Chapter 79: The Awakening of Baozi

  2nd update, seeking pink ingots.

  ………

  "What are you learning from me?" asked Lian Man Er with some surprise to Lian Ye Er.

  "I want to learn from Man Er, no longer suffer, and not let Mother suffer either." Lian Ye's face turned red, she stuttered for a long time before gathering the courage to say.

  Unexpectedly, Lian Ye was quietly determined in her heart. This is a baozi that has gained awareness, and Lian Man sighed with emotion as she patted Lian Duo's shoulder. As long as one can think this way, it's a big step forward for the baozi.

  Lian Man'er was watching but couldn't intervene as Zhao Shi and Lian Ye'er were being bullied by Zhou Shi, and hadn't thought of a way to help them. Now that Lian Ye'er had brought it up with her, she felt very happy inside.

  "Yèr, if you think this way, you won't be bullied," said Lián Mànér.

  "Really, Man Er sister." Lian Ye Er's face flushed with joy.

  "Of course."

  "What should I do, Sister Lianman?" asked Lianyue.

  "Yè ér, do you think you're inferior to others?" Lián Màn ér asked Lián Yè ér.

  "I wish I were a son." Lian Ye'er lowered her head and said softly.

  Mrs. Zhao couldn't straighten her waist because she hadn't given birth to a son in all these years. In her previous life, during that era, many girls lived under the influence of patriarchal thinking, let alone now. Ye'er must have felt it too, and thus had a deep sense of guilt. Guilt was an understatement; more accurately, it should be called a sense of sin.

  Pitiful and yet pitiable. But it's not Lian Ye's fault.

  "Yè ér, you must believe that you are no worse than anyone else." Lián Màn earnestly said to Lián Yè.

  "Vine sister..." Perhaps it was the first time she heard such words, and the person who spoke them was also the one she admired most in her heart. Lian Ye was deeply moved.

  "As long as you have ambition and are willing to work hard, you can be stronger than your son." Lian Man'er said.

  "Really?"

  Lian Man'er nodded.

  "If you want to not be bullied at home, next time when you encounter something that you think is unfair, for example, when your grandma bullies you and your mom again, don't be afraid, resist it, say out loud what you think in your heart. If you can't reason with your grandma, then go find our grandpa to talk to him." Lian Man'er clenched her fists.

  "I'll resist. Yes, sister Lian, I remember." Lian Ye also learned from Lian Mian and clenched her fist.

  At this time, Lian Man Er naturally wouldn't have thought that her conversation with Lian Ye Er would have such a profound impact on Lian Ye Er's future life. The things Lian Ye Er did later in resistance even shocked Lian Man Er herself.

  Lian Shouxin had finished eating and returned to the west wing room.

  "Dad, have you eaten enough?" asked Lian Man'er hastily.

  "I'm full." Lian Shouxin said.

  "Have another mantou. It's still warm. Xia Qi, get one for your father." Lian Man'er said to Xia Qi.

  "Ah." Xia Qi responded with a pleasant voice, then went to the pot and took out another bun. In this era, there was no microwave oven, so sometimes they would put food in a large pot that still had residual heat. The lid on top could keep the food warm to some extent.

  Xiao Qi took a steamed bun. She split it open, spread some meat sauce inside, added a few green onions, and handed it to Lian Shouxin.

  Lian Shouxin sat on the edge of the kang changing his shoes and couldn't free up his hands.

  "Dad, I'll feed you." Xiao Qi climbed onto the edge of the bed and fed Lian Shou Xin a fermented meat bun.

  "Little horse fart." Zhang scolded.

  "It's not." Little Qi said with puffed cheeks.

  The whole family burst out laughing.

  "Xiao Qi is Daddy's precious son." Lian Shou Xin changed into his shoes, ate a bun in two or three bites, then picked up Xiao Qi and spun him around in a circle. This made Xiao Qi laugh uncontrollably.

  "...and I still have to go find Duan, don't know when I'll be back tonight, you and the others go to sleep first." Lian Shouxin put down Xiao Qi and said to Zhang Shi.

  "It's cooler at night now, Branch. Go find another piece of clothing for your father." said Zhang Shi.

  Lian Zhier responded with a sound, then opened the wardrobe, took out a blue coarse cloth jacket and handed it to Lian Shouxin.

  Lian Shouxin put on his cloak and instructed Zhang Shi and the children with two sentences before leaving. The courtyard was filled with people who had just eaten in the upper house, everyone lit torches, divided into several groups, and set off in different directions to find Lian Duo'er.

  It's already late at night, and since I just ate dinner, it's not good to rest yet. Lian Man'er is thinking that because she went out to find Lian Duo'er, the washed peanuts haven't been soaked yet.

  Lian Zhi'er and Wu Lang brought the large wooden basin into the house, poured the washed peanuts in, Lian Man'r took out a scale, according to the weight of the peanuts, measured out the right amount of salt, Sichuan pepper, star anise, cinnamon, and fennel, these were all seasonings for soaking peanuts, and also garlic, which was the heaviest ingredient.

  Put all the ingredients into a large basin, pour in water to soak all the peanuts, and then several children sit by the wooden basin, pinching open each peanut slightly, so that the peanuts can absorb flavor faster.

  Zhang sat on the kang, continuing to sew clothes. The mother and others worked while chatting and laughing. Just as they were having a good time, they heard someone talking outside.

  "Auntie, have you gone to sleep?"

  It is Chiang's voice.

  "Not yet, Meiyue is here, what's the matter? Come in and speak." Zhang said hurriedly.

  Jiang then came in from outside.

  "Auntie, I saw your lights on, so I came over."

  Jiang's eyes were red and swollen, apparently having cried bitterly.

  "Yu'e, come sit down." Zhang Shi put down the needle and thread in her hand and invited Jiang Shi to take a seat. "Niu Niu, is she asleep?"

  "I've put Niu Niu to sleep." Jiang nodded, "Fourth Aunt, you attend to your business, I just want to sit here for a while."

  "I'm not idle, I just sew clothes, and I don't rush to wear them." Zhang said with a smile, "Yue'e, your complexion doesn't look very good."

  "Fourth Aunt." Upon hearing Zhang say this, Jiang could no longer hold back and began to sob.

  "Don't cry, are you worried about Duer?" Zhang Shi hastily consoled, "Everyone in the village has gone out to search, and they will definitely find her."

  Zhang did not think so, but in order to comfort Jiang, he still said so.

  "Fourth Aunt. If it's just me and my step-grandfather at home... If Duer can't be found, my step-grandfather... and I will have to bear the blame for the rest of our lives." Jiang cried out.

  "You're a good one, Fourth Aunt knows that. This matter with Duo'er, how can it be blamed on you?" said Zhang Shi.

  Jiang found out first that Lian Duo'er was gone, and she searched the front and back yards before telling Gu. However, Gu and Lian Hua didn't think much of it, saying that Lian Duo'er had probably hidden herself on purpose and would return at mealtime. By rights, Jiang had fulfilled her duty.

  "Fourth Aunt, it's like this, but... my heart..." Jiang Shi cried uncontrollably. She had a bellyful of grievances that she had been suppressing in her heart and couldn't express. It wasn't just because of the matter with Lian Duo'er.

  She was originally living well in the town, she and Lian Jizong brought Yaoyao to live in a spacious house. But when they returned to the village, they had to squeeze into one roof with Lian Shouren, Gu Shi, and two sisters Lian Huaer and Lian Duo'er. She endured it, thinking that it would be fine after a while, but embarrassing things kept happening one after another.

  She was the wife of Sunzi. On the surface, she was detached from worldly affairs, but she couldn't completely avoid them. For example, recently Gu Shi took Lian Hua and Lian Duo to the county town for over ten days. At home, they were busy harvesting autumn crops, and she wasn't familiar with the chores in the farmhouse, yet she had to take care of Niu Niu. Zhou Shi gave her face as the wife of Sunzi and didn't make her do too much work. However, watching others being busy, she couldn't be as calm as Gu Shi, Lian Hua, and Lian Duo; she felt uneasy.

  She understood that Gu could leave for so long without fear of gossip, just because she was at home. So even if others asked, Gu could say he left her to take care of his mother. She was the one who was left behind by Gu to watch over his mother.

  Ke Gu is not only her mother-in-law but also her aunt, so how can she express her dissatisfaction in front of others.

  And there's this thing today. Although it was Lian Duo'er who scalded Lian Hua'er with boiling water, she was right next to her at the time. As the elder sister-in-law, Gu Shi and Lian Hua'er are now focused on treating the burn and haven't had time to think about it yet. Once this period is over, if Lian Hua'er's leg leaves a scar, can they not blame her?

  Chiang was so sorrowful that he couldn't express his feelings and cried extremely sadly.

  "Duoer is gone, and so many people are stirred up. My mother doesn't even have a good face for me." Jiang cried.

  "Good child, your milk is just like that temperament, it will be fine after a few days." Zhang comforted Jiang.

  "Sister-in-law, you've already told Aunt and the others about Lian Duo'er's disappearance. You truly care about Lian Duo'er, we can all see that." Lian Man'er said. Jiang Shi was a shrewd and worldly person, but when it came to treating her family and the other members of the Lian household, she had never shown any ill intentions. Moreover, during Zhang Shi's critical moment, Jiang Shi had even brought over some ginseng slices. Lian Man'er still had some goodwill towards Jiang Shi in her heart and was willing to repay this kindness at this time.

  "This can't be blamed on Eldest Sister. If anyone in the family says anything about Eldest Sister, Father and Mother will definitely speak up for her." said Lian Man Er.

  Zhang also immediately realized that Jiang had come for this matter and nodded hastily.

  "Yue'er, you're a good kid. Don't worry, we can't do anything else, but we can still say a word or two, right?"

  Jiang came over late at night, not just to pour out her heart, but also to get Zhang and Lian Shouxin to speak up for her when needed. Now that Zhang had readily agreed, she felt a bit more at ease. At the same time, she also felt that among the several households of the Lian family, it was the fourth household that was the most understanding and easy to get along with.

  Jiang and Zhang talked for a while longer, but as it was getting late at night, they went back upstairs.

  The next day, Lian Mian'er got up early, had breakfast, and then poured the soaked peanuts into a large iron pot to cook. When the peanuts were cooked, she used a bamboo strainer to scoop them out, drained off excess water, and put them into two baskets. These peanuts still had too much moisture because there was no drying cabinet, so they could only be air-dried.

  Lian Man'er set up the ladder against the eaves of the house, and she and Xiao Qi carried a basket each as they climbed onto the roof.

  Xiao Qi raised his hand to adjust his coolie hat and looked around in all directions.

  "Second sister, look, horse carriage..."

  It's midnight, and I'm still weak, but I'll keep writing, hoping for your encouragement.

  Pink ah, first of all, you need a genuine subscription, then there will be pink.

  Also, a reminder to book friends who have subscribed to the basic books of Weak Yan: click on the icon next to Weak Yan's name beside 《Rebirth Small Landlord》on the book page, that is the Great God Star, it is said that getting it has rewards and whatnot. Everyone can go try and take a look.