CHAPTER 1351: CHAPTER 689: CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE (PART 2)

Objectively speaking, Lian Shouxin has many merits as a man, although his shortcomings are equally apparent. He can’t choose his parents or siblings, but he can choose how to treat these people.

With a bunch of odd relatives, Lian Shouxin can’t handle them, nor can he effectively protect his wife and children from harm.

Lady Zhang is a content person. She values Lian Shouxin’s good qualities and is extremely tolerant in other aspects.

"He’s not feeling good about it either. Those things, it would be better if we could just keep them from him." Lady Zhang said softly.

"Mom," Lian Manman said somewhat helplessly, "can we really keep it hidden just because we want to? Now that Dad is back, he won’t meet with the people at the old house? Once they meet, what won’t be revealed? We might want to hide it, but they certainly don’t."

These days, Lian Manman and her family haven’t gone back to the old house, just heard that Lady Zhou is still "sick."

"My grandmother’s illness is definitely waiting for my dad." Lian Manman told Lady Zhang.

After suffering at their hands, and with no one at the old house to back her up, Lady Zhou will definitely seek out Lian Shouxin. This "illness" just adds to her leverage. Lady Zhou will definitely make Lian Shouxin vent her grievances, at least to drive a wedge between Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang and her family. Whether Lady Zhou’s illness gets better, and how quickly, depends on Lian Shouxin.

"Your dad is afraid of the old lady, but he’s not confused; he can still see things for what they are." Lady Zhang still had some confidence in Lian Shouxin.

Lian Manman believed this too. It wasn’t Lian Shouxin’s judgment she trusted, but rather because Lady Zhou’s credibility had long been bankrupt. However, family matters aren’t simply black and white. In fact, not many things in this world are.

"Mom, don’t just pity Dad." With one sentence, Lian Manman shattered Lady Zhang’s thoughts. "If we don’t talk about these things, how will Dad know how much we’ve suffered and how scared we are? If we don’t speak up, later, if the Old Master claims he meant no harm, that he stopped anything bad from happening, Dad would be fooled again."

Lian Shouxin is Lady Zhang’s husband, their father. As the pillar of the family, he has the responsibility to protect them from being hurt by anyone. Lian Manman believes that if it were outsiders aiming to harm them, Lian Shouxin wouldn’t need much prompting to confront them immediately. But since it’s Lady Zhou, it’s different.

No matter what has happened, when something comes up, Lian Shouxin’s first subconscious reaction is to deny that Lady Zhou intended to do evil. Lian Shouxin knows Lady Zhou has a nasty temper and doesn’t get along with Lady Zhang and their children. However, to say Lady Zhou deliberately wants to harm Lady Zhang and their children, Lian Shouxin instinctively doesn’t want to believe it.

Unintentional, senile confusion has almost become Lady Zhou’s life-saving talisman.

Lian Manman didn’t plan to have their complaints make Lian Shouxin confront Lady Zhou. She just wanted to pull Lian Shouxin closer to them, to let him more deeply understand the grievances and dangers they faced.

This would strongly aid Lian Shouxin, ensuring he wouldn’t be so easily fooled and manipulated again.

When the mother and children had cooked a bountiful meal, Lian Shouxin strolled back, looking a bit dejected. Upon entering, he hesitated to sit at the table, cautiously observing his wife and children’s expressions.

"Why are you just standing there? Come eat, we made all your favorite dishes," Lady Zhang said.

"Dad, sit here." Xiao Qi made a spot for Lian Shouxin.

"Alright." With clouds of worry instantly lifted from his forehead, Lian Shouxin joyously got onto the kang to eat.

No one asked where Lian Shouxin had been, and he didn’t say, focusing instead on diligently serving food to his wife and children while mentioning the hardships encountered in the west, clearly aiming to win sympathy.

After eating, the family gathered around to drink tea and eat fruit.

"Dad, what are you planning to do with all those hides and felts you bought?" Lian Manman asked.

"For us to use, to make each of us a big coat for winter," Lian Shouxin replied.

"Dad, then what are those separate pieces you packaged for?" Lian Manman asked again.

Lian Shouxin’s hand paused with the teacup in it.

"Nothing, they’re all the same." Lian Shouxin said.

"Oh, I thought it was prepared for someone else." Lian Manman said casually.

"Just our family, who else would we give it to, it’s not fitting." Lian Shouxin said, squeezing out the last words with effort, though his voice was soft. "Whatever you want to do, discuss it with your mother. If you want to give it to someone, agree amongst yourselves."

"Hmm." Lian Manman nodded with a smile.

When Lian Shouxin was leaving this time to handle things in the west, he had actually mentioned that the hides from the west were of good quality and cheaper, planning to buy some back and even casually mentioned buying a couple for Lady Zhou.

Considering that Lian Shouxin had just returned and was surely tired, no one lingered long and dispersed early to their rooms to rest.

Every time Lian Shouxin came back from a trip, he would visit the old house to see Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou. But this time, even by the next morning, after they had breakfast, Lian Shouxin hadn’t mentioned going to the old house, instead, happily taking Xiao Qi to Nian Garden.

In the evening, Lian Yeye hurriedly came.

"...I heard Fourth Uncle came back, and my grandmother is causing a fuss, claiming she’s going to die."

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