Lian Duoduo’s hand hurt from the heat, but instead of receiving comfort, she was met with a harsh scolding. Lian Duoduo was infuriated, yet she wasn’t quick with words and was somewhat afraid of Lady Zhou, so she dared not retort. She just raised her arm to wipe her tears while crying loudly.

Her crying only made Lady Zhou angrier.

"You’re still crying, you heartless debt-collector. Smash, go ahead and smash all the good plates and bowls we have, just like that. Look at yourself, even selling you wouldn’t get one good bowl..." The more Lady Zhou scolded, the angrier she got.

"Enough, enough." Old Master Lian saw that Lady Zhou was about to go on a never-ending tirade and waved his hand, saying, "Hurry up and clean up, people will be coming soon."

"Grandpa, Grandma, it’s not Duoduo’s fault, it’s me, it’s me..." Lady Chiang hurried to explain.

"I saw it all, don’t keep shielding her." Lady Zhou replied, "Like a wooden peg, make her do some work, and she doesn’t have any spirit, pulling a face longer than a horse’s, as if she were owed a fortune, looking like a debt-collector."

Lian Duoduo cried even harder.

"Why are you wailing here like a banshee!" Lady Zhou scolded again, "Get out of here, don’t be an eyesore, such a disgraceful thing!"

Lady Chiang quickly cleaned up the broken teacup pieces on the ground and pulled Lian Duoduo out.

Soon, Lady Chiang returned and gave Lian Manman a new cup of tea.

"... It was my carelessness earlier..." Lady Chiang explained to Lian Manman.

"Thank you, sister-in-law." Lian Manman smiled and accepted the tea, thanking Lady Chiang.

From afar, the earlier incident might not have been clear, but Lian Manman saw it all. It was Lady Chiang who noticed Lian Duoduo’s actions out of the corner of her eye. At that moment, Lady Chiang’s expression changed, and she quickly placed herself between Lian Manman and Lian Duoduo, even knocking over the teacup in Lian Duoduo’s hand.

Lady Chiang was indeed a smart woman, quick to react.

On this side, none of the women said a word because it was hard to please Lady Zhou, and no one wanted to provoke her. Lian Manman knew what words would please Lady Zhou, but she didn’t want to say them. Meanwhile, on Old Master Lian’s side, he was chatting lively with Lian Shouxin and Wu Lang.

"Where are you heading out to from here?" Old Master Lian asked Lian Shouxin.

"We’re not going anywhere first; we have to go back home... to receive guests paying respects to the ancestral archway. We’ll go out to pay New Year’s visits this afternoon; this morning, we only came here." Lian Shouxin replied.

Talking about the ancestral archway, Lian Shouxin stood up to bid farewell to Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou.

Because of Lian Shouxin’s words, Old Master Lian didn’t stop them.

The family came out of the house, with Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou still sitting on the kang, not moving, while the others escorted them out. Exiting to the outer room, Lady Gu, who was sitting by the stove, quickly got up with a humble and flattering smile on her face.

"... Duoduo is clumsy, she didn’t hurt you, did she, Manman? Manman, don’t take it to heart with Duoduo. She couldn’t even keep up with your little finger..."

Lian Manman mumbled something in response and kept walking. Currently, Lady Gu’s position in the Lian Family was awkward; no one knew how to properly address her.

"... What are you up to, thinking of some sinister plan again. Think you can climb up by cozying up to someone, don’t you!" Lady Zhou suddenly poked her head out from the house. Apparently, she’d come down from the kang once Lian Manman and the others left, overhearing Lady Gu’s conversation with Lian Manman.

"Hasn’t had you grind the mill for a few days, and you’re itching for it, aren’t you, you wretched creature!" Lady Zhou continued to scold Lady Gu.

Lady Zhou’s scolding was year-round, launching randomly over twelve Chinese hours.

Lian Manman’s family, with Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang, had good tempers. The family always resolved matters with consultation, never having quarrels, let alone cursing someone. They were accustomed to such a warm family environment, so they certainly had no goodwill and were extremely averse to the atmosphere of the Lian Family Old Mansion.

Everyone pretended they hadn’t heard or seen anything, picked up their pace, and left the old mansion to head straight home.

... 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Lian Manman’s home was filled with guests. Lian Zhizhi and Lian Manman were with Lady Zhang in the rear house, entertaining visiting women until late afternoon before they had time to eat.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, people usually paid New Year’s visits to each other, and typically wouldn’t eat at others’ houses.

And on this day, most families didn’t do much cooking because they had plenty of leftover dishes from the New Year’s Eve feast, along with dumplings. Lian Manman’s family simply heated up a few dishes and fried dumplings filled with fennel and pork to a fragrant, crispy finish. The family sat together, enjoying a warm, intimate meal.

"Mom, this morning when Lian Duoduo wanted to bring me tea, did you notice the look in her eyes? It was clear she had no good intentions." Lian Manman chatted with Lady Zhang.

"I saw it." Lady Zhang’s attention immediately shifted to Lian Manman’s words, "Thanks to Jizu’s wife ... Duoduo, that girl, is too narrow-minded and spiteful. We haven’t offended her at all."

"Manman, in the future, don’t go over there too much. Even if you do, bring a couple of people with you, don’t let her get close to you." Wu Lang advised, "Xiao Qi, you too, we all need to stay cautious around their people."

"Got it, brother, I know." Xiao Qi nodded in agreement, his cheeks puffed with food.

Wu Lang only reminded Lian Manman and Xiao Qi, not Lian Zhizhi. This had a reason: it was mainly Lian Manman and Xiao Qi who often went out. Lian Zhizhi rarely went out alone; if she did, it was usually with Lady Zhang or Lian Manman.

"This morning, I saw... her face didn’t look human, probably..." Lady Zhang suddenly spoke.

At the same time, the table was set in the Upper Room of the Old Mansion where everyone was eating, except two people who hadn’t sat at the table.

"You almost caused trouble, do you know that?" Outside, Lady Gu stood by the back door, scolding Lian Duoduo in a low voice.

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Here’s the second update, asking for pink votes.

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Recommending Ruoyan’s completed book: "The Brocade Screen Chronicles," a light house fight farmland tale, capturing the daily ups and downs, love and grudges within a grand family’s gates.

Book number: 1771214

There’s a direct link below, click to go straight to it (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation votes, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)