Chapter 349: Go Kneel and Wash Clothes
Bai Yihong and Lin Ping’er have always had a good relationship after their marriage. Despite many grievances Lin Ping’er endured at the old mansion, she never uttered words of giving up. Thus, when she roared out in anger, Bai Yihong was dumbfounded.
"Bai Yihong, listen to me, don’t think you’re great just because there’s money coming in. Did you earn that money? You’ve been throwing it into a bottomless pit. If you don’t want to lead a good life, and also want to make the children suffer, then we might as well split up. The children will live with me, and I promise not to let them suffer like this," continued Lin Ping’er.
Bai Zehao became somewhat anxious. "Mother, don’t be angry. If you have something to say to father, say it calmly."
Lin Ping’er had red eyes. "How else can I say it? I gave the money to his mother, only to be accused of scheming against the old woman. I really don’t understand what wrong I’ve done to her."
Bai Ruozhu quickly signaled her elder brother with her eyes. Bai Zehao understood, helped her mother up, and said, "Mother, you’re tired too. Come with me to the new room and see what we can bring back to town. Aren’t we returning to town this afternoon?"
By temporarily separating the two, they could prevent Lin Ping’er from getting angry again.
Lin Ping’er wiped away her tears and left the main hall with Bai Zehao to go to his new room.
Watching the two walk away, Bai Zepei lowered his voice and asked, "Little sister, did Grandpa do something again?"
As soon as he asked, Bai Yihong’s body shuddered, his gaze immediately turned to Bai Ruozhu. To be honest, his outburst today was primarily due to his father being forcibly taken away by Bai Lu.
Bai Ruozhu didn’t initially want to tell her family, but now she couldn’t hide it from her second brother, and she didn’t want her father to hold grudges on it. She finally sighed and spoke.
"My second brother knows me best; he knows I wouldn’t mess around without a reason." There was a touch of resentment in her voice that made Bai Yihong avert his gaze guiltily.
"It wasn’t that I wanted to keep it from everyone. You’ve all seen how unstable Mother was after my second brother got arrested. So I didn’t want her to be scared again with this news," Bai Ruozhu said with a bitter smile. "I was also worried that this would affect my eldest brother’s mood, and distract my second brother from his studies."
Bai Yihong became somewhat anxious. He couldn’t help but ask, "What exactly did your grandpa do?"
"He secretly sought connections to try and rescue my uncle from his way to jail. He even prepared money to replace my uncle with someone else to serve the sentence," said Bai Ruozhu.
Not only was Bai Yihong startled and wide-eyed, even Bai Zepei was somewhat surprised, and couldn’t help but frown.
"How is that possible? Where did your grandpa get that much silver?" Bai Yihong, frightened, stumbled over his words.
"It’s the money that grandfather left for him privately. You guys wouldn’t know. Moreover, the news came from Uncle Deshun and his wife, you don’t believe it then go ask Uncle Deshun. Even if I don’t like grandpa, I don’t have the time to conspire against some unrelated person," said Bai Ruozhu with a cold snort, feeling upset and disappointed about her father’s ongoing distrust in her.
Bai Zepei’s expression turned cold, "Father, little sister has no reason to lie. For grandpa doing such a heinous act, it’s no wonder the family patriarch took him away."
"Now, I agree with mother. If father doesn’t want a good life, we might as well split up early and leave the Bai Family Sect to avoid being implicated and executed one day because of grandpa," Bai Ruozhu, now truly upset, said before walking out of the room. She could understand her father’s filial piety towards her grandfather but couldn’t accept her father’s distrust in her.
"Ruozhu, I didn’t mean that..." Bai Yihong called out, but sadly, Bai Ruozhu didn’t want to acknowledge him and went straight to the kitchen to help Wan Caiyue with chores.
Bai Zepei’s gaze also became colder, "Father, don’t let mother know about this. I’m afraid she’ll become ill from the anxiety." He coldly reminded.
"I know; I know," Bai Yihong replied, shrinking his neck. He suddenly felt that he was wrong and felt a sense of alienation from everyone.
In the kitchen, Wan Caiyue noticed Bai Ruozhu’s silent work. She cautiously asked, "Are you angry, Ruozhu?"
Facing her sister-in-law’s concerned eyes, Bai Ruozhu felt less angry. She smiled and said, "I’m not angry anymore, but it’s just that Baba is too foolish in his devotion. I’ve already given him a stern reminder."
Bai Ruozhu knew that Wan Caiyue was deliberately avoiding the topic, but they were family, and she felt that it was better not to leave Wan Caiyue out of family matters, so she wouldn’t feel like an outsider.
Wan Caiyue didn’t know what to say about her father-in-law, she shook her head and said, "Don’t be angry anymore. I heard that anger can dry up breast milk."
Bai Ruozhu nodded and chatted with her.
"Big sister, did you sleep well last night?" Bai Ruozhu asked with a mischievous smile.
Wan Caiyue’s face flushed instantly, face cast down, too embarrassed to look at Bai Ruozhu. She knew she was caught; there wasn’t anything she could do. It was painful at first, but then it slowly became more pleasurable and she couldn’t hold back, it was so embarrassing.
Seeing Wan Caiyue like this, Bai Ruozhu thought her elder sister and brother were a perfect match. Both got easily embarrassed. It would make family life more fun.
"Ah, big sister, you should stop working and go back to your room and rest for a while, chat with mother. I heard you’re supposed to avoid exertion after doing that to conceive." Bai Ruozhu laughed even harder, her mouth stretching to her ears with mischief.
Of course, Wan Caiyue didn’t see Bai Ruozhu’s playful smile because she was too bashful, she couldn’t even lift her head to look at Bai Ruozhu.
"Then I’ll go and chat with mother now," Wang Caiyue’s voice was as small as a mosquito’s hum as she turned and rushed away.
Bai Ruozhu had to hold back her laughter for quite a while. Was she being a troublesome sister-in-law already, making her sister-in-law feel uncomfortable on her first day?
In the yard, Bai Yihong didn’t go to find Zhou Deshun. If he went to find Zhou Deshun now, it would only show more how he didn’t believe his daughter. He also knew his daughter wouldn’t joke about this kind of matter, he wasn’t really doubting his daughter but was rather shocked at what his father had done.
Lin Ping’er took started packing with Wan Caiyue, planning to head back to the town later where they would continue their stall business on the following day.
Once Bai Ruozhu had cleaned up the kitchen, she took Dengdeng to talk with Lin Ping’er. Lin Ping’er was still upset with Bai Yihong and started to criticize him while she tidied up, not avoiding Wan Caiyue who was also in the room.
Wan Caiyue was a bit uneasy, but she was still elated that her mother-in-law and sister-in-law didn’t treat her as an outsider.
Bai Ruozhu, hearing her mother’s complaints and harbouring her own grievances toward her father, said irritatedly, "Mother, don’t be angry anymore. When we get back, let’s make father kneel on a washboard. Otherwise, we won’t let him off!"