Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1533: Chapter 1533: Sharing Hardship but Not Wealth_1

After examination, Bai Ruozhu found that Yu Hongxiu had improved significantly, though the journey had tired her slightly, the symptoms of her postpartum diabetes had greatly lessened.

”The recovery is good, and with further treatment, you should be completely well,” Bai Ruozhu said with a smile to Yu Hongxiu, while Mr. Xie let out a huge sigh of relief beside her.

”Ruozhu, I really can’t thank you enough, otherwise I don’t know what would have become of me,” Yu Hongxiu said as her eyes reddened, and everyone around her began consoling her with a few words. Bai Ruozhu felt it strange in her heart; she knew Yu Hongxiu was a straightforward person, who even when moved wouldn’t react so sentimentally.

Just as she was pondering to ask Yu Hongxiu in private later, a woman dressed as a wife came in.

She looked no more than eighteen or nineteen and carried herself with grace, giving off an air of lotus steps. No one present had seen this woman before, and puzzled expressions appeared on their faces.

”Master, Madam, the gifts have all been arranged,” the woman said with a curtsy to Mr. and Mrs. Xie.

Mr. Xie, seeing everyone looking at Mrs. Cai, hurriedly introduced her: ”This is my concubine, Mrs. Cai, fairly smart and capable, she has helped me manage some miscellaneous affairs before.”

The Bai Family were all stunned; while Mr. Xie did not think much of it, the Bai Family had never had the custom of taking concubines and could not comprehend this at all.

On one hand, the Bai Family came from a peasant background, where it was hard enough to support one wife, let alone consider taking several. And women were not the main labor force, were they?

On the other hand, the Bai Family were all very devoted in their affections, and even when they became wealthy, they were not interested in taking concubines.

Bai Ruozhu narrowed her eyes, her impression of Mr. Xie plummeting to rock bottom in an instant. No wonder Yu Hongxiu felt so sentimental earlier; so this was the underlying issue.

It seemed that Mrs. Cai could not have been brought by Yu Hongxiu; otherwise, Yu Hongxiu would have mentioned her in the letter. That meant she must be a concubine Mr. Xie took in the Capital while Yu Hongxiu was recuperating in her hometown.

There was a brief awkward silence, but it was Bai Yihong who spoke up to lighten the mood, only to receive a displeased glare from Lin Ping’er. Bai Yihong himself was helpless; after all, Mr. Xie was his younger brother’s mentor, and it wouldn’t do to slight him.

Mr. Xie also realized the Bai Family’s displeasure and felt somewhat awkward, but it was Bai Zepei who returned at that moment and took him to the study room to talk, sparing him from the scrutinizing looks of everyone present that resembled court inspectors.

The others wanted to talk to Yu Hongxiu, but seeing Mrs. Cai still lingering there, they became very displeased.

Lin Ping’er signaled to a maid beside her with her eyes, and after the maid went out and came back, she said to Mrs. Cai: ”Mrs. Cai, the servants say there is something they do not know how to use and would like to ask for your guidance.”

Mrs. Cai, realizing that the Bai Family wanted her to leave, sensibly followed the little maid downstairs, appearing rather honest.

But can one truly judge people just by appearances?

Once she was far enough away, Bai Ruozhu quickly took Yu Hongxiu’s hand and asked, ”Sister Hongxiu, what is going on?”

”Indeed, Hongxiu, if you have any grievances, just speak up, we are here to support you!” Lin Ping’er said with concern. With Yu Hongxiu’s family in Jiangnan, the Bai Family was like her own family.

Yu Hongxiu’s eyes reddened as she fought back the tears and said, ”It’s not all Xie Dun’s fault. I’ve been gone from home for so long, and there wasn’t anyone to take care of him. Not long ago, he passed the examination and was appointed an officer position. Since then, every woman by his side has become even less capable, so his superior sent him this woman from the Cai Family. Now she manages everything inside and out of the Xie Residence.”

Lin Ping’er slapped her hand down on the table with a smack, ”How could that be acceptable? How can a concubine take charge of the household? No, you must take back those responsibilities when you return. You can’t let a woman like that become too arrogant!”

”But I have to take care of two children; when will I find the time? Besides, Xie Dun is preoccupied with social engagements now.” Yu Hongxiu said with a sigh, ”Forget it, I’ve lost hope in him. As long as the children are well, that’s enough. Let him be with whomever he wants.”

”That is unacceptable!” Bai Ruozhu said sternly, ”Sister Hongxiu, such a passive attitude won’t solve the problem; it only avoids it. But have you considered this—if you do not fight for your place and wish only to live peacefully with your children, what if someone else takes control of the entire Xie Residence? Sooner or later, they will find you and your children in the way. If you do not take the initiative, how will you be able to protect them?”

Wasn’t that the case with Bai Guanghe? The concubines his parents had brought in for him had risen above the principal wife, a malevolent and scheming woman who had almost killed Jiao Yunyun and her unborn child.

”This, this...” Yu Hongxiu burst into tears, prompting her children to start crying too, even the nurse holding them could not help dabbing at her own tears.

”Sister Hongxiu, taking control does not mean you have to do everything yourself. I’ll lend you a steward to help you. Let him take care of the household affairs while you just hold onto the family authority,” said Bai Ruozhu.

Yu Hongxiu looked gratefully at Bai Ruozhu, ”Ruozhu, how can I ever thank you properly?”

Bai Ruozhu smiled, ”Just take care of yourself and don’t give up too easily. That will be my greatest thanks.”

Once the Xie Family had left, Lin Ping’er said to Bai Zepei, ”I used to think Mr. Xie was a gentleman, but it turns out he is a hypocrite and a villain in truth.”

Bai Zepei’s brow furrowed slightly, probably feeling it was disrespectful to speak that way about his mentor, yet he found it difficult to refute his mother’s words.

Bai Ruozhu, growing exasperated, said, ”Second Brother, let’s be fair—Mr. Xie delayed marriage for his mourning period, and Sister Hongxiu married him at a young age, leaving her hometown to be with him. Are these deep affections so easily outweighed by a gift from his superior after he achieved his rank? Some people stand together in adversity but cannot share prosperity. Mr. Xie is obviously such a person.”

”The teacher really should not have taken that concubine.” Bai Zepei said in a low voice, shaking his head as he spoke.

Seeing Bai Zepei agree with her, Lin Ping’er softened her view on him a bit, but still snorted coldly, ”To give a concubine control of the household affairs and overshadow Hongxiu, the principal wife—doesn’t he fear the censors accusing him of favoring a concubine and neglecting his wife? If he doesn’t return the household authority to Hongxiu within three days after Ruozhu sends a steward over, I will have Yichun report him to the censors!”

Bai Zepei’s mouth twitched slightly; it seemed his mother was about to lump him together with Mr. Xie...

”Mother, you can rest assured on that score. Mr. Xie isn’t so thoughtless,” he said.

”I hope so,” Lin Ping’er said with an indignant expression, continuing her rant throughout the meal. In her anger, she ended up eating an extra bowl of rice, which made Bai Ruozhu shake her head in bemusement at the sight.

The next morning, Bai Ruozhu sent the steward and the guards to the Xie Residence. It wasn’t three days before the authority of the Xie Residence’s stewardship was returned to Yu Hongxiu’s hands. The steward was so efficient with the accounts that within less than a day, he uncovered discrepancies in the Cai woman’s records. Though the amount she embezzled wasn’t large, Mr. Xie still confined her to the residence and began to lose faith in her.

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