Chapter 353: Eating Out A Big Bug
Zhang Liliang turned a little red-faced upon hearing this and quickly replied, "I will collect all the money from my business soon to treat the two of them. That’s the most important thing."
Bai Ruozhu didn’t say much. She felt that if Zhang’s family were to purchase the medicinal materials from her, they would probably go bankrupt. However, she didn’t want to shortchange Zhang’s Aunt and Rongrong. In her heart, she believed that money can be earned again, as long as people could recover their health.
Rongrong’s mother overheard the conversation and looked somewhat gloomy. After a hesitant moment, she said, "Ruozhu, Rongrong is a girl who would have to marry someday. As long as she doesn’t retain any scars, that’s all I require. As for me, I’m old. Don’t waste good medicine on me."
Zhang Liliang rushed to the bedside upon hearing this, and said, "Yuzhen, what nonsense are you talking about? Even if I have to borrow money, I’ll treat both of you. You don’t need to worry; we still have money."
Rongrong began crying and hugged her mother’s arm, saying, "Mother, if you have all the medicine, what will happen to you? I won’t get treated then. My condition isn’t as severe as yours. I will recover naturally in a few days."
Because Rongrong’s mother’s state was very severe, Rongrong had to be careful even when embracing her arm. However, even so, her mother couldn’t help but gasp.
Bai Ruozhu sighed and said, "You all are being too polite. Can’t I give some medicine to my own little sister and aunt? If you sought treatment at Fushou Hall, it would indeed cost less. If you’re paying yourself, wouldn’t I be taking advantage of you?"
"Ruozhu, your medicine is expensive because it has a high value. This we understand," Rongrong’s mother said as she wiped away tears, "In the past, I heard that the ointments used by the nobles in the capital to remove scars are precious, and even those used in the palace are priceless."
Bai Ruozhu was pleased to hear Rongrong’s mother speaking sense. However, seeing her readiness to sacrifice herself for the sake of her family left Ruozhu with no option but to take the indirect route.
"If I manage to put together the medicinal ingredients to prepare a high-quality scar-removal ointment, even if I have leftovers I could sell them. Auntie, just as you said, it’s priceless. Once I sell it, it will pay for itself. So, please don’t worry." Bai Ruozhu said with a smile.
"Really? Could we actually have leftovers to sell?" Rongrong’s mother asked half-believingly.
"At least I could save a small bottle. Not just anyone can have this recipe. So, I believe I can recover the cost." Bai Ruozhu nodded at her, indicating that she could definitely relax.
Only then did Rongrong’s mother stop insisting. Although she was still somewhat worried, her mood had at least stabilized.
Bai Ruozhu was really tired these days. She yawned, rose to her feet to say goodbye, went back to the west courtyard to greet her family, then went to sleep early with Dengdeng.
Before sleep, she was still thinking whether Jiang Yichun would come over tonight. If he did, she must interrogate him properly. However, her eyes grew heavier and heavier, and she quickly fell into sleep.
In the middle of the night, Jiang Yichun appeared again. He found Bai Ruozhu sleeping like a log. He was bolder this time, going straight to her and whispering her name. Seeing that Bai Ruozhu didn’t respond, he reached out and touched her smooth cheek.
His hand was good-looking, his fingers slender but his knuckles clearly defined, emanating strength. Through years of martial arts training, he had developed a layer of thin callus on his fingertips. But it wasn’t rough. When he touched Bai Ruozhu’s soft and delicate face, it felt incredibly different.
The blade of his sword was cold and hard, while she was warm, soft, and squishy. He found the feeling a little too strange. It was as if he had been bewitched, touching her cheek inch by inch, as if to memorize her features on his heart.
The roughness of his fingertips annoyed Bai Ruozhu, who was in deep sleep. She scrunched up her delicate little nose, lifted her hand, and swatted at him.
"Dengdeng, stop that!" Bai Ruozhu mumbled sleepily.
Jiang Yichun almost laughed. Does Dengdeng have such big hands? Even his feet can’t be this big. This woman was truly strange. She seemed so sharp when she was awake, like nothing could escape her eyes. But when she was sleeping, she seemed incredibly obtuse. He had to keep an eye on her to prevent others from taking advantage of her.
After being swatted by Bai Ruozhu, he didn’t continue. Instead, he was worried that he would end up being the one to suffer. Jiang Yichun gritted his teeth, suddenly regretting why he said he would wait for two years in the first place. He wished he could immediately marry her and bring her home.
Having thought so far along, his eyes darkened a bit. Even if she agreed now, his current situation isn’t suited to marry. If he marries her now, he would only harm her. He would have to wait a little while longer. He had to find some way of settling things down as soon as possible.
He took out a jade bracelet from his chest and quietly slipped it onto Bai Ruozhu’s wrist. He then bent down and gently pecked her on the cheek before leaving the room. He gently closed the window for her, then disappeared into the night.
At midnight, Bai Ruozhu was awakened by Dengdeng’s crying. She sat up and nursed him. As she lifted her arm, she noticed a foreign object on her wrist. She was taken aback, but when Dengdeng started waving his arms and legs impatiently in her arms, she came to her senses and started nursing him.
When did he come? Why didn’t he wake her up? Bai Ruozhu looked at the warm and smooth jade bracelet on her wrist, feeling a rush of warmth in her heart. Did that guy come specifically to present her a gift? But he saw how tired she was and hence didn’t disturb her?
At this thought, she stroked the jade bracelet on her wrist, the corners of her mouth turning upwards into a smile. Regardless of anything else, the man definitely had a good eye. Whatever he gave her was always to her liking.
The hairpin he gave her last time, she could only see it after he left, and she spent half the day figuring out that the fine Ruyi hairpin was ingeniously made with a hidden compartment. Inside was enough space to hide a rolled silver banknote or store her frequently used silver needles.
Suddenly, Bai Ruozhu felt that she had never given him anything. Accepting gifts without giving any seems a bit unkind, doesn’t it? She pondered, what should she give him?
Early the next morning, the Bai’s pancake stall reopened, and a new face appeared among the staff — Wan Caiyue, the Bai family’s new daughter-in-law.
Fusa kept praising Wan Caiyue for being a good talent and quickly got along with her. Bai Ruozhu simply let Wan Caiyue sell small hats with Fusa so they could chat more.
The morning passed quickly, and the Bai’s stall’s business was back on track, almost returning to the state before the Wang Family came to grab business. Lin Ping’er was in a particularly good mood and said to Bai Yihong with a smile on her face, "It’s all thanks to Ruozhu’s careful calculations. Our business is really picking up again."
Bai Yihong also laughed and said, "That’s why you should listen to our daughter. Don’t worry too much every day. It’s not good for your health."
As they were talking and laughing, a burly male customer suddenly slammed his palm onto the table, sprang up, and shouted in Bai Ruozhu’s direction, "Shopkeeper, how do you conduct business? I found a big bug in my food. Your food is so unclean!"