Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1652: Chapter 1652: Some are Greedy, Some are Grateful

The woman smiled kindly at Bai Ruozhu, her smile carrying a touch of embarrassment, clearly understanding that she had misunderstood Bai Ruozhu before.

Of course, there were also those who were truly attracted by the aroma, completely ignoring their ailments, and step by step, they moved towards the dishes sent by the Grand Princess.

Bai Ruozhu frowned and said, ”Patients must follow the doctor’s advice. If anyone doesn’t listen to the doctor today and eats things that are not beneficial to their condition, there will be no further treatment from us.”

A man froze where he stood, expressing contempt as he said, ”Isn’t there a saying that a doctor’s heart is like a parent’s? How can you say such a thing?”

”It’s precisely because a doctor’s heart is like a parent’s that I can’t just watch as you worsen your own ailments. Since you don’t listen to our doctor’s advice, we can’t bear the responsibility. If you want to be willful, go find another doctor,” Bai Ruozhu declared loudly.

”How dare you! You’re threatening the injured people here? I, the Grand Princess, promise everyone that even if Bai Ruozhu doesn’t treat you, I will arrange for the Imperial Doctor to treat you, and welcome you to my Residence for good food and comfort!” The Grand Princess really seemed to be at odds with Bai Ruozhu, even going so far as to offer to take these poor people to her own Residence, which was indeed rare.

Bai Ruozhu said nothing. If they could go to her Residence for good food and recovery, it wouldn’t be a bad thing. She couldn’t prevent others from enjoying a blessing, right?

Hearing this, many people were tempted, but for the sake of face, someone wanted to mediate and asked Bai Ruozhu, ”Sir Bai, the Grand Princess has sent so many dishes, we can’t just throw them away, can we? Are there any dishes we can eat?”

Bai Ruozhu smiled and said, ”The Grand Princess’s dishes can be given to those who have suffered misfortune, lost their homes, but are uninjured. Or you could eat non-greasy vegetarian dishes.”

Everyone then looked, only to find one kind of vegetarian dish. The Grand Princess, in order to show that she had sent an abundance of fish and meat, had the chef prepare dishes that were quite meaty.

”Everyone is injured, how can they recover without eating meat?” The Grand Princess turned to the crowd after speaking, ”I’m laying it all out here. If you want to eat, go ahead and eat. If anything happens, I’m responsible. Anyone willing to eat can come back to my Residence with me, and I will arrange a doctor for you, guaranteed to be better than this quack!”

”Sir Bai is not a quack. Grand Princess, how can you say such a thing? We ended up in this plight, lost our homes, who caused it? And Sir Bai came personally to treat us. Many of us owe our lives to Sir Bai!” someone shouted justly.

Bai Ruozhu felt warm inside. Even if the Grand Princess could use interests to tempt the people, there were always those who remembered her goodness and her efforts.

However, there were also those who couldn’t resist the temptation and went over to the Grand Princess’s ”embrace.” Bai Ruozhu didn’t stop them, simply stepped aside quietly.

The Grand Princess was displeased with those words about her, but kept her composure considering her own objectives. Thinking of how Bai Ruozhu had faced a setback at her hands, she felt especially pleased and even gave Bai Ruozhu a triumphant smile.

At this moment, a patient with a serious burn injury also limped towards the dishes, causing Bai Ruozhu to frown.

She had understood this person’s situation before; he was a loafer lingering around brothels for drinks, with no money of his own, cozying up to nobility to join them in the brothels, enjoying the company and some fine wine. On the night of the fire, he was drunk and passed out, so his injuries were quite severe, but he managed to escape with his life.

Injured that severely, yet disregarding dietary restrictions. Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but want to advise, but saw him head straight for the sea cucumber and abalone. The Grand Princess’s men blocked her, saying, ”These are the people’s choices, don’t use your authority to oppress them!”

Bai Ruozhu gritted her teeth and stepped aside. If they didn’t care, she wouldn’t either. She had said everything that needed to be said; if something happened, it would be his own fault!

She’s not a saint; should she beg them too?

At this moment, the little girl’s mother came over, kindly advising, ”Sir Bai, don’t be angry. They don’t understand. Let them face the consequences themselves. We won’t recklessly eat anything without your instruction.”

The little girl nodded along, ”Sister, my eyes feel much better now, no more pain, and I can see clearly. I will definitely listen to you and not recklessly eat. I don’t want to be blind.”

Bai Ruozhu smiled and patted her head, saying, ”That’s great. You must still persist in using medicine to cleanse for seven days, no laziness allowed.”

”Absolutely, I won’t joke with my health,” the little girl said with a sweet smile.

Bai Ruozhu sighed. Even a ten-year-old girl knew not to joke with her health, yet those greedy for food didn’t understand such logic. It was truly sad.

Soon, everyone divided and gobbled up the dishes. The Grand Princess cast a proud glance at Bai Ruozhu, then said to the others, ”Come, follow me back to the Residence. There will be good food and meat every meal. You won’t be treated poorly.”

Those people cheered, while those who chose to listen to Bai Ruozhu showed disdain, scolding the others for being heartless, saying they’d face hardship later.

Unfortunately, those blinded by the benefits couldn’t hear it and followed the Grand Princess away.

Fan Li’s people naturally couldn’t stop them and rushed to report to Fan Li.

Soon, it was time for meals here too, just simple porridge, plain side dishes, and white steamed buns. Compared to the Grand Princess’s dishes, these meals were quite simple, but many people ate with relish, with someone even saying they rarely get to eat white steamed buns, and were satisfied with just two.

”Thank you all for trusting me. I will certainly treat everyone’s illnesses well and let you recover quickly,” Bai Ruozhu earnestly said to those who stayed. She liked and admired those who understood gratitude and contentment.

...

In the residence of Duke of Zheng, the Grand Princess, frowning with distaste, swept a glance over the disaster victims settled in the servant’s quarters and instructed the steward, ”Give them whatever they want, coax them well for me. I’ll need them to speak for me later.”

The steward hurriedly agreed, but soon, someone over there was crying out in pain. He was scratching desperately around his wound, seemingly about to scratch at the wound itself.

”It’s so itchy, I can’t take it anymore, Princess, please find a doctor, hurry!” the person cried out. If Bai Ruozhu were present, she would recognize it was that loafer she wanted to stop.

The Grand Princess hated hearing the clamor of servants, but at this moment, she could only suppress her displeasure and instructed the steward to go to the Palace to summon the Imperial Doctor.

She quickly left the courtyard herself, and later the servants reported that the person kept crying about the itch, had scratched himself to bleeding in multiple places, and even had patches of rash on previously good skin.

”Princess, could it be Bai Ruozhu secretly causing mischief?” the Grand Princess’s personal nanny remarked.