Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1549 - 787: Partiality (2)

"It’s alright for everyone to go; I’ll send a message over there," Lian Shouxin said.

"There’s no rush for this," Old Master Lian quickly glanced at Lian Jizu and then said, "I’ll think it over again; it’s too much trouble for you all."

He had made so many demands earlier without mentioning it was troublesome, but now he says it’s too much trouble. Lian Manman kept her expression unchanged, secretly sneering without speaking.

"Grandfather is really acting like an outsider. He’s been talking all this time, and hasn’t mentioned whether it’s troublesome or not." Wu Lang turned to Lian Shouyi and Si Lang, speaking nonchalantly.

Lian Shouyi and Si Lang didn’t react immediately, just nodded along.

"Isn’t that the truth?" Lian Manman laughed and said.

Old Master Lian’s face changed colors suddenly, and he coughed dryly, pretending not to understand Wu Lang’s words.

"Wu Lang, I haven’t been to the city much, where is this Deng’s Paper Shop?" After a brief silence in the room, Si Lang asked, thinking Wu Lang had spoken to him earlier and was therefore daring to chat with Wu Lang. "Our village is far from the city; does that shop have a place to stay?"

Wu Lang ignored Si Lang, pretending to turn and talk with Xiao Qi, paying no attention to Si Lang’s question.

"Deng’s, I know, it seems to be in the alley behind the market," Old Master Lian said. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Yes, it’s right there," Lian Shouxin said. "The shop probably doesn’t have a place to stay; working outside is not like being at home."

Erlang had been working at the oil mill for the past six months, leaving early and returning late, traveling nearly thirty miles every day. If Si Lang worked in the county, he’d have to travel sixty miles daily. Si Lang obviously was reluctant to endure such hardship and wanted to stay in the city.

Lian Manman’s heart suddenly stirred.

"Behind the market, isn’t that very close to my big aunt’s house?" Lian Manman said.

"Yes, it’s quite close," Lian Shouyi jumped in to say, "just two alleys apart."

"Then, I’ll just stay at my big aunt’s house," Si Lang immediately beamed with joy and said happily. Even if it wasn’t very close, it was much closer than Thirty Mile Camp. Si Lang was very willing to stay at Lian Lanlan’s house.

Before Old Master Lian spoke, Lady Zhou’s face fell immediately.

Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, Lian Manman, and Xiao Qi stood up to bid farewell to Old Master Lian, who wanted to keep Lian Shouxin and the others for dinner.

"The food is all prepared; it just needs to be cooked, it’ll be ready in a short time. We haven’t sat and eaten together for quite a few days; I’m a man with less time every day." By the end, Old Master Lian’s voice was somewhat sorrowful.

"Dad, we don’t have the time right now. I still have things to do today; another day, we’ll do it another day," Lian Shouxin declined.

They had come early precisely to avoid staying for dinner.

Old Master Lian was insistently trying to keep them, but Lian Shouxin refused firmly, leading the children away.

Seeing he couldn’t keep them, Old Master Lian hurriedly stepped down, taking the family to see them off. This family naturally did not include Lady Zhou. Lady Zhou, being Lian Shouxin’s biological mother, always kept a high posture and would never step down to welcome or see people off.

At the main entrance, Lian Shouxin stopped and told Old Master Lian to hurry back inside.

"Dad, I won’t say much. None of us are foolish; we may not say it out loud, but we all know in our hearts." Lian Shouxin’s gaze lingered briefly on Old Master Lian’s face before drifting into the distance. "I’ll listen for news when I get back. I gave the opportunity; how it turns out in the end is up to you, old man."

After saying that, Lian Shouxin turned decisively, taking the kids back home.

At home, the father and sons took off their coats, climbed onto the kang, and Lady Zhang busied herself serving tea and snacks.

"Must be exhausted." Lady Zhang, observing their expressions as they entered, guessed they weren’t happy at the old house. She didn’t rush to ask, only prepared hawthorn sweet soup for Wu Lang, Lian Manman, and Xiao Qi, while making turnip tea for Lian Shouxin.

"To ease your mind." Lady Zhang handed the turnip tea to Lian Shouxin herself and explained.

Lian Shouxin took the tea, stared at it for a moment, then tilted his neck back and drank the whole bowl in one go.

Lian Manman and Xiao Qi sat together, sipping their hawthorn sweet soup slowly. It was one of their favorite drinks in the winter. Beside them, Wu Lang drank only half of his sweet soup and asked a maid to bring some Longjing tea instead. Xiao Qi, after finishing his bowl, drank the remaining half of Wu Lang’s.

"Dad, don’t be unhappy; didn’t we anticipate this?" Lian Manman slowly sipped her sweet soup and said, seeing Lian Shouxin’s brows were still furrowed.

"Old Master is not someone to be trifled with, and the things he said showed he hasn’t thought of me at all." Lian Shouxin sighed deeply.

Before, Lian Shouxin was not entirely in agreement with nor satisfied with Old Master Lian’s words and actions. But even if he had some criticisms in private, he seldom showed it in front of his wife and children. Now, however, before anyone else brought it up, he said something like this himself, indicating that today Lian Shouxin had been hurt and angered.

"This wasn’t something we just found out today." Lady Zhang sighed along with him, "Oh well, we’re the ones dealing with it."

Knowing something for a long time, and yet Lian Shouxin still felt hurt and angry, only shows he still cares. Being father and son, how could there not be concern? Where there are expectations, there’s disappointment; where there’s love, there’s emotion, and thus, hurt.

"What did Old Master ask for?" Lady Zhang inquired.

Before Lian Manman and the others could respond, Xiao Qi answered.

"This really is..." Lady Zhang was left speechless after hearing it.

"The first two demands are absolutely impossible. I’m angry because Old Master shouldn’t have brought it up." Lian Shouxin said, "He’s dragging me into the fire pit, dragging our whole family into the fire pit, wanting people to talk behind our backs!"

Here’s one more Chapter, asking for popularity votes. Another update will come later (to be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations, monthly votes; your support is my greatest motivation.)