Perhaps, in Ye Xiu’s eyes, Bai Yu and Bai Ye were certainly hateful, but they were not utterly unforgivable, and their relationship with Bai Zhi could still be salvaged.
It couldn’t be said that she was wrong because, as a mother, she would never give up on any of her children. Flesh and blood are the same on both the palms and the backs of one’s hands, and besides, she thought she would surely teach Bai Yu and Bai Ye well, and they would never be neglected again in the future.
But she forgot what Bai Zhi had gone through, or perhaps, she did not dare to know.
"I understand now, Xingxing, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought these things up."
Ye Xiu looked at Bai Zhi’s indifferent gaze. Suddenly, she realized that by asking Xingxing this, she was actually being selfish. Xingxing had gone through so much, by what right did she demand her forgiveness?
"It’s okay, since you are moving out, I won’t see you off."
Bai Zhi looked at Ye Xiu and spoke indifferently.
"Alright. We’re not moving right away; there are things at home we need to take care of first." Ye Xiu mustered all her strength before she could utter an "alright." She knew she had messed up again.
"You are actually a good teacher, and you will be a good mother in the future."
But that had nothing to do with her, Bai Zhi could also demand Ye Xiu make a choice, but she simply did not give it any importance.
She had plenty of other things to concern herself with; they were merely passing clouds.
Ye Xiu left in tormented spirits, and when she got home, Bai Yu and Bai Ye had already packed their things. The family’s pig and chickens, Ye Xiu wanted to give them to Bai Zhi—it was Bai Zhi who had fed them, after all.
But Bai Zhi didn’t want them, she told her to sell them.
There was no need; since there were no ties, she should rid herself of all traces of the past.
She didn’t care, she didn’t need them.
In the end, Ye Xiu simply slaughtered them. She took everything away, leaving half for Bai Zhi and some chickens.
She was telling the truth. They were all raised by Bai Zhi, so it was only right to give them all to her.
In the end, with Bai Zhi’s silent consent, Bai Xin stayed behind.
That day, the village was filled with the scent of pork, and everyone went to eat the pork feast.
Finally, Bai Yu felt resentful. Bai Zhi had harmed their father; why should she share the meat with her?
"Bai Ye, don’t you think Mom is selfish—to divorce without asking for our opinion? Nobody knows yet, but once they do, how are we supposed to face people? And why should Bai Zhi get any? If it weren’t for her, would Dad have been taken away?"
He would be mocked in the future; no, he was already being mocked now.
"Mom is right, Bai Zhi was the one who fed them."
Bai Ye had been silent all along, but when he finally spoke, Bai Yu looked at him coldly.
"Bai Ye, you’ve changed. Are you starting to side with Bai Zhi? Have you forgotten how we used to prank her? Even if you want to curry favor with her now, she won’t give you a second glance."
Bai Yu looked at Bai Ye with a frosty gaze, feeling as if Bai Ye wanted to betray him just like his movements.
"I won’t go. I just think that if we don’t give, people will look down on us even more. Besides, we don’t need to care too much about what others think. We just need to do our best. Isn’t it just one more year until the exam?"
Bai Ye sorted out some things, preparing to go out and help Ye Xiu. Although there were people helping, many things still needed their attention, like the meat which needed to be smoked for two weeks before they could take it with them.
"Where are you going?" Bai Yu asked instinctively. Now, Bai Ye was the only one left by his side, and Xixi was taken away by Nan Jin. Who knew if she would be happy? That Nan Jin didn’t look like he would care for Xixi, did he?
After Bai Ye responded, he went outside. He found a broom and began to sweep and tidy up.
Ye Xiu silently watched, noting that Bai Ye still knew how to work.
It was only in the afternoon that Bai Dan returned. He arrived carrying big and small bags of medicinal herbs, as if he wanted everyone to know. When asked, he said they were the medicinal herbs that Xingxing needed to soak her feet in to recover. They were prescribed by the doctor.