The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 833 - 832: Awakening

Old Granny Wu and Old Madam Ding quickly thanked each other, exchanged a glance, and a smile appeared on their faces. With a generous host, they also felt at ease.

Returning kindness with kindness, Old Granny Wu muttered a few words to Old Madam Ding. Old Madam Ding quickly washed her hands and a ceramic pot, rinsed some white rice, and put it into the pot to simmer on a low fire.

It was not until dusk that Old Granny Zhang woke up.

Upon waking, she cried out for food. Remembering Old Granny Wu’s advice, Old Madam Ding had already prepared a pot of thick white porridge. She scooped out some rice water from the top and fed it to Old Granny Zhang.

Only then did Old Granny Zhang regain a bit of strength. She looked around, "What’s going on?" Why was she lying on the bed? Why were there so many people in the house? Why did she feel so weak?

Even her voice was hoarse.

"Mother, lie down, don’t speak! You were ill yesterday and had a fever all night! Why didn’t you wake us when you felt unwell? You suffered the whole night, and if I hadn’t noticed you were missing this morning..." Wang Yongzhu’s eyes reddened as she spoke, feeling a wave of fear from just thinking about it.

Old Granny Zhang couldn’t bear to see her precious daughter shedding tears like gold beans. She hurried to sit up and explain, but the moment she moved, she became dizzy and had to lie back down. She reluctantly said, "Mother... Mother is fine, don’t cry—"

Seeing Old Granny Zhang in this state, Wang Yongzhu could no longer speak. She quickly called the doctor in to check her pulse. After asking a few questions, Old Granny Zhang answered them one by one.

The doctor nodded, instructed the attendant to bring the medicine in, and had Old Granny Zhang drink it. After administering a few acupuncture needles, he said, "The old lady is out of immediate danger! If she doesn’t have a fever tonight, she’ll be fine! Tonight, be extra attentive. Give her a little white porridge, and she shouldn’t eat anything else!"

After drinking the medicine and getting the acupuncture treatment, Old Granny Zhang gained a bit of strength, and her throat felt a bit better. Though she was still somewhat unclear about the situation, she first thanked the doctor.

Once everyone had left, the room was only Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin. She then said, "Although I’m sick, my vision hasn’t deteriorated. It’s just a fever. Why are there so many people at home?"

Wang Yongzhu wiped her tears and said crossly, "You got so sick this time that you didn’t recognize anyone. Brother Song and I were panicked and had to call a doctor to treat you. Brother Song and I couldn’t be at ease, so we had the doctor stay at home to monitor you promptly, just in case."

"Besides, the doctor said that this illness comes fiercely and leaves slowly! You need good rest to recover your vitality. As your daughter and son-in-law, we are not short on money. There’s no reason to let you suffer while we earn money."

"Usually, we didn’t hire anyone because you insisted. Now, you must listen to us! I’ve hired two helpers: one to cook and one to do the laundry and clean the house. I also asked Yan Zhongren to find a maid. When we find a suitable one, we’ll buy her to serve you specially!"

Though Wang Yongzhu’s tone was scolding, Old Granny Zhang felt sweetness in her heart. Her daughter cared deeply about her.

She nodded repeatedly in agreement, showing she had no objections to whatever her daughter decided.

Seeing Old Granny Zhang’s attitude, Wang Yongzhu couldn’t stay angry; she was angrier at herself.

She normally didn’t pay close attention to her mother’s health, thinking she looked spirited and robust all the time.

She had never considered that this wasn’t the world she once knew where medical conditions were advanced and life expectancy was high.

In this time with backward medical conditions, ordinary people were fortunate to live to be forty or fifty years old.

After Wang Laozhu’s death, Wang Family members returned, vaguely saying that Old Wang had died of illness, which didn’t raise suspicions. After all, in Qilidun, living past fifty was rare.

In the village, those who lived past sixty were few.

As the saying goes, "Life spans of seventy years are rare." Living to seventy was considered long-lived, and the county would have people come register and send monthly rice as a token of the Royal Family’s care.

Old Granny Zhang was already nearly fifty, and after giving birth to five children, her health was weakened. Fortunately, she was in decent shape, never going hungry while with Wang Family over the years. Being a naturally strong character, she appeared to be in good condition on the surface.

Because of her strong personality, always busy and energetic, everyone had overlooked that she was actually getting on in years and needed to be well taken care of.

If not for this sudden illness, Wang Yongzhu would not have realized this.

Now that she had, she would not allow Old Granny Zhang to suffer any more; she had made thorough arrangements.

Old Granny Zhang was still weakened by her illness. After a bowl of porridge, sleepiness took over again.

Before sleeping, she held Wang Yongzhu’s and Song Chongjin’s hands tightly, instructing, "This is just a minor illness, with the doctor and helpers here, so many people looking after me, you can stop worrying! Yongzhu, don’t fret, I’ll be better after a nap! Chongjin, don’t let me delay your studies. Go to the Academy tomorrow—Yongzhu can handle things at home."

She seemed determined not to sleep until they agreed.

Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin had to agree before Old Granny Zhang let go and slept soundly.

The doctor had explained that being ill drains a person’s energy, and his prescription included something to help her sleep, speeding recovery.

Wang Yongzhu waited for Old Granny Zhang to fall asleep before discussing with Song Chongjin, "I’m not at ease tonight; I need to stay with Mother. You watch her first while I arrange accommodations for the two helpers."

Song Chongjin nodded, watching Wang Yongzhu leave before returning to the bedside, guilt flickering in his eyes as he looked at Old Granny Zhang’s pale face.

In truth, he felt deeply troubled and full of regret. Had Old Granny Zhang stayed in Qilidun, she might not have fallen ill.

She came because she couldn’t let go of Yongzhu and him, refusing to rest despite her age, looking after them while falling ill herself.

In his lifetime, he had few instances of receiving such familial love, mostly felt from Old Granny Zhang.

This made him particularly sensitive to not wanting to lose this newfound warmth.

Before, he and Wang Yongzhu suggested hiring a maid and helpers, but Old Granny Zhang had always dismissed the idea.

She claimed it was a waste of money as household chores were minor work, easy to manage alone. She often said rural people, with their sturdy build, didn’t need helpers for simple household tasks not involving farm work.

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