"This is what you call protecting one’s own, right? I guess Fo Qilao thinks Zheng Giugiu is innocent, that she was forced by Zhu Pozi to do such things. And since I have a grudge with Zhu Pozi, isn’t this like unjustly dragging Zheng Giugiu into the ss?" Bai Ruozhu shrugged her shoulders and said.
"It’s not Little Sister’s fault either. You saved Zhu Family’s grandson out of kindness, but instead of being grateful, Zhu Pozi always picks fights. At the end of the day, Fo Qilao should hate Zhu Pozi instead," Bai Zehao said with dissatisfaction.
Bai Ruozhu laughed, "Many tis people have a tendency to envy the rich, not to ntion Zhu Pozi is an old widow. Fo Qilao can’t lower himself to deal with her, so he targets our big, prosperous family. Of course, if their family hadn’t changed, maybe he wouldn’t be so dissatisfied. People don’t like seeing those they dislike doing too well; it’s just human nature to feel unbalanced."
Everyone thought about it and found it reasonable, as Fo Qilao was indeed narrow-minded.
"I don’t believe he can stir up everyone in the Village. This has to be kept fair," Wan Qilao said angrily.
Bai Ruozhu hurriedly handed him a cup of tea and said softly, "Grandpa Wan, please don’t get angry. We were initially planning to leave for Beiyu City after two months anyway. After all, leaving my second brother there alone makes my parents uneasy. As for Fo Qilao, once we leave, he will calm down."
"Still, we can’t let him think he drove you away. What sense does that make?" Fo Qilao almost shouted in anger.
Bai Ruozhu was much calr about such matters. Even if others thought they were driven away by Fo Qilao, could Zheng Giugiu remarry just because of that? Could her lies and harm for her selfish desires be erased?
When their family achieves great rit in the future and receives an imperial archway, it would be erected in Fengye Village, letting those who were afraid and drove them away regret it!
"If the world descends into chaos, no one wants to invite trouble. It’s understandable," Bai Yihong sighed and said.
The Bai Family was not angry or resentful, which only made Wan Qilao more furious with Fo Qilao and the few elders who were causing trouble. In the end, the Bai Family comforted him until he cald down and even had lunch together, sharing a few drinks.
After Wan Qilao left, Bai Ruozhu found her brother Zehao, handed him a stack of silver banknotes, and said, "Big Brother, we used to live in the ng Family’s mansion in Beiyu City. This ti, it’s better to buy our own. Even if we don’t live there in the future, we can rent or sell it instead of always troubling the ng Family."
Bai Zehao took the banknotes with a face full of suspicion and asked, "Little Sister, didn’t you say the family assets were all donated to the Imperial Court? Where did you get the silver?"
Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but roll her eyes at her brother, "I can still keep so for personal expenses, can’t I? Besides, these are profits from the business below, though not as much as before. But it’s enough to keep our family from starving."
Bai Zehao scratched his head embarrassingly, "My business below is all struggling, which is really worrying."
"It will get better slowly," Bai Ruozhu said with a smile. Once everything stabilizes and things start thriving, business will definitely experience a boom.
Bai Zehao accepted the banknotes and left for Beiyu City that afternoon to buy a mansion.
In less than two days, Village Chief Wang Shugen ca to their door.
Bai Ruozhu had already given her family a heads-up, so the Bai Family pretended they didn’t know his intentions and received him graciously, offering tea and dimsum, making Wang Shugen feel very embarrassed and at a loss for words.
"Village Chief Grandpa, are you here to persuade my family to move?" Bai Ruozhu took the initiative to speak.
Wang Shugen had just taken a sip of tea and almost choked, coughing a few tis and then saying with an awkward smile, "I don’t think it’s necessary, but quite a few people in the Village ca to my house, saying they are too scared to sleep at night. I have no choice."
Bai Ruozhu smiled and said, "We will move in no more than half a month. Even if King Rui plans to attack, it won’t happen that quickly. Tell the villagers not to worry."
The Village Chief felt even more embarrassed and, unable to sit for long, found an excuse to leave.
As he walked out of the Bai Family’s main gate and glanced back at the high walls and grand courtyard, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of lancholy. Were they avoiding disaster, or driving away a great protector?
The Bai Family appeared indifferent; they had visited the Capital City and the Imperial Palace and didn’t care if they spent their lives nestled in the Mountain Village. Their horizons had broadened, and they could thrive anywhere. As long as the family was harmonious and together, what did it matter where they lived?
The Wan Family, however, was extrely upset. Wan Qilao brought Wan Caiyue’s parents to their door, angrily declaring that the Wan Family planned to relocate too.
"I’ve already sent Minglu to Beiyu City to find a place for us. If the timing is right, we’ll leave with you. We don’t want to stay in a Village like this!" Wan Qilao said, his mustache trembling with anger.
Wan Sushie echoed, "Yes, if such a small matter can drive you away, who knows if they’ll say we’re related by marriage and drive us away too? We might as well leave of our own accord."
Bai Yihong said a bit embarrassed, "We really dragged you into this."
Wan Qilao patted his shoulder, "What are you talking about? Your family is loyal to the country, which is right. It’s those narrow-minded people’s fault."
Wan Caiyue’s father, Wan Pei, also spoke up, "The business you ntioned in your letter before brought us quite a lot of silver. Our family can live in Beiyu City with no problem, and we can send our children to the Study Palace."
"What about your fields?" Bai Yihong asked.
"We’re negotiating with soone to sell them. We don’t plan to return anyway. After a while, we’ll buy so fields near Beiyu City. Our family will farm and do business simultaneously," Wan Qilao said, waving his hand grandly.
Bai Ruozhu nodded in strong agreent. Wan Qilao was indeed a decisive person. Once he decided to leave, there would be no hesitation. Of course, with the Wan Family’s business doing well, Wan Qilao’s decision wasn’t impulsive.
Wan Caiyue stood quietly by the side, but her eyes were full of excitent. Isn’t it great that her maiden family is moving closer?
So the Bai and Wan Families set a ti and decided to leave together, letting the villagers say what they would.
Just at this mont, Bai Ruozhu received a letter from Fang Guizhi.
The letter said she and Wa San were about to board a ship and, with favorable winds, could arrive within a month. But she ntioned she would go to Beiyu City and not return to Mountain Village.
Bai Ruozhu smiled bitterly. Guizhi’s decision was right. Not long ago, Guizhi’s mother had visited a few tis, trying to take advantage of the Bai Family. But since the villagers decided to drive the Bai Family away, Guizhi’s mother avoided her when Bai Ruozhu saw her, not caring about her daughter’s situation anymore.
User Comments
0 comments from readers