Seeing Lian Huahua’s attitude undergo a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree change, Lian Manman chuckled silently to herself. Indeed, only "interests" could persuade Lian Huahua.

"Manman, Yeye," Lian Huahua walked over and took one hand of Lian Manman and the other of Lian Yeye, "We haven’t spent much time together, so you don’t know what kind of person I am. In my heart, I regard you the same as Duoduo.... Many things were misunderstandings, and I had no choice.... It’s all in the past now, and in the future, if there are benefits, as your elder sister, I will certainly not forget about you."

Lian Manman wasn’t convinced in her heart, finding it rather amusing, but her face showed a smiling expression. Lian Yeye, however, was not used to such warmth from Lian Huahua and quickly shook off her hand.

"Since everything’s out in the open now, let’s head back," Lian Manman suggested, "Otherwise, I don’t know what those two Scholar’s wives would think... of Sister Huahua."

"Right, let’s go back to the house," Lian Huahua, feeling that Lian Manman’s words made sense, nodded in agreement quickly.

Yeye had no smile on her face, and she trailed behind, dragging her feet.

"Sister Huahua, Yeye still isn’t feeling happy about this," Lian Manman also slowed down and said with a smile.

"Yeye..." Lian Huahua, influenced by Lian Manman’s advice, resolved to win over a few of her cousins. She stretched out her hand, hoping to slide off the bracelet on her wrist to give to Lian Yeye, but then she remembered that she wore the gold bracelet gifted by the Song Family especially for receiving guests that day; giving it away would be too painful. She let go of the bracelet, slipped a ring off her finger instead, and said, "Yeye, wear this ring for fun."

Lian Manman watched all of Lian Huahua’s actions and chuckled inwardly.

"I don’t want it," Lian Yeye pushed Lian Huahua’s hand away.

Lian Huahua, seeing Lian Yeye reject her gift, had an embarrassed look on her face.

A thought flashed through Lian Manman’s mind, and she smiled at Lian Huahua, saying, "Sister Huahua, Yeye is still upset. How about Sister Huahua goes back to the room and pours a cup of tea for Yeye as an apology?"

In recent days, Lian Manman had come to understand something. With Lian Shouli and Lady Zhao’s overly docile nature, if Yeye wanted to avoid being bullied, she had to be especially strong. Yeye seemed to be vaguely aware of this too, but being young and without someone to rely on, how could she assert herself? Lian Manman wished to give her a hand; today’s event was to help Yeye vent her anger and, at the same time, to build some respect for her.

Of course, Lian Manman also wanted to take this opportunity to give Lian Huahua a wake-up call, to let her know that even after marrying into the Song Family, Lian Huahua still needed the support of her maternal family, and she must not do anything foolish that could harm them.

Lian Huahua, upon hearing Lian Manman’s words, was a bit displeased. She wanted to win over Lian Manman and Lian Yeye, but she was not willing to pour tea and make an apology in front of everyone for Yeye.

"Sister Huahua, you are meant for great things," Lian Manman said with a smile, "This act of pouring tea as an apology, consider it as coaxing Yeye. Sister Huahua knows what to do. Even if others see it, they will praise Sister Huahua for being virtuous and for showing the grace of an elder sister."

"Just now those two Scholar’s wives seemed to have become suspicious. If Sister Huahua doesn’t do something, what will we do if they cause trouble?" After further urging from Lian Manman, and not until Lian Huahua agreed, did everyone finally turn back to the house.

Lady Gu was chatting with Scholar Zhao’s and Scholar Li’s wives when Lian Manman and the others returned. It was inappropriate for Lady Gu to inquire directly, so she simply glanced at Lian Huahua, asking with her eyes if the matter had been resolved. Lian Huahua nodded slightly to Lady Gu.

Lady Gu immediately breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to herself that no matter what, Lian Manman and Lian Huahua were no match for Lian Huahua.

"... As sisters, we were just talking, and I, as the eldest, have lived in town over these years and hardly looked after my sisters. I really haven’t treated them well," Lian Huahua said, lifting her sleeve to wipe the corner of her eye, "I’m about to leave home, and it will be hard for us sisters to meet again. Manman, Yeye, please drink this cup of tea. If there’s anything I’ve neglected, I ask for your forbearance, and I offer you my apologies."

At this moment, Lady Gu had already had the tea in the room replaced. Lian Manman picked up the teapot, poured two more cups, and personally handed a cup each to Lian Manman and Lian Yeye. Although she was supposed to apologize to Lian Yeye, Lian Huahua, the clever one, was mainly apologizing to Lian Manman.

Lady Gu and the wives of Scholar Zhao and Scholar Li were all stunned.

"What is this you’re playing at?" Lady Gu asked Lian Huahua with some astonishment and uncertainty.

Wasn’t it supposed to be Lian Huahua subduing Lian Manman and Lian Yeye? Now it seemed as though Lian Huahua was the one being subdued. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Mother, I can’t bear to part with Manman and Yeye, I always feel that I haven’t treated them well in the past..." Lian Huahua covertly signaled to Lady Gu with her eyes.

"Oh..., hehe," though Lady Gu was a bit perplexed, she still laughed, "It’s wonderful to see sisters getting along so well."

"The affection between these sisters is truly enviable," said Scholar Zhao’s Wife with a smile.

Lian Manman took the tea from Lian Huahua’s hand, took a sip with her head lowered, and then winked at Lian Yeye.

As the Chinese hour arrived, busy people began setting up tables and chairs, arranging the seating, and Lian Manman and Lian Yeye took the opportunity to leave the Upper Room.

"Sister Manman, I finally got my revenge today," Lian Yeye said, bursting with joy as soon as they stepped outside.

"Indeed," Lian Manman replied with a smile.

She and Lian Yeye played good cop, bad cop, first released their anger on Lian Huahua and then coaxed Lian Huahua into offering them tea.

After today’s enlightenment and intimidation, Lian Huahua should no longer dare to wrong them. Lian Manman looked back at the Upper Room and clenched her fist in secret.

(To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to vote for it on qidian.com with recommendation tickets or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)