"He’ll come back when it’s time," Old Master Lian said in a deep voice.

Perhaps sensing that Old Master Lian’s expression was off, Lady Zhou didn’t continue to press further.

Lian Manman placed the dishes on Old Master Lian’s table and spoke a few words before returning to the West Wing Room. After dinner, Lian Shouren still hadn’t returned.

When Lian Manman went out to collect firewood, she saw Old Master Lian standing in the middle of the courtyard, one hand behind his back and the other holding a tobacco pipe, puffing on the dry tobacco. By this time, it was getting dark, and Old Master Lian’s face, shrouded in smoke, was inscrutable. But anyone could sense that Old Master Lian was in a terrible mood and growing more and more anxious.

Lian Manman didn’t dare to speak and carried the firewood back inside. Old Master Lian must have guessed where Lian Shouren had gone, yet he didn’t go to find him or let the family know. Why? It must be to maintain Lian Shouren’s face, as after all, he was the eldest son and the one who was to become an official. Old Master Lian was waiting for Lian Shouren to come back on his own, but with Lian Shouren’s delayed return, Old Master was finding it hard to remain patient.

Lian Shouren, he wouldn’t really spend the night on Temple Front Street, would he? Lian Manman thought to herself in amazement.

"Old Master has been standing outside for a long time, hasn’t he?" Lady Zhang also saw Old Master Lian standing in the courtyard and said to Lian Shouxin.

After thinking for a moment, Lian Shouxin called over Lian Shouli to join him.

"Dad, Big Brother hasn’t come back yet. Should I go look for him with Third Brother?" Lian Shouxin said to Old Master Lian.

Old Master Lian took a puff of his tobacco pipe and pondered for a while without speaking. Lian Manman followed Lian Shouxin closer to Old Master Lian and, seeing the hesitation on his face, thought that Old Master didn’t want anyone, even his own sons, to know where Lian Shouren had gone. But because it was getting late, he was worried about Lian Shouren, thus hesitating whether to send his third and fourth sons to find Lian Shouren and bring him back.

"Let’s wait a bit longer," Old Master Lian finally said after a long hesitation.

Old Master Lian really cares about face, Lian Manman internally sighed.

"Dad, where did Big Brother go?" Lian Shouli asked.

Lian Manman watched Old Master Lian, waiting for his response.

As if he hadn’t heard Lian Shouli’s question, Old Master Lian kept puffing on his tobacco pipe.

"When we were eating, the clerk came in and told us that someone from the county was looking for Big Brother. Big Brother told Dad that it seemed like an urgent matter and that he would be back soon," Lian Shouxin explained to Lian Shouli since Old Master Lian remained silent, "He must have been delayed by something important."

"Even if there is something, he should have sent word back," Lian Manman said, "Look how worried the old man is. Grandpa, it’s getting cold outside, you should wait inside. If you’re worried, let my dad and Third Uncle go to the village entrance to meet Uncle."

"It’s Manman who understands," Old Master Lian sighed from deep within his chest, and his expression began to ease. "You all go back inside. I’m just walking around the courtyard to aid with digestion, not waiting for the eldest. He’s grown, doesn’t he have any sense? I’m not worried about him getting lost."

Lian Manman chuckled to herself, knowing Old Master Lian was embarrassed to admit he was actually waiting for Lian Shouren.

"Dad, let me go to the village entrance to meet Big Brother. It’s dark," Lian Shouxin said.

Lian Manman rolled her eyes inwardly, thinking that her dad was both honest and innocent. Her earlier suggestion was to ease Old Master Lian’s embarrassment about sending Lian Shouli and Lian Shouxin to wait for Lian Shouren.

As the eldest son enjoys himself in the pleasure quarters and fails to return at night, Old Master Lian, the father, worries on his behalf and even covers for him. Should the two naively honest younger sons be sent to greet him? Is Lian Shouren some kind of hero? If Old Master Lian truly did that, it would be laughable.

"Son, put on an extra piece of clothing," Lady Zhang came out and handed a thick cotton jacket to Lian Shouxin.

Lian Shouxin draped the jacket over himself and headed out.

"Come back!" Old Master Lian said authoritatively.

"Dad?" Lian Shouxin, hearing the anger in Old Master Lian’s voice, stopped in his tracks, bewildered.

"It’s dark already, everyone go to bed. Don’t you still have work tomorrow?" Old Master Lian said.

"But... what about Big Brother..."

"He won’t be lost. Leave him be," Old Master Lian said. The filial piety, sincerity, and kindness of Lian Shouxin and his wife made Lian Shouren’s behavior all the more intolerable.

Old Master Lian forcefully ushered Lian Shouxin’s family and Lian Shouli back to their rooms and he also decided not to wait in the courtyard any longer, turning to go back to his room. At that moment, carriage noises were heard from outside the gate, and soon after, the gate was pushed open, and a figure somewhat staggered in from the outside.