"Keep it down!" Old Master Lian chastised Lady Zhou. He too found Lady Zhou’s earlier words grating, potentially offensive if spread abroad, but in front of his children and grandchildren, he still wanted to maintain her dignity, opting to skirt around the previous topic. "Talk only about the second son’s wife and Xiuxiu joining the workshop, and leave out any irrelevant talk."

Old Master Lian was quite concerned about Lady He and Lian Xiuxiu working in the workshop. Lian Manman stealthily glanced at Old Master Lian, unsure what he was really thinking.

At that moment, Old Master Lian also felt a bit uncomfortable; he had thought that as soon as he asked, Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang would surely agree. Unexpectedly, the couple was unwilling to allow Lady He and Lian Xiuxiu to join the workshop.

When Lady Zhou suggested these two to work in the workshop, Old Master Lian had not immediately agreed. He knew Lady He and Lian Xiuxiu were, one lazy and the other coddled. But, after summoning Lady He and Lian Xiuxiu and hearing their willingness to work in the workshop, Old Master Lian became interested.

Old Master Lian thought, if Lady He and Lian Xiuxiu were willing to work because of the wages, it might be a good thing if it could help them correct their faults. And for the sake of Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang, Lady He and Lian Xiuxiu were both members of the Lian family; having kin to support them was better than outsiders.

It was for these reasons that Old Master Lian had agreed to the matter.

"The work ethic of the second son’s wife and Xiuxiu might not be up to par, but no one is born knowing everything. Why not let them try?" Old Master Lian suggested to Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang in a consultative tone.

"Father, we’ve already hired enough people for the workshop. Today, we even hired four more. If you and Mother had mentioned this earlier, it might have been feasible. But we’ve already made arrangements with these people, and now it would be inappropriate to dismiss them," Lian Shouxin explained hurriedly to Old Master Lian.

Old Master Lian valued promises above all, and after hearing Lian Shouxin say this, he thought it over and then nodded.

"If that’s the case, then we’ll just leave it..."

Before Old Master could finish saying "leave it," Lady Zhou became infuriated.

"Even if we’ve hired enough, what’s the big deal with two more?" Lady Zhou pointed at Lian Shouxin, "Otherwise, discharge two workers to make room for the second son’s wife and Xiuxiu!"

"Mother, how can we do that!" Lian Shouxin said helplessly.

"What now, you’re not listening to me? Have your wings grown too hard?" Lady Zhou, seated cross-legged on the kang bed, leaned forward, almost falling off, "Old Fourth, you’re heartless, do you realize that you’ve lost your conscience?"

Lian Shouxin’s face immediately turned ashen. Honest and kind people, even when they follow all the rules, still worry about being seen unfavorably, while those desperate and evil often brazenly find excuses for their misdeeds. The education Lian Shouxin had received since childhood was that a person must have a good conscience; such accusations from his own mother struck him deeply.

"Do you even consider me or your father at all? Why should others make that money? When your sister-in-law and your own sister try to earn a little, you feel sorry for them. What is this ill intent, acting like a treacherous shrew sowing discord within the family?"

As Lady Zhou continued to scold, she primarily targeted Lady Zhang. Her logic was clear: If her son had gone wrong, she would scold him fiercely. But why had her son gone wrong? Naturally, it was the daughter-in-law’s fault for leading him astray; as the instigator, the daughter-in-law deserved her fierce wrath even more. She hoped her son would be scolded enough to side with her and turn against the daughter-in-law — that would play right into her hands.

"Let’s talk this over calmly, no need to quarrel," Old Master Lian interjected.

"Will she listen if you talk nicely? With a heart so blackened and your elbow out, are you not a member of the Lian family? How come you live under the Lian family’s roof, eat the Lian family’s food? You’re scheming against me – if you’re so capable, leave me," Lady Zhou continued to rant.

Lady Zhou didn’t name anyone, but everyone knew she was cursing Lady Zhang.

Lady Zhang felt both wronged and angry, and she began to cry.

"Mother, it was I who didn’t let them join the workshop, if you’re angry, take it out on me." Lian Shouxin said. Seeing Lady Zhang being scolded so unjustly, and remembering the hardships she endured these days, as well as her forbearance and filial conduct towards Lady Zhou, Lian Shouxin’s heart ached.

Ah, Lian Manman silently made a victorious gesture in her heart and quietly held Lady Zhang’s hand in comfort. Lian Shouxin standing up to Lady Zhou to defend Lady Zhang was quite the progress. Since the families had separated, Lian Shouxin had been managing his own household affairs and encountered many things which broadened his perspective; Lady Zhou’s influence over him was slowly fading.

Lady Zhou was momentarily stunned; she had not expected Lian Shouxin to so explicitly support Lady Zhang. In the past, no matter how difficult she was with Lady Zhang, Lian Shouxin never dared to confront her directly, at best he would try to mediate indirectly.

This cannot be tolerated! Lady Zhou became furious. She leaned back as if about to faint but out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Lian Manman standing at the edge of the kang, staring at her unblinkingly with wide, bright eyes.

She couldn’t faint; Lady Zhou immediately recalled several past incidents.

Fainting, her trump card, was not an option, but Lady Zhou wasn’t the sort to give in so easily. With a howl, she lunged at Lian Shouxin.

"You who came from my own guts, but have lost your conscience..." Lady Zhou cried and cursed, stretching out her hands to scratch Lian Shouxin’s face.

"Mother, why are you hitting..." Lian Shouxin quickly covered his head and face, and Lady Zhang also hurried over to shield him.

"I don’t want to live anymore, you might as well kill me..." Lady Zhou grabbed Lian Shouxin, thrusting her neck forward. Old Master Lian’s attempts to stop her were in vain.

Lian Manman was somewhat stunned; Lady Zhou was resorting to her tactics against Lian Shouli to tackle Lian Shouxin. Given Lian Shouxin’s soft-heartedness, he would likely be subdued by Lady Zhou with such an approach.

"Grandma, let go of my father. Isn’t it just about letting Aunt and my cousin join the workshop? We agree," Lian Manman shouted loudly. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.)