The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 713 - 712: Negligence

Chapter 713: Chapter 712: Negligence

"I know it’s all for me, Mother!" Wang Yongzhu rubbed Old Granny Zhang’s hand, speaking awkwardly.

Old Granny Zhang softened her gaze, caressing Wang Yongzhu’s hair, and spoke gently and softly for a change: "That’s good you understand. I remember when you were born, so tiny, yet you cried louder than anyone else. Those who didn’t know thought you were a boy!"

"Now watching you all grown up and married, life has gotten better. I used to worry about you all the time, but now I can finally put my mind at ease—"

As soon as Wang Yongzhu heard this, she hurriedly interjected, "Mother, what are you saying? I’ve just married Brother Song, and we haven’t even consummated the marriage yet! After we have children, I’ll be counting on you to help me take care of them! If you don’t help, and since Brother Song doesn’t have a mother, I certainly won’t be able to—"

Old Granny Zhang was startled and immediately slapped Wang Yongzhu’s head in a huff: "You girl, how can you spout such nonsense? Is it your place to talk about consummating the marriage? Tsk, tsk, tsk—When you get all worked up, you start saying all sorts of things. When can you change that temper of yours? Don’t lead the children astray in the future..."

As she spoke, she was led astray by Wang Yongzhu herself, her eyes filled with anticipation: "My daughter is so beautiful, and Chongjin is quite handsome too. The children you’ll have will definitely be lovely. You should first give me a big grandson, then another granddaughter just like you. This old bag of bones can still help you out for a few more years..."

Hearing Old Granny Zhang so full of fighting spirit and vitality, Wang Yongzhu’s heart truly settled down.

Of course, she wouldn’t let Old Granny Zhang, tired from all her life’s hardships, still worry herself with taking care of the next generation. As a daughter, how could she have the heart to let her own mother tire herself out?

Yet, she felt something wasn’t right with Old Granny Zhang’s earlier words, but if thinking about the next generation could keep Old Granny Zhang hopeful, that was also good.

Because of this unease, Wang Yongzhu didn’t go anywhere that afternoon and stayed at home with Old Granny Zhang, sorting through the various things they had bought.

Old Granny Zhang was overjoyed, her mouth agape with happiness. Ever since arriving in the county town, every morning Song Chongjin would go to the Academy, and then her daughter would go to check on the shop, leaving her, an old lady, alone at home. After all, being of advanced age, she couldn’t keep up walking back and forth in the streets all day with her daughter.

Left at home, the place felt empty and deserted.

Thinking of paying a visit, she was new and despite Madam Gu next door being warm-hearted, they had children at home. She couldn’t visit empty-handed every time, and doing so daily, Old Granny Zhang couldn’t bear it.

She did want to chat more with the other neighborhood women, gossip, and such, but it was hard when they were all busy worrying about their husbands and taking care of sons and grandsons, in the thick of chaos everyday. None of them had the leisure like Old Granny Zhang, who, besides shopping for groceries and cooking, had plenty of time.

In a couple of days, Old Granny Zhang felt stifled and anxious, but she didn’t want to disrupt her daughter’s important matters, so she had no choice but to stay cooped up in this little courtyard.

Today, having her daughter keep her company, even if it was just chatting, made her very happy deep down.

Wang Yongzhu’s heart stirred, realizing she had been neglecting Old Granny Zhang by bringing her to the city, preoccupied with her own affairs, and she hadn’t even noticed that Old Granny Zhang wasn’t yet accustomed to city life.

Feeling suddenly guilty, she said, "Mother, don’t worry, once I’m done dealing with the dye workshop and that batch of cloth, I’ll be with you every day. We’ll go out together and see if we want to open any shops."

Old Granny Zhang smiled and waved it off: "You have your important business, so go on with it. Don’t worry about me, I’ve toiled for most of my life and now I can finally take a rest. These good days are just starting! No need for you to fret about me. Now I’m just new to the city and still feeling my way around, but give me a few days and I might be busier than you!"

In her heart, Wang Yongzhu had resolved that once the matters of the dye workshop were settled and the silver was in hand, she would indeed spend proper time with Old Granny Zhang.

The mother and daughter enjoyed a rare peaceful afternoon together, chatting and organizing their belongings, in a content and harmonious atmosphere.

When Song Chongjin returned home, he immediately sensed the different mood.

In the dim light of the kitchen, steam rose in the air, fresh buns just out of the pot, big, noisy, and soft, the distinct scent of wheat lingering tantalizingly at the tip of the nose.

This was the familiar scent of home.

Song Chongjin was somewhat dazed, but soon came to her senses.

"Mom, Yongzhu, I’m back!" she shouted toward the kitchen.

"You’re back, go wash your hands first, dinner will be ready soon!" Old Granny Zhang poked her head out.

Song Chongjin immediately obediently responded and went to wash her hands.

In the front yard, when Gu Zikai returned to his own yard, he heard noises coming from behind the wall, filled with the air of domestic life.

He couldn’t help but stand there in a daze, standing in the middle of the courtyard with his ears pricked up, listening to the sounds of the people in the back yard washing their hands and splashing water, the calls for dinner. Though it was just two or three people, the bustling noise was heartwarming to hear.

Looking around, the courtyard was already lit with lights, not a single fallen leaf was visible on the ground.

The young servant followed closely by his side, though confused he did not speak out, the door to the side room was open, and the table was set with five or six steaming hot dishes, everything in perfect order.

It wasn’t usually noticeable, but today for some reason, Gu Zikai found the courtyard, which normally felt cramped, now seemed empty.

However, the daze lasted only a short while, and Gu Zikai quickly composed himself and went inside.

The room had already been cleaned by the faithful old servant.

It was still cold in the evening, the kang in the room was being heated, and upon entering, the warm air was enveloping and comfortable.

Looking at the refined dishes on the table, they were all the kinds he usually liked, but suddenly he had no appetite.

Gu Zikai ate a few bites apathetically, then put down his chopsticks, "You take it away and eat it."

Saying this, he took a book and sat on the kang opposite.

This side of the kang used to be a window, but it was bricked up because they wanted to separate the front and back courtyards.

Sitting on the kang now, it seemed he could still hear the sounds from the back courtyard.

The young servant of Gu Zikai, named Lang Hao, had noticed that his master had been somewhat off since he returned today, even barely touching his favorite dishes, and while worried, he dared not ask.

He had no choice but to gather the dishes from the table into the food box to take them away.

In the kitchen, Lang Hao’s parents were waiting for him, the whole family served Gu Zikai.

Lang Hao’s father was a simple and honest man, while Mother Lang Hao was good at cooking, and it was for this reason that Lang Hao was chosen to be Gu Zikai’s young servant.

Seeing her son bringing down the almost untouched food, Mother Lang Hao’s heart immediately became anxious: "Is the young master not feeling well today? Why didn’t he eat?"

Lang Hao looked distressed, "Indeed, I saw the young master seemed in a bad mood today, standing lost in thought in the yard for quite a while, then after eating a couple of bites he went back to being engrossed in his book. I really don’t know what’s wrong with the young master?"