The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 640 - 368 Preparation for the Future

Chapter 640: Chapter 368 Preparation for the Future

Lady Qian’s misery seemed to pour out from her heart to her lips, seeing how Jinchai stubbornly disobeyed, causing her both panic and fear.

This child, who could oppose a decision made by her father?

Lady Qian was, perhaps, the person in the world who understood Wang Yongan best. She knew that despite his seemingly gentle appearance, he was actually the coldest and most ruthless. If one was useless to him or did not follow his arrangements, they would become his enemy!

What of kin? Had not the fate of Wang Laozhu been a clear enough example?

In the past, she thought Wang Yongan was only harsh to the Wang Family and kind to the Qian Family, and she took pride in her heart, having secured Wang Yongan’s affection and turned the most promising son of the Wang Family into an actual son-in-law in name for the Qian Family.

But now that it was her family’s turn, Lady Qian couldn’t help but shudder.

If he could harm his own father, how much less would he care about his wife and daughter?

So she dared not argue or dispute any longer.

Even with Jinchai here, she must persuade her, or else Jinchai’s fate would truly be miserable.

Therefore, with a heavy heart, she relayed everything Wang Yongan had instructed her, one by one, and added, "Mother knows how aggrieved you feel, unwilling! Who would be willing? But there’s no other option. Our family is truly in a difficult situation. Your father has already offended Master Zhang. If we now earn the County Magistrate’s disdain, our family’s life will surely become unbearable."

"By then, not to speak of becoming a concubine, we might not even have the qualifications to be one! Listen to your mother’s advice, if we keep the green hills intact, we won’t be afraid of running out of firewood! Grit your teeth, and it’ll pass! If you can make the County Magistrate happy and he gives you more private treasures, and you later bear a child, if the child is successful in the future, you might even attain the title of Lady Grant."

"Just endure a few years, and get through these hard times..." Lady Qian held back her own thoughts, desperately trying to persuade.

Jinchai, though filled with many thoughts, was after all but a child of merely twelve in nominal age. Spoiled by Lady Qian in ordinary times, she couldn’t help but speak out of turn, crying and saying, "I see it clearly now! All the kindness of every other day is false. When it comes down to a critical moment, you parents, fearing for your own good days, hurriedly send your own daughter to become a minor wife."

"What kind of parents who cherish their daughter would send her to be someone’s concubine? You only think of yourselves, when have you ever considered me..."

Towards the end, her voice was on the verge of breaking.

Lady Qian suddenly pounced on her, covering Jinchai’s mouth, and whispered, "Keep your voice down, do you want to live!"

Jinchai, with tears streaming down, just shook her head.

Lady Qian’s heart immediately softened, and with tears of her own, she clenched her teeth and suddenly knelt in front of Jinchai, "Jinchai! Mother is begging you! For the sake of your parents who raised you, please agree! If we had the slightest way out, we wouldn’t bear to let you suffer this—"

After all, Jinchai was just a child. Threatened and enticed by Lady Qian, and seeing her kneel, she couldn’t hold out any longer.

She bit her teeth and said, "I agree! I agree, isn’t that enough?"

Lady Qian looked at Jinchai’s still childish face, and sorrow welled up in her heart. She threw her arms around Jinchai and burst into howling sobs, "My Jinchai, my poor, unfortunate daughter—"

...

※※※

Meanwhile, back at the inn.

After Wang Yongan’s ignominious escape,

Old Granny Zhang came to her senses and threw herself in front of Wang Laozhu, "You cur! You bastard Wang Laozhu! It’s all your fault! If anything happens to Zhuzhu, I will hang that beast Wang Yongan with a cord, and then go down to accompany Zhuzhu—"

While cursing, she shook Wang Laozhu vigourosly.

Since waking up from the antidote and hearing Wang Yongan’s words, Wang Laozhu had been stunned silent, his eyes unfocused.

Now, snapped out of his daze by Old Granny Zhang’s shaking, he felt a sharp pain in his chest and vomited a mouthful of blood, collapsing straight down.

Frightened out of his wits, Jinhoo failed to catch him; he watched Wang Laozhu slump onto the kang bed, pale as golden paper, breathing faintly, his eyes half-open but unseeing, mouth agape, unable to utter a single word.

Old Granny Zhang hadn’t anticipated that just a few words of scolding would make the old man spurt blood. Was this how they would lose another, without Zhuzhu returning?

Old Granny Zhang felt the world spin into darkness, and her body started to sway.

Jinhoo wished she could grow four hands just to cope with everything; she’d set Wang Laozhu down for a moment to steady Old Granny Zhang, "Granny, granny, are you alright?"

The master had coughed up blood, granny was about to faint, and both uncles had run out without coming back. Jinhoo felt like she was about to break down in tears.

"Mom, what’s wrong with you?" Just then, Jinhoo heard a voice as beautiful as the sounds of nature.

Was it the old aunt?

Turning her head, she saw Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin entering the yard together.

She called out in haste, "Old aunt, Uncle Song, come quick, the master has coughed up blood and granny is about to faint!"

"What?" Wang Yongzhu sprinted into the room, taking three steps at a time, and caught Old Granny Zhang, pinching her people gate while patting her back, helping her catch her breath.

Old Granny Zhang had been on the verge of fainting, but the sound of her daughter’s voice brought her back instantly!

Seeing her daughter alive and well before her eyes, nothing amiss, her breath righted, her eyes brightened, and her body steadied.

Grabbing Wang Yongzhu’s hand tightly, she said, "Zhuzhu, you’re alright? What on earth happened?" as she looked her up and down.

Wang Yongzhu helped Old Granny Zhang sit down, while Song Chongjin had already told Jinhoo he was going to find a doctor after hearing that Wang Laozhu had coughed up blood, then promptly turned and left.

Wang Yongzhu first checked Wang Laozhu’s complexion, which was genuinely concerning. Not daring to move him recklessly, she and Jinhoo gently helped him aside and covered him with a blanket.

Wang Laozhu, in his groggy state, heard Wang Yongzhu’s voice, struggled to open his eyes a sliver, and vaguely recognized a familiar voice, which calmed his heart a bit.

Seeing that Wang Laozhu’s breathing had become slightly smoother, Wang Yongzhu then sat down next to Old Granny Zhang and vaguely explained the situation, saying she had been stuffed into the sedan chair and seen by Song Chongjin, who then rescued her on the way.

Not long after, they realized that there were people searching for her all over the street, so she didn’t dare show herself and waited until it was dark before daring to return home.

Upon hearing this, Old Granny Zhang felt both relieved and furious, cursing Wang Yongan up and down.

After scolding Wang Yongan, she then remembered Wang Laozhu on the kang, "My dear, your father just coughed up blood. He won’t have any problems, will he?"

Wang Yongzhu was unsure herself and could only offer reassurance, "He should be okay. Brother Song has gone to find a doctor. Let’s see what the doctor says in a while."

Before long, Song Chongjin rushed in with a doctor.

The doctor looked at the pool of blood on the ground, then at Wang Laozhu’s complexion, and his face took on a grave expression.

He felt Wang Laozhu’s pulse for a long while, then lifted his eyelids to look into his eyes, and didn’t speak for a good while, only shaking his head.

The hearts of the Wang family members sank, "Doctor, my father—he—"

The doctor waved his hand and spoke softly, "Let’s talk outside."

Leaving Jinhoo to watch over Wang Laozhu, Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin helped Old Granny Zhang follow the doctor outside the room.

It was only then that the doctor spoke softly, "The old man was already weak, and having suffered a stroke before, today’s great shock has damaged his heart and lungs, causing him to spit out blood. I told you before, he needed to rest peacefully, without experiencing any great sorrow or joy. How could this have happened?"

Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin looked at each other, what more could they say?

But Old Granny Zhang spoke bluntly, "A vile son brought this upon us; he is to blame for all the anger!"

The doctor, aware this was the patient’s private family matter, refrained from asking more questions.

It was Wang Yongzhu who asked, "Doctor, isn’t there anything that can be done? As long as we can save my father, we are willing to spend any amount of silver!"

The doctor shook his head, "The old man’s body has suffered too much damage. I’m sorry, I’m powerless. It’s likely a matter of the next few days. You, as his children, should start making preparations."

This was the doctor telling the Wang family to prepare for the inevitable.