The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 1565 - 1562: Restless Hearts

Song Chongzhao’s face was pale, almost fainting from the pain.

The people around him were taken aback too.

Especially Lady Gao, who hurriedly shouted for a doctor to be called.

Song Hong said irritably, "What doctor? It’s just a dislocated arm. With so many people in the house, just have someone fix it. It’s the New Year, isn’t it bad luck to call a doctor in?"

What he said wasn’t unreasonable.

The old soldiers around Song Hong had all been on the battlefield and knew how to handle common injuries and basic first aid.

To them, a dislocation was nothing unusual.

After hearing Song Hong’s words, Lady Gao said nothing further.

Song Hong motioned to his personal soldiers to step forward and fix Song Chongzhao’s arm.

Over there, Maternal Aunt Hou and Little Lady Hou were still blaming each other.

"It’s all your fault, you bringer of bad luck! Look how short a time you’ve been married, and you’ve already caused my Laosan to end up like this!"

"Why blame me? It’s not like I dislocated his arm alone! Didn’t you, as his mother, pull on the other side?" Little Lady Hou retorted, not backing down.

Maternal Aunt Hou was so angry she was trembling: "How can you, as a daughter-in-law, speak to your mother-in-law like this?"

Little Lady Hou decided to go all out, thinking no one had mentioned divorce yet, and this aunt was actually her cousin who jumped out first.

Since the situation was already tense, she wouldn’t hold back.

"To hell with it! You’re just a concubine, while my real mother-in-law is Madam! Who are you to parade around like this? On account of Third Master, I used to humor you a bit, and you took it seriously? You say I’m from a small household and lack manners, but what about you? If you’re so well-mannered, why are you acting like a mother-in-law in front of me?"

"Besides, can Third Master’s injury be blamed on me? I was just talking to him, which is between husband and wife, why did you, as a concubine, have to interfere?"

"It’s said that even a fierce tiger won’t eat its cubs. What kind of mother would be so heartless as to hold onto her son’s arm and not let go? If you had let go sooner, would Third Master have been hurt like this? How dare you blame me?"

Little Lady Hou spoke with a sharp tongue, her words aimed directly at the heart.

Maternal Aunt Hou, too anxious to care about her dignity, shouted, "You’re talking nonsense! You liar—"

She turned and saw Song Chongzhao’s fierce glare, her legs suddenly went weak, and she couldn’t say another word.

She just covered her face with a handkerchief and wept loudly: "What kind of injustice is this! Lord Duke, I’m wronged! I’m truly wronged to death! I can’t handle a daughter-in-law like this——"

If Little Lady Hou was holding onto Song Chongzhao and crying about grievances, at least they were a young couple, though lacking in sincerity, one was young, the other pretty, they were somewhat pleasing to the eye.

But Maternal Aunt Hou was over forty, though well-maintained, worry over her son these past years had aged her.

To cry and cling to Song Hong in front of so many people like a young person was a bit of an eyesore.

Even Song Hong frowned, reprimanding Maternal Aunt Hou for not respecting her age and for being undignified.

The few concubines and younger generation like Song Chongyao beside them suppressed laughter until their shoulders shook.

In the end, Lady Gao intervened, having Maternal Aunt Hou half-forcibly escorted back to her courtyard.

Song Chongzhao and Little Lady Hou, after having the arm fixed, were also sent back to their courtyard.

After all the fuss, the day had turned dark, and the servants outside waiting to report that the feast was ready had to nervously ask when to start the meal.

Only then did everyone remember that today was the first day of the New Year, and the evening banquet hadn’t even started.

Everyone forced themselves to gather their energy for the banquet.

With previous drama fresh in their minds, no one was in the mood to eat.

Even Song Hong felt stifled.

It was fortunate the Old Duchess had secluded herself more these past years, not appearing on New Year’s Eve nor today, just praying in her courtyard. Otherwise, seeing the previous chaos might have made her ill on the spot.

The other concubines and Song family juniors, seeing Song Hong and Lady Gao’s displeased faces, kept smiles on their faces but dared not joke around.

Only Wang Yongzhu seemed unaffected, picking out dishes she liked and eating heartily.

The servants below serving them were overly cautious, plastering smiles on their faces, with nerves taut as strings, fearing they wouldn’t dare hope for any reward, just praying for the banquet to end smoothly.

It was Lady Gao who broke the ice after a while.

She pulled the concubines into conversation, briefly mentioning Song Chongjuan’s marriage.

After all, the new year marked her time to prepare for marriage, and it was a joyous occasion.

Mentioning Song Chongjuan’s marriage brightened Song Hong’s expression, and he even remarked: "Since she’s to marry next year, it’s opportune that your elder sister-in-law is here, she should learn from her—"

He paused, then added, "Xiuer too, it seems her turn to find a match is approaching. It’s time for her to start learning! Forget the rest, at least follow and learn from the Eldest Sister-in-law to manage shops and estates, it will benefit you both!"

Song Chongjuan and Song Chongxiu quickly stood up, smiling and nodding assent.

They even bowed to Wang Yongzhu: "Eldest Sister-in-law, we shall trouble you more often, please don’t mind our frequent visits—"

Wang Yongzhu smiled, raised her glass as a gesture of agreement.

The two sisters were elated, if Wang Yongzhu was willing to guide them, at the very least, their dowries would be well managed.

For women getting married, they relied on their family’s prowess and their dowries.

With well-managed dowries, they could stand proudly in their husband’s families!

Even Maternal Aunt Meng looked at Wang Yongzhu with gratitude.

The other concubines, though they privately muttered that she came from the countryside, knew well she was adept at business. Other than that, her Hongxiu Tianxiang’s thriving business surpassed several century-old brands in the Capital.

The silver flowing in was like the sea, and just from that, Wang Yongzhu’s annual dividends must be tens of thousands of silver coins.

Who in the manor wasn’t envious?

At this point, the concubines regretted not having daughters but sons.

Otherwise, they might have taken this opportunity to learn a bit, and later opened a shop to earn themselves a fortune, wouldn’t they?

If Wang Yongzhu knew what these concubines were thinking, she might reply they’d better just dream on!

With this jovial exchange, the atmosphere improved considerably.

The other concubines also lightened up, joined the flattery, and in no time, the mood was more harmonious, sounding a bit more like New Year’s.

As they chatted, they remembered tomorrow was the second day of the New Year.

By old custom, it’s the day married daughters return to their families.

By logic, Wang Yongzhu’s family isn’t in the Capital, but couldn’t resist the Gu Family, tomorrow they’d surely visit.

However, with Song Chongjin absent, Wang Yongzhu returning alone seemed inappropriate.

Thus, Lady Gao specifically asked: "Eldest daughter-in-law, when you return to the Gu Family tomorrow, with the Eldest absent, shall Laosi accompany you?"

Song Chongyao’s eyes brightened at once.

He’d seen clearly in these years, even if he hadn’t before, today everything was clear, the Eldest Brother’s position as Princely Heir was rock-solid.

No matter what schemes they had, it was futile.

Hadn’t he noticed the Second Sister and Third Sister, having early allied with the Eldest, not only held favor with the Madam, but had secured good marriages, and now a chance to learn to manage dowries from the Eldest Sister-in-law, surely they wouldn’t lack silver in the future.

As for those who previously bore other intentions, not only the Second, but also the Third Brother, who’d acted like a petty clown for years, hadn’t Father simply crushed him?

Seeing that there was no hope, they decided it was better to behave honestly.