"If you really can't bear to leave the elderly at home, then I can add ginseng to the recipe, but the price will be high, so you have to think carefully."
Huang Dong wiped her face with a handkerchief and nodded hurriedly, "Add, add, I'm not afraid of heights. Please, old doctor, help me delay it for a few more days."
The doctor looked at Huang Dongshi strangely and thought that this person really couldn't talk. What did she mean by delaying for a few more days?
After sending the doctor to the front hall, Xiuzhu hurried to find Huang Wanzhen and told her what she had just heard.
"Second Miss, the doctor is still waiting for the consultation fee, which is two dollars. I also have to go get medicine for the old man and the mistress. It contains ginseng, so I guess it will be indispensable."
Huang Wanzhen quickly took out a roll of silver dollars, which was a full ten yuan, and handed it to her. She then instructed Xiulan who was standing beside her, "Go and help your sister Xiuzhu."
After the two of them left together, Huang Wanzhen turned her wheelchair and went to Rongyang Hall.
I first went to the east wing to see Mrs. Huang Dong and listened to her mumbling. Then I went to see Old Master Huang. I saw that he was squinting his eyes and seemed to be half awake. I didn't dare to disturb him, so I had to go back to the east wing first.
After a few days, Mrs. Huang Dong felt better and arranged for Huang Zhengming to be put into the coffin.
Huang Dongshi made up her mind to keep the matter secret and did not dare to purchase coffins, funeral clothes and other items from outside. After discussing with Huang Shuhuai, she used his sandalwood coffin, which made Huang Shuhuai sad for a long time.
"Let Zhengming stay at home for a few more days. After Wanzhen gets married, if I die early, hold a funeral for me first, and then you can buy Zhengming a new coffin."
Huang Dongshi agreed immediately and did not forget to comfort him, "Dad, don't worry, even if you die late, I will definitely buy you a good coffin."
Huang Shuhuai was obviously unconvinced. "Mine is made of sandalwood. It's hard to find on the market right now. Even if you have money, you won't be able to buy it in a short time. What's more, our family doesn't have much money anymore."
"By the way, please sell all my paintings, calligraphy, and stationery. Don't use the money for now. Keep it for my funeral arrangements."
"I reckon it's worth at least two hundred dollars, which isn't too shabby."
Huang Wanzhen, who had been silent the whole time, interrupted and said, "Grandfather, these medicines cost you thirty dollars."
"The doctor said that if you drink it for a long time, there's no guarantee that you'll recover. Why don't you use the money from selling your paintings and calligraphy to buy medicine? I'll pay for your funeral arrangements."
Huang Shuhuai was not happy when he heard this, and there was even some anger on his face. "How much money can you be willing to give me? No, I can't let people laugh at me. If you don't agree, I won't entrust it to you. I will entrust it to Huang Zhong, and it will be the same."
Anyway, I don’t have any descendants to worry about, so it doesn’t matter who I entrust the matter to.
Huang Dongshi quickly comforted him, "Dad, don't be angry, everything will be as you say."
As the saying goes, an old man in the family is like a treasure. Mrs. Huang Dong was much more knowledgeable than Huang Wanzhen in this regard. She started to coax him, "Take good care of yourself. Let Wanzhen pay for the medicine. When Wanshu gives birth to your great-grandson, someone will smash the pot for you."
Huang Shuhuai's complexion improved.
After finally appeasing Old Master Huang, Huang Dongshi and Huang Wanzhen had to prepare the funeral hall for Huang Zhengming. Although they did not announce the death, in order to avoid any trouble at home, Huang Dongshi went to the temple to get many talismans.
Without asking anyone else for help, she took Huang Wanzhen to Jinxiuyuan in the northwest corner. One of Huang Shuhuai's concubines used to live here. Huang Dong died a year after she got married, and the courtyard had been abandoned since then.
Huang Wanzhen had difficulty walking, and Huang Dongshi didn't need her, so she dug the hole alone with great effort.
Huang Wanzhen felt a little reluctant and advised, "Mom, let Shusheng and Guizi dig it out. How long will it take you, a woman with bound feet?"
Huang Dongshi sniffed and said, "I want to serve your father one last time."
Huang Wanzhen: "Didn't you ask for the talisman? Why don't you apply it to him yourself?"
Huang Dong glanced at her sideways and said, "That's used to suppress your father's soul."
Huang Wanzhen pulled the corners of her mouth awkwardly, but in the end she said nothing.
When the moon reached the zenith, Huang Dong collapsed on the ground exhausted, having not yet finished digging.
"Mom, tell me the truth, do you regret binding your feet? A normal foot would be ten times more efficient than yours. Forget it, don't be so stubborn. Let Shusheng and Guizi do the digging tomorrow."
At this moment, Huang Dong was in tears, but it was of no avail. In the end, it was Shusheng and Guizi who dug a trap for Huang Zhengming.
"Madam, do you really want to bury the master in this yard? It's so unlucky." Shusheng said with a confused look on his face.
Huang Dong glared at him fiercely, "You have no right to interfere in the decisions made by the old man and me. Go away, I don't need you anymore."
Huang Wanzhen quickly stopped her, "No, mother, even though the pit is dug, how can we, two disabled people, put the coffin in? We need Shusheng and Guizi to help."
Huang Dongshi closed her eyes sadly, wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, and then opened them again with a fierce look, "Go and call Huang Zhong, you are so clumsy, don't shake the master."
The coffin was finally buried.
Huang Dongshi drove away all the servants, leaving only Huang Wanzhen behind. She personally burned paper for Huang Zhengming and asked Huang Wanzhen to smash the basin. Then she took out the talisman paper and placed it on the grave one by one.
While she was pressing the talisman paper, she was also mumbling something in a mysterious way.
This made Huang Wanzhen very nervous.
After the family affairs finally came to an end, Huang Wanzhen began to busy herself with the manuscript.
Zhan Yongwen sent a newspaper boy to urge the reporter to hand in the manuscripts, saying that he had no more manuscripts on hand. If the manuscripts were not handed in, the newspaper would be discontinued, and the money would be deducted according to the terms of the contract.
Huang Wanzhen felt a headache when she heard the word "deduction of money".
Money has been spent like water these days, and the one thousand dollars given by Mrs. Huang will not last long.
I really don't know how to manage the household. I didn't know there were so many places to spend money.
After much haste, Huang Wanzhen handed the 40,000-word novel to the newspaperman before the beginning of the twelfth lunar month.
I don't know whether it was to encourage her or because he felt she was working hard on the manuscript, but the next day the newspaperman gave her forty dollars.
"Mr. Huang, this is the payment Editor Zhan asked me to deliver. Please sign it for me."
Huang Wanzhen first took the dollars and counted them, then asked Xiulan beside her to verify whether they were real or fake, before taking the list from the reporter and signing her name.
"Little Stone, go back and tell Editor Zhan that I'm getting married on the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, so I might be delayed for a few days."
Little Shitou was very clever. Before even meeting Zhan Yongwen, he was already helping him get his manuscript ready. "Oh! Congratulations, Mr. Huang."
"It's still a week away from the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month. Please write more. I can come and pick it up every evening."
Huang Wanzhen's smile froze on her face. "It's so bad to trouble you so much."
Little Stone: "It's okay, it's okay. I often deliver newspapers here. I'm very familiar with this place. It's not a big deal."
For the sake of the remuneration, Huang Wanzhen gave in.
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