During the fourth watch of the night, a request for pink rouge.
***...*****
Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi exchanged a knowing look. The town was so close to Thirty Mile Camp, and when they had separated from the Lian Family, they had set up a pickled vegetable workshop and opened a breakfast shop—how could their separation be unknown to others?
And the Zhao Family, who had a marriage arrangement with the Lian Family, should have been even more attentive to the Lian Family's affairs. They ran a sundries shop, bustling with people coming and going, and were well-informed. Yet they acted unaware of the separation until they "just heard Lian Yaya mention it"? Clearly, Zhao Xiue was lying.
Zhao Xiue appeared to make casual conversation, but what was she really trying to find out?
"Sister-in-law Xiu E, you care too little about us!" Lian Manman joked with a somewhat exaggerated tone, "We've been separated for several months now."