Chapter 21 - 0 Poor Child
Chapter 21: Chapter 021 Poor Child
Chapter 21 -021 Poor Child
Isn’t that Bai Zeqing, the youngest son of her uncle?
How did he get bullied like this?
Bai Ruozhu quickly called out, “Xiaosi, what happened?” Even if she didn’t like Bai Yibo, a child is innocent.
Moreover, now that she was pregnant, her compassion had suddenly skyrocketed.
Bai Zeqing finally looked upward.
However, after only a single glance, he resumed his previous indifferent state.
“Whoever’s child is causing trouble, disperse now, or I’ll go find your parents!” Bai Ruozhu shouted.
Children are usually afraid of adults, and, sure enough, they scattered laughing.
In her previous incarnation’s memories, this little cousin didn’t like to talk, smile, or interact with people.
When Bai Yihong had separated from the family, Bai Zeqing was still young.
Her former self didn’t pay much attention to him, especially since the relationship between two families wasn’t very good, so her past self had very few memories of this little cousin.
But seeing Bai Zeqing now, Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but feel heartache.
This child was obviously ill.
She reached out and took Bai Zeqing’s small hand.
Bai Zeqing resisted a little, but in the end, he did not resist.
Bai Ruozhu heaved a sigh of relief, it wasn’t too serious.
“Would you like to go to the riverside with me to wash your face?” Bai Ruozhu asked gently.
Bai Zeqing’s eyes flickered, finally focusing on Bai Ruozhu’s face.
“Why haven’t you asked?” he said.
Bai Ruozhu was taken aback, finally realizing that Bai Zeqing was asking why she hadn’t asked the reason for his beating.
Most likely, in the past, his family must have constantly pursued this question, but it seemed that he didn’t want to answer at all.
“If you want to tell me, you will.
Why should I keep asking you if you don’t want to?
Besides, even if you don’t tell me, I still know.” Bai Ruozhu chuckled, then patted Bai Zeqing’s head, ending up with a handful of mud.
She twitched the corner of her mouth.
The mud smelled awful.
It seemed like…like it was mixed with urine…
Fortunately, Bai Zeqing moved his feet and followed her to the riverside.
Bai Ruozhu, having difficulty moving about, just washed her hands while Bai Zeqing washed his face and head, seeming quite adept.
After he finished washing, Bai Ruozhu pulled out a piece of candy from her pocket and handed it to him, saying, “Here’s something sweet for you.” This candy was what she had previously bought in the town.
Being pregnant, she often craved it and had already eaten almost all of the bag in just a few days.
Bai Zeqing did not hesitate this time, and his eyes also lost some of their previous dullness.
He took the candy and put it in his mouth.
After a while, he looked at Bai Ruozhu and said, “Sweet.”
Bai Ruozhu started laughing and patted Bai Zeqing’s head.
She took out another piece for herself, but saw Bai Zeqing staring eagerly at the candy in her hand, his bright eyes full of anticipation.
Although she originally intended to pretend not to see, she reluctantly gave him the candy.
Only God knows how much this foodie craved it.
Bai Zeqing didn’t immediately eat the candy.
Instead, he looked around, suddenly broke the candy in half with force, and gave the larger half to Bai Ruozhu, saying, “You eat it.”
The words were simple, but they did not allow for any questioning.
Bai Ruozhu happily put the candy into her mouth, thinking that Bai Zeqing was a considerate child.
She just wondered what had happened that caused him to become somewhat introverted.
But luckily, he had met her, Bai Ruozhu.
“Alright, let’s go home.
Don’t say you saw me.
I’ll bring you more candy in a few days.” Bai Ruozhu said with a smile.
Bai Zeqing didn’t speak but nodded heavily.
“But you have to promise me that if you’re ever bullied, you’ll know to run away.
You can’t just stand there and take the beating.
Otherwise, I won’t give you candy, okay?” Bai Ruozhu suddenly felt like a strange aunt luring an innocent little boy with candy.
By the heaven and earth, she truly was looking out for this child’s wellbeing.
Bai Zeqing nodded heavily again.
Bai Ruozhu was finally relieved and started to walk home.
After she had walked a while, she realized that Bai Zeqing was following her.
So, she had to ask, “Aren’t you going to go home?”
This time, Bai Zeqing did not respond, as though he hadn’t heard her at all.
He resolutely followed her from behind, leaving Bai Ruozhu with no choice but to take him home.
When Lin Ping’er saw Bai Zeqing, she was a bit surprised and pulled Bai Ruozhu aside to ask what had happened.
Hearing Bai Ruozhu’s simple explanation, Lin Ping’er’s eyes flickered with sympathy.
“Xiaosi is really pitiful.
Let him join us for a meal.”
“Thank you.” His response was as devoid of any expression as usual, but this time his voice wasn’t as dry.
The Bai family were all good-hearted people.
Knowing that Xiaosi had been bullied by the village children, nobody opposed him joining them for dinner.
During the meal, they even actively served him food.
After the meal, Xiaosi’s eyes were brighter.
“Thank you.” Again, this thank-you.
After saying it, Bai Zeqing left the Bai family’s house on his own.
“Ah, it’s a pity that such a good child has ended up like this.” Lin Ping’er, with a soft heart, even dabbed at the corner of her eye as she spoke.
Curiosity piqued, Bai Ruozhu asked, “Mother, why don’t I know what happened with Xiaosi?”
Lin Ping’er glanced outside and lowered her voice.
“You surely wouldn’t know.
Back then, your grandma didn’t let anyone say anything and secretly kept the matter under wraps.”
And so, the family listened as Lin Ping’er began to explain.
Bai Zeqing, also known as Xiaosi, was outstanding from a young age, but he had one shortcoming: he loved to eat.
Moreover, despite his young age, he was unusually brave.
Whatever oil residue the old lady of the Bai family hid away, whatever meatballs she made for the New Year, and whatever occasional fish or meat bought for the house.
No matter how well the old lady hid these items, they would always be found by this little fellow.
People in the family would say he had a dog’s nose.
But the old lady of the Bai family was incredibly stingy.
Back then, her second son was doing farm work every day, eating as much as a working cow.
How could she tolerate Xiaosi always stealing food?
So, once after Xiaosi had stolen food again, the angry old lady severely beat him with a pot shovel, somehow hitting him on the head.
Afterwards, Xiaosi lay on the ground convulsing and foaming at the mouth.
By the time he was saved, he became unresponsive, refused to speak, and never laughed again.
“Outsiders all say that he’s a simpleton, but I don’t think so.
Do fools have such bright eyes?” said Lin Ping’er.
Bai Ruozhu nodded.
“Mother, you’re absolutely right.
Xiaosi is smart.
He has just become introverted because of the beating.”
The Bai family didn’t quite understand Bai Ruozhu’s meaning and simply interpreted it as Xiaosi not being quite right in the head.
“Didn’t my aunt quarrel with grandma?” Bai Zehao couldn’t help but ask.
He had always found his grandmother’s stinginess rather annoying, but he never imagined that she could be so cruel.
Lin Ping’er rolled her eyes.
“Your grandma secretly gave some silver to your aunt, and then the matter was suppressed.
If I hadn’t happened to be passing by the kitchen at that time, I wouldn’t have known at all.
Your aunt didn’t care much either.
While Xiaosi was still sick, she cheerfully carried the silver away to have new clothes made.”
Recalling her last visit to the old mansion, Bai Ruozhu remembered Mrs.
Wang’s new and beautiful clothes.
She felt an even stronger dislike for Mrs.
Wang.
It was truly speechless to see her being a mother to this extent.
Bai Yihong sighed.
“In the future, if Xiaosi wants to come over for a meal, let him.
Our family can afford to feed him.”
However, the next day, Xiaosi didn’t come to the Bai family’s home.
Bai Ruozhu was somewhat worried about him, so she went to the village, asking several children, and learned that Xiaosi hadn’t come out today.
Bai Ruozhu didn’t want to go to the old mansion, so she returned home.
But from a distance, she saw a horse carriage parked outside her home.
Had some distinguished relative come to visit her family?