The first watch, requesting pink.

*******

Seeing the Song Family send Lady Gu and Lian Duoduo over, Lian Manman wasn’t particularly surprised. Sure enough, these two had gone to the Song Family in the county town. The Song Family sending them back saved them trouble; otherwise, someone from her family would certainly have to go to the county town to find these two.

With people from the Song Family arriving, Lian Manman had to temporarily set aside the interrogation of the wife of He Laoliu and the search of the east wing room.

Aunt Sun and Xiao Hong each supported Lady Gu and Lian Duoduo, both with smiles, respectfully, with a servant behind holding a big bundle of gifts. However, Lady Gu and Lian Duoduo had no trace of a smile on their faces. Lady Gu looked utterly defeated, while Lian Duoduo pouted with obvious anger.

"Sending regards to the Great Grandfather, Old Madam, Fourth Old Master, and the young lady..." After respecting Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou, Aunt Sun and Xiao Hong respectfully saluted Lian Shouxin and Lian Manman, then to Lian Shouren and others.

According to past conventions, when Aunt Sun and Xiao Hong arrived, they would be invited to the kang to talk. But when Aunt Sun saw Lian Manman seated, she stubbornly refused to sit on the kang, choosing instead a slightly lower long bench, sitting by the kang’s edge with Xiao Hong.

"...Our lady mother-in-law kindly went to see our Old Madam, and our Old Madam was very touched. We intended to have the lady mother-in-law stay a few more days, but our Old Madam understands that the Great Grandfather and Old Madam naturally need the wife to serve, and with the New Year approaching, the household affairs need to be managed by the lady mother-in-law; so we dared not detain her forcibly," Aunt Sun explained with a smile to Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou while sitting on the bench.

Then, they presented the gifts they brought, which were merely some snacks, cloth items, and a packet of twenty taels of silver.

Lian Manman couldn’t help but glance at Lady Gu and Lian Duoduo. As she knew, when these two went missing, they were wearing ordinary home clothes. Since coming back from wrongdoing in Taicang, the Lian Family Main House was impoverished, naturally having no money to afford decent clothes. Therefore, those ordinary clothes were old coarse cloth garments, patched up.

But now, Lady Gu and Lian Duoduo were dressed in silk garments, nearly new, and rather fitting.

This was clearly the Old Madam Song’s doing. Not only did she give them decent clothes, but also twenty taels of silver. It’s undeniable that the Old Madam Song handled things in a very respectful and impeccable manner. Thus, the behavior of Lady Gu bringing Lian Duoduo dressed in shabby clothes to visit seemed increasingly disgraceful.

Lady Gu used to care about face, but now, she couldn’t bother about these things.

"...These trifling gifts are just a little token from our Old Madam. Please Great Grandfather and Old Madam kindly accept," Aunt Sun said again with a smile.

Aunt Sun spoke plainly, the items and money were for Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou. Beside them, Lady Gu’s defeated expression became even more somber. She disregarded appearances, cunningly went to Jinyang County Town to seek assistance from the Song Family, yet what she desired was not this result.

Seeing the Song Family present substantial gifts, others inside the room were somewhat moved.

Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, and Lady He had a glow in their eyes, while Old Master Lian’s face flushed slightly, feeling a bit uneasy.

"Ahem," Old Master Lian cleared his throat twice, declining politely, "The lady mother-in-law was too courteous. Last time she sent so many things here, and it’s only been a few days. In the family circle, having this sentiment is enough. This gift, we cannot accept."

Reciprocation in gifts through family circles would mean returning similar gifts. Old Master Lian, being someone who valued face, couldn’t comfortably accept this charitable gift. In his view, the Song Family was the granddaughter’s husband’s home, with no obligation to do this. Especially this gift was given after Lady Gu fled the house to seek assistance from the Song Family directly.

This was no different from begging. Though times were tough for them now, they couldn’t lose their dignity.

"It’s precisely because we’re in the family circle, that there’s no need for courtesy," Aunt Sun chuckled, "Otherwise, it would seem overly formal."

After mutual giving and taking, Old Master Lian made a concession, accepting other gifts, however...

"We have sufficient food and drink at the moment. We must not accept this silver; please take it back to the Old Madam," Old Master Lian pushed the silver back to Aunt Sun.