Picking Up a General to Plow the Fields

Chapter 493: Spring Festival

Just like that wonderful uncle and aunt pair at her grandmother’s house.

At the beginning of the New Year, Lian Fan Zhou and her siblings went to give gifts to their grandmother.
Uncle Liu Gu Zi did not pay much attention to them.
After greeting them, he asked his sons, Liu An and Liu Shun, to take Lian Che and Lian Fang Qing to go out and play.

But Lian Che and Lian Fang Qing refused to leave Lian Ze and Lian Fang Zhou’s side, repeatedly refusing.
Why would they want to go off with these unfamiliar cousins?

Madam Jiang didn’t take it seriously, smiling brightly.
How sincere her attitude was!

After talking for a while, she eventually revealed her intention of going to Lian Fang Zhou’s house to give New Year’s greetings, which Lian Fang Zhou quickly declined.

The smile on Madam Jiang’s face froze for a second, her smile unable to be held.
Secretly, she winked at Old Madam Cai.

Old Madam Cai sighed, hating her in her heart.
If it wasn’t for their actions back then, which had frozen the hearts of these children, why would they be treated like this?

And their action to their own sister!

Not even mentioning her son and daughter-in-law, seeing how well her grandchildren treated her, Old Madam Cai also felt ashamed.
No matter how much her daughter-in-law begged her for help, she wouldn’t say a word for her! She didn’t want to say anything at all.

Although she loved her grandsons, she also loved her outside grandchildren.

She didn’t want to hurt their hearts anymore.
She knew better than Madam Jiang that no matter how much she asks, they wouldn’t agree to anything.
And if she spoke for her, Old Madam Cai was afraid that they wouldn’t even come to visit her in the future!

Lian Fang Zhou watched Madam Jiang’s smile reluctantly subside before getting up with a smile and saying goodbye.

Originally, they came to visit their grandmother.
If she wanted to come visit them, they wouldn’t mind bringing her back, but they didn’t come to see Madam Jiang’s face.

Today, they didn’t need to waste time to give anyone face.

Although she despised Liu Gu Zi and Madam Jiang, in order to make Old Madam Cai’s life more comfortable, Lian Fang Zhou was very generous.
On top of the gifts, she gave Old Madam Cai twenty taels of silver.

As long as they didn’t provoke anyone and didn’t act disgusting in front of others, Lian Fang Zhou didn’t mind raising them like this.

–

It was getting close to the fourth month, which was when the Tongsheng exam was held, and Lian Che spent all of his time studying hard.
He felt that the main house was too noisy and moved to Xiaohuaguo mountain to live with Sun Ming after the New Year.
The two reviewed on their own and Lian Che would go to Sun Ming for advice if he didn’t understand something.

Originally, Madam Sun was worried that Lian Che was too young to sit still and would affect her son’s studies.
After all, he was going to take the county exam in the summer, which was a big deal!

She was worried but because the Lian family had been so kind to them, she was too embarrassed to say anything.
So she worked hard and worried in secret.

However, she quickly saw that though Lian Che was young, he was different than they rowdy boys in the village who couldn’t sit still for a stick of incense with an awl under their butts.
Seeing this, she was able to put down her hanging heart.

The house, which had been lively since the nineth day of the first month, gradually subsided.

Lian Fang Zhou was vey tired but thanks to the help of Third Aunt, she had managed to cope with all of the guests with great difficulty.

There were no elders in her family and Lian Ze was still too young, so many of their male relatives did not visit.
Most of the guests were woman with their children and unmarried daughters.

Where would Lian Ze have the patience to deal with a bunch of aunties and grandmothers? Lian Fang Qing didn’t like that the older woman would hold her hand and praise her, so she and Lian Ze would run over to the compound every day.
Not even Ah Jian could pull them back.

On the eleventh day of the first month, the Su family came to visit.
Though Fang Qing did not come, she sent the head steward of the Su family and Li Ma, which gave the Lian family a lot of face.

Steward Su and Li Ma entered the door first and smiled, kowtowing to Lian Fang Zhou.
Hurriedly standing, Lian Fang Zhou helped them up and gave them a red envelope with a smile.
“Elder Steward, Li Ma, please don’t do this! I can’t accept it, I can’t accept it!”

She thought to herself: Steward Qin was right, their family really did need a few useful servants as soon as possible.
Otherwise, there would be no one to show the guests in and pour them tea.

Steward Su and Li Ma thanked her and stood up, smiling.
“Miss Cousin is too polite, this is the correct etiquette! Our young madam said that she and the young master should have come in person but the Su manor has been very busy.
Young Madam has no time to spare, I’m sure you understand! This servant will kowtow to Miss Cousin!”

Smiling, he added: “Why don’t I see the second young master, third young master, and Fourth Miss?”

Lian Fang Zhou laughed: “The Su family is a powerful family with many business contacts, relatives, and friends! It’s enough to keep my cousin busy for a lifetime, how could I blame her? Unfortunately, at this time Ah Ze and the younger two have just gone out.”

She couldn’t say that they were annoyed by all the relatives and went to hide.

Li Ma smiled, “That’s unfortunate.
Next time, I will be sure to greet the young masters and young miss!” Then she said: “When this old slave left, the young madam said that the plum blossoms in Xiuyuan are blooming well.
On the fifteenth of the first month, the Lantern Festival in our county town will be very lively and the young madam wishes to invite Miss Cousin and her siblings to play together.
Young Madam said, be sure to invite them!”

Lian Fang Zhou glanced at Third Aunt, who’s eyes lit up.
Thinking of the excitement, of course she wanted to go!

Smiling, Lian Fang Zhou said: “Speaking of this, my cousin and I have not seen each other for a long time.
It will be a good opportunity to get together.
We will all go together, my cousin can’t find us annoying!”

Li Ma hurriedly laughed: “How could that be? I don’t know how happy Young Madam will be to see Miss Cousin! Young Madam also said that it would be good if Miss Cousin came a little earlier.
Although she is not free, she is very comfortable in Xiuyuan.
Miss Cousin can enjoy the plum blossoms for a few days or come to the Su Manor and explore the city.”

“Cousin is very thoughtful! I don’t get many chances to see the outside world.” Lian Fang Zhou nodded.
“Since that is the case, I will leave in a few days.
I’ll go to Xiuyuan first and wait for them to visit when they are free.
If they don’t have the time, it’s fine! We will take care of ourselves and meet them on the fifteenth.
It will be the same as when we went to visit last.”

Li Ma quickly agreed: “You are such a cheerful person, you have the same temperament as our young madam.
No wonder she feels so close to you!”

“Cousin is truly generous,” Lian Fang Zhou laughed, “I think I’m still too vulgar and don’t understand the rules.”

Everyone laughed and Li Ma smiled: “If you don’t understand the rules, then none of us would dare to come out and meet people!”

Steward Su and Li Ma stayed for a while before leaving.