Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1688 - 861: Different Thoughts (2)

Keeping Da Niuniu for a meal was one thing, but it also fostered closeness among everyone. Lady Chiang was very willing to let Da Niuniu get closer to Lady Zhang, Lian Manman, and the others. With such intentions, she was naturally cautious in every way, not wanting Lady Zhang to feel that Da Niuniu was spoiled or troublesome.

When it was time to eat, Lian Manman saw Da Niuniu with Lady Zhang and took her to the west room for the meal. Er Niuniu was still young and couldn’t be without Luo Xiaoyan, so naturally, Luo Xiaoyan fed her.

At the table in the west room sat Lian Manman, Lian Zhizhi, Wu Jiayu, Zhang Caiyun, and Lian Yeye. Young girls are inherently nurturing, and not just the already pregnant Lian Zhizhi; even those like Wu Jiayu enjoyed being around children and were quite adept at taking care of them.

In farmstead households, older girls would typically take care of their younger siblings. On the street, one could often see several slightly older girls gathered together, each with a trail of younger children behind them. Some of these children were not even their siblings.

Generally, younger children were not a bother to the older girls. They would look after these little ones, who could be sent on errands. These tasks were not heavy work but rather something they could complete as a game. The little ones enjoyed it, and the older girls felt a sense of accomplishment.

Da Niuniu sat by the table, initially a bit reserved, but soon relaxed. Surrounded by beautifully fragrant older sisters who smiled at her with warm voices, this was a far cry from the cold faces, noise, and scolding she often encountered at home during meals. It was the idyllic world she never dreamed of. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Da Niuniu could already speak and feed herself. The girls kept serving her food and chatting with her while they also talked and laughed among themselves, enjoying the meal immensely.

Lian Manman placed a chopstick-full of scrambled eggs into Da Niuniu’s bowl and suddenly remembered she seemed to have forgotten something.

"What’s the matter, Manman?" Just then, Lian Zhizhi raised her head and noticed Lian Manman’s odd expression, prompting her to ask.

Lian Manman blinked. She seemed to have forgotten something but couldn’t immediately recall what it was.

"I feel like I forgot something," Lian Manman told Lian Zhizhi, "but I can’t remember. Never mind; it probably isn’t anything important."

"You’re always worrying about everything. There’s so many people around, how could there be any problem? If you forget something, someone else will remember. Just eat," Lian Zhizhi laughed.

"You’re right, sister." Lian Manman laughed along.

The meal at Lian Manman’s house was lively and cheerful. As Lady Chiang returned to the old residence, she was in the outer room of the upper room, scooping rice out of the large iron pot.

For dinner today, the main course was this pot of steamed sorghum rice. After the New Year, the old residence stopped using fine grains. Although there was still quite a bit of rice and white flour by the wall, these were controlled by Lady Zhou, and aside from preparing a small stove for Old Master Lian, she rarely allowed anyone to use them.

Besides Lady Chiang, Lian Yaya was also in the outer room. Today wasn’t the second house’s turn to cook; Lady He was nowhere to be seen, possibly only returning when it was time to serve the meal. Lian Yaya, accustomed to Lady Zhou’s orders, automatically helped Lady Chiang.

Lady Chiang extracted the rice from the pot, placed it in a basin, covered it well, and let it warm on the stove while she ladled water to wash the pot in preparation for cooking the vegetables.

They intended to only cook a simple boiled cabbage this evening. There was no meat, not even tofu; just clear water and a bit of fat to stew the cabbage.

Having finished washing the pot, Lady Chiang was about to grease it when the east room’s curtain was lifted, and Lady Zhou peered out, holding the curtain up with one hand.

"... Da Niuniu stayed there for dinner?" Lady Zhou asked Lady Chiang.

This matter, Lady Chiang had already clarified to Lady Zhou upon her return, and Lady Zhou hadn’t objected at the time.

"Yes, I said I would bring her back, but Fourth Aunt insisted on keeping her." Lady Chiang put down the spatula and answered respectfully.

"When you left, were they setting the table there?" Lady Zhou asked again.

"When I left the side courtyard, I saw someone from the kitchen seemed to be setting the table," Lady Chiang answered cautiously.

Lady Zhou’s expression turned somewhat displeased.

"They should have started eating by now?" Lady Zhou’s gaze drifted toward the door.

"Yes, they should have," Lady Chiang replied carefully.

Lady Zhou gave Lady Chiang a glance before stepping out of the room. She didn’t linger in the outer room but went directly to the main entrance. Once in the courtyard, Lady Zhou stopped and looked towards the village entrance, then glanced outside the main gate, before again looking towards the village.

"Bastard, heartless..." Standing in the courtyard for a moment, Lady Zhou muttered curses under her breath before returning inside.

"Did they say anything to you when you returned?" Lady Zhou asked Lady Chiang again.

Lady Zhang’s invitation for her to take Da Niuniu tomorrow was something Lady Chiang had already mentioned to Lady Zhou when she first returned. Sensing Lady Zhou’s temper, Lady Chiang decided not to be truthful this time.

"Nothing," Lady Chiang continued to answer respectfully.

Lady Zhou pressed her lips tightly and, without another word, headed into the east room. The curtain came down hard, leaving half of it dangling.

Lady Chiang remained silent, waited for a while, then gently tidied up the curtain before turning back to start cooking.

When Lady Zhou stepped into the courtyard, it was to look towards Lian Manman’s house. She glanced at the door several times. With her perceptive mind, Lady Chiang had already guessed why Lady Zhou was upset.

...Extra content uploaded, since it’s mid-month, let’s support with pink tickets fellow readers O(∩_∩)O~(to be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote and support with recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)