Chapter Twenty-One Persuasion

  The children ate their fill and the carts were empty, so they soon returned to Sanshilipu. It was almost dusk, and some of the chimneys in the village had already begun to rise with smoke.

  Goro and Renji pushed the cart into the house and ran into Ren Shiro and Ren Roku.

  "What are you doing? You've even pushed a cart!" Lian Si Lang blocked the cart and glared at Wu Lang, asking.

  "We've arrived at our destination." Lian Wu Lang replied, "We're home, sister. You take Man Er and Xiao Qi back to the house first."

  Lian Man'er and Xiao Qi got off the cart, and Lian Man'er carried a basket towards the west wing. However, Lian Si'lang opened up the cart and came over to block Lian Man'er's way. He tilted his head to look at the basket in Lian Man'er's hands, saw that it was full of grass, and wanted to reach in and touch it.

  Lian Wan'er hastily dodged Lian Si-lang's hand.

  "Si Lang, what are you doing?" Lian Zhi stepped forward and separated Si Lang from Lian Man.

  Lian Si Lang and Lian Zhi Er were of the same age, with only a two-month difference. However, Lian Si Lang was much taller and sturdier than Lian Zhi Er.

  "Are you going to pick bird eggs today?" Lian Si Lang asked, without addressing Lian Zhi as "sister".

  While Lian Wan and the others were roasting bird eggs in the field, some children who were digging wild vegetables passed by from a distance, and somehow it reached Lian Si Lang's ears.

  "Where did you get it from? Is there any left? Don't eat alone." Lian Si Lang was about to push away Lian Zhi Er and grab the basket from Lian Man Er.

  "You also catch fish and pick bird eggs, why don't you give me some to eat?" Little Qi said.

  At this time, Gorō had already put away the board car and walked over.

  "Fourth brother, even if there were bird eggs, they're all gone now." Lian Wulang stood in front of Lian Zhier and said to Lian Silang, "Aunt's melons are missing two, and she's looking for who stole them."

  Ren Shilang's face changed color immediately.

  "You dare to spout nonsense, I'll beat you up." Lian Si Lang raised his fist in a threatening manner.

  "You don't provoke me, I won't provoke you." Lian Wulang said without batting an eye.

  Lian Si Lang met with no success, seeing Wu Lang, Lian Zhī ér, Lian Man Er and Xiao Qi tightly huddled together, not fearing him at all, had to sulkily take Lian Liu Lang away.

  Although Lian Wulang looks old and honest, he is actually quite manly.

  Several children trooped into the west wing room, and Wu Lang and Xiao Qi closed the door behind them.

  "Back already, where have you been for half a day?" Zhang was mending a jacket for Xiao Qi, and seeing the children return, she put down her needle and thread. "Mian'er is tired, hurry up and rest on the kang... what's with closing the door?"

  "Daughter, let's go into town," said Lian Man Er.

  "Aren't you going to the fields? Why are you running so far?"

  "Mother, here you are." Lian Man'er first took out the four meat buns from the basket and handed them to Zhang Shi.

  "This is..."

  "Chen's meat buns, with a meatball filling." Little Seven leaned in front of Zhang and smiled.

  Chen's meat-filled buns? Those cost two cents each, and these kids don't even have a cent between them. How did they get their hands on four buns?

  "Tell me honestly, where did this package come from..." Zhang was getting a bit anxious, she would rather her children be poor than take the wrong path.

  "It was us who bought it," said Lian Yuer, "bought with our own earned money."

  "You, where did you earn the money? Tell mom the truth, no matter what happened, mom will handle it." Zhang's hand holding the bag was slightly trembling.

  Lian Man'er briefly told Zhang Shi about how she was going to sell bitter herbs to make money.

  "Even a poor girl like her can be sold for money?" Zhang's voice was full of disbelief.

  "If you don't believe me, go to the town another day and ask Young Heng's brother, or you can also ask Wang Zhanggui from Jishengtang." said Lian Man'er.

  Zhang heard what Lian Manger said and had no choice but to believe it.

  "Man Er, how much money did you make?" Zhang asked.

  "Mother, don't interfere in this," said Lian Wan'er. She could tell Zhang Shi about the matter, but she didn't plan to tell her how much money she had made. The money was hers, and she wouldn't give it to Zhou Shi or Zhang Shi either. "Mother, this is a secret, we're only telling you, don't tell anyone else. Young Master Heng said so, he's afraid others will find out and also wants to take advantage of Suffering Girl."

  "Yes, mother, you must keep it a secret. Don't even tell father and grandma, or else we won't be able to make money next time." Lianzhi also begged Zhangshi, who was more honest and told the truth.

  "... shouldn't have taken Dr. Wang's money," said Zhang, "this bun was bought for you to eat yourselves."

  Several children braved the scorching sun to pick bitter herbs in the mountains and then traveled a long distance to sell them in town. After much difficulty, they earned some money and bought a few buns to fill their stomachs. Their mother couldn't say anything about it.

  "Sister, we've all eaten already, this is for you," said Lianzhier.

  Hearing that the bun was for her, Zhang hesitated.

  "This bun is not for you to eat, your grandfather and grandmother haven't eaten it yet..."

  Lian Man'er sighed, and indeed, what she was worried about happened.

  "Mother, we saw Big Uncle and Second Uncle in town." Lian Man'er changed the subject.

  "Right, Big Uncle and Second Uncle came out of the largest wine house in town, their faces were all red from drinking, and then went to some temple... street." Little Seven said, "Brother said that one is very expensive."

  "What's behind Temple Street?" Zhang was startled.

  "Yes, it's Temple Rear Street." Little Seven nodded.

  Zhang's face changed suddenly, "Then you didn't see your dad, did you? Alright, when did you see your uncle and second uncle go to that... street?"

  "It was about an hour ago," said Lian Man Er, "Father wasn't with them and doesn't know where he went."

  Zhang let out a sigh of relief.

  "Your dad came back early and went down to the fields with your grandfather."

  "Mother, give this package to Grandpa and Grandma, the matter of selling bitter melon girl can't be hidden anymore, it will delay Yu Heng's business." Lian Man'er said slowly, "Mother, this is our hard-earned money..."

  Zhang's heart turned over. If she and Lian Shouxin had earned some silver, it would naturally be handed over to Zhou. However, the children were still young and didn't have the responsibility of earning money to support their family. If they took this package to the upper house, they would inevitably have to mention earning money, and Zhou would definitely ask for the money, not leaving a single coin for the children.

  Upstairs, He's family would occasionally eat alone, and when Lian Shouren and Lian Shouxin went out, they would have a big fish and meat feast. She wasn't unaware of this, but she never held it against them. But could she not even get an egg for the children, and instead take away the money they had worked hard to earn?

  "I won't tell your mother about this, nor will I tell anyone else." Zhang said, "Your mother doesn't have money to give you, the money you earn yourselves, just keep it for yourselves and don't let others see it. If you want to eat something, just buy some. However, these buns...you can eat them yourselves." As a daughter-in-law, she couldn't eat in front of her father-in-law and mother-in-law. Even if other sisters-in-law did that, she couldn't do the same.

  "Daughter, just eat, you don't think for yourself, but also think... " Lian Zhier looked at Zhang Shi's belly.

  Lian Man'er didn't notice Lian Zhi'er and Zhang Shi talking, she guessed the reason why Zhang Shi didn't eat baozi.

  "Mother, if we separate in the future and make some money, we can buy food and generously give it to Grandpa and Grandma to eat." said Lian Man Er.

  "We were getting along fine, how could we split up?" said Zhang.

  The days that are supposed to be spent well are actually spent in a daze, with words getting stuck in one's throat.

  "Girl, you eat baozi." Little Qi supported Zhang's hand and let her eat baozi.

  "Daughter, just eat it, next time we earn money, we will buy some for grandpa and grandma." said Lian Man Er.

  Zhang heard Lian Miao say so, and didn't want to disappoint the children's good intentions. She took a bun for herself, and gave two more to Lian Miao, letting them share and eat together.

  "There's one more, leave it for your father." said Zhang.

  Lian Man Er naturally refused to accept it.

  "Daughter, we're all full." The children laughed.

  After much persuasion, they finally managed to get her to eat a bun. The four children all took a bite of it before Zhang Shi would agree to eat. They ate two like this, and then Zhang Shi refused to eat any more, wrapping the leftovers in oil paper to save for Lian Shouzheng to eat.

  Anyway, Zhang agreed to keep it a secret and ate a bun, which was also a small progress, and Lian Wan'er clenched her fist.

  "Mother, we also bought sausage and soap." Lianzhi handed the basket to Zhangshi.

  Zhang looked at the beautifully packaged soap box, snow-white and emitting jasmine fragrance, as well as light yellow soap. His heart was filled with mixed emotions. As a poor man's child, he had to take care of his family early on, and several of his children were able to earn money at a young age.

  "Lao Gu, Hua Er Jie, Er Bao Niang they all have one, can't we even buy it ourselves with our own money?" Lian Man Er hastily said, fearing Zhang Shi would say something else.

  Mrs. Zhang sighed, she usually uses ash herself, and the children only use rice water, this mother is not doing a good job, the children earn their own money to buy things back, and they are also things that other rooms have, what else can she say?

  "It's better if your mother doesn't see this." Zhang still reminded him.

  "We'll use it in the house from now on." Lianzhi smiled and put the thing away.

  "Mother, sister also bought some candy." Little Qi took out the paper bag of candy to show Zhang Shi, and then picked one up and stuffed it into Zhang Shi's mouth, "Mother, eat."

  "My daughter doesn't eat sweets, you all keep it and eat slowly." Zhang said so, but was still forced by Xiao Qi to put a piece of candy in her mouth.

  The sugar is very sweet, it's the sweetest sugar she has ever eaten.

  "This sugar is really sweet." Zhang turned her head and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

  It was almost dinner time when Lao Lao and Lian Shouxin returned from the fields, and a young servant came from the town to deliver a message, saying that Lian Shourong and Lian Shouyi had unfinished business and would be staying in the town tonight.

  Lao Lao Ye and Madame Zhou didn't say anything, but Madame Gu frowned.

  Lian Man'er secretly curled her lip, and was seen by Zhang Shi. Zhang Shi quickly called the children to one side.

  "Don't mention what you saw in town about your uncle and second uncle," said Zhang, "That street is not a good place, don't even bring it up."

  Several children all promised, Zhang's family was relieved.

  The Lian family's dinner was still millet rice, millet noodles, and potato stewed eggplant. Gu Shi, Lian Hua'er, and Lian Duo'er all only ate two mouthfuls before getting down from the table.

  After dinner, Lian Piao and his family of six returned to the west wing.

  "Hey, old man, I've got something to tell you." Just as Zhang was about to speak with Lian Shouxin, he heard Zhou's scolding voice coming from the courtyard.

  "Which greedy woman who's always getting pregnant again has stolen eggs?"