CHAPTER 1309: CHAPTER 668: BLESSING OR CURSE? (PART 2)

"...they said that in two years when her brother gets married, if the Second Master and his wife are willing, they can live together. They don’t want anything and will continue to take care of the elderly." Lian Shouxin relayed Luo Xiaoyan’s words from the Luo Family’s side after returning home, "She said her parents raised her, and she can’t bring herself to just abandon the family."

"Dad, how old is Luo Xiaoyan’s brother?" Lian Manman asked.

"He’s fifteen," Lian Shouxin replied, "Said he can work in the fields, but he’s still young, not a full laborer yet. In two years, when he’s seventeen and gets a wife, that’ll do."

"Old Luo family’s conditions aren’t good; it’s hard to find a wife. Even if they find someone willing, how can they afford marriage?" Lady Zhang said.

"They’re just counting on Erlang to lend a hand and save up money for the marriage over the next two years." Lian Shouxin said, "Everyone in Luo Family Village says Luo Xiaoyan is capable, but there’s only so much a woman can do."

Many believe that with the conditions proposed by the Luo Family, marrying Luo Xiaoyan is very unwise for Erlang, almost foolish. From the Lian Family’s perspective, Lian Shouxin didn’t agree with it either.

However, this time Erlang was determined and unexpectedly firm.

"Did the Second Master and his wife agree to take less money?" Lady Zhang asked again.

"People mentioned that they softened a bit." Lian Shouxin said.

After two days and nights of mediation by the visitors, Erlang and Luo Xiaoyan’s matter was finally settled. In those days, mediating affairs was quite physical work, requiring overtime and no breaks day or night.

"...Once Luo Xiaoying gets married, Erlang and Luo Xiaoyan can leave the Luo Family. The Luo Family doesn’t need to give them anything nor make them bear debts." Lian Shouxin came back to tell everyone the final result.

Among the mediators was Wu Yuchang, who was from Old Lian Family’s side. While mediating, he paid close attention to Lian Family, which meant Erlang’s interests.

"On this side, Erlang also leaves with nothing. Before leaving the Luo Family, he must give his parents one hundred pounds of sorghum monthly, five hundred bundles of firewood in winter, and two sets of clothes yearly, one must be cotton. After they leave the Luo Family, they still must provide these, and if there’s illness or disaster, they must pay. If the Second Master and his wife live with them later, and they take care of them until the end, these obligations are waived."

"No matter what, when the Second Master and his wife age, Erlang must take the main responsibility for these obligations."

"It’s quite a burden." Lady Zhang couldn’t help but sigh after hearing the final outcome.

By the standards of average tenant farmers in Thirty Mile Camp, Erlang’s support for Lian Shouyi and Lady He was quite decent. Without extra expenses, with this support, Lian Shouyi and Lady He practically wouldn’t need to work. That’s why they finally agreed.

Whether Luo Family or Lian Family Old Mansion, ultimately it’s Erlang and Luo Xiaoyan who bear the brunt.

Erlang and Luo Xiaoyan married without any ceremony, naturally without banquets. They didn’t even meticulously choose a date; people agreed on it, and Luo Xiaoyan came to Thirty Mile Camp. Even without a ceremony, bowing to elders couldn’t be skipped.

The distance between Thirty Mile Camp and Luo Family Village is about fifteen or sixteen miles. Luo Xiaoyan walked over herself and was surrounded as she entered the village entrance.

"Sister Manman, do you want to go see?" Lian Yeye came to find Lian Manman, hoping to go see together.

Half a year ago, Lian Manman would surely put on her shoes and run out with Lian Yeye, and also drag Xiao Qi along. But now, perhaps due to being slightly older, Lian Manman didn’t show the same enthusiasm as before.

Especially for this matter, also without Xiao Qi, who loved bustling scenes, Lian Manman was entirely uninterested.

"No, I’m not in the mood today." Lian Manman said, "Yeye, you go yourself, come back and tell me what you see."

"That works." Lian Yeye agreed and ran off.

Soon, Lian Yeye ran back.

Seeing Lian Yeye’s red, shining face, Lian Manman quickly handed her a cup of sour plum soup.

"Yeye, tell me, what did you see?" Lian Manman asked Lian Yeye. She wasn’t keen on running out into the heat but didn’t mind listening at home. "What’s Luo Xiaoyan like?"

"She’s quite dark, hard to say if pretty or not, quite tall. I saw her hands, they should be quite good at work. Her brother accompanied her." Lian Yeye drank the sour plum soup heartily, wiped her mouth, and finally spoke to Lian Manman.

"Okay, okay." Lian Manman nodded and poured another cup of sour plum soup for Lian Yeye.

This time, Lian Yeye drank more slowly.

"I followed them to the old mansion and watched her bow to our grandpa and grandma. Grandpa just said for her and Erlang to live well, nothing else." Lian Yeye continued.

"What did grandma say?" Lian Manman asked.

"Didn’t say anything, seems she doesn’t think much of Luo Xiaoyan." Lian Yeye said.

Lady Zhou scarcely thought well of anyone; it would be odd if she approved of Luo Xiaoyan.

"Bow to our grandpa and grandma was smooth, but during bowing to Yaya’s parents, they didn’t give a kind face." Lian Yeye took a sip of sour plum soup and continued, "Yaya’s father spoke awfully! Made Luo Xiaoying cry."

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No update yet, asking for 730 pinks O(∩_∩)O, more updates later.

End of month countdown, pinks doubled, far behind the pink leaderboard, urgently need your pink support. Holiday is approaching, everyone going to play, remember to throw saved up pinks first, otherwise, you’ll easily forget it while playing, wasting pinks is a pity O(∩_∩)O (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations, monthly tickets, your support gives me the greatest motivation.)