Chapter 242: Chapter 222: Such is Human Nature

"This has to be a rumor, just utter nonsense! Tang Qingshan has always been a man of integrity, not some kind of womanizer. How could he possibly have a daughter? Don’t go spreading baseless gossip, Doctor Jia!"

Bai Qingyue’s tone was chiding, and anyone could hear how protective she was of Tang Qingshan. Yang Liu’er understood this perfectly. In her previous life, she had seen with her own eyes how Bai Qingyue, a master of feigning cold and cruel indifference, was utterly devoted to Tang Yaxuan’s uncle, Tang Qingshan. It was an absolute infatuation. Tang Qingshan could show her the back of his head, and she would still gaze at it lovingly for ages. In her efforts to win over Tang Qingshan, Bai Qingyue all but spoiled Tang Yaxuan to death. Of course, this was also because Tang Yaxuan was crucial to the Bai Family!

A pity, then, that her love was unrequited. The man in question, Tang Qingshan, couldn’t be bothered with Bai Qingyue. Tang Qingshan rarely attended the banquets held by the Bai Family, and even when he did, he would only make a brief appearance before leaving. He only came because Tang Yaxuan begged him in tears. Rumor had it that Uncle Tang strongly disapproved of Tang Yaxuan marrying Bai Junfan. When the couple held their wedding banquet, Uncle Tang was conveniently on a diplomatic trip abroad!

Yang Liu’er pressed her lips together. She hated the Tang Family, but this Uncle Tang was an exception. He was a man of principle and surely disapproved of his own niece abandoning her disabled fiancé to marry into the Bai Family!

’If Uncle Tang knew that in my past life, Tang Yaxuan was indirectly responsible for the death of the Tang family’s only son, Tang Haocheng, he probably would have severed all ties with Tang Yaxuan and the Bai Family!’

Doctor Jia was heard saying, "I’m not spreading rumors. There’s proof! The girl spent the holidays in Beijing last year, even going around with the children of the Gu, Xu, and Zhou families to make New Year’s visits. A child from the Gu family said with his own mouth that she was Tang Qingshan’s daughter. How could that be false? Back then, Mr. Bai’s situation hadn’t been cleared up and the Bai Family was in decline, so of course, they wouldn’t have come to this courtyard. That’s why you didn’t see her."

Bai Qingyue paused for a moment before saying faintly, "If it’s true... and only the girl appeared, with no other woman, it must mean Qingshan had some kind of accident that resulted in this illegitimate daughter... In the past, the Bai, Tang, and Gu families were always on good terms. Although the Bai Family has fallen on hard times these past few years and they didn’t lend a hand, it’s only natural for people to kick you when you’re down. Such is human nature; we can’t blame them! Now that my father has been exonerated, as a member of the younger generation, I should be the one to pay a visit to the Tang family first!"

"Er... Miss Bai, if you’re seeking medical treatment, you can’t say I was the one who revealed this information!"

Bai Qingyue chuckled lightly. "Don’t worry, I know what to say! Tang Qingshan’s daughter, you say? You’ve seen her? What does she look like? If she’s suitable... our Bai Family has two handsome young men who are not yet married, you know!"

Doctor Jia also chuckled. "You know, now that you mention it, she’s a girl of the Tang family, after all. Her disposition and looks are top-notch! And she has marvelous medical skills at such a young age, which makes her even more extraordinary. She’d be a perfect match for a Mr. Bai, no problem at all!"

"..."

Yang Liu’er didn’t want to hear what else the two were saying and quietly slipped away. Another layer of hatred for Bai Qingyue built up in her heart. ’That despicable old demon, so two-faced! In my past life, in front of Brother Jun Fan, she pretended to be gentle and kind. But when Brother Jun Fan wasn’t home, she showed me the face of a tyrannical landlady. She insisted on breaking us up, yet she used tricks to keep me from leaving the Bai Family, enslaving me as a free maid for life... In this life, don’t even think about controlling me again!’

Yang Liu’er ran into Shun Ma in the hallway. Ignoring her nagging, she went back to her room, closed the door, and went to sleep instead of helping Shun Ma with her chores. This infuriated Shun Ma, but there was nothing she could do about it.

The next afternoon, Bai Lihua arrived in Beijing from a farm in the Northeast, travel-worn and with about ten family members in tow. When they returned to the old Bai Family residence, the large, empty courtyard instantly burst into life.

Bai Qingyue stood on the stone steps of the main house’s veranda, watching the group of people walk down the blue-bricked path. Their clothes were of such somber colors and their faces so weathered that they looked like a large, gray cloud drifting toward her. The tall, thin man at the front, standing ramrod straight with dark, sun-tanned skin, was none other than her second older brother, Bai Lihua.

Bai Lihua looked a bit weary, but his spirits were still high. Being covered in dust from his travels did nothing to diminish his extraordinary bearing. His features and expression, which bore a slight resemblance to Old Master Bai, reminded Bai Qingyue of her eldest brother, Bai Lixin, and her eyes reddened slightly. ’Big Brother was the one with the most grace, the most noble and elegant demeanor, and he was the one who doted on me the most! What a shame... he couldn’t live to see this day. He was murdered by those damn killers long ago!’

Two identical-looking young women, around twenty years old, rushed forward, crying "Auntie!" Bai Qingyue smiled and opened her arms, embracing her twin nieces one by one. These were her eldest brother’s daughters. Her eldest brother and sister-in-law had two children: the eldest, Bai Junfan, followed by this pair of lovely sisters, Bai Yifen and Bai Yifang.

Because her eldest brother and sister-in-law had died young, Bai Qingyue was particularly fond of these three siblings. But she was an unmarried woman, and no matter how much she doted on them, she couldn’t raise the three children herself. Besides, back then, the children were in danger because of their parents. So, she entrusted Bai Junfan to Shun Ma, who took him to the Yang family in Pan Kou Village, while publicly claiming he was missing. This was to prevent her brother’s mortal enemies from trying to wipe out the family line. The two girls were handed over to her second brother and sister-in-law, who took them to the poor, frigid north to live on a farm for all these years.

After comforting her nieces, Bai Qingyue smiled and gave her second brother, Bai Lihua, a hug as well. She took his hand and spoke with him as they walked into the house, naturally ignoring the various adults and children trailing behind them. Fortunately, Shun Ma immediately came forward with a beaming smile and greeted them warmly, telling everyone that all the rooms had been cleaned and that their aunt had already assigned a room to each person...

Exhausted from the long train journey, no one had the patience to listen to Shun Ma’s chatter. Upon hearing that the rooms were ready, the Bai children scattered with a WHOOSH, each going to find their room and settle in. Only Luo Chunxiang remained in place, her smile a bit stiff as she exchanged a few pleasantries with Shun Ma.

Unlike in her past life, Yang Liu’er did not go out to greet these people. She had bolted her door and was peeking out from behind the curtain, having lifted a small corner.

In her past life, she had obediently followed behind Shun Ma, only to have her room taken by Bai Yifen without so much as a word. Bai Yifen had even thrown out all her bundles and clothes. And Shun Ma had held her back, not letting her argue with Bai Yifen.

In this life, Bai Yifen still had her eye on this room. She pushed on the door several times from the outside, muttering, "Huh? Why is this one bolted from the inside?"

Yang Liu’er sneered. ’If you’ve got the guts, then break the door down. If I give up my room to you again, I’m a puppy!’

The sisters Bai Yifang and Bai Yifen had grown up on the Northeast Farm and hadn’t learned any real skills. But not long after returning to Beijing and tagging along with Bai Qingyue, they had perfectly copied Bai Qingyue’s haughty, nose-in-the-air attitude. In her past life, Yang Liu’er had suffered a great deal at their hands.

The woman talking to Shun Ma in the courtyard was Luo Chunxiang, Bai Lihua’s second wife. Looking at the healthy and robust woman, Yang Liu’er couldn’t help but sigh softly. ’I fell into the Bai Family’s clutches to suffer and be bullied because I have no parents or brothers to rely on. But this Luo Chunxiang’s parents are still alive, and she has seven or eight siblings. Her family is one of the most prominent in their area of the farm. Yet her fate is just as bitter. In my past life, she came to Beijing with her husband and children, and within just five or six years, she fell ill and wasted away to skin and bones, barely looking human, before finally dying in a hospital.’

With the Bai Family’s standing, and for a man like Bai Lihua, how could they ever worry about finding a wife? Barely a year later, Bai Qingyue was already arranging for Bai Lihua to marry a young, beautiful woman.

Bai Lihua’s first wife had also been a young woman from a respectable Beijing family. She had given birth to three children: Bai Tingting, Bai Miaomiao, and Bai Junjie. The three siblings were now thirteen, eleven, and ten years old, respectively. In the previous life, the head of the Bai Family was Bai Lihua, but the public pillar of the family, the successor, was Bai Junfan. Bai Lihua seemed to listen to Bai Qingyue’s advice, but her favoritism toward Bai Junfan and the sisters Bai Yifen and Bai Yifang provoked dissatisfaction from Bai Tingting and her siblings. When the Bai Family’s power was at its zenith, the household was filled with constant squabbling.

Another two girls and a boy passed by Yang Liu’er’s window. These were Bai Lihua and Luo Chunxiang’s children: Bai Yingying and Bai Lili, who were seven or eight, and Bai Junlin, who was five. Bai Lihua may not have loved Luo Chunxiang, but he doted on Bai Junlin, even taking the boy with him when he was assigned to posts elsewhere.

Through the crack in the curtain, Yang Liu’er silently scrutinized the children. Right now, they were just as rustic and unrefined as she was. But in her past life, they had always put on superior airs in front of her. And she had actually fallen for it. ’How could I have been so stupid!’

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