Several aunts chatted for a while, their gifts still placed at their feet. They all wanted to wait for Zhao Nanying to appear before presenting them.
With nothing else to say, they spontaneously offered to help Jun Jiuli with chores, and Jun Jiuli couldn't stop them.
"Nanying's family, please don't be polite. This is just a small token of our regard. Since you're ill, don't trouble yourself with anything."
"Yes, yes, it's not heavy work. Nan Yin is my nephew, so it's only right for me to do this."
After speaking, they swarmed outside. Some swept the yard, others fed the chickens. Two aunts went to chop pig fodder and cook pig slop.
They kept glancing towards the study. Having brought things and exerted effort, they weren't satisfied unless Zhao Nanying saw them.
They'd rather do more work and delay their departure than have this trip be in vain. In their hearts, Jun Jiuli knowing and thanking them was useless, and her relaying it was also pointless.
Shui Wa said, "These people are all here with ulterior motives. If they truly cared, someone would have made you some food already."
"It's good I'm not hungry," Jun Jiuli replied, taking a bite of the crisp apple in her hand.
Just then, a woman's voice came from outside the courtyard. It was the original owner's mother. The courtyard gate wasn't closed, so she walked directly towards Jun Jiuli's room.
Mother Yang tenderly smoothed the stray hairs on Jun Jiuli's forehead. Before she could speak, her eyes welled up with tears.
"My child, how could this happen? You were doing so well, how did it come to this?"
"Mother, don't cry. Your child will be fine. Look how cute your little grandson is."
Jun Jiuli placed the child into the elderly woman's arms. Mother Yang looked at the plump, fair-skinned Zhao Zongling, who was smiling.
She turned her head to wipe away her tears, careful not to let them fall on his face. The little bundle in her arms shifted her emotions somewhat.
"It's all my fault, Mother. I shouldn't have let you work so hard. Now that your son-in-law is finally on his feet, and you're like this, my heart aches."
"Mother, what nonsense are you talking? This has nothing to do with you. I've just been too tired lately. I'll rest for a while, and I'll be fine if I recuperate properly."
"Yes, you're right. Now that your family's conditions have improved, you mustn't skimp on the medicine. Take good care of yourself, and you'll get better. You still need to look after Ling Ge. May Buddha bless my child with peace."
"Mhm, I'll listen to you, Mother. I'll take whatever medicine is good."
"Are you hungry? Mother made your favorite scrambled eggs with tomatoes. Eat it while it's hot. With you sick, no one truly takes care of you, and Mother is worried."
She said this and began setting out the food from the basket. "I made some for Nanying too. Shall I call him now?"
"No need. He's been very busy these days. He told me every day not to disturb him."
"Is that so? Then daughter, you eat first. You just focus on recovering from now on. Leave the household matters to me; don't worry about them."
"How can that be? If you come here to take care of me, what about the house? It's also time to plow the fields. Don't worry about me; we can hire someone to help with the care later."
"That money doesn't grow on trees. It's always good to save. Mother is just afraid Nanying might look down on you."
"Mother, don't overthink it. No matter what, I gave him a son. He's a scholar now, and he can afford to hire someone."
"Alas, it's a good thing Zongling is a son. Otherwise, how would you get by in the future? Now that you have support, you have nothing to worry about."
"Mhm, mhm."
Just then, a scream suddenly came from outside. It turned out the person feeding the pigs had seen Zhao Nanying's feet and discovered he was submerged in a dung pit.
"Xiao Liu, sit tight. Mother is going out to see what's happening."
"Oh dear, what's to be done? Nan Yin has fallen into the dung pit."
Zhao Xiaohua was stunned when she heard this. Her first reaction was to call her grandfather. The other aunts exchanged glances, having no choice but to find some men nearby to help.
Mother Yang glanced over, her back feeling cold, and her head swimming. Once she recovered, she grabbed a wooden stick and went to poke Zhao Nanying.
"Son-in-law, wake up, wake up!"
After trying for a long time without any response, Mother Yang's heart sank. The dung pit was much lower than the pigsty floor. When it was full, one had to scoop it out bucket by bucket.
This place should have been cleaned two days ago, and now it was brimming with contents. Fortunately, Zhao Nanying's nose was exposed, so he wouldn't drown.
Zhao Nanying was a man, and her son-in-law at that. Mother Yang felt uncomfortable pulling him out herself. With a determined look, she forcefully poked Zhao Nanying.
Seeing that he still had some reaction, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. She ran into the house and told Jun Jiuli the situation.
Jun Jiuli feigned great surprise, got out of bed, put on her shoes, and swayed outside. Mother Yang followed behind her, carrying the baby.
The aunts went to the kitchen to boil water, and soon some men arrived. They opened the pigsty door, and the pig immediately scurried into the yard.
Everyone used sticks to herd it into a corner of the yard. There, several men, enduring the stench, lifted Zhao Nanying out.
Jun Jiuli acted disgusted, standing far away and calling out "Husband" a few times, then began to cough incessantly, wiping away tears occasionally.
Some women came to comfort her. "Don't cry. Nanyin will be alright. Da Shan said he's still breathing. Your good days are still ahead."
"Yes, yes. Crying like this is useless. Don't ruin your health; it's not worth the loss."
The water in the kitchen wasn't hot yet. Zhao Nanying was too smelly to bear. He asked the women and matrons to leave, and several men began dousing him with cold water, bucket after bucket.
Zhao Nanying woke up from the cold water. Before he could react, he opened his mouth to call for help and ended up swallowing several mouthfuls of diluted liquid.
"Stop, Nanying has woken up. Everyone, stop for a moment."
Zhao Xiaohua's elder brother endured the stench and stepped forward to help him up. "Cousin, are you alright? How do you feel now?"
Zhao Nanying saw the crowd around him, and his face quickly flushed red. He wished he could gouge out their eyes.
"Eldest cousin, my leg hurts terribly. Can you carry me back to the study?"