Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1697 - 866: What Do You Seek

"Third Aunt Granny, Third Maternal Grandfather is here, please come in and sit." Lady Chiang’s voice came from the outer room.

It turned out that Younger Lady Zhou and Shang Huaide had arrived.

Lian Manman, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi, these three children need not be mentioned, even Lian Shouxin was somewhat indifferent towards Younger Lady Zhou and Shang Huaide. The reasons were not complicated.

Firstly, they hadn’t really interacted much, even though they were relatives, their relationship wasn’t as close as with the villagers. Secondly, perhaps influenced by Old Master Lian, Lian Shouxin always felt that he and Shang Huaide were not on the same path. Lian Shouxin was an honest man, preferring to associate with straightforward, honest people. Shang Huaide, on the other hand, was an outwardly shrewd person.

Although Younger Lady Zhou’s appearance and personality were similar to Lady Zhou’s, if anyone thought that Lian Shouxin would feel a sense of familiarity upon seeing Younger Lady Zhou, as if seeing a younger version of Lady Zhou, they would be gravely mistaken.

Lady Zhou was Lian Shouxin’s own mother, having lived together for so many years, no matter what Lady Zhou was like, Lian Shouxin would have feelings for her. However, because of Lady Zhou’s personality and some past actions, Lian Shouxin’s feelings for this mother were mixed with many other emotions.

Younger Lady Zhou was not Lian Shouxin’s own mother, and the two had never been close. Lian Shouxin not only didn’t feel a sense of kinship with Younger Lady Zhou, but also felt somewhat distant.

To say distant was putting it mildly; in reality, Lian Shouxin did not want to see Younger Lady Zhou or have any dealings with her.

Lian Manman fully understood Lian Shouxin’s attitude towards Younger Lady Zhou.

Lian Shouxin had feelings for Lady Zhou because she was his own mother. But towards a woman who shared the same personality as Lady Zhou but was not his mother, all that remained in Lian Shouxin was aversion. However, since Younger Lady Zhou was still a relative, Lian Shouxin could not overtly express this aversion. What he could do was to avoid her as much as possible.

Sometimes Lian Manman wondered, if Lady Zhou were to understand Lian Shouxin’s feelings, what would she think? Whenever she thought of this, she couldn’t help but smile slightly.

When Lian Shouxin heard that Shang Huaide and Younger Lady Zhou had arrived, he immediately stood up and bid farewell to Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou.

"Father, Mother, I need to go to Prefecture City tomorrow, and all the children will come with me. I just came by today to see you both and to let you know. I have some things to attend to, so I’ll head back first. I’ll come to see both of you again when I return from Prefecture City."

"Ah..." Old Master Lian was a shrewd man and realized something, nodding, "Alright, you have a lot on your plate, go ahead and take care of your business. Be careful while you’re out, the same goes for the children."

Just as Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, Lian Manman, and Xiao Qi were about to leave, they heard Lady Zhou snort coldly.

Lady Zhou was sitting cross-legged on the kang, her eyes slanted as she looked at Lian Shouxin, her mouth curving to the right.

"Old Fourth, you’ve really grown, now you’ve learned to be selective with your attentions? You think you’re above others now? Didn’t you hear your Third Aunt came by? You had something to say earlier, didn’t you? Why is it, upon hearing your Third Aunt is here, you can’t sit still? Does my sister bother you that much? Are you annoyed by your Third Aunt or by me?" Lady Zhou asked with a mocking look, her tone neither warm nor cold.

With Younger Lady Zhou and Shang Huaide about to enter, how was Lian Shouxin supposed to respond to Lady Zhou’s words?

Lian Shouxin looked awkward, and at this moment, Old Master Lian disapprovingly glared at Lady Zhou.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Do you reprimand your child like this? Do you have any sense of maternal responsibility?" Old Master Lian said in a low voice, and then, giving Lian Shouxin a significant look, raised his voice, "Old Fourth, I understand. It’s not easy for you to find time, go handle your own matters. We’re all family here; there’s no need for formalities."

Old Master Lian was standing up for Lian Shouxin. If Lian Shouxin were to meet Younger Lady Zhou and Shang Huaide head-on, with Old Master Lian’s prior words, even if they suspected Lian Shouxin was avoiding them, they couldn’t hold it against him.

"Is your fourth uncle here? What a coincidence; otherwise, your Third Aunt Granny and I were just going to look for him," Shang Huaide’s voice, accompanied by quickening footsteps, came from the front door.

Old Master Lian frowned slightly.

Lian Shouxin, who was about to leave, had no choice but to stop. With Shang Huaide wording it like that, it was impossible for him to leave immediately.