Reborn as a Landlord

"Old Eldest Daughter-in-law, turns out all these years, the men of our Lian Family have been raised by your Gu Family. Are you also saying that Old Master Lian and I have been raised by the Gu Family? With your Gu Family’s poor roots, pah, don’t make people laugh to death if that comes out. Eldest, speak up. How did we come to raise such an ungrateful creature that betrays his own kind after being frugal all these years? Whoever belongs to the Gu Family, get out of the Lian Family immediately!" Lady Zhou rebuked angrily. This time, she was truly irate.

"What nonsense are you spouting? What does your Gu Family have to do with it? Every single Wen Money in the house belongs to the Lian Family," Lian Shouren retorted right away.

Lady Gu felt utterly humiliated, almost biting her lips till they bled.

Lian Manman shook her head secretly from the side. Lady Gu was really bringing humiliation upon herself; she turned everyone against her, including Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu. Lady Gu was indeed blinded by profit, utterly foolish.

"If the house bears the Lian surname, then there’s nothing difficult to say about this matter," Lian Shouyi chuckled and said, "Father, I was just discussing with Eldest Brother. Erlang’s marriage proposal, the girl’s family is fond of our Erlang, and said that the dowry is open to negotiation. But we’ve got to be fair to them, right? Not to mention anything else, when their daughter marries in, where shall we house her?"

Lian Shouyi gestured with both palms upwards, shaking them.

Indeed, with the current number of people in the Lian Family, these few rooms are already quite cramped. If Erlang were to take a wife, without a separate room, at the very least, a room must be partitioned out for them. But from where to partition a room? From nowhere would it be suitable. One could say that without building new rooms, there’s simply no way to accommodate a new daughter-in-law. Old Master Lian was hesitant about Erlang’s marriage for this very reason initially.

Lian Manman believed that when Old Master Lian abandoned his job in the city and returned to Thirty Mile Camp, he must have had a plan in mind. All of Old Master Lian’s schemes had a focal point, a starting point, which was for Lian Shouren to make a success of himself, to be chosen in the imperial examinations, and to become an official. But Lian Shouren was stuck at the rank of Scholar, unable to advance even half a step, and the lives of the entire Lian Family were stuck in limbo, unable to move up or down.

Lian Manman snuck a glance at Old Master Lian, perhaps those people whose stocks were stuck would understand Old Master’s helplessness. Without the courage to cut losses decisively, they could only drag on indefinitely, hoping for a day when the situation would rebound, liquidating their assets, and even making a fortune, thus turning their fate around. However, during this time, funds would undoubtedly be tight, delaying many other matters.

"Father, now that this house has become available, why not let Erlang take it for his marital home?" Lian Shouyi suggested to Old Master Lian.

In the end, the second branch had set their minds on occupying that house in town.

"Huahua’s wedding date is approaching, and Eldest Brother is about to become an official. That rundown mansion is nothing in Eldest Brother’s eyes, and it’s just sitting there unused. Using it for Erlang’s marriage—it couldn’t be more proper!" Lian Shouyi declared with a hearty laugh.

This statement blocked what Lian Shouren had intended to say. How could Lian Shouren brazenly declare that if Lian Huahua’s marriage fell through or if he failed to become an official, he would want to move back to the house in town? He knew very well that if these things happened, he would have no future to speak of, and even if Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou were willing to continue supporting him, Lian Shouyi would never agree.

At this thought, Lian Shouren’s eyebrows nearly twisted together.

"The house is already rented out; it’s not right to drive the tenants away," Lian Shouren said, "Erlang’s house, we should think of another solution."

"Why can’t we drive them out?" Lian Shouyi stood up, waved his hand, and said, "We’ll just not take their rent; isn’t that a solution? Our own child is getting married; it’s only right by any standard. The rent money, Eldest Sister-in-law hasn’t handed it over to Mother. Whatever Eldest Sister-in-law has taken is hers; we won’t dispute that, and we can just refund the rest to the tenants."

Lady Gu’s throat tightened—the rent money was nearly all spent, and there was none left to refund. Even if there were, she would be reluctant to return it.

"Father, Mother, Erlang is of age; we finally have this marriage prospect, and if it falls through, Erlang will end up a bachelor for life or will have to marry a widow," Lady He began to cry woefully.

"If Erlang doesn’t marry, Sanlang can’t start talking about marriage. Then we’d end up with a house full of bachelors; Great Uncle and Great Aunt won’t look good either," Si Lang said cheerfully.

The second branch, having discussed amongst themselves, had the advantage over the first branch in terms of numbers.

"The house bears the Lian surname, it’s only proper to use it for Erlang’s marriage. Old Three, do you have anything to say?" Lian Shouyi asked Lian Shouli.

"I, I have nothing to say," Lian Shouli answered honestly.

"Old Fourth, it looks like you won’t have a share of this house, all because when we divided the family assets, Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law managed to keep this house under wraps," Lian Shouyi directed at Lian Shouxin.

This Lian Shouyi was indeed a character; if one were to compare, Lian Shouyi’s shrewdness definitely surpassed Lian Shouren’s.

"Father, I have no desire for disputes; it was you who called me here, so I came. Whatever you say, Father, I will follow," Lian Shouxin directed his words to Old Master Lian.

Lian Manman nodded, Lian Shouxin’s words were well said.

"Father, I am, after all, a scholar, and owning that house in the town would make people respect me more," Lian Shouren said.

How to deal with the house was ultimately up to Old Master Lian. Would Old Master Lian continue to protect Lian Shouren this time?

"Sir."

Erlang stood up from the long bench, took two steps forward, and with a thud, knelt down on the ground, then remained silent.

"Get up, Erlang, you get up," Old Master Lian said hurriedly.

Erlang just knelt there, not getting up.

Old Master Lian sighed.

"Sanlang, Si Lang, help your second brother up," Old Master Lian ordered, "The matter is settled. The townhouse will go to Erlang for when he gets married and needs a place to live."

Sanlang and Si Lang immediately helped Erlang up, and the faces of the people from the second household were all filled with joy. However, the atmosphere among the people from the main household was quite the opposite, with Lian Jizu keeping his head down and not saying a word, Lian Shouren looking downcast, and only Lady Gu, who couldn’t withstand the repeated blows, letting out a cry before fainting from distress.

Lian Jizu and Lian Xiuxiu hurriedly helped Lady Gu out.

Lian Shouren also walked out.

"Big brother," Lian Shouyi hurriedly walked a few steps to catch up to Lian Shouren, bent over with a smile, "Big brother, please don’t be mad at me. I’m not successful and there’s nothing I can do. You will hold office; there will be better residences than the townhouse that are more fitting for your status. But if this house goes to Erlang, he will remember your kindness for his whole life. Erlang, what are you waiting for? Come over and kowtow to your uncle."

Erlang participated as told, truly coming over and kneeling at Lian Shouren’s feet to kowtow.

"Let the child get up quickly," Old Master Lian couldn’t bear it first.

Lian Shouren promptly bent over to help Erlang up.

"Big brother, we say in our family that the flesh may separate from the bone, but the sinews remain connected. Big brother, if you need anything, just call on me and the kids. We are one family, after all," Lian Shouyi continued to smile as he spoke to Lian Shouren.

With matters being as they were, feeling anger was of no use. Moreover, with Lian Shouyi constantly praising his official accomplishments, it was quite pleasing to Lian Shouren’s ears, so he too smiled, albeit reluctantly.

"Old Fourth," Old Master Lian suddenly said.

Lian Shouxin, who was also about to follow out the door, was stopped by Old Master Lian.

"Father, what’s the matter?" Lian Shouxin stopped in his tracks, turned back, and asked Old Master Lian.

******

The two Chapters have been combined into one, including the extra update for the 450 votes from June.

Continued support is requested. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)