CHAPTER 1316: CHAPTER 672: RECTIFICATION

The second update, seeking support.

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"I heard that they took a lot of things, big bags and small bags, more than what they get during the New Year holidays," Lady Zhang said.

Why has Lady Zhou always held Lian Lanlan in such high regard? It’s not just out of affection, nor merely to show off her superiority over her daughters-in-law and granddaughters. Lady Zhou has a very shrewd plan in mind.

A married-out aunt, especially one who is the eldest, possesses a unique voice in certain matters of her natal family. For example, when it comes to managing the affairs of a family’s Old Master and Old Madam, the sons and daughters-in-law are responsible for sending them off, meaning handling the funeral arrangements. Aunts have significant influence in critiquing and local customs allow for such criticism.

Aunts do not take responsibility for the care or funeral management of their elderly relatives, but they can criticize their brothers and sisters-in-law. Even if you have made every effort to do things well, if an aunt is dissatisfied, public opinion can likely lean in favor of the aunt, making things difficult.

Of course, it’s also up to individual capabilities; some families have aunts who don’t cause much trouble, while others have aunts who are highly esteemed, holding considerable sway in their natal families.

Lady Zhou has consistently elevated Lian Lanlan to manage her sons and daughters-in-law. Among Lian Family’s daughters-in-law, Lady Gu was the most shrewd. She handled her relationship with Lian Lanlan incredibly well, willing to put effort and spend money, which was one reason she thrived in the Lian Family.

However, due to the matter with Lian Xiuxiu, Lian Lanlan disappointed Lady Zhou, causing her affection for Lanlan to wane, yet she maintained the necessary etiquette. Now, after so much time has passed, Lian Lanlan has finally placated Lady Zhou again, and Lady Zhou needs a high-status ’aunt’ to further ensure her supreme position in the Lian Family.

The matter of wrapping clothing shouldn’t have been stirred up by Lady Zhou; it should have been raised by Lian Lanlan. Yet, Lian Lanlan is astute; she doesn’t want to directly offend Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang’s family, besides, if she stirs things up, her position isn’t that stable. Lian Lanlan did nothing for Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou’s wrapping.

Thus, Lady Zhou came forward, intentionally waiting a day after Lian Lanlan left to cause a stir, thinking that this way, people wouldn’t associate her with it.

Unfortunately, such concealment can’t fool anyone; even the honest Lady Zhang can’t be deceived. Given so few people, who wouldn’t know each other well?

Lady Zhang expressed concerns about future troubles, fearing Lian Lanlan might repeatedly incite Lady Zhou to cause disturbances. With a Lady Zhou adept at manipulating her son and daughters-in-law, combined with Lian Lanlan, who has been living in the county for years and has seen a bit of the world, one can imagine the disturbances it would cause.

Now with Old Master Lian around, regarding the wrapping clothing matter, Old Master Lian firmly rejected cotton silk; just that alone has already placed Lady Zhou in an incredibly unfavorable position. In the future, if Old Master Lian precedes Lady Zhou in passing, what would the situation become?

This can’t be allowed to continue; a solution must be found.

Lian Manman didn’t say much to Lady Zhang, but went to the study to speak with Wu Lang alone.

"Brother, we need to come up with a plan," Lian Manman said to Wu Lang.

In the future, Wu Lang is bound to embark on an official career path, then it will be Xiao Qi. Reputation nowadays is extremely important, and reputation includes not only the judgments received for handling official matters but also family affairs. With a grandmother who frequently causes disturbances, even if everyone knows it’s her fault, Wu Lang’s image wouldn’t look good.

To truly solve the problem, one must address the root cause.

"Brother, why do you think she instigates the Old Madam to cause trouble?" Lian Manman asked Wu Lang.

Just to create disturbances for our family, to vent her own anger? No, evidently not. Over the past year, she has returned to Thirty Mile Camp more frequently than in the previous few years combined, and she’s willing to spend money buying things for Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou, clearly not just wanting to cause trouble and vent.

"Clearly, she’s in it for some benefit," Wu Lang thought and answered, "if we can’t stand the Old Madam’s constant turmoil and know she holds sway in front of the Old Madam, we would inevitably seek her out. Then she’d have set a favor in our eyes, and we’d have to give her benefits. Or, if things got really chaotic, she might take the initiative to mediate, naturally siding with us, and in doing so, she’d gain merit with us. Outsiders would also speak well of her, and if we’re indifferent to her afterwards, people would say we’re in the wrong."