บท 12: Twelve

The two standing against her didn't know what to say. If it were other village women, they would have directly called out all Dong Mei's previous faults. But elderly Madam Bai considered herself a respectable lady and such acts were beneath her. That was a fact that Dong Mei knew.

Lu Feng, on the other hand, was simply angry. All she had in her mind was that they either continued the fight from the previous day or Dong Mei left.

She directly shouted at Dong Mei, "find faults? If you want what's good for you, leave now before I break your bones."

Dong Mei was suddenly so frightened that tears almost spilled out of her eyes. She looked up at Lu Feng apologetically and quickly lowered her head so that they didn't see the heavy tears that lined her eyelids.

She spoke in a soft shaky voice, "I brought some gifts. Can I leave them here for you to-."

"CAN YOU SHUT UP AND LEAVE!" Lu Feng was impatient, "who wants anything that you've brought? What if it's poison? With all the guts you have, who can say for sure what you're up to. Hurry up and leave this compound before I start walking towards you. Otherwise, it will be too late to regret."

Dong Mei was so startled by the sudden shout that she stumbled over her feet and nearly fell.

"Sister, what is it that you've brought," a pleasant voice interrupted the fight, seeming to not have read the atmosphere.

At the sound of the voice, Dong Mei's slowly raised her face as if dreading to let people see her face but also wanting to see who called out to her. But when she raised her head, she didn't look at the owner of the voice but at the person the voice accompanied.

Dong Mei's lips parted and her broken voice sounded. As though, only for a few seconds of hope, she had forgotten to hide the pain she was feeling.

"b-br-Brother Bai," she stammered.

At that point was when the other two ladies realized that Li Hua and Bai Yang Wei had joined the commotion.

They both wore startled expressions. They had been caught loudly rebuking Dong Mei while she offered them some kindness. To make matters worse, the broom Lu Feng had thrown at her was still at her feet, showing that she had been mistreated more than necessary.

Anyone who could see would tell that Dong Mei was the holy mother bathed in holy light, offering kindness to the two ungrateful sinners; Madam Bai and Lu Feng.

Unshed tears glimmered on Dong Mei's eyelids, threatening to fall over at any second. Her beautiful light brown almond orbs looked up seeking the help that her lips dared not ask.

But anyone with good eyes and half a brain wouldn't find it hard to see why the ever strong Dong Mei had suddenly become all soft.

When she looked at Bai Yang Wei as if seeking for help, the other two women also turned to him to know what his deliberation would be.

So, without verbal ceremony, the ball had been thrown into Bai Yang Wei's court. It was up to him to choose who was standing at the moral point and who had no sense of social responsibility. It was part of the privilege given to males in patriarchal societies.

At first, it was elderly madam Bai that would have decided but when that was virtually passed on to Bai Yang Wei, even she had to wait to listen to what he would say.

Except Li Hua who seemed oblivious, everyone fell into an expectant silence.

Bai Yang Wei blinked. The silence that had started when Dong Mei called out to him continued for what felt quarter then half until it was three quarters of the time for burning a stick of incense.

Elder madam Bai: ....?

Lu Feng: ....!?

Dong Mei: .... へ（>_<へ) do something brother Bai!!!

Bai Yang Wei: ....

Li Hua: (;^＿^)

A shrill laughter broke through the expectant atmosphere.

Cang Mang suddenly jumped into the gathering from heaven knew where and landed next to Bai Yang Wei.

He laughed for a good amount of time. Dong Mei's expression salted at the sight of him and her brother Bai kept looking on like he had nothing to do with his environment. Li Hua gave Cang Mang a small smile while the other two women gave him questioning expressions.

Cang Mang tapped Bai Yang Wei's shoulder while he laughed and said, "I should thank you for being such a good ancient wood. Otherwise I would have had a stroke after that." He ended his statement without a smile and pointed at Dong Mei to indicate her performance.

Just like that, every thing was ruined. If Bai Yang Wei had chosen a side, a great play between women in the backyard would have ensued. When Cang Mang appeared, Dong Mei didn't even have the moral to continue performing.

Dong Mei tried to ignore Cang Mang but his presence was really too big. She immediately gave up the act of white lotus that she had tried to put up when she saw Bai Yang Wei approach.

Unlike Bai Yang Wei that had a calm and reserved personality that led him to be a man of few words, Cang Mang was a loud mouth. He would point out things that she didn't want Bai Yang Wei to notice and that wouldn't work in her favor.

The thing about Bai Yang Wei was that despite his knowledgeable attitude, he wasn't well versed in social interactions. Dong Mei wanted to use that to her advantage so she couldn't risk Cang Mang telling her brother Bai anything.

So she quickly fixed her face and said without a smile, "Cang Mang, I came here to find you. This basket is naturally for you."

Naturally, with people she had no interest in, she was a very straight person. In one move, she thrashed Lu Feng's and elderly Madam Bai's idea of thinking she was looking for Bai Yang Wei, making it seem like she was really being falsely accused.