Chapter 30: Suffering
In the bitterly cold weather of the ninth lunar month, Bai Zishi could not move, if it weren’t for Bai Shitang’s rescue, he would have been delayed in treating his leg and might have ended up disabled even if he managed to crawl out of the ditch.
If he had a leg disability, he wouldn’t be able to pass the imperial examinations, and naturally wouldn’t have the current prestigious position as a county clerk.
It can be said that Bai Shitang has great kindness towards their family.
Bai Kangyuan gritted his teeth and made up his mind, “Let’s go, I’ll lead you to find Su Mulan.”
“Thank you, Uncle village head…”
Bai Lixia and the other two choked up as they stood up from the ground and followed Bai Kangyuan out.
Several people first walked towards Bai Shitang’s house to see if Su Mulan had returned. Along the way, they encountered many villagers returning home after work or sitting under trees outside their doors, cooling off and having their meals.
“Why is Village head rushing off like this, also leading Lixia and the others?” someone wondered aloud.
“Don’t you know?” someone nearby sneered, “I heard that Su Mulan is planning to sell Shuiliu. Lixia and the others must be desperate, so they went to find Uncle Village head for help. Looks like Village head is leading them to find Su Mulan.”
“Tsk, Su Mulan really has a black heart. But then again, even though she’s a stepmother, she’s still a mother. With Bai’s family master gone, if Su Mulan wants to sell children, the Village head can’t intervene, right? Besides, it’s probably too late to find Su Mulan now. If she’s already sold, can she be retrieved?”
“Before, Bai Shitang saved the Village head’s second son. Now with Shuiliu in trouble, Village head definitely can’t ignore it. Even if Shuiliu can’t be brought back after being sold, there are still three others. He can save whoever he can. Su Mulan, even though she’s a stepmother, is ultimately an outsider. Give her a lesson, she probably won’t dare again.”
“Indeed, that’s the way it is… Ah, these four siblings are truly pitiful, encountering such a stepmother. Bai Shitang is considered a good person. It’s fine if good people don’t live long, but to see his children suffer like this, it’s true… sinful!”
“Let’s not talk about this anymore. Come, let’s go and take a look too. We can lend a hand and speak up for them. After all, we’re all neighbors here, and every life matters.”
Being sold is not a good thing. Those human traffickers talk nicely on the surface, saying they’ll find a good family for the child, but in reality, they are only interested in money. They might sell them off to who knows where, all for the sake of money.
“In the end, we’re all from the same village, and no one can bear to see these four children end up so miserably.”
So, these people stopped their idle chatter, set down their rice bowls, and followed Bai Kangyuan to Bai Shitang’s house together, intending to discuss the matter with Su Mulan.
Seeing this scene, others in the village also joined in, some out of curiosity, others to show support.
When the group arrived at Bai Shitang’s house in a grand procession, Su Mulan had not yet returned.
After thinking for a moment, Bai Kangyuan said, “Let’s wait at the village entrance.”
“If Su Mulan really sells Bai Shuiliu, then we won’t let her back into the village!”
“Let’s go, let’s go…” Those accompanying understood Bai Kangyuan’s intention and headed towards the village entrance.
When they reached the village entrance, in the distance, they could see a figure slowly approaching the village.
“My eyesight isn’t as good as it used to be. Can you see if that’s from the Bai Shitang family?” Bai Kangyuan asked.
Someone shaded their eyes and scrutinized the figure carefully. “Yes, it’s her.”
“From the silhouette, it seems like she’s alone…”