Chapter 22: It Would Be Best to Keep Going

Chapter 22: If Only I Could Go On Doing This Forever

Grandmother had been a woman of strong character her entire life, yet in her twilight years, she had become a laughingstock in the eyes of others.

And the person laughing most brazenly was none other than the daughter-in-law she had personally welcomed into the family.

Yunjiao felt a sliver of relief—relief that her grandmother was now too muddled to understand this mockery and disdain. If her grandmother were still of sound mind and saw the faces of these people, how heartbroken she would be; she might even die of shame and indignation.

Supporting her grandmother to sit up slowly, Yunjiao silently wiped away her tears. She stepped out of bed, slid into her shoes, and carried the chamber pot away to its proper place.

Without so much as a glance at Mrs. Ding, she took bedding from the camphor wood cabinet and changed the linens on the bed.

She then poured warm water to wipe her grandmother down before dressing her in clean undergarments.

Though Yunjiao had not yet fully grown into her stature and found these tasks physically taxing, she did not retreat. She gritted her teeth and faced the hardship head-on. Her movements were slow, yet methodical and meticulous.

Once finished, she tucked the corners of the quilt around her grandmother. Seeing her grandmother lying flat with a peaceful expression, Yunjiao finally felt a sense of ease and sat down against the edge of the bed.

Mrs. Ding and her attendant had laughed for a long time, but seeing that Yunjiao paid them no mind, they likely found it dull and ceased their mockery.

Noticing Yunjiao sitting idle, Mrs. Ding pinched her nose and said with a sour, sarcastic tone, "How can the famous filial daughter just be sitting there? This bedding and clothing are already foul; the stench of urine can be smelled three miles away. Why haven't you gone to wash them yet?"

Yunjiao lowered her eyes and took a deep breath. When she looked up again, her expression was as calm as usual.

Mrs. Ding frowned. "You stare at me without a word, as if you're not convinced? What did I say wrong?"

"Second Aunt is, of course, correct," Yunjiao said, suppressing her anger and sorrow as she gazed at her calmly. "From three days after I was born until I was five, Grandmother raised me in her own home. From the time I was a helpless infant to a young child, she cared for me with every fiber of her being. Now that she is gravely ill, it is my turn to care for and repay her. It is only my duty to attend to everything myself."

"Then why are you wasting breath? Go wash them! Your grandmother raised you with her own hands, changing your diapers and feeding you; surely she was waiting for you to show filial piety in her old age," Mrs. Ding said, her tone turning resentful. "Why, even Yan and Sheng never received such care from her, not to mention little Xia who hasn't even turned one—she hasn't even held him a few times!"

"Yes," Yunjiao nodded and stood up. "I will go wash them now. Please, Second Aunt, let Nanny Li come in to look after Grandmother."

She was more than happy to do things for her grandmother. She wanted to do more—so much more—if only she could go on doing it forever.

She was terrified. She feared that if she didn't do it now, she might never have the chance to do anything for her elderly grandmother again.

"That won't do. Your grandmother cannot do without you; you must keep watch here," Mrs. Ding hurriedly blocked her path.

Trying to slip away? It wouldn't be that easy!

"Perhaps Second Aunt could arrange something for me?" Yunjiao was not annoyed, but stood still and looked at her steadily. "I am willing to both wash the bedding and care for Grandmother, but I truly cannot be in two places at once. I beg Second Aunt to find a way for me."

Mrs. Ding was stumped. She lacked intelligence and was only accustomed to her usual repertoire of crying, making a scene, and hanging herself. Yunjiao's question truly put her in a bind.

"Mistress, I have a way to help the Ninth Young Lady show her filial piety," Nanny Ding suddenly spoke up.

"Tell me!" Mrs. Ding said, as if she had found a savior.

"Why not have the maids outside bring the water in? The Ninth Young Lady can wash the laundry right here. She can care for the Old Mistress and wash the clothes at the same time—neither task will be neglected!" Nanny Ding said with a smug look.

"That's a wonderful idea! Do exactly as you said!" Mrs. Ding almost clapped her hands in delight.

"This method is indeed the best of both worlds," Yunjiao said with a faint smile. "Thank you for the trouble, Nanny Ding."

"Taking trouble for my mistress is my duty," Nanny Ding said, holding her head high with disdain.

The water was soon brought in.

Yunjiao rolled up her sleeves, sat on a low stool, and began to scrub the laundry with soap powder, her movements professional and steady.

Mending, washing, cleaning, and cooking—she had learned these chores from a young age, all taught to her by her grandmother hand-in-hand.

Back then, her grandmother often told her that learning more skills was always good, as one never knew when they might be needed. Nothing lasts forever, and in case of misfortune, if there were no servants to attend to her, she would at least be able to care for herself.

Beyond that, her grandmother had taught her to recognize simple characters, and as she grew older, she even hired a female tutor to come every other day to teach her to read.

Mrs. Ding harbored too much resentment, partly because Old Mistress Qian doted on Yunjiao so heavily.

Having nothing better to do, she sat with her arms crossed and stayed, deciding to watch Yunjiao scrub the laundry with Nanny Ding by her side.

Old Mistress Qian rambled on the bed, speaking most often of Yunjiao and Shilin.

Mrs. Ding listened with great dissatisfaction and disdain, cursing the "old hag" in her heart. She was on the verge of death, yet she was still thinking of that third son who had been given away as a child.

She also thought of Old Mistress Qian's private property. It seemed her husband hadn't found it when he searched. Was the old thing trying to save it for the third son?

The door curtain lifted, and someone else entered.

Mrs. Ding snapped back to reality and, seeing who it was, smiled. "Oh, it's Eldest Sister-in-law. Have you eaten breakfast? My legs are a bit stiff, so I won't get up."

In this household, the eldest sister-in-law was like a mother; a younger sister-in-law should stand to offer greetings, yet while her words were polite, she made no move to rise.

When Qian Shijiang was alive and managing the family's shops and social affairs, Mrs. Ding had always welcomed the eldest branch with a smile.

But ever since Qian Shijiang passed away, the family business had fallen into the hands of the second branch. Mrs. Ding considered herself the mistress of the house, and with most of the family's property and shops under her control, while the eldest branch had no sons and was steadily declining, she had become increasingly unscrupulous.

"Eldest Aunt," Yunjiao stood up and offered a respectful bow.

"No need for such formalities," Mrs. Wen, the eldest aunt, was a gentle and kind woman. Seeing Yunjiao washing clothes, she couldn't help but be shocked. "Why are you washing clothes yourself? Aren't the maids outside idle?"

"Yunjiao is a filial child. She says that since Grandmother has loved her since she was small, she feels for her, so she wants to do all the work herself to show her filial heart!" Mrs. Ding chimed in before anyone else could speak.

"You child, having such a heart is good," Mrs. Wen rushed to pull Yunjiao up. "Leave these rough chores to the maids; you should just stay and keep your grandmother company."

"Eldest Sister-in-law, you mustn't stop her from showing her filial piety!" Mrs. Ding pushed Mrs. Wen away unceremoniously.

Mrs. Wen paused, knowing she was deliberately making things difficult for Yunjiao. She frowned and said, "The child is only ten; how can she handle such work? The bedding is soaked; even two maids can't lift it. How could she possibly wring it out?"

"Eldest Sister-in-law, you came to visit the grandmother, so just check on her. Why are you meddling in so much?" Mrs. Ding's face darkened immediately.