CHAPTER 1311: CHAPTER 669: FAVOR (PART 2)

Their movements were quick; as soon as they entered, they kowtowed, so much so that Xiao Xi and Xiao Qing did not have time to lay down the cushions on the ground.

"Get up, get up." Lady Zhang hurriedly said.

Only then did Erlang and Luo Xiaoyan stand up.

Standing nearby, Lian Manman couldn’t help but scrutinize Luo Xiaoyan. What Lian Yeye said wasn’t wrong; Luo Xiaoyan was tall and not exactly pretty, but still decent, with rather big eyes, though single-lidded. Looking closely at her attire, it was neither new nor old, but still tidy and neat.

Lady Zhang also saw Luo Xiaoyan for the first time, thus she assessed Luo Xiaoyan from head to toe. Lady Zhang’s focus was different from Lian Manman’s. Lady Zhang found Luo Xiaoyan pleasant enough, with big hands and feet, evidently able to work, and hips quite wide.

"She should be good for childbearing." Lady Zhang thought secretly.

"Don’t just stand there, come, sit on the kang." Lady Zhang then beckoned Erlang and Luo Xiaoyan.

Erlang replied honestly, but did not sit down immediately; instead, he waited to see Luo Xiaoyan’s expression.

"Fourth Aunt, we got married without a banquet or anything. We’ve just come to kowtow to Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt, and to recognize the home." Luo Xiaoyan spoke with a low voice, slightly hoarse, "This is my brother, Luo Xiaoying, who brought me here today. Xiao Ying, come and kowtow to Fourth Aunt."

Luo Xiaoying resembled Luo Xiaoyan by seventy to eighty percent, slightly shorter in stature. Upon hearing Luo Xiaoyan’s words, he immediately knelt down and made three loud kowtows.

Acknowledging the kowtow from Erlang and Luo Xiaoyan was enough, but Luo Xiaoying also following suit was perplexing. Lady Zhang, while saying "What should we do?", let them sit down.

Yet Luo Xiaoyan still did not sit, her eyes glancing at Lian Manman and the others.

"These are all your sisters." Lady Zhang introduced, "Zhizhi, Manman, these two are my daughters. Over there is Yeye, your third uncle’s daughter."

Luo Xiaoyan quickly bent her knees and bowed to the three girls. Coming from a farmstead family, etiquette was crude, and Luo Xiaoyan’s bow was quite clumsy. Her knees bent excessively, arms stiff, body twisted, lacking any grace.

It seemed this kind of etiquette was seldom used, likely learned on the spot.

Lian Manman and the others hurriedly stood up and returned the bow to Luo Xiaoyan. The three girls’ bows were performed gracefully, pleasing to the eye. In comparison, the difference became apparent.

A faint blush appeared on Luo Xiaoyan’s slightly dark face.

"Sister, please sit down. Xiao Xi, Xiao Qing, hurry and serve tea." Lian Manman, while letting Luo Xiaoyan sit, instructed the two girls attending on the side.

Lian Manman would not look down on or ridicule Luo Xiaoyan for the roughness of her bow. As a girl from a tenant farmer’s family, with no one to teach her, it wasn’t her fault.

In farmstead families, women would kowtow to elders at certain occasions, but among peers, etiquette was not demanded.

Erlang, Luo Xiaoyan, and Luo Xiaoying sat by the kang’s edge, while Xiao Xi and Xiao Qing served aromatic tea and refreshments.

The awkwardness of Erlang and Luo Xiaoyan’s visit left little topic for conversation, so Lady Zhang merely spoke some polite words.

"Have you kowtowed to your grandpa, grandma, father, and mother?" Lady Zhang asked with a smile.

"Already kowtowed."

"Have you visited your third uncle and aunt yet?" Lady Zhang asked again.

"Not yet." Erlang replied.

"We’ll go in a bit." Luo Xiaoyan said, "Coming out from the village, we reached Fourth Aunt’s first. Erlang always tells me that Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt are particularly kind to him."

During their conversation, Lian Manman took the opportunity to call Xiao Xi out from the eastern room. A moment later, she returned with Xiao Xi, whose hands were holding two lengths of fabric.

One was big red jiao cloth, the other was wool green cloth.

"Mother," Lian Manman approached and sat beside Lady Zhang, whispering a few words.

Seeing Lian Manman bringing out the items, Lady Zhang understood.

"... Meeting for the first time, I hadn’t prepared anything. These two lengths, have one made into clothes for yourself, and the other for your brother. This child seems decent." Lady Zhang said with a smile.

"Decent," a term from Liaodong Prefecture’s rural dialect, basically means composed and genuine, the most straightforward evaluation and praise from rural families.

Luo Xiaoyan quickly waved her hand and declined.

"We’re juniors, haven’t offered anything to Fourth Uncle and Aunt, nor brought anything for the brothers and sisters. I don’t feel right accepting things from Fourth Aunt."

"You are quite polite. Just live well, that’s better than anything." Lady Zhang said.

"Don’t worry, Fourth Aunt, we will definitely live well in the future." Luo Xiaoyan promptly said, "Fourth Aunt, for having Erlang help our family, I know there’s talk outside that’s unpleasant, but I have no choice.... I’m not just one to eat idly, I can work. I will certainly care for Erlang, and treat Er Niuniu as my own daughter."

Luo Xiaoyan spoke these words fluently, with earnest expression and slight nervousness. Lian Manman thought carefully, realizing these words were likely rehearsed for a long time, intended for Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang to hear.

"Your fourth uncle and your brother have gone out on business, it’s not far, there will be plenty of chances to meet later." Lady Zhang said once more, finally persuading Luo Xiaoyan to accept the two lengths.

Erlang and Luo Xiaoyan stayed a while longer before standing up, saying they still needed to visit Lian Shouli.

"Go ahead." Lady Zhang replied upon hearing this, naturally not obstructing them, "No need to rush back, stay for lunch at Fourth Aunt’s."

*******

On the third to last day of the month, the pink double campaign is hot, continue seeking pink ticket support.

Second update sent, seeking 850 pinks O(∩_∩)O, Ruoyan dives into writing, striving for a third update. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)