Chapter 84 - 084: The Old Man’s Family Card
Rongrong was encouraged and spread her small hand. Bai Ruozhu instructed her for a moment, Rongrong listened attentively, her face glowing, and promised to practice writing diligently.
In fact, Bai Ruozhu was quite envious of Rongrong. When she was a child, she didn’t have paper and pen for practicing calligraphy. She had to practice with her fingers dipped in water on the table.
Bai Ruozhu noticed some characters on the paper that were not Rongrong’s. These characters, though not spectacularly beautiful, were very tidy and neat, indicating they could only have been written by a woman.
"Is it your mother who is teaching you to write?" Bai Ruozhu asked.
Rongrong nodded, looking at Bai Ruozhu with admiration and excitement in her eyes, "Yeah, sister Bai, how did you know? You’re incredible."
Bai Ruozhu pointed at those characters, Rongrong understood and said with a smile, "My mother says her handwriting isn’t good, she told me to practice diligently and have a good handwriting."
Rongrong’s mother seemed reserved, but to Bai Ruozhu’s surprise, she was quite cultured. After a few questions, Bai Ruozhu learned that Rongrong’s maternal grandfather was a scholar. Rongrong’s mother had learned to read and write with him. Unfortunately, her grandfather’s health was poor and he died early before achieving any significant scholarly recognition.
But as the daughter of a scholar, she hoped that her child could read and acquire some literacy. Bai Ruozhu agreed wholeheartedly with this and said encouragingly, "Rongrong, you must study hard. When you grow up you can help sister Bai with bookkeeping."
This was the first time anyone had spoken to Rongrong in such a respectful way, and her small face turned a little bit red from excitement. She nodded head vigorously saying, "Okay, I will definitely study hard."
Bai Ruozhu, who was getting sleepy, rested for a while in Rongrong’s bed. In the afternoon, Lin Ping and Bai Ruozhu thanked Rongrong and her mother for their hospitality and departed. Rongrong’s mother originally wanted to invite the two for dinner, but considering Bai Ruozhu’s pregnancy, she didn’t press the matter.
Instead of going straight home, they went to Fushou Hall. Bai Ruozhu wanted to request the doctor, Lady Liu, to perform a checkup. Bai Ruozhu regretted that she had not studied obstetrics properly when she was learning traditional Chinese medicine from her grandfather. She hadn’t even examined a pregnant woman’s abdomen before, which she now found quite embarrassing.
"The baby has already descended into your pelvis. You should probably give birth within the next week. Rest well at home, so you’ll have enough energy when the time comes." Hao Baishuang touched Bai Ruozhu’s belly, giving a cold and distant diagnosis as usual.
Already used to Hao Baishuang’s demeanor, Lin Ping, looking pleased, paid the consultation fee and politely excused them, helping Bai Ruozhu to leave.
Until now, Bai Ruozhu had been complaining about how the baby was not yet ready to come out, but upon learning that it could happen within a week, she suddenly became nervous and began getting quiet on their way back home.
Lin Ping noticed Bai Ruozhu’s nervousness and held her hand, "Ruozhu, all women have to go through childbirth. The pain is inevitable; one just needs to get through it by bearing down and gritting one’s teeth."
People who never experienced childbirth can’t know how painful it is. Bai Ruozhu was no exception, so she was indeed nervous. Luckily, she knew medical skills, as did Lady Liu. She was confident that she would be able to handle it.
"Mother, I’m fine. With Lady Liu’s help and the fact that my baby’s position is correct, what’s to be afraid of?" Bai Ruozhu, who was more concerned about her mother’s worry, began to comfort her.
When they got home, they briefly told Bai Yihong about their visit to the Zhang family, before they started to have dinner. The dinner was cooked by Bai Yihong, because he knew his wife and daughter would be too tired from their journey. Moreover, not many men in the Back Mountain Village cooked for their wives.
Although Bai Yihong’s cooking skill was slightly worse than Lin Ping’s. Bai Ruozhu was very happy. She was proud to have such a father who loved and cared for his wife. Only men who love their wives are true men.
Also, Bai Zehao said, "Father, while I was gathering firewood today, I ran into Uncle Wang Feng. He told me to tell you that tomorrow there will be a village meeting at the school concerning hiring a village teacher."
Wang Feng, the village chief’s eldest son, was a solid and capable man. The village elders were considering making him the new village chief, replacing the old one.
"He also mentioned the desk you made for the teacher. He praised it highly." Bai Zehao said with a grin on his face. The Bai family had delivered desks and chairs made for the school, the people who saw these items praised Bai Yihong’s woodworking skill.
Bai Ruozhu became interested upon hearing this, she asked: "Father, do you know which candidates village chief and his group are considering for the teacher’s position?"
"I heard one of them is Elder Scholar Wu Mengwei from Shuhai Village. His wife passed away a long time ago without any children. He refused to remarry, living a solitary and impoverished life. He may be living poorly, but his knowledge and temperament are admirable." Bai Yihong said.
Bai Ruozhu nodded her head, as a person who chose not to remarry out of love for his deceased wife, he was truly a man of deep affection.
"The village mentioned if he accepts the position, they will arrange for his accommodation and let him settle in our village." Bai Yihong continued, "Also there’s another candidate interesting. He’s a scholar from the town who used to teach students from wealthy families. He’s interested in retiring now and that’s why he’s interesting in teaching in our village."
"Anyone else?" Bai Ruozhu asked.
"There’s another candidate: your elder uncle," Bai Yihong answered helplessly. "It seems your grandpa recommended him to the village for his success in passing the rural examination and claimed that his being familiar with the village and having his home here would fully commit him to teaching."
Bai Ruozhu smirked dismissively, "Huh. If he were to pass the examination and become a scholar, he wouldn’t lower himself to teach in a school."
"Yeah. Even my second brother’s scholarly knowledge is better than my big uncle’s. If not for his desire to further his own exams, his teaching would also be better than my uncle’s," Bai Zehao expressed his displeasure.
Bai Zepei, on the other hand, appeared indifferent, showing little concern for whether or not his Uncle Yibo would teach at the school.
Bai Ruozhu rubbed her belly. Even if her child wouldn’t attend the village school and be influenced by Bai Yibo, she still couldn’t bear the thought of the village children finally getting an education and ending up with such a terrible teacher.
"Father, you must not show favoritism in this matter. You should always choose the most suitable person," Bai Ruozhu indirectly advised him.
Bai Yihong let out a sigh and nodded slowly.
Shortly after dinner, visitors arrived at their home. More accurately, they were the elders of the Bai family.
"Yihong, you’ve gained some prestige in the village now, and both of your sons are promising. Your father is really proud of you," Bai Yihong’s father patted Bai Yihong’s shoulder, speaking with a tone full of sincerity.
Bai Yihong was somewhat taken aback. He hadn’t received much attention from his father since childhood, as most of his energy had been devoted to cultivating his oldest son’s future.
"Father, you flatter me too much, I still have much to improve," Bai Yihong answered with a simple and honest smile, failing to notice the shrewd gleam in his father’s eyes.
Despite sitting far away, Bai Ruozhu could see very clearly. She secretly curled her lip disdainfully. Her grandfather was not likely to visit for nothing, and this time he seemed to be playing the family card.