Because there were outsiders present, the Bai family members quieted down, and Chen Juxiang and Li Cui’er stopped making a scene.

However, Chen Juxiang grabbed Li Cui’er and led her into Li Cui’er’s room.

Tang Liren, on the other hand, was busy greeting reporters Zhang and Ma and asked Bai Xingxing to bring chairs and Bai Lili to pour tea.

Every family has its troubles.

So, reporters Zhang and Ma pretended not to know what had just happened. They sat in the courtyard and began interviewing Bai Zhengqian and Tang Liren.

First, Tang Liren briefly introduced Bai Zhengqian’s recovery: they had just visited the town’s hospital for a follow-up the previous day. The doctor said that Old Bai’s condition was still good, and now he could take care of his basic needs. He would likely need three or four more months of rest to fully recover.

Then Bai Zhengqian went on about his idle time. Although due to his health, he couldn’t work at the moment, he had never abandoned his duties as the village party secretary. He would always remember the leader’s lesson of “serving the people” and would do his job well and excellently.

The interview process was very pleasant and smooth.

After the interview, Bai Xingxing shyly approached and asked the reporters if they could take a few photos for them.

Tang Liren cleared her throat. She initially wanted to scold her daughter for being inconsiderate, but seeing the reporters quickly agreeing, she immediately started giving instructions. “Xing’er, go shut the door (so others don’t know). What is Taotao wearing today? Get her to change into something neat! Lizi? Lizi, hurry up and tidy yourself up! Hongdou, Huangdou, come here, I’ll change your clothes! Hongdou, go let your mom redo your hair! Uh, head of the household, can you hide the rope used to tie the wooden board…”

After a flurry of activity, Tang Liren finally realized that all three daughters were dressed up nicely, especially Bai Lili, who had gotten a new, pretty haircut. She was so beautiful that Tang Liren didn’t even recognize her.

“Yo, Lizi! Are you our Lizi? How did you become so beautiful? I didn’t recognize you!” Tang Liren finally smiled brightly.

Bai Lili was a little shy, lowering her head and saying nothing.

The two reporters then called for the Bai family to come over for a photo.

Bai Taotao, being the treasure of the first branch of the family and also pretty, had everyone wanting to take a picture with her.

As for Bai Taotao, she didn’t even know what taking a photo meant. But seeing how everyone was excited, she thought… well, let’s take one!

The womenfolk of the Bai family who were staying at the courtyard all came out to take photos, except for Chen Juxiang and Li Cui’er.

In the end, Bai Xingxing shyly asked the reporters if they could take a solo photo of her.

After the photo was taken, she asked where to collect it.

Reporter Zhang thought for a moment and said, “It seems we don’t have any other tasks to go to the countryside for… If you’re in a hurry, you can come to the county in a few days and get it from us. If you’re not in a rush, next time we go to the countryside, we can bring it to you.”

Bai Xingxing gathered her courage and asked reporter Zhang for the address of the county’s newspaper office.

Then, the two reporters said they had to leave. Tang Liren tried to keep them for a meal but couldn’t, so she gave them two bamboo tubes of tea leaves that she had picked and roasted herself.

She also told Bai Lili to make sure to escort the reporters to the village entrance and reminded her to be careful, saying that it had rained last night, and the ground was slippery. She advised Bai Lili to take the longer route to avoid the muddiest part and said it was fine to walk more as long as the reporters’ shoes didn’t get dirty.

While Tang Liren was dealing with the reporters, Bai Taotao kept staring at Chen Lanfen and Sun Xiumei.

Not for any particular reason, but because Taotao had just regained her eyesight yesterday, and she couldn’t remember her Second Sister-In-Law Chen Lanfen’s face or recognize her voice. Now, she was staring at her Second Sister-In-Law…

Chen Lanfen looked very ordinary, with pale skin, a thin figure, and an incredibly large belly. She sat there with a blank look on her face, seeming to be lost and filled with sorrow.

Sun Xiumei sat next to Chen Lanfen, glancing at her from time to time, as if there were a thousand words left unsaid, but she seemed hesitant to speak.

Bai Taotao, not knowing who Sun Xiumei was, called Hongdou over to ask who she was.

Hongdou at six years old was quick-witted and explained it in just a few words.

“Fourth Aunt, she’s Aunt Xiumei! Our Grandmother (Chen Juxiang) and Grandfather married later in life. Grandmother was previously married, and her first son stayed with her first husband’s family. Aunt Xiumei is Grandmother’s granddaughter, but she’s not from our side.”

Then she lowered her voice and added, “Aunt Xiumei and our Second Aunt are cousins through their mother’s side!”

Bai Taotao counted on her fingers for a while, finally understanding:

— Chen Lanfen was her Second Sister-In-Law, married to Bai Nansheng, and also a distant granddaughter of Chen Juxiang!
— Sun Xiumei was Chen Juxiang’s granddaughter from her first marriage!

Just as Bai Taotao figured out the family relationships between Chen Lanfen, Sun Xiumei, and her family, Tang Liren instructed Bai Lili to escort the reporters out. She then turned to Bai Xingxing, saying, “Xing’er, hurry up and call your eldest brother back from the team!”

Everyone was taken aback at this.

Tang Liren and Bai Zhengqian were both highly respected individuals, proud of their status as village leaders and elders, always setting an example for the village and their family.

But now Bai Dongsheng was working, so why suddenly call him back? Wasn’t this delaying things?

“Xing’er, go!” Tang Liren urged again.

Bai Xingxing sensed her mother’s mood, didn’t dare ask further, and quickly ran off.

Bai Taotao noticed that her Second Sister-In-Law Chen Lanfen had turned even paler. She was slouched in her chair, her mouth slightly open, gasping for air, and looking like a fish out of water.

What was going on?

Tan Fenghui, with her big belly, was tidying up the mess from the photo session in the courtyard and walked over to ask Tang Liren, “Mom, what’s going on? Why are you calling Dongsheng back?”

Tang Liren stared at Tan Fenghui’s large belly for a while before asking, “Hui’er, how many months pregnant are you?”

“Over eight months,” Tan Fenghui replied, confused. “You took me to the hospital for a check-up just yesterday! My due date is June 27th!”

The atmosphere at home was incredibly strange. Tan Fenghui looked at her mother-in-law, whose face was dark, and then at Chen Lanfen, whose face was pale. She also remembered the recent unpleasantness between her and her Second Sister-In-Law…

Tan Fenghui understood and said, “Don’t worry, Mom! My situation is different from Lanfen’s. This is my third child, and Lanfen’s having her first. Please take good care of her, I’m fine. With Lili and Xing’er helping me, I can even manage to give birth on my own!”

“Besides, I’m eight months pregnant, and Lanfen’s only six. Once I’ve had my child and the baby is a month old, it will be her turn! By then, I’ll be fully recovered, and if you’re worried about working, don’t be. I can still help look after Lanfen and the baby at home…”

While Tan Fenghui was explaining and comforting, Tang Liren’s gaze was fixed on Chen Lanfen’s belly, filled with a trace of frustration…

Not long after, Bai Dongsheng hurried back. “Mom, Dad, why did you urgently call me back? What’s going on?”

Tang Liren shouted, “Xing’er, close the main gate first!”

Out of breath, Bai Xingxing, who had just entered the yard, hurriedly closed the gate.

Tang Liren said, “Dongsheng, go to the post office in town right now and send an urgent telegram to Nansheng, telling him that there’s an emergency at home and that he should come back immediately!”

Bai Dongsheng froze. “Why? Nansheng went to the army at the beginning of February, and now it’s early May. It’s only been three months! Even if we consider his wife’s expected delivery date, he doesn’t need to come back until August…”

Tang Liren picked up a broom and swung it at Bai Dongsheng, angrily saying, “I told you to go send an urgent telegram to Nansheng and call him back! Are you deaf? Are you blind? Or are you mute?”

Everyone was stunned.

— Tang Liren was fierce and forceful in her character, but she had endless patience for her own family.

Bai Dongsheng was the eldest son of the family and Tang Liren’s right-hand man. In recent years, he had become seen as the pillar of the family.

Yet here he was, enduring her scolding and beating?

This must mean the situation was really serious.

Everyone stayed silent, with Hongdou and Huangdou squeezing into Bai Taotao’s arms in fear.

Bai Dongsheng turned to Tan Fenghui and said, “Hui’er, bring me a dollar, I’m leaving now.”

Tan Fenghui quickly ran into the house to fetch the money.

Tang Liren then said to Bai Dongsheng, “Today, reporters Zhang and Ma came to interview your father. Lizi took them to the village entrance. You need to hurry to catch a ride with them to town.”

Chen Lanfen couldn’t help but call out, “Mom…”

Tang Liren ignored her and coldly urged Bai Dongsheng, “Go quickly!”

Bai Dongsheng glanced at Chen Lanfen, took the money his wife handed him, and strode out.

The Bai family courtyard remained silent.

Everyone could already guess that Tang Liren’s urgent need for Bai Dongsheng to send an urgent telegram to Nansheng meant…

All eyes turned to Chen Lanfen.

— It must have something to do with Chen Lanfen?

At this moment, Chen Juxiang came out of Li Cui’er’s room scolding, with Li Cui’er following behind in tears.

“Mom, that money really came from Zhenglang’s earnings. How can you just take it like that? How am I supposed to explain to Zhenglang?”

“Money from Zhenglang? Then why does your money smell like duck shit? Did Zhenglang go dig for duck shit yesterday? Or did you dig for duck ahit too?”

“Mom! The money didn’t have a duck ahit smell at first. It’s because you touched it with your hand that it got that smell!”

“Nonsense! I didn’t dig for duck shit this morning!”

Li Cui’er continued crying, “Mom, you can’t bully your juniors like this…”

Perhaps tired of Li Cui’er’s refusal to admit or stop arguing, Chen Juxiang stopped, and shouted, “If that money didn’t come from me, then explain where you got it!”

Li Cui’er stammered, “This, this… this is mine…”

Chen Juxiang scolded, “Don’t you dare say it’s your savings! You’ve been married into the Bai family for twenty years, do I not know you? The moment you bend over, I know exactly what you’re up to! Old Fourth’s belongings were all squandered by you! If it weren’t for his three brothers helping, you’d be starving with Old Fourth and three kids!”

Li Cui’er couldn’t lift her head from the scolding.

The entire Bai family from the first branch turned to look at Chen Juxiang and Li Cui’er, momentarily forgetting their own troubles.

Chen Juxiang continued to scold Li Cui’er, “I won’t even pursue the matter of you stealing my money, for the sake of Old Fourth and my three big fat grandsons. But if you dare argue again and say that money’s yours, I’ll…”

At this point, Chen Juxiang suddenly turned and noticed the family from the first branch in the yard.

She froze and realized that Chen Lanfen had returned? Oh, even Sun Xiumei was here?

Before she could ask, her silly granddaughter Bai Taotao curiously asked, “Grandmother, what if Fourth Aunt still dares to argue with you and say that money is hers? What would you do?”

Chen Juxiang instinctively replied, “I’d… tear her apart!”

Bai Taotao grinned and raised her chin, smiling at Li Cui’er.

Li Cui’er was so angry that it was as if a Buddha was born and another ascended to heaven!

But aside from grinding her teeth and stomping her feet, she had no way of retaliating!

Oh, this was truly infuriating!