Chapter 68 - 068 Zhang Family’s Kindness
Chapter 68: Chapter 068: Zhang Family’s Kindness
Chapter 68 -068: Zhang Family’s Kindness
After the Zhang family had left, the Bai family returned to the Main Hall, all feeling dispirited.
“Who on earth have we offended to earn such a reputation as unfilial?” Lin Ping murmured quietly to herself.
A sudden realization hit Bai Ruozhu.
No, her family absolutely couldn’t bear such a label!
The old man was now senile, thinking only of preserving face without considering the other implications.
By Old Lady Bai’s fuss, outsiders would now perceive the Bai second house as unfilial, and what if this was used against them in the future, jeopardizing her second brother’s prospects?
She didn’t possess much knowledge about the recently surfaced Danliang Country, but she had learnt from her second brother that Emperor Wuning, although rather young, placed high emphasis on filial piety, setting an example for all his officials.
She sneaked a glance at her second brother, who appeared indifferent as if unbothered by the situation.
He had the pride of a scholar, believing that as long as one’s actions were righteous, it was sufficient.
But Bai Ruozhu wouldn’t allow any family member to be wronged.
Her second brother had spent more than ten years in grueling studies – his future shouldn’t be ruined by this matter.
“This should’ve been a good thing if it wasn’t for the hasty actions of my grandma,” Bai Ruozhu sighed, then suggested to her parents, “Let’s give half of the gifts that the Zhang Family brought as an expression of gratitude to my grandparents.”
All the family members turned to look at Bai Ruozhu in surprise.
It wasn’t that the Bai Family was stingy and unwilling to share with the elderly, rather, after the recent episode caused by the old lady, gifting anything else felt somewhat reluctant.
Even Bai Yihong raised his eyebrows, uncertainly asking, “Even if we bring the gifts now, isn’t it too late for them to present them properly?”
Her father was indeed a smart man, but when it came to dealing with relatives, he could only pretend to be oblivious.
“I hadn’t originally planned not to share some with my grandparents,” she explained.
“Truth be told, whether I like them or not is one thing, but showing respect to the elderly is another matter entirely.
Even if I don’t particularly like them, the necessary duties of filial piety still need to be carried out.
But in giving these gifts, we must be strategic, and not simply offload whatever we have.”
In Bai Ruozhu’s previous life, her university classmate who had married early used to talk to her about handling mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relations.
She had confided that she didn’t particularly like her mother-in-law and often found it difficult to draw close to her, yet she continued to purchase and give gifts as business-as-usual.
She didn’t care about the spending.
All she wanted was to clear her conscience.
The same principle applied to dealing with elderly generations.
Bai Ruozhu wouldn’t be foolish enough to drain all her resources, but she would still show the necessary respect.
Not only would this help her father return the favor of being brought up by his parents, but it would also prevent them from feeling guilty over such a trivial matter or being used as a means to find fault with them.
“Your grandma left bleeding.
No matter what we send now, it’s going to be taken as compensation,” said Lin Ping, feeling oppressed, while resentfully looking at Bai Yihong.
While the family was discussing what to do, there was a knock on the courtyard gate, and they heard Fang Guizhi’s voice from outside, “Ruozhu, I’ve come to see you.”
Bai Ruozhu quickly got up to open the gate.
The moment Fang Guizhi entered the courtyard, she lowered her voice and said, “As soon as the Zhang family left your house, they bought tofu, two fish, and a jar of wine, and headed to your grandparents’ house.”
“What?” Bai Ruozhu was taken aback.
The Zhang family had not mentioned anything to her when they left.
They were probably intending to help them out with the problem at hand.
Outside the Bai family’s old mansion in Back Mountain Village, Zhang Liliang, accompanied by his wife and daughter, was knocking on the door and calling out loudly, “Old Lady Bai, I’ve come to apologize.”
The old man, sulking in the Main Hall, did not respond immediately, while Wang’s wife, upon peeping through the gap in the door and spotting Zhang Liliang carrying something, hastily went to open the door.
“Oh my, how very polite of you.
Come in, please.” Seeing Zhang Liliang carrying something, Wang’s wife could not be more enthusiastic.
Zhang Liliang waved his hand and said, “I am here just to apologize to Old Lady Bai, I must return home in a hurry for I have unfinished business, so I won’t be able to step inside.”
He intentionally spoke loudly, gaining the attention of their nearby neighbors.
Old Lady Bai, hearing the noise outside, arrived at the door with a smile on her face, “Why the need for an apology?
You mustn’t strain yourself this way.” Although she spoke these words, her eyes were drawn to the items carried by the visitor.
Zhang Liliang handed over the items he carried and spoke loudly, “These are my apologies.
It’s all because of the hook tied to my cart that you got cut when you touched it.
I am really sorry.”
Old Lady Bai’s fingers had already stopped bleeding and were now bandaged.
She quickly said, “That’s absolutely fine.
It’s just a small injury.
Won’t you come inside and have a meal with us?”
Her last words were phrased as a question, completely unlike the enthusiastic hosts who would insist on their guests staying for a meal.
Zhang Liliang bowed to Old Lady Bai, saying, “Thank you, Old Lady Bai, but we have some business to attend to at home and must not delay.
So, we’ll excuse ourselves now.
We’ll come back some other day to apologize.”
After saying these words, Zhang Liliang pushed the cart and left the place with his wife and daughter.
By the time the old man arrived at the courtyard gate, the visitors had already left, and the old lady had several items in her hands.
The old man wore a long face, his chin almost reaching his chest.
Coldly speaking, “Everyone, go back inside.” He then stormed back into the Main Hall.
No one saw Old Lady Bai leaving the house that day, but between their neighbors, speculation began.
Many people in the village knew that Bai Ruozhu had saved the Zhang family’s baby girl, and the Zhang family had brought a full cart of gifts to show their gratitude.
However, how did Old Lady Bai end up getting cut while touching their cart?
She surely must have been trying to touch the gifts placed on their cart before they left, right?
After hearing about the Zhang family’s actions, the Bai family was extremely grateful.
Bai Yihong proposed that they should find an opportunity to visit the town and properly thank Zhang Liliang.
That evening, Bai Zehao and Bai Zepei each carried a fair number of items to the old mansion.
People who saw them while resting on their way asked about it, and Bai Zehao smiled and said, “Our home received some items, so naturally we would want to honor our grandparents.
We had been meaning to do it earlier, but the guests were still here and grandma hurt her hand, so we had to postpone it to a little later.”
Bai Zepei didn’t usually talk much, but occasionally added a few words.
Coupled with the conversation the Zhang family had when they had visited Old Lady Bai to apologize, and some understanding of the character of Old Lady Bai, people began to piece together the whole story.
Nobody mentioned the unfilial conduct of Bai second house anymore, instead they praised the children from the Bai family for their exceptional actions.
In a blink of an eye, several days passed.
Lin Ping discussed with Bai Yihong and decided to add a room to the house.
The eldest had also married, resulting in a shortage of space in the house.
Their daughter’s room was reserved for childbirth and the post-natal confinement period, meaning it could not be freed up.
The eldest and the second son shared the same room.
If that room was converted into a newlywed chamber, then where would the second son study?
Therefore, adding a room had become an urgent matter.
In the end, the couple agreed that since building an extra room wouldn’t be too time-consuming and the backyard had been left empty for such a purpose, they would add the room behind the Main Hall.
Once built, it would serve as the room for the eldest son and his wife, so the Wang family’s daughter could live comfortably.
Just as the family was discussing the new room, Old Mrs.
Wang suddenly paid a visit and brought some news.
Wang LaiDi, who had been locked up in jail, was released!