Chapter 202: Somewhat Like Chang Sheng
Bai Ruozhu took a glance. It was a small piece of broken silver. She initially had no intention of accepting the silver from Mr. Jiang, but she didn’t expect that he not only gave her money but also gave so much.
She picked up the silver and called out to Mr. Jiang, "Sir, you’ve given too much silver!"
It was because Jiang Yichun had walked away very quickly, and in a blink of an eye, had already drifted far away. If Bai Ruozhu did not shout loudly, he would not hear her.
Jiang Yichun didn’t turn around, and his voice remained icy, ’Give the extra to the children.’"
Lin Ping’Er by her side felt moved, "The kind sir really is a good man, he is patient with children and even rewards with silver; next time he comes to eat, we absolutely should not take his money."
Bai Ruozhu nodded, she originally didn’t think of taking the money. But since he insisted on leaving it, she couldn’t catch up to him to give it back. It was just like the Jade Pendant incident last time, she couldn’t return it even if she wanted to.
The family started to get busy again. Along the way, Bai Yihong went back to the West Courtyard to get some ingredients and a big pot of soup. Seeing the duration of the pancake stall extended, some cheered while others commented that they had arrived too late yesterday to even taste the pancakes, today they were in for a treat.
Bai Zehao smiled and said to the customers: "From today onwards, our stall hours will be extended. You are welcome to come and eat anytime, even for dinner!"
The customers cheered, and the Bai’s stall’s business improved even more.
Fusa came over and asked Bai Ruozhu, "Is your aunt coming tomorrow?"
Bai Ruozhu nodded, "Given her nature and the profitable business we have, how could she possibly not come?"
Fusa leaned a little closer and lowered her voice to add, "I just saw her suddenly fall, it seemed like she was not disoriented before that, it’s a bit strange. Do you think she’s so detestable that even the Mountain God couldn’t stand her?"
There are many mountains near Anyuan Town, and many locals believe in the existence of the Mountain God.
However, Bai Ruozhu deduced something else from this conversation. She couldn’t help but think about the time when Er Lang was injured, and then she linked it with Mrs. Wang’s sudden fall just now. Bai Ruozhu was almost certain that Jiang Yichun did something again.
She thought back to when Wang mentioned that her family was poor and shabby, did Jiang Yichun take offence? Bai Ruozhu decided that she must thank him the next time they meet. He really helped her out a lot today and she wasn’t someone who didn’t appreciate kindness.
When Bai Yihong returned with the items, he sat on a small stool and fell into a daze. Lin Ping’Er thought he was tired and went over to him, asking in a soft voice, "Dad, are you tired? Why don’t you go back to the West Courtyard for a rest?"
"No, I’m not tired. This amount of work is nothing compared to farming. I can rest when you all are busy, I’m the one who has the most free time." Bai Yihong snapped back to reality and said, though the smile on his face looked a little bitter and there was a flicker in his eyes, as if something was bothering him.
While Bai Ruozhu and Bai Zehao were busy, they didn’t notice what was happening here. But Lin Ping’Er had been married to Bai Yihong for over twenty years now, how could she not notice his abnormal behaviour? She quietly glanced at her busy children, lowered her voice and inquired, "Dad, do you have something on your mind? You should not keep it to yourself. What if it causes an illness?"
Bai Yihong sighed, his voice rasped, "It’s nothing really, just thinking about Chang Sheng."
Lin Ping’Er’s expression also became sullen. Chang Sheng was always the sorrow of the Bai family’s second branch. Even though Bai Ruozhu was now cheerful, whenever Chang Sheng was mentioned, everyone would feel sorrow.
"Why are you unnecessarily thinking of him? " The tone of Lin Ping’Er was slightly blaming.
"It’s just that when I saw the kind sir carrying Dengdeng, I felt a bit moved. If Chang Sheng was around, he would also be carrying Dengdeng like that," Bai Yihong said as he let out another sigh, "It’s a pity about the child, who will never get to meet his father."
Lin Ping’er also felt a lump in her throat. Sniffling, she said, "Don’t let Ruozhu hear it, or it will upset her."
Bai Yihong wiped the corner of his eyes, calming his emotions. However, he still felt defeated and let out another sigh.
"Dad, do you think the kind Sir looked like Chang Sheng from behind?" Lin Ping’er suddenly asked. The last time she saw Jiang Yichun, she also felt that he looked vaguely familiar.
"How could they look alike? Chang Sheng was skinnier than him, and it seems like his back wasn’t as straight," Bai Yihong shook his head, "And you were blaming me for thinking too much about Chang Sheng, you are also doing the same seeing similarities here there."
Upon reflection, Lin Ping’Er realised it was true. She was also worried. As for Chang Sheng, he was neither alive nor dead, and they had no idea what’s going on. She even thought about finding a reliable and kind-hearted man who was also good to Dengdeng for Ruozhu while Dengdeng was still young. That way, at least the child didn’t need to be raised by a stepfather. However, with the current situation, it was difficult for Ruozhu to remarry. What if Chang Sheng came back?
Thinking of this, Lin Ping’Er couldn’t help but sigh. However, both of them didn’t grieve for too long in order to avoid making their daughter sad when she saw them.
In the afternoon, the number of customers gradually decreased. Lin Ping’Er then asked Bai Ruozhu to take a nap with the baby. Bai Ruozhu took Dengdeng back for a rest. After about two hours, she switched with her mother. So overall, they didn’t feel that tired.
When it was almost dusk and they were closing the stall, the amount of food they sold was about three times more than before. Lin Ping’Er had already forgotten about Chang Sheng, her face was filled with a smile, stating that they definitely made a lot of money today.
The family returned home and Bai Ruozhu went to the Xie Residence to make dinner. Lin Ping’Er took Dengdeng, after resting for while, they were called to have dinner together by Mr. Xie.
The Bai family was initially hesitant, but the Xie Residence was too enthusiastic, and insisted saying that only having two people for dinner was not lively at all, and it even affected their appetite.
After the family had finished dinner and returned to the West Courtyard, Bai Ruozhu called for another family meeting. This time, one more person was present - Fang Guizhi. The couple Lin Ping’Er and her husband had accepted Fang Guizhi as their goddaughter, so she was considered a part of the family. How could they not invite her to the family meeting?
Fang Guizhi was very curious about the family meeting. She had never participated in such a thing in her own family. In fact, no one even asked for her opinion in family matters. She felt more and more grateful to her new family, not only for not husbanding her to that old widower, but also for having such good foster parents, brother and sister.
Of course, the person she was most grateful for was Bai Ruozhu. She was always thinking of helping Bai Ruozhu share her worries, fearing Bai Ruozhu would work too hard and damage her health.
Bai Ruozhu told everyone about the conversation she had overheard in the alley. Now that they were living in the West Courtyard, they were not worried about eavesdropping neighbours and, they didn’t have to whisper when talking. The family felt much more relaxed.
"What? What on earth did the eldest sister-in-law do to be blackmailed?" Bai Yihong was not a little surprised, the reaction just like Bai Ruozhu and Lin Ping’Er when they first heard it in the alley.
"No matter what it is, it definitely wouldn’t be anything good. You guys should keep a close watch on her tomorrow and find out what’s going on." Er Lang seemed somewhat serious because he thought of Bai Yibo’s drunken writings, and worried whether it had anything to do with his family.
Bai Ruozhu nodded, stating her plan to everyone, they all agreed and promised to complete their tasks the next day.