Chapter 124: Chapter 124

Bai Xue couldn’t wait for her brother to return, and she was reluctant to let her youngest daughter wait and starve, so she let everyone eat first. Watching her eldest daughter eat with her head down as if afraid there wasn’t enough food, she got annoyed. They waited until after they cleared the table, and it was already past eight in the evening, but still no sign of him returning.

At this moment, Bai Xue felt something was amiss, "Hehua, your aunt has boiled some water. Go wash your hair and feet in the bathroom; it’ll be more comfortable for sleeping at night."

Bai Hehua obediently followed instructions. After she finished washing her hair and came out, Bai Xue called her to sit in the living room to talk, "Hehua, think about whether your dad knows anyone here?"

Bai Xue asked because her brother had come to the city more often than her mother-in-law these years, at least twice a year. She knew he always came to ask for medicine. Bai Xue never calculated these things with her brother, but now that he hadn’t returned, she kept thinking he might know someone here.

"Auntie, I don’t know." Bai Hehua shook her head timidly.

Bai Xue realized her question was in vain, "Go to sleep."

As her niece left, she suddenly recalled something and instructed, "Hehua, there are three towels in the bathroom. Don’t use the white one; any of the others are fine."

The white one belonged to her youngest daughter.

The family knew this, so they wouldn’t mix them up. Seeing her niece wash her hair, Bai Xue remembered it. As for her eldest daughter’s towel, it had long been put away by herself.

Bai Hehua’s face turned pale, "Auntie, I just used it. I’m sorry, I didn’t know."

Bai Xue was stunned for a moment, then waved it off, "Just remember next time, it’s okay, go back to your room."

Because she was worried about her brother, Bai Xue didn’t feel like saying much, and she waited until almost midnight, but he still hadn’t returned. Only then did Bai Xue go to the West Room to sleep.

Ye Qian also said a few words of comfort, but lately, her body was covered in purple spots that wouldn’t go away, so she had no mood to deal with anything else. As for Ye Ling in the East Room, she continued reading her book, treating Bai Hehua like air.

The next day, when Bai Xue got up, her eyes were dark. She simply made some breakfast, instructed the three children to eat by themselves, and went out to look for someone, but just as she reached the gatehouse, a young guard called out to her.

"Sister-in-law, Xiao Wang said during the shift change yesterday that your brother left you a message. He went back home and told you not to worry. I got so busy yesterday that I forgot about it. If I hadn’t seen you just now, I wouldn’t have remembered."

The guard saluted with an embarrassed look on his face.

Bai Xue’s face stiffened but then she smiled, "It’s okay, it’s okay, he told me before he left. He always worries that I’ll be concerned about him."

"That’s because he has such a good sister like you," the guard added some flattering words.

Bai Xue couldn’t hold back any longer, exchanged a few more polite words, then hurried back home. As soon as the door closed behind her, her face darkened. She knew her brother was unreliable, but she never thought he’d have the audacity to do this: take the money and leave the person behind. Bai Xue felt so angry her liver hurt.

Among the three people eating inside, only Ye Qian showed concern, "Mom, you don’t look well. Are you not feeling well?"

Because breakfast was unappetizing, Ye Qian only picked at it with her chopsticks without bringing it to her mouth. Now she put her chopsticks down and moved over to her mother’s side.

Her daughter’s concern made Bai Xue feel a little better, "It’s nothing, just a bit dizzy. I’ll lie down for a while and I’ll be fine."

"Let me help you." Ye Qian knew her mother wasn’t physically unwell, and wondered what had happened.

As they headed to the West Room, Bai Xue glanced at the table, "Lingzi, after you’re done eating, clean up the table. I’m not feeling well, you’ll have to make lunch."

Ye Ling responded with a nonchalant "Hmm," without even looking up. Bai Xue didn’t like her eldest daughter, and seeing her niece eating quietly, she thought of her unreliable brother and went into the room in a huff.

As soon as she lay down on the bed, she started groaning. Ye Qian was surprised, "Mom, what’s wrong?"

"It’s your uncle. He left Hehua here and went back home himself," Bai Xue said, grinding her teeth in hatred.

And she was also worried about that twenty yuan.

Ye Qian was equally shocked, "So Hehua is staying at our house?"

Ye Qian had never liked her uncle. He was always scheming and only came to ask for money from her mom. As for Bai Hehua, Ye Qian never thought much of her either. She had figured she’d endure a few days until that father and daughter duo would leave, but now she found out Bai Hehua was staying.

"So, Mom, will you have to take care of Hehua?" Apart from her mother, Ye Qian couldn’t think of anyone else.

Bai Xue felt utterly drained, "Forget it. Let’s see if I can find her some work to do. If I take her back myself, I don’t even know how much the travel costs would be. We’ll wait for your uncle to pick her up next time."

This was a case of losing both sides, and Bai Xue didn’t want to waste any more money.

Ye Qian wasn’t pleased to hear that the person would be staying, but she didn’t show it on her face. She smiled and said, "That’s fine, she can keep sister company. Otherwise, since I’m always sleeping with Mom, sister might feel lonely. But when Dad comes back, where will Hehua sleep?"

Thinking about Bai Hehua sleeping in her bed made Ye Qian itchy all over.

"She’ll have to squeeze in with your sister." Bai Xue wouldn’t make her youngest daughter uncomfortable.

Ye Qian thoughtfully suggested, "Or maybe she can squeeze in with me? I’m worried sister might not be happy with it."

Ye Qian knew her mother wouldn’t agree, which is why she said it.

Sure enough, her mother waved her hand, "You don’t have to worry about this. It’s just your uncle, all these years my kindness to him was in vain. He doesn’t even consider how hard it is for me. With our family’s current situation, he still sent Hehua here. Your dad will definitely blame me when he finds out."

Ye Qian’s eyes glimmered, "Mom, how about you tell Dad that Hehua is staying to help you with the housework, and you want to go out and find a job? It’s not easy to find work nowadays, so Dad won’t think much of it."

Bai Xue’s eyes lit up, and she burst out laughing, "You clever girl, that’s a great idea! Why didn’t I think of that? That’s settled then. In truth, Hehua is quite pitiable, saddled with such an irresponsible father like your uncle."

"Uncle thinks he has you, so he fears nothing," Ye Qian said, knowing her mother felt a deep love for her brother. Even if she didn’t like him, she wouldn’t say anything harsh.

For this brother, she was both angry and tender-hearted. Angry at his incompetence, but pitying his struggles. She wanted to help but was powerless. Otherwise, she would have brought his entire family to the city as a form of support for herself. (To be continued. If you work, please vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com), your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)