Chang Ying’s unusual behavior was obvious – only Grandmother Bai hadn’t caught on. Chang Ying’s parents understood their daughter and guessed this “Third Brother Pan” had a different background.
A fellow soldier of their son-in-law Bai Zhiyong?
He seemed more like a superior officer.
They weren’t sure of his rank, but he must be at least a regiment commander!
The Chang family didn’t dare be negligent, treating Pan Bohua very respectfully.
Only Grandmother Bai remained oblivious, showing pure enthusiasm upon hearing he was her grandson Bai Zhiyong’s comrade… Well, Grandmother Bai’s reaction was normal – not every elderly woman could be as worldly-wise as Grandmother Yu. Even Xia Xiaolan, who had transformed herself to appear younger, was like an innocent child before Grandmother Yu, who could usually see through young people’s thoughts.
If everyone were as shrewd as Grandmother Yu, how would young people ever get ahead?
After exchanging a few words with Grandmother Bai’s enthusiasm, Pan Bohua understood her nature – an old lady with very low vigilance, no wonder she’d been fooled by that kept man!
Even after getting rid of Gao Huabin, other opportunists would appear, especially since Grandmother Bai was so easy to deceive.
However, this also showed Grandmother Bai’s genuine concern for her granddaughter…
Pan Bohua tried to find an excuse for the easily swayed Grandmother Bai.
No wonder the former Bai Family Martial Arts Hall had declined so severely – how could it not, with a gullible, simple-minded Grandmother Bai and a hot-tempered Bai Zhiyong who only knew fighting? With such a grandmother and older brother, Zhenzhu appeared even more remarkable in contrast.
Pan Bohua couldn’t help giving Bai Zhenzhu an appreciative look – the Bai family had been relying entirely on Zhenzhu these past few years, it couldn’t have been easy!
Bai Zhenzhu: ??
Why was Third Brother suddenly looking at her like that? How strange.
While serving tea and snacks, Chang Ying pondered how this renowned Commander Pan had come back with Zhenzhu, and they seemed quite close.
It wasn’t that Chang Ying looked down on her husband, but from the way Bai Zhiyong spoke of Commander Pan, it was mostly reverence rather than familiarity, showing they weren’t close!
So Commander Pan especially coming to visit the Bai family elder was for…
Chang Ying had a guess, but looking at Pan Bohua chatting with Grandmother Bai, and then at Bai Zhenzhu, she forcefully suppressed that thought.
Impossible.
But with Pan Bohua here, would it be appropriate to discuss Gao Huabin’s matter with Zhenzhu?
Chang Ying was deeply worried about her sister-in-law’s marriage prospects.
She pulled Bai Zhenzhu into the kitchen and lowered her voice:
“Zhenzhu, did that Xiao Gao cause you trouble? Ah, I never thought he’d be that kind of person. I made things clear to him, but he won’t give up and seems very confident about ending up with you!”
If Gao Huabin were this persistent, Chang Ying would have to take responsibility for her poor judgment in bringing such a pest into their lives.
Bai Zhenzhu glanced outside.
For some reason, she didn’t want to discuss this matter in front of Third Brother Pan.
Both the blind date and Gao Huabin seemed so incongruous… If she couldn’t handle such a small matter, Third Brother might think she was incompetent. For someone of the jianghu, to be troubled by such things was embarrassing!
However, since Chang Ying had brought it up, Bai Zhenzhu wanted to use this opportunity to clear things up.
If she could get her sister-in-law and grandmother to respect her wishes from now on, then Gao Huabin’s appearance wouldn’t be entirely bad.
So she ignored the guilt on Chang Ying’s face:
“Sister-in-law, I’ve said before that I don’t want arranged matches, especially not marriage with this Xiao Gao. I don’t think I’m charming enough to make a university graduate pursue me so persistently. What do you think Xiao Gao sees in me?”
Chang Ying hesitated.
He must be after Zhenzhu’s money.
But wasn’t having money one of Zhenzhu’s good points? Wasn’t a potential match allowed to value this advantage?
“He probably learned that you’re a shareholder in An Family Building Materials and is after your financial situation. Xiao Gao’s family isn’t well-off; it wasn’t easy for them to put him through university. Ah, it’s my fault – we didn’t investigate this match thoroughly enough!”
It was normal to consider financial conditions in arranged marriages – who didn’t?
But solely focusing on money was concerning and off-putting.
Bai Zhenzhu thought for a moment and decided to be completely honest.
Not just with her sister-in-law, but also with her grandmother.
She left the kitchen and returned to the living room.
“I’ve never fully explained my business situation to my family – that was my oversight. Since everyone’s here today, let me explain how to prevent situations like Gao Huabin from happening again.”
It was embarrassing to have Third Brother hear this, but thinking about it, she hadn’t done anything wrong.
The three Chang family members listened attentively, while Grandmother Bai still didn’t understand what was happening.
What was wrong with Xiao Gao?
Wasn’t that young man quite good?
But Grandmother Bai didn’t interrupt – they had a guest, after all. Zhenzhu bringing this up really surprised the old lady.
Bai Zhenzhu briefly explained how Gao Huabin had confronted her at the People’s Bridge Building Materials Store.
“The People’s Bridge Small Commodities Market area is where I started. It’s An Family Building Materials’ first store, and although we’ve opened many branches, the original store’s business remains excellent. People’s Bridge has high foot traffic, great for business, but it’s also a mixed area with small traders from all over the country, thieves, and even seemingly honest porters who might be fugitives seeking livelihood… For an unmarried young woman to establish herself in the People’s Bridge market was very difficult, so I simply wore men’s clothing to avoid many troubles!”
In such a chaotic place, if Xiaolan had tried setting up a stall, she couldn’t have focused on business.
Inevitably, being so beautiful and from out of town, harassment, and trouble would have been common!
Only someone capable of fighting like Bai Zhenzhu could quickly carve out her place in the People’s Bridge market.
Additionally, her male attire blurred gender lines, reducing many unnecessary business complications.
Because of that initial impression, even now many people couldn’t determine her gender. Everyone called her Manager Bai, and seeing her lead a group of martial brothers, who would dare cause trouble?
That worthless Xiao Gao had publicly exposed her identity.
Knowing she was a young, unmarried woman with substantial assets, some men might approach her hoping to gain both love and money.
While Bai Zhenzhu wasn’t afraid, who would be happy being constantly targeted by schemers?
Before Bai Zhenzhu could finish, Grandmother Bai and Chang Ying were already stunned.
“Zhenzhu, this business seems too dangerous, with thieves and fugitives… And about Xiao Gao, might there be a misunderstanding?”
Chang Ying thought of Bai Zhenzhu’s previous injury.
It probably wasn’t just thieves and fugitives – it must have been gangs fighting over territory!
“Zhenzhu—”
Bai Zhenzhu glanced at everyone, focusing particularly on Pan Bohua. Good, Third Brother wasn’t showing any impatience, so she continued:
“Gao Huabin’s trouble is minor. I’m worried he’s just the beginning, since besides being a shareholder in An Family Building Materials, I have other assets. Money moves people’s hearts, and if our family doesn’t reach a consensus, such troubles will continue!”
Oh?!
So there were other assets indeed?
The Chang couple stood up, “Zhenzhu, we just remembered we have something to take care of at home, we won’t interrupt your family discussion.”