"Sir, these dumplings aren’t leftovers, we haven’t eaten yet." Lian Manman lowered her head, feigning grievance and wiping away tears.

"Old Second, what trick are you playing!" Old Master Lian’s face darkened as he slammed his chopsticks down with a smack. "In front of me, you bully Manman. Do you even regard me as your father?"

Lian Shouyi fell silent.

"Manman, stop crying. Don’t listen to your second uncle’s nonsense, he’s the troublemaker. I know, you always bring me food first. Your filial piety is well appreciated by me." Old Master Lian turned to comfort Lian Manman again, "Come, Manman, sit at the table. These dumplings are for us to eat, and no one else gets any."

"Dad, let me try one." Lian Shouyi said with a sheepish smile, "Old Fourth’s household can cook, the same stuff they make is just tastier."

"Second uncle, you buy the meat, and then my mother and I will help you wrap dumplings," Lian Manman suggested after drying her eyes and sitting next to Old Master Lian.

Old Master Lian saw the smile on Lian Manman’s face and breathed a sigh of relief. He also thought that Lian Manman was sensible and heeded advice well.

"If only I could buy meat," Lian Shouyi pretended to joke, essentially provoking Lian Manman. "But where would I get the money? How about, Manman, you give your second uncle some of your earnings?"

Lian Manman had wanted him to say this, chuckling inwardly.

"Second uncle, stop teasing me. With all the wealth second uncle has just amassed, my family’s earnings are but a trifle to you," Lian Manman replied with a smile too.

Lian Shouyi’s face discolored slightly.

Lian Manman did not wait for him to speak again and continued.

"Second uncle and Old Uncle He made quite a sum from brewing liquor together, didn’t they? Sold it for three silver per catty, and second uncle got over a hundred silver," Lian Manman said, seeming pleased for Lian Shouyi, her eyes squinting happily.

Lian Shouyi became both panicked and angry.

"Manman, why are you making such baseless claims?" Lian Shouyi glared at Lian Manman.

"I’m not making anything up." Lian Manman dodged behind Old Master Lian. "It was second uncle’s wife who came to our place and said it herself, with my mom as a witness."

"Disregard her blabbering. She was just having fun with you," Lian Shouyi, seeing Old Master Lian’s displeasure, managed to force a smile and covertly signaled to Lady He with his eyes.

"I was just kidding, there’s no such thing," Lady He hastily interjected.

"Everyone in the village knows. Yesterday, Er Dan’s Wife told my mom, saying Er Dan saw second uncle dining in town with two young ladies, dressed so nicely, their perfume could be smelled from afar... Second uncle was splurging," Lian Manman said nervously.

Lian Shouyi’s face turned completely dark, while Lady He, like a poked wasp, leaped from the bed, heading straight for Lian Shouyi. Lian Shouyi couldn’t dodge in time and received a scratch across his face from Lady He.

"You shameless man! The past few days you’ve hardly been home, and now you’ve grown bold, keeping a mistress! Who is that floozy? Tell me! How much did you spend? I want it all back..." Lady He cursed and clawed at Lian Shouyi.

Lian Shouyi wasn’t one to take it lying down. After dodging a few times and seeing that Lady He wouldn’t stop, he fought back, and soon they were scuffling on the ground, tangled up.

"You foolish woman, can’t keep your mouth shut, believe everything you hear!" Lian Shouyi cursed back.

"Lian Shouyi, don’t think I don’t know your true colors. If you don’t clear this up, it’s not over between us," Lady He retorted fiercely.

Suddenly, there they were, fighting the Old Master and Lady Zhou were left in stunned silence. Eventually, Erlang, Sanlang, and Silang got down and grabbed the two fighters, who kept lunging at each other despite being held back.

In no time, Lian Shouyi’s face and neck bore blood marks, and Lady He looked even worse for wear, her hair disheveled, missing a tuft, her top stamped with two dusty footprints, and her collar torn.

Old Master Lian was so furious he pointed at the two without being able to speak. Lady Zhou looked on with a stern face, pondering something.

Suddenly, Lian Shouyi whispered something to Lady He, and they began to scuffle again, slowly making their way to the door.

Lian Manman had a hunch: they were afraid Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou would demand money, so they were trying to escape.

"Second uncle, second aunt, stop fighting. Injuries will cost you money for medicine," Lian Manman advised, then looked at Lady Zhou, "Grandma, please persuade my second uncle and second aunt. Otherwise, they’ll just go outside to fight."

Lian Manman was reminding Lady Zhou to ask for money promptly.

"You two, stop right there." Lady Zhou scoffed and said, "If you want to fight, I won’t stop you, but hand over the money first."

Lian Shouyi and Lady He were stunned for a moment, exchanging glances, picking up the pace out the door.

"Pretending not to hear me?" Lady Zhou raised her voice, "If you leave today, don’t bother coming back tomorrow. If you’re so capable, take that money and get out of here immediately!"

"What’s all this noise about?" Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang showed up at the door with Xiao Qi, blocking Lian Shouyi and Lady He’s path. Xiao Qi had seen that Lian Manman hadn’t returned and, hearing the commotion in the Upper Room, had rushed over. Seeing Lian Shouyi and Lady He fighting, he quickly went to fetch Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang.

Now Lian Shouyi and Lady He had no choice but to stop.

"Mother, please hear me out..." Lian Shouyi pleaded pitifully to Lady Zhou. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

There will be a second update tonight, please give a pink vote.

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

I recommend Ruoyan’s completed book "The Most Enchanting" – a fantasy version of My Savage Girlfriend, less than 500,000 words, reasonably short. The link is provided below; one click will get you there.

Book number: 2184407 (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.)