Chapter 979 - 981 Meng Tao Hua’s Nightmarish Madness_1
Zhou Qiuying, feeling somewhat guilty about Bai Ruozhu’s accusation of "fraternizing with four men", turned pale when Sanlang blocked the entrance and questioned her. She hastily looked around at the onlookers.
It would have been manageable if outsiders flirted with her, but Sanlang was Bai Yibo’s son, her nominal stepson. Such a scandal was... really too much.
Uh, she didn’t care about the embarrassment; she was afraid it would lead to a lawsuit.
"What do you mean, ’what to do’? Can’t you eat without your stepmother cooking for you? Besides, I’m not your stepmother anymore," Zhou Qiuying said dismissively. She truly didn’t care; if Sanlang had been interesting and worth staying for, she wouldn’t have gone out and flirted with others in the village.
After she finished speaking, she sneered. Despite his youthful appearance, Sanlang really didn’t have what it takes, neither good at farming nor at studying, and he even lacked the ability to make money. His temper was unbearable. She’d entertained him for a while, but did she want to spend her whole life with him?
With that thought, she snorted coldly, walked past him, and ignored his angry and disappointed eyes.
Unexpectedly, Sanlang suddenly grabbed her arm, his expression ferocious as he looked at her and asked, "What do you mean by this? They forced you, didn’t they? You didn’t do it willingly, right?"
The Village Chief, witnessing this scene in the yard, angrily tapped his cane on the ground, muttering, "Damn it, truly indecent!"
"No, we parted on good terms. Your grandmother and grandfather are heading to the Capital, and it’s uncertain when your father will be back. I don’t want to wait around like a widow. It’s settled as long as the Bai Family compensates me," Zhou Qiuying tried to shake off Sanlang’s grip, "Don’t get in the way of me living a good life."
"How, how can you do this to me!" Sanlang roared suddenly, his eyes turning red as he glared at the child in Zhou Qiuying’s arms and yelled, "You think you can take this bastard child and live a good life? No way in hell!"
All at once, he lunged at the child, looking as if he wanted to bite the innocent infant to death.
"Jianqi, stop him!" Bai Ruozhu quickly shouted, and fortunately, he understood her intent with just the name. Like a gust of wind, he got in front of Sanlang, snatched the child from his hands, and then kicked him flying out of the way.
Gasping for air, Sanlang passed out on the spot.
Zhou Qiuying was so frightened that she nearly lost her soul. She took the baby back from Jianqi and fled like she was running for her life, likely never wanting to see Sanlang of the Bai Family ever again.
The Village Chief, coughing with anger, told Bai Yihong, "Quickly carry him back, don’t make a spectacle of yourselves. If he causes another scene, don’t blame me for driving him out of the village without mercy."
Bai Yihong hurried to lift the body, but Jianqi stepped forward first, whispering, "My lord, I can handle it."
Bai Ruozhu gave the Village Chief a glance. If they wanted to banish Sanlang from the village, then so be it. Sanlang’s fate had nothing to do with her.
The Village Chief then glared at the Liu Family, saying, "Look at the good grandson you’ve raised!"
The Liu Family member scoffed and ignored him, thinking that since they were about to leave, the Village Chief would no longer have control over her.
The Village Chief didn’t intend to continue settling scores with her, either. As soon as he left the door, he stomped off, fuming. Bai Yihong felt rather embarrassed and quietly asked Bai Ruozhu, "Ruozhu, the Chief seems really upset by this incident. Isn’t that somewhat bad?"
"It’s not that we’ve done something wrong. We were still trying to stop it. He won’t blame us for his anger," Bai Ruozhu replied.
Jianqi threw Sanlang back onto his room’s bed—and it was definitely a throw, not a gentle placement. Utterly discourteous.
Bai Ruozhu turned to the old lady and said, "You can talk to him once he wakes up. Just don’t delay our departure tomorrow morning. If he pesters us, my guard can take care of him with a mere flick of his finger."
The old lady felt troubled. "He won’t listen to me at all. How can I stop him?"
"That’s your problem now. Don’t give him the Land Deed. The rent collected from leasing it out will be enough for his livelihood. He’s also old enough to set up his own household." Having said her piece, Bai Ruozhu didn’t dwell on it and urged her father to leave quickly.
Back in their own yard, Bai Yihong was still sighing. "Sanlang is too ruthless. No matter whose baby that Zhou child is, one shouldn’t harm an innocent life, right? And his association with the Zhou Family..." He felt he couldn’t go on.
"He once even conspired to harm his own brother to death. What wouldn’t he do? He’s crooked to begin with. We can’t manage it, just as long as he doesn’t bother us," Bai Ruozhu said.
Bai Yihong nodded, then couldn’t help but let out another sigh, like an old man. Bai Ruozhu looked helplessly at him and said, "Dad, that’s enough. Don’t worry about others. If you’re really that idle, help me look after Dengdeng."
The moment little Dengdeng, his grandson, was mentioned, Bai Yihong’s face lit up with a smile. He quickly took Dengdeng to one side to play with the child, no longer preoccupied with the concerns of others.
That night, the village suddenly became agitated. It wasn’t long before Jianqi reported from outside the house, "Master, the village is in quite an uproar. Someone’s gone mad in the middle of the night, babbling nonsense.
Bai Ruozhu’s lips curved slightly upward, "Don’t bother with it. Let the family continue to sleep. We still have a journey ahead of us early in the morning!"
"Yes." Jianqi also smiled. He had just taken a look and from afar saw Zhou Taohua shouting as if possessed by a nightmare. She claimed there was a ghost in her room and then rambled on that she would eventually marry a successful candidate for imperial examinations. She threatened anyone who dared provoke her, saying she’d let her husband deal with them.
Soon she changed her tone and complained that it was Bai Ruozhu who stopped Bai Zepei from marrying her because she disdained her for having health problems and difficulties conceiving. She kept on saying that none of the Bai Family were good people. No matter how her mother tried to persuade her, she wouldn’t stop. Finally, Zhou Dehai got so angry that he slapped her twice. Only then did she freeze in shock, and after a while, as if waking from a trance, she screamed that she was possessed and needed to see a doctor or a witchdoctor.
By now, someone had called the groggy Doctor Li, who naturally said that she had been frightened by a dream and babbled nonsense for a moment. He prescribed her calming medicine and left.
But when Zhou Taohua ran out, she was dressed only in a bellyband and ancient underwear, her face twisted in a grotesque manner as if she spoke of her inner delusions. Many villagers looked contemplative, while some women expressed disgust, secretly vowing not to match their sons with a Zhou Family bride.
The one who had just left, wasn’t her name Zhou Qiuying? And this shameless one is called Zhou Taohua. They sure are alike.
If Zhou Deshun knew what many people were thinking, he would have cried in frustration. Heaven knows, his family truly has no relation to the widow Zhou’s family!
Fortunately, the next morning, Zhou Deshun and his family of three took Zhou Dehai’s mother and left with Bai Ruozhu’s family for Beiyu City. They hadn’t heard those idle talks; otherwise, not just Zhou Deshun, but even his grandmother would have been incredibly upset. With so few descendants in her family, to have such a granddaughter was truly a misfortune for the family!