Splendid peasant girl busy farming

Chapter 12038

Changping Village, Wanghai County.

Because everyone stayed up late on New Year's Eve and was exhausted, and because Luo the blacksmith had given prior notice that Rong Gu and the others would have breakfast half an hour later on New Year's Day so that everyone could catch up on their sleep.

So when Yang Ruoqing got up, washed up, and went to the front yard, the whole family sat together, clinked glasses, and ate their first meal of the new year, not long after, the Zhou family arrived.

"They're here so fast? I thought it would take another hour or so!" When the news reached the main room, the blacksmith Luo was the most excited.

Yang Ruoqing and Luo Fengtang exchanged a glance. They had both noticed during breakfast that the old man was already distracted, constantly craning his neck to look towards the entrance of the main room.

Whenever there was any rustling or movement outside the yard, the old man would immediately prick up his ears, trying to determine whether it was someone from the Zhou family by listening to the sounds outside.

“They did arrive earlier this year than in previous years.” Wang Cuilian also noticed this change. In previous years, the Zhou family would arrive when the sun was high in the sky.

After arriving, they could sit for less than half an hour before lunch was served. After lunch, they would drink a bowl of tea for a short while before setting off back.

This year, it arrived an hour or two earlier.

"The sooner the better, the earlier you come, the longer you can stay." Blacksmith Luo smiled broadly and got up to scurry towards the entrance of the main room to greet them.

Yang Ruoqing and Luo Fengtang nodded. Luo Fengtang followed Luo the blacksmith out of the main room, while Yang Ruoqing came over to support Wang Cuilian's arm. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law followed them a few steps toward the main room entrance and stood under the eaves, not heading toward the courtyard gate.

At this moment, at the instruction of the blacksmith Luo, Ping An had already opened the courtyard gate to both sides (this is an important detail for the Luo family when welcoming relatives and friends, namely, opening the gate twice).

Zhou Wang drove the carriage, with Xiao Huan sitting beside him. When the couple arrived at the courtyard gate, Zhou Wang stopped the carriage, and Xiao Huan got off.

Zhou Wang walked into the courtyard, holding the reins in his hand. Xiao Huan followed beside him, carrying a bundle bulging in her arms. The bundle looked like the outline of a shoe from the outside.

"Why are you here so early? Have you had breakfast yet?" Luo the blacksmith immediately went up to greet him, asking about his well-being.

“I’ve already eaten before I came. My mother said she wanted to come early so she could talk to my uncle more,” Zhou Wang said.

"Good, good, that's what I was thinking too." Blacksmith Luo nodded excitedly and headed straight for the carriage.

"Hey girl, hey girl?"

"Brother, I'm here!"

A thin hand lifted the heavy, warm, and windproof curtains of the carriage from the inside, revealing Luo Da'e's gaunt face.

Although she was very thin, her face was filled with the joy of reuniting with her brother.

"Da'e, why have you lost so much weight? Have you not been eating properly these past few days?" The blacksmith Luo was clearly surprised to see that Luo Da'e's face had become noticeably thinner.

Luo Da'e smiled and shook her head: "It's alright, I've eaten quite a lot, but I'm losing weight, I don't know why."

Yang Ruoqing and Wang Cuilian, who were already exchanging pleasantries with Xiao Huan, felt a slight sinking feeling in their hearts when they heard Luo Da'e's words.

Yang Ruoqing glanced at Luo Da'e, and to be honest, Luo Da'e looked sickly.

"Xiao Huan, what's your aunt doing these past few days?" Yang Ruoqing asked in a low voice.

Xiao Huan's expression changed slightly, and she lowered her voice to reply, "There's nothing wrong with what she's eating or drinking. Perhaps she's just stressed out during the New Year!"

After saying this, Xiao Huan and Yang Ruoqing gave a wry smile and shook their heads imperceptibly.

Yang Ruoqing understood.

After a period of stability in December, Luo Da'e's condition has started to fluctuate again in the past few days due to the strain between her symptoms and the effects of her medication.

In this tug-of-war, the illness seems to gradually gain the upper hand...

Wang Cuilian's heart sank. Although she didn't understand medical and human anatomy, she understood one thing: if a healthy person could eat and drink well and hadn't suddenly done too much physical labor, but was not gaining weight and was losing weight, that was not a good thing!
Over the years, in Changping Village and the surrounding villages, the number of people who have passed away in similar circumstances is countless. Wang Cuilian has seen and heard of many such cases. This Da'e, I'm afraid, will not be able to escape it after all!
Oh, my poor old man, he was only relaxed for a few days before he's on edge again.

"Everyone, come inside. I'm going to wish Auntie a Happy New Year." Yang Ruoqing's words broke the slightly oppressive atmosphere. Her words also reminded everyone that no matter what, today is the first day of the Lunar New Year. To bring good luck, we should put aside bad things and be happy. This would also be good for Luo Da'e.

"Yes, yes, yes, Happy New Year! Happy New Year to everyone!" Wang Cuilian immediately followed Yang Ruoqing's lead, inviting the Zhou family members to dismount and enter the main room for tea and snacks.

The table was laden with a dazzling array of fruits and snacks. Wang Cuilian grabbed some and stuffed them into the pockets of Zhou Wang's two children, filling them bulging.

Xiao Huan, standing nearby, said repeatedly, "There's no room left, Auntie. Just let them be. Please sit down!"

From the moment Luo the blacksmith saw Luo Da'e, all his attention was on her. He helped her sit in the fire pit, covered her legs completely with a small blanket, and handed her hot tea. After that, he didn't go anywhere else. He took a stool and sat down next to the fire pit, chatting with his sister about everyday things...

Luo Fengtang was in charge of looking after Zhou Wang.

Yang Ruoqing took out two thick red envelopes and gave them to Zhou Wang's two children.

Xiao Huan quickly had the two children kowtow to the entire Luo family to wish them a Happy New Year.

Similarly, when the two little brothers who were playing outside heard that guests had arrived at home, they rushed back like a gust of wind. Xiao Huan then took out a stack of red envelopes and distributed them to the Luo family children, who in turn kowtowed to wish them a Happy New Year.

After kowtowing, Luo Wuyou took the red envelope, sat for a while, and then went back to his room in the backyard.

The children went off to play in the front and back yards, leaving Ping An with them, so the adults could relax and sit in the main room for a while.

After Luo Wuyou left, Luo Da'e said to Luo the blacksmith, "Look at Wuyou, she's really grown into a beautiful young lady. She's so graceful and tall, even a bit taller than her mother!"

When talking about his granddaughter, Luo the blacksmith's pride was evident in his eyes and brows, but he still humbly waved his hand and said, "Don't let her good looks fool you, she's still a child at heart!"

Wang Cuilian added with a smile, "My granddaughter, even though she's 19, is very innocent and doesn't have any ulterior motives."

Luo Da'e said, "My parents taught me so well!"

Yang Ruoqing smiled.

A hint of envy flickered in Xiao Huan's eyes.

She was a servant born into a noble family in the capital. Her birth was never the product of loving parents. To put it bluntly, her parents were servants of their master, and their marriage had no emotional foundation. It was simply a matter of the master's word that brought them together. To put it bluntly, it's like cats and dogs being put into a cage to breed when it's time to reproduce.

The birth of Xiao Huan, and all of Xiao Huan's older brothers, older sisters, younger brothers, and younger sisters, all originated from this.

So from childhood to adulthood, she basically never felt any affection or care from her parents. In fact, her parents were struggling to make ends meet and living on thin ice in the mansion.

Growing up in such an environment, Xiao Huan learned to read people's expressions and moods when she was only four or five years old. She knew what to say and what not to say, and how to guard against other people's underhanded tactics.

Under the influence of her surroundings, this little girl has become quite cunning.

I'm so tired.

Although she was annoyed by Zhou Xia's harsh treatment of her, Xiao Huan was also grateful to Zhou Xia in some ways.

If it weren't for Zhou Xia, Xiao Huan wouldn't have been able to leave the mansion early, come to Zhoujia Village, marry Zhou Wang, and become an ordinary peasant woman.

Although life was simple, it was easy. Zhou Wang was good to her and the children. Only in these years in Zhoujia Village could Xiao Huan truly live like a human being, without needing to use her cunning. It was so relaxing.

"She's so old, yet she still has such a pure heart. She must have grown up in a sweet environment. I'm so envious!" Xiao Huan murmured softly.

Yang Ruoqing heard Xiao Huan's murmur and smiled kindly at her, "You are now in charge of the household, your husband is considerate and responsible, and your children are around you. Your life has already surpassed that of many, many people."

Xiao Huan's gaze secretly fell on Zhou Wang, who was talking to Luo Fengtang. Although Zhou Wang's appearance, figure, ability, wealth, status, power, etc. were nothing compared to Luo Fengtang.

However, Xiao Huan is not greedy and can recognize her own limitations. Compared to the men in Zhoujia Village, Zhou Wang is truly very capable.

He discovered the path to wealth through chicken farming, a way to support his family.

He raised his wife and children very well. This December, when Xiao Huan celebrated her birthday, Zhou Wang even secretly made her a big gold bracelet!

Xiao Huan is wearing it now, but she's too embarrassed to take it out, so she hides it in her sleeve.

At this moment, she rubbed the outline of the gold bracelet on her wrist through her clothes, and listening to Yang Ruoqing's praise, Xiao Huan showed a sweet and shy smile.

……

A short while later, Ronggu and Shaoyao brought over the 'tea'.

This 'tea' isn't for drinking; it's a snack to tide you over before a main meal.

The "tea" that the Luo family prepared for the Zhou family was a fragrant chicken soup noodle dish with a large chicken leg, a poached egg, and sprinkled with goji berries.

As soon as it was brought to the main room and placed on the table, its aroma filled the entire large room.

"Uncle, Aunt, please join your aunt and cousin for dinner!" Yang Ruoqing said as she got up to set out the chopsticks and spoons.

If you don't invite them to eat with you, the guests might just pick up their bowls, pretend to touch their chopsticks, and then put them back down. So if you are genuinely treating your guests well, the host will definitely eat with them personally. This way, the guests can eat a few more bites together.

Luo the blacksmith and Wang Cuilian naturally understood Yang Ruoqing's intention. Luo the blacksmith even looked at Yang Ruoqing with great satisfaction, "Okay, your aunt and I will eat with you."

Yang Ruoqing knew that if she and Luo Fengtang stayed here to keep the Zhou family company, they might feel very awkward while having tea.

So Yang Ruoqing made an excuse and went to the backyard with Luo Fengtang.

"I don't think Aunt Da'e is doing well," Yang Ruoqing whispered on the way to the backyard.

The smile on Luo Fengtang's face had long since vanished. "I had the same feeling when I first saw Aunt Da'e. Her thinness was clearly abnormal."

"So, the acupuncture treatment that the doctors in the county town used before the New Year was ultimately ineffective," Yang Ruoqing added.

Luo Fengtang frowned slightly: "The doctor himself said that the acupuncture was only to temporarily drain the fluid from my aunt's bag so that she wouldn't be affected by the pressure from the bag and thus be able to eat, drink and sleep."

"But this is ultimately just treating the symptoms, not the root cause; it doesn't address the underlying problem."

Yang Ruoqing nodded secretly. Luo Fengtang's analysis was very thorough. As long as the pathogens could not be eliminated, draining the fluid was only a temporary measure. Moreover, as the condition worsened and the lesions spread and metastasized, even acupuncture would be useless.

“It’s only a matter of time,” Luo Fengtang continued, “unless Hua Tuo is reborn.”

Yang Ruoqing disagreed with Luo Fengtang on this point. Even if Hua Tuo were to be reborn, he was not a god. Luo Da'e's illness was clearly incurable and dangerous even in modern times, let alone in ancient times.

"Do you think... going to Changhuaizhou to find a doctor might bring a change of fortune?" Yang Ruoqing suddenly asked as they approached their dormitory.

Luo Fengtang stopped and thought about it seriously: "Personally, I think that since the doctors in Wanghai County have jointly diagnosed the disease as incurable, it is highly likely that the same will happen in Changhuaizhou."

“But I’m worried that my uncle won’t be able to handle it and won’t be willing to give up…” Yang Ruoqing added.

Luo Fengtang said, "You mean, even if it's just for Uncle's sake, let's help find a famous doctor in Changhuai Prefecture?"

Yang Ruoqing nodded, "Yes."

"But Qing'er, didn't you used to have a very bad impression of Aunt Da'e?" Luo Fengtang asked, somewhat puzzled. "Why were you still willing to go to Changhuaizhou to find a famous doctor for her?"

Yang Ruoqing thought about it seriously, "To be frank, I still can't get a good impression of her."

"However, whenever I see the genuine affection between her and her uncle, the brotherly and sisterly bond, the reluctance to part, I am deeply moved and want to do something for them, hoping to prolong their brotherly and sisterly relationship for a while longer."

Luo Fengtang gently rubbed Yang Ruoqing's head. "Qing'er, if your uncle heard you say that, he would wake up laughing in his dreams. He's so lucky to have such a good daughter-in-law like you."

Yang Ruoqing smiled and shook her head: "Well, Zhou Xia's bones are practically pounding, and your Aunt Da'e has been behaving herself all these years."

“Especially the bundle that Xiao Huan gave me earlier, which contained the shoes that your Aunt Da’e made for your uncle over the past six months, two pairs of shoes for each of the four seasons.”

"Your Aunt Da'e probably sensed that her days were numbered, so she worked hard to make shoes for your uncle, hoping that in the years after she passed away, he could still wear the shoes she made..."

"Perhaps it was these shoes that made me feel sorry for her again and wanted to help her struggle one more time."