Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 102 - 55 Lian Manman at Work_2

Chapter 102: Chapter 55 Lian Manman at Work_2
When they first brought up the subject of splitting up the family, Lady Zhang felt a bit uncomfortable, but as they planned, a look of longing and anticipation began to spread across her face. She and Lian Shouxin were able to bear hardships, and their children were sensible and hardworking, more than capable of helping out a lot. How could they fail to live well, not only would their days be good, but they were sure to be very comfortable.
The moment the words "very comfortable" emerged, Lady Zhang paused. Before, she never considered splitting the family nor dared to think about it, believing it was to be disrespectful and undutiful. Now that she was being forced into it, she felt no psychological burden at all. Thinking back on the past, she finally understood that despite her daily cheerfulness, her life had not been comfortable.
"From now on, even if we eat bran and swallow vegetables, our days will be comfortable," Lady Zhang voiced her inner thoughts.
One day, as everyone went down to work in the fields, Lian Manman made a special meal for Lady Zhang before heading to the Upper Room. Old Master Lian had a clear understanding of why their family was splitting. So during the division, he probably wouldn’t treat them unfairly. But there was also Lady Zhou, if Lian Shouxin actively proposed dividing the family, Lady Zhou would definitely throw them out empty-handed. Even in the current situation, she likely wouldn’t want to part with anything for them.
It was necessary to talk to Lady Zhou first. As for how to approach the conversation, should it be a bit more tactful? Lian Manman thought for a moment and then decided against it, realizing that being direct with Lady Zhou might yield better results.
"Nanny, I have something to tell you," Lian Manman entered the room and said to Lady Zhou.
"What is it?" Lady Zhou lifted her eyelids to glance at Lian Manman, then lowered her eyes to continue her sewing.
"We’re about to split up the family, Nanny, what do you think our family can get?" Lian Manman asked.
"That’s for your grandpa to decide," replied Lady Zhou. Her reaction to the division was somewhat odd, not showing the happiness Lian Manman had expected, but instead, she seemed listless.
"Who doesn’t know that our family’s Old Master can only make half the decisions, and you, Nanny, make the other half. If Nanny insists on something, grandpa can’t overrule you," Lian Manman said.
Lady Zhou took that as flattery from Lian Manman and snorted.
"My mother Xiao Yue was pregnant and almost lost her life. If in the future we fall on hard times, they are still Nanny’s own flesh and blood. Then, you can speak up for my dad. My mother nearly lost her life this time, and people outside are already talking about it. When they asked my brother and sister why Xiao Yue happened, and why a doctor wasn’t called in time, my brother and sister said nothing," Lian Manman said.
Lady Zhou put down her needlework.
"Manman, what exactly do you want to say?"
"I just want to discuss with Nanny about speaking up for our family when the division happens, to make sure it’s fair and that our family gets what we deserve," Lian Manman said, "Nanny surely won’t let us be left with nothing. By the way, about the seventy taels of silver owed to others, it would be better to pay it off before the division, as it will become our family’s debt after, which would not be good."
"You expect me to cough up seventy taels of silver?" Lady Zhou glared at Lian Manman.
Lian Manman showed no sign of backing down.
"...Uncle and his wife wanted to sell me to pay their debts, and the rumors were all over the place until my dad and grandpa stepped in just in time to suppress the matter. Such things are hard to suppress, but easy to bring up. If the truth gets out, Uncle’s reputation will be ruined and he’ll no longer be an official. As for my mother, if everyone learns the truth about what happened, it will probably be impossible for my Aunt to marry into a good family," she continued.
"You little wench, you dare to threaten me?"
"Nanny, I’m not threatening you. What I requested isn’t excessive, it’s rightfully ours, and we are even asking for less than that. I’ll leave it here for you to ponder," Lian Manman said calmly.
"Did your father or your mother tell you to say these things, or did you come up with them yourself?"
"Neither, I thought of them myself," Lian Manman said, "Nanny, I am not like my dad and mom, whom anyone can mold and manipulate at will. I am good to those who are good to me. I will make life harder for those who make it difficult for my family."
"You dare?" Lady Zhou felt somewhat intimidated by Lian Manman’s assertiveness.
"What’s there to dare, if we can’t even survive?" Lian Manman laughed instead, "By the way, Nanny, I think you should take my Aunt to the temple to pray when you have time. These days, I keep dreaming about that child wandering around our house..."
Lady Zhou drew a sharp breath.
As Lian Manman lifted the curtain to leave the room, she saw a dark little head crouched outside the door, eavesdropping with perked ears.
"Xiao Qi," Lian Manman frowned.
Feeling embarrassed about being caught, Xiao Qi touched his head and moved closer with a sheepish grin.
"Second Sister, I was worried you’d be at a disadvantage coming here alone."
"You heard everything?"
Xiao Qi nodded.
"Don’t tell dad and mom," Lian Manman instructed him.
"I know, Second Sister is looking out for our whole family," Xiao Qi said.
The Lian Family brought in the last cart of crops into the house. The sky was overcast, but it didn’t rain. However, due to the humidity from the cloudy weather, the task of sun-drying and threshing the grains was slightly delayed. Old Master Lian invited the local official Lizheng, neighbor Chunzhu’s father Old Man Wang, and Lady Zhou’s cousin’s son Wu Yuchang, among others, to sit down and formally discuss how to divide the family.
The division in the Lian Family was somewhat unusual, as they were not all separating, but merely splitting off the youngest son, Old Fourth Lian Shouxin, and his family. Lian Shouxin’s wife was ill in bed, and their children would need several more years to grow up. The villagers, being well aware of the recent events in the Lian Family, could guess the reason for the split.
"A tree grows branches..." Old Master began to draw a few puffs of his dry pipe, finally breaking the silence. He hadn’t finished his sentence when the sound of a horse carriage stopping outside the main gate was heard, followed by the gate opening, and a group of people walking in.
"Oh, my in-laws have arrived," he said.
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