Chapter 67: The Fourth Son Betrays

  "What?" The faces of Renzhi, Wu Lang and Xiao Qi all changed. "Fourth Brother, is what you said true?"

  "Of course it's true." Shirō seemed somewhat pleased with himself.

  Lian Man'er was also shocked in her heart, but on the surface she didn't reveal even half a point, because only by doing so could she lure Si Lang into speaking more.

  "Fourth brother, this is no trivial matter, it's not something that can be casually fabricated. Do you know?" Lian Wan'er said seriously to Si Lang.

  "It's not a lie." Si Lang said immediately, perhaps knowing that whether or not to give him the chicken leg was crucial to Lian Man'er, so he attached great importance to what she had to say.

  "Is this also what you overheard?" asked Lian Man Er.

  "Of course." Shi Lang immediately replied, then looked at Lian Man'er again and touched his own head. He knew that Lian Man'er was not easy to fool, so he told the truth, "I didn't hear this, it was Ya'er who heard it."

  "Then you call Yuer over, I want to ask her in person." said Lian Maner.

  Shi Lang was somewhat unwilling, thinking that if Ya Er came, there would be one more person sharing the chicken leg with him.

  Lian Man'er saw through Si Lang's thoughts.

  "You bring Ya'er over, if what you're saying is true, then your share will definitely not be less." Lian Man'er said.

  "Alright, Man Er, you must keep your word." Si Lang said.

  Lian Man'er nodded.

  "Xiao Liu, get Yan'er over here." Si Lang then sent Liu Lang to find Lian Yu'er. He squatted on the ground with a smile and chatted with Lian Man'er. "Man'er, how come your cooking is so delicious? My dad and mom both praised you."

  Lian Man'er ignored her. He just gave Lian Zhi'er, Wu Lang and Xiao Qi a signal with his eyes, letting them be at ease for the time being.

  After a while, Liu Lang led Lian Niu'er in from outside. Lian Niu'er had already wrapped her feet three times. She had only recently stopped crying out loud, but she was still walking slowly. Liu Lang thought she was walking too slowly and pulled her along the way.

  Lian Wan'er took a look at Lian Ya'er's feet. Lian Ya'er's feet were arched and looked only half their original size. She was standing there unsteadily, so Lian Wan'er handed her a stool from the side.

  "Sit down and talk, Ya'er," said Lian Man'er to Lian Ya'er.

  "It's fine for her to just stand." However, Si Lang quickly grabbed the stool and placed it under his own buttocks. "My mother said that she needs to stand more and walk more often, then her feet will recover faster. With small feet, her days of prosperity are yet to come."

  This Fourth Brother is really something, treating his own younger sister like this. If you say it's because he's still young and doesn't understand things, but Fifth Brother is even younger than Fourth Brother, and when he's with Lian Man Er, he takes good care of her.

  "Yā ér, you tell your sister Mán ér what you just told me." Si Láng said to Lián Yā ér.

  "What did I just say?" Lian Yu'er was puzzled.

  "It's what you heard, Hua Erjie went to the county town and said those words to Lao Gu." Si Lang reminded.

  "Can you say this?" Lian Ya'er looked at Lian Man'er and a few others.

  "It's nothing. You go ahead." Shi Lang waved his hand.

  "Hua Er Jie said... Fourth Aunt doesn't put milk in her eyes, she only has Zhi Er Jie and Man Er Jie in her heart. She said Fourth Aunt took Man Er Jie to town, stayed at an inn, and bought a lot of things. The money that should have been used to buy things for Old Aunt was all spent on buying things for Zhi Er Jie and Man Er Jie. At first, Old Aunt didn't believe it, so Hua Er Jie said, Man Er Jie always disobeyed her mother, Man Er Jie is only ten years old, how could she say those words? It was all taught by Fourth Aunt. She said Fourth Aunt appears to be a good person on the surface but is actually doing bad things behind people's backs..."

  Lian Niu'er would often repeat what she heard Lian Hua'er and Lian Xiu'er say to Lian Man'er.

  Lian Man'er furrowed her brow. This didn't seem to be an unfounded rumor, for that day when they were eating baozi and buying fabric in town, she had seen them, and there hadn't seemed to be anyone from the 30-li camp around. Besides, even if people found out, what could they do? The eldest household had been enjoying good food and drink in town for years, and it had all passed without incident. Lian Shouyi of the second household followed the eldest household's lead in eating and drinking, and these things couldn't be hidden from others. They were using public funds, but she was taking money that her several small children had earned through their labor. If this matter were to be exposed anywhere, she wouldn't be afraid.

  It was then that Lian Hua and the others were returning from the county seat and happened to see it on their way.

  No, it's impossible. If that were the case, Lian Hua would not have endured those days and would have told Lian Xiu about what happened on which day, what they bought, and everything else. But what Lian Niao overheard was just Lian Hua speaking vaguely, without any specifics. This proves that Lian Hua actually knew nothing about the events of that day, and all those words were fabricated by Lian Hua herself to drive a wedge between Lian Xiu and them.

  Think of Lian Xiuer's temper, so small at that time, and she wouldn't let Lian Zhier drink milk. Later, Lian Xiuer estranged Zhang Shi, but Zhang Shi still put Lian Xiuer in the first place, and Lian Xiuer was also used to it, probably thinking that this was a matter of course. What Lian Hua'er said were exactly the words that could infuriate Lian Xiuer the most.

  It must be so, Lian Wan'er thought to herself, gritting her teeth. Because of her affair, both Lian Shouren and Gu Shi had been beaten. Lian Hua'er harbored a grudge in her heart and used the tactic of "killing with a borrowed knife" to take revenge through Lian Xiu'er, that sharp blade.

  "Yao'er, are these things you're saying true?" asked Lian Muer.

  "I've heard it several times." Lian Yu'er nodded, "Once, Hua Jie found out that I had heard it and didn't let me tell anyone. She said that if I told anyone, she wouldn't let me marry into a rich family."

  "Brother said so, it's nothing. Who you marry or don't marry, brother has the final say, what does Lian Hua have to do with it?" Si Lang said.

  "I'm going to find Lian Hua." Wu Lang suddenly stood up. Although many things have happened in these days, the children of the four houses still call Lian Hua, everyone in the main house, and Lian Xiu by their original names, whether it's to their faces or behind their backs. But now, Wu Lang is so angry that he doesn't even call Lian Hua "sister" anymore.

  "Give me my chicken leg first." Si Lang hastily said, stretching out his hand to block the doorway, insisting that Lian Piao give him the chicken leg.

  "Brother, don't rush. Lian Muer pulled back Wu Lang and said to Si Lang, 'I can give you chicken legs, let's go find Grandpa and Grandma, you two repeat this to Grandpa and Grandma again.'"

  "Alright. I'll tell you the story, and you give me a chicken leg." said Si Lang, glancing at Lian Mian'er. Then he changed his mind and said, "You give me the chicken leg first, and then I'll go with you to talk."

  Lian Wan'er glanced at Si Lang. She realized that Si Lang just wanted the chicken leg and asked him to go testify in front of Lian Lao Yezi. It's not reliable. Even if he went, he could change his words anytime. If Lian Lao Yezi knew that Si Lang had asked her for a chicken leg to eat, she would be even more suspicious of Si Lang's words.

  And even if everything goes smoothly, Lian Hua can say that she just got angry and said some bad things about Zhang Shi. Lian Xiu pushed Zhang Shi, it has nothing to do with her.

  The Zhang family's miscarriage actually had such a behind-the-scenes story, this matter must be nailed down, and cannot let Lianhua have any chance of escape. No matter what, we must go try it out.

  "Come on, I'll give you a chicken leg. You all follow me to the upper house and tell Grandpa and Grandma about it." Lian Man'er said as she really scooped out several pieces of chicken from the pot, giving the largest piece to Si Lang, and smaller ones to Liu Lang and Lian Ya.

  Si Lang wasn't afraid of the heat, he grabbed the chicken and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing and swallowing it down. Lian Yu was a girl after all, she thought the chicken was too hot. She put it to her lips and blew on it, not eating it right away. Si Lang ate his own piece, then snatched Lian Yu's piece and also stuffed it into his own mouth to eat.

  "Sprout, don't eat this, you eat this and your feet will get bigger."

  Lian'ou'er pouted and looked at Si Lang, but didn't dare make a sound.

  Si Lang finished eating the chicken, his eyes stared at the big pot. Even though Lian Man covered the lid slowly, Si Lang could see the stewed chicken and green beans inside the pot, as well as a layer of cooked flatbread on top.

  "This way, you go with me and repeat what was just said, let Grandpa and Grandma believe it, and I'll give you another pastry." Lian Man'er wanted Si Lang to do this, so she discussed it with him.

  "Okay," Shi Lang agreed without hesitation, then raised his finger, "And add one or two pieces of chicken."

  "Just go, as long as what you say can make Grandpa and Grandma believe."

  "Man Er?" Zhang Shi was in the house, having overheard about seven or eight tenths of what they were saying outside. Now hearing that even Man Er was going to go upstairs to find Lian Lao Ye Zi, she hastily walked out of the house.

  "Daughter, how did you get off the kang? It's not even been a month yet." Lian Man hurriedly pushed Zhang Shi back into the house and had her sit on the kang.

  "Was it Hua'er who spoke ill of me in front of your aunt, that's why she hates me so much?" Zhang said to herself, "No wonder those few days, your aunt looked at me like I was an enemy."

  "It's Lian Hua'er being naughty, but Old Auntie's heart is also ruthless." said Lian Man'er.

  Lian Hua'er was the one who started the trouble, but if Lian Xiu'er had a good heart, she would have remembered Zhang Shi's kindness to her and at most just vented her frustrations. She wouldn't have laid hands on her pregnant sister-in-law, let alone stood by and watched as Zhang Shi lay there unattended.

  "Daughter, don't worry about this matter. I'll go talk to Grandpa and Grandma clearly." said Lian Man Er.

  Xiao Qi stayed with Zhang Shi, while Lian Mian'er brought several children to the upper house. Before entering the room, Si Lang heard the voices of Lian Shouyi and He Shi coming from inside, so he pulled Liu Lang and ran away, leaving only Lian Rou standing there in a daze.

  Lian Man'er stroked her forehead, and indeed Si Lang was unreliable.

  "Vines, what to do?" asked Lian Zhi'er to Lian Man'r.

  Si Lang ran away, and Lian Rou definitely didn't dare say anything. Can the old man believe them just because of what they said?

  "Let's go in first." Lian Man Er then walked into the east house with Lian Zhi Er and Wu Lang.

  In the east wing, on the kang, sat a woman dressed in very bright clothes, who was none other than Wang, the famous matchmaker of the town. Lao Laiye, Zhou Shi, He Shi and Lian Shouyi were all there too.

  "...her name is Xiūe, seventeen years old this year, as beautiful as the goddess Chang'e in paintings. Her family runs the largest grocery store in town. They have long prepared her dowry, everything is complete, not counting clothes and jewelry, just the furniture and decorations for the bed, worth at least one or two hundred silver coins... A family like that, a girl like that, with such a dowry, the groom's family gift should be equivalent too... It's not that they're selling their daughter, it's just to save face, after the daughter gets married, they'll take back all the silver as a nest egg..." Matchmaker Wang gesticulated wildly, speaking with flying spittle.

  Originally, Wang the matchmaker had come to propose a marriage for Erlang, and the bride-to-be was Zhao Xiuyi, the daughter of the wealthy owner of the general store in town. Lian Menger knew that bringing up Lian Hua's matter now would likely ruin Erlang's marriage, so she didn't speak up.

  The matchmaker Wang finished speaking, and Lao Yezi only said that he wanted to discuss it with his family, so he let He Shi send the matchmaker Wang away.

  "...the grocery store also has a daily turnover of one or two silver coins, their family's big courtyard, I've seen it with my own eyes, her daughter is pretty good-looking too." He Shi sent Wang Matchmaker back and sat down beside Zhou Shi. Looking at her smiling face, she was very willing to agree to this marriage.

  "It's just that the betrothal gift required is a bit high, I heard that this girl had discussed with a family in Liujiacun half a year ago, everything was fine, but they asked for 80 taels of betrothal gift, and that family couldn't afford it, so the engagement fell through." Lian Shouyi said.

  "The betrothal gifts are many, and the dowry is also many. Isn't that what was said? Are all the betrothal gifts brought back when the time comes?" Madam He asked.

  Two people were talking, both looking at Lian Laoye and Zhou Shi sitting on the kang.

  Lao Laozi puffed on his dry tobacco pipe, saying nothing, and Zhou Shi also remained silent.

  "Father, mother, I think this marriage is a good match. Erlang's age has also arrived." said He Shi.

  "First find out what kind of person she is." said Zhou Shi.

  "I haven't heard of anything bad about it, so I guess it's fine." said He.

  Lao Lao Ye and Madame Zhou exchanged a glance, neither immediately agreeing nor refusing, but only saying they would think about it again.

  He and Lian Shouyi walked out of the east house.

  "Man Er, you few come over here, is there something going on?" asked Lian Lao Ye Zi to Lian Man Er.

  "Ah, never mind, I'll just come and tell you, we've cooked the rice, it will be done soon, and then we'll send some over to you. You don't have to eat yet." said Lian Man'er.

  "Alright, alright." Even the old man couldn't help but smile and nod repeatedly.

  Lian Wan'er pulled Lian Zhi'er and Wu Lang out of the upper room.

  "Man Er, Grandpa asked you what's wrong, why didn't you say anything? We won't bother Lian Hua Er about it anymore?" Lian Zhi Er quietly asked Lian Man Er.

  Wulang also looked at Lianmeng in confusion.

  "Brother, sister, you guys say, this family is so good, and Second Uncle and Second Aunt have also agreed, why didn't Grandpa and Grandma immediately agree?" Lian Man'er asked Lian Zhi'er and Wu Lang.

  "Their family wants a lot of betrothal gifts, but where can Father and Mother get so much money now?" said Wu Lang.

  Lian Mian'er nodded, not to mention eighty taels of silver, even half, forty taels of silver, the Lian family can't afford it now, so Old Man Lian and Madame Zhou didn't immediately agree to this marriage. But Second Brother is already seventeen years old this year, the marriage cannot be delayed any longer.

  "What does this have to do with what we want to talk about?" Lian Zhier asked.

  "Second Uncle and Second Aunt want to arrange this marriage, but Grandfather and Grandmother don't have the money, only Eldest Uncle has it." Lian Man'er said in a low voice with a smile, "I have an even better plan, this time we won't let Lian Hua'er off."

  Two more, rolling for pink ing.

  Ruan Yan is a big fatty, typing away in the scorching heat of over 30 degrees, sweating profusely. The slender beauties won't understand the suffering of a fatty spending summer.

  All sorts of ways to ask for pink, it's said that rolling is the most useful, weak color has never rolled before, trying it out today, so, everyone must support me.