Chapter 24 - 0 Must Learn to Resist
Chapter 24: Chapter 024: Must Learn to Resist
Chapter 24 -024: Must Learn to Resist
Fang Guizhi saw Bai Ruozhu in a daze, hesitated for a moment, then finally asked, “Ruozhu, is it true that Chang Sheng has returned?”
Bai Ruozhu suddenly looked up at her with a radiant smile and playfully said, “Guess!”
Fang Guizhi was a little taken aback.
Despite Bai Ruozhu being pregnant and thus a little chubbier than before, and despite her face being rounder than before, Fang Guizhi felt that Bai Ruozhu had become more beautiful.
As to where exactly she had become more beautiful, Fang Guizhi couldn’t pinpoint, but she felt that Bai Ruozhu’s eyes were particularly bright and animated, and her smile was even brighter than summer flowers.
Bai Ruozhu chuckled inwardly.
Letting the villagers misunderstand was also good – it would keep those who liked to prod and gossip about her relationship with Chang Sheng off her back.
The two chatted for a while, then began to deal with the apricots.
They decided to take their baskets to the Riverside for cleaning.
Fang Guizhi, carrying a heavy load of apricots, only handed Bai Ruozhu an empty basket for the washed apricots.
Bai Ruozhu didn’t protest.
She couldn’t be too careless now.
Lifting heavy things could lead to premature labor.
They had just reached the Riverside when they bumped into Wang Jiapo from the west end of the village, who was doing laundry.
On seeing Bai Ruozhu, Wang Jiapo’s eyes lit up and she enthusiastically said, “Ruozhu, you’re pregnant and still doing chores?
Don’t tire yourself out!”
Ever since Bai Ruozhu had transmigrated, she had been around the village, and this was not the first time she had run into Wang Jiapo.
However, it was the first time she was seeing Wang Jiapo this enthusiastic.
Bai Ruozhu feigned a smile but remained silent.
She turned to Fang Guizhi, signaling her to ignore Wang Jiapo, and they both continued washing the apricots.
Curiosity was killing Wang Jiapo, but it was hard for her to ask more questions when Bai Ruozhu was ignoring her.
Finally, when Bai Ruozhu and Fang Guizhi were almost done washing the apricots, she couldn’t hold back any longer and asked, “Ruozhu dear, I heard you had a distinguished guest at your home a few days ago?”
Bai Ruozhu just responded with a shrug and a smile, giving no indication of affirmation or denial.
“Oh my!
Has Chang Sheng returned?
Then why has he left again?” The two big characters for ‘gossip’ could’ve been written on Wang Jiapo’s face.
Bai Ruozhu simply continued to smile, then clutching her forehead, she said to Fang Guizhi, “Guizhi, I feel a bit dizzy, let’s head back.”
Fang Guizhi almost burst out laughing when Bai Ruozhu winked at her.
She knew Bai Ruozhu was fed up with Wang Jiapo’s chatter.
She hastily picked up the basket and said, “Let’s get home quickly, you might’ve caught heatstroke.” She paused momentarily, then turned to Wang Jiapo and said, “Wang auntie, we’ll leave now.
We can chat another day.”
Wang Jiapo watched them walk away.
They had left so decisively that she hadn’t even had a chance to ask more questions.
She felt a sense of dissatisfaction, as though she hadn’t found out anything she wanted to know.
The curiosity was killing her.
“You were too polite to Wang Jiapo, typically you wouldn’t even bother to smile at her.” Fang Guizhi complained, revealing her dislike for Wang Jiapo once they were out of earshot.
Bai Ruozhu didn’t seem to care, “There’s a saying, ‘better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.’ It’s not worth purposely offending those kinds of people, they’re just a bother to deal with.
As long as we save face, that’s what matters.”
Fang Guizhi gave Bai Ruozhu a surprised look.
Speaking softly, she said, “Ruozhu, I’ve noticed, ever since you got pregnant, you’ve mellowed out.”
Bai Ruozhu gently touched her belly, thinking about how the previous owner of her body wasn’t a bad person, just a bit of a literary snob with a cold demeanor.
That attitude could easily offend people in the countryside.
But she didn’t want to keep that attitude up.
She wasn’t the aloof type herself, so why force herself to be?
“Once you have a child, your concerns multiply.
You’ll understand when you have your own.” Bai Ruozhu’s gaze softened as she spoke.
She was growing more and more fond of the little one tumbling around inside her.
Fang Guizhi’s face suddenly turned beet-red.
She glared at Bai Ruozhu, “Don’t talk nonsense or I’ll stop paying attention to you.
I’m not even engaged yet!”
Bai Ruozhu chuckled.
Girls in ancient times were quite pure-hearted, but rather shy when it came to marriage and babies.
But what was there to be shy about?
Didn’t all women get married and have babies?
However, Fang Guizhi’s expression suddenly turned gloomy.
She murmured, “Given my mother’s attitude, I don’t know who will marry me in the future.”
Fang Guizhi’s mother favored her son and had always planned to marry off Fang Guizhi in exchange for a wife for her son.
Bai Ruozhu gently grabbed Fang Guizhi’s hand and assured her quietly, “Guizhi, while we ought to respect our parents, we must remember, we live our lives for ourselves.
Save some money for yourself and you will have a better future.
But…” she paused and lowered her voice even further, “If you’re upset with your marriage arrangements, you must learn to stand your ground.
I will help you!”
Fang Guizhi felt a surge of emotions.
She stared at Bai Ruozhu.
For some reason, as she looked into Bai Ruozhu’s shining eyes, she felt certain that Bai Ruozhu would be able to help her.
She sniffled, “Ruozhu, thank you!”
Bai Ruozhu chuckled.
Looking at Fang Guizhi, whose nose had turned red, as adorable as a little kitten, she couldn’t resist reaching out to pat her head and even gave her hair a little tousle.
To Bai Ruozhu, Fang Guizhi was still a kid after all.
At sixteen, Fang Guizhi would be a high school student in modern times, still considered the apple of her parents’ eyes.
Fang Guizhi turned her head away in annoyance and grumbled, “Why do you treat me like a child?” Although they were the same age, Bai Ruozhu always acted like an elder sister to her.
Having lived until twenty-six in her previous life, Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but see herself as the older sister when facing the sixteen-year-old Fang Guizhi.
Chatting and working at the same time, the work didn’t feel as tiring.
When it was time for lunch, Lin Ping’er wanted to invite Fang Guizhi to stay for the meal, but Fang Guizhi declined.
“I have to go back and cook.
Thanks for the invitation.” Saying so, she hurriedly ran off.
Fang Guizhi didn’t eat well and was rather petite, but she was agile and resilient.
As she ran off, Bai Ruozhu felt that she was like a little deer in the forest, especially adorable.
During lunch, Bai Yihong mentioned with a bit of a headache, “I don’t know what’s gotten into the villagers recently.
They keep saying that Chang Sheng has returned.
Did that young master from the Du family really look so much like Chang Sheng?”
Lin Ping’er hastily shook her head, “Not alike at all, they just didn’t see his face clearly and are making wild guesses.”
“I guess I’ll have to go out later and clarify things.
The rumors are getting out of control.” Bai Yihong said, frowning.
“Dad!” Suddenly, Bai Ruozhu interrupted him, “Let the villagers speculate.
We will just lay low, neither confirming nor denying.
If they press hard, you just say that you weren’t home that day and didn’t know what was going on.”
Bai Yihong looked at Bai Ruozhu in confusion, “But is it right to do that?
Isn’t that lying?”
Bai Ruozhu just laughed.
“Where’s the lie?
You didn’t say it was Chang Sheng, and you weren’t home that day anyway.”