Splendid peasant girl busy farming

Chapter 12083

She sat there quietly observing the various aspects of life, and suddenly realized that sometimes, people really couldn't empathize with each other's joys and sorrows.

Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan had also returned long ago to eat the feast, and were being fed by Rong Gu and Shao Yao.

Yang Ruoqing looked around but didn't see Luo the blacksmith or Wang Cuilian.

Just then, Xiao Huan came over and said to Yang Ruoqing, "Qing'er, I can't persuade my uncle and aunt. They both say they're not hungry, but it's already this late. Even if they're not hungry, they should eat something. Why don't you help persuade them?"

Yang Ruoqing said, "Sister-in-law, let them be. They just want to stay with Aunt a little longer. Let's eat first, and then we'll go to the ancestral hall to see what's going on."

Wang Cuilian refused to eat, and Yang Ruoqing suspected that it was most likely because she was worried about Luo the blacksmith, so she wanted to stay by his side to keep him company.

At the same time, Wang Cuilian is likely similar to Yang Ruoqing in that they both have a bit of aversion to this kind of banquet, preferring to go hungry for a meal and then have a proper meal when they get home at night.

As for Luo the blacksmith, that's even easier to explain; the old man was the one among everyone who was truly and inexplicably saddened.

This grief may have, to some extent, surpassed that of Zhou Wang, Luo Da'e's biological son!

It's not that Zhou Wang was unfilial or not saddened by his mother's passing; that's not the point.

Zhou Wang was Luo Da'e's biological son. During Luo Da'e's illness and her final moments, Zhou Wang took care of her closely at her bedside.

In terms of filial piety and family care, Zhou Wang did a good job.

Zhou Wang was not without sadness, but as the pillar of the Zhou family and the backbone in the eyes of his wife and children, he could not devote all his energy and attention to grief at such a time.

More than his grief, he wanted to spend a lot of energy and money on his mother's funeral arrangements, to send her off in a grand and proper manner.

Then, one must also properly entertain the relatives and friends who come to offer their condolences, ensuring that the arrangements are thorough and that proper etiquette is observed.

So Zhou Wang was so busy that he barely had time to rest, shuttling back and forth between the ancestral hall and his home.

Interspersed throughout this are rituals performed by the monks at the ancestral hall, which require the filial sons to participate. I heard that in the afternoon and evening, when it's the Taoist priests' turn, the filial sons will have to be present the entire time, kneeling and rising repeatedly until the funeral procession the next morning. So, it will also test one person's physical strength...

That looks bad!
Therefore, many families say they should have more sons, in order to prevent the elderly from passing away and having all the responsibilities fall on the only filial son, which would be too tiring.

There are several brothers, so at least we can share the burden when it comes to things like this.

These might be one of the reasons why Luo Fengtang stayed tonight to keep vigil and participate in the religious ceremony, Yang Ruoqing thought to herself. Her Tangyazi was kind-hearted and righteous, and must want to help Zhou Wang.

Although Zhou Wangzai has cousins ​​and relatives from his aunt's side in Zhoujia Village, Luo Fengtang is the only nephew of Luo Da'e's maternal family.

At this time, Luo Fengtang should definitely support Zhou Wang!
"Tang Yazi, eat more. You have a lot to do in the afternoon and at night." Yang Ruoqing poured Luo Fengtang another bowl of rice.

Luo Fengtang looked at Yang Ruoqing intently, his eyes seeming to say: My wife is so sensible and so good to me!
Yang Ruoqing curved her lips into a smile.

She made up her mind. Since Luo Fengtang was willing to do so, and the two little ones, Tuantuan and Yuanyuan, were also in high spirits, she wouldn't be in a hurry to go back this afternoon. She could participate in one or two religious ceremonies, and then take the children away while everyone rested before dinner.

Let Yang Huazhong and the others eat their meal and then go back.

When Luo Fengtang finished eating and was about to have Yang Ruoqing take the children and leave with Yang Huazhong and the others, Yang Ruoqing told him that she had changed her mind.

Luo Fengtang's eyes showed a hint of surprise, mixed with delight.

"Qing'er, your uncle and cousin will be very grateful if you can stay and participate!" He said, holding Yang Ruoqing's hand tightly.

Yang Ruoqing looked at him tenderly, "If it weren't for the low temperature, I would have loved to stay here overnight and go back to the village with you tomorrow morning."

Luo Fengtang shook his head: "Staying overnight is not an option, it's too tiring, and there's nowhere to sleep anyway."

Everyone will be staying up late tonight. Even if the children are an exception, they will definitely go back to the Zhou family home to sleep.

As for the Zhou family, the house was in a mess. Although Aunt Da'e was already lying in her coffin in the ancestral hall, she had lived in this house all her life, and the aura she left behind could not be dissipated in just a few days.

It was not suitable for Yang Ruoqing to stay overnight, and even if she wanted to stay, Luo Fengtang would resolutely refuse.

“Then it’s settled. I’ll take you and your child, as well as your aunt, back after we participate in a religious ceremony later!” Luo Fengtang said again.

Yang Ruoqing nodded: "Okay!"

On the other side, after finishing the meal, seeing Yang Huazhong and the others preparing to leave, Tuantuan and Yuanyuan were very unhappy. They hadn't had enough of this role-playing game yet, and now they were leaving?

When they heard Yang Ruoqing say that they could go back a little later, the two little ones were so excited that they almost jumped up.

He quickly ran out to find Zhou Wang's two sons to share the good news.

The two boys from the Zhou family were too young to understand, and they didn't realize that they were losing their grandmother little by little. When they heard that they could play with the two little brothers more often, they cheered.

Zhou Wang's hand was already itching to slap her, but Xiao Huan stopped him in time: "Kids don't know any better, why are you arguing with them?"

Zhou Wang gritted his teeth, "After I send Mother up the mountain tomorrow, I'm going to hang them both up and give them a good beating!"

At the same time, Zhou Wang was also very pleased and immediately asked Xiao Huan to find Yang Ruoqing a set of coarse linen clothes to wear.

Back then, the way her mother treated Qing'er almost separated her from her cousin.

He never expected that Qing'er would be able to see her mother off on her final journey after she passed away. Her magnanimity and broad-mindedness truly impressed him!
"Uncle, Aunt, could you help us find a couple of sets of clothes? We'll go with our brothers." Luo Wuyou and Zuo Jinling came over and asked Zhou Wang and Xiao Huan for a pair of clothes.

Now, Zhou Wang and Xiao Huan were even more excited, "Do your parents... know about this?"

Luo Wuyou nodded: "I've already told my mother."

I've already talked to Mom, and Dad always listens to Mom.

Meanwhile, when Luo the blacksmith learned that Yang Ruoqing, the children, and even Zuo Jinling were going to stay and participate in the afternoon's religious ceremony, Luo the blacksmith was so relieved that tears streamed down his face again.

"Okay, okay, you're all good kids."

"Da'e, Da'e, can you see? The children all want to stay and see you off on your final journey. How blessed you are! You can rest in peace now..."

……

The afternoon session has finally ended.

As the sun set, I sat in the carriage on my way back to Changping Village, watching my two exhausted children fast asleep in Ronggu and Shaoyao's arms.

Yang Ruoqing collapsed in the carriage and finally let out a long breath.

Their matter is now settled. Next up are Luo Fengtang, Luo the blacksmith, and Wang Cuilian, who will have to stay up all night again.

When Yang Ruoqing returned earlier, she wanted to take Wang Cuilian with her. However, Wang Cuilian was worried about Luo the blacksmith, who always sat alone by the coffin, muttering to himself and rarely speaking to anyone else.

Wang Cuilian felt sorry for her old man, so she stayed to keep him company. The night was long, and at least the two of them could talk.

So Yang Ruoqing, with the children who had had their fill of fun, returned to Changping Village before dark, escorted by Luo Fengtang.

After sending his wife and children home, Luo Fengtang went to the backyard at Yang Ruoqing's request to change into thicker clothes and a pair of warm cotton shoes. Yang Ruoqing then prepared two small copper stoves for him to take to Luo the blacksmith and Wang Cuilian.

Yang Ruoqing entrusted the two little brothers to Rong Gu and the others, and then went back to her dormitory to take a hot bath in the tub.

Flower petals floated on the water, and there was the scent of essential oils. Yang Ruoqing immersed herself completely in the water, only her head sticking out to breathe.

My muscles felt incredibly comfortable under the warm water.

After she got out of the bathtub and changed into clean clothes, Linglan came to deliver a message.

He said that his neighbor's wife had come over while he was taking a bath earlier, and that she wanted Yang Ruoqing and the others to have dinner at her parents' house next door that night.

The eldest maternal uncle's wife is Xiao Hua, the youngest maternal uncle's wife is He Lian'er, and the concubine's wife is Xiao Duo. Peony and Lily of the Valley clearly distinguish these titles and would never mix them up.

"Go and pass on a message for me, I'll be there in a bit," Yang Ruoqing said.

That night, they arrived at Luo Wuyou's parents' house next door. Luo Wuyou and Zuo Jinling had already arrived with Tuanyuan.

The main room was bustling with activity. When Yang Ruoqing arrived, Madam Sun and Xiaohua quickly served the food.

"Your father said you didn't touch a single bite at the lunch banquet over there. You must be starving, right?" Madam Sun asked with concern, her gaze sweeping over Yang Ruoqing.

It feels like my daughter has lost a lot of weight in just one day.

Hearing Sun's words, Yang Ruoqing felt a warm glow in her heart.

They are your own parents after all; their focus is always different from that of others.

Yang Huazhong remembered that he hadn't touched his chopsticks at the table, and he would definitely tell Sun Shi as soon as he got home.

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Sun probably couldn't sit still any longer and quickly started making preparations. She even sent Xiao Hua to call Yang Ruoqing for lunch, presumably because she felt sorry that Yang Ruoqing had gone hungry at noon.

"Mom, you know, your daughter has a bit of a cleanliness obsession," Yang Ruoqing chuckled at Madam Sun, her gaze sweeping over the ever-growing array of dishes on the table. "I'm saving room so I can eat more of your cooking tonight!"

On the table were all the dishes that Yang Ruoqing loved to eat.

Stir-fried eggs with chili peppers, spicy marinated duck leg stewed with tofu puffs, and in a small pot, crispy fish pieces stir-fried with very short garlic sprouts.

Besides these, egg drop meatballs and meat patties are also essential.

The white rice mixed with corn crumbs was packed tightly in the bowl, its white color tinged with yellow, making it very pleasing to the eye.

This kind of rice is served in the north, and I think it's called something like "two-grain rice" or something like that, Yang Ruoqing can't remember exactly.

But in Changping Village, any white rice mixed with other grains is called "mixed grain rice"!
"These are all my favorite foods, Mom, you're so good to me!"

"Hehe, some of them were burned by Hua'er." Madam Sun wouldn't take all the credit for herself; she would just say what she had to say.

Yang Ruoqing winked at Xiaohua, who was setting out chopsticks, and received a gentle smile in return.

Xiao Hua knew very well what Yang Ruoqing wanted to eat and what she liked to eat.

They grew up together since they were little!

"Save what you have to say for now. Qing'er is still hungry. Come on, everyone, sit down and eat!" Yang Huazhong picked up his chopsticks and called out.

Yang Ruoqing clutched her rumbling stomach. "Yes, yes, let's fill our stomachs first."

Everyone sat down, and the Sun family focused their attention on Zuo Jinling.

"Jinling, try this, it's made by Grandma."

"This was cooked by my aunt."

"Jinling, Wuyou said you're going back tomorrow? Aren't you going to stay a few more days?" Yang Huazhong asked again.

"Yes, Grandpa."

When Zuo Jinling was answering questions from the elders, even though he hadn't completely put down his chopsticks, they were still temporarily paused.

He doesn't eat while vaguely responding to his elders; his upbringing and manners are excellent.

However, for Yang Ruoqing and the others, once they got to know each other well, they got used to eating and chatting as a family. When Jinling truly became the son-in-law of the Luo family in the future, some small details would change, and they wouldn't care so much about etiquette and rules.

Paying attention to manners is a sign of good upbringing, but paying too much attention to it can be exhausting.

"I'm going to the capital at the end of January, so I need to set aside a few days to prepare," Zuo Jinling continued. "In addition, I need to visit a few of my father's friends and my grandmother's relatives before I leave."

"Oh, I see. That's only natural." Yang Huazhong had nothing but admiration for Zuo Jinling, a young man who was so sensible at such a young age.

Strictly speaking, Jinling is fifteen years old this year, only two years older than Feng'er...

Feng'er only passed the county-level imperial examination last year, which was already quite an achievement. Jinling, on the other hand, has already achieved the third-highest rank.

In terms of academic achievement and talent, it was simply overwhelming.

Compared to Tiedan and Hong'er, Feng'er has another advantage.

They were all scholars, and Hong'er and Tiedan were about the same age as Jinling...

"Studying is not easy, so cherish every step you take!" Yang Huazhong may still be feeling the effects of the midday alcohol, but thinking about how these children have been studying hard for so long, how every small step forward is not easy, and how it gets harder as they go on, he felt compelled to say this.

"Come, Jinling, this cup of wine is a toast to you, to see you off, and to wish you a good job in the capital."

Xiao Hua and He Lian'er exchanged a glance, and the two sisters-in-law simultaneously raised their wine glasses. He Lian'er's glass contained tea.

"On behalf of all your uncles, your two aunts wish you continued success and prosperity!"

Yang Ruoqing watched all this with a smile, then quickly put down her chopsticks, picked up her wine glass, and leaned forward: "Wishing my son-in-law even greater success!"

Zuo Jinling was already touched by the warmth and sincerity of Yang Huazhong and his two aunts. Especially when he heard Yang Ruoqing call him "son-in-law," Zuo Jinling's eyes welled up with tears, and his heart felt even warmer.