Chapter 18: The Duality of Human Nature

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Upon reading the comments from netizens, Bai Ruyu scrutinized the young boy who was speaking. His sharp face was due to a long chin, made more prominent by hunger, and his eyes seemed afflicted by some ailment causing them to bulge, giving an exaggerated appearance. Bai Ruyu withdrew her gaze and glanced at the person who had just defended Bai Ruzhu. “You accuse my father, but do you understand the whole story? Or are you only hearing one side from Bai Ruzhu?” Bai Ruzhu and Bai Feijing were absent yesterday, having gone to the county with Bai Xiu’an to shop and wander. They were not fully aware of how Bai Ruyu became ‘normal’ again, nor had they witnessed her combat prowess firsthand. Seeing Bai Ruyu now, calm and composed, Bai Ruzhu’s eyes darkened slightly as she gently wiped away tears with her handkerchief. “Big sister, are you saying my little sister is fabricating accusations against your family? Or that everyone is judging without knowing the facts?” She looked at the crowd with tear-streaked eyes, evoking pity, “Everyone better stop defending my family, lest big sister bear a grudge.” “That won’t do! Er Ya, don’t be afraid, we’ve got your back,” said the hammer-faced youth, standing tall and comforting Bai Ruzhu, who was kneeling on the ground. “Er Ya, we’re not afraid of grudges. Tell us, what really happened?” “Yes, there is still justice in this world!” Seeing the righteous expressions of the crowd, Bai Ruyu couldn’t help but applaud and laugh heartily. “Hahaha, justice? How laughable! Who in this village hasn’t benefited from my grandfather and grandmother?” “It’s said one should repay a drop of kindness with a spring, yet they never sought anything in return! And you all accepted it without question. Now my father has finally come to claim his rightful heritage.” A few faces in the crowd visibly darkened. Bai Ruyu took a deep breath and continued, “Like my grandparents, he is magnanimous and does not quarrel with evildoers, only wanting what is rightfully his! But the wicked persist in bullying. If you turn a blind eye, I can only say that when people leave, even the tea cools.” The hammer-faced youth sneered, “Those old matters, what do they have to do with us?” His words echoed the thoughts of many. These were affairs of the past, decades ago—why bring them up now? Everywhere was plagued by floods or droughts, disasters unending, grain prices soaring. If it weren’t for the small stream behind Wushan Village, many would have fled long ago. “Aren’t they officials in the underworld, rewarded for their good deeds? How can you talk about repaying kindness? Without us, how could they hold such posts?” “Exactly! The droughts worsen here, yet where are their miraculous interventions?” “If they helped now, maybe we would remember their kindness.” [Do not be too naïve: Are there really such shameless people? Without the elders, there would be no them.]

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[Ya Lu Ya Lu: The duality of human nature—there’s no limit to how explosive it can be.]
[Ba Ti Lu Lu: Dear streamer, your acting is good; you remind me of a character from a certain novel.]
...
Most of these outspoken youths were barely in their teens or twenties, accompanied by elders who did not stop them but rather looked approvingly at Bai Xiuming and Bai Ruyu. Yesterday’s events were too bizarre, and they were afraid. But after a night of reflection, they realized that Bai Qingfeng and his wife held official positions in the underworld thanks in no small part to their contributions. Now, the two lived carefree below, while those above were clinging to survival, barely scraping by! This thought infuriated them. Bai Ruyu smiled coldly, “You truly opened my eyes! My grandparents must have been blind before.” The shamelessness of these people was appalling. “Big sister, everyone is just trying to help the village, you…” Bai Ruzhu trembled as if grievously wronged. “What do I care? If you have ideas, go speak to my grandparents yourselves tonight.” Bai Ruyu cast a chilling smile at the crowd. Conventional methods wouldn’t work with these people; she didn’t mind spending a little money to teach them a lesson in decency. If they couldn’t be decent... They could at least be grateful dogs. “Ah, and you,” Bai Ruyu said, looking down at the one still kneeling in a pitiful act, “You came asking about Old Lady Zhang’s whereabouts, but we don’t know. You knelt on the ground, and my father said nothing, yet you kept kowtowing and babbling—what do you expect from me?” “I…” Bai Ruzhu barely opened her mouth before Bai Ruyu cut her off. “Your old lady is perfectly able-bodied, not a fool. Wherever she wants to go is her business, not ours.” “My father, out of gratitude, didn’t report or arrest anyone. Do you think we’re easy to bully? Someone goes missing, and you come looking for us? Who knows if your family is up to some trick, trying to cheat us!”

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Bai Ruyu spoke relentlessly, leaving Bai Ruzhu no chance to reply. “So, it’s Old Lady Zhang who’s missing?” “She came to repay a debt yesterday but didn’t even enter the yard and left at noon.” Bai Ruyu glanced at the two women speaking—they were neighbors, Aunt Ma and Aunt Wang. In her memory, these two often secretly slipped her cornbread and candy and helped take care of her mother. “My grandmother came last night,” Bai Feijing said softly. As soon as he finished, Aunt Ma quickly asked, “What time at night?” Aunt Ma was straightforward and frequently reminded by her in-laws of the hardships their generation endured, how without Bai Qingfeng and his wife’s help, the entire Wushan Village might have frozen to death that harsh winter. They were urged to remember this life-saving kindness for generations to come. “Just... last night.” Bai Feijing wasn’t sure of the exact time, only that it was late and quiet when she came. No decent person would come openly like daylight. Aunt Ma crossed her arms, slightly angry, “We had dinner last night and sat in the yard; how did we not see anyone?” “Yes, my family was outside cooling off all evening until late; we saw no one either,” Aunt Wang said suspiciously, looking at Bai Feijing. “No one came to my place either. Could Old Lady Zhang have come in the dead of night?” “I slept outside last night and heard nothing! Does Zhang have martial arts?” ... Led by Aunt Ma and Aunt Wang, many began to show doubt, loudly questioning. [Miss Puff: The contrast of human nature’s good and evil is clear at this moment.] [Liu’er the Best: So, there are bad people in the world, but also good ones.] [Young Master Has No Money Issues: Dear streamer, are you teaching us to believe in true feelings in this world?]