Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1191: Chapter 1193: Demolishing for Better Health_1

Jiang Xuebin and Dou Ning, these two houses not understanding etiquette was their business, but Jiang Yichun was an officer in the court, and Bai Ruozhu was a fourth-rank official’s wife. There was no need to get annoyed and ignore the proprieties with others; otherwise, it would give the impression that once someone returned to the Jiang Family, they would not be welcomed.

Of course, if they could add to the other party’s troubles, why not enjoy it?

”These are all small gifts, not worth much. Little brother and sisters, please don’t disdain them.” Bai Ruozhu smiled especially sweetly, causing Madame Dou’s face to grow even longer.

Jiang Zhihe, Jiang Yihong, and a group of younger relatives all thanked them. Aside from these two who were genuinely happy, only the younger ones who did not understand anything felt indifferent. The others all felt quite embarrassed, but there was one clever person among them, which was Dou Ning’s eldest daughter, Dou Yun. She took out a handkerchief and said, ”Elder sister-in-law, this is something I embroidered myself, please don’t find Yun’er’s work too crude.”

Yun’er... Bai Ruozhu’s lips twitched. She had made it her business to understand the situation of the Jiang Family early on. This Dou Yun was already nineteen years old this year, even two years older than her. Referring to herself as ”Yun’er” in this way sounded a bit like she was pretending to be young.

It was said that Miss Dou Yun, a relative by marriage residing with the Jiang Family, always claimed to be the granddaughter of Elder Jiang Ge outside the home. She also liked reading poetry and was quite the talented woman. However, she had high standards, and ordinary families did not meet her expectations. Together with Madame Dou hoping her daughter would marry well, Yun’er had reached the age of nineteen without an engagement. But this year, she definitely needed to settle it.

Bai Ruozhu accepted the handkerchief with a smile, ”How could that be, cousin? A handkerchief used by yourself is naturally of good quality.”

Jiang Zhihe snickered on the side. The handkerchief of Dou Yun was actually one she used, hastily given as a gift, which indeed wasn’t very considerate. However, Dou Yun’s expression was very natural, as if she didn’t catch the insinuation in Bai Ruozhu’s words, proving she could keep her composure.

After tucking away the handkerchief, Bai Ruozhu said to Jiang Yichun, ”Husband, let’s take Dengdeng to pay respects to Grandpa.”

Jiang Yichun hummed softly. As he was always cold-faced, giving the impression of aloofness, it didn’t seem out of character for him.

Jiang Xuexiang immediately offered to lead the way, guiding Jiang Yichun’s family to the Thatched Cottage. With Jiang Xuexiang leading the way, the others felt uncomfortable lingering in the Main Hall and simply followed along.

Along the way, Jiang Yichun’s mood was very low, as if he could explode at any moment. Bai Ruozhu covertly tugged at him and whispered, ”Leave the affairs of the inner house to me. I guarantee to smooth things over for you later.”

Jiang Yichun quickly looked at her, saw the slyness in her eyes, and suddenly his mood cleared up. He was actually curious to see what tricks she had up her sleeve. Those who ended up being calculated by her usually didn’t fare well.

The group had not yet entered the Thatched Cottage when they could hear Elder Jiang Ge’s violent coughing from afar, sounding as if he had just lost his temper, making the coughing particularly intense.

Jiang Xuexiang showed a worried expression and said to Jiang Yichun and Bai Ruozhu, ”Father’s illness has been persistent, and it sounds like it has worsened. Ruozhu, you have great medical skills, perhaps you could take a look at Grandpa later?”

Bai Ruozhu nodded obediently, ”Of course, I just worry that Grandpa might refuse treatment. Uncle, you’ll need to speak for me later.”

Jiang Xuexiang thought Bai Ruozhu meant the elder did not like her and would not let her treat him, looking somewhat embarrassed, he nodded.

At the door, Jiang Yichun could not overcome the hurdle in his heart and was reluctant to enter. It was still Bai Ruozhu who, holding Little Dengdeng by one hand and firmly pulling him with the other, led them inside. Madame Dou, seeing Bai Ruozhu pulling Jiang Yichun, flashed a look of displeasure, thinking to herself that Bai Ruozhu, pulling and dragging in public like this, truly lacked manners.

Bai Ruozhu and the others had barely stepped through the door when a teacup was thrown their way, shattering on the floor with a crack not far from the entrance.

”Get out, I don’t need your fake kindness or fake filial piety, all of you just scram!” Elder Jiang Ge bellowed, followed by a violent bout of coughing.

Little Dengdeng, having grown up in a family of mild temperaments, was unaccustomed to aggression; even his father, though stern, had never thrown things at him. So, upon seeing the broken fragments, he suddenly burst into loud wailing.

Normally, the little guy didn’t cry easily, even when he fell down he wouldn’t weep, but when he truly felt mistreated, his cries were fierce. Now, his sobbing drowned out all of Elder Jiang Ge’s coughing.

”What are you doing? How did the child upset you? If you are angry, take it out on us, but why scare such a little kid?” Jiang Yichun exploded, yelling at Elder Jiang Ge, and after finishing, he picked up Little Dengdeng and began to comfort him tenderly.

Elder Jiang Ge, gasping for air in anger, pointed at Jiang Yichun and said, ”What is this attitude? And you, father not comforting his own son, just like your father back in the day, spoiling the child to the heavens—a complete lack of discipline!”

If Bai Ruozhu hadn’t grabbed him and whispered, ”Don’t argue, lest the child gets scared,” Jiang Yichun would have likely cursed Elder Jiang Ge straight to his face.

”Dad, Yichun and the rest have finally come home, and the child is your great-grandson after all. Please don’t scare him with your temper,” Jiang Xuexiang, who truly adored children, said, visibly pained by the sound of Dengdeng crying.

Bai Ruozhu too was infuriated. She had intended to keep a veneer of courtesy, but that old thing had scared her precious son into crying, and she could not let the matter rest.

Therefore, what she said next left everyone present somewhat stunned.

”Yichun, come on now, Grandpa is sick and can’t help being emotionally unstable, but you’re not unwell, what’s the point of quarreling with him? What if it makes his condition worse?” Bai Ruozhu said sternly to Jiang Yichun.

Jiang Yichun was taken aback and opened his mouth to speak, but he quickly realized his wife must have an ulterior motive and cooperatively closed his mouth.

”Grandpa, don’t be angry anymore. When you’re sick, the whole family worries about you. Let me take a look at you and help you recover soon,” Bai Ruozhu said as she approached Elder Jiang Ge.

Elder Jiang Ge hadn’t expected Bai Ruozhu to change her attitude so abruptly and was momentarily confused. Meanwhile, Bai Ruozhu had reached him and started to check his pulse.

”Eh, why is there such a draft in this room?” Bai Ruozhu suddenly spoke up, frowning as she looked around, then withdrawing her hand from checking the pulse and blowing into her palms.

”My goodness, it’s so cold here with the draft. No wonder Grandpa has been suffering from the chills and hasn’t recovered, and with such persistent coughing, it might lead to a chronic illness,” Bai Ruozhu said, and with a wave of her hand, she pointed around the room adding, ”This won’t do, we must renovate this place, or else the drafts will keep coming. How can an elder withstand this in the middle of the night?”

”I don’t need you meddling in my room!” Elder Jiang Ge said loudly.

”How can we not? For the sake of your health, improvements must be made, or else outsiders might say we are unfilial,” she retorted, tapping her foot on the floor and shaking her head, ”Forget it, no need for minor repairs, let’s just tear it down. We need to install floor heating underneath.”