Rebirth: My Dear Little Wife Is So Scheming

Chapter 124 - 124 124 Shifting Responsibility

?Chapter 124: Chapter 124 Shifting Responsibility Chapter 124: Chapter 124 Shifting Responsibility “Bai Jianguo, what is going on?” Wang Meihua asked directly. She was the village women’s director in charge of these matters. Who would have thought that Bai Jianguo, always honest and kind-hearted, would abuse his own mother? Everyone knew that Li Chunhua treated Bai Jianguo very well, loving him with all her heart. The mother and son were always seen as loving and filial in the village. Yet, this time, it had come to this.

No one was not shocked. It’s not to say that the village was full of filial sons; there were plenty who shirked their responsibilities and were unwilling to support their elderly parents! But Bai Jianguo had always been a good man.

Yet a good man does not spare cruelty when it harms others.

Bai Jianguo’s mind raced with thoughts. He knew about Hao Fang’s mistreatment of the old lady; he had seen it in the hospital. He had simply turned a blind eye, as the old lady wouldn’t speak and was paralyzed. As long as nothing overly inappropriate happened publicly, he wouldn’t speak out. After all, that was how the old lady had treated Bai Xiao initially, and he didn’t see anything wrong with it.

This is probably what they call educational discipline through personal example.

Bai Jianguo was indeed Li Chunhua’s own son, perfectly mastering her teachings.

If Li Chunhua knew, she would probably regret why she had treated Bai Xiao that way. Bai Xiao, even if not close, was still better than Bai Jianguo, the ungrateful son.

Now that the incident had blown up, it was impossible to deny it. With so many watchful eyes, the Director could immediately send him to the police if he was found abusing the elderly. Not to mention, if the village chief decided to hold a meeting to criticize and educate, Bai Jianguo’s family wouldn’t be able to live in the village any longer. There would be no place for them in Liupan Village, although they could remain shamelessly! But with such a reputation, how could his son ever find a bride?

Bai Jianguo always had the ability to make quick decisions. Turning around, he suddenly stood up and approached Hao Fang step by step.

“Good for you, Hao Fang. I entrusted my mother to you, asking you to take good care of her, and this is how you do it? I wholeheartedly believed you would take proper care of the old lady. I believed everything you said. The old lady has been good to us over these years, yet this is how you treat our mother? You dare to abuse an elderly person?” He delivered a slap and a kick, sending Hao Fang flying out of the house door, where she fell in the courtyard, clutching her stomach and moaning.

Li Guoqing grabbed Bai Jianguo, not wanting to witness a fatality.

“Speak if you want to talk, but if you’re going to hit your wife, wait till we leave and close the door behind you. Don’t disgrace yourself in front of us,” said Li Guoqing, a straightforward man but not a fool. How could a son not see his mother being abused?

What did that indicate? Bai Jianguo had never really cared for the old lady. And why hadn’t he? It just confirmed what Bai Xiao had said about the old lady being left in a small house next to the pigpen. Otherwise, how could he not have seen anything if he were home every day?

Pointing at Hao Fang, Bai Jianguo said, “That damned woman, to treat my mother this way! I won’t forgive her; I’d be failing my mother.” He then lunged towards his mother’s bed. “Mom, it’s my fault, isn’t it? I didn’t notice. I thought she was diligently looking after you. It’s all my fault. I’ve been overwhelmed these past days, barely managing with the care, coming back from the town, so much work at home and in the fields, nothing going smoothly, my head hurts from worrying so much. I neglected home, letting this woman deceive and dominate. But mom, rest assured, from now on, I’ll stay by your side and ensure you never suffer the slightest injustice. If I’m unfilial, may I be struck by thunder.”

Having sworn his oath, Bai Jianguo knew the gravity of the situation. The old lady was sharper than she appeared. Despite treating Bai Jianguo well over the years, she never transferred the title of the house or land to Bai Jianguo’s name. Even the estate titled to ‘The Elder Bai’ had been transferred to the old lady’s name. In fact, Bai Jianguo only possessed five acres of land and didn’t even own a homestead; even if he did, he couldn’t afford to build a house.

When the house was originally built, Bai Jianguo had planned for his own family to live there, never contemplating setting up a separate household.

He knew exactly what he was capable of. Without the old lady, what did he have?

Not to mention finding a bride for his son.

“Bai Jianguo, stop beating around the bush. The village chief and the Director are both here, so let’s just finalize this document today and save everyone a trip.” Li Chunhua was determined to make the will.

For Liu Baoguo and the others, it was merely a matter of being witnesses. Soon the document was prepared, and the elderly lady stamped her handprint, followed by the village chief and everyone else stamping their handprints and signing. The matter was settled. Liu Baoguo dusted himself off, stood up, and said, “Auntie, you take good care of yourself; we will be going now. Meihua, since you are the women’s director, come by Auntie’s house once a week from now on to make sure she isn’t suffering any mistreatment without Jianguo knowing—a socialist country like ours shouldn’t allow such treatment of the elderly.”

This demonstrated a lack of trust in Bai Jianguo and his family.

Wang Meihua agreed, “Auntie, I’ll come and see you every other day, you mustn’t get tired of me.”

Knowing the good from the bad, Li Chunhua gratefully held Wang Meihua’s hand, continuously thanking her.

Seeing Li Chunhua’s haggard and aged appearance, Liu Baoguo and the others also felt a pang of sadness. There’s a saying that no child can serve well at the bedside of chronic illness, yet it had only been a few days.

Many sighed as Liu Baoguo and his group finally left. No one paid attention to Hao Fang, who was wailing in the yard. There were many ungrateful daughters-in-law in the village, but their doings were clear—they openly refused to take care of the elderly, but at least they did not mistreat them.

No one would sympathize with what Hao Fang did.

And indeed, they could not sympathize. Everyone gets old, so sympathizing with her would be like telling one’s own children that it’s acceptable to follow in her footsteps.

It’s not like anyone’s brain just went haywire.

Once Liu Baoguo and his team had left, Bai Jianguo sat down in front of Li Chunhua.

“Mom, please calm down, I know I was wrong. You’ll still stay in this main house, and I will definitely take good care of you.” Bai Jianguo was now scared that the old lady would really kick them out. Bai Zhuang was about to get married, and if he didn’t comply with the old lady’s wishes now, he would be out of options. Therefore, the immediate priority was to appease the old lady.

Li Chunhua looked at Bai Jianguo skeptically; she knew her own son too well. He was very good at pretending, and it was fortunate she had safeguarded against Bai Jianguo and his wife, or else she would’ve had nothing good left.

“Second son, since you know your mistake, I won’t say much. From now on, your wife will move to that small house next to the pigsty in the backyard, and also bring me the money from my kang cabinet.” It was time to reclaim her rights and seek revenge.

Bai Jianguo was taken aback, “Mom, how can anyone live in that small house by the pigsty?” As soon as he said this, Li Chunhua’s eyes widened.

“So you know that place is uninhabitable? Then how come I was living there? If I can live there, why can’t your wife? Is she something precious? If you’re not happy, you can join her, I won’t stop you.” The old lady glared at Bai Jianguo with a murderous look.

The moment Bai Jianguo thought of the pigsty, he immediately gave up his intention of pleading for Hao Fang. The old lady was simply out to torment people.