Jiang Bai looked serious and took Tian Rou's hand, saying, "We are sorry for what happened. I will talk to your brother-in-law about it when he comes back later."
Tian Rou said softly, "Sister, don't be angry with your brother-in-law. I know it's not his fault."
Jiang Bai nodded and asked Tian Rou, "Has your third brother said how he wants to resolve this matter?"
Tian Rou shook her head: "I told my third brother that my brother-in-law must be a reasonable person to have built such a big business. My third brother also agreed to let's see what my brother-in-law wants to say first."
“Third Brother isn’t a bad person. Most of the money we returned to you, Sister, was borrowed from him,” Tian Rou said, smiling sheepishly. “But Jiang Cheng and I are both able-bodied. We can do some small business and pay it back quickly.”
Jiang Bai took a deep breath: "I understand about this. Here's what we'll do: come back in three days, and I'll give you a satisfactory answer. Also, I'll return the IOU to you then."
Tian Rou nodded obediently.
The three chatted for a while longer, then Tian Rou declined Jiang Bai's offer to have them stay for a meal, saying, "It's getting late, and we still need to find a horse-drawn carriage to get back to the village, otherwise I'm afraid of having to walk at night." She was heavily pregnant, and it would be dangerous for her not to go home late.
Jiang Bai didn't press the matter further, and Tian Rou pulled Jiang Cheng away to say goodbye.
Zhao Yi returned late at night. He had been discussing business and inevitably had a few drinks. He wasn't drunk, but he was a little tipsy and went back to his bedroom in a daze.
He lit the kerosene lamp and saw a female figure sitting in a chair. He was startled awake, but upon closer inspection, he realized it was Jiang Bai and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
What are you doing here?
Jiang Bai crossed his arms, his face grave: "I need to discuss something with you."
Zhao Yi smelled of alcohol, so he deliberately didn't approach. He first poured himself a bowl of cold tea from the teapot and drank it before asking, "What is it?"
Jiang Bai recounted the incident involving Tian Rou's third brother in detail, and even showed him the silver that Tian Rou had brought: "After they left, I carefully calculated it, and I returned every single penny."
Should I help or not?
Jiang Bai was inclined to help. Although Jiang Cheng was cunning and deceitful, Tian Rou was a good girl, and the conflicts between her and her family, and between Zhao Yi and the Zhao family, should not be transferred to the Tian family.
But she didn't know Zhao Yi's attitude.
Listening to Jiang Bai speak, Zhao Yi couldn't help but gulp down two more cups of tea before asking, "Was this money lent to Tian Rou by her third brother?"
Jiang Bai nodded: "That's what Tian Rou said."
After pondering for a long time, Zhao Yi said, "Then let's take the money and sell these two plots of land to her third brother."
Jiang Bai had also considered this method, but—
What about our parents?
Jiang Bai's father died early, and she would never bring up Wang Xiufen on her own initiative. Therefore, Zhao Yi knew that the parents she was referring to were Old Master Zhao and Old Lady Zhao.
Zhao Yi scoffed: "They let their children uproot the crops, and they still want the land?"
In the eyes of rural people, crops are not just something to make money, but also a miracle that can prolong life.
There are only two months left until the autumn harvest, and it's too late to plant anything else. To put it mildly, these children's actions have violated the law; to put it more seriously, the world will have a few more starving refugees as a result.
Jiang Bai knew that Zhao Yi had a way to deal with the Zhao family, so he felt relieved and said, "Then I will prepare the land sale deed tomorrow, and remember to make sure to set aside time the day after tomorrow."
This contract needs Zhao Yi's signature; otherwise, no matter what Jiang Bai does, it will be useless.
Zhao Yi picked up the teapot again and drank a cup of tea.
Jiang Bai then opened his eyes and looked at him, and frowned in disgust at his drunken appearance.
But Jiang Bai was very satisfied with Zhao Yi's decision, and Jiang Bai softened again, and couldn't help but say, "The tea is cold, don't drink it, I'll go boil some hot water for you."
Zhao Yi waved his hand: "No need."
He just finished drinking and is feeling very hot, so drinking something cold is just what he needs to cool down.
Jiang Bai said, "We still need to boil water. You reek of alcohol, you should at least take a shower, otherwise how can you sleep?"
Zhao Yi lowered his head and thought for a moment, then said, "You don't need to burn it. Where is Nurse Xu?"
“Nanny Xu had already put Xiao Le to sleep,” Jiang Bai said. “Besides, Nanny Xu was hired to look after the child; she has no obligation to boil water for you.”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yi said, "Go and select two more maids and servants tomorrow." Jiang Bai is a clean person, and usually when he is tidying up, his wet nurse Xu will help him out, but in this situation, he needs someone to serve him.
Zhao Yi usually had no fixed abode and did not have the habit of needing anyone to serve him. Apart from Tan Ji, he had never been with anyone else.
In the past, if he had encountered this situation, he probably would have just slept in the smelly slump. Men are often unkempt, but he wouldn't show it in front of Jiang Bai.
After Jiang Bai came over, the atmosphere at home immediately changed with the arrival of a woman and two children. Zhao Yi now almost never eats out and goes home every day at mealtimes because there are people waiting for him to eat.
Jiang Bai nodded: "Okay."
She went out to the kitchen to boil water, and Zhao Yi followed behind her.
After finishing cooking dinner, the fire was still burning in the stove. Jiang Bai opened the baffle to check, but it hadn't gone out.
She quickly put in some flammable firewood to make the fire bigger. Zhao Yi, with good judgment, picked up the large bucket of water, carried it to the yard, filled it with water, and then carried it back.
The two sat side by side in front of the stove. After a moment of silence, Jiang Bai couldn't help but speak first: "You bought this courtyard house?"
Zhao Yi nodded.
"Don't you think it's a bit noisy next door?" Jiang Bai asked again.
Next door is the medicinal cuisine restaurant owned by Wang Zhongyi and his wife.
Zhao Yi usually didn't notice this while handling business outside, but he quickly understood what Jiang Bai meant.
"If you think it's noisy, we'll move out."
Jiang Bai smiled with satisfaction. She found Zhao Yi to be easy to talk to at the moment, so she asked, "Do you have other properties in the county town?"
“No,” Zhao Yi shook his head. Houses in the county town weren’t cost-effective. He bought this courtyard house after Jiang Bai opened his shop. “But we can buy another one.”
After saying that, he paused for a moment, then, remembering that most of his money was in Jiang Bai's hands, he added, "I don't have any money right now, but you can buy another set and put it in your name."
Jiang Bai didn't refuse and asked, "What are your requirements for buying a house?"
"Requirements?" Zhao Yi repeated Jiang Bai's words, thought for a moment and said, "I want a new house where there is peace, joy, and you."
He stared at Jiang Bai, his dark eyes reflecting the dim, warm light, and the tenderness in his eyes overflowed like the sea.
Jiang Bai's heart suddenly started pounding. Her face turned bright red, whether from the heat of the stove or from shyness, she didn't know. For the first time, she felt that this man was somewhat attractive to her.
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