"Xiu'er, the meal is ready. You all eat first. I'm going back to the room for a nap." Meng Yao set down her work and yawned as she walked outside. "Don't call me if there's nothing urgent."
Song Xiu'er quickly agreed, even though she didn't know what was happening. It was best to listen to her mother-in-law.
Zhao Dahe told Song Xiu'er not to worry about his room, and asked her to relay to Dajiang and the two little ones that matters concerning Qin Zheng at home should not be mentioned outside.
Afterward, Zhao Dahe quickly ate something and left.
Uncle Niu asked him when he got back, and Zhao Dahe casually made up a reason to brush him off.
The ox cart wobbled, and so did Zhao Dahe's mind. Besides fighting for success, was there any other way to help Qin Zheng?
Unfortunately, when he reached the town, Zhao Dahe hadn't figured out a solution.
He paid for the cart fare and jumped off the ox cart, heading toward the tutor's house.
Since he couldn't come up with anything, he decided not to think about it. When the car reaches the mountain, there will surely be a road. He would take one step at a time.
Bang——
Zhao Dahe bumped into something, with such force that he fell directly to the ground.
Against the light.
It was a tall figure. Judging by the face, Zhao Dahe felt a hint of familiarity in his heart, like he had seen this person somewhere before.
"Are you alright?" The tall figure's voice was cool and clear.
Zhao Dahe instinctively shook his head, "Nothing."
"Watch where you're going next time, don't walk around absent-mindedly," the tall figure said. "Not everyone who gets bumped won't care about it."
After speaking, the tall figure bypassed Zhao Dahe and continued walking towards the edge of town.
Zhao Dahe was a bit unwilling. Clearly, he had fallen and his backside still hurt. Wasn't that person just being arrogant because of their height and size? He was still growing; if they had the guts, they should try bumping into him once he's fully grown. Then it wouldn't be certain who would fall.
However, why did it feel like he had seen that face somewhere before?
Zhao Dahe scrambled up, rubbing his backside. Where could it have been?
When he was almost at the tutor's house, Zhao Dahe stopped dead in his tracks, a look of shock on his face. He remembered it now; that face was very similar to his deceased father. No, actually, it was almost identical, just with more signs of hardship and authority compared to what he remembered.
How could there be someone so similar?
Zhao Dahe wondered.
However, his father's body was never found all those years ago. Could it be possible that he wasn't dead?
As soon as this thought emerged, Zhao Dahe quickly dismissed it. What was he thinking? If his father wasn't dead, he would have come home earlier.
Perhaps it was just someone who looked very similar.
Besides, he had clearly seen his own likeness earlier, and obviously, that person didn't recognize him.
What kind of father wouldn't recognize his own son?
Zhao Dahe touched his own face, thinking his appearance shouldn't be too far off.
Zhao Dahe shook his head, it was just someone who looked a lot like him. Why had he thought so much?
·
By the time Meng Yao woke up, it was already noon.
Song Xiu'er heard the noise and quickly brought Meng Yao some hot water. "Mom, freshen up a bit. Lunch is ready, and we can eat soon."
"Thanks for your hard work." Meng Yao soaked a cloth to wash her face.
Song Xiu'er was still not used to Meng Yao's politeness, nervously responding, "It's no trouble, just what a daughter-in-law should do."
Meng Yao didn't correct her anymore.
Correcting her was pointless, so Meng Yao decided not to waste time on it.
"Is Qin Zheng awake?" Meng Yao asked.
"He woke up around noon. I served him some food and he ate it all. He's in Xiaoshu's room now," Song Xiu'er promptly replied.
He's eaten and actively interacting with people, meaning he's thoroughly recovered?
"We'll eat later." Meng Yao said this and hurried to Zhao Xiaoshu's room.
Qin Zheng was guiding Zhao Xiaoshu and Zhao Xiaohua in writing. When he saw Meng Yao enter, he respectfully performed a grand salute, tears in his eyes, voice choked, "Thank you, Aunt."
Meng Yao was completely relieved. "It's good that you've come to see things clearly. Let's have a meal first. Whatever the issue is, we'll talk after eating."
After talking, Meng Yao invited Zhao Xiaoshu and Zhao Xiaohua to the kitchen for a meal.
Zhao Xiaohua curiously looked at Meng Yao, then at Qin Zheng, and after a long while, managed to say, "Mom, how did Brother Qin Zheng lose weight so quickly? Did you secretly tell him a better method?"
That sentence successfully dispelled a bit of Qin Zheng's restrained melancholy.
Meng Yao glared at her, "What do you have in that mind of yours?"
"What you taught me, Mom," Zhao Xiaohua replied innocently.
"Don't be cheeky with me, go help your sister-in-law set the table." Meng Yao glared at Zhao Xiaohua.
Zhao Xiaohua pouted and pulled Zhao Xiaoshu along with her to leave.
After the meal, Zhao Xiaohua insisted on standing against the wall with Qin Zheng, her face full of admiration. "Brother Qin Zheng, you're amazing, chewing each bite thirty times."
Meng Yao originally planned to send Zhao Xiaohua off, but reconsidered. Having a little girl around might not be a bad thing. At least it could distract Qin Zheng.
"I want to lose weight in the shortest amount of time." Qin Zheng said.
"If we keep each other company, we'll definitely succeed," Zhao Xiaohua said.
Two quarters of an hour later, Meng Yao assigned Zhao Xiaoshu and Zhao Xiaohua their studies, then took Qin Zheng to Zhao Dahe's small room.
"What are your plans?" Meng Yao got straight to the point.
Qin Zheng was silent for a while before speaking, "All the people of Qin Clan have been exiled, and I have nowhere to go..."
"You can live at our house," Meng Yao said. "That's also Dahe's intention."
Qin Zheng was moved, "But I can't implicate Dahe and you, Aunt."
"Once you successfully lose weight, your parents might not even recognize you. What kind of burden would that be?" Meng Yao said calmly.
Qin Zheng had slimmed down considerably now; even she couldn't immediately associate him with the memory of the chubby boy.
The transformation would be even more drastic once he fully slims down.
Losing weight being akin to cosmetic surgery isn't just an empty claim.
Previously, Meng Yao had witnessed this many times.
"Really?" Qin Zheng was surprised.
"If you don't believe it, you'll know when you lose weight," Meng Yao said. "So, you can settle in with the Zhao Family. However, I hope you seriously consider your future path. After all, you can't attend the academy anymore. The future path of civil service examination..."
Qin Zheng understood Meng Yao's point. "Rest assured, Aunt, I won't be dispirited. As for the examination path, I never had the talent for it anyway, so there's nothing to regret."
"As long as you make your own decisions." Meng Yao said. "In any case, Dahe and I will certainly help where we can. For what we can't help with, you'll have to rely on yourself."
"I will always remember the kindness of Aunt and Dahe, never daring to forget." Qin Zheng declared firmly.
"Your wounds still need disinfecting. I'll go get some medicine for you." Meng Yao said, knowing this was the time he needed to plan his future path.
After all, one can only be helped temporarily, not permanently.
Most of the time, you can only rely on yourself.