Chapter One, asking for some pink encouragements.

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"Did you run into her?" Lady Zhang asked.

"No," Lian Manman replied, "We had walked far away, and the wife of He Laoliu came from the back street." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Ah," Lian Shouxin responded at that moment, looking at Lian Manman.

"Hee hee," Lian Manman smiled cunningly.

"Ah, Manman, you’re fine," Lian Shouxin finally realized.

"It’s fine now," Lian Manman smiled again, then slowly said seriously, "...Regarding the wife of He Laoliu, if we were there, we’d not only be of no help, but probably cause more trouble. We won’t ignore Grandpa and Grandma’s matters, but this, ultimately, is about my second uncle and aunt, or even related to my aunt’s family. It’s not something for us to meddle in."

It was said that while in Taicang, Lian Shouyi and He Laoliu were almost as close as wearing the same pair of pants. And from what He Laoliu’s wife said just now, who knew how many issues were involved?

Lian Manman recounted what she heard from the wife of He Laoliu to Lady Zhang and Lian Zhizhi.

"Oh my, there’s talk of such a thing, saying He Laoliu replaced the Second Master?" Lady Zhang exclaimed in surprise.

Everyone shook their heads.

The situation in the Upper Room at Taicang wasn’t something they knew in detail. After Old Master Lian and the others returned, they also avoided the topic. But based on what they knew and deduced with common sense, Lian Shouyi and He Laoliu were likely colluding in a lot of illegal activities. After the incident, with Lian Xiuxiu and Third Old Master Zheng’s full efforts, connections and money were used to get people out.

Who could He Laoliu rely on to help him? His shady friends in Taicang? His wife and children?

The result was that the law was enforced on He Laoliu, and he was beheaded.

"We don’t know the details, and his grandpa doesn’t want to say. When his second uncle was at home, he didn’t do anything too outrageous. The Old Master kept a strict check. But once he got involved with He Laoliu, he strayed. He Laoliu, when he was in the village, wasn’t he notorious as a good-for-nothing? If someone were truly doing terrible things, He Laoliu is surely the main culprit," Lian Shouxin thought for a moment and said.

Lian Shouxin’s words made some sense, at least in the past, Lian Shouyi hadn’t committed any wrongful acts outwardly. Whereas He Laoliu’s reputation was already rotten to the core.

"That’s right, He Laoliu brought it on himself. Previously, he dragged the Upper Room into a trap, but then when the big boss made it, he shamelessly latched onto the opportunity. Over there, who knows how he flaunted his power, and finally ended up losing his life," Lady Zhang said.

Saying it like this, it seemed as if He Laoliu selling off his assets and rushing to Taicang was a death wish, which made Lian Manman slightly embarrassed.

"He left behind a wife, and a few orphaned children, with nothing else, who knows how they’ll live in the future," Lady Zhang added.

"That’s why they’re looking for my aunt," Lian Manman continued.

It’s not about being a scapegoat or anything, the key is clinging to Lady He and Lian Shouyi to find a way for future survival.

"Wonder how the Upper Room will handle this," Lian Shouxin said.

The wife of He Laoliu was in her thirties, two sons around ten years old, and a younger daughter, probably eight or nine.

"Doesn’t the wife of He Laoliu have any other relatives?" Lian Manman asked.

"The Old He Family moved here from another village, it’s just those siblings, no other close relatives around," Lian Shouxin replied.

"What about He Laoliu’s wife’s family?" Lian Manman asked again.

"That, we really don’t know," Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang said.

"His grandpa is a fairly broad-minded person. Otherwise, with all these matters, sigh..." Lian Shouxin sighed.

While the family was talking, Lian Yeye came running in.

"Yeye, did you go back? How are things over there?" Lian Manman asked, letting Lian Yeye sit on the kang and inquiring. She had just sent Xiao Xi to pass a message to Lian Yeye, asking him to check on the developments at the old house.

"The wife of He Laoliu wants to move into my room," Lian Yeye said astonishingly.

"Did they actually let them in?" Lian Manman was shocked.

"Yes, when I got back, He Laoliu’s wife and her three kids were holding onto my uncle and aunt, not letting go. They were crying and screaming, saying if Grandpa didn’t take care of them, the four of them would hang themselves in front of the door. They also shouted it was inhumane for the relatives to abandon them, watching He Laoliu die and ignoring them. They claimed the children are of the Old He family’s blood, and now Aunt is the only female relative left, she must help. Plus, so many people in the village heard about He Laoliu and Second Uncle’s matter in Taicang, they all went to watch the commotion at the gate. Grandpa probably felt embarrassed, so he let them into the yard. I don’t know what was discussed, but they asked me to vacate my room for his wife and the kids. I’m feeling really upset," Lian Yeye was about to cry.