The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 1661 - 1655: The Onlooker Sees Clearly

Old Doctor Du did not keep the siblings waiting long. After closing his eyes for a moment, he opened them and looked at Wang Yongfu before saying, "Your elder brother was severely injured back then. If he had been meticulously cared for, it wouldn’t have been impossible for him to stand again. However, he later took medicine as fierce as tiger and wolf, which completely drained his body."

"Though the medicine he took afterward healed his body and mended his bones, it harmed his foundation. That was a method of desperation, and the aftereffects are numerous. By now, nearly half of the medicine’s effect has worn off—"

Wang Yongfu’s gaze dimmed; he understood these words and comprehended their meaning.

Since the beginning of this year, his body had been weakening by the day. On days with changing weather, the pain was intense. He used to be able to suppress it with medication, but now, it no longer works; he has to endure it.

In winter, he hardly ever leaves the house, keeping the heated bed so warm that others sweat in thin clothes, while he has to wrap himself in a cotton-padded jacket and stay on the heated bed just to get through.

He had a premonition in his heart, but he still held onto a shred of hope.

Now, upon hearing Old Doctor Du’s words, even that last glimmer of hope was extinguished.

Wang Yongzhu sighed silently as well. Xiao Tiantian’s medicine back then was potent beyond measure, and not even her master could do anything about it.

Nevertheless, Old Doctor Du still prescribed a formula: "Now, your brother’s body is like a sieve; all the vital energy from food leaks away, leaving only a tenth. To sustain himself, he must consume his own stored essence, expending it faster than it replenishes, which won’t last long either."

"This formula nourishes the foundation and vital energy. Taking it regularly will have some effect. Even if it doesn’t do anything else, it can at least extend his days a bit."

Wang Yongzhu thanked Old Doctor Du, took the prescription, and glanced at it. It was full of herbs that invigorate blood and qi, and though some were costly, the Wang Family could afford them now.

Over there, Wang Yongfu had completely given up hope. After hesitating for a moment, he spoke up: "Master Du, I have no other expectations now. Shamelessly, I ask you for one thing. I hope you will agree for the sake of my younger sister."

Old Doctor Du was taken aback for a moment before saying, "Tell me first, and I’ll see if I can agree."

Wang Yongfu then said, "I know my fate. The heavens have already shown great mercy granting me these ten or so years of good life! If I were any greedier, even the heavens would look down on me. However, whenever the weather changes, it feels like a thousand ants are biting my bones, causing unbearable soreness and pain, leaving me unable to get off the heated bed, like a useless person."

"I know that Master Du is a renowned physician in the Capital City, treating even the Emperor! I ask for nothing else but for Master Du to prescribe something to stop this pain—"

If he could bear it, Wang Yongfu truly wouldn’t want to make this request.

But now, he felt more and more powerless, as whenever the weather changed, the pain was so intense that he wished for death.

Hence, he asked with his last bit of hope, not for an extended life, but simply to suffer less while alive, which would be enough.

Old Doctor Du didn’t expect such a request from Wang Yongfu. After being taken aback, he readily said, "That’s no problem. I’ll prepare some pills for you in a couple of days. When the weather changes or when the bone seams hurt severely, just take two pills. If even that is unbearable, I’ll concoct another formula, which should alleviate 70 to 80 percent of the pain."

Wang Yongfu, upon hearing this, was endlessly grateful. Instantly, he stood up and knelt before Old Doctor Du: "Thank you, Master Du! Thank you, Divine Doctor Du! I’ll never forget this great kindness and virtue in this life! Let me kowtow to you, my elder! Thank you! Thank you!"

In his excitement, he became quite incoherent.

Old Doctor Du, having witnessed many such situations, completely understood Wang Yongfu’s current feelings and merely nodded: "No need to thank me! Thank your sister instead! When you return, take it easy, rest more, don’t get upset, and keep your anger in check! Maintaining a calm mindset will be beneficial after all! All right, stand up!"

Wang Yongfu kowtowed twice more before slowly rising with the support of a chair.

On the way back, Wang Yongfu was so grateful he didn’t even know how to express it.

Seeing him like this, Wang Yongzhu smiled in consolation: "Big Brother, you don’t need to be this way. We’re family, and I naturally hope for your well-being. Don’t overthink. Listen to my master, take good care, and take your medicine on time. It’s always better than not taking it. Don’t lose heart; who knows, there might be a turn for the better one day!"

Wang Yongfu let out a sigh: "Little Sister, don’t try to comfort me. As your big brother, I know my body’s condition very well. I’ve come to terms with my fate long ago!"

As he thought about it, he finally couldn’t hold back. Last night, Jinguan still wouldn’t give up, which had already been worrying him.

Today, he was completely disheartened, and with no one to confide in, seeing Wang Yongzhu’s concerned appearance warmed his heart, making him want to pour out his troubles.

He realized now, he could understand how Old Granny Zhang felt back then.

Back then, he insisted on marrying Lady Lin, not expecting that the tables would turn, and now Jinguan was adamant about going against his wishes and marrying a girl from the Zhao Family.

The Zhao Family might have spoken well, but if Jinguan indeed married their daughter, took over all their business, and even had a child with the Zhao surname, who wouldn’t know he was becoming their live-in son-in-law?

One could even fear that people would murmur behind their backs, wondering if the Wang Family coveted the Zhao family’s estate, so they sent a son to get a daughter and the estate for free.

Perhaps they’d even say the Wang Family was bullying with their power!

Thus, no matter how hard Wang Yongfu tried to reason or exert his authority as a father, Jinguan wouldn’t budge.

If this weren’t his own son, Wang Yongfu would have dearly wanted to beat this disappointing son to death.

Every night, reminiscing about the past, he wished he could return and slap his past self.

He dared not speak of this in front of Old Granny Zhang, nor did he initially plan to mention it to Wang Yongzhu.

But with just the two siblings for once, he couldn’t hold back, starting off with a few words, then couldn’t help but spill out everything about Jinguan.

Actually, Wang Yongzhu had already heard about it from Old Granny Zhang, but between the mother and daughter, their thoughts were the same: firstly, it was a family matter, and secondly, there were no living parents to intervene in a nephew’s marriage.

Thirdly, in her view, if Jinguan truly liked Miss Zhao, the marriage was not impossible.

But with the way Wang Yongfu spoke now, it seemed Jinguan was interested in the Zhao family’s estate?

This was peculiar because the Wang Family’s good days currently were based on the big house’s wealth, which the three brothers would share equally in the future, and would suffice for a comfortable life.

Furthermore, given the current situation, Jinhoo was unlikely to return and claim any share of the family estate with them.

With just the two brothers, life should be even better.

Why ruin his own reputation for the slender property of the Zhao family?

Wang Yongzhu, being a detached observer, clearly saw the strangeness of this situation, not understanding Jinguan’s motivations. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Wang Yongfu didn’t identify the root of the problem, still entangled in regretting his past actions, feeling he was now facing retribution.