Chapter 60 Onlookers
Someone nearby recognized Zhang Jing and hurriedly inquired, "Auntie, is Zhang Jing's mother having another attack?"
Zhang Jing's mother was also a pitiful person. In order to support her son's education and raise the son left behind by her second uncle, she worked herself to the bone and developed tuberculosis.
Zhang Jing was filial and would occasionally go out to write letters and copy books for others, not wanting his mother to work too hard.
The doctors at the clinic all said that tuberculosis is incurable, but if she is cared for with good medicine, Zhang Jing's mother may have a few more years to live.
"I was gathering firewood at home when I heard a commotion coming from the Zhang family's house."
The old woman shook her head. The Zhang family used to be quiet and deserted, but since someone came to their door last month, they've caused trouble several times.
"Zhang Jing's younger brother, as you all know, is his second uncle's son."
The old woman explained that when Mr. Zhang was alive, the Zhang family was a well-off family. The two brothers in the Zhang family were skilled at collecting medicinal herbs and often went deep into the mountains to collect ginseng.
They rarely made a sale, but when they did, they could live off it for three years. The Zhang family accumulated a fortune before sending Zhang Jing to school.
Who knew that fate would take such a cruel turn? When Zhang's father and his second brother went into the mountains to collect herbs, they were caught in a heavy snowfall that blocked the mountain pass and triggered an avalanche. The two brothers were buried in the mountains and never came out again.
When the Zhang brothers got into trouble, the second brother's wife went back to her parents' home and remarried not long after. The son she left behind was left to be raised by the eldest sister-in-law, Zhang Jing's mother.
Instead of helping, the clansmen all came to take a share of the spoils, bullying the orphan and widow, claiming that Zhang's father owed them money, and even taking the matter to court.
The Zhang family quickly declined, and in the end, they only managed to keep the small courtyard where Zhang Jing's family now lives.
"So, it's Zhang Jing's second aunt causing trouble again?"
Since that woman remarried, she has nothing to do with the Zhang family anymore. They abandoned their son because they didn't want him as a burden, but now they're back to reap the benefits.
"That's right, Zhang Jing's cousin is already seven or eight years old. I heard he's very sensible and can do chores."
After all, it was her own mother who came to ask for her back, so those in the know couldn't say too much. It was just strange that the person who had ignored her back then would now change her mind.
"Hmph, utterly shameless!"
When the old woman started talking about this, she immediately began to spit as she said, "It's all because Aunt Zhang Jing remarried and found out that her husband was impotent and damaged his fertility, so he couldn't have children at all."
Since he had no son, he needed to have an heir, so the man considered adopting a son from the clan.
Zhang Jing's second aunt thought that since she was getting such a good deal, she might as well snatch her own son back; it was always better to have her own son than to raise a thankless wretch.
Sure enough, every few days she would come to Zhang Jing's door crying and begging for her son back.
"Sister-in-law Zhang is such a kind person. Last year, my child went out to play and couldn't find his way home. It was Sister-in-law Zhang who brought him back."
A woman selling shoe insoles nearby was packing up her stall and thought about going to check on the Zhang family. What if something happened to Zhang Jing's mother? Zhang Jing was a scholar, easily embarrassed, and didn't want to get into a fight with a shrew.
"Come on, I'll come too."
The women nodded to each other and quickly gathered their belongings together.
"Moon Sat, let's go and take a look too."
A thought flashed through Jiang Baozhu's mind in an instant, but it was too fast for her to grasp.
A voice inside her told her that going to the Zhang family would be the right thing to do.
"good."
Lin Yuesha responded positively, wanting to know how custody disputes encountered here are ultimately resolved.
Zhang Jing's house is not far from the market. After walking about a hundred meters and turning into two small alleys, the house is at the very end.
When Lin Yuesha arrived, many neighbors were gathered at the entrance.
"how's it going?"
The woman selling insoles inquired and decided to go inside to take a look.
“The person was not well, and we saw that Zhang Jingniang had something to say, so we came out first.”
The neighbor looked distressed. "Zhang Jing has no father or mother, and he has a cousin to take care of. How will he live in the future?"
"See that woman with the pointed mouth and monkey-like face in the yard? That's Zhang Jing's second aunt."
People were whispering among themselves. Lin Yuesha found a gap and looked over the fence. Sure enough, there was a well-dressed woman with a pointed chin.
The woman's chin looked as if a piece had been sliced off with a knife; her cheekbones were high, and her eyes drooped, making her look like a hanged ghost.
At that moment, she was sitting in a chair eating sunflower seeds, completely ignoring what others were saying.
Inside the room, Zhang's mother was barely breathing. She lay weakly on the kang (a heated brick bed), with traces of blood still remaining at the corner of her mouth.
“Mother, I earned some copper coins today. I can get you medicine on credit from the shopkeeper, and pay you back when I have the money.”
With red eyes, Zhang Jing knelt on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), gripping his mother's hand tightly, as if afraid that if he let his guard down, his mother would pass away.
"Good child, it's your mother who's a burden to you."
Zhang's mother forced a smile. She was worried because her son wasn't married yet, and there would be no one to take care of him in the future.
Fortunately, Zhang Jing had already come of age and passed the imperial examination, so even if she died, she would have the face to see her child's father.
"Your mother is not such a conservative person. She will definitely make you take the imperial examinations. But only by studying can you understand things and not become a fool."
Zhang's mother found that she suddenly felt better, as if she were experiencing a brief moment of lucidity before death. She knew that she didn't have much time left and that there were some things she needed to explain.
"mother!"
Zhang Jing's cousin, Zhang Fang, had long regarded his aunt as his own mother. He was young and was crying so hard he could hardly breathe.
Zhang Fang knew that if it weren't for his aunt back then, he might not have been able to get a full meal and would have starved to death long ago.
As for his own mother, that vicious woman, Zhang Fang clearly remembered that he clung to her leg, begging her not to leave, but was kicked into the village's drainage ditch.
The woman, from beginning to end, never looked back at him again.
“Zhang Jing, there’s a small box under the box. There’s a ginseng root there. Your father left it for emergencies.”
Mother Zhang patted her second son's head, then turned to her own son and instructed him that no matter how bitter the ginseng was, she had never been willing to sell it.
Now that she's gone, what's the point of keeping these things?
“Sell the ginseng, continue your studies, and if possible, marry a virtuous wife. That way, someone will take care of your food and clothing, and your mother can close her eyes in peace.”
After finishing her sentence, Zhang's mother pointed at Zhang Fang, and in her haste, she lost her voice and could not speak.
“Mother, I will not let my brother be that woman’s son.”
Zhang Jing understood his mother's meaning and assured her.
Mother Zhang nodded, glanced at her two sons one last time with reluctance, and slowly closed her eyes.
A few seconds later, even louder cries erupted from inside the house.
The neighbors who were watching shook their heads; it seemed the person had indeed left.
They couldn't just stand by and do nothing after being neighbors for so many years. Everyone should contribute and try their best to make Zhang Jingniang's funeral as dignified as possible.
Kind neighbors helped hire a funeral procession, and a nimble woman came in to change Zhang's mother into her burial clothes.
"My child, my own flesh and blood!"
As soon as the two Zhang brothers stepped out, Zhang Jing's second aunt, Sun, went up to them, wiping her eyelids hard with her hands, trying to squeeze out a few tears.
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