Second watch, asking for pinks.

*******

Lizheng went to arrange the labor duties and, using his influence, quickly helped Old Master Lian decide on who would go for the labor service. Lian Shouren, Lian Jizu, and Lian Shouyi all had to go. Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi were to perform the labor service, while Lian Jizu went to earn some wages for the family.

Even though this was what Lian Manman had hoped for, she was still slightly surprised when Lian Shouli related it to her in this way.

Has Old Master Lian finally come to his senses?!

Just after dinner, Lian Shouli came to inform Lian Shouxin that Old Master Lian had already decided to let Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, and Lian Jizu all go for labor service and work.

Of course, Lian Shouli’s visit wasn’t just to relay this message.

"Our father asked me to come over to see if you all had finished eating. If you have, he wants you and Wu Lang to go over for a bit. He has something to say to you." Lian Shouli said to Lian Shouxin, "Our father also said that if Wu Lang is not available now, you can go over tomorrow when you have time. He also wants Manman to go if she has time, and Xiao Qi too."

Unlike before, when Lian Yeye would run errands, Lian Shouli was sent this time. The specific request for Wu Lang and her, with an implicit emphasis on Wu Lang, made Lian Manman think that Old Master Lian was clear-minded, and this must be an important matter to discuss.

There was no reason to refuse Old Master Lian’s request, nor did they want to refuse.

Lian Manman took Maid Xiao Xi along, following Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi towards the old residence.

Entering the gate of the old residence, Lian Manman instinctively glanced at the pigsty. The makeshift shack that was built was no longer there.

Lady Gu had been punished by Lady Zhou, forced to stay in the pigsty at night and not allowed to sleep indoors. The first few days were fine, but later, every nightfall, Lady Gu would sit in the pigsty crying miserably.

The countryside nights were very quiet, and with nothing to block the sounds in the pigsty, Lady Gu’s cries would spread out. Others could tolerate it, but the neighbors soon couldn’t stand it. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

So someone went to talk to Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou.

When people came, Lady Zhou recounted Lady Gu’s wrongdoings from start to finish, not only mentioning how Lady Gu had schemed to marry Lian Xiuxiu off to an old man and what happened after going to Taicang, but also recounting how Lady Gu had conspired to sell Lian Manman at home, nearly causing her death, and how she influenced Lian Huahua to delay repaying a high-interest loan, intending to harm the entire Lian Family.

According to Lady Zhou, Lady Gu was worse than animals and deserved to live in the pigsty.

The visitors didn’t speak on behalf of Lady Gu, only mentioning that Lady Gu cried every night, which disturbed the adults but scared the children a lot.

Lady Zhou could boss around Lady Gu, but she really couldn’t control her crying at night.

In the end, it was Old Master Lian who reassured the visitors, promising that there would be no more such incidents. That very night, Lady Gu moved back into the house.

Lady Gu was the type of person who never defied Lady Zhou openly but always managed to achieve her own goals in a roundabout way.

Lian Manman entered the Upper Room, where Lady Gu was still the one lifting the curtain.

Like Lian Shouren, Lady Gu’s temples were also flecked with white hair.

In the outer room, by the water jar next to the east room, there was a simplistic bedding roll. Although Lady Gu was allowed back inside, Lady Zhou still didn’t allow her to sleep on the west room’s Kang bed but made her sleep on the floor outside the east room’s door. This way, when Lady Zhou wanted a drink of water or used the chamber pot at night, Lady Gu could be called upon readily.

According to Lian Yeye, sometimes Lady Zhou would wake up in the middle of the night and start crying. Naturally, she cried over Lian Xiuxiu, and when she cried like this, she inevitably scolded Lady Gu and sometimes even included Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, and occasionally a few words about Old Master Lian too.

According to Lady Zhou, the whole family owed Lian Xiuxiu, which meant they owed even more to her.

Occasionally, Old Master Lian would say a few words, but most of the time, he indulged Lady Zhou. Others in the Upper Room dared not speak at all.

...

In the east room, Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou sat at the head of the Kang. All other Upper Room members were either sitting or standing on the floor. Now, only the elderly couple lived in the house, so the whole bed on the Kang’s end was completely cleared out.

Seeing Lian Shouli bring in Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, and Lian Manman, Old Master Lian hurried to invite the three of them to sit.

"... Wu Lang, sit by your granddad, Manman, and Xiao Qi up on the Kang, sit with your grandma; it’s warmer there." Old Master Lian invited with a smile, then waved to Lady He, Lady Chiang, and other female members in the room, "You all go out."