Chapter 256 - 248: Mentioning Splitting the Family Again

Chapter 256: Chapter 248: Mentioning Splitting the Family Again

Bai Dazhu came out from the back with a bitter expression. "Mom, why are we eating wild vegetables again? Can’t you make something else?"

Old Mrs. Bai’s sharp, triangular eyes immediately shot a glare at Bai Dazhu. "If you’re so capable, then you go find something. Let the rest of us have a taste of something new for a change."

Bai Dazhu said, "Mom, it’s not like you don’t have any money. Why do you insist on making this entire family suffer like this? Why don’t you just take out some money to buy grain? Wouldn’t that solve the problem?"

Ms. Zhang and Bai Erzhu also walked out of the house. Ms. Zhang immediately jumped in, supporting Bai Dazhu. "Dazhu is right. It’s not like our family is too poor to afford grain. Why are we eating wild vegetables every single day? Xiao Feng has it good—he gets an egg every day for nourishment. But what about our Fugui and Zhenzhu? Fugui is still a growing boy, and Zhenzhen has been looking so pale lately. If this keeps up, the children’s health will be ruined."

When Liu heard Ms. Zhang mention Xiao Feng by name, she was instantly displeased. "What do you mean by that, Sister-in-law? What’s wrong with Xiao Feng eating an egg? He’s going to be a high-ranking official in the future! If he doesn’t eat eggs for nourishment, how is he supposed to focus on his studies? His brain will grow dull from hunger."

Ms. Zhang’s brow furrowed in anger. "Sister-in-law, if that’s how you want to put it, then fine! Starting next year, Fugui is going to school too. And he’ll eat an egg every day for nourishment, so he doesn’t become an idiot! How is any of this fair? We are all Bai family members, so why is it that only Bai Xiaofeng can go to school and not my Fugui? Why does everything good in this house—the best food, the best things—have to go to Bai Xiaofeng, while my Fugui gets his leftovers?"

Liu sneered and shrieked, "On what grounds? On the grounds that my Xiao Feng is smarter than your Fugui! A boy like your Fugui... even if you sent him to school, do you really think he could learn anything?"

Ms. Zhang looked ready to explode. "I was just talking before," she raged, "but since that’s what you really think, Sister-in-law, then fine! I’ll make my position crystal clear right now. When the school opens next spring, I am sending Fugui! If I can’t, then we split the family! We’ll earn our own money and pay for it ourselves. Why should we work to support the eldest branch’s son when my own son can’t even get a decent meal?!"

The moment Liu heard Ms. Zhang mention splitting the family, she panicked and shot a desperate look at Old Mrs. Bai.

Old Mrs. Bai shot Liu a fierce glare, silently blaming her for her nasty words. It was no wonder Ms. Zhang had flown into a rage. ’Ms. Zhang isn’t Zhao Lan,’ she thought. ’She’s not that easy to bully.’

"That’s enough! Both of you, quiet down!" Old Mrs. Bai said in a cold voice. "I’m not dead yet, but all I ever hear is talk of splitting the family. You’ll all be the death of me!"

Ostensibly, Old Mrs. Bai was trying to make peace, but she was really shooting a warning look at Ms. Zhang. How could Ms. Zhang not understand? ’The sheer nerve!’ Just as she was about to erupt again, Bai Erzhu, who was beside her, quickly interjected, "Let’s not talk about this right now. We should be thinking about how this family is going to survive. The wheat isn’t ready to be harvested, there’s not a single grain of rice left in the house, and we can’t live on wild vegetables forever. In a few days, the weather will turn cold and even the vegetables will be gone. What are we going to do then?"

Bai Dazhu chimed in, "Really, Mom. The whole family is about to starve to death. What’s the point of you hoarding all that money? If we all die of hunger, can you take it with you to the grave?"

’Old Mrs. Bai’s mind was racing. There was indeed some money left in the chest, but that money was being saved for Xiao Feng’s schooling and for buying brushes and ink. If she spent it now, what would she use to pay his tuition next year?’

’But the family’s food situation really did need to be addressed. The wild vegetables would eventually run out. What would they do then?’