Chapter 239: Eyes Full of Deep Affection
Wang Family was furious as she looked at her own sister-in-law, Zhao Family. She shouted, "You’ve always been jealous of father and mother’s love for me, and now you have the opportunity to kick me when I’m down. What do you mean by saying that it started with me? It’s all due to what Bai Ruozhu’s family did. Are you also not going to help me and watch me suffer?"
Wang Family spoke with complete self-righteousness, as if her entire family owed her something.
Her sister-in-law of Wang Family was so angry that she laughed. "If you weren’t so vain back then, insisting on carrying out those false and insincere actions, how would you have ended up facing retribution today? It’s already great that the old master didn’t beat you with wooden clubs for abusing the child, yet you are still encouraging our parents to cause trouble for those people. Don’t you even consider whether you stand a chance against them?"
"Whether I stand a chance or not is none of your business, this is my home!" Wang Family roared.
The children and daughters-in-law of Zhao Family rushed over upon hearing the commotion and they were very displeased when they saw Wang Family bellowing at their mother. Zhao Family blocked her children from getting involved with Wang Family, and coldly stated, "Since her affairs are none of our business, from now on, we should mind our own business. Let’s go."
From then on, no one in her maternal family bothered about Wang Family. The eldest sister-in-law, Zhao, simply stated that she was too preoccupied with taking care of her injured mother-in-law, father-in-law, and husband to spare any attention towards her. In the end, there was no one left to apply medicine for Wang Family, so she had no choice but to seek the help of her niece to send Bai Ruolan a letter asking her to come take care of her from the Back Mountain Village. However, Bai Ruolan never appeared even after several days had passed.
Business at Bai Ruozhu’s end was booming, and there were no insensitive people who came to cause trouble. As for whether Wang Family would let things rest, Bai Ruozhu wasn’t sure, but she knew that for the time being, the Wang family needed to recover from their injuries and wouldn’t have the energy to cause any trouble.
To express her gratitude towards Wang Luji and Wan Minglu, though she was not able to invite them directly to the stall to have a meal, she sent her elder brother to the County Government Office to deliver an invitation to invite them to be guests at the West Courtyard, and prepared a big hearty meal for them.
"Ruozhu’s culinary skills are simply amazing!" As Wang Luji indulged in the food, oil smeared all over his mouth and he threw any decorum aside. He excitedly praised Bai Ruozhu, "I originally intended to be modest with Ruozhu, but thankfully Brother Minglu mentioned that there was no need for modesty. If not, I would’ve missed out on such a feast."
Wan Minglu continued to smile dumbly as he pointed at the table full of medicinal meal soup, "Not everyone can prepare a medicinal meal like Ruozhu. Drinking this soup has made my body feel so warm and comfortable."
Bai Zepei stared at Wan Minglu’s infatuated expression and couldn’t resist sighing softly. It seemed that his little sister still hadn’t seen through the situation. Should he remind her?
Wan Minglu, who was happy with the meal, served himself another bowl of medicinal meal soup. Bai Ruozhu was delighted to see him passionately gulping it down however, in watching her smile towards him, his heart couldn’t help but flutter and his hand tilted, spilling a lot of hot soup on his laps.
Hiss...Wan Minglu sucked in a breath sharply through his teeth. He was in so much pain that he almost screamed out, taking everyone by surprise as they hastily asked him if he was okay.
"Minglu, did it burn badly? That soup was extremely hot, and it hasn’t cooled down for long." Lin Ping’er asked worriedly.
Wan Minglu shook his head, "Aunt, it’s fine, it’s my fault for being careless."
Bai Ruozhu shot up instantaneously, she turned around and ran into the house. Everyone else was still processing why she acted this way, but saw her running out again like the wind, holding a box of burn ointment, and handed it over to Wan Minglu, suggesting, "This is the burn ointment that I have prepared. Brother Minglu, hurry up and apply some on it so you won’t develop blisters."
Wan Minglu suddenly felt that none of the injuries mattered. The burning pain on his thigh seemed to disappear all at once. As long as he had Ruozhu’s concern, he could endure any pain.
Wang Luji, who he was sitting on the side, noticed his unsightly behaviour and a look of understanding crossed his face. However, in order to avoid any unnecessary trouble, he reminded Wan Minglu, "Minglu, did the pain make you silly? Let’s go, I’ll take you to apply the medicine."
After finishing his sentence, Wang Luji moved to support Wan Minglu, who also realized that he had lost his composure. He hurriedly lowered his head, but his face had already shamelessly flushed red.
"You can go to my room to apply the medicine and if the injury is severe, let Ruozhu take a look. Ruozhu’s medical skills are excellent in my house." Bai Yihong said, looking at Wan Minglu with concern.
The next second, he was kicked hard in the foot by Lin Ping’er. Hurriedly, he turned to look at his wife but Lin Ping’er rolled her eyes at him. Bai Yihong was left dumbfounded, and it took him some time to realise what happened, but by then, Wang Luji had already helped Wan Minglu into the room.
"Oh my, Ruozhu, I was so confused! How could I forget where you could examine his injury!" Bai Yihong playfully slapped his mouth as a show of guilt. The place where Wan Minglu was burnt was his thigh. If Bai Ruozhu was to treat him, then what was all this about?
In contrast, Bai Zehao lowered his voice, with a mysterious look on his face, "The way Minglu looked at Ruozhu just now seemed really strange, don’t you think?"
Fang Guizhi on the other side also nodded, and then mischievously nudged Bai Ruozhu with her elbow.
Bai Ruozhu didn’t have the heart to pay attention to Fang Guizhi at the moment. She was still lost in her thoughts. If everyone else had noticed it, how could she, who was the closest person to Wan Minglu at that time, not notice that pleading gaze?
She was still trying very hard to convince herself that she had seen it wrong. But the actions of Bai Zehao and Fang Guizhi were reminding her that what had just happened wasn’t an illusion, it was real. The look in Minglu’s eyes when he was looking towards her was really.....strange.
Lin Ping’er and Bai Yihong exchanged glances, unsure of what to think, but neither of them spoke.
Fang Guizhi felt the atmosphere was a bit odd. Shrinking her neck, she refrained from further bantering with Bai Ruozhu.
Just when everyone was wondering what Bai Ruozhu was thinking, she suddenly lifted her head, looking at everyone with a smile on her face, and said, "Everyone, don’t worry. Brother Wan, after applying the ointment for scald, will be fine. He will definitely not feel any pain tomorrow."
Bai Zepei picked up his teacup and took a sip. He heard it clearly. Previously, since they knew each other well, Bai Ruozhu called Wan Minglu "Brother Minglu". But now she referred him as "Brother Wan", deliberately maintaining her distance from him. Also, even though she had a smile on her face, the smile didn’t reach her eyes and carried a hint of indifference.
Feeling a bit nauseous, he secretly grimaced. As expected, that idiot is bound to be disappointed. He knew that the too honest Wan Minglu will never be able to keep up with his ingenious little sister. Despite the argument that opposites attract, but judging from Bai Ruozhu’s reaction, she didn’t appear to consider him as a companion at all.
The saying goes, a niece is as good as a daughter. Bai Yihong may seem oblivious, but Lin Ping’er saw it and she sighed in regret softly.
Inside the main hall, Wang Luji lowered his voice and asked Wan Minglu, "Minglu, tell me honestly, are you in love with Ruozhu?"
Wan Minglu, who was applying medication on his burns, inadvertently made contact with the burned area in his initial attempt. Consequently, he hissed sharply as he sucked in a cold breath...