Lian Jizu and Lady Chiang saw Lian Shouren kneel, and they also followed suit and knelt down.

Lady Zhou looked at the three for a moment, then turned her gaze to Lian Shouli, Lady Zhao, and Lian Yeye.

There was still nothing on Lian Shouli’s face, but Lady Zhao had shock written all over hers, and Lian Yeye rudely turned her head away.

"I just said it, I’m right here on this kang head, and I won’t follow any of you out. I’m heaven-made earth-grown, haven’t served you enough yet!" said Lady Zhou. By saying this, she completely rejected Lian Shouli’s words, but didn’t agree to join Lian Shouren either.

"Then, if Mother won’t live with us, those original six mu of land will remain the same," Lian Shouli had to say.

"How will it remain the same?" Lady Zhou asked again.

"Just, just like Old Fourth’s six mu of land," Lian Shouli hesitated here, seeming to think of something, and tentatively negotiated with Lady Zhou, "Mother, can I cultivate those six mu of land, not lease them to others."

"What are you up to?" Lady Zhou immediately said harshly, "Your father’s gone, and you’re not going to take care of me anymore, is that it?"

"No, that’s not it." Lian Shouli was startled and stood up, "Mother, that’s not what I mean. It’s just that leasing it to others for farming is farming, renting it so I can farm is also farming. If I cultivate it, I’m sure I’ll take more care than others. Whatever rent others should pay, I will pay... If I cultivate that land, I, I’ll still end up with some firewood and earn a bit of hard money."

Lian Shouli was very sincere. He’s the kind of person who works hard, not afraid of hardship. Although currently working as a carpenter and the household income is good, if he could rent and farm a few more mu of land, while tough, each year apart from paying land rent, he could collect some grain and firewood. This way, he could save even more money every year.

Such a humble request, even Lady Zhou found it difficult to outright refuse.

"You can still farm?" Lady Zhou raised an eyebrow and glanced at Lian Shouli.

"Six mu of land can definitely be farmed, and Yeye and her mother can lend a hand," Lian Shouli said. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Lady Zhou said nothing further.

"Second Aunt, I think this works." Wu Yuchang looked at Lian Shouli, then at Lady Zhou, and quickly urged her, "It’s still farming no matter who farms it, isn’t it better to let Third Brother’s family do it? They can earn a bit of hard money, and you’ll be happy, isn’t that right?"

"Then, this matter is agreed upon through you." Lady Zhou didn’t look at Lian Shouli, but only at Wu Yuchang, "If anything occurs in the future, and he farms the land without giving me grain, I will hold you responsible."

Would Lian Shouli dare not provide grain to Lady Zhou? That was as near impossible as it gets. Yet, Lady Zhou needed to make it clear, verifying the matter through Wu Yuchang. In Lady Zhou’s eyes, what was this son Lian Shouli worth?! Lian Manman couldn’t comprehend the answer.

"Alright, just come to me," Wu Yuchang hurriedly said, "I might not dare to vouch for anything else, but I can stake my head on Third Brother’s character."

Lian Manman once again witnessed Wu Yuchang’s tactful diplomacy, without coming across as overly shrewd and thus displeasing others. Wu Yuchang was regarded as a good man by everyone.

"Is there anything else?" Lady Zhou asked Lian Shouli again.

"The two rooms in the north of the West Wing Room will remain as before, we don’t want them, they are yours," Lian Shouli hurriedly replied.

"Those are what you originally had, aren’t you going to add anything more?" Lady Zhou eyed Lian Shouli.

Sweat appeared on Lian Shouli’s forehead. Lady Zhao’s complexion improved slightly, but she was still shaken, and Lian Yeye glared at Lady Zhou in anger.

"I, I’ll add something more, I..." Lian Shouli stammered in difficulty.

"Grandmother, what else do you want from us?" Lian Yeye suddenly stood up, "Why don’t you just take whatever you fancy from our home? For the three of us, we won’t eat or drink and give you everything, shall we? Shall we give you our lives instead?"

Lady Zhou considered herself extremely forbearing and reasonable these past few days, the children and grandchildren were very cautious, and none had offended her. Now she was confronted again by Lian Yeye, how could she bear it?

"You brat, your dad and mom don’t dare utter anything, yet you babble with me here. Disrespectful and unfilial creature. So what, now that the Old Master is gone, you’re setting rules for me?" Lady Zhou immediately pointed at Lian Yeye and cursed, then started clapping her hands and wailing, "I can’t live anymore, a brat is bullying me harshly. Old man, you haven’t gone far yet, turn back and see that they’re tormenting a lonely old lady."

"Old man, why did you leave so early? Why is my life so bitter? Old man, take me with you then. I can’t live anymore..."

Lady Zhou wailed loudly, purposely turning her body towards the window, which was the doorway. She had made up her mind to stir up a commotion for everyone to notice.

Lian Manman couldn’t help but hold her forehead, fearing exactly what came to pass. Now, Lady Zhou had nothing to lose. What they had been trying hard to avoid had still happened.

But Lian Yeye had thrown caution to the wind, as Lady Zhou wailed, she raised her voice as well.

"Before, you and Grandpa had just these things, every year couldn’t finish using them. Now that Grandpa’s gone, you still get that much, just for yourself, even more than the two of you used to! A true-loving mother would never do such a thing? My Fourth Uncle already gave you those extra ten mu of land. If our family had money, we’d rather give you more, just to avoid hearing you wail. But we don’t have money, we can’t indulge you."

"I mean what I say, I’m not afraid of anyone. Otherwise, why don’t we stir up another commotion, beating drums, going to the street and speak up, let everyone judge, see who they side with, us or you!"

...

Here’s today’s update, asking for votes, 420 votes for additional content, diving back into writing, let’s work hard together with Ruoyan. (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations, monthly votes, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com for reading.)