The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 594 - 592: Suffering Like This

Chapter 594: Chapter 592: Suffering Like This

Glancing around, Wang Laozhu looked at his three sons, each with undisguised resistance on their faces.

He sighed, knowing that their grievances ran deep and couldn’t be resolved in a moment.

"Second son," he had no choice but to say, "why don’t you all go back to the old house for now? The rooms you used to occupy are still in good condition; they just need a quick cleaning to be liveable. Your mother, along with your brothers and sister, are still holding onto their anger, and your return was too sudden. We weren’t prepared, so let’s just get through tonight. Everyone can cool off a bit, and we’ll talk tomorrow."

What else could Wang Yongan do but grit his teeth and agree?

Upon hearing they couldn’t stay in the new house and had to return to the old one, Golden Ingots immediately became displeased.

She was about to speak when Lady Qian pinched her firmly, causing her to tear up and dare not make a sound.

It was Wang Yongzhen who seemed thrilled with the arrangement, exclaiming with joy, "That’s great, let the second brother come and keep us company!" She then enthusiastically pulled at Lady Qian.

Lady Qian was also unhappy, having to leave a perfectly good new house and courtyard to return to the old dwelling.

But now they dared not say much and could only manage a strained smile as they followed Wang Yongzhen back to the old house.

Sun Mutou was cooking when he heard the commotion and ran out, stopping in his tracks at the sight.

Wang Yongzhen quickly said, "Hurry and help tidy up the room for your second uncle; his family will be staying with us here for the next few days."

At these words, Wang Yongan and Lady Qian both frowned.

Sun Mutou nodded without speaking, took a broom, and once Wang Yongzhen unlocked the door, he went in to clean.>

The room had been occupied by the craftsmen working on the new house and had been cleaned after they had left. Now, there was only a bit of dust, which Sun Mutou swept away in no time.

Lady Qian and Golden Ingots entered with their noses covered, only to be choked by the lingering dust and forced to run back out.

"How can we live in this dusty room? Mother, I don’t want to stay here!" Golden Ingots stamped her foot.

Wang Yongan, in pain and shivering from the cold in the yard, pondered for a moment before saying to Wang Yongzhen, "Sister, may I rest for a while in your room? The places where mother hit me start to hurt whenever I move, and I’m guessing they’re bleeding!"

Wang Yongzhen hurriedly responded, "Oh dear, I had forgotten all about that! Quick, come rest in my room."

She led him into her room, which was empty except for a table and two chairs.

Wang Yongan, sitting on one of the chairs, instructed, "Ruyue, quickly check my injuries!"

Lady Qian hurried over and carefully helped Wang Yongan remove his outer robe and set it aside.

Wang Yongzhen, upon seeing this, quickly pulled Golden Ingots out of the room.

No sooner had they left than Golden Ingots shook off Wang Yongzhen’s hand and pouted, walking off to the side.

Unperturbed, Wang Yongzhen affectionately patted Golden Ingots on the head, "Golden Ingots, isn’t it? You’ve grown into a beautiful young lady. It’s cold outside; go sit in the kitchen where it’s warmer."

Golden Ingots would never usually consider sitting in what she thought of as the filthy kitchen, fearful of soiling her clothes.

But as night fell and the howling wind cut through her clothing, she quickly grew cold just from being outside for a short while.

Bearing with it, she followed Wang Yongzhen to the kitchen, took the small stool offered to her, and sat by the hearth, which finally warmed her up a bit.

Wang Yongzhen wasn’t idle either. She fetched water to clean the table and kang in Wang Yongan’s room, and instructed Sun Mutou to heat up the kang.

Before long, Old Wang came to knock on the door, bringing bedding for Wang Yongan’s family.

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He saw Lady Qian tending to Wang Yongan’s wounds and, upon closer inspection, furrowed his brows in concern.

Old Granny Zhang really hadn’t held back at all. Though the thin bamboo stick seemed unassuming, it inflicted excruciating pain when it struck the body.

Now that the weather was cold, and everyone dressed warmly, but Wang Yongan’s cotton robe had been whipped till several spots were torn, revealing the cotton padding within.

Not to mention his arms, neck, and legs, which were crisscrossed with swollen red welts.

Whenever anyone touched him, Wang Yongan winced and sucked in breath after breath of cold air.

"Your mother, she really didn’t show any mercy, did she?" Wang Laozhu said, feeling a sting of pity himself.

"Dad, I’m fine! As long as Mom calms down, I’m willing to take even more beatings!" Wang Yongan said, eyes and brows lowered to show his boundless filial piety.

Wang Laozhu handed the bedding over to Lady Qian and hurriedly went back, soon returning with a bottle of medicinal oil, "Apply this and the swelling will be gone by morning! I’ve brought some game for you to eat tonight! Stay here to eat. We’ll talk more once your mother’s anger has subsided tomorrow."

After giving several instructions to Wang Yongzhen, he left in a rush.

Wang Yongzhen tidied up the room where Wang Yongan and the others were staying, warmed up the kang bed, and only then did Wang Yongan, Lady Qian, and Jinchai return to their quarters.

Wang Yongan kept expressing his gratitude, "Eldest sister, I really owe you a lot! Otherwise, we wouldn’t have known what to do tonight!"

He then instructed Lady Qian, "Eldest sister has cleaned up the house for us, what are you waiting for? Why aren’t you helping her cook? Should she wait on us hand and foot?"

Wang Yongzhen had never received such heartfelt thanks before, especially from her scholar brother, and she felt an invigorating tide of pride and eagerness surge within her.

Waving her hands, she said, "You are injured, let your wife take care of you! I’ll cook! I’ll cook!" she beamed as if she had found a treasure like the Golden Ingots.

Watching Wang Yongzhen enter the kitchen, the smile on Wang Yongan’s face vanished. As soon as he turned around, the pain was unbearable, and he couldn’t help but curse under his breath.

Lady Qian hurried over to support him, "Official, are you alright? If I had known you’d suffer like this upon our return, it would have been better not to return at all!"

Wang Yongan glared at her, "A woman’s perspective! What is this injury compared to what we need to achieve? If we don’t suffer a bit, how will they believe us? Foolish! Let me tell you, don’t you dare slip up tomorrow, understand?"

Lady Qian whispered, "But about father and mother, Official, you promised to deliver a silver note to them early tomorrow... as for us..."

Her voice trailed off to an inaudible murmur.

Wang Yongan frowned slightly and thought for a while before saying, "I have a plan in mind, don’t worry about it. Tomorrow morning, all you need to do is bring the gifts we’ve bought to them, and then..."

※※※

In the kitchen, Sun Mutou’s face was grim as he added firewood to the stove, "Mother, we really should interfere less with Grandpa’s family matters..."

Wang Yongzhen was busy cooking, having just finished chopping up a wild rabbit brought by Old Wang, intending to stew it in a savory sauce.

Upon hearing Sun Mutou’s words, she dismissed them, "What do you kids understand? Now that we can’t rely on the Sun Family, your mother has been foolish before, not close enough to your uncles and aunties. It’s fine while your grandpa is still here, but what would you do if he wasn’t? It’s rare that your second uncle has returned, and he’s a Scholar Master who works for the County Magistrate, no less. We don’t need to flatter him, but isn’t it better to maintain good relations? Who knows, he may even lend you a hand in the future!"

Sun Mutou threw another piece of firewood into the stove, "As a country boy, what can my second uncle do for me? Mother, isn’t it nicer to live honestly and plainly?"

He couldn’t describe the discomfort he felt watching his mother’s personality change since his father’s passing.

"Wasn’t your mother honest and straightforward before? Yet she was tormented by your grandmother to near death! I’ve come to understand that one must look out for oneself. Besides, I don’t have any other intentions. I just want to get closer to your second uncle. If he considers us when good fortune comes his way, would that be so wrong?"

Sun Mutou lowered his head and fell silent.

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