Lian Shouxin sighed. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"If we don’t dismiss Lady Gu, what else can we do, this Wife of He Laoliu, no matter what is said, should indeed be expelled." Lady Zhang said.

Even someone as kind-hearted as Lady Zhang, who somewhat embodies a Saintess, said this. One can imagine what the general opinion on this matter might be.

"Did my third uncle say anything?" Lian Manman asked, more concerned about this matter than others.

"Your third uncle, alas, he just said he listens to the Old Master." Lian Shouxin said, "Yeye insists on expelling them, and the Old Lady also wants them out..."

"So, were they expelled or not?" Lian Manman asked.

"They were to be expelled, but then those few people kept kowtowing, rolling on the ground, swearing oaths. They even claimed that the money issue couldn’t be blamed on them. They said it was someone from the Old Lian Family who told them to take the money from the Old Lian Family, so it couldn’t be considered stealing. They also said they were swindled by Lady Gu into fearing that if they didn’t listen to her, they’d be thrown out."

"You should’ve seen it, the whole family rolling on the ground, such a commotion, it was truly disgraceful." Lian Shouxin frowned and said, "They kept pestering the Old Master about the Taicang matter, and saying that if they were thrown out in this cold winter, it would be like taking their lives, calling it murder. It was headache-inducing."

"So they weren’t expelled?" Lady Zhang said.

"They were expelled. The Old Lady and Yeye both said that as long as the Old He Family was around, they wouldn’t stay. They couldn’t move out immediately, though, and needed a few more days." Lian Shouxin said, "They pleaded, and the Old Master’s heart softened. He agreed to give them a few days to see if they could find another place. In this weather, if they really stayed outside for a few nights, we feared for their lives. The Old Master didn’t want them stepping out one foot only to freeze to death just outside."

"Public opinion can be terrifying. Even though these people stole, everyone hated them, but if someone really died, people wouldn’t say the same things."

"Besides, without finding a decent place, once these people step out of the old house’s doors, they could just sit tight at the entrance as if they haven’t left. At least find somewhere to tear this sticky plaster off." Finally, Lian Shouxin added, "I think the Old Master regrets this too, but there’s nothing else we can do now."

"Now I see things quite clearly. If we’d thought so thoroughly before letting them in, there wouldn’t be so much trouble." Lian Manman said.

"Ah, human nature is hard to change for a lifetime." Both Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang said.

"Is it that easy to find another place to stay?" Lian Manman asked.

"Your grandfather heard from someone, the old hut where the Old He Family lives in the West Village is still there. That hut has two broken wood panels on the north side near the wall, it’s cold to live there, but it won’t kill them." Lian Shouxin said, "Your grandfather plans to take a look. If it works, let the He Family move there. Anyway, it’s not like they haven’t lived there before."

"That’s true." Lady Zhang nodded.

"What about the money Yeye Household lost?" Lian Zhizhi asked.

"Didn’t the Song Family give two sets of clothes? They said to give the set Duoduo wore to Yeye, as compensation for the hundred wen money." Lian Shouxin said.

Lian Manman had seen that set of clothes. The Song Family made a big show of it, and that set of clothes is worth much more than a hundred wen money. It could be worth one or two taels of silver.

"Who came up with that idea?" Lian Manman asked.

"Your grandfather came up with it, ... your grandmother didn’t say anything." Lian Shouxin said.

"Oh." Lian Manman responded.

"Yeye didn’t want those clothes, said she was a farmstead person and shouldn’t wear such clothes. Even if she wanted them, she’d earn money to buy them herself. She only wanted the 106 wen money." Lian Shouxin said.

"Yeye is a principled child." Lady Zhang said.

Lian Manman nodded. The reason she was willing to help Lian Shouli’s family was, firstly, as a woman, she felt sorry for Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye for their suffering, but more importantly, because of Lian Yeye. Lian Yeye was a good girl, worthy of help.

"Dad, what was said in the end?" Lian Manman asked again.

"They said that set of clothes should be pawned at a shop, and from the money earned, 106 wen would go to Yeye and her family. The rest would be used for the New Year." Lian Shouxin said.

"What about the other set, wasn’t it pawned together, or was it given to my second aunt?" Lian Manman asked again.

"The other set, your grandmother kept it, saying it’d be pawned if an urgent need for money arose later." Lian Shouxin said.

Lady Zhou really didn’t let any daughter-in-law or granddaughter take any advantage at all. It’s a pity Lady He was so keen to work for Lady Zhou, forcing Lady Gu and Lian Duo to strip.

"Did my second aunt get angry?" Lian Manman asked with a smile.

"Your second aunt asked your grandmother, and your grandmother scolded her." Lian Shouxin said.

Lady Zhou scolded Lady He harshly, calling her a bringer of misfortune, saying it was lucky she wasn’t dismissed. Lady Zhou also questioned if Lady He wanted food or clothes. If Lady He wanted clothes, she wouldn’t get any food from the Old Lian Family.

"So, did Duoduo’s mother wake up?" Lady Zhang asked again.

"She woke up and went into the house to kowtow to the Old Master and Old Lady.... Seeing her like that, I don’t think she’ll live long." Lian Shouxin said.

Lady Zhang pondered in silence.

"How about it, don’t we still have some Goryeo Ginseng?" Lady Zhang looked at Lian Shouxin and the children and asked.

"Mom, we’ve repaid all the kindness we owe, there’s no need for this." Lian Manman said.

When Lady Zhang had Xiao Yue, Lady Chiang gave her two slices of ginseng. Since then, Lady Zhang always remembered this kindness. Later, when the Lian Family Main House people went to Taicang, and Lady Chiang came twice, Lady Zhang understood her character and started to dislike her a bit.

However, when she heard Lady Chiang also had a Xiao Yue, Lady Zhang and Lian Manman decided to give her a Goryeo ginseng to help her recover. It was given privately, without Lady Zhou knowing, to repay an old debt of gratitude.

As Lady Zhang used to put it, it’s better if others owe us, we don’t owe others.

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Here’s the third update, going down to write the fourth update, seeking pink encouragement.

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Recommend my friend’s new book "Fortunate Bonds", a warm and loving farming novel, currently rising in the new book list. Interested friends can click to take a look~

Here’s the synopsis: Skilled in reading expressions and adapting? That’s my forte!

Pretending to be foolish to play the pig and eat the tiger? That’s my specialty!

What if I became a humble and unloved concubine’s daughter? Taking advantage of the wind, I still schemed for a wealthy marriage and a lifetime of liberty and glory!

Book number: 2578804 (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)