Chapter 93 - 093: She will always be my little sister
Bai Ruozhu was already in labor, but the contractions were far apart, and the pain wasn’t particularly intense, so she broke out in a light sweat, but her mind was still clear. The work of building the house had stopped for the day because it wasn’t very convenient. People who had come to help reassured Bai Yihong a few times, and then excused themselves one by one.
However, not long after, she heard Zhou Deshun outside saying, "Yihong, your father is bringing your eldest brother’s family over, they’re almost at the doorstep."
Bai Ruozhu frowned. The fact that the old man was bringing people over at this point meant they were coming to apologize, not to make trouble. Even though he was biased and foolish, he was a clever man who wouldn’t allow others to badmouth the Bai family, and he would be reluctant to ruin Bai Yibo’s reputation. Therefore, his apology was definitely intended to be seen by the villagers.
She found it very disgusting. How could a scholarly man who had read the classics for so many years be so hypocritical?
Outside the Bai family’s gate, the old man had a grim expression, and he seemed to age several years all of a sudden. The people behind him, Bai Yibo and others, also looked rather worn out, Bai Yibo’s clothes were torn and he was covered in dust and dirt, the corner of Er Lang’s forehead was bruised, and Wang’s wife was crying softly with her hair disheveled. The family looked quite pitiful.
Bai Zehao was also there. If Bai Ruozhu saw him now, she would certainly notice the new scars on his face. Right after Bai YiHong had pushed Bai Ruozhu away, Er Lang had jumped up and fought Bai Zehao, but Zehao was stubborn, biting his teeth and bearing the pain without making a sound or begging for mercy. So, the neighbors were unaware that Zehao had been beaten again. Even the women of the neighboring Zhang family would find this hard to stomach.
The Patriarch of the Bai family angrily hit Er Lang with a rattan stick, causing the bruises on Erlang’s forehead. Whether intentionally or not, some saw the injuries on Bai Yibo and Erlang and felt they were quite pitiful too.
They were putting on a pitiful act for sympathy!
Standing at the door, the old man faced the gaze of the curious spectators around him, raised his voice, and said, "Yihong, I’ve brought your eldest brother’s family to apologize to you."
His loud words immediately caught the attention of many people, even the neighbors who hadn’t been participating in the spectacle previously peeped out to see what drama was unfolding in the Bai family.
Bai Fu cleared his throat, and continued to shout loudly, "Er Lang is just a kid who didn’t understand the situation, he wanted to play a joke on his cousin, but didn’t know it would turn out like this. He knows he’s wrong now and has come specially to apologize."
The sound of the old man’s voice reached inside the yard, into Bai Ruozhu’s ears. Bai Ruozhu sneered, "Stealing things has now become a joke. My grandfather really knows how to defend Er Lang. Why didn’t he say that Er Lang hit me? Why didn’t he ask about my condition?"
Zhou Deshun’s wife firmly grasped her hand, comforting her, "You absolutely must not get angry, it’s not worth it." After that, she heaved a sigh and whispered, "Your grandfather is just old and confused," lowering her voice for the last part. After all, according to filial piety, Bai Fu was a senior, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to openly speak ill of him.
Really, where were the manners of the seniors? Zhou Deshun’s wife muttered secretly to herself.
Inside the yard, Bai Yihong didn’t know what to do. He instinctively looked towards Bai Ruozhu’s room, but then thought it was better not to disturb her, since she had begun having contractions. Thus, he focused his attention on Bai Zepei.
Bai Zepei’s gaze was cool and composed, without the slightest ripple but also lacking any warmth. He didn’t express as much anger as Bai Zehao today, because he was the kind of person who concealed his emotions well.
"Father, Grandpa is a senior, it’s not good for him to stand outside. Let’s invite him inside first. As for the others, they should go home, it’s not convenient with Ruozhu giving birth." Zepei said in a low voice.
Bai Yihong nodded, and shouted towards the outside, "Father, what are you talking about? Come in and sit down. Eldest brother and his family should go back first, it’s not convenient as Ruozhu is about to give birth."
The old man sighed heavily at the door, "You still don’t forgive your eldest brother, I already taught him and Er Lang a harsh lesson."
Bai Ruozhu, who heard this inside the room, couldn’t help but become angry again. If she were not afraid of being labeled unfilial, which could affect her second brother’s future career, she would drive the old man away along with the others. The old fox was too shameless, he was already invited inside, and he still said, "You don’t forgive your elder brother," making it seem as if her father was narrow-minded.
But the word filial piety loomed on Bai Yihong, making him feel helpless.
Ruozhu rolled her eyes, signaling Zhou Deshun’s wife. Inside the room, she let out a loud scream, and then yelled, "Don’t let Er Lang and his family in, they hit me, they wanted to harm my child, don’t let them in." Her voice was shaking, "Father, I’m scared..."
The houses in the countryside were not soundproofed, and combined with the heat of the autumn tiger, even though the curtains in Bai Ruozhu’s room were drawn, the door was left slightly open, and the windows were paper-covered. Her voice quickly reached outside the house.
The old man’s face turned even more ugly, he cursed Bai Ruozhu in his heart, muttering, "This girl must have been scared by the child birth, how could her own family harm her? She’s dwelling on unnecessary thoughts."
Listen, his words echoed his previous statement—Er Lang was just joking with Bai Ruozhu. It was Bai Ruozhu who was overthinking, that’s why she felt Er Lang had stolen her jade pendant.
Fortunately, his muttering did not reach Ruozhu’s ears. Otherwise, Ruozhu would have wanted to leap up and quarrel with him. Of course, it was better not to move since her water had broken.
Bai Zepei opened the door. In front of all the spectators, he respectfully bowed to the old man. It was normal for juniors to give seniors a grand bow, but the households in the village did not usually perform bows, even during New Years or festivals. Hence, Bai Zepei’s bow seemed meaningful.
Seeing Bai Zepei’s steady actions and scholarly demeanor, Bai Fu couldn’t help but sigh: this grandson of his truly resembled him the most.
If Bai Ruozhu could have heard the old man’s inner thoughts, she definitely would have rolled her eyes and muttered, "You really love to flatter yourself, my second brother is nothing like you, you can’t even compare to his toes!"
Outside, the old man was taken aback, and asked, "Zepei, what are you doing?"
Bai Zepei stood up and said, "Grandpa, let’s talk inside the house. As for my uncle and his family, they should go back first. My younger sister can’t be frightened again."
The old man’s face changed color. If the main room didn’t enter the door, it meant that the second room was not willing to forgive them. He angrily glared at Zepei and said, "Your sister will eventually marry someone else, are you denying your own uncle and cousin for the sake of an outsider?"
Despite Bai Zepei’s normally calm demeanor, his face twisted at those words, his gaze towards the old man lost every trace of warmth. He then said, word by word, "I don’t care who’s an outsider, I only know that she’s my sister, my sister for life!"