Chapter Twenty-Four: Apology Gift

  Lian Wan'er returned to the west wing house, where Zhang Shi was crying with Lian Shou Xin.

  "I've been married into this family for so many years, who doesn't know what kind of person I am? My heart is suffocating..." Zhang's wife said, wiping away tears as she cried.

  Lian Shouxin sat on the edge of the kang, reached out to comfort Zhang's wife, but seeing the children all around, he withdrew his hand.

  "His daughter... she's also just talking nonsense, don't take her seriously." Lian Shouxin said. Like most people of his generation, he was raised with the education that "there are no parents in the world who are not good".

  Zhang's family is also the same, but this time it's different. Would parents wrongly accuse their own child of being a thief?

  "It's fine if you say other things, but Mother usually doesn't scold me that much. Have you ever heard me retort back? Not to her face, not behind her back either. But this time... she said I stole something, am I that kind of person? All these years, my dedication to this family... and in the end, I became a thief." Zhang Shi cried very sorrowfully.

  Lian Shouxin sighed, knowing that Zhang's personality was gentle and straightforward. Because of Zhang's uprightness, she had high demands on herself and strictly followed moral norms, so she took some things very seriously. If this matter were to happen to He Shi in the second house, it would not be a big deal at all. Zhou Shi accused Zhang of stealing eggs without distinguishing right from wrong, hurting Zhang severely.

  "His daughter..." Lian Shouxin thought for half a day and couldn't come up with an excuse to defend Zhou Shi, so he could only say, "It's nothing now."

  "Thanks to the white hen laying that egg, otherwise, who knows what would have happened." Lian Man'er chimed in, "I think Nai later on found out that the white hen didn't lay any eggs but said nothing, intentionally letting Mother take the blame."

  Zhang cried even more sorrowfully.

  Lian Shouxin helplessly glanced at his little daughter.

  "Mother, she has a strong temper, this..."

  Lian Man'er pouted. People like Zhou Shi are not strong-willed, they should be called stubborn instead. Just like the fatty meat incident last time, no matter what, it's always someone else's fault, even if it's her mistake, someone else has to take the blame for her.

  "Everyone has seen the egg, and Nai also refuses to admit that he wronged Niang." said Lian Man Er.

  Lian Zhi'er, Wu Lang and Xiao Qi all nodded in agreement.

  Lian Shouxin could only smile bitterly, knowing that it would be impossible for Zhou Shi to admit her mistake, unless the sun were to rise in the west.

  "Your mother is just like that temperament," Lian Shou said.

  Zhang's heart was filled with grievances, and she couldn't help but cry. Even Lianmeng's small face turned stern, as if trying to hold back tears. Lianzhi, Wulang, and Xiaogui all remained silent. The atmosphere in the room became extremely oppressive.

  Lian Shouxin let out a sigh, stood up from the kang, and without even noticing that Lian Man'er and the others were in front of him, he rushed to Zhang Shi and made a bow, "Mother wronged you this time, I...I'll apologize to you on Mother's behalf."

  "What's wrong? The kids are all here, what are you doing embarrassing me?" Zhang said with a hint of embarrassment, her face immediately looking much better.

  Lian Shouxin chuckled twice, Zhang Shi suffered such grievances, several children all stood on Zhang Shi's side. The reason was clear which side he was on, his heart ached for his daughter-in-law and children, but he couldn't say anything wrong about Zhou Shi, so he could only apologize on behalf of Zhou Shi.

  Lian Wan'er saw it and secretly laughed with Lian Zhier, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi. Zhou Shi had a bad temper, but fortunately Lian Shouxin was not like that, and he also knew to apologize to his wife.

  Having a mother-in-law like Madame Zhou, Zhang didn't have too many complaints. Apart from her gentle nature, was there also the factor of good feelings between them? Hmm, it must be so.

  Zhang didn't cry anymore, and Lianzhi went out to fetch a basin of water and came back.

  "Let Mianer wash first," said Zhang, "you've all cried until your faces are like flower cats."

  Lianzhi then took out the xiangpianzi she had just bought and put it in a xiangpianzi box.

  "Where did you get this fragrant rice?" Lian Shouxin saw it and asked casually.

  "The kids bought it with their own money." said Zhang.

  Lian Wan'er washed her hands and face with the fragrant soap, then Zhang Shi also washed. Xiao Qi was a child at heart, liked the smell of the soap, and wanted to wash too. Lian Wan'er changed the water again and let Xiao Qi wash as well.

  "It smells so good." Xiao Qi sniffed her own hand and smiled with her two big eyes narrowed.

  Lian Zhier went out and splashed water, came back and brought the door with him. Zhang Shi then took out the two meat buns and gave them to Lian Shouxin.

  “...After working so hard, Wu Lang pulled the cart, his hands were all worn out, and he only earned that little money, just to buy things for us.” Zhang Shi whispered to Lian Shou Xin about how Lian Man Er and several other girls who sold bitter herbs made money. “Man Er's injury hasn't healed yet, as parents we can't even take out a single penny for the kids... The ready-made things at home, I swallowed my pride and asked for them, just to get a small bowl of white noodles, to make a bowl of noodle soup with eggs...”

  Zhang said so, and felt a little sad again.

  "This was bought by the kids for you, eat it, it's their heart." Zhang handed the meat bun to Lian Shouxin.

  Lian Shouxin accepted the steamed buns but didn't eat them.

  Zhang and Lian Shouxin had been a couple for many years, so she naturally understood what was on his mind.

  "Just eat it, there's still a long way to go. Man Er also said that in the future when she earns more money, she wants to buy things for her grandparents."

  Lian Shouxin thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

  "After I make some money, it won't matter for me and your mother. The first thing is to be filial to your grandfather and grandmother." Lian Shouxin said to Lian Man'er.

  Lian Shouxin insisted on not eating baozi, but was finally persuaded to take a small bite, and let Lian Man'er and the others share the rest.

  "Dad had dinner with your uncle and second uncle in town," Lian Shou said.

  Zhang looked at Lian Shouxin and didn't say a word.

  But there is also Lian Man Er.

  "Dad, just now we were talking to mom about it. When we were in town, we saw Big Uncle and Second Uncle coming out of the big wine house, drunk. They even called for a sedan chair. The waiter at the wine house said they ordered a table full of good dishes, costing over a hundred silver coins, and left a lot uneaten." Lian Man'er said casually.

  Lian Shouxin's face was slightly awkward.

  Zhang looked at Lian Shouxin and asked in a low voice, "Did your elder uncle and second uncle take the sedan chair to Miao Hou Jie? Did you go with them?"

  Lian Shouxin was silent for half a day before saying, "This matter is better kept secret. Father has been looking forward to Big Brother becoming an official all this time... Father's health isn't as good as it used to be."

  "I've already instructed the children," said Zhang, "The children's earnings from this matter cannot be revealed. If it is revealed, it will harm Wang Xiaotai... The children have some personal savings, they can use them to treat themselves, but they cannot rely on the family."

  Lian Shouxin nodded and fell silent.

  "My grandfather gave all the money at home to my uncle, and he himself was reluctant to eat or wear anything. If we were separated from the family, we would have earned our own money and could afford to take good care of my grandfather's food and clothing, that would be great." Lian Man'er said tentatively.

  Lian Shouxin was taken aback for a moment, "How did you think of saying this?"

  "Because of this bun, I just thought of it, Dad, you say is it this reason?" Lian Man Er said.

  "Don't mention this again, your grandfather will get angry if he hears it." Lian Shou said.

  "Hmm." Lian Man'er responded. Lian Shouxin and Zhang Shi had been making buns for so many years, it was hard to change overnight. Fortunately, although the two were foolish, they still understood in their hearts and knew how to be kind to children. Lian Man'er told herself not to be too impatient, she would slowly influence Lian Shouxin and Zhang Shi, one day they would understand what was right.

  The family chatted for a while and then went to bed.

  The next morning, Zhang got an egg from the upper house. Zhou's face wasn't very good, but she didn't say anything this time. Zhang boiled the egg and peeled it for Lian Man'er. Lian Man'er shared it with Xiao Qi.

  After having breakfast, Lian Shouren and Lian Shouxin returned from the town with big smiles on their faces, bringing back some pastries. Lian Shouren also said that he met a friend from the prefecture who told him that as long as they found the right opportunity and spent some silver, becoming a county magistrate was a sure thing, which made both Old Master Lian and Madame Zhou delighted.

  "There are still some things to take care of in town, and Jian Zu and the others won't be back for two more days," Lian Shouren said.

  Lao Lao Ye nodded and took a few sons down to the fields to check on the crops.

  Zhou sat on the kang, thinking of something.

  "Second Aunt, go and invite Old Lady Li from the back street to come over. Today, we'll get her to bind Xiaoyu's feet." said Zhou Shi to He Shi.

  "Li Si's grandma?" Lian Zhier was startled.

  "Yuer is nine years old, we can't bind her feet ourselves, only Li Siniang is skilled at it. I promised to give her two hundred coins and two catties of eggs, she guaranteed to bind Yuer's feet into a beautiful pair." Zhou Shi said to He Shi.

  He was delighted when he heard this.

  "Daughter, I'm going now." He Qiang hurried off like a whirlwind.

  "Ah, Mrs. Li is indeed famous, and I'll get to see it for myself today." Gu said with a smile, "You're really doting on your granddaughter, willing to spend such a large sum of money."

  "In these ten villages and eight towns, you can't find another elderly person as kind-hearted as Grandma." Lian Hua'er also smiled and said.

  "I'm a sharp tongue with a soft heart, and only you guys understand me." Zhou's face also broke into a smile.

  "Man Er." Gu Shi turned his head to look at Lian Man Er and smiled, "Why don't you take this opportunity to wrap your feet too?"

  Lian Man Er looked like she had been struck by lightning, and could only pretend to be calm.

  "Who's going to pay for that?" Lian Wan'er said on purpose, she was certain that foot binding was a great privilege in Zhou Shi's eyes, and Zhou Shi would never give her this privilege, let alone spend money on it.

  "Good boy, come here. This silver hairpin is worth a few taels of silver..." Gu said, taking down a hairpin from her head.

  No, it can't be. Even Lian's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes immediately became hazy. She was afraid, but in the eyes of Gu Shi and others, that gaze was clearly one of longing, yet also fearful of not being able to attain it.

  Gu and Lianhua both laughed.

  "Never mind her, that hairpin of yours wasn't blown in by the wind either. With her temperament, even if she had bound feet, it would be a waste, she wouldn't have any dignity." said Zhou Shi.

  Lian Wan'er made a disappointed and heartbroken face, then resolutely turned around and ran out. Lian Zhier also followed her out. As soon as they left the door of the upper house, they saw Mrs. He leading a woman in her 40s walking towards them.

  The woman was tall and thin, with a pale yellow complexion. A pair of triangular eyes swept across the faces of Lianzhi and Liangui, finally coming to rest on their feet.

  Lian Man'er felt Lian Zhi'er's grip on her hand tighten, and when she turned to look at him, his face had already lost all its color.