The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 162: Come Back

Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Come Back

Jinshao stopped crying the moment she reached Wang Yongzhu’s hands, her little arms tightly hugging Wang Yongzhu’s neck as she affectionately nuzzled against her, "With old auntie here, Jinshao is not afraid—"

That meant, as long as her old auntie was there, Jinshao wasn’t afraid!

Indeed, the day before, Lady Jiang had been holding Jinshao, who had directly witnessed Wang Yongzhu’s heroic table-flipping moment; it must have left a deep impression in the little bean’s mind.

She felt that her old auntie was her guardian deity, feeling exceptionally secure in her auntie’s embrace.

Lady Jiang quickly reprimanded, "Jinshao, come down quickly, don’t tire out your old auntie—"

Jinshao, for once, did not heed Lady Jiang’s words. She twisted her little body, positioned her little bottom towards Lady Jiang, and buried her little head firmly into Wang Yongzhu’s chest.

Wang Yongzhu, unable to help but laugh and cry at the situation, gently smacked Jinshao’s bottom, "Little guy, assaulting people is not good."

Then, she squatted down and set Jinshao on the ground.

Although Jinshao was still reluctant, she dared not cling on and refuse to come down; she just pitifully clutched on to Wang Yongzhu’s skirt without letting go, following her every step—whenever Wang Yongzhu took a step, she would hurriedly shuffle her little legs to take two.

Wang Yongzhu, out of options, simply sat down on a stone bench in the yard, allowing Little Jinshao to play beside her. This way, no one would get tired.

Lady Jiang still wanted Jinshao to kowtow to Wang Yongzhu, but before she could say much, there was a sound of quick footsteps from outside.

One could tell that the person walking was very angry.

Then, the courtyard door was pushed open, and Old Granny Zhang walked in with a grim expression.

Wang Yongzhu hurriedly stood to greet her, only to see someone trailing behind Old Granny Zhang—it was—Lady Lin?

Not just Wang Yongzhu, Lady Jiang and Jinhua were also taken aback.

Wang Yongfu was still lying in the infirmary, yet his wife wasn’t there to take care of him; what was she doing running back home?

Glancing at Old Granny Zhang’s complexion, it was clear she didn’t agree with Lady Lin returning, yet she let Lady Lin come back anyway, which made things quite interesting.

Old Granny Zhang, upon seeing Wang Yongzhu, instantly changed her impatient expression.

Her face bloomed into a smile as bright as chrysanthemums, she walked briskly over, scanned Wang Yongzhu up and down, and, seeing her rosy cheeks and smiling lips, figured the events of the previous night hadn’t frightened her girl—good!

After giving her assessment, Old Granny Zhang didn’t bother with Lady Lin or anyone else behind her; she just grabbed her dear girl and wanted to head back inside.

Jinshao was clinging to Wang Yongzhu’s skirt and almost caused her, who momentarily was unfazed, to trip and fall.

Seeing Jinshao’s actions, Old Granny Zhang’s face immediately showed impatience, "Laosan’s House, is this how you look after your child? Don’t you know she needs to rest? Are you taking advantage of my absence to have your little aunt look after your kid? Did you even consider what kind of person you are to deserve your little aunt’s attention? Yesterday we just saved your lives, and now you’re even more arrogant! Have you forgotten whose food you eat, whose bowl you hold? Have you all grown wings and formed your own ideas? I’m not dead yet, is it your turn to rule the roost?"

Lady Jiang, trembling with fear, quickly stepped forwards to pick up Jinshao.

Though Jinshao felt secure beside her old auntie, when added to grandma’s scolding, um, it seemed better to go back to her own mom!

She obediently let go of her grip.

Wang Yongzhu patted his head, knowing that when Old Granny Zhang started to scold, it was best not to interrupt forcefully, or else even if she spared you for your face today, she would definitely find a reason to scold you worse tomorrow.

In Old Granny Zhang’s words, wasn’t it just to coax her own foolish girl to speak well for them? They rightly deserved a scolding, and for trying to use her precious daughter as a stepping stone, they deserved it even more!

Since then, Wang Yongzhu stopped interrupting when Old Granny Zhang scolded others. She would quietly listen until the end, then look for an opportunity to subtly explain a little, careful not to seem like she was deliberately defending them. It had to come across as casual, slipping out just a sentence or two.

So, after Old Granny Zhang had finished her rant, Wang Yongzhu smiled and said, "Mother, you must be tired from the journey, huh? Come inside with me. Jinhua, fetch some water for Granny to wash her face. Mother, I’ll make you a cup of sweetened water to drink and refresh yourself!"

With just a few words, she had cheered up Old Granny Zhang, who then went into the house.

Jinhua hurried to get the water, while Wang Yongzhu didn’t feel like dealing with Lady Lin and went to the kitchen to get some boiling water.

Lady Jiang stood awkwardly in the courtyard, holding Jinguan, and managed a strained smile towards Lady Lin, "Sister-in-law, you’re back! Has big brother’s injury gotten much better?"

Lady Lin, normally full of spirit, seemed off today, almost as if she was feeling guilty and out of breath, barely nodded, "Mmm, it’s better! I’m going back to my room."

With that, she hurried into the main house with her head down.

Lady Jiang looked towards the main house, feeling that something was amiss. Typically, she wouldn’t have cared about such matters.

But after last night’s chopping incident with Wang Daxiu, she was too panicked to run, her legs giving out, but as she sat on the ground, her eyes were fixed in the direction of Wang Yongping.

At that moment, she hadn’t thought much, only that the only reliable man in the family was now her younger brother-in-law. Facing the crazed Wang Daxiu, she could only hope her brother-in-law could stop her.

But what did she see? She saw Jinguan hiding behind her younger brother-in-law, desperately clinging to his legs, not letting go.

Making it difficult for her brother-in-law to come and save her.

In that moment, she felt hopeless! Her own life might have been forfeit, but her Jinshao was still so small!

That despair was deeper than when she watched her mother die, deeper even than realizing the truth about her own man.

So, after being saved, the gratitude she felt was immense.

Only those who have struggled back from the brink of death know the preciousness of life!

At night on the kang, holding the frightened and crying Jinshao, Lady Jiang felt grateful, yet she couldn’t help but harbor resentment.

If it hadn’t been for her sister-in-law’s intervention, she and Jinshao might not have escaped harm.

The courtyard gate was always kept closed, so why was it open today?

Lady Jiang remembered before dinner, when she had carried food out of the kitchen, it seemed like she saw Jinguan playing near the gate. Was it him? Did Jinguan leave the gate unlatched, forgetting to secure it?

This thought lingered in Lady Jiang’s mind, refusing to leave.

As time passed, she became more convinced it was Jinguan’s fault the gate was open, otherwise, how could Wang Daxiu have gotten in? How else could she and Jinshao have suffered such a fright, nearly making a trip to Yama Raja’s palace?

Even someone as gentle as Lady Jiang couldn’t help but feel resentment brew within her heart.

Moreover, while her own child was threatened with death, Jinguan was temporarily safe yet still clung to her brother-in-law, fearing that he would leave him.

Lady Jiang tried to reason with herself that Jinguan was just a child, who, seeing someone with a knife coming in to attack, was scared and hence sought the comfort of an adult without letting go, which was understandable.

But what about her Jinshao? So small, if something had happened, what then?

All children are the flesh of their mother’s hearts. Lady Jiang herself might stay silent, but when it came to Jinshao, even she struggled to keep her complaints to herself.

Therefore, seeing Lady Lin like this, Lady Jiang felt something was about to happen.