Chapter 101: The Rabbit Moved Out on Him

On the way down the mountain, Madam Zhao walked briskly, the morning air was bitterly cold, and she was afraid Bai Yan would catch a chill.

“Girl, did Jiang Chengyan bully you?” Madam Zhao asked.

Bai Yan only let out a muffled sound and said nothing.

Seeing her hanging her head like a frost-bitten eggplant, Madam Zhao grew a little suspicious. On ordinary days, the little girl was always chattering nonstop, saying she wanted to eat this and that. She had never been this quiet. She must have suffered some grievance.

“He’s a man with a deep mind and plenty of tricks, so you need to sharpen your wits,” Madam Zhao said earnestly. “What you said just now—was that even cursing? If you still can’t learn it, I’ll go home and scold your father for you later, and you can watch and learn.”

Bai Yan whimpered softly on Madam Zhao’s back and whispered, “Mother, can I live at your house from now on?”

She did not want to live with her husband anymore.

When Madam Zhao heard this, her eyes lit up at once, though Bai Yan could not see it.

“Of course it’s good to live at home. I’ve already arranged a room for you, and I’ve even prepared bedding and pillows,” Madam Zhao said, and as she spoke, her feet seemed to be carried by the wind as she hurried home.

When they reached the gate, Bai Yan saw Madam Zhao turn her head and say to her, “Listen carefully. Watch your mother curse him once!”

For a moment, Bai Yan did not even understand what she meant.

In the courtyard, Jiang Father was sitting there tapping away at a pile of wood. He liked carpentry and was thinking of making Bai Yan a reclining chair.

Just as he was dutifully working, a thunderous roar suddenly came crashing over him: “Didn’t I tell you to cook? What are you doing here? Trying to starve me to death?!”

Jiang Father was startled badly by the shout. He looked up abruptly and saw Madam Zhao glaring fiercely at him.

Only, it seemed she had not brought the water back; instead, she had brought the girl home on her back.

Madam Zhao glanced at the mud on Jiang Father’s trouser hems and shoes, and her voice rose even higher. “Wasn’t it only supposed to be a trip up the mountain to fetch water? Did you sneak after me again? Didn’t I tell you not to follow?”

Jiang Father gave a simple, good-natured laugh and did not answer her. Instead, he changed the subject. “The girl’s here. Are you hungry? I made dough-drop soup. Come down and wash your hands before eating.”

Madam Zhao shook her head. “You keep busy. I’ll take her to the east wing.”

With that, Madam Zhao carried Bai Yan in a hurry to the east wing.

The moment the door opened, Bai Yan could not help but exclaim softly.

The somewhat run-down east wing was now bright and cheerful. The kang bed was covered with the bedding she liked, and even the pillow was new. It was a small pillow, but it had two big ears on it, along with an embroidered plump rabbit.

“Mother saw how much you seemed to like rabbits, so she had this made for you. Wait here a moment, I’ll change your clothes too,” Madam Zhao said, feeling at last that things were complete and that she could dress the little girl herself.

The fabric was of excellent quality, and the shoes were set with pearls, all things Bai Yan was used to.

“Mother, where did you get so much money?” Bai Yan knew very well how much these clothes and shoes cost. Just now, her husband had said these things would ruin him completely.

Madam Zhao whispered a few words into her ear.

Was it not all because of that dog-head gold nugget?

“Also, Mother bought you a little bag,” Madam Zhao said as she took out a small satchel.

“All right, I’ll go get busy. Change your clothes and come out to eat. Afterward, Mother will apply medicine for you,” Madam Zhao said with a gentle, maternal smile.

Bai Yan hugged the clothes and rolled once on the quilt before beginning to get herself sorted out.

Perhaps because she had run out early that morning, Bai Yan was a little thirsty. Wearing her new clothes and carrying her little satchel, she rushed into the kitchen. But because there was an injury in her palm, she did not hold the cup steady, and water splashed all over her small bag.

At the sound, Madam Zhao and Jiang Father hurried in.

Jiang Father stared at Bai Yan as she kept trying to wipe at the water-soaked satchel, and suddenly fell silent.