CHAPTER 81: CHAPTER 81: A MAJOR SHIFT IN ATTITUDE

At home, Wang Cuihua spent her days crying and had barely eaten since Bai Ruxue took Xiao Feng away.

When Bai Daliang returned to tell her that the eldest daughter had taken the youngest son to Chenxi County, Wang Cuihua became even more worried. Going to Chenxi County definitely meant something was wrong; otherwise, why not get treated right in town?

On the morning of the second day of the New Year, shortly after Bai Daliang returned home, one of his sisters and two younger sisters were sent over by Grandma Bai, supposedly to visit the sister-in-law who was in postpartum recovery.

In fact, it was because Grandma Bai had told them about Zhang Yuan’s situation and the sewing machine and bicycle, so they couldn’t resist and hurried over.

As soon as the three entered the house, they called her sister-in-law and were exceedingly polite.

"Sister-in-law! You’re really lucky, giving birth to a pair of twins again!" Bai Dajuan, Bai Daliang’s eldest sister, smiled broadly, kicked off her shoes, climbed onto the bed, and warmly took Wang Cuihua’s hand.

In the past, they had treated her with disdain and indifference, but now they were fawning over her as if she were a dear one.

"Indeed! Sister-in-law is such a great contributor to the Bai family! Twins over here, twins over there, and now a pair of dragon and phoenix twins again! Sister-in-law, let me see the two children!" Bai Damei, the oldest younger sister, laughed along and got onto the bed.

Xiao Feng had been taken to the hospital early in the morning, so they were unaware of the incident involving Xiao Feng.

Meanwhile, Bai Daliang’s youngest sister, Bai Xiaomei, had brought two cans of preserved fruits to the family, quietly put them down after entering, and sat aside. She had been married for two years and had only one son who was just a year old.

"Elder sister, second sister, third sister..." Wang Cuihua greeted them one by one.

After the greetings, she picked up her awakened daughter Xiao Cai and started breastfeeding.

The three sisters then noticed something wasn’t right. Bai Dajuan and Bai Damei exchanged a look, communicating silently, and finally, Bai Dajuan asked the question.

"Sister-in-law, aren’t they twins? Where’s the other child?" She asked cautiously, afraid of upsetting her sister-in-law.

She had to curry favor with this sister-in-law now.

"Yes, sister-in-law, where is the other child?" Bai Xiaomei, being straightforward, saw only one child and asked with a note of concern.

At that time, it was common for children to die young, and with two children, it was inevitable that care might be insufficient or malnutrition might lead to problems.

Just at that moment, Bai Ruxia brought in three cups of plain water.

"Aunt, second aunt, third aunt, have some water!"

Before leaving, the eldest had told them that if these three aunts were to visit this year, they should treat them cautiously.

Bai Ruxia was perceptive, so despite having tea leaves, brown sugar, and white sugar at home, she only poured plain water for the three.

She feared that if the three aunts knew there were good things at home, they might want to take them away.

"Hey, is this Xiao Yun? So thoughtful! Sweet!" Eldest aunt Bai Dajuan accepted the cup with a benevolent facade.

Bai Ruxia didn’t bother to correct her, regardless of whether they recognized her or not. She and a few of her siblings had never had much contact with the aunts. In previous years, they seldom visited during the second day of the New Year.

If they did visit, it was only because they hoped to get something good from the household.

Thus, the siblings didn’t have a good impression of the aunts and were not inclined to interact with them.

Bai Ruxia brought plain water promptly as the aunts were asking about the younger brother. Their mother couldn’t bear to hear about the brother, as any mention would lead to prolonged crying.

"Sister-in-law, the kids at home are really adorable!" Bai Damei chimed in with praise, "By the way, where’s the eldest? Where’s Xiao Xue? I heard she got engaged to an educated youth and went to her in-laws’ place?"

They weren’t very concerned about the two infants and quickly forgot them, instead mentioning Bai Ruxue.

"Xiao Xue took Xiao Feng to the hospital!" In the end, Bai Daliang had no choice but to respond to the question.

"Xiao Feng?" Bai Damei asked in confusion, "Is he our son-in-law’s name?"

They couldn’t even remember the names of their brother’s children, let alone someone who had just been born and not yet a month old.

"Xiao Feng is my youngest son!" Under the gaze of his wife and children, Bai Daliang felt a bit embarrassed and replied stiffly.

"Did Xiao Xue go alone?"

"What happened to the child? What kind of illness?" Bai Dajuan and Bai Xiaomei asked in unison.

Bai Dajuan was only concerned about her niece who had become a fortunate match, while Bai Xiaomei asked about Xiao Feng’s condition.

"The child has pneumonia..." Wang Cuihua answered her sister-in-law’s question with tears in her eyes.

Bai Dajuan’s question was ignored, and she was visibly unhappy, awkwardly falling silent.

"It’s the New Year, how could you let Xiao Xue take the child to the hospital alone? You all are truly inconsiderate parents, being so biased!" Bai Damei thought, an infant with pneumonia that young was surely dying, and the elder brother and sister-in-law let such an esteemed daughter take a child doomed to die to the hospital, which was just wasting money.

"Second sister..." Bai Xiaomei tugged at Bai Damei’s sleeve to signal her to stop talking.

"Why are you pulling me?" Bai Damei, a bit disgruntled, turned her gaze to the sewing machine glinting brightly.

The room became awkward because talkative Bai Damei was eyeing the sewing machine with drooling desire.

Bai Dajuan was unhappy because Wang Cuihua had ignored her earlier.

She felt the sister-in-law was a bit ungrateful, having come personally, showing her a good face, yet the sister-in-law did not reciprocate, not even getting down or cooking.

Bai Xiaomei, who wasn’t very talkative, also noticed Wang Cuihua’s full worried expression and didn’t know what to say.

The children were either sitting or standing on the north bed, and Bai Ruchuan even took a seat on the stool beside the sewing machine, watchful.

Bai Daliang broke the silence, "Xiao Yun, Xiao Xia... uh, you two go make some food... the three aunts are here..."

His words were uncertain, hesitating.

"Dad... there’s not much grain left at home; the relief food was distributed, but we haven’t milled it yet." Bai Ruxia spoke up, looking at Bai Daliang with an indecipherable expression.

Being familiar with his daughter, Bai Daliang discerned that his daughter was blaming him!

"Ehh, second aunt heard from your third aunt that you all ate meat dumplings on New Year’s Day! Why is there now no grain left?" Bai Damei made a sarcastic remark.

"Didn’t second aunt say it was on New Year’s Day? Who nowadays eats a meal of meat dumplings and has leftovers? Besides, what was left was eaten by third aunt! She even licked the plate clean!" Bai Ruxia retorted defiantly.

"Xiao Xia..." Bai Daliang called softly!

"Alright, dad, I’ll go cook!" Bai Ruxia tugged her elder sister Bai Ruyun and walked out.

The younger brothers followed suit, unwilling to engage in futile chatter with the three aunts.

"Third sister, are you really going to cook?" Bai Ruchuan asked unhappily.

"Cook! You two go light the fire! I’ll make a pot of cornmeal mush! Second sister! You go slice a plate of pickles!" Bai Ruxia instructed, walking to the cabinet, pulling out half a pound of cornmeal, pouring it into the pot, and adding a large pot of water, stirring.

Seeing this, Bai Ruchuan cheerfully went to prepare the firewood.

Bai Ruyun obediently went to slice pickles, while Bai Rushan raised a thumb, admiringly looking at his third sister.

Little did he know that they were taught by their eldest sister, Bai Ruxue.