In the Bai Family

Mrs. Zhang slammed her hand on the table and glared at Mrs. Liu: “You really make a good calculation. You want my husband and Fugui to join the army so that you can get the money to support your family, right? If you have the guts, I dare you to say that in front of my face.”

Mrs. Liu also stood up and yelled at Mrs. Zhang: “I am doing this for our family to have a good life. Our harvest this time can’t even earn us a penny to buy bread. We can’t earn 20 silver coins. It’s not like they will fight in the front line if they join. They will mix themselves with the army. Our army is strong, there will be no danger. When the army from the capital arrives, they can withdraw themselves at once. After all, the war is not that serious. They won’t waste food for people who really can’t help much, so to say, they will only be gone for one to two months. They will come back after three months at most.”

Mrs. Zhang coldly snorted: “Since that’s how you think, why don’t you let Dabao and Xiofeng join the army? Why do you want my Erzhu and Fugui to join instead?”

Mrs. Liu dryly laughed: “Isn’t Dabao going to get married soon? It’s not good for him to go. Xiaofeng needs to study, so it’s more inappropriate for him to go. I originally want Dazhu to join, but you also know his legs are not in good condition. We can only let someone else join!”

Mrs. Zhang said: “No need, I don’t want them to go. I will go and talk to Village Chief that first brother-in-law and his sons will join the army. Anyway, it’s just to fill in the number of recruits.”

Bai Dazhu shook his head and busily said: “No, no, I can’t go. I am the eldest son of the family. The backbone of this family, so how can I leave? Dabao can’t also go, he is the first grandson. He needs to marry as soon as possible and start a new branch of the family. Xiaofeng can’t also go, he will become a big official in the future. His hand is meant to hold brush not a sword to kill.”

Mrs. Zhang said: “I said one thousand words, you replied with ten thousand words. But in the end, you just want Erzhu and Fugui to go so that you can get the 20 silver coins and enjoy it for yourself. I’m telling you, that is impossible.”

Bai Erzhu was very sad. When his big brother said those words, their old mother didn’t even say a word, she just sat quietly and listened.

They were both her son, so how can she be so eccentric?

His big brother only said those words to save himself. He can understand that people will save themselves first. But the old lady was their mother, how can she be like this?

Bai Erzhu stared at the old lady and asked, “Niang, what do you think?”

Old Lady Bai frowned her eyebrows and squinted her eyes. No one could tell what she was thinking. After a moment of silence, she said: “I think what Dazhu said is reasonable. You and Fugui are the most appropriate people to join.”

Bai Erzhu used to have the idea of separating from the family. He only had this idea, but today, it was particularly strong.

He doesn’t want to stay in this house even for a minute. He wanted to separate as soon as possible.

Bai Erzhu stood up and said with firm eyes: “Today, I formally proposing to separate. Tomorrow we will handle this affair. There is no room for discussion.”

Old Lady Bai looked at her second son in horror. Seeing her son’s face serious, her heart skipped a beat: “I’m not dead yet, what separation? You can’t do it.”

Bai Erzhu shook his head: “Tomorrow, I will ask Village Chief Li to come over and judge fairly. I will tell him I want to separate.” During harvest time, they said Bai Dabao will come to help, but in the end, he didn’t come to help. After a few days, he came to help, but his load of work can’t even compare to Bai Fugui.

 

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