Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 169 - 84: Leveraging Momentum_2

Chapter 169: Chapter 84: Leveraging Momentum_2
Shen Qian seemed to have thought of something, stepped back, and pointed a plump finger at Lian Manman.
"You also want to marry my Sixth Brother, just like those other girls." Shen Qian’s tone seemed accusatory.
"Pah!" Lian Manman immediately spat, what was Fatty Shen thinking? He looked only slightly older than Xiao Qi, how could his thoughts be so impure?
"Ah, true, you are too young, and with big feet, it’s impossible for you to marry my Sixth Brother." Shen Qian examined Lian Manman very carefully again and said seriously.
She, Lian Manman, certainly did not want to marry that squint-eyed Shen Liu, but Fatty Shen’s words still annoyed her. Lian Manman took a deep breath and thought to herself, it seemed that Master Shen Liu was still the target of many young girls’ affections. Surely those girls had never seen Master Shen Liu in person, they must have been deceived by public opinion. That Shen Liu was far from a handsome youth, it wouldn’t be an overstatement to call him a crooked melon or a split date.
Was Shen Liu really upstairs, sending Fatty Shen to lure her up there? Was this likely?
Lian Manman scrutinized Shen Qian, who was taller than Xiao Qi but shorter than her, so he must be at most eight or nine years old. A child that age, no matter how calculating, couldn’t possibly be without a single flaw. But Shen Qian’s conversation with her was very natural.
After some thought, Lian Manman, ignoring the disapproving look from the steward nearby, pulled Shen Qian aside.
"What does your Sixth Brother look like, is he this tall," Lian Manman raised her hand a bit and gestured, whispering, "then has a thin, long face, and slightly slanted eyes, and likes to draw out his words when he speaks..."
"My Sixth Brother isn’t short, nor does he have slanted eyes," Fatty Shen retorted loudly.
The butler, overhearing the conversation, couldn’t simply come over but pricked up his ears.
"You and your Sixth Brother, you’re very close," Lian Manman stated confidently.
Shen Qian nodded.
"Sixth Brother treats me very well, I want to be like him when I grow up."
Fatty Shen defending Shen Liu like this truly demonstrated brotherly affection. Lian Manman knew that in the eyes of their loved ones, flaws could be completely overlooked, or even perceived as the exact opposite. In her previous life, she had seen young mothers holding their children—who to others seemed hideously ugly—doting over them, telling everyone how handsome or beautiful their son or daughter was.
Perhaps in Fatty Shen’s eyes, his squint-eyed brother was a handsome guy. Lian Manman touched her forehead, thinking the child’s sense of aesthetics was completely warped, although maintaining his current appearance was indeed better than turning out like Shen Liu.
She needed to confirm once more.
"Does your Sixth Brother have a hunchbacked person by his side?" Lian Manman pretended not to notice Shen Qian’s displeasure and continued to ask.
"My Sixth Brother doesn’t have a hunchbacked servant by his side," Shen Qian said, "Manman, why do you say such strange things?"
Shen Qian did not seem to be lying.
Several thoughts flashed through Lian Manman’s mind, considering the possibility that the Shen Liu in the market was an impostor?
Even if he was an impostor, getting involved with such a rogue was troublesome. Moreover, if she were not just a ten-year-old child now, she would really like to give those two a good lesson.
"Hmph, Fatty Shen, your Sixth Brother is not a good person," Lian Manman deliberately said loudly, thinking this.
Passersby turned to look, and people in the teahouse stuck their heads out. The steward’s face showed anger and he seemed ready to come over and erupt.
Shen Qian was so angered that his small eyes grew a bit wider, yet he extended his hand, signaling the Steward not to come over. With this gesture, Shen Qian surprisingly exhibited an authority that did not match his age.
The Steward had no choice but to bow slightly and return to his original position.
"Lian Manman, why did you say my Sixth Brother is not a good person? Do you even know my Sixth Brother?" Shen Qian asked Lian Manman.
Lian Manman took note of the expressions on Shen Qian and the Steward and thought to herself that the real Master Shen Liu must hold high prestige, since these people were all thinking about defending him.
This was even better. She decided to throw more fuel on the fire to make things worse for that fake Shen Liu.
"I didn’t know your Sixth Master before, but just now at the market, I saw him," Lian Manman pointed toward the market, "He is a big bad egg. His sidekick called Old Xia, who has a hunchback, is bullying everyone at the market, taking advantage of our youth, snatching the goods we’re selling without paying. He also claimed he is the Sixth Master of the Shen Family, and taking our goods was his way of showing favor. He and that hunchback even hit my older and younger brothers."
"Look here, you can see the injury on my brother’s face. That hunchback was choking our Xiao Qi, and people around tried to stop him, saying it could kill someone. That Shen Liu then said, ’Your Shen Family is such an important household that even if it causes a death, it would not matter.’" Lian Manman beckoned Shen Qian to look at Wu Lang’s face, and said loudly.
"How could that be?" Shen Qian showed a look of astonishment and said, "I have been with my Sixth Brother all the time."
Lian Manman pretended not to hear the rest of what Fatty Shen said and deliberately pointed at Shen Qian with her arms akimbo.
"You’re just siding with your family to bully us. Everyone at the market heard that hunchback calling him ’Sixth Master,’ ’Master Shen Liu.’ He himself said he’s from the Prefecture City Shen Family. How could that be wrong?" Lian Manman said, "If you don’t believe it, you can ask the people at the market, hmph."
"My Sixth Brother is not that kind of person," Shen Qian argued back, not wanting to be outdone by Lian Manman’s righteous indignation. Imitating her stance, he too crossed his arms and said, "It must be you..."
"It must be me what?" Lian Manman was not to be intimidated.
"It must... be someone impersonating!" Shen Qian had a flash of insight.
Fatty Shen was actually quite clever, Lian Manman thought. She then noticed Fatty Shen’s posture and couldn’t help but think of him as a chubby teapot. Lian Manman wanted to laugh but suddenly realized she was standing in the same position. Well, even if she considered herself slender and petite, and certainly much prettier than Fatty Shen, it was still, um, Lian Manman quickly took her hands down from her waist.
Fatty Shen noticed Lian Manman’s actions and saw her trying to suppress a smile while looking at him, so he also quickly let his arms fall to his sides.
At that moment, a slight cough was heard from upstairs, and strangely enough, the surrounding noises seemed to immediately hush.
The Steward immediately stood at attention with his hands down, and the two Servants also stood up straighter.
"Younger brother, please invite Miss Lian upstairs for a talk," came a voice from above.
Lian Manman raised her head to the same window as before, and this time, the entire side of the face was exposed. Lian Manman got a clear view of that profile and instantly widened her eyes.
******
It’s the 28th, the third last day of the month. Ruoyan’s pink is still in fourth place, boo-hoo-hoo. Ruoyan needs to muster all her energy; it would be such a letdown not to live up to all the effort she and her readers have put in these days, fists clenched.
Everyone was also very supportive yesterday. Let’s keep up the same strength today. To those who are as careless as Ruoyan, please check out the site right away, and if you have any pink votes left, cast them for Ruoyan. Remember, the 30th is a Saturday, and if you go out and have fun and then forget to vote when you come back, those pink votes will go to waste, which would be a real shame.
First off, here’s one Chapter. For every 260 pink votes, there will be an additional Chapter, and after that, 10 pink votes will add another Chapter. (To be continued... If you enjoy this book, you are welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)