Chapter 85 - 085 The Token is Missing
Unfortunately, Bai Yihong hasn’t quite grasped the situation yet. But Bai Ruozhu understood that although her father was naive, he’s not a fool; he would soon understand it all. She just didn’t know what his reaction would be when he finally does.
The elder Bai gave a few words of praise, seeing that Bai Yihong kept being modest, he nodded and said, "Don’t be so modest, you are really different now, and once Er Lang passed the examination to become a scholar, your status in the village will become even more different." He still had a serious look on his face, "In the future, if the two of you help each other, our family will certainly improve."
"Their brotherly bond is strong, they will certainly help each other." Bai Yihong completely fell into the trap without realizing it.
Bai Ruozhu wanted to warn her father, but after some thought, she decided not to. It would be useless to warn him anyway, as the old man certainly wouldn’t stop until he achieved his objectives today.
Indeed as she thought, the old man said impatiently, "Our family has always been harmonious, and you and your elder brother have always been close, so when my time comes, I would leave without regrets. Now that you’re in a better situation, I think your brother should start doing something meaningful. He cannot keep wasting his prime years away."
A man in his forties is still a student; the old man seems quite open-minded to think he’s wasted so many years delaying. Bai Ruozhu cursed in her mind.
Bai Yihong finally understood what the old man meant. His face turned strange, and he felt bitter recalling his father’s previous praises. For all these years, his father never looked at him properly, no matter how he changed, his father would always put his eldest son first.
Most parents favor the eldest son due to an unwritten rule that the eldest son inherits the family business. In the countryside, it’s the responsibility of the eldest son to take care of the elderly, even after families split, the elderly usually live with the eldest son. Moreover, when families have many children, the youngest child often receives the most affection, so in the Bai family, the eldest Bai Yibo receives the most support while the youngest Bai Zhi gets the most affection. The one in the middle, Bai Yihong is usually overlooked.
But favoritism should not go too far, or else their children would feel distant.
Seeing Bai Yihong remain silent, the old man sighed lightly but spoke anyway.
"Your elder brother might not be very forgiving, but he’s quite knowledgeable. Now that the village has a school and you have some say in it, you could consider asking him to come and be a teacher. After all, your elder brother is rooted here, he would surely be more dedicated than any other teachers, and besides, I am here to oversee, aren’t I?"
"Dad, it’s not that I’m not helping, but what could I say? The village rather likes Wu the scholar. Considering his age, it’s not easy for him either." Bai Yihong stubbornly responded.
The old man glared at him, pressing down his anger, "Wu Mengwei does have the knowledge, but he’s ill-fated, don’t let him cause trouble for the village’s children."
Even Bai Ruozhu couldn’t stand it anymore. Just because Wu the scholar’s wife passed away young, does that make him ill-fated? In ancient times, due to the lack of medical resources, even minor ailments such as fever or headache could take lives. Does that mean everyone who was living back then was ill-fated?
Moreover, discussing people behind their backs and speaking ill of them is not a gentleman’s behavior. So much for the Bai family’s boasting about family virtues and the pride of a scholar, it’s all nonsense!
"Dad, how could you say something like this about someone? It’s not like no one in the village hasn’t mentioned my elder brother before. How the elders decide isn’t for me to interfere." Bai Yihong’s face turned, he completely disagreed with the old man talking about Wu the scholar in such a way.
Upon being questioned by Bai Yihong, the old man couldn’t hold his anger back any longer. With a hint of anger in his voice, he said, "I know that all along I have cared more about your elder brother. That’s because he’s the eldest. Are you complaining that I favor him or are you jealous of him?"
"Grandpa, my dad didn’t mean that. We, youngsters, can help by talking about it, but we cannot guarantee the outcome." Bai Zehao was obviously more adaptable than Bai Yihong, and his words temporarily extinguished the old man’s anger.
Bai Ruozhu knew that if her father did not agree, the old man would not leave. She signaled to her father with her eyes. Bai Yihong by now trusted his daughter a lot and although he was unwilling, he gave in and promised to do as his elder son had stated.
The old man’s tone softened, "I know it’s hard for you, but if your brother could be a teacher in the school, it would be beneficial to him and your family. Wouldn’t you feel more comfortable if your elder brother could teach Ruozhu’s children in the future?"
Bai Ruozhu rolled her eyes silently, comfortable my ass, if she were comfortable with that, then she wouldn’t be a caring mother!
Bai Yihong nodded slightly, but didn’t make a sound. In fact, he couldn’t accept his grandfather’s argument deep within himself.
Seeing that he had said all that needed to be said, the old man got up and left. As soon as he left, Bai Yihong slumped down, unable to sit upright on the stool.
He sighed heavily and said, "Do I really have to bring this up in tomorrow’s meeting? Or should I pretend to be sick and avoid the meeting?"
Bai Ruozhu shook her head, "Then, my grandpa will be even more dissatisfied with you. He’ll accuse you of being insincere and unfilial."
At this, Bai Yihong’s eyebrows knotted together. He sighed again, saying, "What should I do then? I really don’t want to do something so unethical."
The old man is not nice to Lin Ping’er, and she’s not nice back. She snorts and says, "I knew you had a conscience. Just look at how grandfather speaks of Scholar Wu. It’s so eye-opening for me today. Can a person be this selfish?"
Lin Ping’er is outspoken. Even though her words show disrespect to her father-in-law, Bai Yihong can’t find any reason to rebuke her. His father was indeed too harsh on Scholar Wu.
"Father, don’t worry too much. When you go to the meeting tomorrow, just state it outright. Say that grandfather wants Uncle to teach at the school and that he will oversee Uncle." Bai Ruozhu began, "It’s not as complicated as you think. You’re just delivering a message for grandfather. As a scholar, uncle can speak for himself. The choice of the elders to pick Uncle or not has nothing to do with you."
Bai Ruozhu then laughed, "The elders are not getting old for nothing, they can see clearly."
After hearing this, Bai Yihong also felt this was the best solution, so he left the matter aside. However, thinking of his father’s previous attitude, his mood did not lift quickly.
Bai Ruozhu didn’t persuade her father much further. This kind of thing had to be reasoned out by oneself. That was the best way.
After a tiring day, she returned to her room to sleep. As she entered, she felt something was odd about her quilt, but she was too tired to think about it and fell right to sleep.
When she woke up early the next morning refreshed, she immediately remembered what was off. She quickly got up to check the secret compartment where she hid her silver, and when she saw that both her and Fang Guizhi’s silver was still there, she sighed in relief.
But when she looked at the wooden box at the foot of the kang, her face suddenly turned extremely ugly. The jade pendant, the engagement token from Chang Sheng, was gone!
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Notes from Qin Ka (The following content is free, really free~)
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