Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli were still composed, one of them went up to help Old Master Lian, while the other went to check on Lian Shouren.

Lian Manman followed them, only to see Lian Shouren’s chest rising and falling, clearly indicating he was still alive.

After the initial chaos, both Old Master Lian and Lian Shouren were helped onto the kang bed.

"Quick, go fetch the doctor!" Lady Zhou shouted.

"There’s no need for that," Old Master Lian and Lian Shouren said in unison.

This was the first time the two of them had spoken since everyone entered the room, and they did so with surprising synchrony. Lady Zhang brought in some hot tea, first helping Old Master Lian to drink, then pouring some for Lian Shouren, and soon, Old Master Lian’s complexion began to improve gradually, while Lian Shouren continued to groan incessantly.

It seemed that neither of them was in serious trouble; however, if one had to make comparisons, Old Master Lian’s condition was probably still the worse of the two. After all, he was of advanced age and his sudden rage had been quite harmful, but fortunately, he was fundamentally strong. As for Lian Shouren’s injuries, they were not apparent from the outside.

"Father, we should still invite the doctor to have a look," Lian Shouxin said, seeing that both Old Master Lian and Lian Shouren were reluctant to seek medical attention, he quickly urged, "otherwise, mother and all of us can’t rest assured. The injuries of the eldest brother should also be examined."

"I’m fine," Old Master Lian straightened himself up on the kang, "he doesn’t need to be looked at either, and don’t buy any medicine for him, let him reflect thoroughly."

Lian Shouren just moaned without mentioning the need for a doctor.

Lian Manman thought to herself that both the father and son were fully aware of the situation, fearing that making a fuss would spread rumors which wouldn’t sound good.

Lady Zhou was the busiest at this time, unable to put her mind at ease regarding Old Master Lian and also deeply worried about her eldest son. When she saw that Old Master Lian seemed to have recovered, her entire focus shifted to her eldest son.

"You take Old Master Lian over there," Lady Zhou instructed Lian Shouli, as she began to remove Lian Shouren’s clothes to examine his injuries, which was not convenient with daughters, daughters-in-law, and granddaughters present.

"Old Fourth, you stay, everyone else go out," Lady Zhou added.

The females, including Lady Zhang, Lady Zhao, Lian Xiuxiu, Lian Manman, Lian Zhizhi, and Lian Yeye, all walked outside. Lian Manman turned her head and saw the dry tobacco pipe on the ground, hurried over to pick it up, and took it to the eastern chamber.

In the eastern chamber, Old Master Lian lay on the kang bed as if he was asleep, and Lian Shouli, sitting next to the kang edge, waved to Lian Manman as she entered.

Lian Manman gently placed the dry tobacco pipe beside Old Master Lian and then exited the room.

As Lady Zhang and the others walked out of the western chamber, they didn’t go back to their own room but joined Lady Zhao in lighting the fire under the stove. The intermittent groans of Lian Shouren, mixed with the cries and scolding of Lady Zhou, came from the western chamber, while Lian Xiuxiu stood dumbfounded in the middle of the room, her face streaked with tears.

"Mother, what are you doing?" Lian Manman asked.

"Heating some water," Lady Zhang replied as she briskly scrubbed the iron pot clean, poured in fresh water, and spoke softly, "so that your grandfather has something to drink if he gets thirsty, and your uncle may need warm water if he has to wash."

"Only your mother would be so thoughtful," Lady Zhao said with a smile.

"Child’s mother, the matriarch has asked you to heat a pot of water," Lian Shouxin poked his head through the doorway from the western chamber.

"It’s almost ready," Lady Zhang responded, "How is your elder brother’s injury?"

Lian Shouxin looked back into the room and gave no reply.

"Has no one stayed to watch over your grandfather’s room?" Lian Shouxin asked upon seeing Lian Manman.

"Grandfather has fallen asleep, and third uncle is with him inside," Lian Manman answered.

"Isn’t the water ready yet?" Lady Zhou’s voice carried from the western chamber, "What are you all doing, have you all gone to lay out the corpses?"

Lian Shouxin’s face showed a trace of embarrassment, and he quickly turned back to the room to explain, "Mother, the water will be ready shortly. Third sister-in-law and Zhizhi’s mother started heating it as soon as they came out."

"You don’t need to sugarcoat things for them; I know who is heartless and wicked. Bring the water in quickly! Do you want to see your elder brother suffer as well?" Lady Zhou scolded again.

Lady Zhang helplessly shook her head, lifted the lid of the pot to check, and seeing that bubbles were just starting to form at the bottom of the iron pot, she grabbed a wooden basin and scooped out half a basin of hot water.

Lian Shouxin hurried over to carry the basin of water.

"Don’t take mother’s temper to heart," Lian Shouxin whispered to Lady Zhang.

"Hmph," Lian Xiuxiu suddenly snorted.

"Take the water in quickly," Lady Zhang told Lian Shouxin, and then she took another basin, filled it with cold water from the water jar.

"Wu Lang," Lady Zhang called over Wu Lang, "take this water to your grandmother’s place."

Wu Lang took the water and entered the western chamber.

"Bringing such scalding water, do you want to scald me to death, or scald your elder brother?" Inside the western chamber, Lady Zhou’s shrill voice scolded.