"Milk, there’s cold water," Wu Lang’s voice said.

"Do some work and can’t even let people worry-free," Lady Zhou scolded again and raised her voice, "Go, boil more water."

Wu Lang came out of the room, and Lian Manman made a face at him.

"Your Third Aunt and I are enough here, Wu Lang also stay, keep running back and forth to help out," Lady Zhang added water to the pot, "Zhizhi, take Manman, Yeye, and Xiao Qi back to sleep."

...

Lian Manman and the kids all went back to the West Wing Room, roughly covered themselves with a big quilt, huddled together, and though they were all sleepy, none wanted to sleep.

"Why is Milk so hard to please?" Lian Yeye pouted.

Lian Manman and Xiao Qi both nodded, Lian Zhizhi did not speak but clearly also seemed unhappy.

"Indeed," Lian Manman agreed deeply. In her view, even without the previous unfair treatment Lady Zhang received, as a daughter-in-law, her treatment of Lady Zhou and the entire Lian Family was almost impeccable.

Just now, Lady Zhang didn’t wait for Lady Zhou to speak, took the initiative, and together with Lady Zhao, started the fire to boil water. Lady Zhang did this not only thoughtfully but also out of her warmth and kindness.

Yet Lady Zhou, far from grateful, nitpicked and even hurled insults.

"Isn’t it because she finds us incompetent?" Lian Yeye continued resentfully, "I say, just let Fourth Aunt and my mother come back. Old Aunt has arms and legs, why can’t she boil water?"

"I think Old Aunt stood there, more like a foreman," Lian Manman suddenly laughed.

"My mother is honest, afraid of Milk. Fourth Aunt has too kind a heart," Lian Yeye said gloomily.

Near midnight, the courtyard was filled with messy footsteps.

"Uncle, Aunt, they are just returning now?!" Lian Yeye said.

Lian Shouyi had followed He Laoliu and hadn’t come back for dinner. After dinner, Lady He also took several kids to West Village, leaving only Liulang and Lian Yeye at home. After the earlier commotion, Liulang and Lian Yeye also came to have a look and then went back to their room to sleep.

In the second half of the night, half asleep and half awake, Lian Manman first heard Wu Lang return, then Lian Shouxin, Lady Zhang, Lian Shouli, and Lady Zhao.

Lian Shouli and Lady Zhao carried the drowsy Lian Yeye back to their own room.

"Father, mother, brother, why have you only just come back?" Lian Manman rubbed her eyes and asked.

Lian Zhizhi and Xiao Qi also woke up, sitting up.

"We had to accompany your grandfather," Lian Shouxin simply said, "Your mother and your Third Aunt were busy boiling water and still had to look after Milk, watching over your eldest uncle."

It turned out that Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli, worried about the elderly Old Master Lian possibly having an incident in the middle of the night, dared not leave. Only a while ago when Old Master Lian woke up from a nap, did he let them go back. Additionally, in the West Room of the Upper Room, after Lady Zhou bathed Lian Shouren, who was in pain from being beaten, he couldn’t sleep, and Lady Zhou tearfully stayed by his side, repeatedly asking for water or tea. Since both Lian Shouren and Old Master Lian adamantly refused to call for a doctor, she was worried about any changes in Lian Shouren’s injuries and kept Lian Shouxin right under her watch.

"How badly is Eldest Uncle injured in the end?" Lian Manman asked. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"...It’s all superficial skin wounds," Lian Shouxin said, "Old Master might be angry, but how could he truly kill his eldest son? He picked spots that hurt more to hit."

"What caused Old Master to do this?" Lady Zhang asked, perplexed, "Just for Eldest Brother coming back late, it seems excessive."

Lian Shouxin pondered for a while, "There must be some reason behind it. If dad doesn’t say anything, let’s not overthink it."

Lady Zhang exchanged a glance with Lian Shouxin, and the couple tacitly agreed not to continue this topic.

Lian Manman, watching from the side, couldn’t help but speculate. After all these years, they must have come to understand Lian Shouren’s temperament. Could it be that they also guessed something, but felt the matter was too shameful to talk about, so they avoided it?

"Dad, after we left, grandma must have taken her anger out on mom again, hasn’t she?" Lian Manman asked Lian Shouxin.

Lady Zhang gave Lian Shouxin a pointed look.

Lian Shouxin chuckled twice.

"Mom just has that kind of temper. My child’s mother, please be more understanding." Lian Shouxin said to Lady Zhang, cupping his hands apologetically with a smile.

"Why are you putting on this act in front of the children?" Lady Zhang chided, "If I were really bothered, I would have gone back to my room already, and I wouldn’t have been helping you until now."

"Mom, grandma is just exploiting your good nature because she knows you too well," Lian Manman said.

"Child, don’t talk nonsense," Lady Zhang said, her tone not truly scolding, as her eyes darted towards Lian Shouxin. She was afraid he would get angry at Lian Manman’s words. "I’m just looking out for your father. Let grandma say whatever she wants; I’ll just act as if I didn’t hear it. I behave properly and act righteous; Heaven has eyes, after all..."

"Mom, stop making excuses; just admit that you’re soft-hearted," Lian Manman yawned and said.

...

The next day, Old Master Lian sent Lady Zhou away again and talked with Lian Shouren for half the day. The Lian Family became rather quiet for some days. Lian Shouren originally planned to stay for only two days and then return to the county seat, but his injury caused a delay. He sent a message to the county seat, saying he was just staying at home to read in peace.

One day, as the children were in the Upper Room reciting the Three Character Classic with Old Master Lian, they heard the ding-ding and clang-clang of copper gongs from the street, followed by a man loudly reciting something behind the sounds.

Old Master Lian’s face changed, and he put down the book and walked outside.

"What major event has happened?"

Lian Manman followed Old Master Lian out to the street and saw that people from the surrounding houses had also come out.

"What happened?"

"The Empress of the Imperial Palace has passed away!"

...

First, I’ll deliver one Chapter and strive for a second update. Begging for some pink encouragement.

...********...

I recommend Ruoyan’s completed book: "The Brocade Screen Chronicles," a light house fight farmland tale, with family squabbles, grudges, and conflicts inside a large estate.

Book Number: 1771214

Below is a direct link; click to go straight there. (To be continued... If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)