CHAPTER 1357: CHAPTER 692: BETTER OR WORSE

"...Lost their conscience, I raised them with my poop and pee. They won’t even look me in the eye. He despises me. He’s heartless, truly heartless..."

Old Master Lian sat at the end of the bed, his face ashen, silent. Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi were still seated below, not speaking either.

Lady Zhou cried and wailed for a long time, her heart gradually turning cold. Now, she couldn’t control anyone in Lian Shouxin’s family. Not only couldn’t she control them, but she suffered losses repeatedly. She had hoped to turn the tables with her son Lian Shouxin, but unexpectedly, not only could she not control him, he was defiant and left in a huff. Although Lian Shouxin didn’t directly say anything to her, his demeanor clearly showed he was unwilling to speak to her anymore.

The only son who showed promise couldn’t be controlled. Lady Zhou felt increasingly anxious, unable to think of new ways to insult him. With fewer insults, the crying increased. As she cried, her frustration had nowhere to vent, so she aimed it at Old Master Lian.

"...It’s all your fault, you useless old turtle, making me suffer this indignation," Lady Zhou cursed at Old Master Lian.

"Isn’t it all your own doing?" Old Master Lian retorted irritably, "Living a peaceful life isn’t enough for you, talking sanely isn’t your thing, you just had to stir trouble, now you’ve lost all your face, drove everyone away, now you’re all alone, think you’re so great!"

As he spoke, Old Master Lian put on his shoes and walked out.

Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, and the rest followed suit, each dispersing, leaving Lady Zhou alone in the room. After a moment, Lady Zhou covered her face and cried silently.

Departing from Lady Zhou, Old Master Lian first took a turn in the back garden, did some work with his head down, and once his mood improved a bit, he put down the hoe and walked back slowly. He didn’t enter his own room but went through the outer room to the front yard.

As Old Master Lian walked out, he saw Old Luo the carpenter pouring sawdust outside.

"Hey, Old Master, out for a walk?" Carpenter Luo saw Old Master Lian, a flash of awkwardness passed over his face before he greeted him with a smile.

Nowadays, the sun was blazing outside, so Carpenter Luo mostly worked in the West Wing Room. In this courtyard, no movements in any room could be concealed from each other, Carpenter Luo had been working at the old residence for days, almost daily witnessing them either quarreling or cursing. Lady Zhou’s temperament was well-known far and wide, though initially, Carpenter Luo had a hard time adjusting.

Now, Carpenter Luo had adjusted, but seeing Old Master Lian being scolded by his wife still made him feel awkward.

"Ah." Old Master Lian pretended he didn’t notice Carpenter Luo’s awkward expression, responded with a brief agreement, and stood in the yard, immobile.

"Old Master, why don’t you come in for a look?" Carpenter Luo suggested.

"Alright, let’s have a look." Old Master Lian promptly agreed and followed Carpenter Luo into the West Wing Room. With little farm work nowadays, Old Master Lian would visit the West Wing Room daily when he had nothing else to do, watching Carpenter Luo at work, observing the coffin gradually taking shape.

Entering the West Wing Room, Old Master Lian first circled the forming coffin, touching here and looking there, clearly very pleased. Once he had watched enough, he sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Old Luo, your craftsmanship is impeccable," Old Master Lian praised.

"Thanks for your kind words, Old Master. As long as you’re pleased." Carpenter Luo replied with a smile. With his skills, he was often invited to work at others’ homes, Carpenter Luo could skillfully engage in small talk.

"When do you think it will be completed?" Old Master Lian asked again.

"This longevity coffin, give it another five or six days, it’ll be pretty much done," Carpenter Luo calculated and replied. The Lian Family needed two coffins, but they couldn’t be crafted together. The first one, naturally, was for Old Master Lian, with the material tailored for this coffin. Once Old Master Lian’s coffin was done, Carpenter Luo would ostensibly take a break for a few days before crafting Lady Zhou’s coffin. Lady Zhou’s coffin would be thinner than Old Master Lian’s.

"I’ll then apply several coats of lacquer for you, let it dry, and keep it stored in this room. Every autumn, we’ll refresh the lacquer to ensure it stays good for a millennium." Carpenter Luo said with a smile.

"Good, good." Old Master Lian nodded with a smile, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

"A man can’t help having an unvirtuous wife or unfilial son." After a long silence, Old Master Lian suddenly spoke.

Feeling startled, Carpenter Luo chose not to reply. Old Master Lian stayed for a little longer, feeling indifferent, and left the West Wing Room. He took a stroll around the yard, hearing silence from the Upper Room, pondered momentarily, and returned inside.

Lady Zhou had stopped crying, her eyes red and swollen, sitting dazed on the bed. Seeing Old Master Lian return, she didn’t react. Old Master Lian sighed, climbed onto the bed.

"From now on, let’s calm down, we’re old, having something to eat and drink is enough." Old Master Lian said.

Lady Zhou didn’t respond, wiped her eyes, returning to her daze. Old Master Lian sighed again and joined her in her daze.

......

After Lian Shouxin erupted at the old residence, it surprisingly quieted down. Both Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou recovered from their illnesses, stopped taking medicine. Neighbors, not hearing Lady Zhou berate anyone for several days, began feeling unsettled, some even visited under various pretexts, only to leave relieved once seeing the elderly couple well.

Old Master Lian didn’t send anyone to fetch Lian Shouxin again, only Lian Shouli came twice, subtly hinting at things. Lian Shouxin, having seen through it all, simply pretended not to hear. As for the old residence, there was no further commotion.

In the Lotus Pond of Lian Manman’s family, lotus pods had already formed. Shen Jin was about to return to the Prefecture City, with Shen Liu personally coming to take him back.

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Offering an extra update, the double-up pink event will end at midnight. Again, seeking pinks, aiming for 1200 pinks.

Diving into writing... (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations, monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)