Chapter 132 - 124: Zhenzhu’s Resentment

Chapter 132: Chapter 124: Zhenzhu’s Resentment

Bai Erzhu thought for a moment, then shook his head firmly. "If it were me, with my own land and now some money, I certainly wouldn’t come back to be mistreated."

Ms. Zhang then looked at her son. "Fugui, what about you? If you were in Bai Zhi’s shoes, would you want to come back to the Bai Family?"

Fugui shook his head as well. "Of course I wouldn’t. What would I come back for? For the endless chores, the spoiled leftovers, and the constant beatings and scoldings? Even our room was drafty and leaked when it rained. There’s no way I’d ever want to live that kind of life again."

Ms. Zhang said, "There you have it. If even you two can figure that out, you think someone as sharp as Bai Zhi wouldn’t? She finally managed to separate from the family and has her own land and house now. Would she really come back here to suffer? Not unless she’s a complete fool. It’s absolutely impossible."

Bai Erzhu seemed to grasp what Ms. Zhang was getting at. "So you’re saying we should stay out of this business of making peace?"

Seeing that her husband had finally caught on, Ms. Zhang’s expression softened. She lowered her voice and said, "Of course we’re staying out of it. Whatever they do now, you ignore it. Don’t get involved. Just let them stir up trouble. We’ll see what they can possibly get out of Bai Zhi."

In the past, Bai Erzhu would never have listened to Ms. Zhang. But after suffering one major setback after another, he had finally seen the truth: his mother would always favor the eldest branch. Even if there were any benefits to be had, none would ever fall to his family, the second branch. It was better to just stay home and mind their own business. At least then he wouldn’t have to suffer as he had today.

"Alright, I’ll listen to you," Bai Erzhu agreed.

Ms. Zhang breathed a silent sigh of relief. Her mood brightened, and she said to her husband and son, "You two rest here. Zhenzhu and I will go make dinner."

She walked out of the room and called to Bai Zhenzhu, who was standing in the courtyard, refusing to go inside. "Zhenzhu, what are you standing around for? Get in here and light the stove."

Bai Zhenzhu reluctantly entered the house. The room was a complete mess, the floor littered with debris. Even the table and chairs they used for meals were now just a pile of broken wood tossed in a corner. ’Is this even my home anymore?’

"Mom, how did our home get like this?" Bai Zhenzhu asked, her brows furrowed.

Ms. Zhang pulled Bai Zhenzhu into the kitchen. The kitchen was in no better state than the main room; even the large wok on the stove was smashed...

Ms. Zhang sighed. "Your grandma and your eldest Aunt took silver from a family in Baiyang Village. They planned to marry Bai Zhi off to be a widower’s new wife. They took a deposit of ten taels of silver, but not even a day later, word got out that Bai Zhi is barren. When the family from Baiyang Village heard, they were certain your eldest Aunt and your grandma had committed marriage fraud. They brought a group of people over and wrecked the place. That’s how things got like this."

Bai Zhenzhu had been staying at her maternal uncle’s house for the past few days. She’d heard some rumors, but she never imagined this was the full story.

"So, Bai Zhi didn’t get married?"

Ms. Zhang said, "Of course not. The family from Baiyang Village forced your grandma to return the silver, and they’re the ones who smashed up our house. In a fit of rage, your grandma drove Bai Zhi and Zhao Lan out. She even wrote up a formal notice severing all ties with them in front of the entire village. They aren’t Bai family members anymore."

A look of excitement spread across Bai Zhenzhu’s face. "Well, that’s just perfect! That wretched girl, Bai Zhi, is finally out of my sight for good."

’I know exactly what my own daughter is thinking.’

Bai Zhi had fine features, and her skin was naturally fair, smooth, and delicate. Even if she got a tan, it would quickly fade. Whenever she stood next to Zhenzhu, she always managed to outshine her. This was the root of Zhenzhu’s bitter jealousy.