The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 834 - 833: Heartache

Unexpectedly, Old Granny Zhang, who always had a robust body, fell ill suddenly. This reminded him of Song Chunhua, who often complained about ailments and discomfort in the past. During the days when no one took care of her, she didn’t show any filial piety or have Silver for medicine yet ended up being fine. freēwēbnovel.com

In comparison, Song Chongjin grew even more respectful toward Old Granny Zhang.

After Wang Yongzhu came out, the Doctor and the attendant had already returned to their rooms to rest. Old Granny Wu and Old Granny Ding had cleaned up the kitchen and were waiting in the yard for the master’s instructions.

Seeing Wang Yongzhu come out, they hurriedly greeted her.

Wang Yongzhu waved her hand and said, "No need to be so polite! I was careless before and haven’t arranged accommodation for you. Because your arrival was rushed, there wasn’t time to prepare. There’s only one empty room that hasn’t been cleaned for some days. As for bedding, I’ll bring them out for you in a while. You can stay one night first and see what else you need, then I’ll buy them tomorrow."

Old Granny Wu and Old Granny Ding noticed that the room Wang Yongzhu pointed out was right across the courtyard from the Doctor’s room.

Knowing that this arrangement was to avoid suspicion, they thanked her and began cleaning the room with brooms and cloths.

The room, having been vacant for days, had gathered a layer of dust, but cleaning it up wouldn’t take long.

There weren’t many furnishings, just a kang, a table, a cabinet, two stools, and a washstand.

There were also two wooden basins on the rack.

A quick cleaning made the room suitable for living, and it wasn’t small, better than their own rooms, leaving them quite satisfied.

Soon, Wang Yongzhu brought over two medium-condition bedding sets and thoughtfully prepared some cloths.

The two old grannies hurriedly took the bedding, set them up neatly, and the room immediately felt lived in.

"Lady Wang, after making breakfast tomorrow, I want to go home and pick up some clothes and handy tools and take two hours off. I promise it won’t affect the midday meal," Old Madam Ding said opportunistically.

Wang Yongzhu, naturally, had no objections: "Sure, after you finish your tasks tomorrow morning, anyone who needs to go home to fetch things can do so!"

After speaking, she urged them to rest early and turned to leave.

Once Wang Yongzhu left, the two old grannies finally relaxed. They fetched water, washed themselves, climbed on the kang, and blew out the lamp. In the darkness, someone spoke first: "I think this master is quite kind-hearted."

"Yes, Lady Wang seems to be a kind and generous person. Though I’ve worked for many families, it’s rare to find such a kind-hearted master—"

...

Each of the two old grannies with their thoughts went to sleep.

Wang Yongzhu needed to stay up and watch over Old Granny Zhang at night, leaving Song Chongjin alone in his empty room.

Everyone slept while his room light stayed on until late at night.

The next morning, Old Granny Zhang woke up early without having had a fever all night, looking quite refreshed.

Her sallow face had a bit of color.

After breakfast, the Doctor checked her pulse again and, stroking his beard, said, "With no fever last night, the old lady is now fine. Let her sunbathe in the courtyard for a while today, eat bland food for a few days without oily or greasy dishes. In seven days, she can eat some eggs, and after a few more days, she can have some chicken soup or fish broth. I’ll write a medicinal food recipe she needs to follow for two months, and she’ll be just fine."

Wang Yongzhu carefully remembered all this.

Song Chongjin finally felt relieved, thinking about getting medicine for Old Granny Zhang.

But the Doctor laughed: "Such a small matter doesn’t require the Scholar to go personally, my attendant has nothing to do, let him run this errand."

He called the attendant, wrote the medicinal food recipe, added the changed prescription, and handed them to the attendant to fetch the medicine.

Song Chongjin moved a chair from the living room to the porch, thoughtfully placing a bedding set on it, then Wang Yongzhu helped Old Granny Zhang sit outside.

Once everything was arranged, Song Chongjin, holding his books, hurriedly went to the Academy.

After finishing their tasks, the two old grannies took their leave and left.

The Doctor began packing his medicine chest, as Old Granny Zhang was now fine and only needed to take medicine, so he naturally headed back to the medicine hall.

When the attendant brought back the medicine, he taught Wang Yongzhu how to cook the medicinal food and prepare the medicine, then happily left with a heavy purse.

Old Granny Zhang looked worried: "My illness must have cost quite a bit of Silver, that purse must have had at least Five Taels of Silver in it. You, my spendthrift girl, being so extravagant! It was just a fever, drinking a bowl of ginger soup and sweating it out under a quilt would have been enough! But you insisted on calling a Doctor, hiring two old grannies, all costing money!"

Wang Yongzhu held Old Granny Zhang’s hand, squatting beside her feet with her head resting on her leg: "Mother, as long as you’re well, hiring two old grannies is nothing, if you wish, I’ll even buy two maids to serve you!"

Old Granny Zhang patted Wang Yongzhu, her tone was reproachful but her eyes were filled with a satisfied smile: "Nonsense! Do you think making money is easy? How can you be so wasteful? Others might not know, but your mother does. Everyone sees you earning easily and flourishing, but they don’t know how hard it is for a girl like you to deal with those outside men!"

"I’m your mother, can I bear to spend your hard-earned money? Would that make me human? Instead, you, having to care for me every day and manage the household, truly deserve getting a maid to help you! I’m an old woman, needing what kind of service?"

Wang Yongzhu naturally didn’t listen, only smiling without saying a word.

Old Granny Zhang felt helpless, knowing her daughter was always stubborn and had to let it go.

At noon, the two old grannies indeed returned early, carrying bundles. Especially Old Madam Ding, who had a bundle on her back and carried a jar in her arms.

Seeing Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang’s curiosity, she quickly explained: "This is a jar of pickled cucumbers, long beans, and radishes I’ve made myself. I thought after the fever, patients often have no appetite, and these pickles are sour and spicy, perfect for stimulating appetite, so I brought a jar..."

As she spoke further, she became somewhat uneasy.

Old Granny Zhang salivated at the mention of sour and spicy pickles: "I really didn’t have much appetite, but hearing you say this, I can’t hold back, quickly let me taste some."

Old Madam Ding, feeling relieved, hurried to the kitchen, fetched clean chopsticks and bowls, scooped some pickles, and brought them before Old Granny Zhang.

The pickled cucumbers, long beans, and radishes, arranged in the bowl, with their white and green colors mixed with red peppers, emitted a strong sour and spicy aroma.

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