She thought, just now Zhao Dahe acted completely differently from the Zhao Dahe in the original memories.
This sort of lazy and slightly annoying demeanor is the real Zhao Dahe.
Even Meng Yao was puzzled; aren't scholars supposed to be gentle and polite? Zhao Dahe's behavior suited more the image of a useless loafer.
Such a good-looking face is wasted.
"Here's the money, here's the money. Do you really think your mother would be greedy for your little silver? Think about it, your study costs are all covered by me! Just now you were defending your sister-in-law, I was just caught up thinking about what you meant!" Meng Yao grumpily stuffed the pouch into Zhang Dahe's hand.
Zhao Dahe happily tucked the pouch in his jacket, "Mom, what's to think about? Didn't you say that no matter how useless big brother and sister-in-law are, they are still part of our Zhao Family? It's fine for us to bully them, but not outsiders!"
Oh, right, the original mentioned that within closed doors, anything goes in the family. But once the doors are opened, we should stand united against outsiders.
Meng Yao agreed with this point. At least there's something worthwhile in the original self.
If you think about it, the Zhao Family has only orphans and widows; if they weren't united, wouldn't they be bullied to death?
"Big brother, seriously, didn't I tell you that you should protect the family well when you left? Is this how you protect them? Making mom angry on top of making your wife half-dead!" Zhao Dahe said impatiently.
Zhao Dajiang grinned, "I didn't make mom angry..."
"Who says you didn't make her angry?" Meng Yao interrupted Zhao Dajiang. What kind of person is this, being able to laugh at a time like this? If she didn't interrupt him, he would definitely mention Song Xiu'er saving up rations to send back to her family to Zhang Dahe. This second son has an innocent face but is clearly not a naive rabbit, and would certainly complain more about Song Xiu'er.
"When Li Shi beat Xiu'er, if you protected her in time, would there have been these troubles?" Meng Yao scolded.
"But, wasn't that Xiu'er's mother?" Zhao Dajiang responded quietly.
A mother beating her child, what's there to stop?
Meng Yao: …
Okay, the original brainwashed Zhao Dajiang too well, thinking it was normal for a mother to beat her child. So, Zhao Dajiang saw Li Shi's actions as entirely reasonable.
"Mom, I told you, you can't teach Big Brother like this. He's a straight-arrow, and he never knows how to adapt in different situations." Zhao Dahe rolled his eyes.
"I never thought there was anything wrong before, but now I realize it. Don't worry, I'll straighten your big brother out." Meng Yao said.
Whether she can straighten him out is uncertain.
"Dajiang, listen to me. From now on, you must treat Xiu'er well, protect her, and don't let anyone bully her, understand?"
Zhao Dajiang was fine with that anyway, as he always did what his mom said.
Song Xiu'er and Zhao Dahe both looked at Meng Yao, their eyes filled with confusion.
Meng Yao calmly said, "Our family has no spare money to get you another wife! Marrying a wife is stressful and expensive!"
That's normal, Zhao Dahe thought; otherwise, he might think his mom has changed.
As for the matter of nourishing Song Xiu'er's health, Zhao Dahe didn't care at all. After all, though she said it would cost a lot of silver, his mom was probably just saying it for a good reputation; privately, as long as the food wasn't poor, it was fine. As for inviting a doctor this time, there really wasn't anything to it. You couldn't just watch someone die, right?
Moreover, though he didn't care much for Song Xiu'er, it was undeniable that she was quite capable.
With her at home, his mom could relax a bit more.
As for Song Xiu'er, she couldn't tell why she felt her mother-in-law was different from before. Even when she spoke words of disdain earlier, Song Xiu'er didn't feel any real contempt from her. It was as if the disdainful words were deliberately spoken for the little brother-in-law to hear.
Regarding Zhao Dajiang, he didn't think much about it; he simply followed whatever his mom told him to do.
Just after Meng Yao and the others arrived home, Dr. Li showed up.
Looking at Meng Yao, Dr. Li seemed a bit embarrassed, "Sister Zhao, I was wrong before. I blamed you without knowing the truth of the matter. I'm really sorry."
Oh, Dr. Li had accused Meng Yao of not letting Song Xiu'er eat enough, causing her malnutrition.
Meng Yao smiled with etiquette and phoniness, "Dr. Li, no need to care too much. I was just too fierce usually, causing a bad reputation, which led to your misunderstanding. Blame me, don't blame yourself. Besides, it shows your benevolent doctor's heart!"
Listening to Meng Yao, Dr. Li felt both guilty and moved. He had studied with his big brother for several days, who constantly taught him to look at things with his heart, saying often what the eyes see are illusions. Though Sister Zhao had a bad reputation, she was genuine. That Li Shi, who always seemed nice outside, was clearly a dog that bites without barking.
Sister Zhao even praised him as having a benevolent heart as a doctor, which he felt unworthy of.
"If I was wrong, it was wrong; I can't just ignore it because Sister Zhao is magnanimous. So the consultation fee for today's visit is waived, as my way to apologize to Sister Zhao." Dr. Li resolutely stated.
"No need, really no need." Meng Yao quickly waved her hands.
"Mom, how can you be like this!" Zhao Dahe disagreed, "Uncle Li genuinely realized his mistake and wants to make amends. If you constantly refuse him, how should Uncle Li feel? The sages say: Who is without mistakes? If one can change after realizing mistakes, it's the greatest good." (The sage's words come from "Zuo Zhuan·Zhao Gong II")
"Yes, yes, Dahe is right." Dr. Li quickly agreed.
Meng Yao glanced at Dr. Li, then at Zhao Dahe; this Zhao second-son quoting sages in such a righteous manner made her feel he was up to something.
Dr. Li carefully felt Song Xiu'er's pulse, his expression growing increasingly serious.
Having checked Song Xiu'er's pulse before, Meng Yao knew how terrible her health was.
Judging by Dr. Li's expression, he certainly found it too.
"Dajiang, what are you standing there for? Don't you know to boil some hot water?" Meng Yao ordered Zhao Dajiang.
"Dahe, you must be tired after rushing back here; go rest in your room." Meng Yao tried to dismiss Zhao Dahe.
Zhao Dahe suspiciously said, "Mom, are you trying to shoo me away?"
"Yes, I am trying to shoo you away. You're a scholar, and the smell of blood here might disturb you. Besides, Dr. Li will definitely acupuncture your sister-in-law later. Standing here like this, what does it look like?" Meng Yao said casually.
Only then did Zhao Dahe leave without suspecting anything.
Dr. Li awkwardly spoke up, "Sister Zhao, I...I don't know how to do acupuncture!"
Acupuncture isn't something just any doctor can do, right? Besides, even if he could, a grown man couldn't be poking needles into a young married woman, damaging morals and ruining reputations!
"I've seen other doctors performing acupuncture before. I thought Dr. Li could do it too." Meng Yao said apologetically.
"Then it must be a particularly skilled doctor." Dr. Li confidently stated, knowing few in Zhou Country can do the Golden Needle Technique.
How skilled Meng Yao didn't know, but she could do it.
"Dr. Li, about Xiu'er's condition... just speak frankly." Meng Yao asked seriously.