Chapter 500 - 502: Du Zhongshu Seems Like a Different Person
Bai Ruozhu didn’t go to soak in the hot spring, her mind was occupied, and she simply wasn’t in the mood. She just took off the swaddling clothes of the noisy Little Dengdeng by the pool side, then removed his socks, and washed his tiny feet.
Little Dengdeng was pointing at the hot spring and yelling. Fang Guizhi couldn’t stand it any longer and said, "The water here isn’t deep, would it be alright if I held him and let him play?"
Bai Ruozhu shook her head, "It’s not a good idea for children to soak in hot springs, washing his feet is good enough."
Fang Guizhi could only give Little Dengdeng a funny look after listening, "Little fellow, your auntie can’t help you anymore. Grow up quickly."
Fortunately, Little Dengdeng didn’t make a fuss for very long. He soon satisfied himself with the joy of splashing water with his little hands.
Surrounded by the laughter of her son and her good friend, Bai Ruozhu’s mood relaxed slightly. She shook her head and tried hard to put the matter of the woman with phoenix eyes aside. After all, Jiang Yichun would sooner or later return and explain to her.
Fang Guizhi didn’t stay too long; she got ashore, dried herself, and put on her clothes. She touched her face and expressed with wonder, "It really is much smoother. This is magical, just like a fairyland."
Bai Ruozhu smiled at her, reached into her sleeve, and took out a bottle of moisturizer from her space with a thought. She handed it to Fang Guizhi and said, "Put on some of this, otherwise your face will crack from the wind when you go out."
Fang Guizhi applied a little of it and then asked in surprise, "Ruozhu, what have you made this oil with? It even has a faint scent of jasmine."
Bai Ruozhu laughed, "Not bad. I’m planning to use this place for business. What do you think? If the noblewomen in the city plan to come here for leisure, soak in hot spring, and do some facial treatments, wouldn’t it be indulging?"
Fang Guizhi nodded repeatedly after hearing this, "This is a good idea, but I wonder if we can handle it?"
"I plan to let Fusa run the Weaving Pavilion, otherwise why would I only give her shares and not you? You and sister-in-law will run this place, and you will also have shares." Bai Ruozhu said with a smile.
Fang Guizhi blushed shyly, "I don’t need shares. I still owe you a lot of money. Didn’t we agree that I would work for you?"
Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help poking her head with her finger. Little Dengdeng saw it and also reached out a finger to poke Fang Guizhi, causing her to be a little bit at a loss whether to cry or laugh.
"What a dunce. Are you not going to get married in the future? You should save for your dowry yourself. Are you expecting me to pay for it again? You have dividends now, which will be your dowry. This way, you won’t be bullied when you go to your husband’s house." Bai Ruozhu said.
Fang Guizhi’s face turned red, and there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. Bai Ruozhu understood the meaning and sighed softly, "I don’t ask for anything else, I just hope you can marry someone who truly likes you and treats you well so that you can lead a good life."
Fang Guizhi didn’t speak, probably thinking about Bai Zepei, who had no interest in her at all, and a cloud of gloom passed over her face.
Afterward, the two tidied up and said goodbye to Fubo. They took the horse carriage back to Beiyu City. On the way, Bai Ruozhu instructed Wa San not to tell the family where they had been, just say they went to the market for a stroll.
Wa San wasn’t a big talker to begin with, so he nodded immediately after hearing this and said, "I will do exactly as you asked, miss, and not talk too much."
Then the horse carriage rocked gently. Little Dengdeng soon fell asleep. Bai Ruozhu, lost in thought, was playing with her belt. Fang Guizhi also became exceptionally silent due to the topic of getting married. Yet, as soon as the two entered the house, they put away their worries so as not to worry the family.
Hearing that Bai Ruozhu and Fang Guizhi returned from their shopping trip, Rongrong and the others immediately surrounded them, waiting for the small gifts they brought back. Bai Ruozhu helplessly tapped her forehead. On the way, she was so deep in thought that she forgot about things like sugar-coated haws and sugar figures.
Fang Guizhi also gave Bai Ruozhu a look, as if to ask, what should we do? Should we say we forgot?
After thinking for a moment, Bai Ruozhu told the three children: "We forgot to bring money when we went out, so we didn’t buy anything. I’ll buy sugar-coated haws for you next time."
Xiaosi wasn’t very interested in sugar-coated haws, as he was mentally more mature than the average child and didn’t have the same keen anticipation as Rongrong and Niuniu. However, he looked at Bai Ruozhu with anticipation and asked, "Sis, can you take me out to play next time?"
On hearing this, Bai Ruozhu quickly nodded, "Ok, I will definitely take you."
Rongrong and Niuniu also shouted, "Take us as well, take us!"
"Ok, I’ll take everyone!" Bai Ruozhu said with a laugh.
She then took Little Dengdeng back to his room for his nap, and checked on Aunt Zhang’s condition in the Zhang Family’s room. Aunt Zhang’s wounds were healing well, but she had been seriously burned, and didn’t recover as quickly as child like Rongrong. She still had scars on her body, though they were no longer the terrible blood-red color they used to be.
It was a pity that most of her scalp had been burned and the new hair follicles were all but gone. It was very difficult for new hair to grow, and it was very sparse in the remaining areas where the hair was growing.
Bai Ruozhu was disappointed, but couldn’t think of a solution for the time being. When she was a medical student in her previous life, she hadn’t deliberately studied this area. She should ask Jiang Yichun or other renowned doctors if she gets the chance.
Aunt Zhang was now more cheerful, and saw the bright side of things. She said, "You don’t need to worry about me, it’s good enough that I’ll recover without a scar. My hair being thinner means I can wear a wig."
Seeing her acceptance, Bai Ruozhu felt much more at ease.
In the afternoon, there came a knock at the door. Fang Guizhi ran to open it and found it was Du Zhongshu, whom they hadn’t seen for a long time.
Du Zhongshu was invited into the main hall, and Bai Ruozhu was called out by Fang Guizhi. However, when she thought of Du Zhongshu’s previous claim of being responsible and wanting to marry her, she felt somewhat uncomfortable.
"Uncle Bai, Aunt Bai, I came to thank Ruozhu for saving my life." He brought a lot of things and had his personal servant bring them in one by one.
"Oh dear, we’ve known each other for a while now. There’s no need for you to be so formal," Lin Ping’er hurriedly said as she saw the many gifts, and felt anxious about accepting them.
Bai Ruozhu had already arrived at the door and gave her mother a signal not to make a fuss. She had spent quite a bit of silver to cure Du Zhongshu’s poison. Afterward, Du family didn’t mention repaying the money, either they were too busy or they felt the money wasn’t a big deal.
Seeing Bai Ruozhu entering, Du Zhongshu took out a silver banknote of a hundred taels from his arms, gave it to Bai Ruozhu, and said, "That night, you gave my servant an emergency loan of a hundred taels. It should have been returned to you earlier, but I was confused due to my illness. I just remembered it these days."
Bai Ruozhu didn’t stand on ceremony and took the silver banknote readily, asking, "You’re much better now, right?"
Du Zhongshu quietly looked at her, and it was hard to tell whether he was happy or not. He nodded slightly and said, "I’m completely cured now. I’m going to the Study Palace in Beiyu tomorrow to study with your second brother."
Bai Ruozhu felt something was not right about his expression and tone, as if he had changed into someone else and was no longer the carefree young man he used to be.