The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 641 - 639

Chapter 641: 639

Wang Yongzhu was startled. Although she didn’t like Wang Laozhu very much, thinking him biased and obstinate, always causing her trouble and frustration,

yet when she actually heard that he was dying, she didn’t feel the relief she had expected; instead, a faint sadness crept in.

Old Granny Zhang, despite being disappointed with her husband Wang Laozhu, had never wished for his death! There were many elderly men and wives of his age in Qilidun who lived tough lives but were still alive and well.

Why then, as the Wang Family’s days were getting better, did this wretched old man have to go?

It was Song Chongjin who kept his composure. Seeing the doctor ready to leave, he hurriedly grabbed him and whispered something in his ear.

The doctor nodded, took out a small porcelain bottle from his medicine box and handed it to Song Chongjin, gave some instructions, accepted the doctor’s fee, and hurried away.

No sooner had the doctor left than Wang Yonggui and Wang Yongping, the two brothers, returned.

Because Yongcheng had mineral resources, even though it was a small county, the city gates would still be closed at night, preventing outsiders from entering and city residents from leaving.

It was already dark, and they didn’t even know the way; in their anxiety to find Wang Yongzhu, where could they start searching?

Watching as the shops closed and the pedestrians dwindled on the streets, a few lanterns hung swaying at the entrance of a couple of stores, casting circles of light just beyond.

The streets were dark, and it was a long while before the night watch came by, holding a lantern and a wooden clapper, knocking along while reminding, "The air is dry; be careful with fire—"

With no other choice, the brothers had to turn back the way they came.

Upon entering the courtyard, the first thing they saw were Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu, and their faces immediately brightened: "Little sister?"

After greeting Song Chongjin and just about to exchange a few pleasantries, Wang Yonggui, sensitive to expressions, acutely sensed that the atmosphere was off.

He hesitated before asking, "Has something happened?" His eyes involuntarily glanced towards Wang Yongzhu.

How did little sister come back? And why did Song Chongjin follow? Normally, their mother should be happy about her daughter’s return, so why the grim face?

Wang Yonggui’s mind whirred rapidly.

"You go inside and check on your father. Right after you left, he began vomiting blood! We just called the doctor, and he said it’s a matter of a couple of days. He told us to prepare! It’s not like we’re in Qilidun; we don’t have anyone here to help us!" Old Granny Zhang waved her hand, signaling the sons to go in and see Wang Laozhu.

Wang Yonggui and Wang Yongping exchanged glances and hurried into the house.

The others followed them into the room.

"Dad—" The brothers rushed to the edge of the kang bed, looking at Wang Laozhu’s pallor, their hearts tightened.

Song Chongjin took out the small porcelain bottle he was holding: "This is an energy pill I asked the doctor for, to revive uncle a bit and let him... if there’s anything he needs to tell us..."

He didn’t finish his sentence, but everyone knew the implication: these pills were to give Wang Laozhu a final burst of energy to settle his affairs.

Wang Yonggui and Wang Yongping looked at each other, both unwilling to take the bottle.

On the kang bed, Wang Laozhu slowly regained consciousness; his face was paler, but his mind was clear.

Upon seeing Wang Yongzhu, his eyes lit up, and after struggling to catch his breath for a moment, he said, "Zhuzhu?"

Wang Yongzhu approached Wang Laozhu: "Dad, I’m fine. I was saved by Brother Song."

"That’s good—that’s good—" Wang Laozhu’s withered hand clutched Wang Yongzhu’s, his eyes welling up with tears.

Thank goodness his daughter was safe; otherwise, even in death, he wouldn’t be able to close his eyes.

"After uttering a few words, Wang Laozhu gasped for quite a while before closing his eyes. It took him a good moment before he opened them again and looked towards Song Chongjin, ’Chongjin—you, come here—’"

Song Chongjin obediently stood in front of Wang Laozhu."

Wang Laozhu’s remaining hand firmly grasped Song Chongjin’s, and though his speech was halting, it was resolute. ’You two must marry quickly—have the ceremony tomorrow—’"

What? The whole family was stunned."

Only Song Chongjin’s eyes sparkled."

"Uncle? You want me to have the wedding ceremony with Yongzhu tomorrow?"

Wang Laozhu gasped a few times in haste and nodded vigorously."

After he coughed up blood, although he was limp in bed and seemed unconscious to others, he knew he was more lucid than ever; he just couldn’t speak or move."

The doctor spoke loudly enough that he heard every word and knew his end was near."

As death approached, Wang Laozhu couldn’t help but reflect on his life."

In his lifetime, he felt he had done right by everyone, except his wife and his little girl."

His wife bore the Wang Family five children, continuing the Wang family line, truly a great hero of the Wang Family."

But she never really enjoyed any blessings with him."

He always found his wife too fierce and unmanageable, which he disliked, but now that he was dying, on reflection, Wang Laozhu realized that if Old Granny Zhang had not been fierce, how could she have established herself in the Wang Family? How could she have protected her children?"

And his little girl, he had also wronged her. Her young shoulders bore the burden of a family of more than ten, and he, for the sake of the Wang Family’s reputation, always found fault with her, disapproving of everything she did."

Now he felt his face burn with shame, hardly daring to look at his little girl directly."

Not to mention the trouble caused by Wang Laoer, that animal. If not for his own senility, falling for Wang Laoer’s deceit, would he have come to Qi City?"

Would he have been secretly poisoned, and under the pretext of his poor health, have his little girl deceived into coming here, to be sent off to become a concubine for the County Magistrate?"

At this moment, Wang Laozhu’s mind was clearer than it had ever been."

As the saying goes, commoners cannot contend with officials; though his family had some status in Qilidun, here in Qi City, where they were strangers, they needed to keep a low profile."

Especially since refusing to send Wang Yongzhu to be a concubine for the County Magistrate, he had offended both the County Magistrate and Wang Laoer, that animal."

Wang Laozhu now saw Wang Laoer’s true nature clearly. If he knew that Yongzhu was safely back, he might come knocking, not stopping until he achieved his goal."

They were all just ordinary folk; how could they fight against an official?"

The only thing he could do was to have his daughter and the young man Song Chongjin marry right away, to truly become husband and wife. Considering the status of the County Magistrate, he would not likely covet another’s wife, right?"

Once his daughter was married, Wang Laoer would have no right to lay a hand on her."

Wang Yongping failed to grasp the meaning behind Wang Laozhu’s intentions, feeling that their father must be at death’s door, starting to talk nonsense."

Preparing for funeral affairs, yet still urging his sister and Song Chongjin to get married—what if something went wrong? It might mean having to deal with both a wedding and a funeral at once, what ill fortune that would be?"

"Dad! Look at you, talking nonsense. You’d better lie down and rest!" Wang Yongping urged."

But Old Granny Zhang, old and astute, sensed something was amiss."