Bai came to Su Tai to ask about the reason for the price increase of strawberry jam. When she learned that Su Tai had expanded her business to the imperial capital, she was so surprised that she couldn't sit still and praised her repeatedly, "I have seen so many ladies in the inner house before. To be honest, the most powerful women in my impression are like my stepmother and Madam Zhu. I have always taken them as my goal and tried to be like them.
But now I realize that they are just good because of their good family background, and the real powerful one is you!"
Even if the Bai family had no business sense, they knew that once Su Tai revitalized the business in the imperial capital, the Shen family would become rich in no time. They were afraid that the Ma family, the number one family in Moshi Town, would have to abdicate.
Su Tai humbly shook her head, "Sister Bai, what you said is nonsense! I didn't initiate this deal, I just asked my relatives to help. In fact, the goods didn't increase, and I still got the same money!
I don’t want to be a millionaire, I just want to have some extra money at home and live happily.”
Bai nodded repeatedly. She believed what Su Tai said. If Su Tai really had ambitions, the Shen family would not still be hiding in the village, and it was even more impossible for Su Tai to not even have a maid or servant.
She breathed a sigh of relief and asked tentatively, "If you expand your business to the imperial capital, will the county still be able to take care of you?"
Su Tai knew what she meant as soon as she heard it, and the smile on her face deepened. "Sister Bai, do you want to expand your business to the county town?"
Bai nodded wildly and explained helplessly: "You also know the situation of my mother's family. My father and my stepmother are not as energetic as before because of the death of my eldest brother.
My father is better now, but he is not as eager for quick success as before. As for my stepmother."
Bai leaned close to Su Tai's ear and lowered her voice, "I heard that my stepmother was ill. It was strange. When I went back to visit her, she actually asked me about my health and mentioned some of the few interesting things I had when I was a child. You said that someone who was not kind to you suddenly changed her attitude. What does she want to do?"
Bai couldn't figure it out, and her husband didn't understand women. Whenever she talked about it, he said that it was her stepmother who had figured it out. She was almost angry to death.
After thinking it over, she realized that only Su Tai could she talk to, so she took the opportunity to express her doubts.
Su Tai was also surprised when she heard this, "Let me be frank, don't be angry, in my impression, Madam Bai is not a good person at all, and there is also Nanny Li beside her, the two are birds of a feather, my aunt used to serve in Madam Bai's courtyard and was often bullied by Nanny Li.
According to my aunt, Nanny Li was the knife in Madam Bai's hand. Nanny Li would stab wherever Madam Bai pointed. Relying on Madam Bai's support, Nanny Li did whatever she wanted in the Bai Mansion, suppressing the maids and servants, and not allowing any servant to suppress her.
If a servant is so petty and vicious, how can the master be any better? It's true that she didn't like you before, but now her attitude has changed drastically, I'm afraid she has ulterior motives."
"But, I'm just a concubine's daughter, what can she want from me?" Bai couldn't figure this out.
Su Tai shook her head. "Who knows? Now that she has lost her legitimate son, she has to plan for her future. You still have a legitimate sister, what's going on with her?"
Mrs. Bai sighed again, "My elder sister married well, and everyone was very envious of her. Unfortunately, she was not fertile and gave birth to three daughters. Her husband's family didn't like her anymore.
I only know that she had been worrying about giving birth to a son. She finally gave birth to a son, but her health was completely ruined. She was bedridden for more than a year and then passed away.”
Su Tai was stunned. "So, both of Mrs. Bai's children are gone?"
Bai nodded.
Su Tai suddenly had a bad premonition, and couldn't help but remind her: "I think if you're okay, you'd better not run back to your parents' home. Madam Bai has lost all her biological children, but her concubine's children are fine, especially you, who is the head of the family, has a son and a daughter, and is happy. I don't believe that she won't think of her own daughter when she sees you. If she suddenly gets sick and attacks you one day, you won't be able to hide!"
Bai was so frightened by Su Tai's words that her face turned pale and the teacup fell to the ground.
Seeing that she was frightened, Su Tai quickly comforted her, "I just said it casually. It's all guesswork, not necessarily true."
Bai murmured absentmindedly, "No, I think you are right. No wonder my stepmother's attitude towards me changed drastically the two times I went back to visit her. Nanny Li still didn't treat me well. Unless Nanny Li knew that my stepmother was not really kind to me, she didn't have to pretend!
Good sister! You really helped me a lot! I must thank you very much. "
As she said this, she quickly picked up a new cup and poured water, but her hands were shaking uncontrollably, completely betraying her.
Su Tai breathed a sigh of relief, took out the teapot and poured her some water.
Bai returned to Ma's house.
Ma Xingteng rushed over immediately, "Madam, what did Shen Yi's wife say? Can you lower the price?"
Bai looked at Ma Xingteng with tears in her eyes, her whole body shaking like a sieve.
Ma Xingteng was shocked and worriedly walked over to grab her arm, "What's wrong? Who bullied you?"
Bai couldn't help but burst into tears, venting all the fear in her heart, "Husband, what should I do?"
Ma Xingteng hurriedly picked her up by the waist and limped back to the yard.
After Bai was tired of crying and her emotions calmed down, Ma Xingteng asked her what happened.
Bai Shi spoke out Su Tai's analysis in one breath, hugging Ma Xingteng's sleeve tightly, "My husband, what Su Tai said must be true. She is very capable and can understand people's hearts. My stepmother has bad intentions. What should I do?"
Ma Xingteng patted Bai's hand solemnly, his eyes moving rapidly, "If it's really like what Su Tai said, you can never go back to your parents' home again."
"But Moshi Town is not far from Zhaohua County. My stepmother is ill and my father is not as energetic as before. My aunt is still alive and well. I can't stay away from home forever. If she sends a message asking me to go over, I won't be able to refuse." Bai had thought of many ways on the way back, but in the end, there was no way to have the best of both worlds.
Ma Xingteng thought for a moment and said in deep thought: "Filial piety is more important than anything else. If the Bai family uses filial piety to pressure you, we really can't resist, so the best way is to avoid it.
So, I will have someone send you and Sang back to the countryside, and tell others that Sang is sick and has had a big fight with Dad at home. You have no choice but to accompany your mother-in-law to seek medical treatment. We will go quietly and tell no one.
In addition, I will personally go to the county town to tell my father-in-law that it would be best if your aunt could go to the nunnery to eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist scriptures, at least keep her away from your stepmother. I will then ask someone to look after her. By the time your stepmother realizes what is happening, it will be too late to control you again."
Bai was completely at a loss as to what to do and just did whatever Ma Xingteng said.
Ma Xingteng then went to Mr. Ma's yard, and the father and son discussed for a long time before releasing Sang. (End of this chapter)
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