Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 58 - 34 Strike_2

Chapter 58: Chapter 34 Strike_2
The two traveling merchants, upon hearing these remarks, refused to say anything more and hurriedly shook off Lian Shouxin, swiftly leaving in a cloud of dust.
While the traveling merchants had left, the crowd did not disperse but buzzed with discussion instead. At the tea stall too, people who had heard the conversation couldn’t help but spice up the story as they relayed it.
Lian Shouxin, being an adult man, was the first to steady his mind and helped Lady Zhang to her feet.
Lady Zhang simply clung to Lian Manman, refusing to let go, unresponsive to anyone who tried to talk to her, just staring blankly, weeping incessantly.
Others, who had heard only bits and pieces, were indignant.
"Now you know to cry, to hold on? How could you bear to do it then? Looks like the silver blinded you."
"Not her own daughter, I bet, seems more like a stepmother."
"It is her own, and so is that Liu Family. I know their situation, with many children to feed and not enough for the next meal, three hundred pieces of silver could mean marrying off several sons and buying some land—no more worries for a lifetime."
"Is the Lian Family in the same boat?"
"Don’t wrongly accuse these unfortunate souls. I’ve heard from our lady who married into their Thirty Mile Camp that it was the eldest of the Lian Family who decided on his own. You don’t know their household; these two of Old Fourth are honest folks, completely under the thumb of their old lady."
"So the old lady knew about buying life with money and kept these two in the dark?"
"That I dare not say."
"I’d say it’s quite likely."
Lian Shouxin, listening to everyone’s comments, felt a buzzing in his ears and forced himself to enter the blacksmith’s shop.
"Brother Feng, I need to leave. You can send the repaired items back with me, and I’ll leave what’s not finished for pickup tomorrow," Lian Shouxin told Blacksmith Feng.
Blacksmith Feng was in the shop and had already learned of the incident that just happened.
"They’re all fixed," Blacksmith Feng said with a sympathetic glance as he handed over several farm tools to him.
"Brother Feng, what’s the total cost?"
"Still the usual price, you can roughly figure it out, one hundred and ten wen money," Blacksmith Feng said straightforwardly.
Lian Shouxin took out his money pouch and poured out all the money Lady Zhou had given him, counting it out to find only eighty wen money.
"Brother Feng, I’ve brought only eighty wen money with me. How about this, you take the money and I’ll leave two iron hoes as collateral? I’ll bring the rest of the money tomorrow," he suggested.
Blacksmith Feng looked at Lian Shouxin with even greater pity. Farmers would rather starve and freeze than skimp on their tools. And most old farmers like him could estimate the cost for repairs and bring enough money. It was rare for someone to come to the blacksmith’s shop without enough money, and even rarer for someone like Lian Shouxin to be this short.
"What’s there to leave," Blacksmith Feng took the money, "just take them all, you can bring me the money when you have time to come to town, there’s no rush."
Lian Shouxin quickly thanked Blacksmith Feng, collected the scythe and iron hoes, and loaded them onto the handcart. Lady Zhang, her legs still weak, unable to walk, was helped onto the cart by Lian Zhizhi and Wu Lang. Lady Zhang, dazed and still weeping, clung to Lian Manman.
As Lian Shouxin pushed the cart away, some nosy folks discreetly followed, only dispersing after they had left the town. Lian Shouxin’s steps slowed as if dragging weights of immense measure on his legs. Lady Zhang’s voice was hoarse from crying, and everyone kept a tacit silence all along the way.
The journey of three or four miles was eventually completed.
"Why has it taken you so long to get back? Don’t you know there’s plenty of work to be done at home? Want to kill off an old woman like me, just say so. You surely know how to enjoy yourself," Lady Zhou was standing in the courtyard when she saw Lian Shouxin returning with Lady Zhang sitting boldly on the cart, and her anger knew no bounds.
No one paid attention to Lady Zhou.
After parking the cart steadily, Lian Shouxin, with children assisting Lady Zhang carrying Lian Manman, headed straight for the West Wing Room without giving Lady Zhou a glance.
Lady Zhou was furious to the point of stumbling backward.
"It’s like they’ve returned from bumping into ghosts. One trip to town, and they all develop ailments. Just as the parents are, so are the children, look at them one by one..." Lady Zhou was in the midst of cursing when she saw Lian Shouxin put down the handcart and walk over.
"Your elder brother came back early and told your wife to start cooking soon. She must have had her fill of strolling around for the day," Lady Zhou said to Lian Shouxin.
Lian Shouxin stood before Lady Zhou with a sullen face, saying nothing.
Lady Zhou felt a sudden fright. She knew the temperament of each of her sons well; Lian Shouxin had always been the most easygoing with a constant smile. This gloomy expression was a first on his face.
"Old Fourth, what’s wrong? Have you had a sinister encounter?"
Just then, from the Upper Room, sounds of Lian Shouren, Lian Huahua, and Lian Xiuxiu talking and laughing could be heard.
Lian Shouxin felt a sharp pang in his heart.
"I need to speak with my elder brother," Lian Shouxin said as he headed straight into the Upper Room.
Lady Zhou habitually wanted to scold him, but sensing something amiss, she quickly followed into the room.
In the West Wing Room, Lian Manman helped Lady Zhang lie down on the bed. Seeing Lian Shouxin enter the Upper Room, she initially wanted to follow immediately; she needed to demand justice for Lian Manman. But on second thought, she realized that as the man of the house, the pillar of the family, it was Lian Shouxin’s duty to protect his wife and underage children.
Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang’s distraught state was not only due to their anguish over their daughter but also their awareness of being deceived and betrayed by kin. It was time for both Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang to face the Lian Family’s dysfunctional relationships and endure the insults and betrayal from their own relatives.
"Mom, have some water," Lian Manman offered a bowl of water to Lady Zhang. She wanted Lady Zhang to soothe her throat so that she could speak when necessary.
Lady Zhang took the bowl and sipped a little, just about to speak, when the sound of Lian Shouren’s agitated voice came from the Upper Room.
"Old Fourth, where did you hear these rumors? How dare you accuse me so recklessly!"