Old Master Lian and Lian Shouren, father and son, sat across from each other for a long time, both silent. Lady Zhou sat beside them; she didn't understand Old Master Lian's phrase "only petty men and women are difficult to raise," thinking it referred to Lady He and Lady Gu, and not to her, so she didn't speak.
Old Master Lian was filled with distress, unable to find relief. Seeing the atmosphere in the room grow heavier, as the head of the family and the backbone for everyone, he could only rouse himself first.
"...Not to speak of anything else, but just the things Old Fourth said today. No wonder he's come this far. Old Fourth has truly shown promise..." After thinking over and over, Old Master Lian had to admit.
"What promise does he have? He can't even manage a household. In his household, he's just an empty figurehead; everything is decided by his wife and those kids. No guts, no spirit..." Hearing Old Master Lian speak this way, Lady Zhou immediately retorted disdainfully.
