The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 650 - 649: Last Will and Testament

Chapter 650: Chapter 649: Last Will and Testament

She patted Wang Yongzhu on the hand and spoke with immense calmness, "So many years have passed since those events, what’s past is past, what’s the use in discussing them now? One must look forward in life in order to keep going!"

"I really don’t have anything to blame you for. You were willing to marry me, allowing me to escape the hell that was my parents’ home, and I bore you sons and daughters. Isn’t this how all of us peasants live our lives? We’re an old couple now, why bring up such matters nowadays?"

"I don’t blame you, nor do I resent you!" Old Granny Zhang’s tranquility was excessive.

Wang Laozhu looked at Old Granny Zhang’s expression and after hearing her words, was taken aback for a moment. It took him quite some time before he shakily reached out his hand towards Old Granny Zhang.

Old Granny Zhang sat without moving, while Wang Yongping, watching Wang Laozhu’s stubborn demeanor, couldn’t help but cry out pitifully, "Mother——"

Old Granny Zhang sighed, stood up, walked to the edge of the kang bed, and reached out her hand, which was firmly grasped by Wang Laozhu, "Chun Tao——"

Old Granny Zhang frowned. It had been many years since she had heard Wang Laozhu call her by the name Chun Tao.

"These days, I’ve been thinking daily, where exactly I went wrong to raise a beast like your second brother. Everyone advised me then, but I wouldn’t listen. Now, this is my retribution! As the saying goes, ’If a son is untaught, his father is to blame.’

"It’s all because I, as a father, did not lead by example, letting that beast, your second brother, follow in my footsteps! As a result, he brought ruin upon the whole family and nearly destroyed Yongzhu as well! The root cause lies with me! It’s my fault——"

Wang Laozhu, holding onto Old Granny Zhang’s hand, wept bitterly.

Old Granny Zhang looked at Wang Laozhu calmly, her gaze unflinching and undisturbed.

"Back then, it was my fault. If I hadn’t let their mother bring them up, it wouldn’t have come to this. You said you wanted to raise the children yourself, and yet I cursed at you, I gave you the cold shoulder! Now I realize it was all my fault! I was blind! It was I who ruined our children! Ruined the Wang Family!" Wang Laozhu said, becoming increasingly emotional as he spoke.

"Father! Father, please don’t say anymore——" Wang Yonggui, seeing Wang Laozhu become agitated to the point where his breathing almost couldn’t keep up, hurriedly urged.

This only reminded Wang Laozhu, "You all——kneel down!"

Wang Yonggui looked at Wang Laozhu’s agitated state and did not dare to disobey; he helped Wang Laozhu lean on the quilt and then knelt respectfully in front of Wang Laozhu and Old Granny Zhang.

All the others, except for Old Granny Zhang, had no choice but to kneel in front of Wang Laozhu.

After Wang Laozhu caught his breath, he continued, "I am on my way out of this world, leaving your mother all alone. The person I have wronged the most in this lifetime is your mother! I have no other requests, but before I die, let your father ask you one thing——"

Wang Yonggui knocked his head on the floor in fear, "Father, whatever your wishes are, whatever you want, just command us! Please don’t talk about ’asking’; where would that leave us, your sons, when facing others?"

Only then did Wang Laozhu say, "Today, your four brothers, and your second brother, that beast, must go to the clan and drive him out after you return, and also remove his name from the family register! Do you hear me!"

"We hear you!" Wang Yonggui and Wang Yongping hastily responded.

"Even though your eldest brother is not here, Jinhoo is, so you listen on behalf of your father. When you go back, convey my words to your father!" Wang Laozhu glanced at Jinhoo.

Jinhoo nodded, tears twinkling in his eyes. Although he had previously thought that his grandfather had grown old and become muddled and dim-witted,

at this critical juncture, with Wang Laozhu on the brink of death, all he could recall were the man’s good days.

As the child of the eldest branch, and not much different in age from Jindou, he had been quite favored by Wang Laozhu. Looking back, he remembered how Wang Laozhu had stealthily given them treats, played with them, and, when it came to work, had always tried to assign them the easier tasks.

One by one, those moments came flooding back. Before the family underwent changes, Wang Laozhu could be said to have been a good grandfather indeed. Remembering his kindness and now seeing him in his current state made Jinhoo unbearably distressed.

"Grandfather, rest assured," Jindou said, sniffling, "whatever instructions you have, just tell me, and I’ll relay them exactly to father without missing a word!"

Wang Laozhu nodded, "All three of you brothers are here; Jindou, listen on behalf of your eldest brother. After I’m gone, do not neglect your mother just because you’ve divided the family! Before, your mother was left to Yongzhu, but now Yongzhu is married to Chongjin. You must not rely on Yongzhu to take care of your mother anymore!"

"Your mother didn’t only give birth to Yongzhu, did she? The money from the division of the family and the capital for the mountain produce business, I’ve handed it all to your mother. Without me, this will all be for your mother’s support in her old age! You don’t need to spend your own silver to support her! You just need to be obedient, don’t argue with your mother! You must also show her filial piety, take her advice on both minor and major matters. She will not harm you!"

"Also, even though Yongzhu has married off, she has contributed a lot to our family. The things allocated to her are naturally hers, including the courtyard! You must not bully her, understood?"

Wang Yonggui, Wang Yongping, and Jinhoo all hurriedly nodded their heads; none of them had ever thought of encroaching on Wang Yongzhu’s courtyard.

But it was somewhat hard to adapt to the idea of Wang Laozhu bequeathing his share of the family assets to Old Granny Zhang, his birth mother.

Hadn’t he previously clung to every penny, only reluctantly giving five taels to Wang Yonggui for his studies and hoarding his money and savings like treasures? And didn’t he secretly subsidize Wang Yongzhen?

How come he was now handing everything over to Old Granny Zhang in one fell swoop? This was more than just a stroke—he was practically possessed, wasn’t he?

However, Wang Yonggui and others weren’t surprised. This was common in the countryside: when a family divided, the parents received a share. If one of the parents passed away, the surviving parent would manage it, and it wouldn’t be reclaimed until both had passed, after which it would be redistributed among the siblings.

Now Wang Laozhu was delivering his last will, and everyone had no choice but to kneel and listen.

"I have nothing more to say, just this one thing: you must be filial to your mother! If I find out from below that you haven’t been filial to her, be careful; I might come back to look for you in the middle of the night! Do you understand?"

Wang Yonggui and Jinhoo couldn’t help shuddering and hurriedly nodded their agreement.

Wang Laozhu was still not reassured, "Swear it! Now that Yongzhu and Chongjin are beside us, let them witness it too!"

Song Chongjin deftly interrupted Wang Laozhu, "Father, what you’re saying isn’t right. Just because mother was left to Yongzhu, it doesn’t mean we can shirk our duty of support after Yongzhu married me. Mother has always been affectionate towards Yongzhu, and as parents support their children when they’re young, so should children support their parents when they grow old! This is only natural and right, and it’s only proper that Yongzhu and I support mother together!"

"Besides, my uncles have heavier family burdens. Why bother them with this? Mother has always been fondest of Yongzhu, and it would be best for mother to stay with us two! If you’re worried, I can swear to you that I will respect and provide for mother for the rest of my life, ensuring she has good days ahead!"

Old Granny Zhang’s gaze towards Song Chongjin was almost as adoring as it was towards Wang Yongzhu, and she couldn’t help but smile. Her son-in-law had not let her down.