Chapter 88 – Stirring Up Trouble
Tian Dazhuang’s mother, Ms. Wang, was among the women, and the one who asked Ms. Wang was Li Qingxia, the wife of Yan Bozhang, the head of the Yan family. Ms. Li was about forty years old, dressed in cheap silk clothes and a silk skirt. Her hair was neatly combed into a smooth bun behind her head, with two silver hairpins stuck in it. Her eyebrows were drawn with an eyebrow pencil, her lips smeared with lipstick, and her face covered in a layer of cheap face powder.
Her husband worked in the county government and was a clerk there. Naturally, she had to dress more elaborately than ordinary rural women, and this kind of dress gave her a sense of superiority.
Ms. Wang, who had lost her husband early, raised Tian Dazhuang alone over the years, living a difficult life. Naturally, her clothing was very simple.
Looking at Ms. Li, a forty-year-old woman dressed so ostentatiously, Ms. Wang didn’t say anything, but she couldn’t help but sneer in her heart. “Not yet. Choosing a daughter-in-law must be done very carefully. If we choose the wrong one, it’s a lifetime of regret. By the way, Wenfeng’s mother, your son Wenfeng is not young either, right? I remember he’s even older than my Dazhuang. Has he talked about marriage yet?” Yan Wenfeng, the son of Yan Bozhang and the elder brother of Yan Shujing, was the eldest grandson of the Yan family. He was now studying at the county school and had passed the scholar exam at the age of eighteen, preparing to take the imperial examination. He was deeply loved by his grandfather Yan Boxian and grandmother Jiang Ying.
Ms. Li initially wanted to mock Ms. Wang, the widow, with Tian Dazhuang’s marriage. But she didn’t expect to be choked by Ms. Wang with Yan Wenfeng’s marriage. She was so angry that her face changed instantly, and she stabbed the sole of the shoe with the needle in her hand before answering Ms. Wang’s words, “My Wenfeng is not in a hurry. He has good knowledge and became a scholar at the age of eighteen. After studying for one or two more years at the county school and passing the imperial examination, girls from miles around will be waiting for him to choose. It’s not like your Dazhuang who only knows how to work in the fields and hunt in the mountains. Once Dazhuang is eighteen or nineteen, it will be difficult for him to find a wife. Don’t you think so, Dazhuang’s mother?”
Mentioning Yan Wenfeng’s knowledge, Ms. Li’s spine stiffened again, and she happily mocked Ms. Wang, laughing heartily on the side.
Ms. Wang, hearing Ms. Li’s laughter, was suddenly enraged.
She pinned the needle on the sole of the shoe and slammed it hard on the stool under her buttocks.
The group of women present were startled at the sound. Ms. Wang picked up the shoe sole, her face darkened, and stood up, glaring at Ms. Li across from her, “Li Qingxia, don’t think just because your man works in the county government as a clerk that you can bully people like this. If you bring up my Dazhuang again, I’ll tear your stinking mouth apart.”
In anger, Ms. Wang rolled up her sleeves, looking as if she was ready to fight Ms. Li.
Ms. Li was also wicked and not afraid of Ms. Wang’s outburst. Seeing Ms. Wang stand up, she also stood up, holding the shoe sole and glaring back at Ms. Wang. “Wang Sanniang, are you trying to start a fight?”
Seeing the tension between the two, Yan Shujing, who had been quietly sitting next to Ms. Li sewing shoe soles, stood up, tugged at Ms. Li’s sleeve, looked at Ms. Wang, and softly advised, “Aunt Tian and mother, please stop arguing. We all live in the same village and see each other often. Let’s all calm down and not ruin our relationships.”
Upon hearing Yan Shujing’s words, several approving gazes were cast her way.
“Shujing is so sensible, she’s grown up beautiful, her needlework is good, and she’s knowledgeable.”
“Isn’t that right? She’s much better than my deadbeat daughter.”
“Whoever marries Shujing in the future will surely be blessed.”
“Shujing’s mother, don’t be angry. Just look at how sensible your Shujing is.”
The group of women chattered, praising Yan Shujing and ingratiating themselves with the Yan family.
Originally furious, Ms. Li’s anger dissipated considerably after hearing everyone’s praise of Yan Shujing. She glared at Ms. Wang triumphantly and sat back down on her stool with the shoe sole in hand.
Sitting in the shade nearby, Old Lady Jiang, the Yan family matriarch, looked over at Yan Shujing. Her eyes were filled with satisfaction as she gazed at her granddaughter.
“Jing’er, Grandma is tired. Help me get home to rest.”
“Yes, Grandma.”
Yan Shujing was used to pleasing Ms. Jiang. She obediently responded, stood up, and walked over to Ms. Jiang, preparing to help her up.
“Ah!”
Before her hand could reach Ms. Jiang, Ms. Jiang suddenly screamed, her body tilted, and the stool tipped over, causing her to fall to the ground.
“Grandma…”
“Mother…”
Ms. Jiang’s sudden collapse frightened Yan Shujing and Ms. Li, who both screamed in unison.
In front of everyone, Yan Shujing appeared very anxious, trying to help Ms. Jiang up in a flustered manner, “Grandma, grandma, what’s wrong with you? Don’t scare your granddaughter.”
Ms. Li also rushed over, and together with Yan Shujing, they held Ms. Jiang on either side.
“Mother, where are you feeling unwell?”
When Ms. Jiang fell, the other women present lost interest in sewing shoe soles. They all stopped and gathered around Ms. Jiang, offering advice to Ms. Li and Yan Shujing.
“Shujing’s mother, don’t delay any longer. Hurry back and find someone to carry the old lady home. Then go invite Doctor Ge to take a look at her. From the looks of her, she seems to be seriously ill. We need to have Doctor Ge prescribe some medicine right away.”
“Yes, yes.”
A group of women gathered together, chattering and offering advice to Ms. Li and Yan Shujing.
At this moment, Ms. Jiang was being held by Yan Shujing and Ms. Li, her eyes rolling back, and the corners of her mouth twitching continuously. She looked as if she was struggling to breathe and might pass out at any moment.
Ms. Li’s mind was a mess. She glanced at Yan Shujing and said, “Jing’er, you hurry back and find someone to carry your grandma home.” Yan Bozhang was a clerk at the county government, Yan Wenfeng was studying at the county school, and the second Yan family branch had moved to the town to live and manage their newly opened restaurant in Daxing Town. At the moment, the only male member of the Yan family at home was the old patriarch. Fortunately, they had employed two long-term workers who could help carry the old lady back to the residence.
Upon hearing Ms. Li’s words, Yan Shujing quickly let go of Ms. Jiang, stood up, and replied, “Mother, I’ll go back and call the servants to carry Grandma home.”
Soon, the servants hurried over and carried Ms. Jiang up in a fluster. They then rushed to the Yan family’s main residence with her.
“You old woman, weren’t you fine when you went out?”
Old Master Yan Boxian saw the two servants carrying Ms. Jiang, who looked like a dead fish, and immediately became worried.
“You old woman, you had two big bowls of rice tonight. Did the rice choke you like this?”
While scolding her, he instructed the two servants to carry Ms. Jiang into the inner room. Lying on the bed, her condition didn’t improve. Her eyes rolled back, staring at the ceiling, and the twitching at the corners of her mouth was even more severe than before, causing half of her face to become crooked.
