Picking Up a General to Plow the Fields

Chapter 557: Unwilling

All credit to original author: Yi Yi Lan Xi

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The more Lian Hai thought about it, the angrier he became.
When he heard Lian Ze calling Lian Che and Sun Ming to go back, he couldn’t help but turn his head and glare at him.

Lian Ze stared back without hesitation.

However, Lian Ze was in a good mood today so he didn’t bother to argue.
Excitedly, he said to Lian Che: “Che’er, Che’er! Did Master Ding really accept you as his apprentice? Hehe, that’s great! That’s great! Our sister will be so happy when she finds out! And Third Aunt! Ah, I didn’t expect that Master Ding was such a kind person! If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it! Oh, I can’t believe it, I really can’t believe it!”

He talked, laughed, sighed, and praised all by himself, which made Lian Che, Ah Jian, and Sun Ming laugh.

When he came back to his senses, Lian Ze smiled in embarrassment.
Hurriedly, he asked: “Che’er, tell me quickly! Wasn’t it very crowded today? How did Master Ding come to accept you as his apprentice?”

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Lian Che smiled shyly: “There’s nothing to say…”

Sun Ming laughed: “You don’t know but Che’er performed very well today, it was no wonder that Master Ding took a fancy to him!” Then he explained everything to Lian Ze and Ah Jian with a smile.

They listened intently, smiling and asking questions from time to time.
The conversation was very lively.

Lian Hai was the only one sitting with a cold face.
Looking at the four people chatting happily without him, he suddenly felt depressed.
There was a sense of incompatibility.

Indeed, he was not the same as them!

The news that Lian Che had been accepted as Master Ding’s apprentice quickly spread through the village.
Everyone was surprised, envious, and even more respectful to the Lian family.

Being rich may not be admirable but being talented and favored by Master Ding was a great thing!

When people ran into Lian Fang Zhou or Third Aunt outside, they would subconsciously add a bit of respect when they spoke.
Not to mention Lian Che.
Though he was young, no one dared to treat him like a child.

Lian Fang Zhou had not accepted Master Ding really would accept Lian Che as his apprentice.
She was an ordinary person, she didn’t dare to expect it.

If Lian Che could just get his advice, he would have already benefitted a lot.

However, it was better to learn under him!

Lian Fang Zhou was so happy and finally understood why Master Ding wanted Lian Che to get first place in the exam before giving advice.

At the time, she had thought that Master Ding was just making things difficult on purpose.
She had been a bit disappointed and annoyed that he would not just openly refuse.

Thinking about it now, it was clear that he had always planned on taking Lian Che as his apprentice!

The Lian family set up an open banquet for the village and invited friends, relatives, and neighbors far and near to attend.

Accompanied by Ah Jian and Lian Ze, Lian Che went to the school to invite Teacher Lin.

Everyone was amazed when they saw the banquet.

The banquet was set up in a courtyard with a small manmade river that flowed under a big locust tree.
Fifty tables were set up around the area and it was very lively.

Lian Li’s family also attended.
Lian Fang Zhou asked Ah Jian and Lian Ze to keep an eye on Lian Li while Aunt Zhang and Third Aunt took care of Madam Qiao.

According to past experience, Lian Li would be fine but Madam Qiao would definitely make trouble.

Lian Fang Zhou even made up her mind that if Madam Qiao moved even a finger, she would be forcibly removed.
She didn’t want her to interfere with her brother’s celebration.

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Who would have guessed that from beginning to end, Madam Qiao was completely honest.
Although there was no joy on her face, she didn’t make trouble.

Instead, it was Lian Li.

In the middle of eating and drinking, Lian Li suddenly slapped the table and shouted loudly: “Lian Che! Lian Che! Come here! Come here quickly” Everyone was startled and Lian Che, who had been speaking to the village elders, stared at him in surprise.

Lian Li pointed at him and shouted: “Kneel down!”

The crowd was confused, not understanding what was going on.

Village Head Zheng frowned and whispered: “Brother Lian, what are you doing?”

Lian Li smiled humorously and then glared at Lian Che, shouting again: “Didn’t I say kneel down? Kneel down! What, what! So you pass an exam and your tail goes to the sky? Let me tell you, even if you win first place, I am still your uncle! Listen to what I tell you! Let alone someone like you, our family will never produce a top scholar! Our family doesn’t have the luck and you don’t have such a fate!”

Family troubles continued one after another.
Madam Qiao was making trouble all day long and Lian Li was extremely irritable.
Only Xiao Ya was left to comfort him.

Seeing that Lian Fang Zhou’s family was getting better and better every day, he was sore and jealous.
Even though he came to enjoy the food, none of Lian Fang Zhou’s family respected him as their uncle.
They treated him as distantly and indifferently as a stranger.
The more he thought about it, the more angry he became and he couldn’t help exploding after two glasses of wine.

Lian Che’s face went pale with anger but he just stood there biting his lip without saying a word.

Lian Hai, who was sitting not far away, should have stepped forward to dissuade his father, but he just sat their motionless, pretending to be at a loss.

In his heart, he even secretly hoped that his father would scold Lian Che more harshly, so that Lian Che couldn’t help but talk back.
There were so many people here today and once the news got out, his reputation would definitely be damaged.
Let’s see if Master Ding accepted him then!

Someone had already run to tell Lian Fang Zhou and Lian Ze, who were accompanying guests elsewhere.
Lian Fang Zhou rushed over in a hurry and glanced coldly at Lian Hai who was sitting nearby.

Lian Hai’s heart was jumping nervously with anticipation, hoping that Lian Che would lose his sense of propriety, when he suddenly felt two cold, sharp eyes shooting towards him.
Startled, he look around but Lian Fang Zhou had already looked away and was moving towards Lian Li without hesitation.

Feeling uneasy and guilty, Lian Hai thought about it and got up to follow.

“Uncle.” Lian Fang Zhou had heard from others that Lian Li’s face was flushed and he kept waving his hands and scolding Lian Che and she couldn’t help shouting furiously when she saw it.

Luckily, Lian Che had not lost his senses and had never said anything inappropriate, which made Lian Fang Zhou feel both relieved and distressed.

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“Big sister!”

“Fang Zhou is here!”

The crowd breathed a sigh of relief.

Lian Li was even more annoyed when he saw this! What did these people mean? Was it so amazing that Fang Zhou had arrived? What could she do?

“You came at the right time!” Lian Li sneered viciously: “Our old Lian family is not without rules! Tell yourself, even if he wins first place, even if he bows before the emperor, will he become the top scorer just because he wants to? So you don’t recognize me as your uncle? You dare not to listen to what I say? No matter how amazing you are, you are still my nephew! The root is here! If you want me to leave, then don’t be surnamed Lian if you have the ability! Don’t be surnamed Lian!”

Lian Li’s eyes were red and he was gasping for breath at the end, slapping the table loudly.

The crowd was stunned into silence and there was no sound.