Chapter 133: Bad People Should be Dealt with Bad Methods
No matter how good tempered Bai Zehao was, he was a man of fiery spirit. At these words, he glared at the old man, seemingly on the brink of exploding in anger. Thankfully, Bai Zepei pulled him back, signaling him to bear with it for now.
Not only Bai Zehao, but also Bai Yihong and Lin Ping’er were indignant, with smoke virtually billowing from their heads. They wanted to throw their tools and go home.
"Big brother, don’t say more. Let’s go to the field," said Bai Zepei, pulling Bai Zehao along. Looking back at the old man, he added, "Uncle’s present condition is truly the result of grandpa’s over-indulgence."
His tone was neither salty nor bland, with a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth. It may have looked like a smile, but it tasted ironic. Before the old man could fully comprehend, Bai Zepei turned around and walked away, only leaving a tall and lean silhouette disappearing into the distance.
The old man gasped furiously. Couldn’t he understand what Bai Zepei meant? His words seemingly blamed him for ruining his eldest son. But what’s wrong with nurturing the eldest son wholeheartedly?
Despite this thought, the old man couldn’t help but clench his heart when he thought of Bai Yibo who neglected farming, only got the scholar title at quite an age and who’d gone crazy for drinking in his triumph. Bai Zepei’s words stung like a thorn on his heart, making him uncomfortable.
After much contemplation, he finally visited Bai Yibo’s house, only to find Bai Yibo was still sound asleep. The old man couldn’t help but reflect on Bai Zepei’s smile when he left, feeling suffocated.
"Yibo, hurry up and get to work in the fields," the old man patted Bai Yibo, speaking helplessly.
After working in the field yesterday, Bai Yibo had a sore waist and back pain. He was enjoying a rare respite, in no mood to get up. He mumbled sleepily, "Father, isn’t Er Lang’s family helping? They promised yesterday. It’s just not fair if they don’t show up."
The old man turned green at this, saying, "Er Lang’s family has been here for half a day, yet you’re still lazing around. Aren’t you afraid of people’s gossip? Hurry up and get to work!"
Bai Yibo turned on his side impatiently." How can I compete with them? They are used to toiling in the fields, and I’ve been brought up studying. How am I supposed to do the farm work? Besides, being a scholar now, I can’t be like them." Having said this, he closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep.
The old man huffed in anger, kicking Bai Yibo’s leg, albeit not too forcefully.
"You imbecile! Er Lang is also a scholar, and he is even the top scorer. He is working in the field and is even helping us. If you don’t go, what will the villagers think of you?"
Bai Yibo had never suffered hardships before, any physical labor caused him pain. He didn’t feel like getting up at all but was also afraid of the old man’s fury. He grudgingly began to rise, muttering, "Fine, I’ll go. But Er Lang is just doing it to show off to the outsiders. What can such a little man do anyway? Sigh, Er Lang’s family also loves to play tricks now."
The old man didn’t utter a word, but seemed to agree with Bai Yibo’s point of view.
On the contrary, Bai Yihong’s family left the old mansion to work in the fields. Just as they arrived, quite a few villagers who were already there warmly acknowledged their presence. Someone asked,"Are you guys working on the fields for Old Master Bai?"
Before Bai Yihong had a chance to speak, Bai Zepei chuckled and replied, "Yes, indeed. My uncle seems unable to manage the manual labor, and grandpa was so worried that he almost fell sick. So, he asked us to take care of his crops first, and then we can attend to our own fields."
Bai Zepei wasn’t a particularly keen orator, and his proactive explanation must have some other motives. The people of Bai’s second family weren’t dense. Even Bai Yihong, who wasn’t good with words, was just too honest and kind. After savoring Bai Zepei’s words, they understood the implication and secretly kept it in mind. When anyone asked later, they would respond in the same way.
The other villagers had also arrived to work, and every time they bumped into someone, they would give the same explanation. In no time, Bai Yibo became infamous in the village.
"Why isn’t Bai Yibo working in the fields? You are doing his work, and he feels comfortable being idle?" One discontented villager asked.
This time Bai Zehao quickly responded, "My uncle is a scholar, and he doesn’t need to endure such hardship."
"Then isn’t your brother Er Lang also a scholar? Doesn’t he work just as hard? I see him working even more skillfully than my eldest son." The man felt even more disdainful of Bai Yibo.
Bai Zehao let out two awkward laughs and said no more, leaving it to others to make what they may of the situation.
Meanwhile, Bai Ruozhu was busying herself making iced tea and preparing lunch. She placed all the food and the iced tea on a cart along with Little Dengdeng in his basket and pushed the cart towards the field.
Her family was busy working in the fields, so her job was ensuring their meals. Of course, she had other tasks to complete, she wasn’t going to completely abandon her family’s fields.
On her way, she met other villagers also delivering water to the field, who couldn’t help but sympathize with Bai Ruozhu who had to both look after the child and deliver meals, "Ruozhu, aren’t your parents working on your grandfather’s field? Why do you have to deliver the meals? Can’t your grandma take care of it?"
Bai Ruozhu gave a particularly "awkward" smile, replying, "It’s nothing, I can handle it. My uncle said my grandma fell ill working."
"They were working for just one day yesterday. How can she fall ill from that?" The old woman asked in surprise.
Bai Ruozhu laughed awkwardly again, "I-I don’t know."Seeing the old woman and a few others go off to murmur among themselves, Bai Ruozhu laughed secretly in her heart. She wasn’t intentionally trying to blacken the old mansion’s name. Her grandma did refuse to deliver meals, and even if she was forced to deliver food, it would just be poorly cooked porridge. She couldn’t allow her parents and brothers to eat so poorly after all their hard work.
Upon reaching the field, Bai Ruozhu called everyone to come over for some iced tea and a break. Then she picked up Little Dengdeng’s basket and told her family, "You guys should eat lunch early. If my grandma delivers food, tell her you don’t want to waste it and that you’ve already eaten. Give it to the people working in the neighboring field."
Lin Ping’er snorted, "Just throw it out. We don’t even have to taste it to know it’s not going to be good."
Bai Ruozhu waved her hands hastily denying, "No, no, no, that would be a waste. Just give it away and let others taste my grandma’s cooking." With this, she winked at her mother and began to laugh.
Lin Ping’er’s eyes lit up, and she smacked her forehead admitting, "Look at my forgetfulness! You’re right, why waste it?"
Bai Zepei suddenly popped in, rapping gently on Bai Ruozhu’s forehead, laughing, "Mother, you’ve been corrupted by your daughter!"
Bai Ruozhu bounced up holding her forehead, harrumphing. He always said that she was teaching her mother to be bad as if she was terrible.
Therefore, she puffed up her cheeks saying, "It takes one to know one! You have to fight fire with fire!"
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Seeing so many Book Friends asking why Mouka isn’t uploading more during the holidays, 5555, as you all are preparing for New Year festivities, I am doing the same on my side. As a housewife, I am truly stretched thin, and additionally... Mother-in-law is here, here, here! It’s so suffocating ahhh! Dear Readers, can you relate?