The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 691 - 690: Laid to Rest

Chapter 691: Chapter 690: Laid to Rest

Wang Yongzhen had become docile, and no one was tending to her as everyone was too busy.

Now it wasn’t in the unfamiliar Qi City but in her hometown, where every relative and acquaintance would come to mourn.

Wang Laozhu’s children, as well as his grandchildren, had to kneel in front of the spirit tablet. When someone came to offer condolences, they had to kowtow in thanks.

The stream of visitors was unending, and their waists never had a chance to straighten.

Although Old Granny Zhang did not have to kneel, her role wasn’t easy either—she had to wail in the room next door. Whenever a visitor came in to offer words of comfort, she had to cry out her sorrow afresh.

Not many people had come yet, but her tears had dried, and her throat was sore. There was nothing she could do but endure.

Wasn’t this how peasants’ funerals were always weathered?

When her in-laws had passed away, her children were still young, and she had to manage everything inside and out, not to mention the added worry for the children. After a tiring day, she still had to keep vigil at night.

Once the burial was over, Old Granny Zhang had become so emaciated that she nearly didn’t make it, and she spent a full three days and three nights in bed before she finally recovered.

Now all she had to do was sit in a warm room and cry with the visitors. Even if she couldn’t cry, a handkerchief moistened with ginger juice would do the trick.

Logically, with Wang Laozhu gone—after decades as husband and wife, his departure should have broken her heart.

But the resentment Old Granny Zhang harbored in her heart had been building, especially with Wang Laozhu’s attitude toward his daughter after his injury.

Furthermore, in the initial days after Wang Laozhu’s passing, she indeed felt a bit lost, sometimes even calling out for him out of habit. It was only then that she remembered he was gone.

But it had been well over ten days; even the deepest sorrow fades over time.

The mourning ritual felt like an ordeal; even the toughest bone couldn’t withstand it.

Being able to cry when one should cry, speak well when it was time to speak well, and seeing Wang Laozhu off on his final journey with dignity was the last bit of affection she had for him.

She was more worried about her own daughter, with her delicate skin, barely able to endure these few days of kneeling and wailing in mourning. In this bitterly cold weather, if her daughter fell ill for the sake of a dead man, Old Granny Zhang would never forgive her husband, even if he turned into a ghost.

So when one group of mourners had just left and another had yet to arrive, giving them a momentary break to catch their breath,

she quickly called Wang Yongzhu into her room. Handing her a cup of hot tea, she urged Wang Yongzhu to take a few sips to warm up, as the grieving tent outside in the makeshift annex began to feel like a sieve, leeching heat from their bodies the moment they knelt.

"Later, you could pretend to be sick or too frozen to continue," Old Granny Zhang suggested, "Find an excuse to lie down inside. It’s so cold; what if you catch something serious?"

To tell the truth, Wang Yongzhu’s fondness for Wang Laozhu was minimal. All she did in the mourning hall was to kneel, and when someone came, she would just kneel and thank them.

Wang Yongfu was genuinely heartbroken. A man over six feet tall, he cried until his voice went hoarse. Each time someone said "Take care of yourself," the tears would roll down again.

The rest, like Wang Yonggui and Wang Yongping, were visibly distraught.

Of those present, aside from Wang Yongfu, probably only Wang Yongzhen truly mourned. To her, with Wang Laozhu’s death, the sky had fallen.

Now, all she could rely on was that little bit of father-daughter affection from Wang Laozhu. If not for his concern for her, who in the Wang Family would even bother with her?

The more Wang Yongzhen thought about it, the more her grief welled up from deep within, choking her until she was unable to speak.

Mutou hadn’t married yet, and they were still borrowing the old Wang Family house to live in. Once her father had passed away, there was nobody left in the family to look out for her. When her brothers’ wives regained their senses, what if they decided to kick her out?

The more she thought, the more frightened she became. Wang Yongzhen, clutching her handkerchief, began to cry loudly. If she had known her father would leave and never return, she would have never encouraged him to visit his second son!

How was she supposed to get through the days to come—

Jindou and Jinhu were older. Wang Laozhu had been good to them when he was alive, and now, in front of his coffin, recalling the kindness of past days, their eyes also turned red.

As for the others, the children were still young and couldn’t truly say they had deep feelings for Wang Laozhu. They only cried along with the adults, perhaps letting out a wail or two for appearances’ sake, and no one blamed them.

Although all the daughters-in-law had red eyes and tears flowing freely as if they cost nothing, if we were to talk about the extent of sorrow, perhaps even Wang Yongzhu could not compare.

If Wang Yongzhu didn’t want to kneel, she could indeed find an excuse to slip away.

But after all, Wang Laozhu was the biological father of Wang Yongzhu’s former self, and even if she did not feel the sorrow in her heart, she would not skimp on what needed to be done.

It was like fulfilling a duty on behalf of her predecessor.

Not to mention, she had married Song Chongjin, who was planning to take the imperial examinations in the future. He couldn’t afford any stains on his reputation, especially now that it was of utmost importance to avoid giving others a reason to criticize.

While thinking this, Wang Yongzhu took a couple of sips of hot tea, and feeling a bit warmer, she said, "Mother, don’t worry, I know what I’m doing! You also need to take care, don’t overwork yourself and fall ill!" After speaking, she hurried out to kneel again.

After three days of chaotic mourning, they finally buried Wang Laozhu in the grave, laying him to rest.

Every member of the household was exhausted. Upon returning home, without saying a word, everyone went to their own rooms to lie down, feeling as if their legs and backs no longer belonged to them.

Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin returned to the small courtyard on Song Chongjin’s side—the room they used to occupy now housed Old Granny Zhang.

Separated only by two walls and two doors, now that Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin both lived on that side, the door was naturally unlocked.

If there was anything, Old Granny Zhang just had to call out, and they would hear her on the other side.

Back in their room, Wang Yongzhu was so tired she could hardly stand it, but she couldn’t bring herself to lie down on the bed without washing up first.

Song Chongjin knew what to do; he had slipped out earlier before leaving home and warmed the bed, and sat a big pot of water on the stove. By half a day later, the temperature of the water was just right.

Song Chongjin had also set up a separate washing room, where he carried the hot water in, then went to call for Wang Yongzhu to take a bath.

Wang Yongzhu really didn’t want to move; every part of her ached, and her eyes were swollen like peaches. Song Chongjin had to carry her by the waist and take her to the washing room.

He almost wanted to help her change and bathe, but Wang Yongzhu kicked him out.

Inside the washing room was a large bathtub filled with hot water. As soon as one got in, the warmth relaxed all the muscles in the body, feeling so comfortable that one couldn’t help but moan.

The steam rose, bringing some relief to her sore and swollen eyes.

She soaked until the water was almost cool, then Wang Yongzhu got up, finding that the undergarments had been heated and were now toasty warm.

Wang Yongzhu dried off, put on her clothes, and wrapped her hair in a towel before stepping out.

The washing room was adjacent to the common living area, which when passed through led to the main hall, and beyond that was the bedroom.