Chapter 303 - 301: Zhou Lian Digs a Pit

Chapter 303: Chapter 301: Zhou Lian Digs a Pit

"A scrap yard?!" Mrs. Ping and the Eldest Young Madam cried out, losing their composure as they stared in disbelief at the calm Liu Shengnan.

Seeing her mother-in-law and sister-in-law’s rare loss of composure, Liu Shengnan couldn’t help but smile. "That’s right! I heard from Ping’an that when they first arrived in the Capital City, Zhou Lian and Jin Chen didn’t have much money. He saw how much she liked these things, so he spent his days wandering all over the city. Later, when their circumstances improved and he started acquiring these for her, he never stopped."

"Well, Jin Chen’s devotion to Zhou Lian is unquestionable. But enough about that. What’s going on with Zhou Lian? She normally doesn’t pay attention to these matters. Why is she being so forceful this time? Did something happen to Jin Chen?" Mrs. Ping remarked, questioning her two daughters-in-law directly. After all, Zhou Lian’s sudden maneuver was quite unexpected.

"Mom, I’m not really sure about this. I still don’t know them well enough as a couple," the Eldest Young Madam said after a moment’s thought, unable to recall anything out of the ordinary.

Liu Shengnan hugged her cup, took two sips of tea, and said slowly, "Mom, Eldest Sister-in-law, I don’t know if I’m right, but this is something Zhou Lian told me—Eldest Sister-in-law, you were there too. Zhou Lian said that my duty to Ping’an should be... Ping’an protects the world, and I protect Ping’an. Yes, that’s what she meant!"

"Yes, yes, she did say that." As soon as the words left her mouth, the Eldest Young Madam instantly understood. She gave Liu Shengnan a surprised look, and seeing the certainty in her eyes, she shook her head with a self-deprecating smile. ’It’s just about a husband and wife protecting each other. Easy to say, but so hard to do!’

Mrs. Ping thought for a moment and said, "Let’s listen to Zhou Lian. Before Jin Chen returns, have Ping Jing take over this whole mess. Jin Chen would never want Zhou Lian to handle these things. Those two are deeply devoted to each other. You young people can discuss and handle whatever comes up. From now on, your father and I won’t interfere. As long as you all trust each other, there won’t be any problems!"

"We understand, Mother!" the two Ping Family sisters-in-law said in unison, looking at Mrs. Ping earnestly.

"Xiao Lian, didn’t the madam arrive? Why aren’t you with her?" Sister Fang asked with a smile, watching Zhou Lian, who had returned and was now sitting at the kitchen entrance, cupping her tea.

Smiling at Sister Fang, Zhou Lian said slowly, "Ah, Sister Fang, I have to give the mother and daughters-in-law some space to have a heart-to-heart, don’t I? You know how considerate I am!"

"Oh, you. Is the madam eating lunch here?" Sister Fang chuckled and shook her head at her antics, then asked after a moment.

Zhou Lian smiled at Sister Fang and replied, "Yes, she is. I’ll have to trouble you, Sister Fang!"

"Alright then. I’ll go prepare a few dishes," Sister Fang agreed readily.

Watching the bustling Sister Fang, Zhou Lian thought back on the recent conversation and let out an imperceptible sigh. ’Probing, setting traps, digging pits... in such a short time, it was a clash of hidden blades, a bloodless battle. How exhausting!’

’I don’t know how Li Xiu has been getting by, having to deal with this almost every day.’ Thinking of this, Zhou Lian’s heart ached. ’The Ping Family members I’m facing are decent, at least they don’t have much malice. Even so, I’m already exhausted. What about Li Xiu? He has to face this stuff head-on, day after day. He hates this sort of thing more than anyone, and now look at him, practically trapped in this hell of schemes and intrigue!’

’No, this can’t go on. Li Xiu is carefree and unrestrained by nature; how can I let him keep forcing himself to do this? This is the perfect opportunity to dump it all on Ping Jing. The Ping Family’s eldest son was a brilliant and dashing figure in his day. It’s fitting for him to take Li Xiu’s current position. But I can’t let go of it completely, since I made a promise to Ping’an. Still, I can assist from the sidelines, investigating and filling in the gaps.’

’I still have to persuade the Eldest Young Master and solidify this arrangement before Li Xiu returns to the Capital City. No one should object to this plan. I just need to find Ping Jing’s weak spot. As long as he agrees, it’s settled.’

’If that’s the case, I can’t let the Eldest Young Master and his wife go with Liu Shengnan to find Ping’an. I have to keep them in the Capital City. But then what about Ping’an’s side of things?’

Ruffling her hair, Zhou Lian felt a bit discouraged. ’I’m really not cut out for this sort of thing. If Li Xiu were here, he could solve it in a minute.’ She sighed, a wave of longing for Li Xiu washing over her. She really felt like she couldn’t be without him anymore.

She had grown used to his doting, used to his company. Now, with him gone, Zhou Lian couldn’t even sleep soundly at night.

’Forget it, I won’t think about it anymore. I need to think about whether to invite my master and his wife for the New Year. Liu Shengnan and the others are living in the garden residence, so my master and his wife can’t stay there if they come. So far, no one in the Capital City knows that Liu Shengnan has returned, not even her own family. It probably wouldn’t be good to let my master and his wife find out about this!’

’But if I don’t invite them, I’ll feel terribly guilty. The elderly couple has no children of their own; to have them spend the holiday all alone... I just can’t bear the thought of it. I really can’t!’

’Oh, well. I’ll go see my master and his wife tomorrow. They’re so wise; being honest with them is the best approach. They treat me like their own daughter, so they would never let any harm come to me. I’ll discuss it with them and then decide.’

After asking someone to deliver a meal to the garden residence, Zhou Lian said goodbye to Sister Fang. She also had to go to the garden residence to have lunch with Mrs. Ping. Passing through the ornamental gate, she could feel hidden figures all around her. Zhou Lian smiled. ’They say the times make the hero, but in reality, you’re just pushed forward by the rules. Where is there any real freedom?’

Seeing that Ping Jing had already returned, Zhou Lian gave an imperceptible smile. ’Looks like he’s figured it out. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone to keep an eye on things so early in the morning. But it’s good that he’s figured it out. Once you understand, you know what needs to be done.’

Everyone ate their meal in silence, then settled on the sofas. Under the piercing gazes of his mother, wife, and sisters-in-law, Ping Jing very consciously and hurriedly reported the results of his morning’s work. Watching the "army of women" engage in a heated discussion, Ping Jing wiped his face. ’They’re all as cunning as ancient fox spirits. I really can’t handle them!’

"Big Brother, you’ve been slacking off for so many years. It’s time to get back to work," Zhou Lian said to Ping Jing with a smile.

Ping Jing, who had been focused on their discussion, was suddenly addressed by Zhou Lian and couldn’t quite process it. He could only nod with a smile and agree.

"Then it’s settled. It’s best if Big Brother handles these matters from now on. But we wouldn’t want to tire you out too much, so Jin Chen can be your assistant when the time comes," Zhou Lian said, seeing he was still out of it and directly sealing the deal.

"Alright, I’ll listen to my sister-in-law!" Still in a daze, Ping Jing went along with Zhou Lian’s words and agreed.

The three Ping Family women—the mother-in-law and two daughters-in-law—looked at Ping Jing, completely speechless. ’He was just dug into a pit and buried by Zhou Lian. And not only that, he’s lying obediently at the bottom of the pit, pulling the dirt down on top of himself!’

"Oh, Ping Jing. If I’d known you were this obedient, your father and I never would have spoiled you!" Mrs. Ping said, looking at him with disdain. ’Is this son of mine an idiot? Zhou Lian trapped him with just a few sentences.’

Staring at her eldest brother-in-law in disbelief, Liu Shengnan asked cautiously, "Big Brother, what were you thinking?"

"I... SIGH!" Ping Jing looked at the smiling Zhou Lian, then at the disdainful expressions on his mother’s and wife’s faces, and finally at his disbelieving sister-in-law. He let out a heavy sigh. ’I was just lost in thought for a moment! How did Zhou Lian manage to force this whole mess onto my shoulders?’