Chapter 2 - 00 The whole family is protective
Bai Ruozhu recognized the voice. It was the voice of her mother from her inherited memories. She turned around to look, and not only had her mother arrived, but also her father and her two older brothers.
Upon seeing the bleeding on her daughter's head, Lin Pinger let out a cry and rushed forward. Before Bai Ruozhu had a chance to react, her mother was already wrestling with Liu San's wife.
Those who wanted to intervene were taken aback by the ferocity of Bai Ruozhu's mother and were at a loss as to how to intervene.
"Uncle Bai, you need to stop them before someone gets killed." Seeing that they could not restrain Bai Ruozhu's mother, the bystanders pleaded with Bai Ruozhu's father.
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"If someone dies, I will take responsibility. Anyone who dares to hit my daughter should not expect anything good to come out of it!" Bai Ruozhu's father, Bai Yihong, said coldly. His solemn expression scared the people who tried to intervene into silence.
Bai Ruozhu's eyes sparkled. She knew that the Bai family cherished their daughters, but she hadn't expected them to be so protective. She was envious of having such loving parents.
After finishing his sentence, Bai Yihong quickly stepped forward to support Bai Ruozhu. The icy look on his face melted away as he asked with concern, "Girl, where do you feel uncomfortable?"
Bai Ruozhu pouted, adopting a whiny tone involuntarily: "My head is broken. It hurts!"
Perhaps it was because she never had a father to pamper her in her previous life, or perhaps it was because of the emotions she inherited from her predecessor. She felt slightly embarrassed, but she quickly accepted it. After all, she was only seventeen years old now. At this thought, she couldn't help but wince, oh my, a seventeen-year-old unmarried mother...
Bai Yihong, assuming that Bai Ruozhu was in great pain, turned to his eldest son, Bai Zehao, and shouted: "Eldest son, go get Doctor Li to examine your sister's injury."
Bai Zehao, who had been worrying intensely, immediately responded and turned to run. However, he didn't forget to glare at Liu San's wife and her crew before leaving. If it weren't for him refraining from hitting women, he would have already rushed forward to avenge his sister.
Watching her mother, Bai Lin, still fighting and cursing, Bai Ruozhu voiced her concern: "Dad, we should get mom to stop, I'm afraid she might get hurt."
"Don't worry, your mother is quite tough. If we don't let her vent her anger for you, she won't be able to sleep for days." Bai Yihong responded.
Although Bai Ruozhu was still worried as her mother was all by herself, she noticed a group of people running from the direction of the fields. Leading the group was Village Head Wang Shugen.
At the village head's command, the people he brought with him were finally able to separate Bai Lin and Liu San's wife.
"This is the busy time of summer, what are you causing a ruckus for? You've even roused this old man from his rest!" The village head shouted angrily. The village had been becoming increasingly troublesome lately, with these housewives having the time to bully others during the farming season. This was particularly true for Liu San's wife. However, the fact that Ruozhu from the Bai family was pregnant before marriage was indeed a public scandal.
The Liu family had also arrived. Liu San's third son was particularly protective of his wife. On one hand, he fancied his coquettish wife. On the other hand, she had given birth to a big fat boy within a year of their marriage. Now, seeing his wife with dishevelled hair, a swollen face, and a bleeding mouth, he started to make a fuss, "Village Head, they are trying to beat someone to death! Are they bullying us because they think the Liu family has no one to stand up for them?"
Bai Yihong sternly stepped forward, glaring at Liu San. "Dog leftovers, get out of my way! Who exactly bullied who? Your wife attacked my daughter, and now you're playing the victim?"
"Dog Leftovers" was Liu San's nickname. He was in his twenties this year and by seniority, he should actually address Bai Yihong as uncle. Therefore, there was nothing wrong with Bai Yihong scolding him.
Upon hearing this, Liu San's wife immediately protested: "I didn't hit her. She fell on her own. Village Head, ask everyone if you don't believe me." After saying that, she quietly signaled the other women.
With her hand on her head, Bai Ruozhu loudly declared: "It was her who pushed me. I swear to the heavens, anyone who dares to say she didn't just push me will face heavenly retribution, do they not fear being struck by lightning?"
People in ancient times were superstitious, especially those in rural areas. Originally, a few women were ready to lie for Liu San's wife, but they dared not speak up for a while. Liu San's wife had indeed pushed Bai Ruozhu, and even multiple times. What if they were really struck by lightning for lying?
The village head tapped the ground with his walking stick. It wasn't that he needed it for walking, but because it added to his imposing demeanor during important times. He harshly knocked it on the ground a few times before saying, "Liu San, take your wife and go home. In the future, don't always stir up trouble. During the busy farming season, you should help out at home more and not wander around aimlessly."
"Village Head, the matter can't end like this. The Liu family must compensate my sister's medical expenses." The speaker was Bai Ruozhu's second brother, Bai Zepei. He had been silent all this time, but now suddenly spoke up, his tone firm and resolute, as though he would not stop until he got justice for his sister.
Bai Ruozhu glanced at her second brother. From the memories of her previous life, she knew her second brother was a man of few words. Usually, he would be buried in his books, having passed the preliminary Imperial examination. But there was no pretension about him. When it was necessary to work the fields, he would do it without complaint. It was just that he was a bit cold. Looking at Bai Zepei's expression, she understood that his demand for the medical fee was not about the money, but to teach the Liu family a lesson so they could be more restrained in the future.
Families in rural areas had limited income. Raising a pig for a year wouldn't earn much silver. If the Liu family had to cut into their budget because of Liu San's wife's antics, they would surely give her a proper telling-off, and hopefully, this would keep her in check in the future.
The village head felt a bit of a headache looking at Bai Zepei. This young man had passed the preliminary imperial examination at the age of eighteen and was now preparing for the official Imperial examination. If he became a scholar, the Bai family would have another scholar in addition to Old Master Bai. That would be quite an achievement. The prospects of such a promising young man were hard to ignore; who knows, he might become an important official in the future.
"That's true. Miss Bai has a head injury, and has lost quite a bit of blood. When the doctor arrives, the Liu family should pay the consultation fee." The village head said.
"And the recovery fee." Bai Ruozhu added coldly in the back. She had lost so much blood; she would need to replenish her strength, right? Moreover, from the memories of her previous life, she knew that her family's economic condition was very poor. Her parents had even worried about money, and her mother had planned to borrow some from her family.
Upon hearing this, Liu San's wife wasn't happy. She shouted, "What kind of person does she think she is? She's pregnant before marriage, and the village hasn't kicked her out yet. This is a disgrace. And now she wants to swindle money from us, the Liu family, to support the illegitimate child in her belly? Is she worthy?"
Liu San's wife sure had a nasty mouth! Bai Ruozhu's mother was the first to react. She wanted to rush over to Liu San's wife, but Bai Ruozhu restrained her, "We're all decent people in our village. Everyone knows who is at fault here today. There's no need to bully people to death. No one in our village would be so despicable."
"What are you saying, you little girl? I'll discipline my own wife!" Hearing Bai Ruozhu call his wife despicable, Liu San was instantly furious.
"Now, Brother Liu San knows how to reason. According to what you're saying, it's not your place to interfere with my younger sister's affairs, right? What is the meaning of your wife blocking the road to hit someone?" Bai Zepei's voice was soft, but it echoed crisply and clearly through the air.