The first update, asking for pink votes.

*******

The two young men from the Wu Family working at Lian’s Restaurant in the county town are the grand-nephews of Wu Yugui and Wu Yuchang, part of the extended family of the Old Wu Family. From Lady Zhou’s standpoint, they also have some family relation to the Lian Family. Therefore, it was reasonable for Old Master Lian to inquire about how they were doing in the county town, rather than asking about Wang Xiaosan or Chunzhu’s wife’s nephew.

However, Old Master Lian only knew that Lian Shouxin had taken these two young men to work in the county town. He didn’t know specifically which shop they were arranged in.

"These days, I heard they’re doing quite well," Lian Shouxin told Old Master Lian, "Those two kids were very righteous and hardworking even when they were at home. They won’t go wrong wherever they go."

"Ah," Old Master Lian’s eyes twinkled as he said, "That’s good... After all, they’re still relatives, living in the same village. It’s only right to look out for each other a bit. The kids are young, and it’s not easy being outside. During those years when I worked as a shopkeeper outside, I saw a lot of young fellows. Some of them knew nothing when they first arrived at the shop; you have to teach them slowly, and eventually, they become sensible. A young fellow grows up working in the shop, and they’ll remember the shop’s kindness for a lifetime."

"Dad, I’m aware of that. The Shopkeeper Wang over there is family with the Shopkeeper Wang at the town’s restaurant, a good person. The atmosphere in the shop is upright. When I took people over, they needed to be approved by Shopkeeper Wang. Only when he saw that the kids were righteous would he agree to take them in," Lian Shouxin said.

After listening to Lian Shouxin, Old Master Lian did not respond immediately but instead gave Lian Shouxin a deep look.

Lian Manman, sitting on the edge of the kang, exchanged a glance with Wu Lang, and the two siblings couldn’t help but secretly laugh to themselves. Lian Shouxin was speaking the absolute truth, and his way of speaking stemmed from a broad-minded personality that avoided taking all the credit publicly. In other words, even though he arranged for the Wu Family youngsters to have a paying job, he didn’t want to claim credit or show off their favor, simply saying that the young men were good, and so was Shopkeeper Wang.

Lian Shouxin probably hadn’t seen through Old Master Lian’s intentions, but his straightforward truth effectively blocked Old Master Lian’s words.

Old Master Lian must be quite frustrated. At this moment, he must be wondering if Lian Shouxin had guessed his intentions and was deliberately speaking in this manner.

Just because Old Master Lian couldn’t speak doesn’t mean others wouldn’t.

"Fourth Uncle," said Lian Jizu, "look at our family’s current situation. I’m the eldest grandson, and I should help relieve the family’s worries. Didn’t I just come back from labor service, and there’s no big work at home? Fourth Uncle, why don’t you arrange a job for me in the shop at the county town... I’m young, and I’ve at least studied for a few years; hm... any job, I can handle any job."

Lian Jizu wants to work in the shop at the county town!

Lian Shouxin was taken aback and looked at Lian Jizu, then turned to Old Master Lian.

Old Master Lian said nothing, his expression somewhat inscrutable.

"Jizu, this..." Lian Shouxin, seeing Old Master Lian’s silence, instinctively glanced at Wu Lang and Lian Manman. In fact, he didn’t need to look at Wu Lang and Lian Manman at all; they had already discussed this matter as a family.

"Dad, what’s your opinion?" Lian Shouxin asked Old Master Lian.

"Oh..., Jizu talked to me about this before..., Old Fourth, what do you think?" Old Master Lian, instead of stating his position directly, tossed the matter back to Lian Shouxin. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"If you’d said earlier, this could have been easily handled. Now... the shop is fully staffed. Besides, there’s no work that Jizu can do," Lian Shouxin said.

This was a clear refusal.

The disappointment on the faces of Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu was obvious.

Lian Manman couldn’t help but wonder if Lian Jizu wanting to work in the shop at the county town was just a smokescreen. Right here in the Thirty Mile Camp, every move couldn’t be made freely, and it was impossible to sneak into the county town. So, using work as an excuse, once in the county town, it would be much easier to find Lian Huahua.

After all, Lian Manman still couldn’t believe that without strong external control, Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu could genuinely work honestly and live the life of an average farmer.

"Ahem," at that moment, Lian Shouyi suddenly coughed twice, drawing everyone’s attention to him.

"Well, let me say a few words," Lian Shouyi said, seeing everyone’s attention on him. He shifted slightly on the stool, puffed his chest as if wanting to enhance his presence, and then before speaking again, he raised a hand to wipe his nose with a loud sniff.