30.Third Aunt's entry denied.
Translated by Maggie, edited by Yi Yue
"Third Aunt?" Lian Fang Zhou froze, mentally cried out in misery.
It's not that she doesn't care about the original soul's things, but actually she didn't even know about the existence of Third Aunt, and she doesn’t even know what kind of character is Third Aunt. After stirring trouble at Uncle and Aunt's place, would she come over to her home for a turn?
Aunt Zhang let out a sound of amazement, hurriedly asked Li Juan: "Xiao Man is back? Why did she come back at this time?"
Aunt Zhang saw that the sky is already dark and misty.
"I also don't know." Li Juan thought about it, said: "Anyway, this time she is making a very big stir! Second Uncle Lian and Aunt Qiao, they won’t allow Xiao Man to enter the house door. So Xiao Man sat at the entrance crying and yelling, insulting them too! A lot of people are watching...(ie. viewing and gossiping/commenting) Oh yeah, Aunt Qiao also won’t let Xiao Man in and to go to Fang Zhou's house, saying their house will definitely not take her in!"
Hearing this, Lian Fang Zhou's heart sank, seems like whatever this Third Aunt is, she isn't someone to be trifled with. Mrs Qiao that guy, no good things come out of her mouth! What if Third Aunt really went to her home, then what should she do!’
Lian Fang Zhou was a bit agitated and couldn't stay standing, she better rush back and see! She hastily said a few words and hurried back home.
Aunt Zhang asked Li Juan a bit more, however Li Juan didn't know a lot, so she couldn't get much information.
Aunt Zhang sighed “Xiao Man is also difficult to deal with, it could be said that she is fifty to eighty percent like the Lian Family's couple! Oh, if she really did go to Fang Zhou's house--,oh really pitiful children!"
At the side, Mrs Zhao couldn't help curling her lips, grinning "Mother, you worry too much! The current Fang Zhou isn't easy to bully! Think about time with that Hua Family's daughter-in-law. Without Fang Zhou's agreement, I bet, no matter how Xiao Man was forceful, she wouldn’t be able to enter their (Fang Zhou’s) home door! However I feel that the Fang Zhou now is a lot better then before, hehe!"
"What do you know!" Aunt Zhang glared at Mrs Zhao, mentally saying 'you say and feel that the Fang Zhou now is good because now she give you gifts? You ah...are just so short-sighted!'
How could you understand? Lian Xiao Man isn't Hua Family's daughter-in-law, she's the Fang Zhou’s and her siblings' legitimate-related Third Aunt, (Basically she is the legitimate related third aunt of Lian Fang Zhou and her siblings generation…Must be their father’s third oldest in family sister with same mother and father so she is called legitimate) which makes her (TA) an elder!... Even if she (TA) is in the wrong (TLN: can't find the right word for the phrase but this is the closest), she's still the elder!
<Could be because she’s an elder she won’t be punished even though she’s wrong>
Driving an elder out the door, suffering people's denouncement is unavoidable! In this village, perhaps there'll be some people saying crude words! Especially the Hua Family, so how could they let go of this opportunity?
If like this, Fang Zhou's name will definitely be damaged, not only her, the four siblings reputation will suffer. In future it will affect their marriage! (TLN: not exactly the marriage but the getting married part)
But, that Lian Xiao Man isn't someone good, if the siblings let her in the house, being bullied by her is unavoidable? There's a possibility of those hard earned money to be scammed away by her.
Ah, this matter really is-
"That can't do, I better go have a look!" the more Aunt Zhang thought about, the more she worries. She finally couldn't endure it and stopped whatever she was working on and went out.
Even though this matter is hard to deal with, if she is by the side watching, at the right time she could help say a few words. Not letting the siblings suffer.
Aunt Zhang hastily rushed to Lian Fang Zhou's house. With a look, she only finds Lian Fang Qing and Lian Che at home. Lian Che was at the kitchen watching the fire for dinner.
She couldn't help stare blankly, quickly she asked Lian Fang Qing in the central room "Girl, where's your sister and brother?”
Lian Fang Qing was giggling and called out 'Aunt Zhang’. Hearing Aunt Zhang ask her, she replied: "My sister and second brother went to aunt's place, let me and third brother stay at home!"
"What!" Aunt Zhang was surprised, her face changed.
Lian Fang Qing was a bit puzzled ,saying "They just went over ah!"
"Oh no!" Aunt Zhang stomp her feet, not want to talk to her (LFQ) anymore and hurriedly headed over to where Lian Fang Zhou was.
Her heart couldn't help secretly be anxious and complained ‘this girl, what is she actually planning! At this time she should wait to avoid trouble, why did it become like this? Reversed and sending herself up?! Is this for real?!’
Aunt Zhang didn't know that Lian Fang Zhou have her own plan.
After she (LFZ) hastily returned from Aunt Zhang's house, she couldn’t bother with the other problem, and first ask Lian Ze about this Third Aunt person.
Lian Ze blanked for a second then told her in detail and was puzzled that out of nowhere she(LFZ) asked about her(TA)?
The more she hear about Third Aunt the more Lian Fang Zhou's brow frowned, never thought that this Third Aunt is also troublesome and a difficult character.
Selfish, petty, harsh mouth...
Especially hearing that her husband is no longer in this world and her relationship with her (TA) mother-in-law and sister-in-law isn't very good, made Lian Fang Zhou's brow creased even tighter......
So to speak, if Mrs Qiao set on the idea of not letting her in, 7-8 out of 10 she will come to her home.
To her own family, she (TA) is an elder ah! If she (LFZ) shut her out the door, that would be unfilial ah! In this era, no one dare carry the unfilial hat. Even Lian Fang Zhou, who isn't afraid of heaven or earth, wouldn't dare.
Once the unfilial hat is fasten on, then 'that's the real end!’
Not only her, her siblings would also be affected. If by chance offended a vile person, then Lian Che's school matters may possibly fall apart.
But, rather than being made to wait for Third Aunt to come knocking on the door, wouldn't taking the initiative to find her Third Aunt, be a better value? At least her family will gain a good reputation, and also Third Aunt would owe her debt of gratitude.
This way, she could more or less control the situation a bit, otherwise wouldn't it be that, what she(TA) says would be what it is?
Lian Fang Zhou would never let any other person come to her home and put an appearance of an elder, wanting to be the head of house making decisions.
This house's master is her,only she could protect the siblings. In midst of thinking, without hesitation she pulled Lian Ze out of the door, straight over to Lian Li's house.
Aunt Zhang rushed to nothing at Lian Fang Zhou's house, turned around to anxiously rush over to Lian Li's house. She's afraid that the two siblings would be at a disadvantage ah!
When Lian Fang Zhou and Lian Ze arrived, the Qiao couple and Lian Xiao Man was in midst of a terrible row (fighting).
They could only see Mrs Qiao both hands on hips blocking the yard's entrance, Lian Li standing behind Mrs Qiao acting as back up, and Lian Xiao Man fallen down sitting on the ground lamenting to heaven and knock her head on earth(means wailing her woe). Dozen to twenty villagers stood around pointing.
Only to hear Mrs Qiao loudly say "Once a girl married off, it is like pouring water out of a basin, your man is dead, then you should guard him, serve your father-in-law and mother-in-law well, that's what you should be doing! What's with running back to maternal home? If we take you in, then we are harming you! And also, our Ah Hai is still at the County Town Academy studying, he's studying for scholar, in future will study for Juren(those who pass imperial exams)! You shamelessly running back, will implicate our family principles, how could we be worthy of and not let down Ah Hai? Hmph! Today no matter what you say, this old lady won’t let you in, so kill off that desire!"
Lian Xiao Man didn't even bother with her (MQ) and just powerfully slapped the ground, crying about deceased parents,crying about her life is bitter, crying about how elder brother treated her in the past when she was little, pressuring Lian Li "Elder Brother, right or wrong, you should say something! I'm your blood-related sister! How could you be so heartless! After my man passed away, left or right, mother-in-law isn't pleased with me, brother-in-law and sister-in-law bully me! I didn't say I'll stay and wouldn't leave, just staying over a few days and ask brother to help me say a few fair words. Or is this not possible for elder brother? Even heartlessly not bothering with your own blood-related sister, you still dare say family principles or not! This is a crooked, evil wind! Thoroughly crooked!"(TLN- family principles= 门风(door wind), crooked wind=æªé£Ž, a little play on word. Lian Xiao Man is swapping door for crooked)
Everyone around started to whisper and point, some said Lian Li is in the wrong, also some said Lian Xiao Man is in the wrong.
Lian Fang Zhou and Lian Ze silently stood at the outer edge listening.
From the words within the speech, Lian Fang Zhou could hear a lot of information, like at the start how arrogant Lian Xiao Man was when her husband was alive. She looked down on brother and sister-in-law and now suffering hardship because she can’t do anything and can't resent them for not helping her and the likes of her.
Lian Fang Zhou couldn't stop her smile from sprouting, this really is men said man have reason and women said woman have reason( means there is much to be said on both sides)!
Lian Li copied Lian Xiao Man, also pretend didn't hear anything.
Mrs Qiao became incoherent with rage after hearing her, couldn't endure turning into an old almanac (guess she's going through the memory lane) and start giving out. Lian Xiao Man couldn't accept and argue back.
The more both side row, the more each other’s rage grew, Lian Xiao Man was really angry, pointedly yelling "You hussy purposely stirring up trouble, I'll fight it out with you!” She then suddenly stood up and ram into Mrs Qiao with her head.