Chapter 1051 - 1053: Falling and Breaking the Head_1
The Bai Family was aware of Bai Ruolan’s situation, of course, not because the old master had written to tell her, but because they found out while chatting with Bai Ruozhu. Everyone in the Bai Family felt that the grandmother was too muddle-headed and blamed her for ruining a perfectly good child, but it would be inappropriate to speak ill of their own Elder, so they felt even more sympathetic toward Bai Ruolan.
While Bai Ruolan and the others went to play in the garden, Bai Ruozhu didn’t follow. Instead, she went to the Main Courtyard to fetch Dengdeng, which her mother had brought. Bai Zhi knew that her two daughters had gone to play with Bai Ruolan and couldn’t help but sigh, saying, "Ruolan really has fallen into despair."
Once, Bai Ruozhu also thought that Bai Ruolan was just not strong enough, but after giving it some more thought, she realized a sixteen-year-old girl, who was supposed to be the legitimate daughter of a Scholar, had her mother divorced by her father overnight, and then had to marry a widow with a notorious reputation. And suddenly, she was involved in a scandal of cheating, leading to her father, Bai Yibo, being ridiculed. Wasn’t Bai Ruolan also pointed at and whispered about?
That was not all. Her grandmother even allowed that indiscreet widow into their home, and she truly felt her life was hopeless.
If all these things had happened to Bai Ruozhu herself and she was not someone who had lived another life and knew better, nor did she have the skills from before her transmigration, she feared that she would also, like Bai Ruolan, be in despair about life.
"When you have time, let Xiao Bing and Xiao Xue spend more time with Ruolan. Perhaps she could improve," Bai Ruozhu suggested.
Bai Zhi nodded, "If we were in the Capital, we would definitely come more often."
The person who had delivered the invitation to the Bo Family returned, saying the Marchioness was very welcoming and hoped the Bai Family would come tomorrow, even suggesting they stay for lunch.
Upon hearing this, Bai Zhi stood up and said, "Then we should return and prepare, it wouldn’t be good to visit empty-handed tomorrow."
Bai Ruozhu nodded and sent someone to call Ding Bing and Ding Xue back. When they returned, Ding Xue had a large gash on her forehead that was bleeding profusely, and the little girl’s eyes and nose were swollen from crying.
Ding Feiyu, distressed by his daughter’s injury, rushed over to inspect the wound, anxiously asking, "How did this happen?"
Before Ding Xue could answer, he saw Bai Ruolan, who had followed them over, and she seemed frightened, hiding behind the wintersweets.
Ding Feiyu was very upset, thinking that although they sympathized with Bai Ruolan’s plight, they couldn’t just let her play with an idiot and end up injuring his daughter like this.
Bai Ruozhu didn’t rush to ask what had happened but immediately ordered a maid to fetch her medicine box. She had Ding Xue sit down, speaking softly, "Cousin will treat your wound, and I guarantee it won’t leave a scar."
If she could heal Aunt Zhang’s burns, what was this mere cut?
Ding Xue, crying intermittently, was fond of beauty after all and immediately asked Bai Ruozhu, "Will it really not scar?"
Bai Ruozhu nodded with a smile. Though she didn’t say much, her actions seemed to give Ding Xue reassurance as if she had taken a heart medicine, and for some reason, she felt calmer.
It was then that she realized her father’s look towards Cousin Ruolan was not quite right and immediately figured that her father must have misunderstood.
"Father, Mother, I was being naughty just now, trying to pick persimmons from the tree, and I fell down," Ding Xue said, hanging her head.
There were two persimmon trees in the mansion Bai Ruozhu had bought, previously picked by the former master, and they were now laden with persimmons this season.
"Why didn’t you stop Cousin? How could you let her do such a dangerous thing?" Bai Ruozhu glared at the maids who had accompanied them. Ding Xue was only eleven and didn’t know any better, but weren’t those maids supposed to know better?
The two maids trembled as they confessed their offense, and although they did not shirk responsibility, Ding Xue couldn’t help but feel remorse and spoke up, "I moved quickly, and by the time they reacted, I was already up the tree. They were quite frightened and kept begging me to come down, I..."
By this point, everyone understood the situation, and Ding Bing also tearfully said, "Dad, Mom, please don’t blame my sister. She has already suffered, and she definitely won’t dare to do it again."
Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but let out a light laugh and said, "Xiaoxue may seem shy, but I didn’t expect her to be so daring. However, it’s good for a girl to be brave; it means she won’t be easily bullied in the future."
With those words, she effectively spoke on Ding Xue’s behalf, and Bai Zhi gave Ding Xue a stern look but couldn’t bring herself to scold her any further.
At that moment, the maid brought over the medical box, and Bai Ruozhu treated Ding Xue’s wound before applying a layer of cooling ointment. Ding Xue’s bright eyes shone again as she remarked, "Ruozhu cousin’s ointment is amazing, it doesn’t hurt at all now."
Bai Ruozhu smiled and handed her a small box of ointment, saying, "Apply it once in the morning and once in the evening, and it will heal quickly without leaving any scar."
"Thank you, Ruozhu cousin," Ding Xue said with a sweet smile returning to her face.
Bai Zhi remembered how Bai Ruozhu had saved the heir in the palace and realized that her medical skills must be exceptional, which eased her worry about her daughter’s injury.
At that time, a scar on a girl’s forehead meant her appearance was marred, and it would be difficult to find a good marriage later on.
Seeing that his daughter was alright, Ding Feiyu’s face took on an embarrassed expression as he bowed to Bai Yihong and said, "Brother, I was hasty just now and almost wronged Ruolan. I really owe you an apology."
Bai Yihong quickly helped him up and said, "It’s common for children to get into scrapes when they play together. It’s nothing serious as long as the kids are fine."
Bai Ruozhu watched from the side, and her impression of her little aunt’s family improved a bit more. If this had happened to Bai Ruomei and that Lu Donghai, even if a child had fallen on their own, they would have blamed a whole lot of people, wouldn’t they?
Moreover, Ding Feiyu’s willingness to admit his mistake was commendable, showing no airs, which easily endeared him to others.
Thus, looking at Bai Zhi’s three children, they were all well-raised.
After sending off Bai Zhi and her family, Bai Ruozhu and her family discussed the plans for the next day. Lin Pinger kept making eyes at Bai Ruozhu, indicating she didn’t want to kowtow to Bai Fu and the Liu Family. Bai Ruozhu sighed and whispered, "It’s time to repay them for raising [our] father. No matter what, they were the ones who raised him."
Lin Pinger wasn’t unreasonable, and after hearing this, she nodded, "You’re right, I’ll accept this. From now on, we won’t owe them anything."
Bai Ruozhu remained silent, thinking to herself that they probably still feel you owe them a lot.
The next day, Bai Zepei went to the Imperial Academy as usual. It wouldn’t be proper to take leave for this matter; it was no big deal for him to visit the elders after school.
Bai Ruozhu carried Dengdeng and accompanied her parents on the horse carriage, heading straight for the Bo Residence.
They had timed their visit well, so upon their arrival, Bai Zhi’s family was already there. The Bo Family’s mistress warmly welcomed them, leading them to the Main Hall to meet the patriarch and the others.
In the Main Hall, Bai Lu and Bai Yixiao saw Bai Yihong’s family arrive and immediately rose to greet them warmly. Bai Lu laughed and said, "Ruozhu girl has become accomplished, and Yihong’s wife hasn’t spent all these years suffering in vain."