Bai Xue arrived home, and the kids immediately rushed out, chattering away.
"Big sis, you finally came back. You wouldn't believe how awful Grandma is!" Bai Ruxia's leg was still a bit wobbly, but she was the first to rush over and complain.
"How was Grandma awful?" Bai Xue's brow furrowed, sensing there was more to the story.
"Big sis, Grandma went with Auntie to demand the bride price!" Bai Ruchuan added as he ran over.
"She even said Dad has a son yet isn't ashamed to take a son-in-law!" Bai Rushan chimed in.
"What's worse is she demanded a bride price of fifty yuan!" Bai Ruyun also joined in.
The four kids spoke one after another, leaving Bai Xue a bit dizzy.
"Stop, stop, stop, let's go inside, one at a time, speak slowly! Quickly help Dad inside!" Bai Xue shouted.
The kids held back their urge to speak, obediently helping Bai Daliang inside.
"Uncle, you also come and hear what's really going on!" Bai Xue called Bai Dajiang to join them inside.
Since it was his mother's doing, Bai Dajiang nodded and went inside with them.
Once inside, Bai Daliang sat down, helplessly watching Wang Cuihua crying.
"Alright Mom, stop crying! What exactly happened? I didn't understand from them; you tell me!" Bai Xue was annoyed by Wang Cuihua's crying but couldn't do much, after all, she was her mother. She had to say something firm to stop the tears.
"Xiao Xue… this time your Grandma really ruined you… sob sob…" Wang Cuihua managed to say this before bursting into tears again.
"Ruined? How ruined?" Bai Xue asked.
"Gosh, it's driving me crazy, let me say it! Mom wouldn't be able to explain even in a whole night!" Bai Ruxia anxiously interrupted.
"Big sis, as soon as you left in the morning, the whole village erupted. Grandma took Auntie, banging gongs and drums, to the educated youth place to demand the bride price from Brother Zhang! But Brother Zhang wasn't at the place, which made things worse. Grandma cried and wailed, claiming Brother Zhang ruined her granddaughter's reputation and left her, causing such a stir that even the brigade leader had to intervene to calm things down."
"The most infuriating thing is, Brother Zhang came back in the morning. As soon as Grandma knew he returned, she ran to ask for the bride price, saying that if there wasn't fifty yuan, she'd go to the wind committee and accuse Brother Zhang of ruining someone's reputation!" Bai Ruchuan added.
"Her granddaughter's reputation? She doesn't just have one granddaughter! Did she mention my name?" Bai Xue asked.
"She did, and she said Dad is a disgrace, having a son yet inviting a son-in-law, even raising him! She said that not supporting parents and raising son-in-laws was not filial!"
"It infuriated me, they even said you and Brother Zhang… words can't even describe how awful they were!"
"Right! The whole village is abuzz with rumors." The four kids didn't give anyone else a chance to speak, saying everything, each of their small faces turning red with anger.
Turns out it was Grandma Bai. She couldn't get the eggs from Bai Xue and was figuring out how to snatch those five eggs when Bai Dahe's ten-year-old son Bai Ruying saw Bai Ruxue and Zhang Yuan riding a bike together. He followed them and found out they were eating at their house, then told his grandma, leading to the chaos.
Grandma Bai barged to the educated youth place with Bai Dahe's wife, Li Guihua. Not only did she go, she was loud, making everyone in the village informed.
"Then… what did Zhang Yuan say?" Bai Xue tentatively asked.
"Brother Zhang said he was just sharing meals with our family, using his own grains, and it's not uncommon for educated youth and village folks to share meals."
Zhang Yuan's exact words were: I am just dining with Uncle Bai's family, using my own grains, and it's not unheard of for educated youth and villagers to share meals! Besides, even if Bai Ruxue and I truly had something, the bride price isn't yours to demand! As far as I know, you've already separated from Uncle Bai's family, so if anything, it should go to Uncle Bai and Auntie! What's this trouble you're causing?
His words left Grandma Bai speechless, and she began her tantrum again, insisting her granddaughter was bullied and she needed justice, saying she'd informed the wind committee.
"Big sis, Grandma has told the wind committee! Who knows when they'll send someone over!" Bai Ruyun's face turned pale with fear.
"Sob sob sob… after all, she is our Xiao Xue's biological grandma! What's the benefit to her harming Xiao Xue's reputation? How will Xiao Xue get married in the future? Sob sob sob sob…" Wang Cuihua ultimately broke into loud sobbing.
"Cuihua, don't cry, I'll figure out a way! I'll think of something, don't cry!" Bai Daliang looked at his sobbing wife and was angry at his mom.
Though at times he was overly filial, when it came to his kids, he had a temper, especially with his most beloved eldest daughter. That's his bottom line.
With Wang Cuihua's wailing, the two babies lying on the bed, Bai Rufeng and Bai Rucai, also began to cry.
"Alright Mom! Don't worry! Even if Grandma causes a fuss, when there's nothing, she can't do anything to me! We stand firm and should not fear baseless accusations! What's more, if she dares to report to the wind committee about me, I can report her for abusing her daughter-in-law and snatching our grains! You go feed the kids! Don't worry!"
Finally, after much comforting, Bai Xue managed to calm Wang Cuihua, who then turned to soothe the babies.
Bai Daliang intended to help pick one up to comfort them, but as he reached out, Wang Cuihua slapped his hand away.
"Don't touch my kids!" Wang Cuihua, for the first time, snapped at Bai Daliang. She blamed his mother for continuously persecuting her children.
Bai Daliang, feeling unjustly wronged, retracted his hand, signaling Bai Ruyun to go onto the bed and comfort the babies.
Bai Ruyun had no choice but to take off her shoes, climb onto the bed, and hold Bai Rufeng, calming him, while Bai Ruxia quickly ran out to prepare formula milk to feed them.
Wang Cuihua could only feed one of the babies while formula had to be used for the other. Despite eating better lately, she couldn't suddenly feed both babies.
"Dad, Mom, I'm going out for a bit!" Bai Xue said as she turned to leave.
"Xiao Xue, where are you going? Don't run around!" Hearing her eldest daughter wanted to head out, Wang Cuihua hastily stopped her.
"Mom, don't worry! I'm going to the educated youth point to find Zhang Yuan and get some clarity! I'll be right back!"
Zhang Yuan hadn't come to eat all day, so she needed to go see what was going on, and find out exactly what Grandma Bai had said?
The best way to find out the situation was to have the person involved explain it; what the four nephews conveyed was quite clear, but she needed to ask Zhang Yuan himself whether he planned to keep sharing meals with them.
After all, she stood firm and didn't fear rumors, no matter what anyone said.
"Xiao Xue, going to find Xiao Yuan right now is like adding fuel to the fire; won't the villagers gossip more?" Bai Daliang said worriedly.
"No problem! I want to find out what his plan is for resolving this issue! Don't worry! Xiao Yun, Xiao Xia, feed the kids and make dinner! Include Zhang Yuan's portion! We were just sharing meals, and if things get misunderstood due to gossip and we stop eating together, it'll be even harder to explain!" Bai Xue instructed before heading out.
Headed straight for the educated youth point, people looked at her strangely along the way, but she ignored them all.