Chapter 40: Chapter 40 I Thought You Should Know Chapter 40: Chapter 40 I Thought You Should Know The group pet seemed to genuinely feel hurt, her figure faltering as she clasped her chest, her body trembling as if about to fall. She seemed unable to believe that her sister would treat her this way, her voice carrying a tone of grievance.
“I don’t know, sister, you are clearly my sister, why do you hate me?”
The next second, Bai Yu already had her by the hand, sheltering her in his arms, while he himself stepped forward, his eyes red with fury, fiercely glaring at Bai Zhi, looking as if he might push her at any moment.
But at this moment, Bai Zhi wasn’t alone anymore. They talked about her behind her back and even wanted to hit her; how could the other children just watch? They all stood by Bai Zhi’s side.
Even if they didn’t intervene physically, they wanted to show strength in numbers.
Bai Yu and Bai Ye had always thought these children were dirty, but Bai Zhi was different. She swept the floor alongside them, not pinching her nose or frowning like them, like a young master who had never done chores before, wasn’t that so?
Their gazes now held a deeper meaning; they couldn’t really have never done any, could they? They should let Bai Zhi do it herself.
Aunt Niu’s nickname didn’t come for nothing. In just the time span of a movie, everyone knew that Bai Zhi used to not come because she had too much work to do…
“Do I need a reason to hate?”
Bai Zhi blinked, her lips curving into a faint smile, but her eyes were clearly icy cold.
It was just like this, and the group pet was so heartbroken. How come when the original owner was neglected and ignored, she couldn’t be heartbroken?
“In principle, we are of a similar age, I thought you would understand.”
Bai Zhi put the broom in front of her, playing with the palm fibers, her glance unintentionally falling on the group pet and on Bai Yu and Bai Ye in front of her.
Her hand suddenly pointed towards Bai Ye and Bai Yu.
“This is the reason, don’t you understand? Xixi, everyone says you are smart and cute. But why are you playing dumb at a time like this?
You came into my home, and since then, my brother, my father, they all revolve around you, completely ignoring me. Shouldn’t I hate you?”
Bai Zhi’s gaze suddenly became sharp, staring directly at the group pet as if she could see through to every corner of her heart.
“You are the little princess who is pampered, and I am the old servant working like an ox and horse for you, why wouldn’t I hate you?”
She instinctively stepped back, her eyes tearful, her gaze as innocent as a deer, now filled with sadness and confusion.
“Sister, don’t cry,”
Bai Yu stretched out his hand, tenderly wiping the group pet’s tears, his expression infinitely tender; then looking up, his eyes filled with disgust.
“Bai Zhi, it’s not in your place to hate Xixi with your eyes. Why do we dislike you, shouldn’t you look for the reasons within yourself? You don’t study well, you are dirty all the time, you know nothing about looking after your sister, how could we like you?”
Every word Bai Yu said was telling everyone just how unreasonable Bai Zhi was.
“Bai Yu, I’ve realized, you really have a thick face. I never asked for you to like me.
When I was at your house, I got up every day to cook, wash dishes, clean, even go up the mountain to cut pig grass, and work in the fields.
Then I had to wash your clothes, only to be despised by you all. Am I crazy?”
“Sorry, I really don’t want to be liked by you at all. I’m just telling Xixi why I dislike her.”
“Who would like someone who constantly hurts me like that?”
Bai Zhi blinked her eyes, a look of innocence as if she was merely stating facts and didn’t care at all.
“You say I don’t study well. Well, please come tell me that after you’ve done as many chores as I have. I never used to speak up before, because I felt…”
Bai Zhi fell silent. The original owner had chosen to bear everything silently, not saying anything because they still held hopes and sentimental feelings towards their two brothers and their father, Bai Da.
She always felt that even if she didn’t speak up, when they saw the clean house and the well-fed pigs, they should be able to understand.
But what the original owner didn’t know was that some people are willfully blind.
Now, she had to defend Bai Zhi in front of everyone. It wasn’t that Bai Zhi couldn’t dig garlic mustard or that she left because she was hit; it was because they were too bullying.
Even if Bai Da understood her hardships, he wouldn’t say a word to others.
Bai Zhi turned back, looking at the other kids around, whose eyes were wide with shock. They hadn’t expected such explosive gossip; they were all ready to go home and tell their families.
“Shouldn’t you be doing chores? Every time we make some money, we come back and buy you candy. You gobble it up like you’re starved, don’t we give it to you?
You just do a bit of chores at home, while we are out there gathering fish mint over hills and dales. Who’s more tired?”
Bai Ye couldn’t stand it anymore; he glared at Bai Zhi and yelled, his fist looking like it was about to smash into Bai Zhi’s head,
Behind him, the group pet was shedding tears, not crying out loud, but the silent tears made Bai Yu’s eyes grow even darker.
If he could, he would love to sew Bai Zhi’s mouth shut, but with so many people around…
His gaze darkened, thinking of something.
But Bai Zhi noticed that there was a flash of cruelty in that look. Was he trying to set her up?
“You make it sound so nice. There’s so much to do at home; if Bai Zhi doesn’t do it, can’t she dig it up herself? She could casually dig for a few days and buy candy, right?”
The girl speaking was another young girl, Bai Fei, who was also the little sister in her family and had always been doted on. Technically, she was their cousin, Bai Dan’s granddaughter.
Bai Fei didn’t like Xixi. Everyone was a granddaughter of the Bai Family, yet Bai Ye and Bai Yu insisted on praising Xixi as if she was exceptionally smart and sensible, as if no one could compare to their sister.
What was so great about that? Bai Fei had wanted to say this before; every time, it was Bai Zhi who did all the work. But the Bai Zhi of the past, she didn’t like her either, just silently working, never speaking up. Doesn’t every household have adults working and kids helping? Yet Bai Zhi did everything and never spoke up.
When they came out, Bai Ye and Bai Yu would keep praising Xixi, making a fuss over something as simple as sweeping the floor. Was it necessary?
And Bai Zhi was also frustrating, overly honest and never spoke up for herself. Has she finally seen the light after being beaten?
Noticing Bai Fei looking at her, Bai Zhi felt a bit awkward. Did that make her feel like she’s finally growing up, or more like, finally proving her worth?
Bai Zhi thought hard and then remembered that Cousin Bai Fei had told her more than once. Household chores could be shared; she should tell their grandfather, but had she ever spoken up?
Perhaps she felt that the original owner was too inept, so after helping a few times, Bai Fei just stopped bothering?