Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1558 - 792: Old Habits Die Hard (Part 2)

"If he’s going to dismiss it, then let it be. But he shouldn’t keep poking at my heart. What he’s doing, time and again, how can he call that human decency?"

"But even so, he’s still my father." Lian Shouxin’s tone was full of pain.

That’s just how the world works. Kind-hearted people have more concerns, more attachments, and similarly, they have more dilemmas and suffering.

Just like Lian Shouxin at this moment.

"The Old Master is getting old. Every time I go to see him, he’s different from before. I don’t know if the people at the old residence have noticed. With the Old Master like this, I’m afraid he won’t live long."

"The Old Master used to be so healthy, he could’ve lived to a hundred if it weren’t for the Taicang incident."

"Now, actually, he could be living a worry-free life," said Lady Zhang. "It’s just that he insists on complicating things."

"Who doesn’t agree with that," Lian Shouxin sighed, "he’s walked into a dead-end, no matter how you persuade or talk to him, he just won’t come out."

This situation, to put it bluntly, is senility. But neither Lian Shouxin nor Lady Zhang wanted to say it that way.

"They said he got sick today, but they didn’t call a doctor, and they didn’t call me either. I have a feeling this time he might really be ill," Lian Shouxin said after a moment of silence.

"How come, if he’s really sick and they don’t call a doctor? Everyone at the old residence knows we’re the ones paying for the medical bills, so they should be willing to call a doctor. They should be eager to call you over," said Lady Zhang.

"Yeah, the Old Master must have stopped them," said Lian Shouxin.

"Why?" asked Lady Zhang.

"Why else, for face," said Lian Shouxin. "Wasn’t it after we left that the old residence started quarreling? The Old Master must have gotten worried, it upset him greatly."

"Regardless of whether it’s true or not, tomorrow, I want to go to the old residence to take a look..." After another moment of silence, Lian Shouxin finally said.

"If you want to go, I’ve never stopped you... it’s just that we need to discuss it with the children..." Lady Zhang thought for a moment, then said.

"We definitely need to discuss. We also need to be careful, we mustn’t repeat the Old Master’s mistakes. The hardships we’ve endured shouldn’t be passed on to our children," said Lian Shouxin.

"Of course," Lady Zhang smiled, "Don’t learn from the Old Master. In this life and the next, I can never be like the Old Lady."

The couple talked for a while longer, and when it was apparent that it was Zi Hour, they blew out the candle that had burned down to the base, and lay back down under the covers to rest.

Very early the next morning, Lian Manman was awakened by the noise outside.

"Xiao Qing, what’s happening outside?" Lian Manman asked as soon as she opened her eyes.

"Reporting to Miss, people have arrived from the old residence," Xiao Qing replied from outside.

"Is it the Second Master and Si Lang?" Lian Manman asked.

"Yes, it is," Xiao Qing replied.

Lian Manman didn’t continue asking. Today Si Lang was going to work, and he needed to go with Lian Shouyi to deliver the New Year gifts to Lian Lanlan in the city. Every year, the old residence sends New Year gifts to Lian Lanlan’s family, always setting out at the crack of dawn. There’s no need to tell them about delivering the gifts, but having Si Lang go to work and informing them before departing is completely natural.

In the east room, Lian Shouxin had already gotten up and was getting dressed to go to the front courtyard.

Lian Shouyi and Si Lang were both in the courtyard, each standing there with a large burlap sack at their feet. As Lian Shouxin walked through the Moon Cave Gate, Si Lang quickly called out, "Fourth Uncle," and Lian Shouyi also grinned and called out, "Old Fourth."

"Ready to leave now, good, you’ll get to the county at just the right time," Lian Shouxin said, "Everything is arranged at the Paper Craft Shop; Shopkeeper Chiang knows Si Lang. I’ve told him already, he’ll wait for Si Lang at the shop."

After Lian Shouxin spoke, he looked over Lian Shouyi and Si Lang. Lian Shouyi and Si Lang were wearing their best clothes. Lian Shouyi’s clothes were still passable, but Si Lang’s best clothes were patched extensively and seemed to have not been washed in a long time, let alone starched.

Si Lang’s shoes were also worn out, with many mud spots on them.

In these times, when going out to work for others, neatness is important. Wearing worn clothes isn’t a problem, since most farmstead families are poor. But at a minimum, the clothes need to be clean.

Lady He’s sewing skills weren’t great, and her patchwork was unsightly, but leaving the clothes unwashed was another matter. If Lady He didn’t wash them, Si Lang, being a grown lad, should be able to wash them himself, shouldn’t he?

"Didn’t your Fourth Aunt give you some cloth to make clothes and shoes?" Lian Shouxin was a bit displeased and said to Si Lang.

"Well, well, that takes time, right." Si Lang shuffled his feet uncomfortably. "My mother... isn’t good at making nice clothes, she might waste the good material. Fourth Uncle, I’ve brought the cloth with me. When I get to the city, I’ll find someone to make the clothes for me."

Besides the large burlap sack at Si Lang’s feet, there was also a small gray bundle, which presumably contained some of Si Lang’s personal clothing for changing.

"Ah," Lian Shouxin nodded and didn’t say anything more.

In these times, in a farmstead family, the women are responsible for making all the clothes, shoes, and socks for the family. In Si Lang’s situation, if Lady Zhang had given him the cloth yesterday, and they took it back home, with a few women working on it together, they could have made a set of clothes for Si Lang by now.

At the old residence, Lady He’s sewing skills were lacking, but Lady Zhou and Lady Chiang were both skilled.

**

Here’s the second update, requesting pink ticket support. There’s still an 80-vote gap to the fifth place on the pink ticket list, so let’s make the pink tickets more impactful. I’m diving in to write the third update, requesting 780 pink tickets. If we reclaim fifth place today, there will be a fourth update. Fist pump. (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)