"Temple Front Street?" Lian Shouren frowned, "Which part of the town has a Temple Front Street."

The young assistant was somewhat awkward. Just now, when Lian Manman spoke at the end, her speech had sped up, and he seemed not to have heard clearly. Between ’temple’ and ’street,’ there should have been another word or two.

Actually, it was not that he hadn’t heard clearly, but that Lian Manman had purposefully been vague.

"It seemed to be Temple something Street," the young assistant recalled carefully, then added.

Lian Shouren’s heart stirred. To dispatch a young maid to send a message, and with it being Temple something Street, there was only one place it could be: Temple Front Street.

"Esteemed guest, please hurry over," the young assistant urged again. In her mind, the young girl was quite good-looking and had given her several coins. That young girl must be a very good person. Entrusted by others, she had to help see the matter through successfully.

Lian Shouren glanced inside the private room, hesitating in his heart. Steward Zhong was a man of the Shen Family, and he seemed to be someone of status. The opportunity to connect with the Shen Family was too rare, how could he leave halfway through. But according to the young assistant, someone from the county had come looking for him about an urgent matter, and it couldn’t be delayed. It was either something concerning Huahua or his contribution toward his official position. If he were to be late and mishandled the matter, then all his previous efforts would’ve been in vain.

After weighing the matter in his mind, Lian Shouren made up his mind and turned back inside the private room.

Seeing this from behind the screen, Lian Manman felt a bit dejected. Lian Shouren really saw Steward Zhong as a piece of fat meat, clinging on without letting go. She was just thinking of another strategy when the door to the private room opened again, and Lian Shouren came out, quickening his pace as he headed downstairs.

Success! Lian Manman clenched her fist and emerged from behind the screen, leaning over the stairwell. She watched as Lian Shouren left the tavern before she too returned to the private room.

Everyone inside the private room was somewhat surprised to see Lian Manman return.

"My mother sent me to tell you, the wine has been delivered." Lian Manman crisply announced, "My grandma and my mother also instructed me to check in on you, not to let my grandpa and dad drink too much."

The whole room erupted in laughter.

Indeed, Lady Zhang had instructed Lian Manman not to let Lian Shouxin drink too much when she came, and Lady Zhou was not mentioned. Lian Manman took the initiative and brought up Lady Zhou first, making it seem like a family with affectionate fathers and filial sons, living in great harmony. Of course, if anyone were to criticize the women of the Lian Family for being too controlling, it would naturally fall on Lady Zhou and wouldn’t target Lady Zhang, who was the daughter-in-law.

"Miss Lian, don’t stand, please sit," Steward Zhong invited with a smile.

"Manman, sit here." Lian Shouxin shifted closer to Old Master Lian’s side, taking the chair where Lian Shouren had previously been sitting and offered his seat to Lian Manman.

Lian Manman smiled and walked over to sit down, grateful she was still young enough. If she were a few years older, it would have been improper for her to sit there. To her left was Lian Shouxin and to her right was Wu Lang, with Wu Lang and Xiao Qi both smiling at her. Shopkeeper Wu called a waiter over to add tableware for Lian Manman and had the kitchen prepare an extra sweet and sour pork fillet as a complimentary dish from the tavern for her.

Lian Manman expressed her thanks, then remained silent, eating politely and listening to the adults’ conversations about various topics.

Once Lian Shouren had left, the conversation naturally gravitated towards land property and business affairs, with laughter and harmonious talk. Shopkeeper Wang and several clients naturally flattered Steward Zhong and Lian Shouxin, who stood up to offer several rounds of toasts. Wu Lang managed to contribute a few words and received continuous praise. Lian Manman found the dishes at Yue Lai Tavern particularly delicious.

Until everyone had eaten their fill, Lian Shouren had not returned. No one knew that he had gone to Temple Front Street, where he was immediately entangled by a woman named Sister Panqian. The news of Lian Huahua’s marriage into the Song Family of the county town and Lian Shouren’s upcoming official position had spread throughout the town. Rarely did Lian Shouren come by himself, and Sister Panqian wouldn’t let him leave easily.

As for Lian Shouren, when he got there, he asked who had been looking for him. Sister Panqian, wanting to keep Lian Shouren, went along with his question. In the end, Lian Shouren didn’t meet anyone and later just assumed it was a trap set by Sister Panqian to lure him in. He never imagined it was all Lian Manman’s doing.

After the meal, Steward Zhong took several carts back to Prefecture City. Lian Manman paid the bill, including the table for the servants downstairs and the gratuity for Shopkeeper Wang, totaling about eight taels of silver. Seeing that there was a lot of leftovers on the dining table, Lian Manman simply borrowed two food containers from the tavern, packed the good leftovers, and planned to take them home.

After seeing off the guests, Old Master Lian stood at the entrance of the tavern and didn’t leave immediately. Lian Shouren had departed midway, saying that someone from the county town had come looking for him, and half a day had passed with no sign of his return. Old Master Lian was somewhat concerned.

Lian Manman, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi walked downstairs and happened to see Old Master Lian questioning the same young assistant.

The young assistant told Old Master Lian that Lian Shouren had gone to Temple something Street.

Old Master Lian’s expression darkened, and he decided not to pursue the issue further.

Fearing that the young assistant might see her, Lian Manman had Wu Lang and Xiao Qi run interference in the front as they left the tavern. Once they had gone some distance away, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Manman, what was all that about?" Wu Lang asked with a smile.

"Nothing." Lian Manman giggled, unwilling to explain.

The three children waited a while, and soon Old Master Lian and Lian Shouxin caught up, and the family headed back to Thirty Mile Camp. As they approached their house, they saw Lian Shouyi and Lady He hurriedly come out.

"Dad, Old Fourth, why have you come back so soon!"

*********

Recommended completed novel about farming life:

Title: "Rebirth: When Flowers Bloom and the Moon is Full" (Complete with epilogue) (Direct link below, click to go straight there)

Description: Transported into the body of a woman falsely accused of losing her virtue, along with her little bun, she embarks on a sweet life with a cost-effective male lead. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) and vote with your recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)