Chapter 284 Starting to Feel Jealous
Bai Ruozhu wanted to laugh at Bai Yibo’s misfortune, but she couldn’t bring herself to feel glad. Bai Yibo was threatening people with her second brother, Bai Zehao. What if he believed it was serious?
Just as she was worrying, guests arrived, so the family quickly set aside their issues to attend to their customers.
While making flatbreads, Bai Ruozhu glanced at Bai Yihong, who was about to fetch water with a carrying pole. Her father’s knitted brows deepened. Concerning the situation with their old mansion, he had the toughest decision to make.
After a while, Wan Minglu, who was dressed casually, sprinted from afar, shouting loudly, "Auntie, my mother missed one guest from our relations. Could you check if it’s okay to add one more table?"
Bai Ruozhu was attracted by his voice and looked up. With Wan Minglu not dressed in his usual officer uniform, he seemed more approachable, like an older brother next door.
"If it’s just this minor issue, your mother could decide on her own. Why does she make you run back and forth? You should be taking a rest today. I’m embarrassed," Lin Ping interrupted. She had seen Wan Minglu at the Wan Family residence when she returned to the mountain village earlier that morning, and he mentioned that it was his day off.
Wan Minglu approached with a hearty laugh, saying, "I couldn’t sit still. I just want to come for some pancakes."
"Brother Wan, I’ll make some pancakes for you right now. Please take a seat and rest first," Bai Ruozhu said with a smile, intentionally creating some distance with her address.
She didn’t dislike Wan Minglu. In fact, she admired his honest and warm personality, but she simply couldn’t fit him into her heart. She didn’t wish to delay such a good man.
A hint of stiffness passed over Wan Minglu’s smile. He still handed the guest list to Lin Ping and sat down at the table.
Bai Zehao got along well with Wan Minglu and started chatting with him.
"So, the issue with your family’s old mansion is resolved," Wan Minglu said with a trace of mockery.
"What?" Lin Ping was startled, "When I left the village just now, his uncle was still causing chaos with his injury. How was it resolved so quickly?"
"It was widow Zhou who came forward. She offered to provide one hundred taels of silver on behalf of Bai Yibo as compensation to the Wang Family. She pleaded with the Wang family to sever ties amicably and stop causing trouble," replied Wan Minglu. A flash of disgust crossed his face, suggesting that he knew about Zhou’s "scandalous" affairs.
Bai Ruozhu was taken aback. She heard that widow Zhou had a few acres of land and lived decently, but she didn’t expect Zhou to be so generous as to take out a hundred taels of silver all at once. Wasn’t this the same as buying a husband? And the man she bought was Bai Yibo, a loser who’s never likely to achieve much and is more than a decade older than her.
If this wasn’t true love, then it could only mean Zhou saw potential in Bai Yibo’s future or the old Bai mansion and planned to make a long-term investment.
"Widow Zhou knows how to talk. She claimed she and Bai Yibo were in mutual affection and it’s rare to meet someone she admired so much in this life. For him, she wouldn’t mind gambling her fortune and life away. A lot of women in the village were moved by her words, some even shed a few tears. Later, they found a middleman to act as a witness, and Zhou gave one hundred taels of sliver banknote to the Wang Family. Now they are at the town to process the divorce procedures," Wan Minglu explained.
Bai Ruozhu finally made the warm flatbread. She called out to her big brother twice, but Bai Zehao, engrossed in his conversation, had not noticed her. The stall wasn’t busy at the moment, and she didn’t want to call out too loudly, as it would give the impression that she was deliberately avoiding Wan Minglu, even being afraid to serve him some pancakes.
Left with no other choice, she took a bowl of soup in one hand and the flatbread in the other, intending to serve Wan Minglu.
She had just taken a few steps when a shadow darted over, snatching the pancake and soup from her hands, and said coldly, "I’ll do it. You make me a flatbread."
Before her stood Jiang Yichun, who had put his mask back on. Bai Ruozhu felt a sudden tingle in her eyelids. Why had this guy come over? However, looking at him, there’s no denying that his tone and eyes were exceptionally disgruntled. Could it be...
Bai Ruozhu’s eyes sparkled as a thought occurred to her. Would he serve Wan Minglu out of the goodness of his heart? Clearly, he didn’t want her to be the one to serve Wan Minglu. Was this guy getting jealous?
Jiang Yichun placed the flatbread and soup in front of Wan Minglu, who was surrounded by Lin Ping and the others, and only noticed Jiang Yichun then. Startled, he swiftly stood up to pay his respects, "I am truly sorry for troubling you, sir, I am deserving of death."
Jiang Yichun stood there in stony silence, his seemingly omniscient gaze fell on Wan Minglu, and didn’t respond for a long while. Wan Minglu continued to perform the ceremonial practice, not daring to stand up straight. He maintained his bowing position, quickly breaking out in a cold sweat.
The Bai family also looked in surprise at Jiang Yichun. Lin Ping felt gratitude and admiration for this benefactor, but right now, she didn’t understand why he seemed upset. Could it be that Minglu had offended him somehow?
Bai Ruozhu was quietly stamping her foot in irritation. This man was making his feelings too clear. Wan Minglu was going to be part of her extended family. It was rather unsightly to act this way. Even though others might not know it was because of her, what if they suspected?
She quickly decided on a plan and got another big bowl of soup, walking towards the table.
"Sir, please have some soup first. I’ll get your pancake ready right away," Bai Ruozhu said cheerfully as she placed the bowl on the table in front of Jiang Yichun. When her eyes met his, she glared at him quickly, signaling for him to stop making a scene.
This only seemed to upset Jiang Yichun more. Was Bai Ruozhu trying to protect that lad? He gave a cold hum, gave a swish of his robe, and sat down on the chair.
Wan Minglu finally felt the oppressive gaze lift off him, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead and sitting back down nervously.
"Aren’t you going to make the pancake? Do you always neglect your customers like this?" Jiang Yichun’s icy tone was directed at Bai Ruozhu, the cordiality he had shown earlier entirely gone. He had once again transformed into the sharp-tongued man everyone hated.
Bai Ruozhu shot him another glare and made her way back to the stove in quick strides.
"Sir, I apologize for the oversight. My eldest is getting married soon, and we’ve been caught up in the joy of the occasion. I’m sorry that we have been neglectful of your needs," Lin Ping said in an attempt to manage the situation, forcing a smile.
"It doesn’t matter," Jiang Yichun’s tone softened considerably. He turned to Bai Zehao and said, "Congratulations."
Bai Zehao didn’t expect such an important figure to extend wishes to him. His face lit up in excitement. He even said enthusiastically, "Sir, if it’s not too much trouble, do join us for the wedding ceremony."
In reality, Bai Zehao didn’t expect that Jiang Yichun would accept the invitation. After all, someone as important as him would surely have a busy schedule and wouldn’t have time to attend a commoner’s wedding. It was merely a polite invitation.
To everyone’s surprise, Jiang Yichun nodded and asked, "When is it?"
This left everyone from the Bai family and even Wan Minglu stunned. Bai Ruozhu’s hand, which was making a pancake, trembled slightly, resulting in a slight puncture in the bread. She quickly flipped the bread over and added more fillings.
While she appeared calm on the outside, her heart was in turmoil. What was he trying to do? Did he want to interact more with her family? Didn’t he realize how strange it would be for him to attend someone’s wedding wearing that ghost mask?