Lian Manman first took people to place the collected rose hips aside to dry in the shade. After that, she had Ji Xiang and Ru Yi take Shan Xi and Lianghuan to turn out the bedding and autumn and winter clothes from the cabinets and lay them out to air.

Lian Manman then set up tables and chairs in the corridor, laid out snacks and fruits, and sat down with Lady Zhang and Lian Yeye, watching the maids work while leisurely sipping tea and chatting.

"...The harvest is good this year. The yield from those few acres of your land, after giving some to the Old Lady, should be enough for your family’s needs for a year," Lady Zhang said to Lian Yeye.

Lian Shouli, Lady Zhao, and Lian Yeye don’t eat a lot, plus, with the family in better conditions now, they can occasionally buy some fish and meat. With vegetables and fruits from their garden, and home-raised pigs, chickens, ducks, and geese, their living standards have significantly improved over a year.

Moreover, the money from Lian Shouli’s carpentry work can mostly be saved. In recent years, the Yeye Household has acquired some items, including that flatbed cart. The family can afford new clothes for each season.

Nevertheless, the family remains frugal in their lifestyle.

"It is indeed good, my father said the same," Lian Yeye replied. "The Old Lady heard from someone, somehow, that this year’s harvest was good. Last time, she called my father over, hinting at wanting more. My father wasn’t pleased; she knew we grew peanuts and such, and she wanted them."

"Everyone knows what she means. She’s just worried about me and my mother enjoying ourselves. These past years, our family has been living well, and my mother and I have enjoyed a little fortune. She’s not happy about that."

"Her displeasure is her own concern. None of us owe her. The fortune we enjoy is what we’ve worked for. She constantly tries to sow discord, wanting to alienate my father from us."

"Fortunately, Third Uncle has changed from before," Lian Manman remarked. "No matter how she tries, it’s useless."

"Indeed," Lian Yeye laughed, "we’ve all seen right through her."

In recent years, Lady Zhou’s attitude towards Lian Shouli’s family has been curious. At first, some people speculated that Lady Zhou, after Old Master Lian passed away, finally realized the importance of her sons, especially Lian Shouli, the most obedient one. People speculated because Lady Zhou indeed tried hard to win over Lian Shouli.

With the support from Lian Shouxin’s group, Lady Zhou was financially relaxed, never short of rice or flour. Sometimes, she’d spend money on meat, prepare a meal with it, or make buns or dumplings. At those times, she’d send Lian Jizu to call Lian Shouli over for a meal. When speaking to Lian Shouli, she’d adopt a kind tone and say caring words.

However, during these times, she couldn’t help but speak ill of Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye. Her methods were shrewd, but she lacked patience and was unwilling to wait.

The lavish meals Lady Zhou prepared were only for Lian Shouli; she never mentioned bringing some over for Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye.

At that time, Lian Manman watched from the side with a cold eye, worried that Lian Shouli might be swayed by Lady Zhou’s strategy of using good meals. Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye weren’t unworried either.

However, Lian Shouli did not fail Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye.

He only attended one or two of Lady Zhou’s meals, then stopped going altogether.

Initially, after eating at Lady Zhou’s, Lian Shouli would return home and arrange to buy meat and flour, so Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye could also have a good meal.

Upon learning this, Lady Zhou was furious, stomping in anger. She invited Lian Shouli for meals hoping to win him over, to gradually make life difficult for Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye. But instead, things didn’t go as planned. Because of her, Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye ended up eating good food and living happier lives. How could Lady Zhou tolerate such a thing?

Ultimately, Lady Zhou temporarily restrained her temper, refraining from immediately summoning and scolding Lian Shouli. Before long, she prepared another good meal and called Lian Shouli over. After a nice meal, Lady Zhou took the opportunity to "advise" Lian Shouli, accusing him of being wasteful, saying the household’s good food should be reserved solely for the men, and women should eat humble fare, as that would be virtuous and the proper family rule. As the man and head of the family, Lian Shouli must enforce this rule.

Later, when Lian Shouli’s response did not meet Lady Zhou’s expectations, she finally lost her temper, screamed that Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye were unworthy of eating good food, calling them "money losers and bad omens." She also accused Lian Shouli of losing his conscience and being disobedient, since after eating well with her, he would go back and share with Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye.