Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 2383: Chapter 2382: Widespread Unease

Bai Ruozhu caught a glimpse of Fang Luo’s expression from the corner of her eye and pondered for a moment, quickly guessing his thoughts.

Fang Luo was also a person, and even if his heart was usually still like water, having left his home, he encountered many more people and events, and naturally couldn’t help but think about himself.

For example, he was nearing thirty but was still a solitary individual.

Bai Ruozhu sighed silently. She wanted to match Fang Luo with someone, but if he couldn’t break free from the curse, introducing anyone would only harm the girl. Moreover, if Fang Luo fell in love, he would only suffer more.

Bai Ruozhu found an excuse, saying she was going to see Gao Zhou, and hurriedly left. She didn’t want Fang Luo to notice her realization.

Before she reached Gao Zhou’s room, she encountered Jiang Yichun coming towards her.

”How is it?” Bai Ruozhu asked.

”My father said that when they met, my mother claimed to be seventeen. A year later, they got married, and another year after, I was born. If my mother hadn’t lied about her age back then, she should have been nineteen when I was born,” Jiang Yichun said.

Bai Ruozhu carefully scrutinized his expression and asked, ”Then why aren’t you excited at all, and seem a bit down?”

”My dad just cried,” Jiang Yichun said and then went silent for a long time.

Bai Ruozhu placed her hand in his palm, gently holding him, giving him warmth and strength, hoping he would feel better.

”Ruozhu...” Jiang Yichun pulled her into an embrace, placing his chin helplessly on her shoulder, softly calling her name.

Bai Ruozhu also stretched out to hug him back, not caring that it was the ship cabin’s hallway or if anyone else would see them. She only knew her man needed comfort now.

”Ruozhu, it’s so good to have you here.” His voice was somewhat muffled, making her heart ache with each word, as he held her even tighter. ”I am certainly fine, but you better keep a close eye. Even Teng Ya and the others want to marry me.”

She deliberately made a joke, trying to lighten his mood.

Sure enough, he chuckled softly, ”What good would it do them to marry you? Can you give them children?”

Bai Ruozhu pinched him, ”You’re so improper!”

With this little interruption, his mood improved significantly and wasn’t as sad.

Bai Ruozhu didn’t ask more questions; she could guess Gao Zhou’s thoughts. Eleven years ago, the woman he missed dearly wasn’t happy on Merfolk Island and was even locked up while trying to help a child. She must have missed him and the child terribly, too, right?

A man unable to protect his wife over twenty years ago, hearing news of her being wronged again while he wasn’t by her side, must feel utterly defeated and powerless.

Bai Ruozhu wasn’t a man, so she thought Gao Zhou must feel even worse than she imagined.

Thus, seeing an older man break down in tears in front of his son was truly heart-wrenching.

”At least there’s something worth celebrating — my mother likely lived past thirty and might still be alive now,” Jiang Yichun said.

”Yes, we’ll definitely find her.” Bai Ruozhu tightened her grip on his arm.

Not far away, Fang Luo passed by, seeing the two of them embracing tightly. Awkwardly, he turned away, but his heart grew even more desolate, having never had anyone he liked, feeling like he had lived in vain.

In the following days, the conjunctivitis on the boat was under control, and no more patients emerged. But Wu Niangzi also caught the disease, and she had to temporarily stay away from Teng Ya and her father. Teng Ya, fearing she might contract it too and pass it on to Bai Ruozhu and others, avoided Bai Ruozhu for three days. Thankfully, after those three days, she showed no symptoms and ran back to Bai Ruozhu to learn medical skills.

Wa Wei’s health improved, and the first thing she requested was to move back. She blushingly said to Bai Ruozhu, ”What will others think of us living together like this?”

”Why care what others think? If you don’t take care of him, it won’t be as convenient for him as in the water. Do you expect someone else to take care of him?” Bai Ruozhu responded.

”I...” Wa Wei hesitated, murmuring softly, ”When I went to get food today, they all seemed very afraid of me.”

”They’re just ordinary people, fearful of Merfolk because of those legends, so they’re also afraid of you. Why care about others’ opinions? Can you bear to see him isolated while the poison isn’t even lifted?” Bai Ruozhu asked.

Wa Wei immediately stopped mentioning her previous concerns. Duannian was too lonely, and she shouldn’t avoid him.

Gao Zhou, feeling down for several days, finally went to find Duannian to ask about Chushuang. But Duannian had only seen Chushuang once when he was exiled. He was previously hidden by his parents and knew little about Chushuang.

”I remember once hearing my parents mention her, saying the Saintess had argued with the chieftain again and might soon be replaced. They also mentioned the little Saintess Ban Ruo, and that’s when I learned of the little girl,” Duannian said.

”Another time, my mother curiously remarked on how the Saintess had once defected and yet remained Saintess. My father glared at her, telling her to mind her own business. Not long after, I was discovered, the chieftain wanted to expel me, and the Saintess stood in front of me, saying an innocent child shouldn’t be treated this way...”

As he spoke, pain flitted across Duannian’s eyes.

”Why were the Merfolk so unkind? It couldn’t simply be because your natural fish tail embarrassed them, could it?” Gao Zhou squinted and asked, ”You probably know the reason, right? Since you’re far gone, what’s there to hide?”

Bai Ruozhu, standing nearby, urgently glanced at Gao Zhou, worried his questions might be too direct and hard for Duannian to bear.

Duannian lowered his head, silent for a long while.

Finally, he sighed deeply and said, ”It’s because a Merfolk chieftain once prophesied that a Merfolk born with a fish tail would lead Merfolk Island to ruin, calling me a born calamity.”

”Does everyone believe it?” Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but ask.

Duannian’s smile was full of irony, ”Apparently, that chieftain was very good at prophecy, with many of his words coming true, and he was highly respected among the Merfolk. Even my parents believed that I was a born calamity, and were worried I’d bring harm to Merfolk Island.”

Bai Ruozhu couldn’t bear to see him like that and said, ”Your parents cared about you; otherwise, they wouldn’t have hidden you for five years. They were just powerless against the chieftain.”

”Perhaps,” Duannian said casually, or maybe he simply didn’t believe Bai Ruozhu’s words.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, followed by Jianqi’s voice.

”Master, someone has gone missing on the boat, and the ship workers are a little unsettled.”

Bai Ruozhu was startled; how could anyone go missing on such a small boat?

She perceived that Jianqi was concealing something, so she greeted Gao Zhou and the others and quickly left the room.