Chapter 138: The Heart of Parents is Incomparable in this World
Everyone’s face changed. Didn’t they ask Bai Zehao to take the food and tell grandpa not to come?
Bai Yihong was the first to react, getting up to open the door and saying, "Dad, you’re here, come and sit inside quickly."
Since he’s already here, could he ask, "Why are you here?" or "What are you here for?"?
Respecting the elderly, everyone stood up and warmly invited him to take a seat at the table.
As grandpa walked in, Bai Yihong glanced over his shoulder subconsciously, seeing no one else behind grandpa, he let out a small sigh of relief.
Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but snicker at her father’s predicament, not considering who was to thank. If it had not been for her sending her brother to get some food, their grandma and Bai Yibo would have definitely tagged along, shamelessly helping themselves at the table. How could the guests eat comfortably then?
Grandpa seemed to have noticed Bai Yihong’s actions too. He waved to the crowd and chuckled, "I won’t sit down, I’ve already eaten at home. I’m just here to say thank you."
Everyone quickly insisted it wasn’t necessary. Wan Minglu boldly said, "Grandpa is too polite. It’s wholly inappropriate for an elder to thank us, the younger generation. It’s merely right that we show due respect for Bai uncle."
Bai Ruozhu involuntarily glanced at Wan Minglu, thinking that he sure was a tube of warm-hearted paste.
Grandpa also glanced at him but didn’t respond, he continued, "I should have asked Yibo to thank you all, but unfortunately he fell ill this morning. Wouldn’t be nice if his illness affected everyone here."
So that was an indirect way of explaining why Bai Yibo had shown up so late today. By the time he appeared everyone had already had their lunch, and he didn’t accomplish much in the field. His condition was much like that of a miss doing her embroidery, as it turns out, he was the one grandpa referred to as being ill.
"Is uncle sick? In that case, he needs immediate treatment. Should I go and ask Dr. Li to come over?" Bai Zehao asked with a worried expression on his face.
Bai Ruozhu almost burst into laughter and thought, Oh no, is her second brother going to blame her for spoiling their older brother too? As she slightly pursed her lips, she saw her second brother glancing over at her, raising his eyebrows towards her as if to indicate, "Look, this is your handy work, right?"
Grandpa quickly waved his hands and coughed. "Not every health issue needs a doctor. It’s just a cold. A few days’ rest will do. You all must be tired from working in the fields today, don’t exhaust yourselves."
"A cold can be serious or minor; you must not delay the treatment," replied Lin Ping’er. Then she turned to Bai Zehao and said, "Zehao, you must fetch Dr. Li. Don’t be lazy and delay your uncle’s treatment."
Bai Ruozhu, with her lips pursed again, saw her second brother glance over at her, his eyebrows raised as if to ask, "See this, has mother really been spoiled by you?"
Bai Ruozhu blinked at her older brother secretly. She felt that her brother definitely used the wrong phrase. She had only enhanced the combat effectiveness of their family to prevent them from being constantly bullied.
Grandpa was on edge now. He held Bai Zehao by the shoulder, saying, "I said there’s no need, you guys should stop worrying about him." After seeing the audience, he probably felt his tone was a little too strong. He sighed and added, "You all have really worked hard today. I got old and couldn’t take it anymore. I’m sorry I caused you guys trouble."
The desolation in his words, combined with his slightly hunched back and the white hair on his temples, was particularly damaging.
Only then did Bai Yihong notice that at some point, the white hair on his father’s temples had grown manyfold, and his back was even more bent than before. His once upright posture in his youth was long gone, making him look six or seven years older all of a sudden.
After all, he was his own father. Bai Yihong felt a sour pang in his heart. His father had aged and became a frail old man, living his twilight years.
"Speaking of which, I should apologize on behalf of your sister-in-law. She got spoiled by the good times before she got married and left her culinary skills subpar. I heard that she didn’t even cook the rice properly today, and she messed up the flour for steamed bread too. I have scolded her for that. I hope you all won’t take it to heart," grandpa said, explaining why the meal that was sent over today was so poor. These words were meant mostly for the guests present.
"Scholar’s wife was really careless. I feel sorry for Bai uncle for having to worry about the younger generation so much," said Zhang Liliang with a light-hearted chuckle.
Grandpa waved his hand and said with a resigned smile, "It’s every parent’s burden being pitiful, knowing that they have no choice left." After he said this, an apologetic look appeared on his face. "Look at me chattering about unhappy matters. Please continue eating and make yourselves comfortable. I should go now, but I, Bai Fu will always remember the help you’ve given me today. If you need anything in the future, don’t hesitate to come to me."
With that, he gave a salute, much like a scholar would, which left an impression of senior scholar.
"Dad, why don’t you sit down and have a few drinks?" Bai Yihong said hastily, feeling more and more upset. "Parents are pitiful all over the world," pierced through his soft spot.
Grandpa waved his hand, "No need, you go. Don’t neglect your guests." After that, he walked off firmly. His plan was originally never to join the feast, but just to give an explanation.
After grandpa left, Zhang Liliang, after downing a glass, whispered bitterly, "Your grandpa is protecting your eldest brother too much." The undertone in his voice suggested discontent as well as a hint of helplessness.
No one said a word. Meanwhile, Bai Zepei raised his glass and declared, "Let’s not talk about all these unpleasant things. Here’s to us all."
Since they had to work in the fields the next day, the banquet didn’t last long. The Zhang family planned to continue helping the next day, so they decided to stay at the Bai’s house to save time traveling back and forth.
Bai Yihong originally wanted them to use the newly constructed room but, knowing that it was being prepared as Bai Zehao’s new room, Zhang Liliang adamantly refused. So in the end, Bai Zehao and Bai Zepei stayed in the new room while the Zhang family occupied theirs.
After the Zhang family members had washed up and gone to bed, Bai Yihong let out a gentle sigh in the main hall, "Dad is also getting old. It’s not easy for him either. Try not to give him a hard time."
His words made Bai Zehao and Lin Ping’er feel somewhat embarrassed. However, upon hearing this, Bai Ruozhu became upset. Handing Dengdeng to her mother, she turned to her father and said, "I don’t see why grandpa deserves any sympathy. ’Parents are pitiful all over the world’ should not be used this way!"
"Ruozhu, no matter how he behaves, he is still your grandpa!", Bai Yihong said with a hint of anger in his voice. How was his usually sensible daughter becoming defiant?
Without a hint of urgency, Bai Ruozhu asked, "Dad, do you think it’s elder brother’s fault for always causing trouble for grandpa, right?"
Bai Yihong nodded, clueless about where this conversation was going.
"And you also think that Grandpa always cleaning up after elder brother is because of the deep love and concern that a parent has, right?" Bai Ruozhu asked again. As soon as Bai Yihong nodded his head in agreement, she began to laugh coldly, saying, "I think he got what he deserved!"