The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 633 - 631

Chapter 633: 631

Over the next two days, Wang Laozhu either hadn’t come around yet, or was too ashamed to see anyone.

Apart from Jinhoo, he saw no one and stayed cooped up in his room to recuperate.

The doctor had visited and advised him to rest quietly, since he was getting on in years. This time, his health had taken a hit, plus having suffered a stroke more than half a year ago, he needed to look after himself properly.

They agreed to wait until the toxins in Wang Laozhu’s body were fully cleared before starting any treatment to strengthen his body, advising him to keep his temper down and maintain a calm disposition over the next few days.

Old Granny Zhang couldn’t wait to stay away; she had served the annoying old man for most of her life. Now that they were separated, who would want to bother with him?

Wang Yongzhu also took this opportunity to stay away, to avoid ruining each other’s mood by seeing one another.

Every day, she would spend the afternoons in the courtyard reserved by Song Chongjin, analyzing the information gathered by his men to assess the situation and decide on their next move. She truly had no time to put up with Wang Laozhu.

On the third morning, Wang Yongzhu got up early and waited in the courtyard.

This was the third day since she had forced Wang Yongan to take the poison. If nothing unexpected happened, Wang Yongan would probably come seeking the antidote today.

She waited from morning until afternoon when a young waiter came to say that a visitor was outside asking for Wang Yongzhu, mentioning that a private room had been reserved at the front and the guest was waiting there.

Wang Yongzhu asked for a description of the guest. As soon as the young waiter described the visitor, particularly the splint on the right arm, she knew it was Wang Yongan.

Based on her estimates, Wang Yongan should have been unable to bear it and come in the morning. It surprised her that he had lasted until the afternoon. This endurance only made Wang Yongzhu more wary of him.

Wang Yongzhu had been waiting for Wang Yongan. After giving Old Granny Zhang a few instructions, she followed the young waiter up to the private room on the second floor of the inn’s main hall.

Pushing the door open, the person inside heard the noise and turned around.

As expected, it was Wang Yongan, who must have freshened up before leaving home. He wore a semi-worn cotton robe, but the small Bat Jade Pendant hanging from his waist, though not large, was bright and smooth, clearly no common trinket.

Wang Yongan seemed to like the Jade Pendant very much, his hand unconsciously reaching now and then to touch it.

He was pale with dark circles under his eyes. Upon seeing Wang Yongzhu, his pupils shrank, but he quickly regained his composure.

Though he appeared somewhat weak, his expression held an irrepressible joy that could be glimpsed in the corners of his eyes and brows.

Seeing that Wang Yongzhu had come alone, Wang Yongan let out an imperceptible sigh of relief.

"Little sister, here you are, take a seat first," Wang Yongan managed a strained smile, instructed the waiter to serve tea and snacks, then ordered several of the inn’s famous dishes before he took his seat with a smile.

Wang Yongzhu sat across the table, silently observing Wang Yongan.

Wang Yongan looked around and saw that there was no one else, he suddenly stood up, gave a deep bow to Wang Yongzhu, "Little sister! I apologize, I’m sorry! I only ask you to give me the antidote—"

Wang Yongzhu sneered coldly. There was no use regretting now.

Just two days ago, he had schemed to trade her for his future prospects. Now realizing the gravity of the situation, he thought a couple of words would make her let him off the hook? Dream on!

The situation had escalated to life and death. The moment she gave the antidote, she feared she really wouldn’t be able to leave Qi City.

Wang Yongan, seeing Wang Yongzhu’s silent, mocking gaze, also understood that his sister was not so easily fooled, unlike their father.

He had misjudged before; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so ruthless at the beginning. If he had just put a bit more thought into it and taken both his birth mother and Wang Yongzhu with him, he wouldn’t be in a position today where his life was at the mercy of others.

Thinking about the past couple of days, following Gao Jin to places like Gentle Village and the Gambling Den, that sensation, upon recollection, still left him restless.

Such a life of drunken revelry and luxurious debauchery was beyond his wildest imagination.

He had always considered himself worldly, but yesterday, he had acted like a country bumpkin coming to town for the first time.

It was both embarrassing and tinged with a covert excitement.

The taste of superiority, even if it was a false one, given the treatment he received simply because he was brought by Gao Jin, was something he indulged in.

There, he reigned supreme, with several women clad in bright reds and greens casting flirtatious glances at him, seizing every opportunity to snuggle into his embrace, kneeling by his side, gently pouring his wine and feeding him fruit with delicate fingers, tending to him meticulously.

With the scent of perfume wafting through the air and sultry looks exchanged, his soul nearly left his body.

Wang Yongan only felt that he had lived the past decades in vain, only now realizing that there was such ecstasy in the world!

Having tasted the sweetness, how could he be willing to return to a life of living with Lady Qian, a sallow-faced wife?

Was Lady Qian as beautiful as they were? Did she serve him as well? Was she sweet-smelling, tender, and innocent?

After asking himself these questions, even Wang Yongan felt that he had made a huge loss. To think that he, a fine Scholar, ended up marrying Lady Qian, who hadn’t even borne him a son.

Resenting Lady Qian in his heart but unwilling to part with the tender caresses by his side, Wang Yongan simply stayed in Gentle Village, until this morning when he was awoken by pain.

These past days, following Gao Jin, he had quite a bit of money at hand. He had someone call for a Doctor from Peace Clinic who, after only taking his pulse, said there were toxins inside Wang Yongan’s body, explaining that thoroughly removing the toxins would not be simple.

Seeing Wang Yongan in unbearable pain, the Doctor gave him an acupuncture treatment to relieve some of it, then left after prescribing pain-relief medication.

Only then did Wang Yongan realize that Wang Yongzhu wasn’t deceiving him about the poison.

Although he didn’t know where Wang Yongzhu got the poison, he knew he still had to beg Wang Yongzhu for the antidote.

Otherwise, his life was in danger. Now that the world had opened up the doors of a new era to him, how could he bear to die?

Grinding his teeth, Wang Yongan spoke, "Little sister, talking about sibling affection now would be a joke. Let’s be frank; tell me, what do you want me to do in exchange for the antidote?"

Wang Yongan had been driven to a corner and would do anything to survive.

Just as Wang Yongzhu was about to speak, the door was knocked on, and a waiter came in with a tray, placing the dishes on the table: "Please enjoy your meal, gentlemen. I’ll be right outside the door, just call me if you need anything."

After the waiter left, Wang Yongan urged Wang Yongzhu to eat first, then they could negotiate.

Wang Yongzhu was about to refuse when she heard a series of crisp bird calls outside, prompting a change of heart, and she compliantly sat at the table.

It was a rare occasion for Wang Yongan to splurge, and there was a table full of delicious food that shouldn’t go to waste.

Seeing Wang Yongzhu pick up her chopsticks, Wang Yongan’s anxious heart finally settled, and he enthusiastically introduced the various famous dishes.

Even with his one good hand, he eagerly served Wang Yongzhu dishes and poured water for her, displaying great warmth and hospitality.