Meng Yao led Zhao Xiaohua to the carpenter's shop.
To Meng Yao's surprise, the carpenter's shop's door was wide open, and a customer was ordering custom furniture.
Of course, it wasn't the carpenter who was attending to the customer.
Meng Yao knew well the severity of her actions.
With a good doctor treating, not even three months would suffice for recovery to the point of getting out of bed.
"Hello, are you here to order custom furniture or to buy ready-made pieces?" A young man approached, with a faint smile on his face, being very polite.
"Neither, I'm here to see Ya'er. I'm Zhao Xiaoshu's mother." Meng Yao introduced herself.
The young man clearly knew Zhao Xiaoshu's predicament and quickly called out to Aunt Zhao, leading Meng Yao and Zhao Xiaohua to the backyard.
Just as they entered the backyard, Meng Yao heard malicious cursing.
It was the carpenter.
The one being cursed was none other than Meng Yao.
The young man leading them was a bit embarrassed, "Aunt Zhao, the master, he..."
Meng Yao quickly waved her hand, indicating her understanding. After all, she was the one who had left the man bedridden. Some resentment was normal.
Ya'er came out of the house carrying a basin of water.
Though they had only been apart for a day, the little girl's eyes no longer held timidity but shone brightly.
The young man said something to Ya'er before returning to the shop.
Ya'er poured out the water from the basin and washed her hands, then greeted Meng Yao and Zhao Xiaohua.
"Aunt, thank you." Ya'er said solemnly.
"I didn't really do anything, just helped Xiaoshu vent some anger." Meng Yao replied, without any intention of claiming credit.
Moreover, she indeed hadn't explicitly taught the little girl anything.
"No matter what, he is still my father. Let him lie there then; I won't short him on food. I'll take care of him, serving his needs day and night." Ya'er spoke calmly, "I don't know how my father's foot tendons and hand tendons got severed."
Meng Yao confirmed that she had done something to the carpenter.
But she hadn't touched the foot and hand tendons.
This young girl was quite ruthless.
Of course, she wasn't sympathizing with the carpenter, just expressing emotion.
Ya'er then spoke to Meng Yao about her future plans, and Meng Yao couldn't help but admire her. Indeed, adversity breeds talent.
Zhao Xiaohua, only a year younger than Ya'er, was innocent and pure.
Yet Ya'er had already planned out many years ahead.
When the time comes, she would find a husband; as for the craftsman working at the shop now, she would return his contract of servitude. If he wanted to continue, they would sign an employment contract; if not, he was free to leave with his contract.
"Aunt, Xiaoshu shows great promise in woodworking. If Aunt is willing, Xiaoshu could come back. Brother Dazhuang wouldn't bully Xiaoshu; I will have Brother Dazhuang teach Xiaoshu well. Every month the shop earns, I will give Xiaoshu a share." Ya'er said sincerely.
She was truly grateful to Meng Yao for lifting her out of the muck, giving her the courage to break free from the quagmire.
Her and her mother's future days were now filled with light.
"Thank you," Meng Yao expressed gratitude, "I will pass the message on to Xiaoshu."
As for whether he would come back or not, that was up to Zhao Xiaoshu to decide.
She wanted to be a democratic mother.
Of course, she would also provide Zhao Xiaoshu with other options.
Having visited Ya'er, Meng Yao led Zhao Xiaohua away from the carpenter's shop and along the path back to Linlang Pavilion.
Her technique of dislocating joints was rather tricky; though not impossible to restore, it was not easy, certainly not within such a short time.
Linlang Pavilion only had the shopkeeper in; seeing Meng Yao return, she was startled.
"You—" the shopkeeper feared Meng Yao would immediately disable her arm and subconsciously stepped back.
"Ah, I'm just too kind-hearted," Meng Yao sighed. "I was all set to go home but couldn't bear to see someone's arm rendered useless. Call the person out, and I'll fix it. If you delay any longer, even if it gets fixed, movement will be affected."
"She's at Hundred Herbs Hall," the shopkeeper said, trembling.
Meng Yao replied casually and led Zhao Xiaohua out.
She was familiar with Hundred Herbs Hall.
What Meng Yao didn't expect was Tao Hua and Mrs. Jin were also at Hundred Herbs Hall.
Moreover, Tao Hua was instructing the doctor of Hundred Herbs Hall on how to restore the shop assistant's joints.
Tao Hua, was she one of us?
Could it be that crossing over had become commonplace?
Should they have a moment of mutual recognition?
No wonder she felt a sense of kinship with Tao Hua!
"The tiger covers the land?" Meng Yao casually uttered a phrase from before crossing, feeling envious. How come she was lucky to become a cute little girl with a bright future ahead?
Unlike her, facing a future as an old maid.
Tao Hua didn't react to Meng Yao's words, but Mrs. Jin responded strongly, glaring at Meng Yao with eyes full of anger.
Could Mrs. Jin be the real hidden master?
Before Meng Yao could further ascertain, Mrs. Jin angrily spoke, "Mrs. Meng, even if Qingmiao did something wrong, you didn't have to be so heavy-handed, did you? I didn't expect you to be such a vicious person. The doctor said if her arm can't be restored, it would be crippled."
The person who pushed Zhao Xiaohua was called Qingmiao?
Given how familiar Mrs. Jin called this, she obviously knew the female assistant from Linlang Pavilion and was quite close with her.
Tao Hua also looked at Meng Yao with tears in her eyes, speaking with a sob, "Aunt Zhao, please quickly restore Qingmiao's arm."
As soon as Tao Hua finished speaking, Meng Yao felt an impulse, wanting to restore Qingmiao's joint immediately.
She forcefully resisted this impulse.
She had initially come to restore Qingmiao's joint.
However, Mrs. Jin's accusations and Tao Hua's tears clearly placed the blame on her.
It was Qingmiao who had acted first.
If you act carelessly and lack the skill to avoid consequences, who can you blame?
Her willingness to restore was out of kindness.
But it didn't mean she was willing to take undue blame.
Meng Yao snorted coldly, "Tell me, why did I dislocate your joint?"
Qingmiao, in pain, her face pale as gold paper, her forehead covered in big beads of sweat, didn't want her arm crippled.
"I, I pushed your daughter, causing her to fall," Qingmiao gritted her teeth and said, "I was wrong, I understand my mistake."
"You not only pushed, but you also cursed. I dislocated your joint as a warning to you that appearances can be deceiving. You thought we were easy to bully, but little did you know, you kicked a hard rock." Meng Yao said condescendingly.
The people from Hundred Herbs Hall suddenly understood, especially the doctor who knew Meng Yao personally and naturally did not want to believe she was a malicious person.
"I realize I was wrong; I'm sorry, young lady. Please forgive me." Qingmiao struggled to say to Zhao Xiaohua.
"My, my mother only came to restore your joint," Zhao Xiaohua said loudly, "My mother isn't a malicious person."
The latter part of this sentence was directed at Mrs. Jin as Zhao Xiaohua spoke.
She wasn't a fool; Mrs. Jin knew Qingmiao and probably knew why her mother dislocated Qingmiao's joint.
Knowing this and still accusing her mother of being malicious, Mrs. Jin was the malicious one. Slandering her mother, she was indeed a bad piece.
And Tao Hua cried as if her mother had bullied people.
Clearly, it was the assistants of Linlang Pavilion who were at fault first.