"Mom, the way you say it makes it sound like I'm definitely going to become an official." Dahe said with great pleasure, "Not to mention others, just take our teacher for example, who's been reading for decades, has brilliant knowledge, but in the end, isn't he still relying on teaching for a living in town?"
"If it wasn't because he's good at studying, could he be a teacher? Besides, if he earned little, how could he reward you with silver?"
"That's actually not the case; the silver reward is given by our teacher's wife." Dahe said, "Our teacher is a live-in son-in-law! It's said that he studied so much that he ended up bankrupt, and other than reading, he can't do anything else. He had no choice but to become a live-in son-in-law."
"It can be seen that marrying a good wife from a business family is the right choice." Dahe looked very pleased with himself, mingled with arrogance.
Meng Yao sighed helplessly, thinking that the original Meng Yao had brainwashed Dahe too well, saying only a few sentences couldn't persuade him. She would have to explain slowly in the future.
Better to quickly get to town and solve the problem at its root.
Besides, even if Dahe really became an official, what if he ultimately didn't have as much promise as Xiaoshu? It would be of no use.
"Hurry, let's go." Meng Yao urged.
The two soon arrived at Uncle Niu's house. Uncle Niu was unwilling to take another trip to town because his ox was so precious; what if it was overworked? He made a round trip daily.
Meng Yao offered to pay more for the ride and said she'd call Dajiang to bring some hay later.
Uncle Niu was still reluctant.
"Uncle Niu, I was just resting and accidentally fell asleep. In my dream, Xiaoshu was crying and calling for help. I woke up with a scare, my heart wouldn't settle down." Meng Yao squeezed out a few tears, "A mother and her child are connected. If anything happened to Xiaoshu, how could I survive..."
Aunt Niu came out of the room, "You stubborn old man, it's not like you have to make extra trips every day, just an occasional one. How tired can you get? If you don't take them and something happens to Xiaoshu because of the delay, could you live peacefully for the rest of your life?"
Uncle Niu knocked his pipe and tucked it into his lower back, "Alright, alright, I know. So, about the fare you mentioned?"
"I'll give you twenty wen." Meng Yao quickly said, "And we'll also send you the hay."
With fewer passengers and Uncle Niu slightly worried there might really be a problem, the cart moved twice as fast as usual.
In less than half an hour, they've reached the town.
"The ox cart can't go inside; I'll wait here. Hurry and find Xiaoshu." Uncle Niu urged.
Following the memories of the original Meng Yao, she quickly found the carpenter's shop. The door was closed, and it took a long time knocking before someone came to open it.
A thin little girl, the carpenter's daughter, whose face Meng Yao recognized from the original's memories.
"Ya'er, where's your dad?" Meng Yao asked.
"He's, he's—" Ya'er stammered, unable to get the words out.
Her father had said that the incident with Xiaoshu should be kept secret, otherwise, she'd be made to accompany Xiaoshu.
She really wanted to accompany Xiaoshu, but her mother was sick; if she left, no one would care for her mother.
"I don't know." Ya'er stopped stammering.
"Where's Xiaoshu then? Call Xiaoshu out. Tell him his mom has come to see him." Meng Yao's heart sank, sensing something bad.
"Xiaoshu isn't at the shop, I don't know where he went either." After saying this, Ya'er withdrew inside, closing the door tightly.
So, is the carpenter off dumping a body?
"Dahe, do you know where the mass grave outside town is?" Meng Yao grabbed Dahe, her voice urgent.
"Five li south out of town." Dahe replied.
Meng Yao dashed off; Uncle Niu was waiting outside town with the ox cart, and five li would pass quickly.
No sign of the carpenter along the way.
Meng Yao felt uncertain. In her dream, she saw these events but only knew the day, not whether it was morning or afternoon. What if the carpenter dumped someone in the mass grave in the morning?
"Mom..." Dahe was worried, "You just had a dream, after all. Didn't you always tell me dreams are opposite?"
Young man, that's a dream you're having. This is a warning for me.
"My heart just can't settle but stays on edge. I'd rather it be false. Xiaoshu isn't at the carpenter's shop, and we don't know where he went, so I need to see myself to be at peace." Meng Yao said.
Near the mass grave, Uncle Niu stopped the ox cart, "I'm not going further."
The mass grave—despite it being daytime—still gave him the creeps.
It's said that those wealthy families who committed crimes, or those without acquaintances, after dying are rolled up in rugs and tossed here. It's rumored that spirits cry wails every night, and passing by here runs the risk of being led astray by ghosts.
Dahe didn't want to continue either, yet his mom had already run several zhang ahead; as a son, he couldn't very well act cowardly.
With no carpenter in sight, Meng Yao could only search while calling for Zhao Xiaoshu, praying he hadn't woken and wandered off yet.
"Mom, there's not even a ghost shadow here; how could Xiaoshu be here? At his age, he's likely hiding in some corner of town, playing without a care." Dahe felt chills down his neck, quite uncomfortable.
"Saying there's no one when you haven't even looked, Dahe, Xiaoshu is your brother, is this how you act as an elder brother?" Meng Yao said angrily, "If you still consider me your mother, then look hard."
"This mass grave is huge, how long will it take to search?" Dahe was displeased.
"Search 'til it's completely searched!" Meng Yao said coldly, "If you won't, then get out of my sight, I'll search myself."
Even if it weren't about someone's life, she wouldn't just stand by.
This was something ingrained in her from a young age.
Behind a distant grave mound, Zhao Xiaoshu struggled to open his eyes, his body felt broken and unable to move.
Moments ago he thought he heard someone calling him, sounded like mom.
Zhao Xiaoshu smiled bitterly; he surely must be dying, already hearing things. How could mom possibly be here?
Master told him even if killed, mom wouldn't care.
Mom sent him to be an apprentice, indifferent to his life. Why else was he never called home or visited?
So be it, dying would end his sorrow.
If there's another life, he'd definitely choose not to be mom's son.
His eyelids felt a thousand pounds heavy; he couldn't hold on, desperately wanting sleep.
"Xiaoshu, Xiaoshu!" Meng Yao spotted Zhao Xiaoshu, though the frail little boy before her was beaten beyond recognition, Meng Yao knew this was who she sought.
Zhao Xiaoshu struggled further to see clearly the face before him.
Zhao Xiaoshu's head tilted, unconscious.
Meng Yao grasped his wrist, feeling a pulse; she breathed out, though Zhao Xiaoshu didn't die in the dream. But now she was here, what if it triggered a butterfly effect?