Chapter 450 - 452: The Old Man Cultivating His Morals and Nurturing His Nature
Bai Yihong felt quite embarrassed about the whole situation and suggested to Zhou Deshun, "Deshun, let’s go sit in my yard for a while. We are moving to Beiyu City the day after tomorrow, I think we should have a good chat."
"What?" Zhou Deshun was startled, but Bai Yihong did not give him an opportunity to ask more, pulling him away instead.
Lin Ping’er also led Zhou Deshun’s wife outside. Nobody bid farewell to the old Granny Zhou. Normally, the Bai family was very polite, but today Granny Zhou’s insult towards Bai Ruozhu provoked them.
Granny Zhou was awkwardly left standing in the yard, unsure whether to say goodbye. She felt guilty about not doing so, especially knowing they were leaving soon. She’s even more upset for not having wished them well on their moving.
Turning her head, she saw Tao Hua’s mother standing at the gate. Her anger flared up again. Tao Hua’s mother has been insinuating that Tao Hua’s condition worsened due to Bai Ruozhu’s treatment. She even claimed Bai Ruozhu intentionally refused to cure her. How could Granny Zhou not get angry?
Only today she found out, Tao Hua’s condition was congenital!
"Divorce, we should divorce right away! You ruinous daughter-in-law, if it weren’t for your constant persuasions, how could I have lost my face like this? You have ruined a good relationship with our long-time neighbors. I don’t want to see you again, as you only make my heart ache," Granny Zhou scolded furiously.
Tao Hua’s mother, with reddened eyes, started to cry. She retorted, "Are these old neighbors more important to you than your own granddaughter? They are taking advantage of our kindness. If your eldest son and daughter-in-law aren’t standing up for us, and you won’t stand up for Tao Hua either, who will? She is your own granddaughter!"
"Don’t give me that nonsense. I do care for Tao Hua, but we must be reasonable. If Ruozhu said she couldn’t treat her, then what’s your problem? If Fushou Hall can’t treat her, then we should bring her to a big clinic in Beiyu City. If that fails, then it’s fate. Why are you not blaming Fushou Hall’s doctor but only Bai Ruozhu? " Granny Zhou questioned.
"It’s her! She is the one who treated Tao Hua’s foot and caused her problems," Tao Hua’s mother sobbed, trying to defend herself.
Granny Zhou gave her a slap, knocking a broom to the floor, "Stop crying! We will take Tao Hua to Fushou Hall and ask the doctor about Tao Hua’s condition. If the doctor insists that it was Ruozhu’s treatment that worsened Tao Hua’s condition, I will make sure justice is served for Tao Hua even if I have to go to Beiyu City myself!"
But upon hearing these words, Tao Hua’s mother was hesitating and said vaguely, "Fushou Hall’s doctor is not competent. He knows nothing".
"Then you should cure her yourself since you know it all," Granny Zhou yelled, "I see, you’re just envious. Your own daughter isn’t doing well, so you’re blaming someone else. How naive was I to let you persuade me! When Ruozhu treated Tao Hua’s foot with her own efforts and medicine, without her help, who knows how bad Tao Hua’s foot would have been. You are clearly biting the hand that feeds you!"
"Enough! Don’t waste your time arguing with me. Once your son comes back, we will divide our family. If that doesn’t work, we will divorce. Our Zhou Family has no room for troublemakers like you!"
The two women were making such a commotion that the neighbors from both sides heard everything. For a long while after, people pointed at Tao Hua’s mother whenever she left her house. Tao Hua’s marriage became an even more difficult topic as her infertility had been broadcasted. Tao Hua didn’t get married until she was twenty, four years later, and the match was far from ideal. However, that’s a story for another time.
Zhou Deshun and his wife followed the Bai family back to their yard. Bai Yizhong’s wife, Jin, hurriedly poured tea for everyone. Bai Yihong asked Bai Yizhong and Jin not to busy themselves and then informed the two families about the upcoming move.
Both families were reluctant to see them leave, but they were happy for Bai Zepei’s promising future.
"It will be good for you to live in the city, avoiding these annoying issues," whispered Zhou Deshun’s wife to Lin Ping’er.
Lin Ping’er nodded vigorously, remembering the issue between Sanlang and Zhou’s widow. Out of sight, out of mind; after all, what could she do if they wanted to have an affair?
Zhou Deshun patted Bai Yihong’s shoulder, "We won’t see each other as frequently after you move. Don’t rush off tonight. Let’s have a couple of drinks together at my place..."
His words hung in the air as he was reminded of how his mother had just insulted Bai Ruozhu, causing his face to turn red. He turned to Bai Ruozhu, "Ruozhu, on behalf of Granny Zhou, I want to apologize. She can be reasonable. I think she might already be regretting what she’s done now."
Bai Ruozhu replied hurriedly, "I figured as much. I bet someone told her that Tao Hua’s condition worsened after I treated her last time."
"How shameless! She’s biting the hand that feeds her!" Zhou Deshun’s straightforward wife couldn’t help but retort.
"Let’s let this pass. Let’s not bring it up again." Bai Ruozhu hastily suggested, "We’ve agreed to have dinner at Wan Qilao’s place tonight. Afterward, Uncle Zhou can have a few drinks here in the yard with my dad and my uncle. I’ll cook some appetizers for you."
"Alright, let’s do that," agreed Zhou Deshun.
After chatting for a while, Bai Ruozhu asked Bai Ruolan to stay in the yard since she couldn’t handle both Dengdeng, who just woke up and wanted to be held, and Bai Ruolan, who acted like a kid and wouldn’t let go of her. This made Bai Ruozhu wonder how mothers with many children managed. It must not be easy.
Then the family paid visits to the nearby Granny Li’s home, the Zhang Family who had lent them a cart when Bai Ruozhu gave birth, and Zhao Ludan’s family who had helped them with transportation. They gifted each family a box of dim sum and said their goodbyes.
Bai Zepei took a box of dim sum to visit the village schoolmaster, Mr. Wu. Then he met up with his family at the village entrance and they all headed to Fengye Village.
When Bai Lu learned they were moving soon, he reflected, "You should tell your father, he seems to have been taking good care of himself lately."
Bai Lu led them to their grandpa’s room. Upon opening the door, they found their grandpa reading a book, with a set of brushes on the table, seemingly copying some text. With a quick glance, Bai Ruozhu could confirm that their clan leader’s words were right: their grandpa had now the tranquility to study. His improvement in calligraphy was proof.
Additionally, grandpa looked much healthier, with a rosy complexion and a bit of weight gain. It appears his days have been comfortable.
However, upon seeing them, grandpa’s demeanor changed. He slammed his book down onto the table, "What are you doing here? Don’t disturb my reading. Leave at once!"
Bai Zepei stepped forward and said, "Grandpa, the Child Student Exam was held again, and I topped the list again. We will be moving to Beiyu Study Palace in the day after tomorrow. Our family is planning to move there with me and start a small business in Beiyu City."
The old man’s expression changed significantly upon hearing the news. He murmured, "Beiyu Study Palace... Beiyu Study Palace..."
Beiyu Study Palace was a place that every scholar dreamed of, perhaps it was also a place the old man had once aspired to go.