Hearing Lian Liâs words, Mrs. Zhao was in agony, as if someone had dug out her flesh. How could she not speak out when the opportunity was right in front of her?
At once, Lian Li felt guilty. He wanted to pressurize the Lian siblings with his demeanor. With a cruel glare, he warned. âFang Zhou, weâre in an outsider home, so you should have the sense on what you can say and what you canât! Think carefully on who you will be relying on in future!â
Lian Fang Zhou openly declared. âUncle, I had always thought it through! In the future, I wonât rely on anyone else, but ourselves. Is what Zhao Sao-zi said just now true? Why is it that I donât remember ever I said those words to Uncle ?â
Lian Liâs old face immediately flushed. âAlthough you didnât exactly say it like that, I did hear it was this meaning.â
Mrs. Qiao quickly nodded, âThatâs right! You canât possibly be thinking of denying you ever said that!â
Lian Fang Zhou countered, âThen it was you who misinterpreted my words. That was never my meaning! That is Uncle Liâs trade, how could I simply let someone join? Within this region, you wonât find anyone else do this. If Uncle Li hadnât had the heart to take care of us and consider how weâre still so young, he wouldnât have let us join in. It couldnât be that Uncle came running over here in hope to steal their trade?â
âWhat nonsense are you saying! I had no such thoughts!â Being exposed in front of other out of nowhere by Lian Fang Zhou, immediately Lian Li was enraged from the embarrassment.
âOh, then I might have misinterpreted your meaning. I knew Uncle wouldnât have this intention.âLian Fang Zhou gave a cold smile. And slightly bent down. â I must apologize Uncle.â
Mrs. Qiao criticized. âThe Li hadnât said anything yet, so why are jumping in and making a racket? I have never seen anyone as brazen as you.â
Mrs. Zhao quickly intervened âYour Uncle said when the time comes, they can take good care of you.â
Lian Fang Zhou ignored Mrs. Qiao, turned to say to Uncle Li politely. â Uncle Li, we donât need looking after, weâre not that fragile. You obtained this skill, so how it should be is how it should be. You and Aunt Zhang had always taken care of us. And we know that very well deep down. If you felt like you canât look at us in the eye because of this, then weâre at fault!â
How could Uncle Li not understand now. To Lian Li, he graciously expressed. âSo it was all a misunderstanding! This, haha, itâs great that itâs clear up. Rest assured; weâll watch over Lian Fang Zhou and the others. I wonât overwork them! After all, weâre from the same neighborhoodâŚâ
With Uncle Liâs words, it gave the Lian couple a stage to step off. They canât let their relationship become extremely strain since the couple is the siblingsâ elders after all.
However, Mrs. Qiao wasnât appreciative. Instead, she agitatedly mentioned. âJust now we had agreed. Brother Li, how could you do this? This isnât moral!â
Mrs. Zhao was infuriated and couldnât resist rebutting. âAunt Qiao, when did my father ever promise anything? It was you who done all the talking! With much difficulty, we finally learn this trade, how could we simply let anyone watch?â
âMei-zi!â Aunt Zhang lightly admonished Mrs. Zhao a bit. Turning to Mrs. Qiao, she gave an apologetic smile. âThis daughter-in-law of mine has a loose tongue. So what she says isnât pleasing to hear. Donât be mad, her Aunt!â
Even though itâs unpleasing to the ear, it wasnât incorrect.
âSince they arenât appreciative, then treat it as us worry over nothing. Letâs go and not seek more hatred by staying here. Younger generation not acting like one. Oh, my pitiful brother gone so early. And perfectly fine children became like this!â Lian Li heavily sighed as he grumbled. Before he left he didnât forget to step on Lian Fang Zhou as well as dragging Uncle Li and Aunt Zhang in.
âIn the future, donât ask me to stand up for you when you suffer! Even if you beg on your knees, I wonât help!â Mrs. Qiao shot the two siblings a venomous glare and also left.
Uncle Li, Aunt Zhang and Li San Ge looked at each other. Mrs. Zhao lightly spat and muttered. âWhat kind of person is that!â
Seeing Aunt Zhang shooting a warning gaze over, she unyieldingly uttered: âMother, even if you look at me like that, Iâll still say it!â
These words made Lian Fang Zhou amused, and the atmosphere lighten up.
âItâs my fault. I never thought they would stir up trouble to this extent and didnât give uncle and aunt a head up.âLian Fang Zhou apologetically smile.
âNo need to say this kind of words!â Aunt Zhang grasped her hand with a reassuring smile. She lightly sighed, âOh, this really isâŚâ
In the end, Uncle Li felt terrible, and suggested, âAll in all, they are your elders. How about⌠we count them in in this matter?â
âUncle Li! You mustnât say that!â Lian Fang Zhou shook her head. She firmly stated âYou guys know it very well, so Iâm not afraid to talk about my familyâs messy situation. What kind of person are my Uncle and Aunt? They had never helped us a single bit. If we must say, they are the ones who participated the most in bullying us orphans. If we endure and give way this time, they would only become more arrogant, and in future, they might demand more and more. And also, their life isnât so terrible that need money to avert a crisis.â
Aunt Zhang lightly sighed again, âItâs been difficult on you.â
Lian Fang Zhou faintly smiled, âDifficult? Not relying on them, we can still have a good life. Thereâs a limit to their seeking trouble tendency. When forced too much to a corner, itâll spread out, and see how shameless they are as elders.â
âAnyhow youâre all one family! If you can, then donât take that step unless thereâs no other choice!â Aunt Zhang swiftly advised.
Lian Ze reasoned, âAunt Zhang, when did they ever treat us their family! Before when my parents were still alive, they took out an older brother attitude and made my parents help with their work from time to time. Now itâs just us, if they could take advantage of us, they wonât be polite about it.â
Aunt Zhang then replied. âOn normal matters, you should endure. If you canât, then you need a justified reason. Or else when it spread out, it wonât be good since they are your elders after all! Then, in the end, youâll suffer a loss. Other matters is fine, but itâll be terrible when someone ruins your reputation. Your younger siblingsâ marriage will be affected in the future. And also Che-er, didnât you say you plan to send him to school?â
At once Lian Fang Zhou felt a moment of helplessness. Ancient time is really troublesome. At the same time, she secretly became more vigilant: she not from here, what if she slipped up when she wasnât paying attention?
She the obediently nodded, âIâll remember! Thank you for the reminder, Aunt Zhang!â
Lian Ze also agreed and gave thanks.
Uncle Li solemnly asserted. âAlright, this matter count as settled! I understood your meaning in this matter, and wonât budge on it anymore.â
âI have troubled you a lot!âLian Fang Zhou gratefully smiled
Uncle Li dismissively waved his hand. âItâs nothing! If you werenât thinking of us, we wouldnât have been able to earn this money! In future, if you ever need something, freely ask. No need to be shy.â
Lian Fang Zhou and Lian Ze promised and spoke a bit more small talks before they left.
Once the two of them, Third Aunt came forward to probe for information. Lian Fang Zhou just answered âItâs fine nowâ and nothing more. She also informed them all to stay away from the couple if possible. So they can avoid getting schemed by them.
Lian Fang Qing is mischievous, while Lian Che who was the same age, was completely steady and full of self-control. Lian Fang Zhou instructed Lian Che, âKeep a good eye on your fourth sister!â
âYes,â Lian Che promised. Lian Fang Qing eyes innocently blinked as she pulled a face.