Chapter 29: Who’s Really in Town?

Juanjuan scampered out of the house on her short little legs.

“Mommy!”

Jiang Dai put down the basket she was holding and stood in the sunlight, a sweet potato in her hand, making sure her little daughter could see that this time, she really had found a sweet potato.

“Come here, Juanjuan, let Mommy give you a hug!”

Jiang Dai opened her arms wide and swept the hesitant little girl into her embrace.

As she did, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly:

【Little girls really are the best! So well-behaved!】

【How could her original family not treat Juanjuan well?】

【Such a sweet child, yet so neglected! No love from her father, no care from her mother!】

Jiang Dai didn’t have the original host’s memories, but after two trips to dig for sweet potatoes and listening to the village gossip, she had a rough understanding of the Bai Family’s situation.

She couldn’t believe how dysfunctional the original host’s family was.

Holding Juanjuan, Jiang Dai gently patted the child’s back, lowering her voice to make it as soothing and comforting as possible.

“Mommy’s back.”

“From now on, Mommy will take good care of Juanjuan. No one will bully our Juanjuan anymore!”

“If anyone dares to, Mommy will teach them a lesson! Even your dad and brothers!”

Juanjuan lay on her mother’s shoulder, her tense little body gradually relaxing.

But for some reason, she couldn’t stop herself from wanting to cry.

Even her crying was quiet.

Tears rolled down her cheeks, dropping to the ground and raising tiny puffs of dust, eventually soaking a small patch of yellow earth.

Juanjuan discreetly wiped her tears away.

Her small hand couldn’t help but clutch her mother’s clothing.

She really liked this new mommy, who let her be close, let her act spoiled, and let her hug her openly.

Juanjuan had never minded that her family was poor, never minded that her original parents were disappointing. The only thing she longed for was for her parents to like her.

But…

Juanjuan thought of her original parents.

Where they had gone, she didn’t know.

In the stillness of the night, Juanjuan had been sad, but she had never thought of wanting new parents just because hers weren’t good.

But this new mommy was truly irresistible.

“Jiang Dai, you’re back!”

As the mother and daughter shared their tender moment, a cheerful voice rang out.

Bai Tian entered through the gate with a bright smile.

Then he saw his wife giving him a look of utter disdain.

Bai Tian: Huh?

How did going out to find sweet potatoes end with him getting such a look?

Could it be she didn’t find any sweet potatoes?

Bai Tian decided to comfort his wife.

“It’s okay, so what if you didn’t find sweet potatoes! We’ll just…”

“You didn’t find any!”

“I dug up five of them!”

Jiang Dai gave him another look of disdain, then turned and walked away with Juanjuan in her arms.

Bai Tian: ?

He turned to ask his silent third son, “What’s up with your mom?”

“Mom chatted with the other women while digging sweet potatoes today.”

Bai Tian: ? “And?”

Bai Yunan: “So, Mom thinks the men in our family are all no good.”

Bai Tian: !!

Bai Yunan didn’t forget to twist the knife: “Especially you, Dad. Mom cursed you the whole way back.”

Bai Tian: …

Oh, heavens! Oh, earth!

This was all the original host’s doing!

…

At lunchtime, Jiang Dai habitually counted heads and realized someone was missing.

“Where’s Goudan?”

“Where did Goudan go?”

Jiang Dai stood with her hands on her hips, questioning the family.

She still wasn’t used to the ancient way of raising children so freely.

She was afraid that if she wasn’t careful, a child would get lost or get into trouble outside.

After all…

【Last time Juanjuan went out, she got into a fight with Hua Ni’er, and the third one almost got beaten to death.】

【Yesterday, Goudan ran off on his own, and they couldn’t find him until he fell into a cesspit.】

【So, kids have an incredible knack for getting into trouble!】

Juanjuan initially wanted to speak up for her eldest brother.

But just as she was about to, her father stopped her.

Bai Tian shook his head at the bewildered little girl, signaling her to stay silent.

【Who would dare provoke an angry woman right now? Whoever speaks up is asking for trouble!】

Juanjuan: … Is it really that scary?

So, half-willingly, the little girl joined her father and brothers in their silent pact.

Everyone chose not to speak up for the eldest brother.

The room fell silent, a heavy atmosphere settling in.

Outside, the “missing” Bai Family’s eldest son, Bai Yunqi, called out brightly.

“Juanjuan, I’m back! Mom and the others aren’t back yet, right?”

“Sweet potatoes aren’t that easy to dig up. Yesterday, I watched Mother digging for ages and she still couldn’t get anything…”

Bai Yunqi’s words took a sudden, awkward turn.

“Wow…”

“Everyone’s here.”

Bai Yunqi knew his shift in topic was clumsy, but what else could he do? He looked at his entire family gathered in the room, sensing the slightly strange atmosphere, and noticed his father desperately winking at him along with a few sympathetic brothers.

“I’m going to check if the chickens have been fed,” Bai Yunqi said, turning to leave.

But Jiang Dai’s voice came sternly, “Stop right there!”

Bai Yunqi wasn’t foolish; he bolted immediately. Was he supposed to just stand there and get hit?

Bai Tian watched his eldest son take off running and sighed with a touch of pity.

【How unfortunate, how unfortunate. Why not just stand still? Why run?】 Juanjuan wondered. The next second, her confusion turned to shock because…

“Stop right there, young man!”

The mother who had been holding her so gently just moments ago now rolled up her sleeves, grabbed a broken stick, and started chasing after him.

“I told you to stop! Stop running away!”

“Mom! I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Please don’t hit me!”

“Still running, are you?”

“If I don’t run, am I just supposed to stand here and get beaten?!”

Juanjuan watched, wide-eyed, as her mother chased after her eldest brother. Bai Tian clicked his tongue, “What a touching scene of motherly love and filial piety!”

Bai Yunxing commented, 【Is this what they call motherly love and filial piety? Is that really how the phrase is used?】

Bai Yunan added, 【When are we eating roasted sweet potatoes?!】

While everyone was engrossed in the spectacle, Bai Yunqi dashed over in a flash and shielded the still-stunned Juanjuan in front of him.

Bai Yunqi said, “It was Juanjuan! Juanjuan told me to go out!”

Juanjuan’s body trembled as she looked at her mother, who was brimming with anger. In a trembling, childish voice, she called out, “Mom, Mother,” trying to awaken the little bit of maternal love left in her.

Jiang Dai looked at her slightly frightened daughter, took a deep breath, and quickly adjusted her expression to a smile.

“Alright, Bai Goudan! You’ve got guts, hiding behind your sister.”

Bai Yunqi breathed a sigh of relief. 【Thank goodness, my sister is useful.】

Jiang Dai turned to Bai Tian, who was seriously watching the commotion.

Bai Tian: ?

“Bai Tian! Is this how you manage your sons?”

Bai Tian coughed and stepped forward, trying to mediate the “battle” like his grandfather used to.

“Goudan! Quickly tell your mother you’re sorry! Hurry!”

“Mom, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

Thankfully, the child was quick to apologize. Bai Tian patted his daughter, signaling with his eyes for her to comfort her mother. Juanjuan immediately understood and went to soothe her.

Bai Tian chuckled, “Alright, let’s eat! Tomorrow, I’ll go to town to buy some rice and flour.”

As soon as Bai Tian finished speaking, everyone’s eyes turned to him.

Jiang Dai: “To town?”

Bai Yunqi: “Can I go?”

Bai Yunxing: “Dad, you’re going to town?”

Bai Yunan: “I want to go too!”

Bai Tian: “You all want to go?”

Juanjuan shook her head; she didn’t really want to, fearing another mishap.

Jiang Dai: “I’ve never been to town. What if my family is there and I remember something when I visit?”

Bai Yunxing: “Dad, I’m still a bit dizzy. I want to see a physician in town; this one might not be skilled enough.”

Bai Yunan: “Dad, I can’t bear to be apart from you and Mom!”

Seeing his two younger brothers speak up, Bai Yunqi, as the eldest, also said, “Dad, I’ll go to help you keep an eye on the younger ones.”

Juanjuan looked at her father with wide eyes, “Daddy, Juanjuan doesn’t want to be home alone…”

“Seriously, who do you all know in town? Why does everyone want to go?”

Bai Tian felt a headache coming on, thinking about how many copper coins this would cost!

Jiang Dai: ?

【That phrase sounds familiar! Unfortunately, besides me, no one else here knows it.】