Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1638: Chapter 1638: A Narrow Encounter Without Softening the Heart

Bai Ruozhu left Lin Zhenghui’s residence and took a horse carriage home. She absentmindedly pulled up the curtain to look outside, only to unexpectedly see Du Zhongshu.

Du Zhongshu was riding a tall horse, much like when he used to ride to the Bai Family in Mountain Village to help, pretending to be a friend of Chang Sheng and solving crises for her.

Recalling those past events, Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but lower the curtain and let out a slight sigh.

She didn’t want to become enemies with Du Zhongshu. She was grateful for the help he had given her, especially during those difficult times when the rumors had people in the Village pointing fingers at her.

Perhaps due to interests or human greed, in the end, she and the Du Family stood on opposing sides. The old man of the Du Family, insatiable in his greed, tried to harm her. She merely countered each move, ultimately safeguarding her security and interests, while Du Zhongshu developed hatred towards her as a result.

She even thought that maybe Du Zhongshu wasn’t the type to be unclear about right and wrong, but regardless, his two closest relatives died because of her. Even if he understood reason, he could not completely avoid resenting her.

Du Zhongshu’s mother was sent back to her maiden family after hiring an assassin to kill Bai Ruozhu, and she later took her own life in despair.

Du Zhongshu’s grandfather coveted Bai Ruozhu’s formulas, bribed people in the Commerce Association to secretly alter their cooperation contract, but was exposed by Bai Ruozhu and was punished, eventually dying unable to stand the shame.

But can Bai Ruozhu really be blamed for this?

However, Bai Ruozhu quickly became resolute. She could be soft-hearted, but thinking of Ruolan back home, she could no longer be soft-hearted towards Du Zhongshu. Du Zhongshu used Ruolan’s illness to spread rumors and attack her, harming an innocent sick person. She could no longer be tolerant of him.

”Whoa...” The coachman called the horse carriage to a stop. ”Who are you, sir?”

”I am Du Zhongshu. Is Ruozhu inside?” Du Zhongshu’s voice sounded, warm as jade, more composed than his formerly somewhat impatient tone, it now seemed extraordinary just by listening to it.

Bai Ruozhu’s eyes darkened. Du Zhongshu probably didn’t see her, he only recognized her carriage. But how dare he stop her? Does he want to reminisce?

She found it ironic and said, ”It is indeed this officer. What business does Mr. Du have?”

She typically did not like to put on airs, but she didn’t want to hear Du Zhongshu call her ”Ruozhu” anymore. Her friends could call her that, but who was Du Zhongshu to her?

”It seems Lord Bai has quickly risen to power. Old friends have become distant.” Du Zhongshu’s tone did not sound sarcastic, still gentle and polite.

Bai Ruozhu lifted the carriage curtain and got down, sneering, ”Old friends have been maligned by you. How can there be no distance?”

Du Zhongshu’s expression did not change, ”What slander? You must be mistaken.”

Bai Ruozhu had slowly become accustomed to his change. This man had turned from a somewhat lazy heir into a scheming, duplicitous villain. Could she expect him to admit to anything like he used to, speaking frankly from the heart?

She smiled slightly, ”Whether it’s a misunderstanding or not, Mr. Du knows in his heart. Ruolan is a pitiful person. Originally, I thought those who knew her hoped for her early recovery. Yet, some people have used and slandered an innocent, pitiful person for revenge. People can be terrifying in their change.”

After saying that, she didn’t care for Du Zhongshu’s reaction, turned back to the carriage, and told the coachman, ”Go around, I have nothing to say to Mr. Du.”

Du Zhongshu lowered his head. Bai Ruozhu couldn’t see his expression and didn’t know what he was thinking, but he sensibly stepped aside.

”I forgot to mention, stop troubling my aunt, show mercy whenever possible.” Du Zhongshu’s voice softly reached Bai Ruozhu’s ears.

Bai Ruozhu snorted dismissively and did not respond.

As the carriage moved away, Du Zhongshu remained standing there, watching the shrinking carriage, a hint of loneliness in his eyes, quickly replaced by that apparently harmless warmth.

At dinner, Bai Ruozhu’s family talked about Du Zhongshu’s matters. Bai Zehao’s face darkened, ”That kid has become so bad, utterly blinded by hatred.”

”He wasn’t anything good to start with, lacking determination and principles.” Bai Zepei coldly interjected.

Lin Ping’er, there, was still somewhat sentimental. She once thought Du Zhongshu might like her daughter. Maybe her daughter could remarry to him? She never expected such a day to come.

She used to like that young man a lot. Now she felt a bit of discomfort.

”Because there are still people secretly helping him, I need to investigate this further.” Bai Ruozhu was deliberately ”stirring the grass to scare the snake,” to pinpoint anything or anyone hidden deep who was assisting him.

Bai Zehao nodded, ”Alright, if Little Sister figures it out, if we know who they are, we’ll deal with them both in business and bureaucracy, make them reap what they sow. They shouldn’t have spoken about Ruolan like that, it’s too vicious.”

The family agreed that the opposing side must receive a harsh lesson, no matter what.

A couple of days later came the date for the Medical Alliance’s free clinic, yet surprisingly fewer people came than usual.

”Truly, fear of public opinion, the people must have believed such rumors.” Bai Ruozhu commented with a sigh.

Jiu Sheng consoled her by the side, ”Master, don’t overthink it. Perhaps it’s too cold, and people don’t want to go out.”

Bai Ruozhu nodded, ”It’s nothing, time will reveal the truth.”

Moreover, she was ready to counterattack.

The night before, Jiang Yichun found out that it wasn’t Liu Xiyu’s natal family or the Yang Family aiding Du Zhongshu, but rather Wang Miaoshuang’s family, the Wang Family.

The Wang Family had always blamed Bai Ruozhu for Wang Miaoshuang’s death, and coupled with the conflicts Wang Tianyou and Wang Tianzuo had with Bai Ruozhu, the Wang Family, afraid of the rising power of the Bai Family, hoped to use this incident to prevent the Bai Family from establishing itself in the Capital and the court. Even if they couldn’t drive them out of the Capital City, they hoped to severely weaken the Bai Family.

Unfortunately, Bai Ruozhu didn’t think she couldn’t handle the situation.

She had already directed her subordinates to intercept the Wang Family’s business. Cutting off their income would make it difficult for their large household, with so many mouths to feed, to live comfortably.

She also explained this to her second brother last night, and he had decided on steps on the court side, saying he would handle it with Jiang Yichun, so Bai Ruozhu needn’t worry.

Bai Ruozhu didn’t ask further, but that morning she heard that during the morning assembly, a censor submitted a memorial, criticizing that during the Empress’s great mourning, an aristocrat’s residence held a wedding banquet for three days, and the festivities were quite contrary to paying respects to the late Empress.

It turned out that the birth of Wang Tianzuo’s son a few days ago, who was Wang Tianyou’s first great-grandson, made him extremely happy, and he secretly held a banquet in his residence to celebrate.