Chapter 1563 - 1552: Honest and Simple Fool

Chapter 1563: Chapter 1552: Honest and Simple Fool

In ancient times, a village was only so big, and there were few leisure activities, so any small incident in a household would quickly become known to everyone. Some people couldn’t stand others doing well, so the gossip spread that Old Lady Wang was mistreating her third son, who was now critically ill, yet she didn’t call for a doctor, only letting the Divine Woman have a look.

Not every era puts faith in the shamanistic practices of a Divine Woman. Most people, when sick, would rather spend money to buy some medicine. Business for the Divine Woman was slow, so her fees were cheap; sometimes, she might just get a meal — even a cup of wine was hard to obtain. If someone called for her, they were either genuinely beyond medical help or so poor they had absolutely nothing.

So when people saw the Ye Family not bringing Ye Laosan to see a doctor but instead seeking the Divine Woman, they talked about how Old Lady Wang was mistreating him. After all, her habits were visible to everyone.

Who in Wang Family Village didn’t know about Old Lady Wang’s favoritism? Not just the eldest son’s family with two grandsons but even the irresponsible Fourth son was held in her palm. Yet her most diligent son, the Third Son and his wife, were the least favored by Old Lady Wang.

Of course, with so many sons in a family, favoritism is normal, but who else carries it to such excess? All those fields of the Ye Family were planted by the Third Son and his wife, yet no one ever hears Old Lady Wang say anything good about him.

Furthermore, observe their family’s attire; only the Third Son’s family lacks new clothes for New Year’s. When village children play together, Ye Conghui and Ye Conghuang are the wealthiest — with candies, rice puff candy, sugar-coated hawthorn — they’re never empty-handed, making other village children envious.

But what about the two sisters, Ye Congying and Ye Congzi? They’re forever just watching, poor little girls. Other girls might have chores but can still go out and play a bit; when they go out to play, they have to worry about catching bugs and gathering wild vegetables, without a carefree moment.

Due to the situation in Ye Laosan’s family, people in Wang Family Village have gossiped endlessly. Some said Ye Qiu was too honest and foolish, hence being used by his parents and elder brother and sister-in-law as a fool.

He had two daughters but no heir, fair enough. However, this doesn’t mean Niu Xue Mei couldn’t have children in the future. The couple trying to please their nephews only fuels the ambitions of the Eldest Ye’s family.

Moreover, with the personality of the Eldest Ye’s family, it’s uncertain if they would be grateful enough to support them in old age. Truly, why bother flattering the Eldest Ye’s family? Pay more attention to the daughter’s life!

Yet, although the villagers talk about the foolishness of Ye Qiu and Niu Xue Mei, no one steps forward to speak up. Firstly, these are family issues. If they themselves see no problem, why intrude? Secondly, the Ye Family are outsiders in Wang Family Village; there’s always a layer separating them from other villagers, so no one interferes in their affairs. If they shared a surname, blood ties would mean more. In the future, even if Ye Conghui’s brothers didn’t support clan members, one could still voice concerns. But Ye Family and Wang Family are different families, so it’s not easy to manage such affairs. Why engage in thankless tasks?

Therefore, folks in Wang Family Village usually watch Ye Qiu make foolish contributions without ever volunteering a word in front of him. However, when out of sight, they gossip non-stop, first about Old Lady Wang’s favoritism, second about Ye Chun’s couple being unprincipled, third about the unkindness of Ye Conghui’s brothers.

Say what you will about Old Lady Wang’s favoritism; few elders are impartial. But Ye Chun and his wife are genuinely unprincipled. How did the Ye Family acquire so many lands over the years? Despite slacking in the fields, Ye Qiu and Niu Xue Mei work tirelessly. The Third Son’s family has no son; who are they doing all this for? Isn’t it all ultimately for your son’s benefit?

Yet you never heard them say a good word for Ye Laosan outside. They wear stylish clothes without taking on more burden, while the money Ye Qiu and Niu Xue Mei earn is sent to school for your son, who won’t even share a candy with his two sisters? Shouldn’t the parents educate them a bit?

The villagers only lament about the deceit of the Eldest Ye’s family, while Ye Laosan is too honest and foolish. Despite earning so much money, it would be better to save it for his two daughters as dowry. One day when they marry and their husbands’ families are grateful, wouldn’t it be much more promising than hoping on two ungrateful nephews? After all, they are his own daughters!

The people of Wang Family Village look at Ye Laosan with pity and distress, convinced that when they’re old, they won’t have a good outcome. Even now, not yet old, and merely sick, the Ye Family won’t spend money to see a doctor. This Ye Family is truly heartless.

Due to the autumn harvest, folks in Wang Family Village just gossip a little, rushing to gather crops. Only those living close to the Ye Family go check on them, and it’s shocking to see how this glance takes a gasp away. Ye Qiu, who used to be robust, now has a complexion pale as paper, with lips tinged blue, large beads of sweat rolling off his forehead — he couldn’t even speak clearly, as if ready to pass at any moment.

Somone suggested to Old Lady Wang that instead of waiting for the Divine Woman to heal him, they should send him quickly to the county for a doctor, otherwise delays might cost him his life.

Before Old Lady Wang could respond, the eldest son’s wife, Wang Hong, interjected: "Third Aunt, will your family pay for the medical costs? Besides, those county doctors are frauds. Last time, when Cong Hui was ill, we spent so much money and only got three doses of medicine. Ye Laosan’s illness might not be cured even if we exhaust all our property."

This Third Aunt was a kind of respectful elder in Wang Family Village, but Wang Hong’s words infuriated her. Your son gets a doctor, but your husband’s brother is called a waste of money? Aren’t you being heartless?

Realistically speaking, aren’t you ashamed of yourself for not sparing any money for Ye Laosan, who has done so much for your household?

"If it can’t be cured, then you’ll have to cultivate all those fields yourselves later. Oh, the day is bright; aren’t the two of you heading to the fields? Standing here does not serve anyone; if you don’t finish working the fields, the rain might ruin the whole year’s effort," Third Aunt Wang remarked coolly.

Wang Hong was taken aback, rolled her eyes, and said, "Who said we weren’t doing it? We’re waiting for our sister-in-law!"

Third Aunt Wang shockingly said, "Her husband can’t even get up, and his wits are scattered, and you still want her to work in the fields? Tsk tsk..."

Her dismissive tone immediately put Wang Hong in an awkward situation. She angrily glared at Ye Qiu and Niu Xue Mei, thinking about how inconvenient it is for them to get sick now; could it be they’re pretending to avoid work?