Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 2824: Chapter 2825: Reunion with Bai Ruomei

Jiang Yichun’s eyes lit up; it seems all men possess a heart for slaying enemies and serving the country.

Bai Ruozhu, on the other hand, despised those Turkic people for slaughtering the city’s civilians, wishing to kill a few more to avenge the innocent lives lost.

"Ruozhu, the battlefield is too dangerous, unlike any other situation. I don’t want you to go to the battlefield," Jiang Yichun suddenly turned to her and said.

Lin Zhenghui hurriedly chimed in, "Yes, yes, Ruozhu, you can’t go. Otherwise, we won’t be able to focus on fighting, constantly worrying about you."

"You’re discriminating against women," Bai Ruozhu said displeased.

"Absolutely not," Jiang Yichun said earnestly. "The battlefield is chaotic, with too many enemies and stray arrows. Your poisons are difficult to take effect immediately and might accidentally harm our own people. Besides, there are still many people watching our rear; you should go back and keep an eye on them. What if the battle drags on, and someone tampers with our supplies?"

Lin Zhenghui also agreed, "Yes, if the provisions are tampered with again, we’ll starve on the battlefield."

"You guys..." Bai Ruozhu was a bit helpless, but after some thought, she agreed.

She wasn’t determined to rush into battle and serve the country, nor did she need to be on the battlefield to prove herself. Whether on the front lines or the rear, people are needed. Her role was to ensure the safety of the rear supplies.

But she was somewhat worried about Jiang Yichun, saying with a hint of grievance, "Make sure you stay safe. Don’t think you’re skilled in martial arts and can control water, the battlefield is ruthless, unlike facing enemies normally. You can’t afford to be careless."

Jiang Yichun nodded with a smile, "Yes, even if not for myself, for you and the child, I won’t be the least bit careless."

At the frontline, the two refrained from being overly affectionate. Bai Ruozhu directed the unloading of provisions and bid farewell to Jiang Yichun and Lin Zhenghui before returning to Liuri City.

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t worried; so along the way, her brows remained furrowed until she entered the city and saw many civilians coming to inquire about the battle, she then perked up.

She shouldn’t be like this; she should trust her man and believe he’ll become a hero on the battlefield, not losing to the flying General Li Guang.

"Sir, how is the frontline? Do the soldiers have enough food?"

"Sir, when will food be sent again? I’ll slaughter two pigs and send them to the troops!"

"Has the fight started? What’s the situation?"

"..."

The civilians asked one after another; they were not afraid of death or the battle reaching Liuri City, but cared about the frontline’s situation and the brave sons on the battlefield.

Bai Ruozhu was somewhat moved, choosing several important questions to answer and soothe everyone’s concerns.

Suddenly, a woman squeezed to the front, excitedly shouting at Bai Ruozhu, "Ruozhu, Ruozhu, it’s me! Your cousin Bai Ruomei!"

Bai Ruozhu was taken aback and looked twice to confirm it was indeed Bai Ruomei. Truly, Bai Ruomei had changed drastically; in just two years, she appeared to have aged ten years, lacking the grandeur she showed when she visited Mountain Village, now looking utterly ramshackle.

"Sister Ruomei, why are you here?" she asked.

But facing Bai Ruomei, she felt little emotion.

On one hand, Bai Ruomei was Bai Yibo’s eldest daughter and wasn’t close with them initially, only reaching out to be friendly after the second brother became the top scorer. Prior to that, she never cared about their second branch.

On the other hand, Bai Ruomei’s husband Lu Ming was lecherous; he had once tried to touch Bai Ruozhu when visiting with Bai Ruomei. Bai Ruozhu wanted to avoid damaging her reputation and secretly punished him, leaving a poor impression of this family.

Bai Ruomei’s eyes turned red, "We’ve been treating Donghai’s illness all these years, that’s why we’re here."

Mentioning Lu Donghai made Bai Ruozhu feel both helpless and sympathetic. Lu Donghai was Bai Ruomei’s only child, the sole heir of the Lu Family for three generations, spoiled beyond reason, sulking and rolling on the ground when displeased, only drinking honey water, and eating dimsum as meals every day.

Thus, Lu Donghai was extremely obese and developed childhood thirst-quenching syndrome. Bai Ruozhu had noticed the issue back then and reminded Bai Ruomei.

After all, children aren’t born spoiled; it’s the adults who indulge them.

"Why haven’t he recovered yet?" Bai Ruozhu frowned. Back then, Lu Donghai was only in the early stages of childhood thirst-quenching syndrome; a doctor from Fushou Hall could have cured him in a few months.

That’s why she didn’t intervene; the Lu Family wasn’t easy to deal with and might not trust her medical skills.

"He was better for a while, but..." Bai Ruomei began crying, wiping tears, smearing dirt onto her face, looking utterly pathetic.

"But his grandparents indulged him, and it relapsed."

Bai Ruozhu shook her head helplessly, "Such relapses make treatment increasingly difficult."

The guards still waited for Bai Ruozhu; she had them push the cart back to the Commerce Association, as she didn’t have a residence yet and couldn’t bring Bai Ruomei there to talk. After some thought, she decided to take Bai Ruomei to a nearby Tea House to chat.

Bai Ruomei saw Bai Ruozhu’s glamour, even the guards obeyed her, her eyes lit up.

"Ruozhu, how are things going for you now?" she asked.

"Haven’t you contacted the old mansion, don’t know our family’s situation?" Bai Ruozhu retorted.

Bai Ruomei’s face flushed slightly, "I’ve been busy seeking treatment for Donghai, and with my husband’s business not doing well, so I haven’t been in touch much."

"Your father cheated in the Imperial Examination and was expelled from the Bai Family sect. Did that affect you in your husband’s family too?" Bai Ruozhu asked directly.

Upon hearing this, Bai Ruomei couldn’t hold back her tears, scaring the Waiter serving tea, who quickly retreated after putting down the tea.

"The Lu Family pursued me back then, counting on Grandpa being a Scholar and my father becoming an officer someday. But who knew my father would commit such an act of fraud. The Lu Family almost divorced me at the time," Bai Ruomei said sorrowfully. "Later, it was Lu Ming pleading, and Donghai’s crying, along with my in-laws worrying about Donghai’s health, that temporarily stopped the thought."

Her expression grew bleak, "But my days became increasingly tough, my in-laws forbidding any contact with my family, treating me like a servant. And your brother-in-law, he even took a concubine."

Bai Ruozhu twitched at the corners of her mouth; rural families typically don’t take concubines. Did Lu Ming think himself a rich merchant? Or had he completely forsaken Bai Ruomei?

No wonder Bai Ruomei looked a decade older; life hadn’t been easy.

"What does my father’s cheating have to do with me? But if I’m divorced, I can’t return to my family either and must endure bitterly, for I can’t bear to leave Donghai," Bai Ruomei continued.

"Have you found a good doctor to treat Donghai’s illness now?" Bai Ruozhu asked.

"We found a famous doctor through the Medical Alliance, but Donghai keeps getting spoiled, and the doctor has scolded them several times; I’m angry but dare not speak up," Bai Ruomei suddenly grasped Bai Ruozhu’s hand. "Ruozhu, you’re doing well now. Can you help me?"