Second watch, asking for pink.

...

At this moment, Lady Chiang walked in from outside. When Da Niuniu saw her, she ran over to hug Lady Chiang’s leg, wanting to be close to her. Lady Chiang quickly glanced at Lady Zhou and, seeing that she wasn’t paying attention, signaled subtly to Da Niuniu and gently pushed her towards Lady Zhou.

Though Da Niuniu was young, she was smart and remembered Lady Chiang’s teachings, even when she occasionally let her true feelings show. Seeing Lady Chiang do this, she understood and returned to sit by Lady Zhou.

Only then did Lady Zhou look up and see Lady Chiang.

"Sent them off? Didn’t say anything, right?" Lady Zhou asked Lady Chiang.

The words were without context, but Lady Chiang understood perfectly.

"Escorted to the door. Originally wanted to take them home, but Third Aunt Granny wouldn’t allow it... didn’t say anything." Lady Chiang said, encouraged by Lady Zhou’s gentle demeanor, she boldly tried to add, "Third Aunt Granny seemed a bit unhappy."

"She’s unhappy." Lady Zhou wiped her hands with a handkerchief, then put it down, crossed her hands together, and pursed her lips. "Told me to make sure Old Fourth Family attends Baorong’s wedding."

"Today I went to add to the dowry, ran into Fourth Aunt. She seemed to say they were busy that day, might not make it." Lady Chiang responded.

"Again and again, I can’t agree to everything." Lady Zhou was silent for a while before she spoke, "Told Old Zhang to send word, and I did. Old Zhang Family didn’t come, but the gift arrived. Time and again, I haven’t turned her away... They all don’t acknowledge me, treat me like a nuisance, what do I bother for? I have nothing against her!"

Lady Chiang was slightly surprised. She noticed subtle changes in Lady Zhou’s demeanor. Ever since Lady Zhou wept bitterly over Lian Yaya and eventually kept Lian Yaya while Lian Shouyi and his wife moved out, Lady Zhou had seemed softer.

For example, even if Lady Zhou knew today that Younger Lady Zhou and Shang Huaide were using her, she would, with her usual temperament, defiantly accept it. Not for any other reason but to show Younger Lady Zhou that she was strong, capable of ordering Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang around.

"Granny, I shouldn’t be the one to say this, but you handled it well." Lady Chiang said, "I’m young, may not always be right. I’m just saying, if you find it inappropriate, you can tell me... Relatives are relatives, but no matter what, they’re not as close as your own children and grandchildren, right? If there’s an urgent matter, if actual help is needed, it’s your own children and grandchildren who would step up, not just talk big."

"... You can usually tell, who’s always asking you to do things for them and who never asks anything from you, always doing things for you, that’s clear." Lady Chiang said slowly, carefully observing Lady Zhou’s face.

Lady Zhou didn’t speak, just moved her eyebrows slightly, then lowered her eyelids.

Lady Chiang knew well that Lady Zhou was highly protective and very impatient, seeing taking others’ side as natural. So she was cautious, speaking very tactfully and subtly. Seeing Lady Zhou react this way, she refrained from saying more.

Lady Chiang actually had much more to say, but it was inappropriate to tell Lady Zhou directly, so she swallowed her words, thinking to find suitable opportunities later to slowly advise her. The foremost thing to persuade Lady Zhou about was to distinguish between close and distant relations, not to listen to outsiders’ provocations and make random demands on Lian Shouxin.

After all, for every time Lady Zhou did such a thing, outsiders might temporarily benefit, but they gained nothing, and it only incited Lian Shouxin’s family’s anger, pushing them farther away and increasingly irritating them.

"What about your father-in-law and Jizu?" Lady Zhou asked Lady Chiang, "The kang isn’t heated, they should rest."

"They’re outside, I’ll go call them.... I’ve brought in the firewood, will heat the kang now." Lady Chiang quickly replied and stood up to go out.

Lian Yaya and Da Niuniu also followed her out to help.

Lady Zhou sat cross-legged on the kang, and when everyone left, she turned around, facing the window, lowered her head, and let out a long sigh.

"...They really think whatever I say goes! They think my oath was just a fart! Just because Old Second moved out doesn’t mean they can’t move back?!... Useless bunch!" Lady Zhou muttered under her breath, like murmuring in a dream.

Hearing the curtain at the door, Lady Zhou knew it was Lian Shouren bringing in the chamber pot. She immediately shut her mouth tight and closed her eyes. From behind, it looked as if she were dozing off.