.

Lian Manman and Wu Lang discussed doing this, of course, for another reason. By clarifying this separation, Old Master Lian or Lady Zhou can no longer act pitiful or claim they lack something, indirectly pressuring them to supplement the Upper Room households.

If Old Master Lian were not so partial and muddle-headed, Lian Manman and her group wouldn’t take these matters so seriously.

The families of Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi currently total thirteen people, including four able-bodied men, one nearing adulthood, three able-bodied women, and the rest aside from Da Niuniu and Er Niuniu who only eat without working, Lian Duo, Lian Yaya, and Liulang can also participate in labor.

Without comparing to others, and just comparing to the Lian Shouxin family who left with nothing, their situation is much better. According to tenant farmer standards, with such a family structure, all being capable, not only should survival not be a problem, but they should also manage to live gradually better.

Of course, there is a prerequisite. These people must work diligently, live honestly, rather than scheming or seeking unearned interests.

Their arrangement ensures the lives of Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou, and regarding the dozen people under Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi, they did not intend to be indifferent.

Lian Manman and Wu Lang have already understood that truly ignoring those people could lead to unforeseen complications. Blood ties bind them, and living in the same village, they must oversee these people responsibly.

They won’t ensure these people’s livelihoods, but they will ensure these people live honestly, not straying onto the wrong path again.

Eighteen acres of land, with the thirteen members of the Upper Room to cultivate, it’s incredibly easy. Additionally, raising chickens, ducks, geese, pigs like other tenant farmers, and planting a garden full of vegetables, living frugally may lack wealth, yet they can maintain survival like any tenant farmer.

Having committed such offenses, to still keep one’s life, family reunion, able to maintain survival and live stably, who can say this isn’t great fortune?

"... All things have cause and effect. In the future, we ask everyone to support and supervise together. If you detect any trace of deceit or wrongdoing, everyone can act according to the law and village regulations or inform us. We will be immensely grateful... Our village’s customs are simple and forthright; we shelter them and give them a chance to reform. We must strictly supervise, control, and never let shameful deeds damage our reputation and customs again. Those who can do this are our friends and benefactors; those who aid them in wrongdoing are our enemies..."

Seeing that Old Master Lian can no longer discipline Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi, only the Lian Manman family can take responsibility.

Only the Lian Manman family caring and overseeing them isn’t sufficient; the whole village must be mobilized to supervise and restrain the behaviors of Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, and the others.

From now on, the old Lian Family home will serve as the prison for Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, and their people. Within the Thirty Mile Camp area, it’s their place for labor reform and occasional wind shelter. All villagers, young and old, are guards overseeing this prison, supervising their labor reform.