Chapter 173: Can’t Bear to Leave the Boss Again
Bai Ruozhu’s spirits lifted, and she walked to the doorway of their home, feigning shock, "What kind of offense did Sanlang commit? Will it impact our family? My grandparents are too old to bear these burdens."
There had already been onlookers, many sighing and whispering amongst themselves that Sanlang from the Bai family was insensible.
At this point, Bai Yihong hesitated a little, realizing he could no longer avoid it. However, Lin Ping’er refused to let him go, and they tugged at each other in the doorway. Bai Zehao and Bai Zepei rushed out, quickly understanding what was going on.
"Dad, I can go, my uncle and I can carry him back." Said Bai Zehao.
Upon hearing this, Lin Ping’er became even more adamant, "No, you’re about to get married, you can’t commit such taboo!"
"I should go, I don’t believe in these superstitions." Er Lang calmly suggested.
Lin Ping’er immediately held him back, "No, you need to take the civil service exam next year, you can’t ruin your luck."
With the family arguing at the door, Bai Ruozhu knew what was going on but didn’t dare say a word. She feared not the criticism of being heartless, but it was difficult to explain Mr. Jiang’s issue.
As the family was discussing, the elderly Grandpa Bai showed up.
Bai Fuxi favored simple attire, his style distinguishing him from the typical villager. Normally, he carried himself with a high dignity, meticulously maintaining an air of decorum. Today, however, his usual grace was gone. He hurried over with a half run, half walk, tears on his aged face.
"Yihong, are you not willing to rescue your nephew?" With a coarse breath, Grandpa Bai started shouting before he could even reach them.
Bai Yihong’s family tensed up and hurriedly helped support Grandpa Bai.
"I’m too old and weak, otherwise, I would have gone myself. I wouldn’t burden you all this way." With a woeful expression, Grandpa Bai said, "Sanlang is still young, he has his life ahead of him. He can change his misbehavior. How can we not save him? What if his leg isn’t properly set?"
With the old man on the brink of tears, they couldn’t decline him. Bai Yihong then said: "Dad, you don’t have to worry. My older brother and I will bring Sanlang back."
Lin Ping’er was obviously displeased, but Bai Ruozhu held her back, subtly shaking her head at her.
Just when they thought the matter was settled, Grandpa Bai expressed his difficulties again, "Yihong, get your older brother to go with you. Your older brother is a scholar, he doesn’t have much physical strength. He might even have trouble just climbing the mountain, let alone lifting Sanlang."
This remark annoyed even Bai Ruozhu, who had been avoiding trouble. She thought, ’You are just unwilling to let your older son take risks. It’s his own son who’s in danger, why should he burden others? Why didn’t he say that Bai Yibo is a failure?’
"No, my eldest son is about to get married, he can’t go. My second son can’t go either, he isn’t even as strong as my husband!" Lin Ping’er raised her voice. Sternly glaring at Grandpa Bai. There was no way she’d risk her sons’ lives. Over her dead body!
Those secretly listening began whispering among themselves. Even if Bai Yibo was weak, could he really not carry a teenager? Especially when he was lifting him together with Bai Yihong?
Unbeknownst to them, Grandpa Bai suddenly slapped Lin Ping’er. The spectators had hardly grasped what happened when they heard the crisp sound. Lin Ping’er’s cheek immediately swelled and turned red.
"Father, what are you doing?" Bai Yihong yelled, quickly stepping in front of Lin Ping’er.
Bai Ruozhu was also furious. She initially felt she shouldn’t speak at this time, but why did Grandpa Bai hit her mother?
"Grandpa, we have separated from the main family. We are all adults now. Why did you hit my mother in front of us? How can we respect you if you disrespect us?" Bai Ruozhu yelled. If Grandpa Bai could be killed, she would not hesitate to kill this old man herself.
"Sanlang is also her nephew and your family! How could you be so selfish? You’re telling me I can’t hit her? If you don’t save Sanlang today, Lin Ping’er will no longer be a part of the Bai family." Grandpa Bai bellowed.
Supporting the teary-eyed Lin Ping’er, Bai Ruozhu said to the family, "Let’s all go back. We’re not saving him. Nobody is leaving my mother, we’ll leave the Bai Family Sect if we have to!"
The onlookers were taken aback. Some of them tried to mediate, "You can’t do that! Can’t a family solve their problems amongst themselves? Grandpa Bai, just let your eldest and second sons go. The boy is still screaming on the hill. If you don’t hurry, his leg may not be repairable."
Bai Fu was also anxious and pained for Sanlang. He stomped his foot in frustration, "I’m not stopping my eldest son from going, but he really doesn’t have the strength to carry a person."
With two lifting him, they wouldn’t need to carry him alone. If they really can’t, they might as well have the second son carry him." Someone suggested, clearly out of options.
"I was told that if he was carried on their back with a broken leg, it wouldn’t heal properly." Bai Fuxi expressed his worry.
Bai Ruozhu led her family back, saying as they walked, "I’m not afraid of offending people anymore. Today it’s either my father and uncle going to carry him together, or we’re dropping the matter. Why isn’t my uncle rescuing his own son? Is he afraid of bad luck? What about my father? And my older and younger brothers? We have already separated from the family. We are the ones tilling the fields and my uncle doesn’t lift a finger. We have already done more than our due, we don’t owe him anything!"
"Bastard! You don’t owe your uncle, but you owe me. I gave birth to Bai Yihong. He will owe me for his whole life!" Having forsaken all decorum, Grandpa Bai glared and yelled.
However, Bai Ruozhu only sneered, nonchalantly replying, "That’s correct, my father does owe you. Even if it’s bad luck, he will go to help you. Even if you won’t let your eldest son take a risk, my father is willing to do it. But my older and younger brothers are not your children, they don’t owe you anything. If it is about obeying their parents, our mother will not allow them to go no matter what. Shouldn’t they be filial to their Mother first?"
After finishing, Bai Ruozhu revealed a contemptuous smile, airily remarking, "What a spectacle, my uncle can’t even save his own son out of fear. Any other parents would risk their lives to save their children."
Despite Bai Ruozhu asserting herself against her grandfather, the villagers disagreed regardless of whether her arguments were valid. However, when she directed her words towards Bai Yibo, the attention of many was drawn away. They quietly speculated amongst themselves. Some said Bai Yibo was a coward, neglecting kinship. Others said Bai Yibo often put his father in a difficult position, pushing his brother’s family to take risks, and even cursed his brother’s family not long ago.
Grandpa Bai’s hand shook as he pointed at Bai Ruozhu, hysterically yelling, "You lowlife, who has lost all face for the Bai family, I will remove your name from the ancestral hall!"
Generally only women who have brought disgrace upon the family have their names removed from the ancestral hall. Although it usually happens when a woman gets married and enters her husband’s family, Bai Ruozhu was an exception since she had a husband move in with her family, and thus her name remained in the Bai family’s ancestral hall.
Upon hearing Grandpa Bai’s words, Bai Yihong and Lin Ping’er both grew anxious. If Bai Ruozhu’s name were removed from the ancestral hall, she wouldn’t be able to face anyone or even remarry!