Chapter 30 - 0 Someone Spreads Rumors, Someone Adds Trouble
Chapter 30: Chapter 030: Someone Spreads Rumors, Someone Adds Trouble
Chapter 30 -030: Someone Spreads Rumors, Someone Adds Trouble
Most of the families in the countryside are of a simple and honest nature, especially in places like Back Mountain Village, where it is almost unheard of for men to marry concubines.
In the eyes of people in this era, a mistress is even worse than a concubine, not recognized by the wife and secretly kept by the man, making her comparable to a woman of the night.
Perhaps Bai Ruozhu didn’t have a strong understanding of the term “mistress”, and did not get too angry when she heard Mrs.
Liu’s words.
Instead, she quietly left.
If it had been her former self, she probably would have died from the anger of Mrs.
Liu’s words, or at least confronted her violently.
However, Bai Ruozhu understood what “mistress” stood for.
If she was labeled as a “mistress”, her parents and older brother would be affected, and even the child in her womb would be looked down upon from an early age.
No, she couldn’t let this happen!
Bai Ruozhu didn’t plan to stay long in the village.
She started heading home, and ran into Fang Guizhi not far into her journey.
“Ruozhu, why did you come out alone?” A nervous look spread across Fang Guizhi’s face.
She must have also heard the idle gossip.
Bai Ruozhu gave a bitter smile.
“Guizhi, you must be aware of the rumors
spreading around the village right now.
If you consider me a friend, you should inform me immediately about this kind of situation.
Don’t hide anything from me.”
“I, I was afraid you would get angry,” Guizhi’s face turned red.
She didn’t want to hide anything from Bai Ruozhu, but what if Bai Ruozhu got so angry she got in trouble?
Bai Ruozhu took Guizhi’s hand, her tone becoming gentler.
“Guizhi, I’m not blaming you.
I just want to know about things sooner, so I can plan accordingly.
My mindset has changed.
I won’t get angry over other people’s chatter anymore.”
Guizhi nodded vigorously, “I understand.
There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Oh?” Bai
Ruozhu felt proud of herself for being so sharp.
Her timing was excellent, otherwise she would have missed important information.
In the memories of her past life, Fang Guizhi was often sent out to run errands by her mother, and she frequently had the chance to go out.
As she was young and people didn’t avoid her when they spoke, she often learned of village gossip.
She, however, never spread it, and at most would quietly tell her younger sister, Ruozhu.
“It’s about your elder brother.
The Wan Family seems to not want to establish a marriage alliance with your family.” Fang Guizhi carefully studied Bai Ruozhu’s expression.
Seeing that she was not too surprised, she quickly asked: “Did you already know?”
Bai Ruozhu nodded, “I eavesdropped on my parents’ conversation just now.
My mother was crying, she was very upset.” She said, sighing heavily.
Usually when Fang Guizhi went to Bai Ruozhu’s house, Bai Ruozhu’s mother treated her very kindly, always giving her something to eat, and even helped her mend her clothes.
Fang Guizhi liked Ruozhu’s mother very much and had often thought about how much better it would be if Lin Ping was her mother.
So when she heard that Lin Ping had been crying over this, Fang Guizhi also felt extremely bad.
“Guizhi, have you heard any other news?
What are people from the Wan Family really like?” Bai Ruozhu also had her own thoughts: a melon forcibly twisted off its stem would not be sweet.
If the Wan Family really wasn’t suitable, it would be best to sever ties early.
“Actually, Wan Caiyue’s mother is quite a decent person, just like your own, she particularly cherishes her daughter.
That’s why she initially suggested establishing a marriage alliance with your family for her daughter’s sake, which is something most respectable daughters’ families would not do.” Fang Guizhi said, showing a look of envy.
How she wished she had a mother who cherished her!
“But Sister Caiyue’s mother cherishes her daughter too much.
When she heard the rumors about you being a mistress, she was afraid your family had bad values, and that her daughter would suffer in future.
Thus, she found excuses to not meet your mother.”
Bai Ruozhu didn’t know what to say.
It was right for Mother Wan to cherish her daughter and consider her daughter’s future, but from Bai Ruozhu’s perspective, she would also blame the Wan family for their lack of judgment.
They were swayed by a few words from the public.
“However, I heard that Sister Caiyue’s father hasn’t changed his mind.
But since marriage negotiations and dowries are handled by women in the family, he can’t really intervene.
I heard them arguing about this when I passed by the Wan’s yesterday,” Fang Guizhi added.
No wonder Guizhi knew so much.
Bai Ruozhu nodded slightly.
It seemed the issue lay with Caiyue’s mother; perhaps she wasn’t a bad person, but merely acting out of concern, fearing that her daughter would be wronged in the future.
“Looks like the rumors in the village have to die down before Caiyue’s mother might change her mind.” Bai Ruozhu sighed.
If Chang Sheng himself were to appear, the rumors would naturally be debunked.
But where was Chang Sheng?
This was the first time Bai Ruozhu wanted so badly for Chang Sheng to return.
Not only for the child in her womb, but also for her family.
“It’s all because Mrs.
Liu is spreading rumors.
Why don’t you go to the village head and expose her, have the village head make a decision on your behalf!” Fang Guizhi suggested.
Bai Ruozhu shook her head, “Even clear-headed officers find it difficult to mediate family affairs, let alone the village head.
Besides, I have no proof that Mrs.
Liu spread those rumors, and still no proof proving those rumors false.
If it comes down to it, I might even end up worse for wear.”
Fang Guizhi pouted, “Then what do we do?
We can’t just let her spread baseless rumors, can we?”
Bai Ruozhu didn’t have a good answer at the moment.
Coupled with the fact that her body was feeling heavy and she had been standing for a long time, she was feeling tired, “I should go home for now, and we’ll continue this conversation later.
You should get back to your chores so your mother won’t scold you.”
Fang Guizhi slapped her forehead, “Oh right, I need to hurry up and go.” She spoke and then ran off.
As soon as Bai Ruozhu got home, her mother scolded her for running off without notice.
Bai Ruozhu’s mother, Lin Ping, also prodded Bai Ruozhu with some probing questions.
But Bai Ruozhu didn’t want to admit she heard her parents’ discussion, so Lin Ping assumed her daughter just got some fresh air.
At dinner, the entire family gathered around the table.
Lin Ping was somewhat absent-minded and spoke less than usual, while Bai Ruozhu secretly observed her brother’s expression.
She only saw that her brother’s expression was as usual, he probably still didn’t know about the Wan Family’s current attitude.
Looking at her sunny, sincere, and kind-hearted older brother, Bai Ruozhu felt a pain in her heart.
After dinner, Bai Zepei returned to his room to continue reading, while Bai Ruozhu walked around the yard to aid digestion.
Unexpectedly, an uninvited guest arrived at their home.
“Oh dear, little sister, I came to see you.
I was worried you’d be upset, so I came specially to advise you.” The visitor was Bai Ruozhu’s aunt Wang.
As soon as she entered the house, she yelled loudly, as if she wanted her neighbours to hear her.
Anyone could see through this weasel paying New Year’s respects to the hen—definitely not a well-meaning gesture!
What was her sinister plan?
“Aunt Wang, please lower your voice.
You don’t want to disturb my second brother’s studying.
He will be taking the exam for Scholar soon.
Not everyone knows you have a loud voice.
If they think you’re trying to disrupt my second brother intentionally, it will create more idle talk and bestow you with a reputation of jealousy.
That’s not a good look.” Bai Ruozhu was the first to see Wang, and she spoke from the yard.
Wang’s expression changed considerably.
If she didn’t admit to having a loud voice, it would make it look like she was intentionally trying to disrupt Bai Zepei’s studying, which would indeed give her a bad reputation.
If she admitted to having a loud voice, wouldn’t that make her seem unruly—unbefitting of a scholar’s mother?