The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 999 - 227: Reluctant to Die_4

Chapter 999: Chapter 227: Reluctant to Die_4

Old Scholar Fang’s face turned pale as he tremblingly picked up the two packets of medicine, tears streaming down his face.

Grandma Fang wept uncontrollably, her hoarse cries demanding the death of Yang Yulan.

The news was also sent to Fang Hui and the Feng family.

Fang Fu was discussing taking Lady Yu’s coffin back to her ancestral home in Yuanyang County for burial when Fang Hui and Feng Shouxing arrived.

"Now that my sister-in-law has suddenly passed away, Liuming will have to observe three years of mourning, won’t he!" As soon as Fang Hui arrived, she didn’t lament over Lady Yu; instead, she said this first.

Pei Qian, who was pregnant, had been asked by Lady Yu to keep her distance before she died, fearing any harm to the child in her womb. Pei Qian didn’t want to but still donned hemp and filial attire along with Fang Liuming. Seeing Fang Hui come over, her eyes flitted over with a venomous look.

Fang Hui shuddered at her gaze but quickly retorted, "Pei Qian, you’re pregnant and still keeping watch here; aren’t you afraid something might happen to the child in your belly?" Her maiden family had not treated her well, so she held no goodwill towards them! They had all made their own arrangements, driving her family away without a single glance. Had she not had some silver coins in hand, her family would have starved to death in the Capital Jingcheng.

Pei Qian glared coldly at her, "If your curse comes true, my mother will come looking for you!"

Lady Yu had just been placed in the coffin; the lid was still set aside, and there she lay inside.

Fang Hui only saw Lady Yu’s feet wearing a pair of thick, embroidered shoes and glanced over at Pei Qin with a sneer, "Who has cursed you? We’re here to pay our respects. Seeing your big belly, I was kindly reminding you!"

Feng Shouxing pulled her aside, asking her not to say more and to offer incense and pay respects to Lady Yu instead! After all, Lady Yu was going to be buried back in her ancestral home in Yuanyang County, and they wouldn’t be staying for many more days.

Although he had no expectations, Fang Fu still came over and asked if they would accompany the coffin back to the countryside.

Feng Shouxing was reluctant, "Our family has both old and young, and we have a business that requires our attention. We cannot leave it unattended." It wasn’t their turn to perform the funeral duties for Lady Yu.

Fang Fu nodded, "Since you’ve already paid your respects, we’ll make preparations to return to our hometown."

Lady Ruan had already begun packing their luggage. Some things were to be taken back home, while others were to be left at the General Mansion.

Fang Liuming came looking for Pei Qin, "Eldest Sister! Qianqian is pregnant and should not embark on a long journey. Let her stay to keep you company!"

Pei Qin looked at him for a moment, then nodded.

Fang Liuming bowed, "Thank you, Eldest Sister, for the trouble we’ve caused."

Pei Qian didn’t want to stay; she had seen those two packets of medicine and had to return home to observe three years of mourning. With everyone else leaving, it wouldn’t look right for her to stay behind.

Fang Liuming couldn’t persuade her; seeing her stubbornness, he had no choice but to take her back with him.

Having packed everything, Fang Liuming and Fang Liuyang escorted Lady Yu’s coffin back to her ancestral home in Yuanyang County for burial.

To expedite their journey, they took the waterway, chartering a boat specifically for escorting the coffin southward.

Pei Qin saw them off at Tongzhou Harbour.

Old Scholar Fang hesitated to speak several times but said nothing in the end.

Pei Qin watched as the boat grew further and further away, her expression becoming colder and colder.

Fang Hui and Feng Shouxing turned to look at Pei Qin, asking if she was ready to leave. They ran a stall in Capital Jingcheng, banking on the reputations of Mo Heng and Pei Qin; although it wasn’t as effective as in Yuanyang, no one had troubled them yet. Pei Qin had come to Tongzhou while sick to see them off, prompting Feng Shouxing to pull Fang Hui along as well.

"Eldest Sister! Let’s go back too! The Auntie-Mother-in-Law has gone far." Pei Yuan urged her, seeing Pei Qin’s face grow even paler.

Pei Qin nodded, "Let’s go!"

Zhang Gengshan had already arranged accommodations, "Young Master has bought a small courtyard in Tongzhou. Madam, you could stay there for the night. We’ll wait for tomorrow noon when the weather warms up to journey back."

Feng Shouxing, upon hearing they had also bought a courtyard in Tongzhou, immediately felt a sense of imbalance in his heart. They had a place to stay wherever they went, and how much money must they have made!? Seeing Pei Qin walk away, he hurriedly pulled Fang Hui to follow her.

Zhang Gengshan blocked them with a cold eye, "If you still want to survive in Capital Jingcheng, you’d better behave."

"You... You, a dog of a servant, we are legitimate relatives, how could..." Fang Hui scolded.

Zhang Gengshan stepped forward and slapped her face hard with a smack.

Fang Hui’s pain made her ears buzz, her face felt fiery hot, and she looked at Zhang Gengshan with incredulous anger.

"You’re no longer relatives of our family, stop falsely claiming kinship," Zhang Gengshan said as he rubbed his hand and turned to follow the carriage.

"Pei Qin, you just watch a servant dare to hit me, your aunt!?" Fang Hui screamed shrilly in anger.

Pei Qin lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked at her with icy eyes, "Lady Yu is dead, what are you then!"

"What do you mean by I don’t count for anything just because Lady Yu is dead!? She’s dead, and I’m no longer your aunt!?" Fang Hui said furiously. Upon arriving in Jingcheng, she realized that without connections or avenues, doing anything became too difficult. She was indeed Pei Qin’s real aunt; she would not let Pei Qin shake them off!

"My mother never said she had a sister like you, from childhood to adulthood, I’ve only seen Lady Yu," Pei Qin said, then coldly dropped the carriage curtain.

As the carriage drove away, Fang Hui felt a surge of panic and anger in her heart. Was this because she hadn’t helped them before!? That dead bitch Lady Yu didn’t help much either! Grinding her teeth in anger, she shouted, "Whether you acknowledge it or not, I’m still your aunt!"

Zhang Gengshan limped quickly to sit on the shaft of the carriage, pointing the way, but his mind was somewhat puzzled by Pei Qin’s words. He could understand her attitude; several mothers in Old Pei’s House had a life worse than servants, yet no one was willing to lend a hand, Lady Yu was the only one from the Fang family who had helped. Now that Lady Yu was dead, Pei Qin was no longer so eager to be close to the Fang family. But she was so kind to Lady Yu, referring to her directly and not like calling an elder aunt. Once, he even overheard her mentioning Lady Fang... Lady Fang must be the mother of the lady of the house, right?

As he thought this, someone ahead stopped the carriage, "Madam! My young master wishes to meet with you!"

Zhang Gengshan’s expression turned cold upon recognizing the person stopping the carriage and his brows immediately furrowed.

Dan Yefei had dismounted from the carriage and came over, "I just heard the madam has sent an elder’s coffin back to the hometown, please accept my condolences, Madam."

Pei Qin lifted the carriage curtain, "Young Master Dan!"

Dan Yefei was taken aback, "Madam... Are you feeling unwell? This inn is chaotic, why doesn’t Madam go to my place first, and we’ll find a doctor to take a look!"

"There’s no need to trouble Young Master Dan, the General has bought a residence in Tongzhou," Zhang Gengshan said with a smile that was not quite a smile.

"Seeing that the Madam looks quite ill, I’m quite familiar with Tongzhou. As it happens, I have matters to discuss with the Madam; let me call a doctor to examine you!" said Dan Yefei, instructing his follower on the spot.

South of Runing Prefecture had not suffered the ravages of war, but their food supplies were all diverted to the north.

Although the soy sauce and Pine Flower Egg Workshop were still managed by Wang Tiezhu and Sun Quanliang and had not closed, the output had diminished.

After Pei Qin and Pei Yuan settled into the small courtyard, Dan Yefei came over as well.

A doctor arrived quickly, but Pei Qin did not let him examine her, "It’s just some discomfort these past few days, nothing serious." She had been poisoned with the acute venom of Wa Ci and cured with Seven-pulse Lotus; Dan Yefei’s doctor was probably no ordinary physician and would know just by feeling her pulse.

Dan Yefei gazed at her for a while, "Seeing Madam shivering from the cold, it doesn’t seem like a common minor illness."

"Why is Young Master Dan in Tongzhou?" Pei Qin countered. It should be the time for the canal transportation to begin, yet here was Dan Yefei, the Young Gang Leader, leisurely in Tongzhou and even taking the time to care about her sickness.

Dan Yefei smiled, his refined and otherworldly face seemed to glow with radiance, "I am here for a matchmaking visit."

Pei Qin raised an eyebrow, "Congratulations to Young Master Dan."

Dan Yefei, however, looked at her with a smile, "I am here to arrange a marriage for Brother Shen."