Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1581 - 805: The Fifth Day Festival

The Wu family is hosting guests today, and at this Chinese hour, guests were arriving one after another. Those entering the backyard were women closely associated with the Wu and Lian families, all of whom Lian Manman recognized. Among them were Lady Da Zhou, Yuchang’s wife along with her daughter-in-law and Er Ya, the old Mrs. Lu from the Lu family, Lady Wu Wang, and Wu Jiayu, who all gathered in Lian Zhizhi’s room.

Lady Zhang and her daughters all put on cheerful faces and no longer discussed Lady Zhang’s past events.

The topic naturally shifted to Lian Zhizhi’s pregnancy. Soon, the room split into two groups. Lian Manman, Wu Jiayu, and Er Ya gathered together, chatting about topics like embroidery and other subjects girls usually talk about.

"Manman, your embroidery has really improved. The pouch you gave me this year was so beautifully made, I couldn’t bear to put it down," Wu Jiayu said to Lian Manman.

"Yes," Er Ya agreed, "The one you gave me — my mother saw it and thought it was delightful. She said Manman has become enlightened, but I haven’t yet."

Lian Manman had made some embroidery and distributed them to others during the New Year. Everyone in her family, from Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang to Wu Lang and Xiao Qi, received something, and she also distributed them to her girlfriends.

The gifts she gave to Wu Jiayu and Er Ya included hand-embroidered pouches. These two also reciprocated with their own handmade embroideries.

"Don’t laugh at me, I know my embroidery used to be terrible," Lian Manman laughed, "My mother still teases me about it, saying my colors aren’t as vibrant as sister Jiayu’s, and that Er Ya’s work is much finer. Mine couldn’t compare to Er Ya’s."

The three girls praised each other and showed humility, creating a harmonious and joyful atmosphere.

"Manman, your patterns are really fresh. I’ve never seen them before," Er Ya said to Lian Manman.

"...The last time I went to Prefecture City, I bought some patterns from a shop. When you visit my home, I’ll show them to you. You can pick anything you like, and I have paper and pens. I can trace them for you," Lian Manman replied.

The paper and pens used for tracing patterns differ from those typically used for writing, requiring separate preparation, making them quite rare among tenant farmers.

Wu Jiayu and Er Ya smiled and agreed, saying they would visit Lian Manman to choose patterns when they had time.

As the young girls laughed and chatted, over by Lady Zhang and Lady Wu Wang’s side, the topic had shifted from Lian Zhizhi’s pregnancy to something else.

"...It was before the New Year, on the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, at the big market in Xianghe Tun where they were seen," Yuchang’s wife was saying.

Lian Manman stopped talking with Wu Jiayu and Er Ya and turned to Yuchang’s wife. What drew her attention to that side was Yuchang’s wife talking about someone Lian Manman had never heard before, a relative of Lady Zhou’s.

It turned out Lady Zhou had another cousin besides Lady Da Zhou. However, this cousin married far away and after some contact during their youth, there had been no news, naturally resulting in no contact over the years.

Yuchang’s wife was mentioning her brother had seen the husband of Younger Lady Zhou at the market before the New Year, and recently visited the Thirty Mile Camp to relay this news to Yuchang’s wife.

This man, whom Younger Lady Zhou married, was reportedly a tailor named Shang. Originally from Xianghe Tun, he later moved far away, severing contact between Younger Lady Zhou and Lady Da Zhou and Lady Zhou.

Younger Lady Zhou was about ten years younger than Lady Zhou, and fifteen years younger than Lady Da Zhou.

In terms of seniority, Lian Manman and Er Ya would refer to Younger Lady Zhou and her husband as Third Aunt Granny and Third Maternal Grandfather.

"...How come I’ve never heard of this?" Lian Manman nudged Er Ya, asking softly.

"This is my first time hearing about it too," Er Ya glanced at Lady Da Zhou and whispered, "I’ve never heard my grandma mention it. My uncle visited our house the other day and shared this story, that’s how I found out."

"My uncle met him once before, back when my parents were discussing engagement, prior to their marriage. My uncle was at the market and didn’t recognize him at first, but he recognized my uncle and approached him to talk, then my uncle vaguely recalled."

"You kids wouldn’t know, I’ve never met him either, just heard of him," Yuchang’s wife said.

"...I’ve never heard about this..." Lady Zhang suddenly said.

"You joined the family later; by then, Third Aunt and her family had moved away with no news, so it’s understandable you wouldn’t know," Yuchang’s wife explained.

"That’s true." Lady Zhang nodded, seemingly lost in thought.

That Lady Zhang hadn’t met Younger Lady Zhou wasn’t surprising. Yet, from Yuchang’s wife’s manner of speaking, it seemed Lady Da Zhou had mentioned Younger Lady Zhou at home before. But over the years, it was somewhat peculiar that Lady Zhou never brought up this cousin.

"Have they moved back now?" Lady Zhang asked Yuchang’s wife.

"It’s said they have moved back, just a few days ago. The old house was sold long ago, and they haven’t bought a new one yet. They’re renting for the time being," Yuchang’s wife replied.

"Where did they move to all those years ago without any communication?" Lady Zhang asked again, clearly curious about these relatives she had never heard of.

"My brother also inquired and said it was somewhere quite far, and over the years, they haven’t stayed in one place," replied Yuchang’s Wife. Then she asked Lady Da Zhou, "Mother, do you still remember where my Third Aunt and her family moved to back then?"

"I can’t remember after all these years. It’s so vague when it’s mentioned, only know it was especially far," said Lady Da Zhou.

"... Who’s in the family now that they moved back?" asked Lady Wu Wang.

"They say there’s two daughters and a son. The elder daughter got married and stayed over there, and they brought back the younger daughter. ... The son is quite young, maybe about fourteen years old this year," remarked Yuchang’s Wife.

Lian Manman secretly glanced at Yuchang’s Wife. Yuchang was a very sociable person; people from near and far felt honored to have him as a guest at their events. Yuchang’s Wife matched him well, being lively, articulate, and well-informed. Moreover, it seems her brother shares her temperament; otherwise, he couldn’t have gathered such detailed information about Younger Lady Zhou’s family based on just one encounter years ago at the market.

"... When is your Bing Wu’s wedding day?" Lady Da Zhou suddenly coughed, turning to ask Old Madam Lu.

This shifted the topic from Younger Lady Zhou to the wedding of Lu Bingwu and Zhang Caiyun.

Nearing noon, Lady Wu Wang began arranging the tables and setting up the feast, while Lady Zhang, Lian Manman, and Lady Da Zhou with her daughter-in-law sat together at Lian Zhizhi’s place.

After the meal, the guests gradually dispersed. Lian Shouxin and Wu Lang, having other gatherings to attend, left first. Xiao Qi, being too young, didn’t go but went to the backyard to see Lian Zhizhi.

Lady Wu Wang, after finishing her tasks, also went to the backyard to sit and chat with them.

By dusk, Lady Zhang and Lian Manman, with Xiao Qi, wanted to leave, but Lady Wu Wang kindly tried to persuade them to stay longer. Wu Yugui and Wu Jiaxing had other engagements to attend and wouldn’t be back for dinner.

"... If you go back, it’ll just be the three of you eating together. Why not stay and dine with us for some liveliness? ... Don’t worry about troubling me; fearing we would run out of food with guests today, the kitchen prepared an extra table, perfect for us few to share," Lady Wu Wang said with a smile.

Lady Zhang and Lian Manman stayed willingly after hearing Lady Wu Wang’s words. They wouldn’t do this at someone else’s house, but their relationship with the Wu Family was exceptional and harmonious, making this gesture bring the families even closer.

Having dined at the Wu Family’s place, they continued chatting leisurely until lights were lit. Wu Yugui and Wu Jiaxing returned from their gatherings, and Lian Shouxin and Wu Lang also finished and dropped by to pick up Lady Zhang and her children, only then did Lady Zhang, Lian Manman, and Xiao Qi leave the Wu Family.

Back home, Lian Manman had hawthorn tea served, and the family sat together enjoying tea and chatting.

Lady Zhang spoke to Lian Shouxin about Younger Lady Zhou’s situation.

"... This relative, I’ve never heard any of you mention them before," Lady Zhang said to Lian Shouxin.

Lian Shouxin was quite surprised by the news.

"I remember now, it’s just that later we lost touch," Lian Shouxin said.

"Why haven’t my grandfather and grandmother ever mentioned them over the years? Was there a particular reason?" Lian Manman asked.

"I don’t think there was," Lian Shouxin replied, although his expression and tone indicated he wasn’t very certain.

Lady Zhang further inquired about Lian Shouxin and Wu Lang’s later gathering while they finished their hawthorn tea and everyone went to rest in their rooms. The New Year period is more exhausting than normal days, with endless festivities requiring visits from one family to another, thus they need to retire early.

The next day is the fifth day of the first lunar month, traditionally known as ’Po Wu’. Dumplings must be eaten on this day.

In the morning, the family woke early to share a meal of beef dumplings, and Lian Shouxin and Wu Lang took Xiao Qi out for another gathering.

Lady Zhang and Lian Manman stayed home; it was planned before the New Year that they would be hosting a gathering tomorrow. The invitations had been sent, and preparations for the banquet were ongoing; today was the final day for these arrangements.

Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye came over to help Lady Zhang and Lian Manman prepare. Tomorrow’s feast invited the entire Lian Yeye family.

"Yeye, have you visited the old house these days?" Lian Manman asked Lian Yeye, wanting to know if Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou at the old house had addressed the rumors spread by Lian Shouyi and Lady He about Yin Suo.

"I went there yesterday," Lian Yeye told Lian Manman, "Somebody from the old house sent Liulang to call my father. He came in the afternoon. He went to your house first, but you were all attending gatherings already. They asked us if we knew which family you were visiting, but we said we didn’t know. Otherwise, they’d probably look for Fourth Uncle. ... Our grandfather and grandmother learned about the matter, confronted Yaya’s parents, nearly had a fight, so they called my father to help mediate and persuade them."

**

Second shift, requesting engagement (not yet finished. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with recommendations, monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)