Chapter 230 Majestic Grandpa Clan Leader
Bai Ruozhu felt that she had been really overthinking before. People didn’t want her to attract much attention. Why would they ask her to cook?
Lin Ping’er also found it strange and asked in a low voice: "Who do you think is cooking? The smell is quite good. Your grandma and Ruolan are not capable of that."
"I guess they hired someone from outside." Bai Ruozhu thought and said.
"Your grandpa really made an investment this time." Lin Ping’er pouted and said.
Bai Ruozhu knew that her mother felt indignant for her and found it funny. Asking her to cook and worrying about her hard work; not asking her to cook and worrying about her lost opportunity to show off. This matter was indeed contradictory.
"Mom, I am more relaxed now, don’t let them know." Fearing any more problems, Bai Ruozhu quietly reminded her mother.
Even if the Old Master and Bai Yibo pretended not to see them, the old mistress couldn’t keep her temper. She was standing at the kitchen door, scrutinizing them with her eyes.
At this time, a village woman called the old mistress and said: "Don’t worry about it. Didn’t you hire a chef? You accompany us for a chat and take a break."
The old mistress smiled at the woman and said: "Ah, I am destined to toil. How can I rest assured about the people we have hired? I have to keep an eye on them so as not to waste our home’s things."
She could have talked more softly, but Bai Ruozhu, sharp-eared, heard it clearly. She couldn’t help but laugh in her heart. She had wondered why the old mistress was still at the kitchen door on such a big day. It turns out she couldn’t relax her vigilance from both the guests and the hired chef.
Speaking frankly, if she was reluctant to let go of those things, she shouldn’t show off by hiring a chef, and now watching others so petty, she shouldn’t complain of others being stingy. Wasn’t this losing face?
Of course, this was the old mansion’s problem, and it had nothing to do with Bai Ruozhu. She just muttered to herself.
"Yihong, you spoke really well at the school opening just now. You did a great honor to your Old Bai family!" The speaker was Wan Qilao. He just came over and greeted Bai Yihong with a smile as soon as he saw him.
Bai Yihong replied with a flushed face: "Elder Wan, don’t praise me. I haven’t studied, so I can’t say anything profound."
Wan Qilao patted his shoulder and said, "The truth is the truth. Everyone in the village said that you spoke very well, and they all want their kids to study hard."
At this moment, an old man next to Bai Fu looked over in surprise and asked, "Did you invite Yihong to speak at the school opening in your village? Didn’t you invite Yibo?"
Bai Ruozhu remembered this person. He was Bai Fu’s cousin, Bai Zhangui. He also had a blood brother named Bai Zhanfu, the sons of Bai Fu’s father’s younger brother.
All the relatives in the Bai Clan lived in Fengye Village, so they really didn’t know that Yihong was invited to speak at the school opening in Mountain Village today. However, Bai Zhangui found it strange. Shouldn’t they invite Bai Yibo, who is a scholar?
Bai Yibo looked a bit embarrassed and stuttered, "I have to help my dad greet the guests at home, and I don’t have that free time."
A look of disdain flashed through Wan Qilao’s face. He turned directly to Bai Zhangui and said: "The village specifically invited Yihong to give the speech. Yihong deserves the most credit for our village school being able to open. He has been the first to donate money and make desks and chairs for the school. Now many people in the village appreciate him very much."
Bai Zhangui looked at Bai Yihong again, revealing a surprised look, and said with some emotion, "I haven’t seen you for several years, Yihong, and you are getting more capable. I have always felt that he is diligent and hardworking, and indeed I did not misread him." With that, he also walked over and patted Bai Yihong on the shoulder with a smile.
At this moment, a loud voice came from outside, "Big brother, I’m here!"
A white-haired and bearded old man walked in. It was Bai Fu’s younger brother, Bai Lu, but his white hair and beard made him look more like Bai Fu’s older brother.
"Chief, you are here! We were just saying that Yihong is becoming more capable and bringing glory to our Bai Family Sect." Bai Zhangui repeated what Wan Qilao said with a smile, and Bai Lu nodded repeatedly, looked at Bai Yihong, and said, "Yihong, good job! Although you didn’t have the chance to study, you learned the true principles of being a person and made contributions to the village. You are much more useful than those who have studied the classics all their lives!"
Bai Ruozhu almost laughed. This chief really disagreed with her grandpa. He kicked off the criticisism as soon as he entered the door, and he was not afraid of Bai Fu at all. He was pretty awesome.
After Bai Lu finished speaking, he went over and patted Bai Yihong on the shoulder, "It’s been hard for you these years."
Bai Ruozhu noticed that there was sympathy in Bai Lu’s eyes, as if he was sincere, not just for show. She couldn’t help but think about this chief’s experience, which was almost the same as her father’s.
Back in the day, when Bai Fu and Bai Lu’s father made some money doing business outside, he returned to his hometown in beautiful silk clothes, thinking that since he hadn’t studied for a lifetime, he couldn’t compete with those literati outside. He wanted his son to study hard for success and become an official. Thus, the Old Master devoted all his energy to Bai Fu, and Bai Lu, who was born several years later, didn’t have the opportunity to study due to limited family resources. He felt as if he was cheaper than his elder brother because he didn’t study, he worked day and night for his family, and even worked part-time jobs during the slack farming season to support his literati brother.
Because of the similar experiences, when Bai Lu saw Bai Yihong, it was like seeing his once self, his attitude towards Bai Yihong also became much closer.
The Old Master was so angry that his beard was quivering. He knew that his brother would stir up trouble as soon as he arrived, but there were so many guests watching, and it would not look good if he started quarreling. He simply pretended not to hear and began talking with Bai Yibo and others.
But the old mistress glared at Bai Yihong from the kitchen door and muttered, "The dog thing that is bent towards the outside."
Bai Ruozhu heard it clearly, and almost wanted to quarrel with her. This old hag always acted so entitled, she scolded her son as a "dog thing," then what are you?
Luckily, not many people heard it, and the old mistress continued to watch the chef in the kitchen. She muttered again, "Use less oil. Who’s that wasteful? We are not landlords."
The hired chef was already unhappy. He turned his head and said loudly, "If the oil is too little, the dish won’t taste good. At that time, it’s your family’s face that will be lost. Don’t blame my poor cooking."
Bai Fu heard the noise and gave the old mistress a fierce look, signaling her to behave. The old mistress pouted, but didn’t dare to say anything about the chef again.
At this moment, Bai Yihong and Bai Zepei also came over. As soon as they entered the door, they began to greet their elders. Bai Lu looked at them both, praised each one respectively, and was fair to both, which made Bai Ruozhu feel more goodwill towards him. She originally thought that the Great Elder would only praise her second brother for becoming the top scholar.
The Old Master saw Bai Zepei as if he feared others would snatch the signboard from his family. He shouted loudly, "Er Lang, didn’t you greet me first when you came? Hurry up and come to chat!"