Chapter 18 Shame on Being a Father and a Husband
Xiao Anzi is actually the son of the general's mansion?
Everyone was stunned, especially the sons of merchants. They could never have imagined that the son of the general's mansion would actually make money by settling accounts for others.
It seems that those rumors about the General's Mansion... are not groundless.
Bai Ruian never expected that today, he would actually be caught by Bai Yunfeng in the gambling house.
He thought to himself that he was really unlucky, and at the same time he couldn't help but think of Li Suining's reminder last night.
At that time, little Tuanzi repeatedly told him not to come to Jujinlou today, otherwise he would be caught by his father... and it actually happened?
Bai Ruian felt something was amiss. Did Li Suining know last night that he would be arrested today? What was going on?
He knelt obediently in front of Bai Yunfeng, the doubts in his heart even overshadowed his fear.
"You are so good, Bai Ruian, you are really here!" The last bit of hope in Bai Yunfeng's heart was shattered. He really didn't know how to educate his children. The fourth child was uneducated and the fifth child even became a gambler. He was really a failed father.
He raised his foot and was about to kick Bai Ruian in front of him, "You rebellious son, we don't have someone like you in our general's mansion..."
"General Bai, calm down! Calm down!"
Several young men from the merchant class stood up and said cautiously, "Xiao An...Mr. Bai, he didn't gamble."
Bai Yunfeng stared, not believing a single word he said. "No bet? Why are you here if you don't want to bet?"
"General Bai, Young Master Bai came here... to help us settle accounts. There really was no gambling." Several sons of merchants spoke sincerely.
"That's pure nonsense!" Bai Yunfeng still didn't believe it, pointing at Bai Ruian and cursing, "You're really capable. When the time comes, you find a bunch of cronies to cover it up for you? You're amazing!"
He knew it would be difficult to take action here, so he stepped forward, grabbed Bai Ruian's collar, and dragged him out.
"Come home with me and see how I deal with you!" He said angrily as he walked out.
Seeing this, several sons of merchants became anxious and frantically winked at Bai Ruian, asking him to explain quickly.
As a result, Bai Ruian smiled and waved at them, telling them not to worry that he was fine. He knew Bai Yunfeng's temper, that he was tough on the outside but soft on the inside. The worst that could happen to him was a beating, which was no big deal.
After Bai Yunfeng and his group left, discussions broke out inside and outside the Jujin Building.
"The son of a dignified general's mansion is actually helping others settle accounts to make money. Who can believe it if they don't see it with their own eyes?"
"People say that this general's mansion is full of people but is plagued by bad luck. It seems to be true!"
"It's more than true." Qian hadn't known when she had blended into the crowd of onlookers. "I've said it before, their family adopted Li Suining, their nemesis. They'll only be getting more unlucky in the future."
Many people nodded.
"Just wait and see. The General's Mansion won't be at peace until Li Suining is expelled." Qian continued to threaten, "Besides, our Tianfu only has one son, Chang'an. He died saving General Bai, so the General's Mansion should have adopted Chang'an. But now they've adopted Li Suining, and Tianfu's soul won't rest in peace either."
"Yes, yes!" Everyone continued to nod in agreement.
At the same time, Bai Yunfeng took Bai Ruian directly back to the ancestral hall of the general's mansion and asked Bai Ruian to kneel in front of the ancestors to admit his mistakes. He also asked for the family whip and was determined to teach Bai Ruian a lesson.
"Tell me, are you wrong?" he asked viciously, holding the whip.
"Dad, Rui'an knows he was wrong." At this moment, Bai Rui'an was really scared, "But Dad, I really didn't gamble."
"No bet?" Bai Yunfeng sneered, "Then it's just like what those people said, you went to settle a score? What are you settling a score for?"
"..." Bai Ruian wiped the sweat from his forehead, "Son...son wants to earn more pocket money."
Bai Yunfeng was so angry that he whipped Bai Ruian on the back.
With one whip, Bai Ruian's clothes were torn, his flesh turned red, and Bai Yunfeng's eyes also turned red.
He believed that although his six sons had not achieved much, each of them was a loyal, brave and upright man. But what Bai Ruian did this time... really made him sad.
He raised the whip again, his voice choked, "Do you admit it? Did you make the bet?"
"Dad, I really didn't gamble!" Bai Ruian was smart and obedient since he was a child, so he had basically never been beaten. After the whip came down, he started crying softly in pain, "Wow, Dad, please believe me, I really didn't gamble!"
"You dare to lie!" Bai Yunfeng was so angry that the whip under his hand shook again and again, and it seemed that it was about to fall again...
"Dad, you misunderstood my fifth brother!" Bai Shi'an's voice came from outside the ancestral hall.
"Dad, Fifth Brother really didn't gamble." And Li Suining.
Bai Yunfeng held the whip and looked towards the door with red eyes, then saw the fourth brother and Xiao Suining rushing in together. The fourth brother used his body to protect the fifth brother, while Xiao Suining hugged his thighs.
"Dad, Fifth Brother wants to earn money to buy ginseng for Mom!"
"Sister, don't say that!"
The voices of Li Suining and Bai Ruian sounded at the same time.
Bai Yunfeng heard it clearly. He dropped the whip in his hand and looked at Bai Ruian in disbelief. "Old Five, tell me what happened."
"Fifth brother, just tell daddy. Otherwise, if daddy beats you, he will feel pain too." Li Suining felt sorry for his daddy and fifth brother, and was about to cry.
The fifth child sighed like a little adult, "I'm sorry, Daddy. That day... that day I accidentally overheard the housekeeper talking to Mom. The housekeeper said Mom was too weak and that it would be best for her to eat a good ginseng before giving birth. But Mom said... ginseng was too expensive, and we... don't have much money to spare."
Wei Ranzhu never mentioned these things to Bai Yunfeng.
Bai Yunfeng stood in the middle of the ancestral hall and didn't speak for a long time. He was filled with shame. He was ashamed to be a father and a husband.
"Dad!" The three children surrounded him and looked at him worriedly.
"Dad, I've been going to Jujinlou for so long and have never gambled, not even once. I settle accounts for four or five people every day, and the most I can earn is five taels of silver." Bai Ruian said with some pride, enduring the severe pain in his back.
"Dad, I can make money too. In the future, if Prince Lin has any competition, I will win first place. He is very generous and will reward me with dozens of taels of money." Bai Shi'an also said immediately.
Li Suining blinked his big eyes and said aggrievedly, "Dad, Suining... can't make money, but Suining can eat less in the future and not wear new clothes. It doesn't matter."
Unexpectedly, Lao Wu immediately said, "No, sister, you will make a lot of money in the future."
"Fifth brother, are you serious?" Li Suining looked over in confusion.
"Alright!" Bai Yunfeng came back to his senses and hugged the children together. "Leave the money matter to Dad. You are not allowed to worry about it anymore."
He rubbed Bai Ruian's head and said, "Good Laowu, Daddy has wronged you. Daddy apologizes to you! But you have to promise Daddy that you will never go to Jujinlou again."
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