38 Zhao Ting faked death to leave
Meng Yao laughed, "You're quite smart, kid."
"Of course." Zhao Dahe boasted.
"Mrs. Lin said, let Meng Ruyu get closer to Xiaohua." Meng Yao said.
"No way?" Zhao Dahe pointed at Xiaohua, "Are they targeting Xiaohua?"
Meng Yao shook her head lightly, "They know my temper, I certainly wouldn't let Xiaohua go to the Meng Family, so I guess, Meng Ruyu will use various excuses to come to our house."
The Zhao siblings were somewhat unclear about Meng Yao's meaning.
"Maybe they are targeting you instead?" Meng Yao pointed at Zhao Dahe.
Zhao Dahe looked incredulous, "Mom, are you joking? Me? Why me? I can't exchange betrothal gifts."
Meng Yao also thought of what Mrs. Sun said, 'As for Dahe, since he studies, the family won't ignore him.'
A year's gift costs dozens of taels of silver.
So, are they not after Zhao Dahe's status?
In ancient times, marriages between cousins were quite normal.
Previously, Zhao Dahe came in third in the monthly exams, and the whole village was talking about it. Presumably, the Meng Family has been inquiring secretly.
They think Zhao Dahe has potential, so they want to act first to get the advantage.
They anticipate Meng Yao wouldn't agree, so they first propose something Meng Yao would surely refuse. Mrs. Sun plays the bad cop, while Meng Cheng and Mrs. Lin play the good cop. Though clumsy and unnatural, they still show their goodwill. This way, even if Meng Yao doesn't appreciate it nor return to the Meng Family, they can shamelessly send Meng Ruyu to the Zhao family.
After all, Meng Ruyu is just a child, and what wrong can a child have?
No matter how unhappy Meng Yao feels, it's not right to take it out on her niece, right?
Zhao Dahe paced back and forth anxiously, clenching his teeth, "How could they be like this, how could they be like this? Can they really dream of reaching my level? How do they dream so much?"
Meng Yao shrugged, "Yeah, that family, they're best at dreaming wild dreams."
"What should we do then?" Zhao Dahe asked.
"What do you mean what to do?" Meng Yao countered, "These are just speculations, decisions should be made once things actually happen, right? You should be aware of the situation."
"Mom, you really don't intend to reconcile with them, do you?"
"Do I seem like the kind of person who invites trouble for herself when there's nothing going wrong?" Meng Yao chuckled.
"That's good, that's good." Zhao Dahe felt relieved.
·
Meng Family.
Mrs. Sun and Mrs. Lin were whispering to each other.
"Do you think it's true?" Mrs. Sun was still a bit skeptical.
"It must be true, my second brother couldn't mistake someone for Zhao Ting." Mrs. Lin assured.
"Then why hasn't he reunited with Meng Yao?" Mrs. Sun asked.
"Back then Zhao Ting married into the family, surely not willingly, and my second brother said Zhao Ting has someone by his side now." Mrs. Lin said, "Perhaps Zhao Ting faked death to leave at that time."
"Do you think he will recognize the children?" Mrs. Sun was still a bit worried.
"My second brother has inquired, Zhao Ting hasn't had children since he left. It's unlikely he'll have children now." Mrs. Lin said, "Unless he wants to have no heirs, he'll surely recognize the kids. We must settle the marriage before he acknowledges the kids. Dahe can study, with Zhao Ting's support, he's sure to become an official. By then, with Ruyu, won't our family have good days?"
"Then we must help Zhao Ting somehow, he doesn't like Meng Yao, we have to help him send Meng Yao away far." Mrs. Sun said.
"Mom, do you honestly mean it?" Mrs. Lin couldn't help asking.
Mrs. Sun gritted her teeth, "She hasn't listened to me since she was little, why wouldn't I have the heart?"
·
Zhao Dahe was extremely happy to leave home this time as his mom prepared lots of his favorite snacks for him, made by her own hands.
Maybe it's because of the earrings he bought for his mother that made her happy.
Or maybe it's because the Meng Family targets him, causing his mom to feel guilty.
Anyway, he felt his mom was once again the one who loved him the most.
Once Zhao Dahe left, Meng Yao started designing patterns, without choice, the big gains last time were all contributed to the space, she was only left with a few dozen taels, having no silver makes her uneasy.
Zhao Xiaoshu and Zhao Xiaohua weren't much interested in the design patterns, so Meng Yao allowed them to do as they pleased.
Song Xiu'er was interested, but in this matter, talent is really crucial. Although she's good with needlework, she has no clue about designing patterns.
Likewise, embroidery isn't her thing.
Meng Yao regretted that her own skill in needlework might be lost.
At night, Zhao Dahe returned.
He returned with Qin Zheng.
Clearly, only three days have passed since they last met, but Qin Zheng had lost a lot of weight, he was dazed and lifeless, the previously splendid clothes now looked faded, emitting a sour odor. His hair bun was messy, covered with dried grass.
Compared to the previously cheerful chubby boy, he was a different person.
"What happened?" Meng Yao helped Zhao Dahe as they brought him inside, and couldn't help asking.
Zhao Dahe shook his head, "He wouldn't speak, I don't know either."
Zhao Dahe told Meng Yao, when he returned to the academy, he didn't see Qin Zheng, and when he asked the teacher, the teacher said he didn't know, Qin Zheng hadn't requested any leave.
Worried about Qin Zheng, Zhao Dahe took leave from the teacher and went to the Qin Family to find him.
But the Qin Family's gate was tightly shut, and he couldn't get it to open.
Zhao Dahe returned unsuccessfully.
The next day, he went again, and the Qin Family's gates already had seals stuck on them.
He learned from inquiries that the Qin family members had been exiled.
"Then..." Meng Yao pointed at Qin Zheng.
If the Qin family has been exiled, why is Qin Zheng still here?
"They say those who came to arrest the Qin Family were quite reckless, unsure of exactly how many people the Qin Family had, and they were in a hurry." Zhao Dahe explained, "I found him next door to the Qin Family."
Next door to the Qin Family is a deserted courtyard, on the shared wall with the Qin Family is a doghole.
"How did you know he was next door?" Meng Yao was surprised.
"I used silver in exchange for information, that person said it seemed they hadn't seen Qin Zheng taken away. With Qin Zheng's figure, if he was taken, the spectators should surely remember." Zhao Dahe explained, "The person spoke vaguely, so I figured there could be truth to it. As it turned out, he was found in the yard next door. Mom, don't worry, no one noticed us."
"Zhao Dahe, have you considered that your actions might endanger the whole family's lives." Meng Yao said seriously.
Zhao Dahe nodded, "I thought about it, but... but I can't bear to ignore him. If I don't get him out of that yard, he'll probably starve to death there. Mom, let's help Qin Zheng."
Meng Yao sighed, making her ignore the little chubby's fate, she couldn't do it either.
"First, clean him up." Meng Yao sighed.
Zhao Dahe sighed with relief, "Okay."
Meng Yao found a set of Zhao Dahe's clothes, and asked Zhao Dajiang to bring hot water, so he could help Zhao Dahe clean Qin Zheng.
While Meng Yao was pondering how to settle Qin Zheng, Zhao Dahe's exclamation came from the room.