"...I’ll discuss it with Yeye’s father again. With so many people, a hundred large carts traveling so far, with all the food and lodging needed, you’re already busy, and we’d just cause more trouble. Besides, we tenant farmers are so earthy, we’d be laughed at..." Lady Zhao continued, following up on what was said before, speaking to Lady Zhang.

Hearing Lady Zhao speak like this, it was clear that Lady Zhang had extended another invitation for their family to go to the Prefecture City, and Lady Zhao was a bit hesitant. It seemed Lian Shouli and Lady Zhao had already discussed it and planned to only let Lian Yeye go to gain experience; they themselves weren’t planning to go. The few words Lady Zhao just said were clearly in Lian Shouli’s tone. Neither Lady Zhao nor Lian Yeye would say such things.

This was Lady Zhao being persuaded by Lady Zhang, making her words a bit more receptive, saying she would discuss it with Lian Shouli again.

"Look at what you’re saying, we’re all family. We’re all going, and even if it’s a bit troublesome for them, they’d still be happy." Lady Li laughed on the side.

"That’s right," Lady Zhang also laughed, "It’s a big happy event, why talk about being troublesome or not? Such words are unnecessary. It’s just their third uncle, who is meticulous and loves to be particular about these things."

"As for tenant farmers, we are all tenant farmers. We go out and who would dare laugh at us? Who can grow just by drinking the wind, who doesn’t need to eat food? We rely on ourselves, use our own strength and skills to make a living. You could say, we’re upright. If anyone laughs at us, it’s because they themselves are ignorant and inexperienced. They’re just trying to cover up their own lack of success by mocking others." Lian Manman laughed as well.

Everyone in the room laughed at Lian Manman’s words.

"Sister Manman is right, that’s exactly it." Lian Yeye wholeheartedly agreed, laughing as well.

"...then I’ll discuss it with her father again. We’re all family here, so I’ll say what I think. Yeye’s father hasn’t traveled far much. He’s not keen on going out." Lady Zhao, being coaxed by everyone, had clearly become much more open and said.

"You must go." Lady Zhang insisted again.

Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye both seemed to want to go, it was just Lian Shouli who appeared reluctant. Lian Manman thought, Lian Shouxin would definitely persuade Lian Shouli to go.

"Mother, just now..." Lian Manman thought so and then told Lady Zhang about her own plan to manage the West Village.

"Just now, your third aunt also mentioned it to me. My heart has been jumping with excitement for a while. You’re doing well to manage this matter, it’s right to do so." Lady Zhang said, clearly very approving of the decision by Lian Manman and Wu Lang.

After some more small talk, Lady Zhang and Lian Manman inevitably asked if anything had happened at home while they were away.

Though there had been letters, some trivial matters were not suitable to write about, and naturally came up during their conversation.

"Nothing much happened," Lady Zhao said, "The old lady is doing fine as well. She’s in good health and still strong in her scolding ability every day."

"She’s still scolding people? The Second Master has moved out, who is she scolding now?" Lady Zhang asked in astonishment, "Surely she can’t be scolding the neighbors?"

If so, that would be really inappropriate. Lady Zhou conducted herself with a clear distinction between family and outsiders. Her scolding and antics was usually directed at her own children and she wouldn’t bother others.

"No, she’s not scolding outsiders..." Lady Zhao quickly replied.

"She’s scolding the head of the household!" Lian Yeye quickly added.

"Scolding the head of the household?!" Lady Zhang exclaimed in surprise.

This surprise from Lady Zhang was understandable. After all, Lian Shouren and his group had always held a special place in the eyes of the Lian Family, especially in Old Master Lian’s and Lady Zhou’s eyes. Normally, Lady Zhou’s pastime was scolding people, often without reason, but she hardly ever scolded Lian Shouren.

Among the Lian brothers in front of Lady Zhou, only Lian Shouren had maintained some respect.

So now, was it because Lady Zhou had no one left to scold, and that’s why she resorted to scolding Lian Shouren? Had Lian Shouren in front of Lady Zhou also now become someone without respect? This was truly...

For those always scolded, it was one thing, but for someone never scolded to fall to this point, was truly hard to bear!

Of course, it was Lian Shouren who found it hard to bear.

"...Wasn’t it because Yaya’s parents moved out, and when you were still here, everything was quite joyful at first, the old lady even quieted down for those days and didn’t scold much. But after you all left, she probably couldn’t hold it in anymore and started scolding again." Lian Yeye explained to Lady Zhang and Lian Manman.

"At first, it wasn’t so fierce, but as days went by, it got worse, and now she’s scolding every day. Not scolding others, just scolding the head of the household alone. I saw it myself the other day; she had him with his head down." Lian Yeye continued.

"Yeye’s father also ran into it a couple of times, and many in the village heard it. Anything harsh she could say, she’d say it. Any hurtful thing she could think of, she’d say it." Lady Zhao added, "If she’s dissatisfied, she scolds, and even if there’s nothing to be dissatisfied about, she’ll find something to pick at and scold for half a day."

"Seems like her temper is still the same, I’ve given up hope that she’ll ever change." Lady Zhang said upon hearing this.

"Does she still scold you all?" Lian Manman asked Lian Yeye.

"We don’t go near her, what would she scold about? She wants to scold, she can’t catch us." Lian Yeye replied, "My mother is scared of her and doesn’t dare go near. I’m not afraid of her, I’ll go if I want to, I’ll leave when I want. She can’t do anything to me. Only my father goes, and when he gets caught, she scolds him. He’s also scared of her scolding, so he doesn’t often go."

"Even when we don’t go, she scolds, saying we’re ungrateful, acting like she’s dead, not visiting her. Just sits there and scolds when she thinks of it." Lian Yeye added, "This is what others have told us. Let her scold, we can’t shut her up anyway, it doesn’t affect us as we can’t hear it."

...

Here’s a third update for the end of the month, asking everyone for pink votes (to be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations, monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read on m.qidian.com.)