Chapter 64 – Time to Put on a Show

Bai Tian put on an honest, upright expression. “Second Sister-in-law said so herself. If Second Brother wants to come in, then let him sit inside. But as for you, Second Sister-in-law, you’d better stay outside.”

Second Sister-in-law Bai, with her fiery temper, almost exploded in anger right on the spot.

But Bai Tian quickly stepped in and blocked Second Brother, who had just stepped into the courtyard.

“Second Brother, you’d better stay put. There’s a huge dog inside the house. If you go in and it bites you, what then?”

Second Brother’s face tightened with embarrassment.

Jiang Dai lightly slapped Bai Tian on the arm and rebuked him in a tender, delicate voice. “How can you speak to Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law like that!”

Second Sister-in-law Bai cast Jiang Dai a look full of scorn.

Even though Jiang Dai was speaking up for her, she just couldn’t stand that foxlike, bewitching air Jiang Dai carried about her.

“Cough, cough…”

Jiang Dai lowered her head and coughed gently, her stray locks brushing across her cheek. From her expression all the way down to the delicate sway of her hair, she radiated nothing but fragile charm, the kind that evoked pity at a single glance.

Bai Tian: …? Sis, what the hell are you doing?!

Can’t you see that old man over there is practically glued to you with his eyes?

“Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law surely know what happened to our family not long ago—when we fell from the ox cart and nearly lost our lives.”

Her voice quivered faintly, as though she was still rattled just recalling it.

Yet while shapely with emotion, her words were crystal clear, ensuring everyone nearby could hear her.

“Now Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law are suddenly here. It must be because Father and Mother already know and sent them to check on us. But…”

She let her gaze run slowly across the couple, pausing deliberately.

“Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, how is it you’ve come empty-handed? Are you planning to give us silver directly? That would make us feel so embarrassed!”

Bai Tian: …This sinister, backhanded insinuation, paired with her acting—damn, what a line delivery.

How did Jiang Dai not become a star back then?

Honest, clumsy Second Brother had no words. Sharp-tongued Second Sister-in-law, who usually relied purely on volume and coarse shrieking to win arguments, now found herself at a rare loss.

This soft, delicate, yet venomously backhanded manner of speaking… it was an art she hadn’t seen before.

“You cheap—!”

Second Sister-in-law instinctively blurted, her insult hanging in the air.

But Jiang Dai broke into another round of coughing, then turned to Bai Tian and said gently, “Even if we’ve split off from the family, and even if Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law arrived empty-handed, that doesn’t mean we should bar Second Sister-in-law from entering.”

“Come now, Sister-in-law, do come in… even with empty hands.”

Granny Wang, who was watching from the crowd, let out a delighted laugh.

She’d noticed lately: this girl Jiang Dai’s tongue was getting sharper by the day.

Second Sister-in-law curled her lip and snorted. Of course she heard the double meaning in Jiang Dai’s words, but she chose to ignore it. What of it? She was marching in anyway!

Jiang Dai, seeing her storming forward in all her bluster, sneered inwardly.

Come then!

An improvised, no-cost, immersive performance in the great art of family drama and squabbles!

As Second Sister-in-law strode past her, Jiang Dai let out a theatrical “Ahh!” and dropped heavily to the ground.

Second Sister-in-law froze mid-step, staring down at Jiang Dai in disbelief.

“Second Sister-in-law, why did you shove my wife? Her health is poor! How can she withstand a push from someone as fat and sturdy as you?” Bai Tian jumped right in, not even hesitating to go for the jugular.

Jiang Dai quietly gave him a thumbs-up in her heart. Perfect. Nailed it.

“It’s fine, cough, cough… I’m sure Second Sister-in-law didn’t mean it.”

She continued her act, her natural pallor and delicate frame—further emphasized by her years of staying indoors in weakness—making her look peerlessly pitiful.

Even Granny Wang, who half-suspected that Jiang Dai wasn’t some meek little thing, couldn’t help turning on Second Sister-in-law with scolding words.

Softness overcoming harshness—sometimes, when someone comes picking a fight, playing the frail yet viciously sarcastic victim felt all too satisfying.

“My leg hurts a little… don’t move me…”

Jiang Dai tugged at Bai Tian’s sleeve, her voice laced with sorrow and pain.

Bai Tian swore he felt his own heart almost numb hearing it.

Before he could even muster genuine worry, Jiang Dai secretly pinched his arm hard and shot him a meaningful look.

Come on, team up with me! Don’t forget, there’s silver in the house—plus meat, grain, and Egg Fried Rice!

And you’d seriously let these two just waltz in?

Bai Tian: …

“Then let’s not move her.”

He turned to Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law, sounding anxious and pitiful.

“Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, look—my wife’s leg must not have healed properly from the ox cart fall. Could you spare a few coins so we can send for a doctor?”

“Dachui Dachui!”

Granny Wang immediately called for her eldest grandson. “Hurry and fetch some silver from your Aunt Bai’s and bring back a doctor!”

“Grandma,” Wang Dachui whined, “Third Brother Bai is right here.”

Exposed by Dachui, Bai Yun’an: …

But Bai Yun’an wasn’t just anyone. He was an actor without being an actor.

“Mother! What’s wrong with you?”

With a basket on his back and feigned limp in his leg (which had long since healed), he hobbled frantically toward them, face etched with panic.

Wang Dachui: ?

Hadn’t Third Brother Bai been jumping around full of energy just yesterday?

Hearing the commotion, Jiang Dai turned and saw her third son dragging his bad leg in exaggerated misery, step by agonizing step.

“Mother, it’s all this useless child’s fault. Why don’t you sell me? Use the silver to treat your leg properly…”

Bai Yun’an cranked his acting up to eleven.

Jiang Dai instantly matched his energy, clutching her third son to her chest as she began sobbing outright.

Bai Tian: …

Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law of the Bai family: …

Why did it feel like they were being swindled?

Everyone knew the Bai family was dirt poor. In the past, not a single one of them would have bothered to come over.

But hadn’t they heard? Just yesterday, two carriages arrived at Bai Tian’s house. The people inside treated him with utmost respect and even handed over a great sum of silver.

Bai Tian must have stumbled upon incredible luck—he was rich now.

That was the only reason they had come to see for themselves.

Yet the scene before their eyes…

“How can you have no silver! Didn’t those carriages just come yesterday to deliver it to you?”

The Second Sister-in-law of the Bai family blurted it out in a panic, unable to keep it in.

In truth, the old matriarch had originally intended to send the smooth-tongued Fourth Sister-in-law to make discreet inquiries.

But fearing the fourth daughter-in-law might quietly pocket some of the money, she decided to come herself.

Who would have thought the situation before them would be nothing like what they imagined?

Bai Tian said anxiously, “Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, what are you talking about? They came to the wrong house! Please, just lend us some silver!”

Jiang Dai lay against Bai Tian’s chest, sobbing softly.

Bai Yun’an had already crept up beside Second Sister-in-law, tugging at her sleeve. “Please, just a little silver. You’re my Second Aunt, aren’t you? Just lend us some, please!”

Inside the house, three children crouched at the crack of the door, peeking out.

“Father and Mother… are they being bullied?”

Juanjuan grew anxious and reached for the door, ready to run out.

But Bai Yunqi caught hold of his sister.

Watching the situation unfold, he turned to their younger brother. “Keep an eye on her! I’ll be right back!”

With that, he dashed forward in two or three strides, leapt onto the windowsill of the half-opened window, and swung himself out in one quick bound.