Chapter 274
When they finally returned to the household, Shi Fengming knelt in front of his parents with a face full of shame. Second Old Mistress Shi had already pulled him into her arms and started crying. She scolded him as she cried, feeling heartache, joy, and anger. Shi Fengming's heart was also sour. Seeing his mother's haggard face and her hair that was obviously much whiter than two years ago, he felt even more stifled. The mother and son hugged each other and cried bitterly. It took a while for everyone to calm them down.
Only then did Second Old Mistress Shi and her husband have the time to thank Shi Fengju and happily brought their son back. Second Old Mistress Shi ordered the servants to boil water with grapefruit leaves for her son to wash away the bad luck. She also ordered the servants to prepare incense and candles for him to go to the ancestral hall to worship the ancestors after he was clean.
Shi Fengju and Sang Wan also returned to Ning Garden to change and freshen up. Wang glanced at them but did not say anything.
Nanny Li, Zhide, and the others welcomed their master back. They all came up to greet her, and it was very lively.
They were back to this place again! Looking at the familiar and unchanged furnishings in the house, Sang Wan felt a little absent-minded.
"Wan Niang, I'm here!" Shi Fengju held her hand and smiled, "If Mother brings up the past again, we'll go out for a walk again!"
Sang Wan heard him and laughed. Although she did not take his words seriously, she felt a lot more relaxed.
There should be a period of good days ahead, right? With Shi Fengming's side in chaos, who in the household would have the time to care about other things? There wasn't a second branch where her nephew's life and death was unknown, and the eldest aunt was in a hurry to find a second wife for her son.
Shi Fengming's actions were swift. He suddenly 'fainted' on the second day and was' bedridden 'in less than two days. He coughed incessantly, his face was sallow, his spirit was low, and his body was hot and cold. According to the doctor's diagnosis, it was tuberculosis.
Wang and the rest were all shocked, and Second Old Mistress of the Shi family was crying her heart out. Sang Wan and the rest hurriedly supported her and tried to persuade her. Sang Wan secretly praised in her heart: Second Old Mistress Shi must really dislike Zhou Jingyi. Compared to her son, I'm afraid she's even more eager for Zhou Jingyi to leave. The cooperation between mother and son is truly flawless!
Afraid that Shi Fengming's "tuberculosis" would spread to everyone, the entire residence was disinfected. Shi Fengming also moved to a small courtyard called Biluo Pavilion in the northwest corner of the back garden to live. An old maid and a servant girl were sent to serve him. The old maid and servant girl used cotton cloth to cover their mouths and noses when they went in and out. The small courtyard was disinfected once a day.
The news quickly spread to the Zhou family. Everyone in the Zhou family was shocked. Zhou Jin Yi's face turned pale and she almost fell.
This time, it was still Mrs. Lin who went to the Zhou family. Mrs. Lin wiped her tears and said, "Poor Second Young Master. It was not easy for him to come back. The family did not even have time to celebrate for two days, but he had to encounter such a thing! Second Young Mistress, you have to go back with the Old Slave this time. If you are late, I'm afraid that you won't even be able to see him for the last time — — "
Zhou Jin Yi wiped her tears and nodded, "Mrs. Lin, please wait for a moment. Let me pack up and go back with you! Husband, he, he will be fine! "
Old Mistress Zhou and Old Master Zhou looked at each other and sighed in their hearts. Old Mistress Zhou sighed with anger and hatred. That scoundrel, he was fine when he was having fun outside. The moment he came back, he created such a mess. What does he mean by this! Isn't he trying to harm my daughter? What sin have I committed? Why is my daughter's life so bitter?!
"Mrs. Lin, you should go back first! I will personally bring Jingyi there tomorrow! Ai, I really didn't expect this! How did my son-in-law get such a disease? As his mother-in-law, I have to go and take a look before I can be at ease! My poor daughter, why is her life so bitter! "Old Mistress Zhou sighed.
"Mother!" How could Zhou Jin Yi wait any longer? Her eyes were red as she sobbed, "You can go tomorrow. I want to go back with Mrs. Lin now!"
"What nonsense are you saying!" Old Mistress Zhou frowned, "We will leave tomorrow morning. What's wrong with waiting one more day? What will happen if you don't accompany me? " Old Mistress Zhou still had some resentment in her heart. The Shi family only sent a mother to pick her up. Even the housekeeper did not come. How could she be at ease?
"No! I'll leave now! " Zhou Jin Yi was extremely stubborn this time. She stood up and said, "Mrs. Lin, please wait for a moment. I'll pack up and come over!"
Mrs. Lin was naturally on her mistress' side. Seeing Old Mistress Zhou's ambiguous attitude and her constant delay, it was obvious that she had other plans in mind. Thus, she was unhappy. Hearing Zhou Jin Yi's words, she felt relieved. Without even looking at Old Mistress Zhou, she nodded and said, "Yes, Second Young Mistress! Old Slave will wait for Second Young Mistress! "
Zhou Jin Yi nodded and turned to pack her clothes.
"You — —" Old Mistress Zhou was so angry that her eyes widened.
"That's enough, that's enough!" Old Master Zhou tugged at his wife's sleeves and said, "It's normal for a daughter to be worried about her son-in-law when he's so sick. Why leave her alone to worry for the night? Let her go! I'll go with you tomorrow to take a look! "
Old Mistress Zhou was even more unhappy when she heard her husband's words. She could not care less in her anger and sneered, "My daughter is really a fool! She's worried about him, but when he was having fun outside, did he even think about her for a moment?! "
Mrs. Lin's face turned ugly. She lowered her eyes and pretended that she did not hear anything.
Old Master Zhou quickly stopped her and asked someone to bring Mrs. Lin down to drink tea. Mrs. Lin secretly heaved a sigh of relief and quickly thanked him.
"How can you say such things at a time like this?!" Lord Zhou was displeased.
Old Mistress Zhou also questioned angrily, "Did I say something wrong? If it wasn't at this time, I wouldn't have said that! This is really retribution! Hmph! "
Old Master Zhou said angrily, "Enough, stop talking! Retribution? Then what about our daughter? You should be clear about who this retribution belongs to! "
Old Mistress Zhou was stunned and her eyes turned red, "My daughter is innocent. She can't be implicated for no reason! What else is there to say now that things have come to this? It's better to get a divorce as soon as possible! "
"You're crazy!" Old Master Zhou frowned, "A divorce can't happen at this time! Our son-in-law's life is unknown, and our daughter wants a divorce. If this spreads out, what about our reputation? "
"What's the use of having a reputation?" Old Mistress Zhou said with tears in her eyes, "Isn't our daughter pitiful enough?!"
"It's useless! If you don't want her to live in the future, you can make a fuss and leave now! "Old Master Zhou flicked his sleeves.
"Why not!" Old Mistress Zhou said, "It's the Shi family who has let our daughter down. Now that their son is not going to live and our daughter doesn't have any children, are we going to guard her for the rest of her life? If our son-in-law is loyal, it's fine. But in reality, he's such a heartless person. How can I accept this?! "
"Do you think I'm willing? In any case, this matter can't be brought up now! If you don't want to harm our daughter, you better not add to the mess! "Old Master Zhou said angrily.
"How am I adding to the mess?!"
"Father, mother! Calm down, "Young Master Zhou sighed," Let's see how things go tomorrow! Who knows, maybe Brother-in-law's luck is great and he can survive this ordeal! "
Before Young Master Zhou could finish, Old Mistress Zhou spat and said, "Luck is great? He's such a heartless and unscrupulous person. It's so unfair! "
"Are you done yet!" Old Master Zhou said helplessly.
"I won't let this matter go so easily! My daughter can't be wronged for the rest of her life! "
"Mother, from what I see, sister's meaning seems to be — —"
"What does she know! Children are impulsive. Her intentions can't be taken seriously! " Old Mistress Zhou was even angrier. Thinking of her daughter's useless appearance, she felt her chest tighten.
While they were arguing, Zhou Jingyi came in with Su Qing and Su Bi. Her eyes were red as she said goodbye to her father, mother, brother, and sister-in-law.
Madame Zhou saw that in the blink of an eye she had changed into a set of bean-green plain clothes, and that the golden hairpin in her hair buyao had also been replaced with a simple jade hairpin. She could not help but feel angry. She was about to scold her, but when she saw her sad expression and teary eyes, she felt her heart ache. She let out a long sigh and turned her face away, "Fine, a married daughter is like spilled water. Since you're thinking about it, then go! In your heart, father and mother are not as important as that heartless man! "
"Mother!" How could Zhou Jingyi endure such harsh words? She sobbed and ran forward to kneel in Old Mistress Zhou's arms. Tears flowed down and her thin shoulders trembled, "Mother, don't say that! Your daughter's heart hurts! "
"Look at yourself! Jingyi is already sad enough. Don't rub salt on her wound! She didn't say anything, so why bother! "Old Master Zhou sighed.
"So it's me who worried for nothing!" Old Mistress Zhou became angry again and glared at her husband. Seeing her daughter's pitiful face full of tears, she couldn't help but feel her heart ache. She sighed and didn't say anything else.
Old Mistress Zhou raised her handkerchief and gently wiped away the tears on Zhou Jingyi's face. She stroked her hair and sighed softly, "Since you insist on going, Mother won't stop you. But his illness is contagious. You have to be careful. Don't get too close and don't stay too long by his side. You have to know how to protect yourself, understand? My daughter, you're Mother's flesh and blood. Even if you don't think for yourself, you have to think for Mother. If something happens to you, how can Mother live? "
Old Mistress Zhou's tears rolled down as she spoke. Old Master Zhou glanced at the door and thought that it was fortunate that the Shi family wasn't here. Otherwise, his daughter's days back home would definitely be difficult!
"I know! Mother, don't worry! "Zhou Jingyi's heart ached.
"Mother is relieved to hear that!" Old Mistress Zhou forced a smile. She reminded Su Qing and Su Bi again before letting Zhou Jingyi go.
Zhou Jingyi and Nanny Lin left the Zhou residence and the carriage sped towards Qingzhou City. On the way, Zhou Jingyi couldn't help but ask Nanny Lin about Shi Fengming's situation. When she finished listening, she felt even more anxious and sad. She couldn't help but think to herself, Is my life really so bitter? I married someone I liked at first sight. I was originally rejoicing that the Heavens took pity on me. Who knew that his heart already belonged to someone else. He didn't hesitate to abandon me and leave home. He left for two years. When he came back, we could have started a new life together and live a good life together. Who knew that it would be a separation of life and death …
Zhou Jingyi's expression was sad and she couldn't help but cry again.
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