Chapter 1903: Chapter 970: Lady Zhou’s Worries (2)
Lian Shouren, Lian Jizu, and Lady Chiang also came to congratulate Lian Shouxin, Lady Zhang, and Wu Lang. Both Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu had studied, and when they spoke with Wu Lang, they deliberately used some scholarly language. However, neither of them talked much; it was just a few repeated phrases. Lady Chiang, on the other hand, was quite adept at socializing, and her joyful, auspicious words brought more and more smiles to Lady Zhang’s face.
"You’ve built more houses here, so in the future, when Wu Lang gets married, he’ll be living here as well, right?" Lady Zhou asked Lian Shouxin. Her words were directed at Lian Shouxin, but her gaze was fixed on Wu Lang. freewebnøvel.com
"This is our home; how could we not live here? Those houses are built for the brothers to get married and settle down," Lian Shouxin replied with a smile.
Hearing this, Wu Lang remained silent.
"Does your word really count now?" Lady Zhou glanced at both Lian Shouxin and Wu Lang, clenching her hands on her thighs, whispering to herself.
Lian Shouxin didn’t hear what Lady Zhou murmured, but Lian Manman, sitting on the kang, did hear it. Yet, she pretended not to.
Their family had stayed in the Prefecture City for more than two months this time. Some people in Thirty Mile Camp speculated that now that Lian Shouxin had become an official and his two sons were likely to pursue governmental careers, they naturally wouldn’t want to live in the countryside any longer. They thought the family would surely settle in the Prefecture City.
It was rumored that Lian Shouxin and his family might not return from Prefecture City.
This talk reached Lady Zhou’s ears.
Lady Zhou was typically unchangeable in disposition; even when Old Master Lian passed away, she still ate and slept well without any disruptions. But upon hearing this news, she became somewhat unsettled.
According to Lian Yeye, she couldn’t eat or sleep and spent her days sighing, repeatedly calling for Lian Shouli to inquire about the news. Lady Zhou asked Lian Shouli whether he knew if Lian Shouxin would settle in the Prefecture City this time and never return.
Lian Shouli, always cautious in speech and action, replied that Lian Shouxin’s family should come back. Yet, he wasn’t certain. After being asked multiple times, his answer remained consistent. As Lian Shouxin spent more days in the Prefecture City, Lady Zhou’s anxiety increased.
One day, after calling Lian Shouli over again, Lady Zhou began both crying and scolding in front of him.
She chastised Lian Shouxin for being heartless, leaving her unattended in the village!
During that period, Lady Zhou ceased tormenting Lian Shouren, and her vitality seemed diminished, making her appear several years older.
Afterwards, Lian Shouxin personally took people back to Thirty Mile Camp to arrange the construction of additional houses. Upon hearing that Lian Shouxin had returned, Lady Zhou immediately dispatched Lian Jizu to call him over.
As soon as she saw Lian Shouxin, Lady Zhou clung to him, crying and scolding, asking why he was back. Everyone was used to her awkward manner of speaking and could easily interpret her words.
Lian Shouxin realized then that Lady Zhou was extremely worried he would stay in the Prefecture City permanently and not return to Thirty Mile Camp. Lian Shouxin promptly reassured her that Thirty Mile Camp was his home, and no matter where he went, he would always come back.
Lady Zhou wasn’t entirely convinced; she also mentioned that once Wu Lang prospered, Lian Shouxin would surely follow him. When Wu Lang succeeded and became an official, he naturally wouldn’t reside in Thirty Mile Camp. Lian Shouxin had to reassure her again, saying this was Wu Lang’s home too, and no matter where Wu Lang went, his roots were here. He and Lady Zhang wouldn’t follow Wu Lang away.
"Otherwise, why would I come back to build more houses here?"
Lian Shouxin’s words, along with the actual actions of expanding the house, finally soothed Lady Zhou’s worries.
She resumed her regular eating and sleeping habits, regained her spirits, and naturally reverted to scolding Lian Shouren.
Lian Shouxin mentioned this incident when he returned to the Prefecture City, speaking to Lady Zhang and the children.
"The old lady just couldn’t bear to see you go," Lady Zhang said seriously to Lian Shouxin, though her exact intention—whether support for her husband or something else—remained unclear.
However, this time, Lian Shouxin wasn’t deluded.
"It’s not that she can’t bear to part with anyone. She’s afraid that if I don’t return, with the distance, I won’t care about her anymore. She fears that without me, she wouldn’t be able to control the main family line or get support from your third uncle and his wife. She’s afraid of suffering."
Lian Shouxin made it clear to himself, and Wu Lang, Lian Manman, and Xiao Qi just smiled without adding salt to his wound, saying nothing further.
Seeing how Lady Zhou was now, she should be reassured but still seemed to seek more guarantees.
"Mother, when Wu Lang gets married in the city, you must come and enjoy yourself, take a look around the Prefecture City," Lian Shouxin suggested to Lady Zhou.
Whether Lady Zhou went or not was one thing; whether Lian Shouxin made the offer was another.
Lady Zhou didn’t reply, her eyes turning towards Wu Lang.
"Yes, Grandma, we’ve prepared a carriage for you. You must come then," Wu Lang added sincerely.
"I’m not going," Lady Zhou quickly withdrew her gaze, slightly lowering her head. freёweɓnovel.com
Lian Manman noticed that Lady Zhou’s eyes were somewhat red. Was she touched?
"I’m old and frail, so far away, I’m not going. I don’t want to trouble you," Lady Zhou added.
"Grandma, it’s no trouble at all. My brother has long insisted that you must come," Lian Manman said with a smile.
"I won’t go," Lady Zhou kept her head down, "In my lifetime, I just don’t like going out. Staying right here on the kang is better than anything."
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