Chapter Thirty-Five Slap in the Face

  Lian Shouren would not admit to having done such a thing, which was something Lian Man'er had long anticipated. However, now he could no longer avoid admitting it, and he feared that by tomorrow, the news of his "glorious deed" would spread throughout the surrounding villages.

  It's just that I don't know how Lao Yezi and Zhou Shi will deal with this matter, if they cover up for Lian Shouren, can Lian Shouxin, who is usually so muddle-headed, handle the situation well?

  This matter cannot be compromised, otherwise, who knows what will happen in the future. She still needs to follow up on it to feel at ease.

  "Mother," Lian Menger leaned against Zhang's side, "Father is alone, I'm afraid he'll be taken advantage of... Mother, you and Father must make decisions for me on this matter."

  "Man'er, let's go upstairs. This time, I'll make sure to get an explanation for you." Zhang Shi got down from the kang and straightened her back.

  She had cried enough and thought it through. Since she married into the Lian family, she has adhered to the traditional teachings of a woman's three obediences and four virtues, being filial to her elders, kind to her younger ones, willing to put herself at a disadvantage in order to satisfy her parents-in-law, sisters-in-law, brothers, and their wives. For the peace of the family, she silently endured countless tears and swallowed endless grievances, only she knew the most clearly.

  But what did she get in return for her compromise? She treated others as if they were her own family and elders with respect and filial piety, but they treated her like a fool, pinching and twisting her at will, and even wanted to use her daughter's life to exchange for their own wealth and glory.

  Even if not for oneself, one must seek justice for one's daughter.

  Zhang's wife pulled Lian Man'er, Lian Man'er pulled Lian Zhi'er, Lian Zhi'er pulled Wu Lang, Wu Lang pulled Xiao Qi, and the mother and son all puffed out their chests as they walked towards the upper house.

  Upstairs, Lao Yezi, Zhou Shi and Lian Shouren were sitting on the kang, next to a pile of various colored fabrics. Lian Xiu'er, Gu Shi, Lian Hua'er and Lian Duo'er were all sitting around those fabrics.

  When she saw Zhang coming in, Zhou immediately spat and said.

  "Fourth brother, what were you just talking about? Was it your wife who instigated you to do something? I said why today you had to go to the town and didn't have a good intention." Zhou Shi said loudly, "A wife who brings ruin to our family, I can see that she's not up to any good."

  "Keep your voice down, I'm afraid others might not hear." said the old man in a low tone.

  "This has nothing to do with his mother, those words were spoken right in front of me." Lian Shouxin sat on the long bench, his eyes red as he stared at Lian Shourong, "Big brother, you won't admit it. Then I'll ask you, isn't that family the Sun Lianren's household? Is there another Sun Lianren in Qingfeng County who married Yang Chengfeng's younger sister and has a young son who is about to take a wife?"

  Lian Shouxin's voice trembled with agitation, "Big brother, we are from the same mother, you pat your conscience and tell me, isn't it true that you've discussed with others to let Man'er accompany someone in death just for those few hundred taels of silver?"

  Lian Shouxin and Zhang's couple, Lian Man'er and several children, all looked at Lian Shouren.

  Lian Shouren's eyes flickered and he subconsciously shifted closer to Old Man Lian and Madame Zhou.

  "How could I harm my own niece? What kind of person do you think I am?"

  Lian Man'er keenly sensed that Lian Shouren was feeling guilty.

  "Your elder brother, you are the younger brother of my husband's father. We respect you and trust you. When you and your wife returned from outside, you said that you wanted to send Mian'er to Qingfeng County as a child bride. I felt uncertain about it at the time, but you both said that Mian'er was your niece, and you couldn't harm her. My husband and I believed you. What you said sounded good, but we're not fools, and we knew you were waiting for an opportunity to use that money to advance your own career. This has been my parents' worry all these years, and I couldn't bear to part with my daughter, so I reluctantly agreed. But you shouldn't have sent my daughter to her death..." Zhang pointed at Lian Shouren and Gu, saying...

  Zhang said this and couldn't help but burst into tears again.

  Gu sat on the edge of the kang, his face alternately red and white.

  "Fourth sister-in-law, this is impossible, don't listen to rumors and believe them."

  "Sister-in-law, you're also a woman who has given birth to two daughters. How can you be so cruel? Zhang said, "What have my husband and I done to wrong you that you want to harm me like this? Even enemies don't have such ruthless hearts."

  "Big brother, speak with a clear conscience and give me an honest word." Lian Shou Xin asked stubbornly.

  Lian Shouxin's temperament was very warm and gentle, but like most honest people, once he made up his mind about something, he became the most difficult to fool.

  Lian Shouren's forehead broke out in fine beads of sweat as he turned to Lian Laoyezi and Zhou Shi for help.

  "Father, mother, Fourth Brother has gone mad. Listen to what he's saying. If this gets out, can I still go on to be an official?" Lian Shouren did not directly respond to Lian Shouxin's words, but instead spoke of his own career as an official.

  Lian Man'er couldn't help but sneer in her heart. Lian Shouren was going to use Lian Lao and Zhou Shi to shield him.

  Lao Laozi held a hand-rolled cigarette, puffing away. Ever since he broke his pipe stem while fighting with Lian Shouren last time, he had switched to rolling cigarettes with straw paper.

  "Lao Si is going out to crash into guests, what he says no one believes." Zhou Shi immediately supported her eldest son.

  "Whether you believe it or not doesn't matter, what matters is whether everyone else believes it." Lian Man'er said calmly. "This matter, my parents have investigated clearly before daring to come home and say it. If Big Uncle doesn't admit it, that's okay too. Tomorrow, my dad and mom will go find Yang Chengfeng, find Old Liu from Liu Family Village, and then go to Qingfeng County to find the Sun Lianren family. This matter must be made clear, we can't let our Big Uncle be wronged, right?"

  "You little scamp, you've got some nerve!" Madam Zhou was momentarily at a loss for words by what Lian Mian'er had said.

  "Be loyal," Lian Lao Ye took a few heavy puffs of his cigarette, the thick smoke completely shrouding his face. "Your older brother can't do something like that, you're biological brothers. Don't listen to what outsiders say and hurt your fraternal feelings. Eldest, you also have shortcomings..."

  The old man said, coughing violently twice.

  Gu and Lian exchanged a glance. Gu immediately stood up, walked over to pull Zhang and Lian's hands together to sit down.

  "Fourth sister-in-law, we are a family, who doesn't know that our family has always been one of paternal kindness and filial piety, brotherly love and respect. I know that the family owes you a lot for taking care of us. Look at how well we've gotten along all these years, everyone will soon be able to live a good life. Our Mian'er is also doing well, don't let others' words hurt our harmony." Gu Shi's face almost broke out into a smile, "Mian'er, come see, these are all things that your eldest aunt bought for you from the county town. Your eldest aunt has spoken, from now on, when your sister-in-law has nice clothes and accessories, it's up to you to choose. When your uncle becomes an official, your aunt will take you with her and treat you like a biological daughter. Later, she'll find you a good family to marry into, and you can become an official's wife too, guaranteed to be even better than your sister-in-law's marriage."

  Gu said a lot, seeing Lian Man'er was unmoved, he picked out two of the brightest silk fabrics and stuffed them into Lian Man'er's hands.

  Lian Xiuer let out a cold snort and was about to speak when Lian Huaer pinched her waist, forcing her to barely hold back.

  "You take these two pieces of cloth first and make two beautiful garments. There are more on the bed, choose whatever you like." said Gu Shi with a smile.

  Lian Man'er secretly sneered, Gu Shi was trying to buy her off as things had gotten out of hand.

  "I don't dare to take Auntie's things. Who knows, if I take Auntie's things today, tomorrow I'll have to pay with my life." Lian Man'er raised her hand and knocked the ruler out of Gu Shi's hand onto the ground.

  Gu's face changed several times.

  "Look at this kid, he used to be so well-behaved before, how come he's become so unruly now?"

  "It was because I'm a good-natured person, so you guys picked me. And also because my parents are honest and good-natured, easy to bully." Lian Man'er said bluntly.

  "How dare you speak to your aunt like that! Don't you have any sense of respect?" said Madame Zhou.

  "Fourth sister, look at what you've spoiled the vine into! You even dare to raise your hand against eldest sister, why don't you just slap her?" Lian Xiuer said. The two rulers that Gu Shi gave to Lian Man'er were the ones she had set her eyes on. But Gu Shi wanted to give them to Lian Man'er, and she wasn't angry with Gu Shi, but rather at Lian Man'er for snatching what was hers.

  "Mother... they want to hit me." Lian Man'er saw that several people were rushing towards her, and immediately leaned into Zhang's arms.

  Zhang immediately hugged Lian Man Er a bit tighter.

  "This thing was done by Man Er, and there's nothing wrong with it. The things that belong to my sister-in-law, we don't dare to take. I have a good temper, and since marrying into the Lian family all these years, I've never had a falling out with anyone. When it comes to money, I've suffered losses and been scolded, and my children have suffered along with me - there are some things that can be tolerated and some that can't, but I've tolerated them all. My temper is good, and my daughter's temperament is also good, but we're not cheap - my daughter's life isn't something that can be bought with just money or material things."

  Gu was repeatedly put in an awkward position by Lian Fan and Zhang Shi, so he became somewhat annoyed.

  "Fourth aunt, I'm going to say something unpleasant. Village girls are worthless, they're discarded from birth and sold when they grow up. Who knows how many there are? You'd better think carefully, good times are approaching, don't mess things up, or you'll suffer losses. Don't blame us for not helping you later." Gu Shi said with a fake smile, in a voice that only Zhang Shi and Lian Man'er could hear.

  At this time, Gu did not have a bit of guilt or remorse, but instead insulted them with words and even tempted and threatened them.

  Lian Man'er was about to break free from Zhang Shi's grasp.

  Zhang was so angry that her whole body was trembling, and she was highly nervous, refusing to let go of Lianmeng, fearing that if she loosened her grip, this daughter would be gone.

  "Mother, let go, what is she talking about? She has a human face but she's not a person at all. Even if I risk my life, I want to slap her." Lian Man'er whispered to Zhang Shi.

  Zhang looked down at his own daughter Xiaoxiao's small head and small palm.

  "Man'er, don't move, let mother help you vent." Zhang Shi gritted her teeth and pushed Lian Man'er behind her, moving closer to Gu Shi.

  "Fourth Auntie, what are you going to do?" Gu saw Zhang's strange expression and felt a bit of trepidation in her heart.

  Zhang raised her hand and slapped Gu's face.

  Gu was stunned, she never thought that Zhang would hit her.

  Zhang was stunned. She had just been infuriated by Gu's words, her lungs were about to burst, but her gentle habit made her not know how to resist. It was Lian Miao's words that reminded her. Zhang looked at her own hand, this was the first time she hit someone, actually she had some tricks up her sleeve, and this slap didn't use much force.

  It turns out that this kind of method she usually thinks a virtuous woman shouldn't use is so relieving and feels so good.

  "You, you dare to hit me? I am a xiucai's wife, I am your elder sister-in-law!" Gu Shi pointed at Zhang Shi.

  "It was you who hit me, and now you dare to harm my daughter. You are a beast in human skin, worse than a snake's scab. Zhang raised her hand and slapped Gu again."

  I recommend a weak Yan value that is about to be completed, Xian Xia Wen, Xuan Huan version of My Barbaric Girlfriend (reader's comment), the story of a small white snake and a small black dragon.