The fourth watch, requesting pink votes.

＊＊＊＊＊

In this regard, Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang are quite alike. It’s not just the two of them; this is a common mindset among many simple farmstead families. They live for peace of mind.

To put Lady Zhang at ease, Lian Manman decided to gift the Goryeo Ginseng.

However, when it comes to Lady Gu, it’s a different matter.

Lian Manman disagreed with giving anything to Lady Gu.

"Mother, she doesn’t deserve anything from us," Lian Manman told Lady Zhang. "Mother, do you believe that if we give her something, she’ll definitely shower us with sweet words, but once she turns her back, she’ll turn against us. That way, she can make Grandmother resent us. Once Grandmother resents us, won’t she have less energy to deal with her?"

Lian Manman spoke this way to Lady Zhang, but in her heart, she believed that if they gave something now, Lady Gu would certainly express gratitude. Moreover, she wouldn’t betray them. The current situation of the Lian Family is different from before. It benefits Lady Gu more to please them than to side with Lady Zhou against them.

"Mother, I also think there’s no need to do this. If we have goodwill, we should use it on worthy people. Isn’t there a saying, ’If we repay grievances with kindness, how will we repay kindness?’?" Wu Lang said, and he explained the meaning of this saying to Lady Zhang in detail.

If we use goodwill and kind actions to repay grievances, then, in comparison, what should we use to repay goodwill and kind actions?

"Repay kindness with kindness, and grievances with straightforwardness."

This should be the attitude in dealing with people. Yet many people, for some reason, only take things out of context, saying that one should repay grievances with kindness, encouraging people to use goodwill and kind actions to repay grievances.

As for Lady Gu, they haven’t hit her when she’s down, which is already extremely magnanimous. Sending Goryeo Ginseng to Lady Gu, do they intend to use the broad saintly bosom to inspire Lady Gu to forsake evil and do good?

They are just ordinary people, not capable of doing what the legendary Buddha or Bodhisattva would do.

"I was just suggesting it; not sending, not sending is fine." Lady Zhang nodded without the children having to say more.

"Mother, to be honest, sometimes you’re also bewitched by the petty schemes of Grandmother’s troublesome mind," Lian Manman said to Lady Zhang. "Mother, we won’t talk about anything else. But think about it, Grandmother pushed you into Xiao Yue and didn’t get a doctor for you—is that a caring mind or not? Before the family split, we all ate at the same table, and yet only Aunt got to eat meat, not even Lian Xiaoqi. Is that a caring mind or not?"

"...And these are far from the only two instances. If we were to be really thorough, there are many examples. Grandmother’s words are just to fool us into listening to her, preventing us from opposing her, or else we’re accused of having a troublesome mind. Now, Mother, haven’t you figured it out yet?"

"I’ve figured it out, how can I not?" Lady Zhang said somewhat sheepishly. "It’s just that sometimes, you know, it’s a habit. If this happens again, remember to remind me, all of you."

"Okay." All the children agreed in unison.

Lian Manman once again felt grateful. Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang, even with many other shortcomings, were able to listen to advice, especially capable of listening to their children’s suggestions without asserting parental authority. This quality is invaluable.

It’s fair to say that this quality has been indispensable for their family’s current prosperity and happy life.

......

In the blink of an eye, it was already the twelfth lunar month. Wu Lang went to the county town with some helpers, bought some things, and brought back the fur coats made by the tailor’s shop for the family. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Who wouldn’t like beautiful new clothes? Even Lady Zhang, a mother of four, found herself blushing with joy as she tried on her new clothes in front of the mirror.

"I must say, the expensive things are expensive for a reason. Not to mention looking good, once you put them on, they’re truly both light and warm," Lady Zhang said while feeling the soft fur and sighing.

After trying them on and finding them fitting, Lady Zhang carefully put away the clothes, intending to save them for receiving guests and attending banquets during the New Year.

Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi also tried on their clothes. Needless to say, the sisters were delighted, and even Lady Zhang couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear as she watched from the sidelines. It was a kind of pride and joy at the sight of her daughters blooming into fine young women.

"Clothes do make the person," Lady Zhang sincerely remarked, observing her daughters’ graceful appearance enhanced by the luxurious new clothes.