Chapter 218: In the Wrong
Lady Lin had no sooner left the yard than Old Granny Zhang called for the doors to be shut and threw water on the ground.
She was cursing under her breath, continuously mumbling about bad luck.
The faces of Jindou and his brothers all looked rather unpleasant, knowing their grandmother was angry about their father and mother keeping the bracelet matter from her, and for a while, no one dared to speak.
It was Wang Yongfu who struggled to climb down from the chair, crawling on the ground.
Jindou and Jinhu hurried to help Wang Yongfu up.
But he pushed them away, propping himself up with his hands, and started to kowtow heavily towards Old Granny Zhang, raising dust off the hard ground with each bow.
"Mother! It’s all my unfilial fault! I was wrong! I truly realize my mistake! I was foolish back then, Mother cared for me with all her heart, yet I allowed my heart to be clouded, taking Mother’s kindness as ill-intent. To marry Lady Lin, I forced Mother to compromise, causing you sorrow and disappointment! It’s all my fault! I was blind, erring in judgment of character, deceived by the wrong person! Hence, I ended up in this plight! Mother made me swear an oath, and though I vowed it aloud, I didn’t take it to heart, this is all the retribution I deserve! I have nothing else to say, only to kowtow and admit my mistakes to Mother! These years, I’ve wronged you, Mother! You can beat or scold me, for I’m nothing but a scoundrel, worthless! For a woman’s sake, I defied my own mother! All this is deserved, it’s karmic retribution!"
He cried and kowtowed, the thuds heavy and loud, and after just a few, his forehead was cracked open, displaying faint streaks of blood.
Watching Wang Yongfu like this, Jindou and his brothers felt both heartache and discomfort, their eyes reddening.
Lady Jiang and the children from the third branch also watched with expressions of sympathy, especially Lady Jiang, who found it hardest to see such scenes, turning away.
However, Wang Yongping could not care about that much, rushing forward to hold Wang Yongfu, kneeling beside him, pleading with Old Granny Zhang, "Mother, look at elder brother, he’s like this now, he knows he’s remorseful, Mother—"