Madam Jin pursed her lips, showing a hint of embarrassment on her face, yet she held her composure and felt no guilt over Zhao Xiaohua's words.
As for Tao Hua, her eyes still brimmed with tears.
Watching Meng Yao, guilt would arise after just one glance, feeling she shouldn't have made Tao Hua cry.
Moreover, neither Tao Hua nor Madam Jin seemed to react to her 'secret sign'.
Indeed, how could there be such a coincidence?
Meng Yao tried her best not to look at Tao Hua, discovering that by concentrating and avoiding looking at her, the strange feeling would lessen somewhat.
Meng Yao had Qing Miao stand up, and quickly pulled at her joints with both hands.
"Alright, but try not to lift heavy objects for the next couple of days," Meng Yao advised blandly.
Recovered, though still slightly painful, it was not as severe as before.
Even Qing Miao's complexion visibly improved somewhat.
Meng Yao wanted to avoid wasting time here, nodded to the doctor, and took Zhao Xiaohua's hand, heading out.
The doctor hurriedly called out, "Meng girl, your technique..."
He was very interested.
He had seen many people with dislocated joints, and could restore them successfully. But this technique used by Meng girl, he couldn't replicate. As a doctor, he was keenly curious.
Meng Yao smiled, "Sorry, it's not for public teaching."
Standard methods are typically sufficient for ordinary dislocations.
The doctor felt a bit regretful, but since they had refused clearly, it wasn't appropriate to pester.
"Aunt Zhao, Uncle Su is the best physician in town. If he wants to learn your technique, it's for the benefit of the townspeople," Tao Hua suddenly spoke up.
Hmm? So what?
Meng Yao resisted the urge to immediately teach Doctor Su the technique, keeping a calm face while looking at Tao Hua.
"Once Uncle Su learns it, many people could benefit. This is a good thing, and Tao Hua doesn't understand why Aunt Zhao would refuse?" Tao Hua gently bit her lip, her large eyes full of innocence.
She knew which mannerisms were most irresistible to others.
"My method is for combat; ordinary dislocations are not treated this way. Regular joint restoration techniques are sufficient!" Meng Yao explained plainly.
After speaking, she ignored Tao Hua, and left straight away with Zhao Xiaohua.
"Tao Hua," Doctor Su's tone was somewhat stern, "Meng girl has already refused, what you said just now..."
Those words were inappropriate and should not have been spoken.
"Master, the disciple was wrong..." Tao Hua glanced at Doctor Su, lowering her head slightly.
"Ah, the master is not blaming you; you had no ill intentions, just wanted to prevent others from suffering in similar situations in the future. Meng girl also mentioned, ordinary dislocations can be handled with ordinary methods," Doctor Su quickly said.
A method to subdue the enemy, even she couldn't restore it, so she was eager to learn it.
Meng Yao had excellent hearing, and though she was two or three zhang away with Zhao Xiaohua, she heard everything Doctor Su and Tao Hua said.
It turned out Tao Hua was actually Doctor Su's disciple.
But when she went to the Hundred Herbs Hall, it was clearly Tao Hua who was directing Doctor Su.
Moreover, she and her mother were evidently familiar with Qing Miao.
Yet, in Linlang Pavilion, they behaved as if they didn't know each other.
This...
Also, in her predecessor's memory, Tao Hua was just an ordinary village girl like Zhao Xiaohua.
Regarding the past life, up until now, all Meng Yao knew concerned Zhao Xiaoshu and Zhao Xiaohua.
So does this Tao Hua have a fortuitous encounter?
She didn't react to my secret sign earlier, so is she reborn?
If it is rebirth, then this little girl has effectively received the script, naturally able to control life's trajectory, avoiding some bad things.
But if she is reborn, wouldn't I be exposed?
Yet, for now, she hasn't shown any surprise.
Meng Yao was momentarily perplexed. She felt that Tao Hua carried many mysteries.
In the past life, Zhao Xiaoshu had already disappeared by now.
A child's disappearance is no small matter; it cannot be hidden, and the village would surely know. If Tao Hua is reborn, seeing Zhao Xiaoshu should surprise her.
Meng Yao intended to use this matter to test Tao Hua.
After Meng Yao and Zhao Xiaohua reached the ox cart, they still had two quarters left to the appointed time, and many villagers had yet to arrive.
After greeting Uncle Niu, Meng Yao still held Zhao Xiaohua as they sat in the same spot as before.
Gradually, the villagers all came, and in the end, only Madam Jin and Tao Hua were left.
Fortunately, they did not arrive late after all.
Unfortunately, only the wheelbarrow's spot remained on the cart.
That position was particularly bumpy, so no one wanted to sit there.
"Aunt Zhao, I thought you would help save seats for me and my mother..." Tao Hua's voice was soft.
Meng Yao avoided looking at her, resisting the impulse to give up her seat, "You didn't ask me, and even if you did, I couldn't agree. It's not right to occupy a spot when someone isn't there, is it..."
"That's right, that's right, there's always a first come, first served," someone chimed in.
"But on the way here, my mother and I were clearly sitting next to Aunt Zhao and Xiaohua," Tao Hua's eyes turned red.
"The way here is the way here, and the way back is the way back. You can't say that the seat you sat on the way here is yours forever. Otherwise, no one else could sit on those two seats on Uncle Niu's cart afterward, right?" Meng Yao retorted.
"Sit if you're going to sit; if not, don't block the path. I have a lot of work waiting at home," someone said impatiently.
In the end, Tao Hua and Madam Jin had to reluctantly sit at the wheel position.
The ox cart stopped at the village entrance, Meng Yao settled the fare, and took Zhao Xiaohua home.
"Aunt Zhao," Tao Hua called after Meng Yao from behind.
Meng Yao wanted to pretend she hadn't heard, but Tao Hua's voice was loud.
Meng Yao turned slightly, "What's up, Tao Hua, anything you need?"
"I thought a lot along the way; it was my fault. I shouldn't have assumed that because I'm close to Xiaohua, Aunt Zhao must save seats for me and my mother. I'm sorry," Tao Hua said genuinely.
I never blamed you.
Meng Yao almost blurted out.
She even thought, how could she blame Tao Hua?
"Oh, it's nothing. I'm not mad. It's nothing big! Tao Hua, don't overthink it. I'm in a rush to go see Xiaoshu, so I won't chat with you now," Meng Yao said while observing Tao Hua's expression.
No reaction.
"I'll come by to play with Xiaohua later," Tao Hua responded.
Was it after Zhao Xiaoshu's disappearance in the previous life that the villagers learned the news after some time?
Forget it, take it one step at a time.
Even if reborn, so what, there's no enmity between the two families.
If Tao Hua is peculiar, try to avoid her in the future.
"Mom, just now on the cart, I really wanted to let Tao Hua sit in my place," Zhao Xiaohua murmured, "but I was still angry with her. I barely held back!"
What?
Meng Yao was surprised, so not only did she want to be kind to Tao Hua, but Xiaohua also wanted to be nice to her?
If something unusual happens, there's always something strange; Meng Yao was almost certain that there's something odd about Tao Hua.