Abandoned Woman Busy Farming
Chapter 1456 - 1557: Returning to the Jiang Family with a Substitute_1

Chapter 1456: Chapter 1557: Returning to the Jiang Family with a Substitute_1

"A bet?" Wang Chengen discovered he couldn’t move his body, but he refused to lose his momentum just like that.

"If I become a young elder of the Commerce Association, you will slap yourself in the face and apologize to my master," Bai Ruozhu said unapologetically. People like Wang Chengen needed a good face-slapping, that way they wouldn’t dare to speak so rudely.

Wang Chengen showed a disdainful expression, "And if you don’t become a young elder, does Lin Zhenghui need to slap himself and apologize to me?"

Bai Ruozhu, unhappy, stepped forward and kicked his leg, "This is our wager, don’t drag my master into it."

However, Lin Zhenghui said, "Fine, I’ll take the bet. I agree to the stake, as long as you don’t lose and deny it. The last time you lost to me, you played dirty tricks, everyone in the Northwest Commerce Association knows it."

"That’s because you cheated, and you still have the nerve to talk about it. I don’t believe you can win this time," Wang Chengen spat on the ground. If it wasn’t for the poison that left him immobile, he never would have allowed Bai Ruozhu, someone so junior, to kick him.

Bai Ruozhu was somewhat anxious and wanted to stop her master from getting involved in this gambling affair. Her intention was to vent her master’s anger, not to drag him into it.

Yet Lin Zhenghui shook his head slightly at her, signaling to discuss it later, at least not to lose their composure in front of the enemy.

"Well then, we’ll just wait and see," Lin Zhenghui said before taking Bai Ruozhu and leaving.

"Hey, cure my poison, or I’ll report you to the Commerce Association!" Wang Chengen shouted loudly.

Bai Ruozhu turned around and gave a mocking laugh, saying, "Elder Wang is so mighty, why are you begging me to cure you? Rest assured, the poison will dissipate soon; it won’t kill anyone."

"You..." Wang Chengen cursed furiously, but Bai Ruozhu had already turned her back and walked away, completely disregarding his ranting like a mad dog.

When they got back to their room, Bai Ruozhu quickly said to Lin Zhenghui, "Master, it was impulsive of me to drag you into this. I’m just worried that if they tamper with the assessment, then..."

Lin Zhenghui raised his hand to interrupt her, "You did the right thing today. Our people can’t lose their momentum. If you hadn’t spoken up today, your master would have had to criticize you seriously. I haven’t been doing this work for so many years for nothing. If he thinks he can rig the assessment, he has to ask if I agree first. Don’t worry about it."

Bai Ruozhu understood that point, but she couldn’t relax; she had to try her best to ensure nothing went wrong during the assessment.

In the afternoon, Lady Jiang and Jiang Zhihe visited again. Bai Ruozhu only instructed to keep Mrs. Dou out, so the Jiang mother and daughter were welcomed in by the servants and soon informed Bai Ruozhu of their arrival.

"Ruozhu, your grandpa isn’t feeling well. You and Yichun should visit him when you have time," Lady Jiang said with sincere concern. "If it’s because Mrs. Dou has angered you, don’t take it to heart. The Old Master has punished her with twenty family law strikes; she’s still bedridden."

"Yes, big sister, at least go back for a meal," Jiang Zhihe also urged.

Bai Ruozhu wasn’t planning on returning to stay with the Jiang Family for a while. Jiang Yichun was an impostor, and it would be inconvenient for them to go back for many reasons.

Although the emperor wouldn’t order them to stay at the Jiang Residence this time, to avoid new troubles, it was necessary for her and "Jiang Yichun" to occasionally go back for a meal.

"I had the same intention. I’ve been so busy as soon as I got home, and ’Achun’ isn’t back yet. Let’s do this, I’ll send him a message, and we’ll eat at the Residence tonight. I’ll also check Grandpa’s pulse," Bai Ruozhu said with a smile.

Lady Jiang saw Bai Ruozhu was giving her much face and smiled so widely that her mouth couldn’t close, "Then I will go back and give the word, and add dishes for you tonight."

"Great-aunt, we have been away from home for so long and have not fulfilled our filial duties. Let me have Yingke come over and send a table of dishes tonight as a token of my and Achun’s goodwill," Bai Ruozhu said with a smile.

"Good, good, it was considerate of you. Great-aunt thanks you," said Lady Jiang, obviously delighted, and even reached out to grab Bai Ruozhu’s hand and gave it a couple of pats.

Ever since Bai Ruozhu and her entourage left the Capital not even half a month ago, the Jiang Residence had gone back to their days of scrimping and saving on meals, and Lady Jiang had not been without worries.

Bai Ruozhu went over and took Jiang Zhihe’s hand, asking softly, "How have you and Yihong been doing recently? You can come over and play when you’re free, and it would also be great if you could help me look after Little Dengdeng."

"Sure, I’ll go back and talk to Yihong about it. Don’t you get annoyed with us when the time comes," joked Jiang Zhihe.

"As long as you don’t get too overwhelmed by Little Dengdeng," Bai Ruozhu pursed her lips and smiled.

Lady Jiang saw Bai Ruozhu was genuinely looking after her two children and smiled at Bai Ruozhu even more sincerely; she no longer insisted that Bai Ruozhu stay at the Jiang Residence. After all, Bai Ruozhu taking care of the Jiang Residence only benefited those two households that freeloaded on their food and drink; it was better to take care specifically of Jiang Zhihe and Jiang Yihong alone.

After seeing off Lady Jiang and her daughter, Bai Ruozhu had Muyu send a message to Thunder, who was outside, to come back and go to the Jiang Family with them that evening.

By evening, Thunder, disguised as "Jiang Yichun," returned to the Bai Residence. After paying his respects to the Bai family elders, he set out with Bai Ruozhu and went straight for the Jiang Residence.

Both of them sat in the horse carriage, with Thunder feeling exceptionally awkward. It wasn’t his first time impersonating his master, only that this time his assignment was extraordinarily arduous. Before the master left, he had given him a serious threat and scolding, telling him not to look at the lady too much, not to loiter in front of the lady, to act very busy, and not to get too close to his son...

Thus, this assignment was many times harder than before; Thunder feared he might slip up somewhere, and on his return, the master would flay him.

"Don’t be nervous later, just keep a straight face and stay silent, you know what Achun is like at the Jiang Family," Bai Ruozhu noticed Thunder’s nervousness but mistook it as a fear of revealing flaws at the Jiang Family.

"Yes, subor...," he instinctively started to say ’Your subordinate obeys,’ but immediately realized his mistake and shut his mouth.

After a while, the horse carriage stopped at the entrance of the Jiang Residence. Thunder and Bai Ruozhu got off, and not long after, the gatekeeper announced their arrival, and Jiang Xuexiang and Lady Jiang came out with Jiang Yihong and Jiang Zhihe to greet them enthusiastically.

After exchanging greetings, Bai Ruozhu and her companion were ushered inside. Bai Ruozhu quietly observed Jiang Xuexiang’s expression; he did not harbor a shred of suspicion towards the "Jiang Yichun" before him. After all, the Jiang Family members had been separated from Jiang Yichun for many years, even the one closest to him, Jiang Xuexiang, did not know him very well.

Bai Ruozhu breathed a sigh of relief and followed the Jiang Family members into the Main Hall.

The Wine Feast was already set up in the hall, and Elder Jiang Ge was already seated at the head. Jiang Xuebin’s family, upon seeing Bai Ruozhu and her companion, greeted them with smiles, and they were quite polite. Dou Ning’s family offered superficial hellos, but their faces held shades of concern, especially Dou Yun, whose eyes were still red as if she had just been crying.

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