Chapter 363 - If You Don’t Compensate the Wife, Then Compensate with Money
In the following days, business at the Bai Family’s pancake stand was completely restored. Bai Ruozhu and her aunt Fusa each finished making another small cap and together they journeyed to the Ding Residence.
Since Bai Ruozhu and Fusa had gone to the Ding Residence temporarily, Madam Li wasn’t present. This came as a relief to Bai Ruozhu. It wasn’t that she was afraid of Madam Li, she just didn’t want to get involved in those matters.
Madam Ding, upon seeing the finished product, was very satisfied; not only did she clear the balance owed, but she also honored them with a purse each.
"Thank you, Madam. We must take our leave now. If you need anything, please just send word to Bai’s stall," Bai Ruozhu assumed Madam Ding might need her again so she said as such.
"I won’t need to bother you again. Come back here the day after tomorrow, I will invite my sister and she would also have work for you." Madam Ding said with a smile.
Bai Ruozhu wasn’t keen on meeting Madam Li, but given that Madam Ding suggested it, avoiding it would only raise suspicions.
"Alright, we will visit the day after tomorrow." Bai Ruozhu bowed to Madam Ding. Fusa also performed a courtesy and bid her farewell, and they left the Ding Residence together.
"Ruozhu, do you think this could turn out to be a big deal?" Fusa asked excitedly, grabbing Bai Ruozhu’s arm.
"Are you going to fall for money like my mother? I really am to blame for spoiling you all." Bai Ruozhu jokingly teased Fusa.
Fusa’s face turned slightly red, and she said rather embarrassingly: "Who doesn’t love silver? You’ve led me to prosperity, how could you say you’ve spoiled me?"
As they returned to their stall happily chatting and laughing, they found that Lin Ping’er was bickering with someone. Bai Yihong and Bai Zehao stood in front of Lin Ping’er, seemingly protecting her.
Bai Ruozhu and Fusa looked at each other and hurried their pace.
"Mother, what’s happening?" asked Bai Ruozhu, who had arrived at the front of the stall. It was crucial for a business to have harmony; continuing in this way wouldn’t solve anything.
The man arguing with Lin Ping’er turned abruptly towards Bai Ruozhu and gave her an intimidating stare.
Only then did Bai Ruozhu notice the stranger, a man in his thirties. He had a square-face, dark skin, and while he was robust, he had a slightly stooped back. A scar adorned the corner of his eyebrow.
Instinctively, Bai Ruozhu stepped back due to the aggressive look sent her way. Had she offended this man before? Or was he another hired by the Wang Family for revenge?
Bai Zehao responded quickly, rushing to stand between Bai Ruozhu and the man, protecting Bai Ruozhu.
"Sister, this is Yang San. He came to our stall to cause trouble." Bai Zehao spoke in a curt tone.
Bai Ruozhu suddenly realized. Wasn’t Yang San the man whom Guizhi’s mother initially matched her with? It was said that he was already thirty-three years old, frequently drunk, and hit his wife regularly.
"Bai Ruozhu, you finally show up. You made my wife run away. I will come here every day to cause trouble so you won’t have a proper business!" Yang San said menacingly.
After such a squabble, Bai Ruozhu felt even more repulsion towards Yang San. Despite this, she strived to look confused and replied: "You’re talking about Guizhi, right? It was her mother who wanted to sell her for money to marry her brother off."
"Don’t play dumb with me. I’ve looked into it, and I found out that you were the one who arranged it. You sold my wife. Either compensate me with a wife, or compensate me with money." He smiled greedily and said, "I won’t ask for much, just give me twenty silvers."
Everyone gasped in shock at hearing the outrageous request. Twenty silvers was not a small sum!
Bai Ruozhu saw that the man was unreasonable, she was no longer polite, and loudly said, "Whether Guizhi marries you or not is her parents’ decision, so why are you making trouble here? If you can’t get a wife, then reflect on your morals. My stand won’t compensate you."
Yang San glared at her, looking just as if he was about to hit Bai Ruozhu. Bai Zehao stepped up again, worried he might lash out.
Unexpectedly, Yang San did not act out. Instead, he sneered and said, "What? Can’t afford to compensate? If you can’t then give me your young widow to be my wife, considering that you have fair skin and a decent figure, I won’t complain."
Upon hearing these words, Bai Zehao flared up, punching Yang San squarely in the face. Bai Yihong also charged over, the father and son duo wasting no time in punching Yang San.
"Beat this scoundrel to death. My previous daughter-in-law was beaten to death by him! Even her parents would rather sell their daughter than marry her to him. And he still dares to cause trouble?! He dares to come and we’ll beat him every time until he can’t stand up!" Lin Ping’er shouted.
The onlookers murmured, saying that Yang San deserved it. They were fully aware that although Bai Ruozhu’s husband was missing, her family cherished her and would not let her be wronged.
Yang San had his face swollen by Bai Zehao’s punch. He shook his arm violently to free himself from Bai Yihong and fled. He ran awkwardly, and while escaping, he shouted, "You all wait! If you don’t give me a wife, don’t think you can live in peace!"
Bai Ruozhu watched Yang San’s retreating figure, it seems that there are really many people who are not afraid of death. She felt she could not afford to be benevolent.
...
The news of Yang San causing trouble at the Bai’s stall quickly spread. After a short while, the Wang Family’s stall heard the news. The Wang matriarch chattered cheerfully, "Well deserved! It’s retribution. They think they’re evil? Evil will grind evil, let’s see how Yang San grinds them down."
While making a pancake, Zhao from the stall frowned. The pancake wasn’t for a customer, it was for the Wang matriarch. There were no customers at their stall.
Wang Xiujun heard her and coughed, "Mother, that’s enough. I suggest you focus on growing old gracefully. Don’t always think about grievances. Otherwise, how can your body recover?"
The Wang matriarch scoffed, "I can’t swallow this breath, that’s why I had a stroke. If I can vent all my anger, I’m sure I would recover immediately."
Wang Xiujun’s face darkened, "Stop daydreaming. I think we should stop setting up this stall altogether. How we lived in the past, so shall we live in the future, without ruining ourselves watching others."