Chapter 292: Will Go Crazy if Not Venting
The next morning, before daybreak, Bai Ruozhu was awoken by some noise in the yard. She had spent the night in distress and worry, but forced herself to fall asleep to gather energy. Counting sheep into the thousands didn’t seem to help and it was apparent that the rest of the family had not slept well either.
She sighed softly, picked up Dengdeng for feeding him. Even when sleepy, Dengdeng managed to feed on her, given the day ahead. She wanted to make sure he was full to avoid any top-ups that might interfere with her tasks.
When she came out of the room after feeding him, she saw her mother already in the kitchen preparing food. Her eyes were swollen and darkened -- an apparent sign of staying up the whole night crying.
"I am preparing some good food for your second brother so that he does not starve in jail," her mother Lin Ping’er explained, with a hoarse voice.
Bai Ruozhu took the cooking ladle from her hand. "Let me cook. I know what second brother likes to eat. You go be with him. But stop crying now. If the officers come to arrest and find us in grief, they will know that we were aware of this matter in advance. It will cause trouble for Officer Li and others."
Lin Ping’er rubbed her eyes. "You’re right. I’ll go rinse my face with cold water."
Soon after, her eldest brother entered the kitchen. He moved a small stool in front of the stove, saying he wanted to help Bai Ruozhu light the fire. Seeing the darkness under his eyes, Bai Ruozhu sighed again.
Shortly after, Fang Guizhi also entered the kitchen. Bai Ruozhu noticed that her eyes were equally swollen, causing her to sigh once again. "Guizhi, you should also wash your face with cold water. That puts less strain on the eyes. As I mentioned earlier to mom, if they find out that we knew about this in advance, it might lead to new troubles."
Fang Guizhi nodded anxiously, saying, "It’s just unbearable. It’s so unfair, such a good person like Brother Zepei has to endure all this."
"Enough with the talking, go and freshen up now," instructed Bai Ruozhu, noticing her eldest brother’s eyes getting red again.
When she finished cooking and walked out of the kitchen, it was already broad daylight. She and Bai Zehao carried the food out. It was the wealthiest breakfast ever for the Bai family, but no one could eat, except Bai Zepei who was forcing himself. He ate a lot, as Lin Ping’er was continuously serving him platters, afraid he might eat less.
Meanwhile, villages near Anyuan Town were in chaos, as the officers started making arrests!
In Mountain Village, Bai Yibo was taken away by officers. He was constantly shouting, "I am innocently accused. I didn’t buy any exam papers. I don’t have that kind of money."
Bai Fu also went forward smiling, saying to the officer, "Could there be a mistake? How my son could afford the papers? He neither has money for it nor the guts."
The officer glared at him, "Would we take anyone without evidence? Looks like you don’t know your boy. Not only did he dare to purchase answers, but he also had the audacity to resell them to others, increasing the number of cheaters. If he is innocent, then everyone else is!"
Bai Fu stumbled, murmuring, "Impossible, it’s impossible. Someone must be setting him up. My Yibo wouldn’t do such a thing."
The officer had plenty of arrests to make that day and hence no time to entertain Bai Fu. He shouted, "Step aside, else I’m taking you too. If you dare challenge, go and tell it to His Majesty!"
Bai Fu was pushed and stumbled, collapsing on the ground. Seeing him on the ground, the old lady rushed to help him but, before she could lift him, his eyes rolled and he fainted.
"Quick, go and get Doctor Li!" The old lady was terrified and cried out to Bai Ruolan who was standing by and sobbing.
Only then, Bai Ruolan regained consciousness and started running to the door. However, she tripped and fell, swelling her face, due to her weak, trembling legs. She forced herself back up and continued weeping as she walked out.
She was doomed. She was all set to successfully marry Bai Yibo, who became a scholar, allowing her to marry her way upwards. However, now, with the given event, her marriage was over. She wondered how Bai Yibo would react if he found out that she was more concerned about her marriage than comforting him, would he faint out of anger like the old man did?
As Bai Ruolan stepped out, she noticed a crowd of villagers gathered around. Seeing several of them enjoying the spectacle across their faces, some even murmured, "No wonder he made the cut. Turns out it was through cheating. What’s there to show off?"
"You know nothing. They aren’t the least bit embarrassed. They went on boasting before us about future prospects, now and then claiming their willingness to help us, urging us to follow them for a better future. We are honest farmers, and we took it as a joke. Thankfully, we didn’t join them, or we would’ve been in trouble now," a middle-aged villager said. He and Bai Yibo were of the same age, both grew up in the same village and were quite close per se.
Bai Ruolan stumbled again, finding everything around her unbearable. All she could see were blurred figures and vague images, she couldn’t even keep her eyes open. She wobbled out of the house a few steps and suddenly fell unconscious.
Finally, village elder Wang Shugen sent a man to fetch Doctor Li and saved Bai Fu. Fortunately, it wasn’t a stroke; Bai Fu had just collapsed due to panic. But when he regained consciousness, he seemed to have aged another decade or two.
The village elder, Wang Shugen, wanted to reprimand him, saying that what Bai Yibo did brought shame to their village. But seeing Bai Fu’s fragile state, he swallowed his words.
...
In the West Courtyard of the Xie Residence, officers came to arrest Bai Zepei. Although the family was somewhat prepared, they couldn’t help but burst into tears when they saw Bai Zepei being shackled.
Lin Ping’er cried until she became silent, her eyes were brimming with fierce determination. She seemed possessed. By the time Bai Ruozhu noticed something was amiss, it was already too late.
She had underestimated the impact this incident had on her mother. Lin Ping’er had spent another sleepless night. Although she was prepared, the reality was hard to swallow.
All of a sudden, Lin Ping’er shouted, "It’s not over yet with the old mansion!" Before anyone could respond, she had rushed into the kitchen, grabbed a kitchen knife, and ran towards the main gate.
The family was frightened and chased after her. Bai Zehao and Bai Yihong, with their long strides managed to catch up with her in no time and held her back, Lin Ping’er resisted frantically, her eyes were bloodshot.
Bai Ruozhu ran out, panting, "Elder brother, Father, release her. Don’t stop her. She’s enraged, and if she can’t vent her anger somehow, it will make her sick!"
What Bai Ruozhu actually meant was that if her mother couldn’t vent her rage, it might drive her crazy.
Both Bai Zehao and Bai Yihong saw the change in Lin Ping’er and heeded Bai Ruozhu’s advice to let her go.
"You guys follow mom but remember, don’t let her hurt anyone, I will catch up soon."