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"Uncle, what does 'child bride' mean?" Lian Manman, having heard Lian Shouren's nonsense and evasive talk, asked.
"Child bride..." Lian Shouren and Lady Gu quickly exchanged a glance.
Lady Gu raised her hand and struck Lian Duoduo across the face, but her hand, although lifted high, came down gently.
"Duoduo was thoughtless in her speech, angered Sister Manman, and got herself hit. She accidentally knocked against the well ledge. Thankfully our parents are blessed with great fortune, protecting Manman and bringing her back to life. Otherwise, if word got out, it'd be the joke of the town," Lady Gu's thin lips parted and came together as she spoke very decisively.
"A life from the Lian Family is dismissed with just a laugh from my aunt. The lives of the Lian family are so cheap," Lian Manman said coldly.
"Oh my, that's not what I meant at all. How can you, a child, be so oversensitive?" Realizing her slip of the tongue, Lady Gu hastily attempted to cover it up. "Your uncle and I have been feeling terrible about your situation. Just look at how red Sister Huahua's eyes are from crying. And your little sister Duoduo, if something had happened to you, I would have beaten her to death to atone for you."
"Child bride..." Lian Manman clenched her teeth.
Lian Huahua lowered her eyelids, surreptitiously signaling to Lian Xiuxiu. Lian Xiuxiu understood the cue and coquettishly nudged Old Lady Lian, Lady Zhou.
"Manman may be young, but she's not that young anymore. The Sun Family wants to marry her off immediately, and there's nothing wrong with that. They're such a wealthy family, she wouldn't lack anything to eat or drink, and that's surely better than staying at home. Girls eventually have to marry out, and if she doesn't marry the Sun Family, she'd end up with some farmer instead. Would you prefer that? The Sun Family has a large household and could choose any bride they want; if it weren't for your eldest brother, could Manman marry into such a good family? Qingfeng County is less than a thousand miles from the village; it's not like you won't be able to see each other afterwards."
"Mother, how can you say that?" Lady Zhang, seeing Lian Xiuxiu leaning against Lady Zhou, felt a pang in her heart, covered her mouth and burst into tears again.
"Wife of Old Fourth, why are you crying? If Manman is being ignorant, are you, as a mother, also ignorant? Since everything is fine, let's proceed as agreed and marry her off," Lady Zhou added.
"The Sun Family has mountains of gold and silver, and Young Master Sun loves to read. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; miss this village, and you won't find this shop again," Lady Gu said with a smile.
"If it's such a good opportunity, why doesn't Duoduo go?" Lian Manman retorted.
"Lian Manman, how dare you curse me!" Lian Duoduo's eyebrows sprang up as she clawed her way towards Lian Manman.
Lady Zhang shielded Lian Manman from the oncoming Lian Duoduo.
"Sending Duoduo to the Sun Family is a curse? What else is going on that you want to sell me off for?" Lian Manman asked loudly.
Lian Huahua was the first to change color, glaring fiercely at Lian Duoduo, while eyes filled with both fear and hatred turned towards Lian Manman.
Lady Gu grabbed Lian Duoduo and smacked her back twice. This time, the slaps were solid, causing Lian Duoduo to burst into tears.
"Let Manman go, I don't want to..." Lian Duoduo cried.
Lady Gu quickly covered Lian Duoduo's mouth.
"Manman, what nonsense are you talking about? What else is happening here?" Lian Huahua stared at Lian Manman and asked.
Poor Lian Manman, her last memories were chaotic and fragmented. She only remembered Lian Duoduo saying she was going to be sold as a child bride, and Lian Duoduo said other things, but she couldn't remember, or perhaps she hadn't heard at all, because by that time, she had already collapsed beside the well, unconscious.
Going to the Sun Family was definitely not as simple as becoming a child bride; there were other things involved. Perhaps, even the Sun Family was a fabrication by the Eldest of the Lian Family and Lady Gu. Sending her far away—who knew what for? Five hundred taels of silver was no small amount; spending so much money had to serve some "big" purpose. And what "big" purpose could a little girl like her have? Lian Manman suddenly felt an icy chill throughout her body.
Lian Manman stared back at Lian Huahua without blinking. She couldn't remember, but she couldn't let Lian Huahua know that.
```
Lian Huahua saw Lian Manman remain silent, but she glared at her viciously, her eyes flickering somewhat.
"Eldest Brother, besides becoming a child bride, what else could it be?" Lian Shouxin finally wasn't foolish and had sensed that something was fishy.
"What else could it be, Old Fourth, don't listen to the kids talking nonsense." Lian Shouren hurriedly said.
Old Master Lian stared with his eyes at Lian Shouren, who slowly lowered his head.
"You've been reckless in handling this matter, Eldest Brother. You go tell your friend that this ends here," Old Master Lian said.
Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang both let out a sigh of relief.
However, others were becoming anxious.
Lian Hua'er nervously clutched her handkerchief, glancing at Lady Gu before both of them turned to look at Lian Shouren.
"Dad, about this matter, I've already made a promise to the other family. Old Fourth also nodded in agreement. We can't go back on our word," Lian Shouren said.
Old Master Lian proceeded to puff away at his dry pipe, clearly having made up his mind.
"Then, who's going to compensate for the five hundred silver dowry?"
"Dad, Mom, did you take the money from selling me?" Lian Manman deliberately asked.
She was forcefully suppressing her anger. How could Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang believe such a shoddy affair, full of holes? Their daughter was being sold, and they were even helping others count the money. No, it was worse than that; they couldn't even get the task of counting money and could only sit on the sidelines like logs.
"Manman is flesh and blood from my own body, I would starve and deprive myself of food to save a morsel for her, but I would never sell my daughter," Lady Zhang suddenly straightened her back and said.
"Eldest Brother, Yang Chengfeng lent you five hundred silver, and you spent it on a jade pendant. When did it become dowry money?" Lian Shouxin said.
Lian Manman clenched her fists secretly, hoping this couple wasn't irredeemably foolish.
"Eldest Brother, you return the money to them!" Old Master Lian said.
"Grandfather, you're not selling me?" Lian Manman's eyes lit up, and she crawled over to Old Master Lian, her big eyes blinking rapidly at him. This is your own granddaughter, please, let your kinship awaken.
Old Master Lian seemed rather uncomfortable with Lian Manman's sudden closeness, but he still nodded.
"Really not selling me?"
"Not selling, our family doesn't sell daughters," Old Master Lian said decisively, "Go back and sit beside your mother." He turned his head away and resumed puffing at his dry pipe.
Lian Manman's heart finally settled down in her stomach.
Suddenly, Lian Huahua leaned on Lian Xiu and started to sob softly.
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Lian Manman slowly sat back down next to Lady Zhang, turned her head and saw that Lian Xiuxiu, holding Lian Huahua, was glaring fiercely at both her and Lady Zhang.
"Fourth brother, fourth sister-in-law, how can you be so selfish, only thinking about yourselves?" Lian Xiuxiu accused, staring intently.
Lian Manman touched her ear. Could there be something wrong with her hearing? How could there be such a person who could so utterly distort the truth? That person was her aunt, no less. What was even more astonishing was that Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang, who had been directly called out, were both silent.
"Mother, please help Lian Huahua," Lian Xiuxiu whispered into Lady Zhou's ear.
Lady Zhou hesitated somewhat as she glanced at Old Master Lian.
"Father, this matter... it concerns not just your son—no, it's about the future of our Lian Family..." Lian Shouren pleaded with a despondent expression to Old Master Lian.
Old Master Lian just smoked his pipe, his face hidden behind the smoke, unreadable.
"Eldest, the matter with the Jade Pendant, you acted without consulting me. If it hadn't been for Manman's issue, you probably never would have told me," Old Master Lian said.
"Father, didn't we not want to worry you at that time?" Lian Shouren replied.
"And now I don't need to worry?"
"Father..." Lian Shouren was at a loss for words, stopped short by Old Master Lian's response.
"Eldest, you were wrong from the very start." Old Master Lian put down his tobacco pipe, sighed, and continued, "The Jade Pendant is a Song Family heirloom. When Huahua broke it, we should have informed them. The fault lies with Huahua; whether we pay restitution or whatever else, we have no excuse. You replaced it with some other piece of jade and tried to deceive them. That's not something our Lian Family should do."
It turned out that Old Master Lian hadn't known about the matter at the time; the Eldest of the Lian Family had taken action before reporting.
"Father, I... I had no choice," the eldest stammered.
Lian Xiuxiu gently nudged Old Lady Lian, Lady Zhou.
"My dear, how is this deceiving them? Haven't we bought a piece of jade that's nearly identical and offered it as compensation?" Lady Zhou finally spoke up, "Huahua has finally managed to secure such a good marriage proposal. How can we let a small matter like this ruin it? If we follow what you're saying, we'll have to pay compensation, and the marriage will be off—aren't we just shooting ourselves in the foot? You've been a shopkeeper for so many years; how can you not see past this simple account?"
"What would you women understand? When I was managing the store, I was honest with all, never resorting to deceit," Old Master Lian said angrily.
"What, you're calling me deceitful?" Old Lady Lian also erupted in anger, "I've spent a lifetime with you, borne and raised your children, worked myself to the bone, and now in my old age, you disdain me, calling me a cheater."
"You're being unreasonable; I won't argue with you," Old Master Lian said, his beard shaking with anger.
The atmosphere froze.
"I'm not doing this for myself—I'm doing it for Father, and for our Lian Family," Lian Huahua sobbed, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.
"Yes, Huahua isn't a selfish child," Lady Gu said, "Parents toil their whole lives hoping for their eldest to top the imperial examination, to bring honor to the ancestors. Not only has the eldest never forgotten Father's instructions, but Huahua always keeps them in mind. The eldest has the capability; it's just that these past years he has been down on his luck, failing to succeed in the examinations."
Lady Gu, as she spoke, also dabbed at her eyes.
"After speaking with Huahua, the Song Family's son-in-law has said he can find some connections, pay some silver to have the eldest become a Jiansheng, and directly present his name to the Emperor, securing an official position immediately," Lady Gu continued.
"Yes, Father, there are many vacancies at court right now. Jiansheng can be selected for official positions directly. But this opportunity is only for a year or two; miss it, and there will be no such chance again," Lian Shouren added.
"Once the eldest becomes a Jiansheng, becoming a Magistrate is certain. Serving in that role for a few years would lead to becoming the Magistrate, bringing glory to the Lian Family's threshold. It could also earn our parents imperial appointments, and then our Xiuxiu would be a lady of an official's household. The good days we'd enjoy would be endless," Lady Gu explained while glancing at Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang, "The eldest's brothers, nephews, and nieces will all also be lordships and young ladies of an official's household."
With every phrase Lady Gu uttered, Lady Zhou would nod in agreement.
"That's exactly it," Lady Zhou said.
"Father, this isn't just about Huahua; it's a major matter that affects our Lian Family's ancestral honor," Lian Shouren emphasized.
Lian Manman stood there dumbfounded; this couple was actually quite adept at twisting facts. It was clear that their daughter had damaged the betrothal gift, and they were afraid that the other family wouldn't want her because of it, which had led to all these complications. Yet, after their framing, Lian Huahua seemed downright noble and magnanimous.
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