Chapter 770 - 772: Aunt’s Intentions
Upon hearing this, Weisan greeted Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun before immediately rushing the horse carriage out of the gate.
After Bai Ruozhu had spoken to her family, Jiang Yichun approached her father, mother, and sister-in-law and said, "I’m sorry for causing you worry."
Bai Yihong, who had always treated him like a son, patted his shoulder and said, "Chang Sheng, it’s good to have you back."
"Father, call me Yichun from now on. My real name is Jiang Yichun," he said. He hadn’t previously made his identity known, but now he was serving as an official under his real name, so there was no need for pretense.
"Alright, alright, let’s go inside and talk." Bai Yihong responded, somewhat excitedly.
It was only then that Bai Ruozhu regained her bearings. She turned to her parents and asked, "Do we have guests at home?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Ping’er’s face turned stiff. Before she could explain, someone emerged from the main house, laughing and waving to Bai Ruozhu, "Ruozhu, what a coincidence! It’s been years since we last met. Do you still remember your aunt?"
The woman speaking was a lady with a slightly round face who resembled Bai Yihong somewhat. She was in her forties, and there were already flecks of white in her hair.
Bai Ruozhu paused for a moment, then quickly identified the woman’s relationship to her. She was Bai Ruozhu’s father’s elder sister, named Bai Yun. She had married into the Kuai Family in Beiyu City before Bai Ruozhu’s birth. When Bai Ruozhu was young, her aunt Bai Yun used to return home for New Year celebrations. However, she got into a terrible argument with her father and grandmother one year and stopped returning to Back Mountain Village altogether.
In her previous life’s memories, her impressions of her aunt Bai Yun were faint. She did not have any particularly unpleasant memories of her, just that her aunt’s husband had also been an elderly scholar. His wife had been a merchant’s daughter whose family ran a dye workshop.
Bai Ruozhu bowed to her aunt and said, "Even though it’s been many years, how could I forget you?"
Bai Yun walked over, smiling, and took her hand, "What a good child, you’ve grown so much. You’ve become really beautiful." Then, she turned to Jiang Yichun and asked, "Is this your son-in-law?"
Jiang Yichun immediately bowed to her, "Aunt, just call me Yichun."
Lin Ping’er, looking a little odd, intervened, "Let’s not stand around talking. Let’s go sit inside."
"Yes, yes. I was so happy I completely forgot." Bai Yun apologized with a laugh.
With that, she led Bai Ruozhu by the arm into the house. Bai Ruozhu, unaccustomed to such close interaction with someone she didn’t know well, felt a bit uneasy. But seeing the grey hair at Bai Yun’s temples, she didn’t have the heart to pull away. She wondered why her aunt, who hasn’t communicated with them for many years, had shown up now. Was it her first time visiting, or had she stopped by several times already?
Once they had entered the house, Bai Yun approached Little Dengdeng and affectionately stroked his little hand. She took out a silver lock and handed it to him, saying, "This is a gift from your great-aunt. Do you like it?"
Dengdeng, a little money freak, joyously laughed upon receiving the silver lock, and waved his little hands showing his great delight.
Bai Yun also laughed, causing the crow’s-feet at the corner of her eyes to deepen.
Bai Ruozhu quickly expressed her son’s gratitude to her aunt. She glanced at the silver lock. It wasn’t newly made and had an antique look, but on closer inspection, it had been polished to a brilliant shine. Lin Ping’er sighed quietly upon seeing the silver lock.
Bai Ruozhu observed everything and felt even more puzzled. She didn’t question further, deciding to ask her mother about it in private later.
"Since Ruozhu and her husband are back home, your aunt will stay for lunch. Your eldest and second brothers will be coming home soon, so we can all catch up," Lin Ping’er said.
"No, no, I can’t. I have to take care of my elderly in-laws at home today. We didn’t plan for it, so maybe another day. I’ll arrange for it and then come over for a meal," Bai Yun replied with an apologetic smile.
Bai Yun’s in-laws were in their seventies and indeed needed someone to look after them.
Bai Yun spoke with Bai Ruozhu for a while longer before deciding to leave. Bai Ruozhu quickly took out some of the gifts she had brought from the capital and gave her a share, saying she should take them home for the old Kuai couple. Bai Yun accept the gifts without much protest and promised to have the Bai family over for a meal soon.
After Bai Yun had left, Bai Ruozhu took her mother’s arm and asked, "Mother, why did my aunt suddenly visit? Was there anything in particular?"
Lin Ping’er glanced at Bai Yihong. They both look puzzled. Bai Ruozhu felt a knot in her stomach—was her aunt struggling in business and seeking help from her family? Her own family was now doing rather well in their ventures.
The family returned to the house, where Lin Ping’er sighed, "Your aunt has never had a child. Look, your father is already a grandfather, but she..." Unable to finish, she just sighed again.
Bai Yihong also sighed, "It’s your aunt who wanted to adopt a child. She had thought of asking for Xiaosi from our family..."
Upon hearing this, Bai Ruozhu’s mood sank, as if her brother was being forcefully taken away.
"Isn’t she supposed to adopt a child from the Kuai relatives? Why are they setting their sights on Xiaosi?"
"The Kuai family is also thin on descendants, and all their relatives have only one child. Who would be willing to give their child up for adoption? Your aunt is quite a proud person, and she feels a bit distant from other children. That’s why she didn’t adopt a child until now," explained Lin Ping’er.
Bai Ruozhu frowned, "Doesn’t she know that Xiaosi isn’t a blood relative of the Bai Family? Then what’s there for her to adopt?"
"She knows. Even though she doesn’t visit the village, she keeps tabs on the affairs of the old mansion. They just had a bitter quarrel with your grandparents and didn’t want to return home. She knows that we are raising Xiaosi, and we know his background well. The Kuai family will also rest assured that the adopted child with the surname Kuai will inherit the Kuai family business in the future. The Kuai family own a dye workshop, and as long as they do not squander their wealth, it will be enough for a lifetime," said Lin Ping’er.
From her mother’s words, Bai Ruozhu understood that she was leaning towards this proposition. She even believed it would be an additional insurance for Xiaosi’s future. Yet, Bai Ruozhu didn’t agree. She plainly said, "Xiaosi doesn’t need the Kuai family’s property. I can earn him an even larger share."
Bai Yihong patted Lin Ping’er’s shoulder and said, "Let’s consider their feelings."
Both sighed involuntarily. Bai Ruozhu watched all this in silence, wondering why her parents were behaving this way. Were they feeling too much pity for Bai Yun?
Even as Bai Ruozhu was about to ask more questions, there came an urgent knock on the door, and a woman’s voice rang out, "Lady Bai, has Miss Ruozhu returned yet? My mistress pains have started. It seems the baby is coming!"
"Oh dear, it’s the maid from Red Sleeve’s house. You’d better go and have a look. Red Sleeve’s been constantly asking if you’re back because she’s due soon. She’s been worried and keeps thinking about you," Lin Ping’er said anxiously.
"Yes, it looks like the baby is about to come. Mother, would you accompany me? I could use your help," Bai Ruozhu quickly replied.