Bai Rui

Biodata

Background

Bai Rui had been involved with He Wei, who left Lu Family Village for a trainee position at a cotton mill in the provincial capital. Pregnant after his departure, she turned to Lu Jiancheng, who had long pursued her, and asked him to take responsibility 2 5.

Jiancheng initially offered her the Lu family’s university recommendation. After Bai Rui was caught listening outside the family’s house, he told his parents she was over two months pregnant and believed the child was his. His mother questioned the timing, but Bai Rui refused to let her examine her belly. Jiancheng later learned from Bai Rui’s roommate that the pregnancy was already showing 2 3.

When Jiancheng ended their relationship, Bai Rui demanded a 500-yuan bride price, a grand wedding, and the university place. She threatened to accuse him of rape through the police or Educated Youth Office. She was nearly five months pregnant and wanted financial security and a legitimate identity for her child; a barefoot doctor had warned her that an abortion might prevent her from having children again 4 5.

Jiancheng agreed to marry her to protect his family, but refused to give her the university place. Lu Tinglan then threatened to report He Wei to his employer if Bai Rui accused Jiancheng. Frightened by Tinglan’s threats against He Wei and her own prospects in the Lu household, Bai Rui fled 5 6.

Appearance

Bai Rui’s clothing changes during the confrontation over her pregnancy 3 4.

• She wears a loose, patched gray padded jacket instead of her usual waist-cinched floral jacket, concealing the shape of her belly 3.
• On her next visit to the Lus, she has carefully applied makeup, though her clothes are muddy from fieldwork 4.
• She has large, expressive eyes and rounded nails 3.

Personality

Bai Rui often presents herself to Jiancheng as hurt and vulnerable. When challenged about the pregnancy, she turns his hesitation into an accusation of distrust and makes a threat to strike her head against a wall, stopping before she reaches it 2 3.

After Jiancheng rejects her, she drops the tearful approach and openly pressures his family for money, marriage, and a university recommendation. Her concern for He Wei remains a vulnerability: she rejects even the prospect of being reunited with him if it would cost him his job 4 5.

Relationships

• Lu Jiancheng — Former suitor whom Bai Rui asks to accept her child as his. He ends the relationship after doubting the child’s paternity; she then threatens his family to secure a marriage 2 3 4 5.
• He Wei — Former lover working at a cotton mill in the provincial capital. Bai Rui remains protective of his prospects after he leaves the village 2 5.
• Lu Tinglan — Jiancheng’s younger sister, who recognizes contradictions in Bai Rui’s account and drives her away by threatening to expose He Wei 3 5 6.
• Wang Xue — Roommate at the Educated Youth Compound. Their relationship is hostile, and Wang Xue tells Jiancheng that Bai Rui’s pregnancy is visibly showing 3.

Original Novel Fate

In the story Lu Tinglan remembers, Jiancheng gives Bai Rui the university place and his job, then cares for her child while she studies. Bai Rui later reconnects with He Wei, divorces Jiancheng, and sends a letter denouncing him after he continues to seek her out; he is sent to prison. These are events from the remembered novel, not the course shown after Jiancheng breaks with her 2 4.