Chapter 449 - 451: Saying Goodbye but Ended Up Dividing the Family
The Wang family knew that Bai Zepei was going to Beiyu City’s Study Palace, but they didn’t know that the whole Bai family was going and certainly didn’t expect them to move so quickly, especially with the New Year just around the corner.
In a hurry, Madame Wang reached out and grabbed Lin Ping’s hand, asking, "Daughter-in-law, why is your family leaving so hastily? Have you found a place to stay yet?"
The Bai family had discussed before leaving not to tell the villagers about the arrangement for the mansion by the Meng family. On the one hand, they didn’t want to be too high-profile, on the other hand, they didn’t want to be accused of pretending to be close to the Meng family.
However, Bai Ruozhu did not plan to hide this from the Wang family, from Zhou Deshun, and from the family elder, Bai Lu, believing that they would not spread rumors.
Seeing it inappropriate for everyone to be standing in the yard talking, Elder Wang chimed in and said, "Let’s sit in the main hall quickly. Everyone else can mind their own business. Just Sang Caiyue’s parents follow us."
The Wang family was large, and if everyone stuffed in along with the Bai family, it would be too crowded.
After they all sat down, Bai Zepei began explaining why they were moving to Beiyu City.
"The city lord plans to recommend me to Class A of the Beiyu Study Palace and I cannot delay this opportunity. Plus, Ruozhu is being urged to go and treat Lady Meng’s toothache as soon as possible. So we have to move before the New Year."
Madame Wang was very reluctant to see them go, with tears welling up in her eyes, she said, "Why not delay by a few days? We can prepare a couple of feasts for you before your departure."
Bai Ruozhu had to recount how Lady Meng had arranged for their housing and commanded her like a child to move in three days. When Madame Wang heard it, she was happy for the Bai family’s good fortune but couldn’t help feeling helpless at the thought of displeasing old Lady Meng.
Lin Ping pondered and said, "We will have to announce our departure to everyone in a while. For today, we’ll have Caiyue and Zepei stay behind and chat with you guys."
Madame Wang gave Lin Ping a grateful smile, saying, "In that case, you all have to come over for dinner tonight after your house visits."
"Yeah, don’t blame this old man for getting angry if you refuse even a meal.", added Elder Wang sternly.
With such warm hospitality from the Wang family, how could the Bai family refuse?
Once the Bai family left, Madame Wang turned her attention to Bai Ruolan who had been standing next to them. She couldn’t help but ask, "Why is Ruolan with you all? Is there no one to look after the poor child?"
Wang Caiyue sighed and said, "Her father was exiled, her mother visited a few times but didn’t take her away, her grandmother didn’t want to take care of her either. Ruolan really took to Ruozhu after she saved her. She was scared at the old mansion and no one paid her any attention, we couldn’t bear to see her like that."
Bai Zehao chimed in, "Ruozhu said she would have the Wang family take care of Ruolan. After all, it wasn’t right for Ruolan to be so desperate in the first place."
Madame Wang sighed and had nothing to say. Every family had their own problems, but the Bai’s old mansion had an unusually large number of them, making it the talk of the village.
Next, the Bai family visited the Village Chief’s house, closer by, gave him two boxes of dimsum, and told him about moving to Beiyu City. They requested him to send letters if anything happened to the old mansion in the village.
Afterward, they went to Zhou Deshun’s house. Lin Ping only planned to have a conversation with Zhou Deshun and his wife, but as soon as she walked in, she heard Old Lady Zhou start to berate them.
"You heartless opportunist! You ruined my daughter Tao Hua! Serves you right to be a widow, no one will ever want you!"
Bai Ruozhu quickly realized that Old Lady Zhou was scolding her. But how could she be blamed for what happened to Zhou Tao Hua?
Lin Ping reacted quickly, confronting Old Lady Zhou, "What do you mean, Zhou’s aunt? Who has hurt Tao hua? Did we disgrace her by gossiping about her or by scolding and hitting her?"
Old Lady Zhou’s eyes were filled with hatred. She glared at Lin Ping, saying spitefully, "We have been close for so many years, but your daughter refused to treat my Tao Hua. The doctors at Fushou Hall couldn’t treat her either, and rumors spread that she can’t have children, making it hard to arrange a marriage."
Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help laughing as she listened. She patted the startled Bai Ruolan and said, "Don’t be afraid."
She then looked at Old Lady Zhou and asked with a smile, "Did Tao Hua get sick because I infected her? You believe it when Fushou Hall says they can’t treat her, but you won’t believe me when I say I can’t? Even the imperial doctors have diseases they can’t cure. I’ve heard of doctors being pursued for malpractice. Should I be too for admitting something is out of my skill set?"
At that moment, Zhou Deshun and his wife rushed over after hearing the noise. Zhou Deshun, losing his temper, yelled at his mother, "Mother, I have never raised my voice at you, but you’re wrong today. How can you scold Bai Ruozhu for no reason? Even if she cannot cure Tao Hua, should we compel her to risk Tao’s health? These are biases you have heard from no good sources. Even if you’re an elder, I will not tolerate such irrational behavior."
Zhou Deshun’s wife glared disdainfully at Tao Hua’s mother, who had just entered the room, and muttered, "Who else could it be? It’s her, constantly filling mother-in-law’s ears with nonsense."
Hearing this, Bai Ruozhu walked toward Tao Hua’s mother, staring at her intensely, "Are you spreading rumors that I intentionally refused to treat Tao Hua? You’re saying I’m the reason Tao Hua can’t get married?"
Tao Hua’s mother was taken aback by Bai Ruozhu’s direct confrontation. She stammered uncomfortably, "You’re clearly able to treat her but you just refuse to help us. Our families have known each other for so long, yet you’re so selfish. If that’s not sabotaging Tao Hua’s reputation, then what is it?"
At this, Bai Ruozhu burst into laughter, "Our families being familiar is one thing, and me not treating Tao Hua is another. For a disease I cannot cure, it would be reckless of me to try to treat it anyway. You stress the point that I harmed Tao Hua, why don’t you tell everyone that the disease Tao Hua has is congenital? If you had been more careful when you were carrying Tao Hua, would she have gotten the disease?"
Tao Hua’s mother turned pale. Indeed, the doctor at Fushou Hall had also said that, but she dared not tell her family.
"Ruozhu is right. It’s her duty not to treat Tao Hua if she doesn’t know how, and she doesn’t owe us anything. Stop nagging and stirring up mother, if you continue like this, we should go our separate ways. We can’t allow people like you to ruin our reputations!" Zhou Deshun’s wife retorted boldly.
Zhou Deshun sided with his wife on this matter, he couldn’t stand his wife being harassed more and more, disrupting their peaceful family life.
"I’m going to talk to father about this, it’s about time to divide the family. From now on, father and mother should live with us." he suggested.
The Bai family felt a bit awkward, they came to present gifts and say goodbye and now were unintentionally causing a family dispute.
However, Bai Ruozhu thought it was quite good. If Zhou Deshun and his wife could separate from Tao Hua and her mother, it would save them a lot of trouble.
Suddenly, Tao Hua’s mother started crying, "You all are cold-hearted! Now that Tao Hua is sick and needs a lot of money for treatment, you want to throw us out!"
"If you’re sick, you should focus on proper treatment and medication instead of causing trouble every day! Instead of provoking mother, why don’t you care more for your daughter!" Zhou Deshun’s wife retorted loudly.
Old Lady Zhou appeared indecisive and hesitant. She hung her head, not daring to speak up. It seemed she was indeed wrong in this case. However, apologizing was a whole different thing, and her old pride wouldn’t allow it.