Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 125 - 64 Assigning Work_2

Chapter 125: Chapter 64 Assigning Work_2
Lian Manman slightly furrowed her brows. She didn’t feel there was anything wrong with what she had done; it was customary for the younger generation to be respectful to their elders, but equally, the elders should be loving towards the younger ones.
Now that their households had divided and became separate entities, it was even more important to maintain courtesy and reciprocity. For instance, whenever they prepared delicious food, they would share some with Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou. In turn, Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou should also show kindness. Since Old Master Lian had invited their whole family over for a meal, and Lady Zhang couldn’t come due to health reasons, if Lady Zhou was considerate and valued Lady Zhang, she should have taken the initiative to leave some dishes for Lady Zhang. There was no reason to wait until their own family had finished eating before sending leftovers to Lady Zhang.
Lian Manman felt sympathy for Lady Zhang and had taken the initiative, even seeking Lady Zhou’s opinion; there was nothing in her actions that could be criticized.
"I asked my grandmother. There was no lack of courtesy, nothing wrong... If you’re unwilling, just tell me directly. My mother doesn’t necessarily have to eat this," Lian Manman said indifferently.
"Letting Manman take some choice meat to her mother is very thoughtful," Old Master Lian declared from the other table.
With Old Master Lian having spoken, Lian Xiuxiu could do nothing but glare fiercely at Lian Manman.
Lian Manman, as if she hadn’t noticed, picked out a few pieces of cooked donkey meat and crystal roast goose to send to Lady Zhang.
"Wait a moment," Lady Zhou stopped Lian Manman, "while everyone is here, I have something to say... Old Fourth’s family has moved out, so we need to reassign household duties."
Lian Manman didn’t think this matter had anything to do with her, but since Lady Zhou wouldn’t let her leave, she had no choice but to sit back down and listen to what Lady Zhou had to say.
In this period, Lady Gu had passed away, leaving Lady Chiang alone in the main house to care for Niuniu. Lady Zhou had no choice but to have Lady He and Lady Zhao take turns with the household chores. When it was Lady He’s turn to cook, the meals would either be undercooked or the pots burnt, and she would just dismiss Lady Zhou’s scolding. Lady Zhou, having lost her temper, wanted to have Lady Zhao do all the chores, but with Lady Zhao already busy with field work, she couldn’t handle it and had fallen ill once. Lady Zhou could no longer pressure her. During the busy farming season, meals couldn’t be delayed. With no other choice, not only Lady Zhou but also Lian Xiuxiu, who normally never cooked, had to help out.
Lian Xiuxiu had many complaints, and Lady Zhou herself was not pleased but also felt pity for Lian Xiuxiu—it seemed a new arrangement was needed.
"Eldest daughter-in-law, you’ve come back at just the right time. It will still be the three daughters-in-law taking turns to cook. We’ll let it slide today, but starting tomorrow with the eldest daughter-in-law, the meals for the family, as well as feeding the chickens and pigs, won’t be my concern anymore. You can deal with it amongst yourselves, and if someone doesn’t do a good job, take it up directly with your father," Lady Zhou said.
"Mother, Sister Huahua is about to get married, and there’s so much to prepare. How could the eldest sister-in-law have time to cook?" Lian Xiuxiu spoke up.
"...Who is willing to take the eldest sister-in-law’s place?" asked Lady Zhou.
There was silence.
"Zhizhi and Manman know how to cook, and they have even earned praise from the entire village. The eldest sister-in-law has been so kind to them, giving them many things. Why not let the two of them take over her day?" Lian Xiuxiu suggested.
That Lian Xiuxiu really dared to speak her mind. Lian Manman narrowed her eyes, not looking at Lian Xiuxiu, but instead turning to Lian Huahua. Lian Huahua quickly avoided Lian Manman’s gaze.
"Then..." Lady Gu wanted to say something, glanced at Lian Manman, and then swallowed her words again.
This was an unreasonable demand. Lian Manman could argue why Lian Xiuxiu wouldn’t help, but she thought better of it and refrained from speaking out.
"I’ll go back and discuss it with my mother," Lian Manman said amiably.
"There’s nothing else to discuss, Old Fourth is here, let’s just settle it now," Lian Xiuxiu said.
"I think we should still ask for Auntie Gu’s and Sister Huahua’s opinion," Lian Manman cut off Lian Xiuxiu’s words and then looked at Lian Huahua with a smile.
"This matter..." Lian Huahua saw Lian Manman looking at her with a half-smiling expression, her tongue twisted in her mouth, "Zhizhi and Manman are still young, right? Isn’t it too exhausting for them?"
Lian Xiuxiu glared at Lian Huahua with an angry puff and refused to say another word out of spite.
Lian Manman then made eye gestures to Lian Zhizhi and Xiao Qi, and the three children quickly finished their meals, left the table, and returned to the West Wing Room.
"Have you been told to cook for them?" Lady Zhang, having heard the recounted words from Lian Manman, also felt a bit angry and looked at Lian Shouxin, "Does the Lian Family have such a rule?"
Lady Zhang was gentle by nature, and for her to say such words was quite serious.
"This matter, it was Xiuxiu who said it; neither dad nor mom said anything. It’s not the first or second day that Xiuxiu hasn’t known any better," Lian Shouxin said helplessly.
"Older Cousin has been behaving for a while now, how come as soon as Sister Huahua came back, she reverted again?" Lian Manman said suddenly.
These past few days, Lian Manman had seen clearly. To put it bluntly, Lian Xiuxiu didn’t have a brain. Lian Manman suspected that Lian Huahua had been causing mischief behind the scenes. However, if Lian Huahua were truly smart, she wouldn’t stir up trouble at this time. Even if she felt unwilling, she should at least have waited until she was smoothly married off.
Lian Huahua usually carried herself with airs, but today she kneeled before Lady Zhang, and Lian Manman thought that Lian Huahua was a tough character. However, if Lian Huahua were still up to petty schemes behind the scenes, then her intelligence was very limited. It was mere cunning, and she was too narrow-minded.
"Let her marry off early," Lian Manman thought to herself. Once Sister Huahua married into the Song Family, to live a decent life, she would need to hide those little foibles and require the support of the Lian Family. As for them, they could only try to win her over. Indeed, if a daughter is not raised properly, and she’s married off early to another family, it does spare one a lot of trouble.
The Lian Family members still went to the threshing floor to work every day, and as bag after bag of sorghum and millet were gathered, the workload lessened, and Lian Manman no longer went to the threshing floor. At the Upper Room, Lady Gu, indeed thinking that Lian Huahua was preparing for marriage, no longer did household chores, which were taken over by Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye.
Lian Manman watched Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye being busy all day, their backs hardly straightening, but she could not do anything about it.
That day, after breakfast, Xiao Qi ran out to play, and after a while, came running back.
"Sister, Er Ya and the others are all picking up grain stalks; let’s go quickly too."
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The first update is here; Ruoyan dives down to code the second update, asking for your pink support. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)