Chapter 583: The People in the Palace Are So Pitiful
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Old man Wang’s family had a large population. Although there was no pressure on their children and grandchildren, there was still mental pressure. Therefore, the Wang family never urged them to have more children.
Qu Shuqiu had married into the Wang Family for a few years and was now pregnant with their first child. The most nervous person was Wang Dalang. This was his first time being a father, so he would be nervous no matter his age.
Especially now, seeing that Qu Shuqiu was about to give birth, Wang Dalang stopped much of the work he was originally in charge of.
The contributions their Wang Family had made to Hu Family Village were no longer something that could be explained in one or two words.
Now, only the eldest branch was still in the village, helping to look after the cane sugar workshop and the mulberry silkworm workshop. Wang Dalang was supervising the matters in the village, Hundred Flowers County, and Shopkeeper Zhou’s business.
Qu Shuqiu was not idle either. She was now supervising the silk workshop in the village. Now that the silk cloth and blanket in Hu Family Village had already become famous, Village Chief Hu had formed an alliance with the surrounding villages and towns to guide them in planting mulberry trees and raising silkworms. The silk cocoons they obtained were collected by Hu Family Village.
The food produced by Hu Family Village would also be given to the surrounding villages and towns first. This formed a mutually beneficial relationship. Hu Family Village had already become the number one village in the entire Yongding County. They were no longer as poor as before.
Even the one or two lazy people who were unwilling to work were knocked down by Old Master Hu with his walking stick and became obedient.
Wang Dalang and Qu Shuqiu had also become famous in the village, but now, Village Chief Hu and the others wanted to hand over the position of the next village chief to Wang Dalang.
In the past, no matter how simple the Hu Family villagers were, they would never give up the position of village head to an outsider, especially the Wang Family. Not only were they outsiders, but they had also escaped from the wilderness.
But now that 30 years had passed, they had long seen Old man Wang’s family background and character clearly. The reason why they were willing to hand over the position of village chief to them was because they hoped that the Wang Family could treat this place as their root.
If Wang Dalang became the village chief, would the Wang Family still leave?
Of course, Old Master Hu and the others had other intentions. Now that the Wang Family was at its peak, their Hu Family Village should also become a solid backing.
It was said that those officials had one foot in heaven and one foot in hell. The more candidates Old man Wang’s family had to take the Imperial Examination, the greater the chances of their family climbing up. However, the higher they climbed, the more miserable their fall would be if they met an obstacle one day.
If they were implicated by some unfilial descendant in the future, Hu Family Village would also become their last support. As the village chief, Wang Dalang would definitely have more selfish motives in favor of the Wang Family and would not be unable to tolerate them.
Old Master Hu and the others were already old and did not know how many years they could manage things. The rest could only be left for the future generations to do. What they could do was to pave the way and form good karma so that the children would at least understand the Wang Family’s kindness.
Regarding this, Wang Dalang did not care. He was now thinking about his son.
It was not that he did not want his wife to give birth to a daughter, but the Wang Family’s tradition was fixed. It was almost certain that they would give birth to a son. If they gave birth to a daughter, it would be that the heavens had opened their eyes!
“We’ve only just received the letter. Ah Yu has probably already set off for the capital. Qin Huai is from the capital, and the prefecture capital is only half a month away from there. Since she likes lively places so much, she will definitely be going there.” When Wang Dalang returned home and saw the letter Qu Shuqiu had brought back, he immediately said, “Coincidentally, I’m going to Fuji Temple to offer incense today. Why don’t I donate some money to the temple to pray for the kids?”
Qu Shuqiu held her big stomach and said, “Bring me along. I’ll also pray for the child in my stomach and ask the gods to bless me to give birth to an obedient and smart daughter like Ah Yu.”
Everyone stared at her round stomach. How could they agree? They had to climb a mountain to get to the temple!
Qu Shuqiu said to Madam Feng, “Mother, I had a dream yesterday. I dreamed that in front of the mountain gate of Fuji Temple, there was an obedient little girl hugging my leg and calling me Mother. Let me go. Perhaps this is Buddha’s guidance.”
Madam Feng could not withstand it and was worried about Qu Shuqiu. After thinking about it, she simply called Hu Xiaotong’s fiancee over.
Coincidentally, Hu Xiaotong’s fiancee was Wu Qianqian from the Wu Family Medical Hall in Nanhe Town. She was a girl who liked to study pediatric medicine.
At a medical conference, she chatted happily with Hu Xiaotong. After a while, the two of them interacted.
Last year, the two of them were engaged. They should be married next year.
Now that she knew that Qu Shuqiu was about to give birth, she specially went to the village inn to stay and wait for her to deliver the child.
There was an inn in the village that Old Master Hu and Elder Ma had built together. Widow Zhou was in charge of it and only paid some cheap rent to the village every month. The rest of the rent was collected by Widow Zhou herself.
Now, there were merchants in the village all year round, and some people had booked the location of the inn to stay permanently.
Widow Zhou charged a cheap price. A room only costs a few copper coins a day. The furnishings were simple, and everyone could afford to live in it. She was happy and relaxed.
“Then let Qianqian follow.” Madam Feng was still a little worried. “Call Granny Liu along. If anything goes wrong along the way, you’ll at least have someone who knows what to do to help.”
Wang Dalang went to the house and took out the box All Yu had left behind. Inside were a few meatballs made with the Myriad Spirit Sacred Fruit. Ah Yu had sent someone to send them back before the new year and said that they were good medicine for her family.
Of course, he also brought it along.
Hence, Wu Qianqian followed him to climb the mountain. The group climbed for more than six hours before reaching the entrance of Fuji Temple.
When Yuan Zhi heard that they were here to donate money, his face wrinkled from smiling. He hurriedly welcomed them in.
After Qu Shuqiu knelt down, she held a banknote worth 50 taels of silver in her hand. Before she could send it into the merit box, she suddenly cried out.
“What’s wrong, what’s wrong?” Wang Dalang ran into the main hail.
Qu Shuqiu said with a trembling voice, “I think I’m about to give birth.”
“Ah?” Wang Dalang was stunned.
The midwife went forward and touched Qu Shuqiu’s stomach. Her expression changed. “Oh no, this child’s position is wrong.”
When she went up the mountain, everything was clearly fine. However, after entering the hall and kneeling for a while, the fetus changed position in her mother’s stomach.
Without thinking, Wang Dalang turned around and knelt down in front of Yuan Zhi. “Master, please save my beloved wife!”
At this moment, the only person who could save Qu Shuqiu was someone with True Qi.
Wang Dalang’s martial arts were so-so. He could only be said to have beaten ordinary people, but his True Qi and internal force were insufficient. How could he compare to Yuan Zhi?
The smile on Yuan Zhi’s face froze.
At the same time, Qin Huai, who was far away in Wanning City, also brought Ah Yu into the Imperial City.
Outside the Imperial City, there were two completely different styles.
If Wanning City was considered prosperous, then the Imperial City was solemn. Even the people walking on the streets were in a hurry.
When they arrived at the entrance of the palace, the guards stopped Old man Wang and did not allow him to take another step forward.
After they entered the palace from the Imperial City, this atmosphere became even worse.
“Big Brother All You, the people living in the palace are so pitiful.” Sitting in a special carriage for use in the palace, Ah Yu leaned close to Qin Huai’s ear and whispered.
Qin Huai turned his head and glanced at Ah Yu.
The little girl’s eyes were filled with sympathy. There was no surprise or admiration for the palace at all.
It was as if this dazzling palace was an ordinary existence.
Moreover, it was an existence she did not like.
“Don’t you like this place?” Qin Huai did not realize that his voice had become much deeper..