First update, asking for pink tickets.

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When Lian Huahua said that, Lian Manman immediately understood what she intended to do. Lian Manman merely responded with a "Oh", then looked at Lian Huahua without showing approval or disapproval.

Lian Huahua had come resolutely, and naturally wouldn’t back down because of Lian Manman’s lukewarm attitude.

"Manman, it’s just as you said before: we share the same surname, ’Lian’, and are direct, close cousins. We should support and help each other—that’s the right thing to do. It makes no sense for us to sabotage one another. That’s the way it is within our family, and even if we all leave home one day, it should remain that way," Lian Huahua said earnestly, while sneaking glances at Lian Manman’s reaction.

A faint cold smile appeared at the corner of Lian Manman’s lips.

"Sister Huahua, you sure do have a good memory. Then do you happen to recall who else was there when we talked? Why did I specifically bring you to the back courtyard to talk?" Lian Manman looked at Lian Huahua and asked.

In this world, there truly are people like this. When they hold the upper hand, they look down on others and calculate every move to their advantage. But once they lose their position, they selectively forget their past misdeeds and instead use morality, familial bonds, and lofty reasoning—things they’ve trampled underfoot—to restrain and demand from others.

Everything is for their own gain. People, events, objects—everything is just a tool to them.

When Lian Manman asked this, Lian Huahua’s eyes faltered for a moment. Of course, she remembered that incident clearly—she had suffered greatly, even earning a beating from Lian Yeye. But she had endured it for the sake of her impending marriage.

"Manman, what happened in the past... didn’t Yeye already take it out on me back then? We’re sisters; don’t hold grudges anymore. If it helps, I can apologize again," Lian Huahua treaded carefully to gauge Lian Manman’s expression. "Manman, you’ve seen yourself—I haven’t done anything since then. Your words stuck with me. I’ve always thought about helping you and Yeye somehow. But the Song Family has strict rules; as a new daughter-in-law, I first had to establish myself there before thinking about helping anyone else."

"Then how do you explain the matter about the high-interest loan?" Lian Manman’s words remained sharp, unfazed by Lian Huahua’s cautious demeanor. "You promised clearly that you would repay the borrowed money, yet later you delayed it, nearly ruining our family! Wasn’t that your doing too?"

Lian Huahua pursed her lips. Though nervous, she hadn’t come unprepared.

"I couldn’t tell you this back then, Manman. The bitterness in my heart was mine alone to bear. What could I do? It’s my own parents we’re talking about," Lian Huahua said, raising her sleeve to cover her face and sobbing pitifully.

Lian Manman blinked, her curiosity piqued. She wondered how Lian Huahua would maneuver around the issue of deliberately withholding repayment for the high-interest loan.

After sobbing a couple of times, Lian Huahua lowered her sleeve. Her face and the area around her eyes were reddened, as if she had genuinely cried but had just wiped away her tears.

"...About that money... I calculated everything and sent it to your uncle and aunt long ago. I even told them to hurry back to the village, not to wait until the last possible moment. I suggested they pay off the debt early to make Grandpa and everyone in the family feel at ease," Lian Huahua said while fiddling with her handkerchief. "I had everything arranged, so I didn’t follow up. It wasn’t until you came to the county town to find me that I learned they hadn’t sent back every penny as they were supposed to."

"At the time, I was furious and anxious. But as a daughter, what could I do? I couldn’t bring up the matter in front of you; I couldn’t outright say I’d paid the money and leave my parents to deal with the consequences. In the end, wasn’t it me who used my husband’s private funds to settle the debt? And for that, I’ve been nothing but considerate and apologetic ever since."

In her tale, she shifted all blame to Lian Shouren and Lady Gu, absolving herself entirely. Not only that, but she portrayed herself as a virtuous, filial woman who bore her burdens with dignity.

"Sister Huahua, now you’re saying this, but weren’t Uncle and Aunt’s stories completely different back then?" Lian Manman shot her a sideways glance. "And besides, Sister Huahua, you borrowed the money—no one else spent even a penny of it. No matter how you plan to repay it, that’s your responsibility. We suffered because of you. Do you expect us to thank you?"

"No, no, that’s not what I meant." Lian Huahua immediately waved her hands in denial. "I’m just clearing things up, so you don’t misunderstand me, Manman. Of course, I should repay the debt. I’m deeply grateful to all of you, especially to Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt. They’re good-hearted folks, truly admirable. Not just in public, but in private, they never gossip or criticize. And when it comes to family, they’re immensely responsible and supportive."

Here, "admirable" used the rural dialect of Thirty Mile Camp; it didn’t mean virtuous, but rather cultivated and unpetty—someone worth long-term association and trust.

"They say good people reap good fortune. Look at Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt—they’ve got theirs, haven’t they? Manman, look at your current life, and Wu Lang—he’s on the verge of passing his Scholar exams. Isn’t all of this because of your family’s kind and benevolent ways? With days like these, what is there from the past that’s still worth holding onto?" Lian Huahua said, smiling at Lian Manman.

Lian Manman glanced at her. In tenant farming disputes, when the parties couldn’t resolve things on their own, mediators often employed reasoning like what Lian Huahua had just spun—connecting fortune and kindness as a tactic to coax the aggrieved party into forgiveness.

This time, Lian Huahua had truly lowered herself, heaping compliments on Lian Manman’s family and using the tried-and-true method of tying good fortune to reconciliation attempts to persuade them to completely forgive her.

Apparently, if they continued holding her to account, they would no longer be "good people," nor would they reap any "good fortune." Moreover, their current comfortable life wasn’t the result of their own effort, but a reward for forgiving Lian Huahua.

What warped reasoning.

Forgiving Lian Huahua meant demonstrating magnanimity. Not forgiving her was perfectly justifiable. Lian Huahua had no grounds to demand anything from them.

"Sister Huahua, you say we’re good people. So does that mean you admit you’re a bad person? If good people deserve rewards, shouldn’t bad people face consequences?" Lian Manman chuckled as she asked.

Lian Huahua was rendered speechless.

"Manman, let the past be the past. We’re close cousins, aren’t we? If we keep this feud going, it’s nothing but a joke for outsiders to watch. It benefits none of us. ...I’m not the same person I used to be; I’ve changed, Manman," Lian Huahua regained her footing after a while. "Manman, if you think I’ve done anything wrong or have any demands for me, feel free to say so. As for the money..."

Lian Manman raised her hand, cutting her off.

"Sister Huahua, you say we’re close cousins and that you’ve changed. Then is having Brother Sanlang marry Yingzi proof that you’ve truly changed? Sister Huahua, you talk a lot, but your actions leave us doubting everything." Lian Manman confronted her directly.

Lian Huahua was stunned yet again. She had no idea that Lian Manman had already gotten wind of this, even though the plan had ultimately failed.

"There’s some misunderstanding here..." Lian Huahua panicked briefly but immediately began defending herself instinctively. "Besides, he’s different from us. Second Uncle’s family and yours—there’s no comparison. Their character can’t measure up to Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt’s character. Manman, we’re far closer as sisters than we are to them."

"I wonder how Second Uncle, Second Aunt, Brother Erlang, and Brother Sanlang would feel hearing that," Lian Manman squinted her eyes at Lian Huahua as she spoke.

"Manman, you..." Lian Huahua frowned, her anxiety and frustration bubbling. She had bowed her head low and explained herself at length, yet Lian Manman responded with sharp rebuttal after rebuttal, leaving no room for her to justify her actions.

Lian Manman, in turn, observed Lian Huahua closely. She thought that Lian Huahua’s temper, while impatient, had likely been tempered by life at the Song Family, and she definitely had some greater motive for seeking her out today.

At this point, Lian Huahua seemed to be nearing the end of her patience and facade.

"Sister Huahua, I’m not as clever as you. After all this talk, there must be something in particular you want. Why not tell me directly and save us both the trouble?" Lian Manman said after a pause.

Lian Manman didn’t intend to show kindness to Lian Huahua, but at the same time, she didn’t want to push her into desperation. Arguing logic was about letting Lian Huahua know they weren’t easily manipulated, so she’d behave and refrain from pulling any tricks.

"Manman, haven’t I made everything clear? Let bygones be bygones; we share the same surname, ’Lian.’ Supporting each other—there’s beauty in that," Lian Huahua said. "Don’t let outsiders see us as distant. It would reflect poorly for everyone."

Lian Manman smiled inwardly. It was today’s hospitality toward Lian Huahua and Lian Lanlan, along with Lady Zhang Wang’s sternness, that had instilled fear and a sense of crisis in Lian Huahua, prompting her to come up with flowery words to try and win her over.

"That depends on what you do," Lian Manman thought for a moment before replying. "Whether we’re distant or not, that’s hard to say. Especially since our hospitality wasn’t just directed at you..."

As Lian Manman and Lian Huahua faced off, Lian Manman stood with her back to the door of her family home, facing the direction of the main road. Lian Huahua stood opposite her, with her back to the road. As they talked, Lian Manman saw two people quickly descending from the road, taking the small path, and arriving directly behind Lian Huahua.

"Is this Huahua?"

Upon hearing this, Lian Huahua turned to look. As soon as she recognized the newcomers, her brows furrowed tightly.

The two individuals, however, were grinning from ear to ear.

"Ah, our eldest niece!"

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Busy as always, here’s the first update. Last day of the month—asking for your pink tickets.

Going off to eat now, second update will come later. (To be continued. If you enjoy this novel, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)