When Old Master Lian first set up this courtyard, every detail was carefully arranged. Even the pigsty was built with the finest large bluestones. The gap in the pigsty wall on the east side was created when Lian Shouyi, short on cash a while ago, tore it open to sell the bluestones. He sold a few pieces before the Upper Room and Lian Shouxin discovered it and stopped him.

As for the garden above the pigsty, there were also many traces of wild grass.

To be honest, Lady He did plant vegetables in this garden, but after planting, she didn’t bother with watering or weeding, so it became half-abandoned.

Walking along, Lian Shouxin couldn’t stop shaking his head.

Lian Shouyi and Lady He, both are not the kind of people who know how to manage a household. Even if one of them had some sense, their days wouldn’t have turned out like this.

To tenant farmers, poverty is neither scary nor shameful; everyone’s life is similar. Tenant farmers despise laziness and poor household management the most. Lian Shouyi and Lady He are precisely what tenant farmers disdain the most — idle, neglecting proper work, wasting land.

Walking to the middle of the courtyard, Lian Shouxin stopped again.

He first looked at the West Wing Room. Although no one lives there nowadays, the exterior is well kept, and inside there’s the coffin of Lady Zhou and some other miscellaneous items. Lady Zhou’s coffin is not empty; it’s used to store grain. Due to the good quality of the wood, the grain stored there doesn’t spoil and is easy to access.

Having lived here for many years, Lian Shouxin couldn’t help but look a bit longer. Lian Manman and Wu Lang also stopped by. The siblings could understand Lian Shouxin’s current feelings; as they looked at the West Wing Room, they couldn’t help but think of the years they spent here.

Lian Shouxin’s emotions toward this place are something the siblings cannot compare to. In Lian Shouxin’s words, although life here was once bitter, filled with pain and unpleasantness, yet...

"You all, were born in this house..."

The joy of marriage, followed by the birth of several children, who grew from tiny little bundles to being able to speak and laugh..., all these brought Lian Shouxin endless joy.

Thinking of these, Lian Shouxin’s attachment to this place is easy to understand.

After looking at the West Wing Room, he turned to the East Wing Room.

The East Wing Room was silent. Although inhabited, it felt as cold and empty as if no one were living there. Lian Yaya now lives in the Upper Room, while Liulang returns every night but spends the daytime at Lian Shouxin’s place.

The only permanent residents in the East Wing Room were Lian Shouyi and Lady He.

"Where are they?" asked Lian Shouxin.

"Second Uncle is never home, and Second Aunt went out early in the morning, not sure where she’s gone to." answered Lian Jizu.

Lian Shouxin listened and said nothing.

Going further, they reached the door of the Upper Room.

Lian Yaya was feeding chickens with a scoop of feed. In addition to raising three fat pigs, the Upper Room also kept a flock of chickens and ducks. Naturally, these were managed by Lady Zhou.

No matter the circumstances with Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu, with Lady Zhou and Lady Chiang, the Upper Room remained a properly managed household.

After Lian Shouyi and Lady He began living separately, Lady He once had the impulse to raise a flock of chicks. To Lady He, raising chickens seemed easier than farming, and more profitable. Within months, chickens could lay eggs, providing a supply of eggs. By New Year, they could be slaughtered for delicious chicken meat.

Initially, Lady He was very enthusiastic, but raising chickens was ultimately tedious and tiring, and soon she grew slack. With little care, the chicks died one after another, which further disappointed her. In the end, very few survived, and before they could lay eggs, Lian Shouyi, driven by his appetite, slaughtered them for meat.

Since then, the couple never raised chickens or ducks again.

As for pigs, both knew they were difficult to raise, requiring significant capital and consuming lots of food, making pig-keeping even more laborious than raising chickens. The couple couldn’t agree on feeding pigs, so they simply chose not to keep any, leaving their pigsty empty ever since.

Upon seeing Lian Shouxin, Lian Manman, and Wu Lang arrive, instead of greeting them, Lian Yaya turned and shouted towards the Upper Room for Lady Zhou.

"Granny, my Fourth Uncle is here."

Only then did Lian Yaya turn back, standing there and timidly calling Uncle, brother, and sister.

Those inside the Upper Room had heard the commotion. Lian Shouren and Lady Chiang, with Da Niuniu, hurriedly came out to welcome Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, and Lian Manman into the house.

Lady Zhou was still sitting cross-legged on the bed, not getting up. However, her expression was no longer as dark as before. Due to the arrival of Lian Shouxin and his two children, her face showed a hint of expectancy.

After exchanging greetings with Lady Zhou, everyone took their seats.

Lady Zhou brought out the prepared cushions, letting Lian Manman sit on the bed. Both Wu Lang and Lian Shouxin sat on chairs on the floor.

Lady Chiang served some peanuts, sunflower seeds, and dates, and brewed hot tea for the three of them.

Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, and Lian Manman chatted about Lady Zhou’s health, what she ate, and other household topics, to which Lady Zhou replied, no longer snappily as she did in the past.

In the past couple of years, Lady Zhou’s attitude towards Lian Shouxin’s family has notably improved. When facing Wu Lang and Lian Manman, although somewhat reserved, she was able to engage in normal household conversations.

While chatting, Lian Manman and the others waited for Lady Zhou to bring up the main topic.

"Did your Third Aunt send you any gifts?"

...

Delivering the second update, seeking pink votes. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian.com to vote for recommendations, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com for reading.)