Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 172 - 87 Lian Manman’s Choice_1

Chapter 172: Chapter 87 Lian Manman’s Choice_1
In the fourth watch of the night, she pleaded for a touch of pink.
...
"Master Shen Liu, the injuries we received are just superficial, no big deal. If you can uphold justice for us, that’s enough. We don’t want any compensation," Wu Lang spoke before Lian Manman could.
How foolish Wu Lang is! Lian Manman really wanted to go forward and cover Wu Lang’s mouth.
"Manman, we’re really fine... We can’t take such money, Manman," Wu Lang said, the young boy already possessed a sense of balance in his mind. Shen Qiang and Xia Tuozi had been punished, and the wounds he and Xiao Qi had sustained were nothing serious, plus they had hit Shen Qiang and Xia Tuozi as well. He thought this was fair enough. Shen Liu hadn’t bullied them using his power and had treated them quite well. He didn’t want to take the Shen Family’s money; in his heart, doing so wouldn’t be honorable.
Lian Manman rubbed her forehead. The money wasn’t something they were asking for, it was Shen Liu who offered it. The Shen Family wouldn’t even care about the amount; wouldn’t it be good to consider it as robbing the rich to help the poor?
Wu Lang shook his head firmly. Usually, he was quite obedient to Lian Manman, but he was decisive when it mattered.
"Well then, have you two come to a decision?" Shen Liu seemed to watch with keen interest the silent communication unfolding between the siblings of the Lian Family.
"My brother said he doesn’t want your compensation money," Lian Manman tried to say it calmly, but couldn’t help sounding a bit downhearted.
The corner of Shen Liu’s mouth seemed to have twitched slightly, but it quickly returned to normal so that Lian Manman almost thought she had seen it wrong, or that it was just an illusion.
"Don’t be shy, this is what you deserve. Lian..."
"Her name is Lian Manman," Shen Qian was quick to say.
"Oh, Miss Manman," Shen Liu continued, "it’s always been our Shen Mansion’s way to be generous, and it’s customary to offer silver as compensation in such situations. Miss Manman, you name the sum—as long as the Shen Mansion can afford it..."
At this, Shen Liu’s phoenix-like eyes met Lian Manman’s for the first time. He held the gaze for a moment before looking away.
As long as the Shen Mansion can afford it... how deep would the Shen Family’s funds be then? Does this mean that whatever amount she asked for, they would give?
Just as Wu Lang was about to step forward and reject the offer, Lian Manman seemingly moved unintentionally to the side and stepped on Wu Lang’s toes. Wu Lang nearly cried out in pain, and upon looking at Lian Manman, he realized that his sister had done it on purpose.
"Sixth Master, we don’t really want your compensation silver. However, if it is your mansion’s custom and you insist on it, then it seems we’re not in a position..."
Before she could even say the word "to refuse," a sudden inspiration struck Lian Manman.
She thought about how Master Shen Liu had handled the situation—the sixty lashes for Shen Qiang and Xia Tuozi were punishment for impersonating their masters and damaging the reputation of their household; it was a justifiable penalty. The ruffians summoned by Xia Tuozi under the name of the Shen Mansion received twenty lashes, which was also appropriate. But sending them to the County Yamen after the flogging seemed superfluous. Moreover, Shen Liu had made a point of stating that if those men dared cause trouble again, they should be ed to the County Magistrate.
Why would Shen Liu go to such lengths for these thugs?
The one plausible reason was that Shen Liu was considering their welfare, worried that the ruffians might bother them in the future.
Shen Liu must have recognized her. Otherwise, a few children from the countryside, even though they knew Shen Qian and were the victims, wouldn’t have been invited to sit and been treated like guests.
Master Shen Liu had just looked at her with a meaningful gaze, further indicating that he had recognized her. If it were merely a matter of compensation from the Shen Family for their servant injuring them, and following the rule that Master Shen Liu mentioned, a set precedent would naturally exist. Why then would he allow her to propose the amount of compensation she desired, when the steward could simply give it according to the established standard?
Master Shen Liu recognized her and wanted to use this incident to give her silver, repaying her for saving his life.
How much is Master Shen Liu’s life worth? That is why Master Shen Liu didn’t mention a specific sum, but instead asked how much she wanted.
Master Shen Liu’s life clearly couldn’t be measured with silver. Lian Manman rapidly thought, how is such a life-saving debt usually repaid? Isn’t it said that in ancient times, it was customary to pledge oneself in marriage? Listening to Fatty Shen earlier, it seemed that Master Shen Liu wasn’t married yet. So, could she, using the debt of saving his life, transform into a phoenix and soar to the highest branches?!
Then she would live a life of luxury and could pull her parents and siblings up to better days as well.
Moreover, by doing so, the handsome Master Shen Liu would be hers. This was truly hitting the jackpot.
But this handsome man seemed not to like her at all. Upon thinking this, Lian Manman reassured herself, what did it matter if he didn’t like her? In this era, marriages were about parental authority and matchmaker’s words, weren’t they? Even in her previous life’s time, how many marriages were solely based on love?
Lian Manman felt that even without a family background like the Shen Family, just marrying a handsome man like Master Shen Liu would mean she wasn’t at a loss in this lifetime. Even if Master Shen Liu didn’t like her, she could just give birth to a beautiful son who would surely listen to her in everything.
"Big-footed girl, what are you thinking about?" Shen Qian noticed Lian Manman’s eyes flicker and her face holding a smile that was not quite a smile. He hopped down from his chair and walked over to Lian Manman to ask.
"I wasn’t, wasn’t thinking about anything." Lian Manman slightly awoke from her pleasant daydreams.
"You were looking at my Sixth Brother. I’ve told you before, I’ll grow up to look like him," Shen Qian said.
"Ah?" Lian Manman gave Shen Qian a glance. With Fatty Shen’s current look, growing into someone like Shen Liu seemed a bit of a stretch. However, at least it proved he had a normal sense of beauty. "Well, you have to work hard then." Looks weren’t something one achieves just by exerting effort. Her words were somewhat irresponsible, she only wanted to console the little fatty, and certainly couldn’t say that it was impossible for him to look that way.
"Miss Manman, haven’t you thought it through yet? Or do you have any other requests?" Master Shen Liu slowly said.
"I..."
Master Shen Liu seemed not to be trifled with. Thinking about how despite being injured and chased, he still maintained such dominance, and his previous conduct was decisive and ruthless; even if she made a suggestion, it was unlikely that he would agree.
Well, marrying into a wealthy family was just a thought anyway. If that day ever came, she would find the sophisticated matters within such a household troublesome. She might as well continue striving to be a landlord. Since she couldn’t get Master Shen Liu to repay her with his person, should she just accept his silver?
If she had a large sum of silver, she could buy houses and land. What would happen if they suddenly became rich? Silver could solve many problems, but it couldn’t solve everything. Having someone like Master Shen Liu owe her a big favor was definitely an immeasurable treasure.
"I still agree with my brother’s idea," Lian Manman finally spoke up.
*********
Delivering the fourth update, Ruoyan works diligently, asking for pink rewards. The new book is closely followed on the pink list, Ruoyan feels insecure, everyone, give it your strength to help Ruoyan widen the gap with the one behind.
If there is someone whose pocket is filled with pink and does not give it to Ruoyan, Ruoyan will stare at you with a pair of dark-circled eyes, just stare at you.
(Well, fingers crossed, sorry, Ruoyan, with two dark circles, will continue to type. If, well, the pink reward reaches 300, Ruoyan will erupt, fists clenched for the fifth update.) (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Starting Point (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)