Chapter 12: What’s There to Be Proud Of!

After the meal, Lady Jiang took Bai Ruyu back to her room and personally taught her how to dress. She also tidied Bai Ruyu’s somewhat disheveled hair, styling it into twin buns by her ears.

Lady Jiang nodded with satisfaction and gave her a gentle push. “Alright, go on and play with them.”

Bai Ruyu stumbled slightly, about to speak, but before she could, the three little ones who had been waiting by the door rushed over, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the yard.

They wandered around the village together.

The three innocent little faces were beaming with smiles, boasting to anyone they met about her.

After a short while, Bai Ruyu found herself surrounded by a noisy crowd, their chattering making her feel as if she had stumbled into a hornet’s nest.

“Sister Yu, is your head really better now?”

“Sister Yu, have you truly come back to life?”

“Sister Yu, um, do your grandpa and grandma really act as spirits down below?”

“Sister Yu…”

Veins bulging on her forehead, Bai Ruyu forced a smile. “My head is fine. If you all miss my grandpa and grandma, I’ll tell them at night when I go to sleep to come visit you in your dreams, so you can chat and catch up.”

Before she finished speaking, the chattering suddenly ceased, leaving an eerie silence.

Chatting with the deceased in dreams?

What kind of scene would that be?

The children frantically shook their heads.

“Sister Yu, it’s good that you’re alright! But, well, Auntie didn’t feed the pigs, so I have to go home now!”

“Oh! I took the bamboo strips to wash this morning! My husband is still in the latrine; I need to hurry home and bring them to him.”

“Third Auntie, didn’t you say you would teach me how to sew insoles?”

“Oh right, right! Let’s go now!”

Seeing everyone making excuses to slip away, Bai Ruyu kindly asked from behind, “So, do you still want me to tell Grandpa and Grandma to come find you tonight?”

At her words, the children paused, then quickly shouted, “No need! No need! We can see them when we go down later; there’s no need to trouble them now!”

With that, they vanished like oil on the soles of their feet—gone in a flash!

“Sis, you’re amazing!” Little Ya, her two messy little pigtails bouncing, looked at Bai Ruyu with admiration and a flushed face.

“Oh, I was even pushed out just now,” Ergou sighed, glancing at his rumpled clothes.

Sanwa hopped toward his shoes. “Don’t talk like you’re any better. Look at my shoes—they’ve been stepped on and come off.”

Seeing the three of them looking so disheveled, Bai Ruyu burst out laughing.

Suddenly, she realized—perhaps having younger siblings wasn’t such a bad thing.

Especially with these three little treasures.

“Sis… your smile is really beautiful!” Little Ya exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.

“Don’t I always smile?” Bai Ruyu took her small hand and sat down on a nearby stone stool.

“That’s different!” Ergou quickly joined them. “Before, your smile was silly, but after you woke up, it’s no longer silly! But it still feels strange, like…”

Seeing her brother scratching his head anxiously, Sanwa immediately added, “Like the puppets at Old Li’s place at the village entrance—your smile isn’t truly happy.”

Then, a little scared, he asked, “Sis, do you not like us or Mom and Dad?”

Bai Ruyu was startled by the question.

It is often said that children are sensitive and can tell when emotions are genuine.

It seemed to be true.

“I don’t dislike you or Mom and Dad, it’s just… I’m not sure how to express it.”

After only two days, Bai Ruyu still didn’t know what she felt for this family, only that it felt warm.

She didn’t hate them; she wasn’t sure if this feeling was left behind by her original self or was her own.

Little Ya hugged Bai Ruyu sideways and smiled broadly. “It’s okay, Sis. If you can’t express it, we will.”

Not to be outdone, Ergou hugged her too. “And me as well. No matter what, you’re still my very best sister.”

Sanwa, realizing he was left out, knelt and laid his head on her lap. “Sis, you should still be yourself, just as before. Don’t hold back. I’ll protect you.”

It’s said that children of poor families grow up quickly. Having a sister like her, living under such a ruthless family, these three must have worried a lot.

Seeing their thin bodies and pale, gaunt faces, Bai Ruyu couldn’t help but feel a pang in her nose.

“Enough! Whether I’m the sister or you are, no need to worry about me.”

Seeing her pretend to be stern, the three little ones covered their mouths to hide their smiles.

Little Ya asked with hopeful eyes, “Sis, can you help me fix my hair?”

“Sure, let me see what I can do.”

Without hesitation, Bai Ruyu agreed. After Little Ya happily sat down, she began to study how to style her hair.

Due to long-term malnutrition, Little Ya’s hair was dry and sparse like straw.

Removing the two strips of cloth that had been used to tie her hair, Bai Ruyu pondered for a moment.

She then mixed the cloth strips into the hair, braiding them into two small twisted braids, and tied two double bow knots at the ends near her ears.

“Wow! Sis, you’re amazing! I love it so much; it looks really beautiful!” Little Ya spun around happily, delighted by the bows on both sides of her hair.

After two twirls, she grabbed Bai Ruyu’s hand, her face flushed. “Let’s hurry back and show Mom!”

The two dashed ahead, while Ergou and Sanwa exchanged helpless glances and followed behind.

Fortunately, Little Ya’s legs were short, so she couldn’t run fast.

Otherwise, it would have been hard for them to keep up.

“Four little bastards, what’s there to be proud of!” A teenage girl standing not far away glared at the four running away, her eyes sharp as poison.

Beside her, a chubby boy wore an equally sullen expression.

“Don’t rush, Zhu’er. Grandma went to the Feng family to get the money today. Someone will deal with them tonight.”

Thinking of the grandfather who cared for her most, and her father who was still bedridden, and their forced move into a dilapidated wooden house—

Their food had worsened today too!

Bai Feijing was so furious his teeth ached. Having lived together since childhood, this family could turn their backs so easily!

No shred of affection!

That foolish little bitch being sold to the Feng family for a ghost marriage was no surprise.

If they dared to fight back tonight, even if they were all beaten to death, it would be deserved; no one would know, and they could move back, reclaiming their belongings.

“Brother, do you think the Feng family will make a move tonight?” Bai Yuzhu wrung her handkerchief anxiously.

“Don’t worry. Old Master Feng loves his son dearly. His son is to be buried the day after tomorrow, with the coffin sealed tomorrow. He will definitely act tonight.”

A cold smile curved Bai Feijing’s lips, a shadow flickering in his eyes.

Satisfied with the answer, Bai Yuzhu smiled softly. “Brother, let’s go back first. We must rest well tonight; tomorrow we might be busy moving again.”

The two exchanged a smile and turned to leave.

Elsewhere, Lady Jiang, smiling warmly as she stood beside her youngest daughter, praised her eldest daughter repeatedly.

“Sister Yu, how are your hands so skillful? You tied your hair so beautifully! Did a village aunt teach you today?”

Bai Ruyu was stunned, about to speak.

“This style looks like I’ve never seen it before. Which aunt came up with this? I should learn it too and tie yours tomorrow.”

Lady Jiang’s eyes sparkled with interest.

Hearing this, Bai Ruyu’s eyes shifted, and her expression suddenly grew serious.