The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 332: Killed by a Collision?

Chapter 332: Chapter 332: Killed by a Collision?

Amid such shouting, crashing, and howling, even if the Old Wang Family wanted to keep it quiet and handle it themselves, I’m afraid all the villagers already knew. This unexpected concubine, whether the Old Wang Family wanted her or not, they would have to take her in.

Then there was Wang Yonggui still hugging Widow Sun, calling out something about going together to the afterlife, "You sure are going together now, aren’t you!"

Old Granny Zhang cursed furiously, "Shout again if you dare, your parents and I aren’t dead yet, you’re wailing like at a funeral! Shut your mouth for me, and if you wail again, you can take this woman and get out of the Old Wang Family home. Your mother will act as if she never bore such a scourge."

"Mom, Mom, she’s running out of breath!" Wang Laosan’s tears and snot dangled long, dripping on his brand new clothes.

The stunned crowd also came back to their senses.

Such a spectacle, Qilidun hadn’t seen in decades.

People began to talk and ask questions, with the fire of gossip burning, unstoppable.

Some meddlesome folks even stepped forward to check Widow Sun’s breath.

"Is she still breathing? She didn’t really get knocked to death, did she?"

"Goodness, bringing back such romantic debts from outside, yet the Old Wang Family refuses to acknowledge it? Isn’t that just forcing someone to their death!"

"Pah, you make it sound so easy. Would your family dare to take in such a widow?"

"What the widow says seems quite pitiable. Now that the Wang Family is living well, how can they not accommodate a widow? Besides, Wang Laosan has taken her body; if the Old Wang Family doesn’t acknowledge it, isn’t it just bullying a jobless widow?"

...

The noise was a mixture of many voices.

With the Wang Family’s life getting better, plus their hefty contribution in the past water fight, the compensation and rewards they were supposed to get from Lizheng, as well as the accolades for Wang Yongzhu’s significant achievement in the water fight, the reputation of the Wang Family in Qilidun was slowly improving, with everyone owing them two favors.

But there were also those households that didn’t get along with the Wang Family, who were jealous. Observing that the Wang Family’s mountain goods business seemed to be doing well, they also attracted quite a few envious glares.

On the surface, it all looked fine most of the time, but once something happened, those envious and resentful people would seize the opportunity to speak ill of the Wang Family and trample them underfoot.

This is, after all, human nature.

Listening to all this was beyond the pale. Wang Laozhu roared angrily, "Laosan, have you caused enough trouble? Stop wasting time and bring her inside!"

Wang Yongzhu thought for a moment and whispered to his bewildered nephew Jinpan, who had just rushed back, "Jinpan, hurry to the next village and get Doctor Liu here, quickly..."

Jinpan turned and ran.

Wang Yonggui still held Widow Sun in his arms, seemingly ready to make a scene at the gate if Old Granny Zhang wouldn’t allow them in.

Wang Yongzhu stepped forward, effortlessly grabbed Wang Laosan and the feigning Widow Sun with one hand each, and picked them up.

"Ah, Little Sister, Little Sister, what are you doing? What’s happening? Ah, put down Third Brother... Ouch!"

Wang Yonggui hadn’t finished speaking when he was thrown back under the eaves.

He landed flat on his back, only clutching his buttocks and exclaiming in pain.

With such a commotion happening at the Old Wang Family, a door away, Wang Yongfu realized there was no way business could proceed today, so he hurriedly picked up the mountain goods he had collected, moved them into the courtyard, and hung up a closed-for-business sign.

He bowed respectfully, requesting the neighbors to return to their homes and not to crowd around for entertainment.

Out of respect for Wang Yongfu, some with good relationships dispersed, but some old bachelors and gossipy women shamelessly lingered, smiling and refusing to leave regardless of persuasion.

Left with no other choice, Wang Yongfu turned and entered the courtyard, shutting the gates of both the front and back yards tightly.

No matter what, with the courtyard gates closed, those outside could only listen from afar.

Wang Yonggui’s skin was thick, and since Wang Yongzhu had caught on to his little scheme and intended to teach him a lesson, she didn’t hold back when she threw him out.

Although Wang Yongzhu really wanted to throw out Widow Sun as well, she feared she might not control her strength, and if Widow Sun got seriously hurt, she would end up being a burden on the Old Wang Family, unable to be sent away and clinging to them, which would be troublesome.

Holding her, the family entered the main room where Wang Laozhu and Old Granny Zhang lived.

Under the day’s circumstances, it was unrealistic to continue discussing matters in the courtyard; inside the main room, there was more space, and with the door shut, they were not afraid of peeping eyes or eavesdroppers standing at the courtyard gate—they couldn’t see or hear anything.

All members of the Old Wang Family entered the room and stood silently, as quiet as cicadas in winter.

Wang Yongzhu casually placed Widow Sun on the ground, leaving her lying there askew, her forehead’s bleeding already stopped, and paid her no further attention.

Old Granny Zhang was trembling with anger, unable to sit still on the kang. It would have been one thing if her own scourge bumped into the door and died, but Widow Sun wasn’t their own. If something serious happened, it would be impossible to clear things up.

Wang Laozhu was fuming with rage. No matter what, the Old Wang Family had never had such a scandalous issue. In all their generations, they had never taken a concubine. And now, his unworthy son, Laosan, wanted to be the first: a mere peasant, still reliant on his parents to provide for his wife and child, yet presuming to take a concubine?

Especially by using such a shameless method, coercing his own parents and father to agree to his taking a concubine.

He felt his hands go numb, his vision darken, and waves of dizziness swept over him.

Observing Wang Laozhu’s complexion change, Wang Yongzhu thought he might be so angry he could have a stroke again. Her heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly went over to massage him to soothe his breath.

Lady Jiang was clearly frightened by Widow Sun’s act of bumping into the door. She had not yet snapped out of the shock and was subconsciously holding Jinshao, patting his back without realizing it.

Jinhua and her brother Jinpan were shivering behind Lady Jiang.

The children had never seen such a scene before and were instantly scared stiff.

Lady Lin dared not even breathe heavily, keeping her head down and trying to make herself as inconspicuous as possible. She was too afraid to glance around, worried that Old Granny Zhang’s anger could turn towards her. Laosan might still hold back a little since he was her own son, but she was just a surrogate for punishment. It was better to stay quiet.

Wang Yonggui had originally planned to stay under the eaves, but Wang Yongzhu dragged him inside. He tried to resist, but his sister’s grip was too strong, and he couldn’t break free.

Once inside, he had wanted to cry out, but seeing the unhappy faces of his parents and the oppressive atmosphere of the room, he swallowed the cries that had reached his throat.

Looking around without a place to stand, he silently moved next to Sun Ahfu, knelt down, held Sun Ahfu’s hand, and silently wept; to the unaware, it would seem as if Sun Ahfu had passed away.

As the eldest son, Wang Yongfu had heard the gist of the incident from outside. He was quite disapproving of the actions of his younger brother, Laosan, but with their father on the verge of another stroke, he had no choice but to step forward bravely and check Widow Sun’s breath.

"She’s not dead, she’s still breathing, and the bleeding on her forehead has stopped. Dad, Mom, you don’t have to worry; no lives have been lost."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief knowing that no life was lost.

Wang Yongzhu had already noticed that Widow Sun was actually fine when she carried her into the room. Her senses were sharp, and she had detected that Sun’s breathing was normal, which is why she had left her on the ground.

However, upon entering and seeing that Wang Laozhu’s complexion had changed, she had focused on massaging him to help with his breath, not having a moment to speak up until now.