Bai Xinrou and her daughter Zhang Cuiyan helped Bai Lao back to his room, one on each side.
Zhang Cuiyan, seething with anger, closed the door and began to complain to Old Bai.
“Grandpa Bai, it’s not that I’m trying to sow discord, but none of your sons, daughters-in-law, grandsons, and granddaughters are easy to deal with. They’re all keeping a close eye on Xinrou, treating us like thorns in their side, afraid that Xinrou will gain some advantage from you.”
“Xinrou’s mom, don’t take it to heart. It’s my kids who are being immature. But don’t worry, I’m still in charge of this family. As long as I don’t kick Xinrou out, no one has the right to kick her out.”
"That's true, but we're outsiders after all. We can't just stay here forever; it's not a good long-term solution."
Old Bai glanced at Zhang Cuiyan silently and simply smiled.
Seeing that Old Bai remained silent, Zhang Cuiyan cursed inwardly, "This old man seems to favor Xin Rou, but he's actually very shrewd."
When it came to the crucial points, he started to play dumb.
“I think it’s better if my daughter and I go back to the countryside. This bustling big city is cold and indifferent, and it’s not suitable for us simple mother and daughter to survive.”
Zhang Cuiyan took out a handkerchief and wiped away fake tears.
Bai Xinrou also showed a dejected expression.
"Grandpa Bai, I really want to leave here now. The only thing I'm worried about is you. But don't worry, before I leave, I'll teach Aunt Zhang how to make the refreshing tea. She can make the tea for you from now on."
Old Bai immediately shook his head: "That won't do. The tea brewed by others tastes different. Besides, you're living here quite well, which is much better than your home in the countryside, right? I was thinking of finding you a stable job after the New Year so that you and your mother can settle down in the capital."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Cuiyan's eyes lit up.
Settling down in the capital? She wouldn't even dare to dream of such a good thing.
A Beijing residency permit is more valuable than gold; without connections or connections, even if you have money, there's nowhere to get one.
If Elder Bai were to intervene, this matter would be much simpler.
"Hehe, Elder Bai is really thinking of Xinrou. But it's not a long-term solution for us to keep staying here and bothering you."
Zhang Cuiyan is such a shrewd person that no matter what Old Bai says, she can always steer the conversation back to the issue of accommodation.
Old Bai sensed the hidden meaning in Zhang Cuiyan's words, and his eyelids twitched slightly.
“Xinrou’s mom, just say what you’re thinking.”
Zhang Cuiyan looked helpless.
"We're living under someone else's roof now, so it's our own fault for being looked down upon. After all, we are guests of the Bai family. If Xinrou had her own house, or if this old house were transferred to Xinrou's name, then no one could say anything more, right?"
It's time to confront the old man.
The old man can't live without Xinrou now. As long as Xinrou doesn't leave, he will definitely give her a house.
Besides, this house should have belonged to Xinrou long ago. Old Master Bai had planned to transfer the house to Xinrou before, but unfortunately, Bai Qianmo and the Bai family strongly opposed it, and it has been delayed until now.
Bai Xinrou became nervous when the topic of the house was brought up.
Zhang Cuiyan continued, "It's not that we care about a house, but if we stay in the Bai family with this kind of status, it will really give people something to talk about. So, Mr. Bai, what I'm saying is a last resort, you see..."
When Zhang Cuiyan looked at Elder Bai, her face immediately darkened.
Old Bai closed his eyes at some point and fell into a deep sleep.
Zhang Cuiyan's excitement plummeted.
"What's going on? He fell asleep right when we got to an important topic? No way, if we miss this chance to ask for the house, who knows when we'll get another one? I'm going to wake this old man up."
Bai Xinrou was also somewhat angry and suspicious.
She clearly gave the old man medicine to control the Gu worms every day, and on the surface, the old man listened to her every word.
But she always had a feeling that whenever important matters were mentioned, the old man would start to lose contact.
Zhang Cuiyan stretched out her hands and shook Bai Lao fiercely.
"Grandpa, wake up, wake up!"
"Really asleep? Wake up right now! What's wrong with you? I think this old man is probably about to die. He just eats and sleeps all day long." Seeing that Bai Lao wouldn't wake up no matter how she shook him, Zhang Cuiyan started cursing and swearing.
Bai Xinrou was already used to Zhang Cuiyan's vicious words.
Moreover, she felt that Old Master Bai's days were numbered, so she was even more anxious to get her hands on the old house.
Otherwise, what if the old man dies one day? Wouldn't she have wasted all her efforts?
"Clang!"
Inside the room, a ceramic ornament inexplicably fell to the ground from a display case by the window, making a loud bang.
"Ah!" Zhang Cuiyan was startled and quickly withdrew her hands.
Bai Xinrou also looked towards the window in astonishment: "A ceramic vase has fallen to the ground."
"How did it fall to the ground out of nowhere? It almost scared the soul out of me." Zhang Cuiyan wiped away a cold sweat and patted her chest.
Bai Xinrou walked to the window and glanced at the open door and window.
"The doors and windows were open; perhaps it was the wind that made them open."
"It's like a ghost story, it just happened to fall down when I was shaking the old man."
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door.
Someone outside the door asked, "Where did that sound come from?"
"It seems to be coming from Old Master Bai's room."
Then a series of footsteps sounded.
Before Bai Xinrou and Zhang Cuiyan could think any further, the door was suddenly pushed open.
Xu Hualan and Sister-in-law Zhao walked in one after the other.
As Xu Hualan entered, her sharp gaze shot straight at Zhang Cuiyan.
Zhang Cuiyan felt a little guilty under that gaze, and her eyes darted around nervously.
Bai Xinrou's expression also changed, and her back tensed up.
"Aunt Xu."
Xu Hualan withdrew her gaze and glanced at the shattered ceramic vase on the ground.
"I thought something serious had happened, but it turns out a vase was broken. Sister Zhao, please clean it up quickly so that no one gets hurt."
"Yes, Madam!"
Sister Zhao went out and got a broom and dustpan, and quickly cleaned up the broken ceramic shards.
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