Quanfuren, generally refers to a woman whose parents are alive, who has a harmonious marriage, and who has both sons and daughters. According to the customs here, when marrying off a daughter, one must choose a Quanfuren from the family to help manage many things, such as sweeping the bridal sedan and making the bed in the groom’s home.

Lian Manman turned her head and saw the person who asked the question was Lady He.

A Quanfuren not only needs to be blessed, but also respectable, and being chosen as a Quanfuren is a matter of great honor. Could it be that Lady He wants to be the Quanfuren? I wonder if Lady Gu would agree; logically, being a shrewd person, Lady Gu should have already chosen someone for the Quanfuren long ago.

Lian Manman looked at Lady Gu and saw that Lady Gu’s eyes were flickering, seemingly reluctant to talk about this topic.

"Mother, you see..." After a brief silence, Lady Gu seemed not to have heard Lady He’s question at all but moved next to Lady Zhou and, with a smile, started discussing another matter about sending off the bride tomorrow.

Lian Manman thought Lady He would press the issue, but to her surprise, Lady He just pursed her lips and her eyes fell on Lady Zhang.

Lady Zhang appeared somewhat uneasy, and after sitting for a while, she got up with Lian Manman and Xiao Qi.

"Xiao Qi is sleepy; if there’s nothing else, I will take the children back first," Lady Zhang whispered to Lian Shouxin.

The arrangements for Lian Huahua’s sending-off had already been made well in advance, and now everyone was just reaffirming them. There seemed to be nothing left for Lian Shouxin to do, so he also stood up.

"... There’s plenty of food left from the banquet; you all don’t need to cook these next few days, just eat here," Old Master Lian called out to Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang. Today’s affairs had gone very smoothly, and all ten tables prepared had been filled. After eating, everyone praised the banquet. Old Master Lian felt honored, so he was in a very good mood.

"... With just that pot of food left, we’ll have another meal tomorrow morning, and there won’t be much left," Lady Zhou added.

Since they would be sending off the bride tomorrow morning, Lian Shouxin and his family were staying in the same courtyard. If they cooked for themselves and others saw it, it would be laughable. Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang exchanged glances, resolving in their hearts that they would come to the Upper Room for one last meal tomorrow morning at most and then not return.

Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang agreed and proceeded to walk out.

"Old Fourth’s wife," Lady Zhou called out to Lady Zhang, "get up early tomorrow and come over to cook."

"Yes," Lady Zhang hesitated briefly but still agreed.

Exhausted from the day, Lian Manman returned to the West Wing Room, sorted things out, and went to bed. The night passed without incident, and early the next morning, before dawn, Lian Manman heard rustling sounds in the room. She opened her eyes and saw Lady Zhang getting up from the kang.

"Mother, what’s wrong?" Lian Manman saw by candlelight that Lady Zhang looked somewhat pale and hurriedly got up to ask.

"There’s nothing wrong with me, Manman, you sleep a bit more, I’m going to the Upper Room to cook," Lady Zhang said as she got dressed and was about to get off the kang.

Lian Manman heard Lady Zhang’s voice sound listless and was suddenly moved. She grabbed Lady Zhang’s arm, and when Lady Zhang turned her head, Lian Manman saw a faint darkness under Lady Zhang’s eyes.

Dark circles? How come?

"Mother, didn’t you sleep well?" Lian Manman was startled.

"Mother, you’re not feeling well, let me cook for you," said Lian Zhizhi, who had also woken up by now and was getting up.

"I’m fine. You all keep sleeping; I’ll call you when the food is ready," Lady Zhang insisted.

"Mother, you should rest. No outsiders are around; it’s just a meal for a few people. If you don’t go, no one else will cook it," Lian Manman held onto Lady Zhang. Lady Zhang was clearly exhausted; these past days, she had been busier than anyone, doing more work. If she collapsed from exhaustion, what would they do?

"What’s going on?" Lian Shouxin came back from outside and saw the scene, asking. He was accustomed to waking up even earlier and had gone out for a walk without disturbing his wife and children before returning.

"Mother is not feeling well," Lian Manman blurted out, "and she still wants to go to the Upper Room to cook. Father, could you go to the Upper Room and let them know? Mother only just recovered a few days ago; she can’t ruin her health again."

"I’m fine," Lady Zhang said, yet she leaned on the kang’s edge and didn’t forcefully pull away from Lian Manman. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Lian Shouxin looked at Lady Zhang, who seemed a bit uncomfortable and turned her head away.

"Wife, then you rest some more. I’ll go and speak to mother," Lian Shouxin said and walked out.

Lian Zhizhi and Lian Manman then helped Lady Zhang lay down on the kang.

After a while, without Lian Shouxin returning, it was Lady Zhao who lifted the door curtain and walked in from outside.