Chapter 674: Illness
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Old Madam Yu looked listless and asked, “l heard that someone in the south took the lead and inserted a type of root from overseas. It’s called something…”
Yu Youyao smiled and said, “It’s sweet potatoes.”
“Yes, yes, sweet potatoes. I heard that they’re resistant to drought and ridges. They can be planted into the ground and live easily. Moreover, they grow vines quickly. Their leaves, stems, and roots can be eaten. At this time, no matter what you plant, it’s too late. There’s only sweet potatoes. Even if they don’t produce fruits and there are many vines, the leaves can still be eaten.” At this point, a smile appeared on her face. “l seem to remember hearing you mention this.’
Yu Youyao nodded. “l knew that this plant wasn’t picky with soil, and its production was good, so I tried planting it. I didn’t expect it to succeed. The experienced old farmers in the manor said that sweet potatoes can be planted until June or July. It’s just that it’s best before and after the Dragon Boat Festival. If it’s late, the production will be reduced. I even made sweet potato snacks earlier and gave them to Grandmother to try. You said it was delicious and filling.”
During this period of time, Old Madam Yu had been forgetful. She couldn’t remember anything nearby. On the contrary, the past was still vivid in her mind. As long as she had a little energy, she would hold her granddaughter’s hand and nag non-stop, as if those were her last words.
At the mention of Yu Youyao, Old Madam Yu indeed thought of this. “The soft, glutinous, fragrant, and sweet kind of root.” She widened her eyes and smiled so widely that her eyes couldn’t be seen. “It’s a good thing. It doesn’t matter if it’s planted late. As long as there’s a harvest, the commoners will have something to live for. Good, good, good!”
This excitement made her feel a little breathless.
Yu Youyao quickly helped her grandmother calm down.
In June and July, the vines that had originally been planted also grew. The steward brought people to cut the vines and distributed them to the commoners. News spread like wildfire in Zhejiang. After the Dragon Boat Festival, there were many sweet potatoes and vines planted. They did not expect them to be widely ready for harvest in Zhejiang.
Of course, there was no lack of Ye Hanyuan’s help.
After a while, Old Madam Yu came back to her senses, but her expression turned ashen. “When will Ling… Linghuai return?”
“He’ll be back in September at the latest.” Yu Youyao’s heart ached. During this period of time, her grandmother had been asking about her cousin a few times a day.
Old Madam Yu suddenly held her granddaughter’s hand and pinched it until it turned pale. She did not notice it. “Write a letter to Linghuai and ask him to come back immediately. Don’t delay. He has to come back immediately.” Yu Youyao’s eyes turned red and she almost broke down on the spot.
Yesterday, her grandmother had also held her hand and asked her to write to her cousin and ask him to come back.
She took a deep breath and comforted her in a hoarse voice. “Okay, Grandmother, don’t worry. I’ll write to Cousin when I get back later and ask him to return immediately.”
Old Madam Yu let go, still a little worried. “Go back and write to Linghuai now and ask him to come back.”
Yu Youyao felt a lump in her throat, so she could only nod. “Okay, I’ll go back and write immediately. Grandmother, don’t worry. Cousin will be back soon.”
Old Madam Yu nodded and finally closed her eyes in relief.
Yu Youyao was shocked. Her hands trembled as she gently checked her grandmother’s breathing.
At this moment, Old Madam Yu suddenly opened her eyes again. “l almost forgot that I still have many valuable things in my storeroom. I’ll get Nanny Liu to sort out the list later and count them. I’ll send them to your house.” Yu Youyao’s throat was dry. She held back her tears and nodded.
In fact, during this period of time, her grandmother had often fallen asleep. When she woke up, she wanted to look for her and explain many things.
Many things in the storeroom had long been moved to the Jade Courtyard.
Old Madam Yu felt relieved and fell asleep again.
Yu Youyao tucked her grandmother in and quickly walked out of the room. Tears immediately streamed down her face. She covered her mouth with her handkerchief and cried silently.
She knew that her grandmother’s day was coming.
Her grandmother had lost her husband in her early years. She was a widow who raised two sons and a concubine’s daughter alone. Later, she heard that after her mother passed away and her grandmother fell seriously ill, her body completely collapsed.
It had nothing to do with the illness. It was just that time was up.
During this period of time, she had already moved into An Shou Hall and was attending to her illness. Second Aunt also came over every day, but not long after, her grandmother began to chase her away.
Second Aunt did not force it on her either.
Her grandmother pitied Yu Jianjia’s weak body and did not let her take care of her illness. Yu Jianjia was also afraid that she would cause trouble for the family, so she came over every day to accompany her grandmother.
After Yu Qingning saw her grandmother, Yu Youyao ordered her not to enter An Shou Hall again.
The entire Yu Residence was shrouded in a haze.
Yu Youyao had just returned to her room and only had time to take a sip of hot water when Xia Tao came over to report, “Young Miss, Eldest Madam Yang from the Tranquil Heart Residence is in trouble.”
Yu Youyao was stunned for a long time. After a while, she asked, “Have you asked a doctor to take a look?”
Xia Tao nodded. “Yes. Over the past few days, we’ve invited a doctor over every day. The doctor only said that she needed to eat some ginseng to recuperate and asked the family to be prepared.”
To put it bluntly, she had to eat ginseng to stay alive and endure for as many days as possible.
After three years, Madam Yang was finally about to reach her limit. Yu Youyao was very calm. “Go get a hundred-year-old ginseng. I’ve been busy taking care of Grandmother recently and haven’t visited her in a long time.”
Xia Tao quickly agreed.
Yu Youyao asked Chun Xiao to prepare a brush and ink and wrote a letter to the Xie Residence. She only explained what had happened in the Yu Residence recently and her grandmother’s health.
It seemed as if she had not written anything important, but when the Xie family saw this letter, they would understand what she was thinking.
After a while, Xia Tao took the ginseng and returned.
Yu Youyao stood up and adjusted her clothes. “I’ll go to the Tranquil Heart Residence.’
She went from An Shou Hall to Tranquil Heart Residence!
Yu Zongzheng had great authority, and the Yu Residence was prosperous. However, her grandmother was seriously ill, and Madam Yang was in critical condition too. She felt like the sun was setting on them.
All power, fame, and status were like dew and lightning. They were just illusions that were gone in an instant.
When the old woman guarding the door saw Eldest Miss coming over, she quickly came over and bowed. “Hello, Eldest Miss.”
Yu Youyao nodded. “I came to see Madam.”
The old woman quickly took the key from her waist and opened the door.
The Tranquil Heart Residence was still the same. There were some flowers and plants growing in the narrow courtyard. It was said that Yu Jianjia had personally planted them.
It was said that having more flowers and plants was beneficial to her mother’s condition.
Yu Youyao did not know if there were any benefits, but Yu Jianjia had gained a lot of reputation for filial piety in the residence. Words had even spread outside.
Yu Youyao entered the house.
At this moment, Nanny Li rushed out of the inner room with a basin. When she saw Eldest Miss coming over, she did not even bother to put the basin down before quickly bowing. “Hello, Eldest Miss.”
A sour smell rushed into her nose, making Yu Youyao’s face turn pale. She gagged from it, but she hid it well.
Xia Tao frowned. “Hurry up and clean up the basin. Young Miss has been attending to Matriarch’s illness these past few days and hasn’t been sleeping well day and night. Her body isn’t feeling well and she can’t stand the smell..”