CHAPTER 1330: CHAPTER 1308: SUDDEN ILLNESS

A year’s time had passed, and the accounts from the estate had piled up considerably. Bai Shan spent an entire afternoon organizing them. When he finally looked up, he saw Manbao and Bai Erlang seated at their desks, engrossed in writing.

Curious, he leaned in to take a look. "What are you two writing?"

Bai Erlang didn’t even lift his head. "Biographies. I’m taking advantage of the break from school to write as much as I can."

Bai Shan turned to see what Manbao was working on but realized he couldn’t make sense of most of it. He quickly discerned it was a medical text and decided to leave her to it.

Picking up the ledger from the table, Bai Shan spoke without concern for whether the two were paying attention. "I’ve calculated everything. This year, the estate’s profits will allow each of us to take 286 taels."

Turning to Bai Erlang, Bai Shan asked, "Should I repay the money I owe you now, or wait until your cousin leaves?"

Bai Erlang’s eyes shifted slightly. "No rush—let’s wait until my cousin leaves."

Bai Shan agreed easily.

That evening, Bai Erlang set out to persuade his cousin as promised. After dinner, he pulled Chen Bo aside into a room, where he began his earnest and lengthy spiel.

Chen Bo, who was only a few years older than them, was in the prime of his youth. Seeing Bai Erlang change his tune, he angrily flung his sleeve, preparing to storm off. "If you don’t want to lend me money, just say so! Why make up so many excuses?"

Bai Erlang chased after him and grabbed his arm. "Cousin, it’s not that I don’t want to lend to you—I just think your business plan isn’t reliable. You mentioned opening a fabric shop, but have you secured any suppliers? Have you inquired about the purchase prices at other fabric shops?"

Chen Bo shoved his hand away. "Who taught you to say this? Was it your Senior Brother or Senior Sister? Last night, when I asked to borrow money, you didn’t say any of this!"

Bai Erlang responded, "I didn’t mention it then because I was tired after just returning home, and we didn’t get into the specifics."

Inside, he couldn’t help but think that his cousin, despite being married, seemed even less reliable than Sixth Brother—or perhaps even himself.

Chen Bo, however, remained unconvinced. He had felt a vague unease all afternoon, suspecting that Bai Shan and Zhou Man’s comments at lunch had been pointed. And sure enough, Bai Erlang had gone back on his word.

Disgruntled, Chen Bo shook off Bai Erlang’s hand and strode angrily toward the guest courtyard. Bai Erlang quickly ran after him.

In the neighboring courtyard, Bai Dalang heard the commotion. Leaning against the wall, he stepped out and stood by the door, asking, "What are you arguing about?"

Chen Bo, who was the same age as Bai Dalang but born a few months later, addressed him as "Cousin." "Cousin, you tell me—Erlang promised to lend me money. I even told my mother this afternoon. But now he’s going back on his word, giving me all these excuses about how my business won’t work..."

Bai Erlang, on the other hand, fixed his gaze on his brother’s complexion. "Brother, are you alright? You don’t look well."

Bai Dalang patted his stomach. "Not sure if the food at home wasn’t clean, but I’ve had diarrhea ever since dinner."

Chen Bo grabbed Bai Erlang’s arm again. "Don’t change the subject."

Bai Dalang tried to mediate between them. "Don’t argue. Brothers should talk things over calmly. Isn’t this just about lending money? Cousin, how much do you need? I still have some I can lend."

"Are we really just talking about money?" Bai Erlang retorted. "I’m just worried you’ll lose it all. Lending money isn’t the issue—I’d do it without hesitation. After all, if you can’t repay, Uncle will cover it for you. Brother, your complexion is so pale. How can diarrhea make you look like this?"

Chen Bo heard his words, and though he begrudgingly acknowledged their logic deep down, his feelings were still hurt.

What did he mean by saying his father would repay it?

Was he certain Chen Bo would lose money?

While Chen Bo was gearing up to argue further, Bai Erlang had already lost interest in the debate. He ran forward to support Bai Dalang. "Brother, are you okay?"

Bai Dalang waved him off, insisting he was fine. But suddenly, his stomach growled loudly. His eyes widened, and he immediately shoved Bai Erlang aside, bolting toward the outhouse.

Bai Erlang furrowed his brows. Having grown up with Manbao, he knew a bit about basic medical principles. He’d even learned how to check a pulse from Manbao—not enough to be proficient, no, not even close to proficient, but he could still tell the complexion wasn’t right.

He frowned deeply and turned to run out.

Chen Bo watched the two brothers dash off, confused but instinctively following Bai Erlang. "Where are you running to?"

"I’m going to call Manbao. You check on my brother!"

Chen Bo stopped in his tracks, muttering, "What is there to check? Isn’t it just diarrhea?"

But despite his words, he made his way back into the courtyard.

Bai Erlang quickly ran to Manbao’s house.

By this time, everyone at Manbao’s house had already finished dinner. The front doors were shut, and each household member was preparing to wash up and settle for the night, as dusk had already descended.

Bai Erlang knocked on the door, and Zhou Sanlang came over to open it. "Second Young Master, what brings you here?"

Bai Erlang, familiar with the layout, dashed straight toward the small courtyard, shouting, "I need Manbao to look at a patient—my brother is sick!"

Manbao had already taken off her shoes and was immersed in studying through the system. With Keke’s advance alert, she logged out of the system, slipped her shoes back on, and opened the door. She met Bai Erlang’s anxious gaze and asked, "What’s the matter?"

"My brother is sick."

Manbao began putting on her shoes while fetching her medicine box. "What kind of illness?"

"He said it’s diarrhea, but I don’t think it’s just normal diarrhea—his face is completely pale."

Manbao replied, "His face was pale yesterday too, but then he said it was from motion sickness and a headache. Does he still have a headache now?"

"I don’t know—you should ask him. I just feel like something’s wrong."

Manbao packed the medicine box and set off with him. Junior Ms. Qian hurried over upon hearing what was happening. Seeing Manbao leave so hastily, she immediately brought her cloak over to drape it around her shoulders. "It’s getting dark, and the night wind is chilling. The cold air is heavy—put the cloak on."

She also instructed Zhou Sanlang to escort them. "Make sure you see them safely there."

Bai Erlang and Manbao protested. "It’s just a short walk—how could we get lost?"

Junior Ms. Qian insisted. "You need to cross the river, don’t you? There are more mischievous spirits in the water at night. Your Third Brother is big and strong; he can ward off evil. Hurry up!"

Bai Erlang and Manbao: ...

Zhou Sanlang had already thrown on his coat and, guided by the moonlight, set out with them.

As the night grew darker, the ground became nearly invisible. Bai Erlang, who hadn’t been home for years, had no idea where new potholes had formed along the path. With one misstep, he stumbled into a small pit and nearly fell.

Manbao chided him. "You came here without bringing a lantern? So careless."

Bai Erlang defended himself. "It wasn’t completely dark when I came over. How was I supposed to know it would turn pitch black so quickly? Your family is rolling in wealth but still refuses to buy a few lamps to hang around—so stingy."

Zhou Sanlang shrank his neck against the cold wind, amused by their bickering, and chuckled as he chimed in. As he looked up, he spotted a light approaching from the opposite side of the river. "Someone is coming to meet us."

It was Bai Shan, bringing along Bai Family servants. He nodded at Zhou Sanlang before handing him a lantern to light the way home. Turning to Manbao, he said, "Hurry up—Big Brother just fainted."