CHAPTER 1301: CHAPTER 664: SHAMELESS

Second update, asking for likes.

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Lady Zhou was unusually silent, while over there, Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi were also sitting silently.

"It’s really considerate and well-done by Uncle Four and Aunt Four." Seeing everyone being quiet, Lady Chiang hurriedly said with a smile.

Only then did Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi awaken from their daze and started to echo the sentiment. However, it was easily noticeable that they spoke carelessly and insincerely.

Meanwhile, Lian Manman had little interest in caring about what these people might think.

After discussing the clothing and bedding, Lian Shouxin and Wu Lang spoke to Old Master Lian about the coffin-making.

"Wu Lang and I made some inquiries. Around these ten villages, the best coffin maker is Old Luo the carpenter from Luo Family Village, and another is Carpenter Zhang from Da Shen Tun." Lian Shouxin said to Old Master Lian.

"I know both of them." Old Master Lian quickly responded. Evidently, the idea to buy wood and make a coffin wasn’t a sudden thought but something he’s been pondering for some time, which is why he was so informed.

"Grandfather, I’ve sent word to both of them. They’ve said they’re available, so you just choose whichever you prefer, and we’ll go with that." Wu Lang said, "We can invite them over tomorrow."

"Good, good." Not only did Lian Shouxin actively help him with buying the coffin wood, but they also arranged everything without his urging. Saying he wasn’t pleased would be insincere. Old Master Lian showed a truly heartfelt smile for the first time in a long while. "Both are great carpenters, no need to pick, either is fine."

"... That coffin of Third Master Wang on the back street seems to have been made by Carpenter Luo. That coffin was crafted excellently." After a brief pause, Old Master Lian added.

Lian Manman smiled at Wu Lang. Wu Lang also smiled. Without needing to be reminded, Wu Lang understood that Old Master Lian preferred Carpenter Luo.

"Grandfather, shall we invite Carpenter Luo then?" Wu Lang asked.

"Invite him, then." This time, Old Master Lian answered directly without hesitation.

"Then I will send someone over in a bit, we’ll have him come by tomorrow." Wu Lang said, "Let him work in this yard, grandfather, you can oversee it daily. If there’s anything unsatisfactory, have him modify it. You don’t have to worry about the carpenter’s pay, we’ll cover everything, including meals. Just get him to follow your instructions."

"No, no," Old Master Lian moved closer to Wu Lang and said, "The main expense, the wood, you guys already took care of. No need for you to cover his pay or meals. We have everything on hand here."

"Grandfather, no need to be polite with us." Lian Manman laughed and said, "It’s a token sentiment from my father, my mother, my brother, and our whole family."

"Indeed, grandfather, you don’t need to handle anything, just oversee the work." Xiao Qi interjected at this point.

"Please don’t refuse, we’ve got this covered for you." Lady Zhang and Lian Zhizhi also said.

"Good, very good." Old Master Lian nodded heavily, feeling warmth in his heart. "All good children, all good."

After discussing everything with Old Master Lian, the family got ready to leave.

"Oh..." Suddenly, Lady Zhou let out a long groan on the kang.

Everyone turned their gaze to Lady Zhou.

Lady Zhou remained seated in a cross-legged position, her face drooping to her chest, hands clasped on her lap, as if she hadn’t moved since a while ago. Yet the strange sound was indeed from her.

"Oh..." After a moment of silence in the room, Lady Zhou’s chest heaved, producing the second groan.

Lian Manman’s family exchanged glances, somewhat annoyed yet helpless. Lady Zhou was of this disposition, rarely speaking straightforwardly. She always made others uncomfortable, forcing them to speak first.

"Father, we’ll head off first to arrange for Carpenter Luo." This time, Lian Shouxin did not indulge Lady Zhou and instead stood up and spoke.

"Go ahead." Old Master Lian nodded simply.

The family stood, just stepping out, when again Lady Zhou let out a groan. This time, it was even longer and louder than the previous two, making it harder to ignore. From the side, Lian Manman could see Lady Zhou’s eyes tightly shut, while her fingers twisted rapidly.

Lian Manman silently grumbled, having thought Lady Zhou had refrained from attacking Lian Shouxin today, thinking she had changed. But how could that be? Here she was, stirring trouble again.

"What is wrong with you? Speak if you have something to say." Old Master Lian gave Lady Zhou a glance and spoke loudly.

"What’s wrong with me? What could be wrong with me?" Lady Zhou finally raised her head and snapped at Old Master Lian, "Who thinks of me as a person? Who sees me in their eyes? I’m an old wretch that nobody cares for. Unlike you, you’re a cherished priority."

Such words spoken at this moment were quite interesting.

"What’s your issue again?" Old Master Lian frowned helplessly, "In this family, heaven is first, earth is second, and you’re third. It’s good enough if you don’t bother others. What’s the point of making a fuss again? Can’t you speak plainly if you have something to say?"

"If I speak, people take it as rubbish, treat me like a dying dog. I close my eyes today, and tomorrow I’m tossed into a ditch." Lady Zhou said viciously.

"Oh, what’s happened?" Lian Manman feigned surprise and said, "We don’t live in this courtyard. Has something happened here that we don’t know about, or has someone in this yard upset my grandmother?"

Lian Manman spoke, and the whole family understood, casting suspicious and accusatory glances at those from the old house.

"No, there’s nothing like that," Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, and others quickly said.

"You all don’t know what’s going on. They scold us every day, who among us dares to talk back? Isn’t everything decided by her at home?" Lady He grumbled complainingly.

Seeing the topic about to be diverted by Lian Manman, Lady Zhou, lying on the kang, finally became anxious.

"...throw me out, don’t even give me a mat, just throw me naked into the ditch..." Lady Zhou wailed, all bark and no bite.

Lian Manman clicked her tongue, realizing Lady Zhou was upset because she saw that Old Master Lian’s coffin and shroud arrangements were settled, yet she was anxious about her own. But she couldn’t bring herself to ask Lian Shouxin directly, or perhaps she felt asking directly would lose her dignity, hence her fuss and clamoring.

After all, the old house had land and property, and Lady Zhou had the family’s savings in her hands, which was a fortune for tenant farmers. Lian Shouxin’s family had split off long ago and was already taking good care of the elderly couple. Asking Lian Shouxin’s family to prepare coffins and shrouds for the elderly couple was excessive.

Knowing it’s excessive and still demanding, furthermore using this method, this was typical of Lady Zhou’s logic and behavior.

If not for respecting the elderly, if Lady Zhou weren’t Lian Shouxin’s mother, Lian Manman would only have disdain for Lady Zhou, and nothing else, not even a word or a glance to spare.

"What are you talking about, disgusting," Old Master Lian reprimanded Lady Zhou, lowering his voice slightly, "I’m still here, aren’t I?"

Lian Shouxin undertook the responsibility for his affairs; there was still savings in the family, enough to prepare for Lady Zhou.

"You’re halfway buried in the ground, can’t even take care of yourself, how could you care for me? I have a bitter life, not marrying a good man, not having good children, after I die I’ll be buried in the ditch..." Lady Zhou wailed again.

Old Master Lian’s face darkened.

Lian Manman’s family exchanged glances, resigned to a bitter smile.

"Grandma, don’t worry. They’re all prepared for grandpa; why wouldn’t they be prepared for you?" Wu Lang said calmly, although speaking in a more detached tone compared to when he addressed Old Master Lian earlier.

There’s no choice; whatever Old Master Lian was, he still maintained a sense of "face" and spoke kindly to his grandchildren, yet Lady Zhou never gave face to others, believing this was how she maintained her own dignity. There wasn’t any warmth from her towards Lian Manman and the others, not even pretended.

"Mom, didn’t dad just happen to have his eye on some wooden boards today? If there’s some for dad, how could there not be for you?" Lian Shouxin also said, "In the next few days, I’ll buy another piece, and make coffins for both of you together."

Lady Zhou promptly focused her sharp gaze on Lian Shouxin.

"Are you serious?" Lady Zhou’s eyes were piercing, "I never asked you."

"Of course, I’m serious," Wu Lang said, "It’s not because you demanded it but because we’ve long planned to prepare it for you."

No one in Lian Manman’s family was stingy about a coffin. It wasn’t because Lady Zhou shamelessly caused a fuss that they offered it.

Lady Zhou lowered her eyelids, seemingly instinctively touching the few bolts of fabric, then lifted her eyes sharply, staring straight at Lady Zhang’s face.

"We’ll take care of the clothes and such too. Everything will match the old master’s," Lady Zhang said.

"I’m not asking for it," Lady Zhou moved her gaze away, said stiffly.

"Right, it’s not you asking for it."

"...My eyes, I don’t know when they’ll fail..." Lady Zhou sighed again.

What did that mean, was she saying she wouldn’t do the sewing and it should be handed over to Lady Zhang?

"Then do it quickly," Old Master Lian said.

Lady Zhou didn’t reply, but her expression seemed to soften.

"We’ll bring the fabric soon," Lian Manman said.

Lady Zhou exhaled deeply, lowering her head again, not looking at anyone.

By the time Lian Manman’s family left the room, Lady Zhou hadn’t made another sound.

Old Master Lian personally escorted Lian Manman’s family out.

"...She’s just like that, to deal with, what can be done. You’re all good children, bear with it, bear with it," accompanying Lian Shouxin outside, Old Master Lian said with a somewhat bitter expression, "...the last hope...you all are doing well...I know it in my heart..."

As they reached the door, it suddenly swung open from outside, and a person walked in. Everyone froze.

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Here’s the second update. Ruoyan dives down to write, striving for a third update soon. Please encourage with a vote (to be continued). If you like this work, you’re welcome to visit qidian.com to vote for recommendations or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.