323 Exactly the Same
Bai Shanshan knew that Yun Wei was the young miss of the Ford City’s Yun Family. This identity might not be much to the capital’s four great families, but to Bai Shanshan, the Yun Family was also a high and unattainable presence akin to the Chu Family.
During this period, as Yun Wei was staying with the Chu Family, Bai Shanshan often saw her. It was very apt to describe her as gentle, generous, and decisive. Moreover, Yun Wei and Matriarch Chu had similar characters. People who didn’t know any better might think that they were mother and daughter.
Also, Bai Xiaojiu was from the Bai Family!
As these two people with such high statuses were coming to her place, Bai Shanshan felt a little fearful. This was why she said that it might not be a good idea if they were to come.
On the surface, Chu Cimo looked like a carefree person who only knew how to slack around every day. He was even more of a sloth than Shen Ruojing. However, he was very sensitive and had long since noticed Bai Shanshan’s feeling of inferiority. That was why he added a joke to say that they could come and offer incense. This made Bai Shanshan less nervous.
As expected, she smiled and said, “What rubbish are you talking about?”
Her father had passed away for many years. Moreover, it wasn’t his deathversary today, so how could they possibly get the guests to offer incense?
After Father Bai’s tablet was set up in a room on the first floor, Bai Shanshan and Chu Cimo offered incense to Father Bai. They then came out to have a chat with Mother Bai. When Bai Xiaojiu and Yun Wei arrived, Chu Cimo and Bai Shanshan quickly welcomed them into the living room.
Chu Cimo asked directly, “Why are you guys in such a hurry to look for me?”
Bai Xiaojiu seemed hesitant to speak, appearing like he was in a difficult situation.
Yun Wei said, “Cousin, we’re only here to tell you that Matriarch Bai has gotten Xiaojiu to handle the matter regarding the kindergarten’s slot. However, he’ll definitely not interfere in this matter. We’re just here to tell you this first.”
Chu Cimo was stunned. “What has this matter got to do with Bai Xiaojiu?”
Bai Xiaojiu sighed. “It’s just a family conflict.”
Chu Cimo’s lips twitched and he patted Bai Xiaojiu on the shoulder. “You’re quite pitiful too. I think that you should be like me. Isn’t it good to slack off in life? My brother is never stingy about giving me money!”
Bai Xiaojiu looked at him with an envious gaze. “If only my elder brother is like yours.”
When had he ever thought of vying for the position of the family head with his oldest brother?
However, he didn’t wish to live a mediocre life either. He also wanted to become his mother’s pride. When he scored full marks at school, both his parents would feel happy, and his grandfather would be happy as well. He had thought that his older brother would feel happy for him too.
However, he didn’t expect that his eldest brother would then bring him to the swimming pool on the pretext of teaching him how to swim, but actually just watched as he struggled in the water. Thankfully, a servant passed by. Otherwise, he’d have drowned to death that day.
Later on, he understood that his brother was different from his mother and the others. His eldest brother wouldn’t feel happy because he was outstanding.
Even when he kept on saying that he wasn’t interested in becoming the head of the Bai Family, his brother was still unwilling to let him off…
His eldest brother had harbored hatred for him for a very long time. If his eldest brother were to become the head of the family one day, there would definitely be no room for him in the Bai Family.
Bai Xiaojiu had thought of leaving everything behind and going overseas. But now, he had Yun Wei, and he had his parents… he wasn’t alone anymore.
“My brother isn’t good to me either. He’s too fierce and always threatens me with my allowance.” Chu Cimo mumbled and then asked, “Is this the reason why you guys are so anxious and wanted to look for me?”
Yun Wei nodded. “Xiaojiu is afraid that you’d be unhappy.”
“That’s nothing.” Chu Cimo was very open-minded. “Even if I were to have a grudge, it’d just be toward your eldest brother and have nothing to do with you. It’s not like you used the Bai Family’s influence to threaten me.”
Seeing how magnanimous Chu Cimo was, Bai Xiaojiu felt even more relaxed when interacting with the Chu Family. At this moment, Bai Shanshan walked over with teacups and poured tea for them one by one.
Bai Xiaojiu looked up and was slightly stunned when he saw Bai Shanshan.
For some reason, he kept having the feeling that Bai Shanshan looked very familiar. He also felt a strange sense of closeness with her.
However, Bai Xiaojiu had never met his second uncle in person before. He had only seen a photo. If he saw the portrait, he’d definitely be able to recognize the other party. Even if he had never seen Bai Jiayao in person, he’d be able to recognize him.
After all, Bai Shanshan looked like a fair, skinny, and weak girl. Therefore, he only felt that she looked familiar.
At this moment, Yun Wei spoke up, “Cousin, why did you come to the Bai Residence? Is anything the matter? Maybe we can be of help.”
Chu Cimo rarely came to the Bai Residence. In fact, he even rarely appeared at the Chu Manor.
After all, he was an “incompetent” second-generation heir. What he hated the most was to see his elders and be disciplined by them.
Therefore, Yun Wei asked about it seeing that he was here now.
Chu Cimo coughed. “It’ll be my father-in-law’s deathversary in two days. We’ve just moved to the capital, so Shanshan and I relocated Father-in-law’s memorial tablet here. Now, it’ll be more convenient for us to offer incense and offerings to him.”
Bai Xiaojiu immediately said, “Then let’s go and offer incense to Uncle.”
Bai Shanshan was flattered and said, “No need, no need. My father has passed away for more than ten years, and it’s not a new memorial tablet. There’s no need to go through so much trouble.”
However, Bai Xiaojiu felt that he already hit it off very well with Chu Cimo and was very close to Bai Shanshan. So, he said, “Then on the day of Uncle’s death, I’ll come to offer incense.”
Bai Shanshan was stunned. “This… There’s no need for that, right?”
Bai Xiaojiu also felt that his words were a little abrupt, but since he had said it out loud, he made up his mind. “Cousin-in-law, you don’t have to be so polite. Or do you think that our relationship is too distant and you don’t want me to come?”
When Bai Shanshan was called “Cousin-in-law”, her face immediately turned red. She wasn’t used to such things, so she stammered as she tried to explain herself, “No, no, I…”
“Alright, no problem!” However, Chu Cimo had the aura of a pugilist and said heartily, “I’ll call you over on the death anniversary.”
“Alright.”
After both parties agreed, Chu Cimo sent Bai Xiaojiu and the others out. After they left, before Chu Cimo could return to the room, she saw Bai Shanshan walking out of the room in a panic.
“Xiaoqi got injured.”
–
In the kindergarten.
The number of students from distinguished families in such a special kindergarten would naturally be limited, and those of the same age would go to the same class.
The students usually didn’t study in class because everyone’s learning progress was different. They were only brought together to play and develop their intelligence. As for the teachers, they were in charge of guiding them to discover their specialties.
At this moment, they were having a physical education class.
As the class monitor, Bai Yitong was staring angrily at Chu Xiaoqi.
He hated Chu Tianye and Chu Yu, but he couldn’t win against them. As for Chu Xiaomeng… she didn’t care about anyone at all. It was meaningless for others to bully her.
Therefore, Bai Yitong shifted all his hatred onto Chu Xiaoqi.
Chu Xiaoqi was younger, so she was slightly shorter than Chu Tianye and the others. When they were queuing up, she was separated from the three children and stood alone in the front row.
After the teacher gave the order to begin, Bai Yitong looked at Chu Xiaoqi. When she wasn’t paying attention, he stretched out his leg and tripped Chu Xiaoqi!
This was too sudden, causing Chu Xiaoqi’s face to smash to the ground. Her nose then bled from the collision, and there were wounds on her face from the friction with the ground. One of her front teeth was even knocked off.
Chu Xiaoqi’s face was messed up and bloody. When she lifted her head up, she felt her cheeks burning. She then swept her gaze over. After picking up the apple that had fallen to the ground, she then burst into tears.
This incident happened in the courtyard. Coincidentally, Matriarch Bai was having lunch with Dean Lin Yi and had yet to leave. Therefore, Bai Yitong’s mother, Shen Wanying, as well as Matriarch Bai, quickly arrived at the scene.
Seeing that Chu Xiaoqi’s face was covered in blood yet she was still holding onto the apple tightly, Matriarch Bai was stunned again.
This was because when her second son was young, he had also fallen down once. Back then, he also cried miserably and with one of his front teeth lost, he looked exactly the same as the current Chu Xiaoqi!