Reborn as a Landlord

The three children made their way to Liutiao Street, rounding the corner to find a small tea stall on the roadside, with a snack shop next to it.

"Second Sister, look," Xiao Qi suddenly pointed to the tea stall beside them and said to Lian Manman, "It’s Aunt He and Second Brother."

Lian Manman followed Xiao Qi’s pointing finger and saw that there weren’t many people at the tea stall. Seated at a table by the roadside were three individuals, indeed Lady He and Lian Erlang from the Lian Family, Lian Jizong. Lady He’s hair, slick and glossy from some substance, shone in the light. Both were dressed in brand-new clothes, with Erlang even donning a straight robe. Beside them sat a middle-aged woman, exceedingly well-dressed, none other than Matchmaker Wang, who had visited the Lian Family to discuss the match that day.

"What are Aunt He and the others up to here?" Lian Manman wondered.

Not wanting to buy pastries in front of Lady He—for she would surely ask for some—Lian Manman thought of coming back later, but her curiosity got the better of her.

At that moment, she saw Matchmaker Wang whispering something into Lady He’s ear, with Lady He nodding repeatedly. Then all three turned their gazes toward the back door of a house diagonally across from them.

Seeing them like that, could it be a match-making? Lian Manman suddenly had a flash of insight.

"Let’s go have a look," Lian Manman said as she pulled Xiao Qi and Wu Lang closer to the tea stall.

"Why have you all come?" Lady He looked up, saw them, and asked.

"We’re here for the market too. Aunt He, Second Brother, what are you all doing here?" Lian Manman asked.

"She’s come out, she’s come out," Matchmaker Wang murmured softly.

Knowing it was too late to send Lian Manman away, Lady He hastily signaled for Lian Manman to sit down.

"Sit down, all of you, and keep quiet," Lady He instructed.

"Oh," Lian Manman nodded, and the three children took their seats by the table.

The door Lady He had been watching creaked open, and a middle-aged woman followed by a brightly dressed young woman emerged. They appeared to be mother and daughter.

They paused by the door for a moment before walking toward the tea stall.

The eyes of Lady He and Lian Erlang were fixed on the girl.

Lian Manman studied the girl intently as well. She seemed to be about seventeen or eighteen, not short in stature, with a generously curvaceous figure. She walked with a coy and delicate gait akin to the breeze swaying willow leaves. As the girl came closer, Lian Manman saw her face clearly: an oval visage with finely arched eyebrows. To Lian Manman, her eyes and brows seemed ordinary, but her fair and spotless skin significantly enhanced her appeal.

Indeed, they were here to find Erlang a bride.

Lian Manman sneakily observed Erlang. His eyes had fixed on the girl since she appeared and hadn’t moved since.

Such match-making encounters typically involved the mediator’s arrangement where both Erlang and Lady He were to assess the girl, as she and her family were doing the same to Erlang.

Erlang seemed nervous, sitting stiff and straight as a board.

"Move over there a bit," Matchmaker Wang nudged Wu Lang, afraid he might block the view and prevent the girl from getting a clear look at Erlang.

Wu Lang hastily scooted his stool aside.

The mother and daughter walked past the tea stall, paused by the pastry shop to buy some snacks, and then turned back around to pass by the tea stall again. As the girl walked past Erlang, she subtly turned her face and glanced at him twice, her eyes shimmering.

Even after the mother and daughter had returned home and shut the door, Erlang still sat flushed, his gaze locked on the door, his eyes seemingly frozen in place.

"I always say Miss Zhao is quite the beauty. Erlang, you have high standards, how does she look to you?" Matchmaker Wang had noticed Erlang’s expression and knew he was probably smitten with Zhao Xiue, yet she purposely asked.

"Erlang, what do you think?" Lady He asked him.

After a moment of hesitation, Erlang finally blurted out three words: "I think she’s suitable."

"We will need to rely on Aunt Wang to mediate this," Lady He then, smiling, said to Matchmaker Wang.

Matchmaker Wang just chuckled.

"From my point of view, Zhao Family’s Daughter has also taken a fancy to our Erlang. This is a rare match. The only issue is what we discussed earlier..."

"We will definitely figure something out," Lady He declared, "About their dowry..."

"Don’t you worry about that. From their attire and presentation, would they ever shortchange their daughter?"

Lady He broke into a delighted laugh.

So, that girl was Zhao Xiue. Lady He and Erlang seemed very keen on this marriage—it was just unclear where the extensive dowry would come from.

Matchmaker Wang mentioned she was heading to the Zhao Family to learn more and took her leave.

Lian Manman also stood up, and from the corner of her eye, she spotted a young girl slowly walking by the alleyway entrance; her figure seemed somewhat familiar.

A jolt of recognition hit Lian Manman’s heart; she turned her head just as the girl passed, catching only a glimpse of her back.

"Could that have been Duoduo?" she pondered.

****

Today’s update is late, and I apologize to those waiting for it. Two Chapters have been combined into one, including an additional update for 440 pink votes.

Thank you for supporting Ruoyan last month; Ruoyan’s final pink ranking was 11th, and she was second on the new book’s pink ranking list. I am grateful for everyone’s vigorous support.

In June, there were 462 pink votes in total. Ruoyan owes two more Chapters, and they will be delivered in due course.

As for July’s updates: the regular updates will be between 18:20-20:20, usually around 18:20. Each additional 30 pink votes will result in one extra Chapter, and we hope for your continued support. (Alas, 10 pink votes per additional update is too exhausting for Ruoyan; I can’t keep up, facepalm). (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to visit the starting point (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)