Chapter 2897 - 2898: Adopting a Child

Chapter 2897: Chapter 2898: Adopting a Child

"I..." Luo Family hesitated, "I don’t look too good today, can I rest a bit and we’ll go tomorrow?"

This was a sign of a change in attitude. Bai Ruozhu, seeing that at least she was willing to go out, couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"I’ll come pick you up tomorrow then." She smiled at Luo Family, giving her an encouraging look.

"Oh, okay." Luo Family agreed.

After that, Bai Ruozhu and Ao Song took their leave, and Bai Ruozhu called the dark guard to take two wooden figures back.

"Why didn’t you just bring your mother-in-law over?" Ao Song asked.

"If she sees my mother-in-law, won’t she have no reason to go out?" Bai Ruozhu said.

"Meeting relatives shouldn’t that make her even more reluctant to part and want to leave with you?" Ao Song asked, puzzled.

Bai Ruozhu laughed, "Ah, you’re too young to understand these things. Although my aunt and my mother-in-law are relatives, they’ve never met, so how deep could their feelings be? Not having met makes you want to see each other, but after meeting, it’s not to the extent that you can’t bear to part. And my aunt has lived like this for twenty years, she’s used to it. The most fearful thing for people is getting used to something and not wanting to change."

"So by your logic, even if she goes out to see your mother-in-law, she’ll come back," Ao Song said, unconvinced.

"So we need to think of other methods." Bai Ruozhu pondered, not having figured it out herself yet.

As they left the area, Ao Song said to Bai Ruozhu, "Actually, she’s right for not reviving those wooden figures, after all, they’re made through demon techniques, living with people for a long time isn’t good for their health."

"Actually, she understood it at the beginning, substitutes aren’t real after all. Being with fake ones every day is a desecration to the deceased. She’s just reluctant because she’s been lonely for so long." Bai Ruozhu remembered when Aluo pretended to be Fang Qing, and felt a great discomfort in her heart.

Ao Song suddenly slapped her head, "I got it, she’s too lonely on her own. Even if you are her relatives, you all have your families, and she’s still alone, so why not adopt a child for her?"

"Great idea!" Bai Ruozhu gave her a thumbs up, "Smart, little girl."

"What do you mean little girl, I’m not much younger than you," Ao Song complained discontentedly.

Bai Ruozhu laughed heartily, "Alright, big girl, let’s go."

"What do you mean big girl, like a maid, I don’t want that." Ao Song complained coquettishly, catching up with Bai Ruozhu, and asked, "Where to?"

"Aren’t we going to adopt a child? Let’s see which orphan in the city would be suitable." Bai Ruozhu thought that for Luo Family to be fond of the child, it must have some connection with her, or maybe it looks like Fang Qing or Aluo.

So she decided to look herself, maybe she could meet a child linked to Luo Family.

They inquired around, and heard that there was a dilapidated Yard in City West, which used to be the mansion of a big family. But the mansion became haunted, and the family’s business went down, so they returned to their hometown, abandoning the Yard where some beggars now stay at night.

Near the mansion, you could see scattered beggars and drunkards, but not many children.

"Sir, how come you’re in a place like this?" an elderly beggar approached and asked, grinning and revealing a mouth full of yellow teeth, with a terrible smell emanating.

Ao Song wrinkled her nose and stepped back, fanning away the air in distaste, hiding behind Bai Ruozhu.

Bai Ruozhu gave him a few copper coins and asked, "Are there many little beggars in our city? Any who are honest and simple?"

"Madam, are you looking for a servant?" The old beggar happily pocketed the copper coins, "I know quite a few, Madam can just choose."

"Thank you." Bai Ruozhu smiled at him.

The old beggar was taken aback, it had been a long time since anyone smiled at him like that. Even his little grandson always wore a sullen face, not appreciating who had raised him to that age.

"This way, Madam, the little beggars like to play and always run around, they usually beg near the City Gate." The old beggar led the way, and Bai Ruozhu and Ao Song entered the Yard, seeing a small shabby room with some straw on the floor and a few broken bowls tossed aside.

"They all live in this Room, guess someone will be back soon."

The sky darkened, and sure enough, footsteps were heard outside as some children returned.

It was a child of about ten years old, with bruises on his face and torn clothes.

"Goudan, what happened to you?" the old beggar asked.

The child replied impatiently, "Can’t you see I was beaten? Get away, I didn’t get any money today, what can you steal?"

The old beggar quickly glanced at Bai Ruozhu, forcing a couple of awkward laughs. The child looked puzzled, raised his head and saw Bai Ruozhu and Ao Song.

Bai Ruozhu frowned, took out some medicine, "Who beat you?"

She said as she dipped the medicine onto a cloth, tending to Goudan’s wounds. Goudan flinched in fear but was held in place by Bai Ruozhu.

"When you’re hurt, listen to the doctor, don’t move." Bai Ruozhu’s tone turned a bit stern, and Goudan truly became nervous and stayed still, allowing her to apply the medicine.

"People on the street." Goudan’s voice dropped a bit, and he dared not to speak loudly in front of such a beautiful lady.

"Why did they hit you?" Ao Song asked angrily, "How can they hit a child?"

Goudan said shamefully, "It’s not entirely their fault, when we beg and no one gives, we pester them. They get annoyed and give, or they beat us and give us a few coins afterward."

Bai Ruozhu thought of those who control the little beggars behind the scenes and quickly asked, "Is anyone forcing you to do this?"

Goudan shook his head hurriedly, which hurt his wound, "No, my mother is sick, without begging how can I buy her medicine?"

"Where is your mother?" Bai Ruozhu asked hurriedly, "I’m a doctor, I can take a look at her."

"Really? Madam, you’re truly a good person." Goudan said happily.

At this moment, more children returned. Seeing Bai Ruozhu and Ao Song, they became a bit nervous, standing at a distance quietly observing them.

Bai Ruozhu thought for a moment, reached into her sleeve and took out some candies, handing them to Goudan, "Share them with your friends."

She had intended to take out some dried food, but pulling out a pile at once would surely raise suspicions.

The old beggar came over and snatched the candies, "I’ll distribute them, so you don’t steal and eat them yourself."

"You..." Goudan glared at him but seemed helpless against him.

More children came back, and the old beggar suddenly saw one and shouted, "Xiaoyu, come over here for some candy!"

This name drew attention, many children looked toward the one called "Xiaoyu", but their eyes were filled with exclusion and disdain. Bai Ruozhu noticed this, finding it strange. Could Xiaoyu be the old beggar’s grandson? Perhaps the old beggar’s habit of stealing and bullying little children made the others dislike Xiaoyu?