Ren Zhong invited them to the backyard.
At the front, with so many eyes and ears, he was concerned about Meng Yao’s reputation.
Then, Ren Zhong impatiently urged from the side, "If you have something to say, just say it directly!"
Meng Yao, no longer as aggressive as before, put on a courteous face.
Zhao Ting proactively said, "Why haven’t I seen the young master? I even went to buy him a bag of pine nut candy specifically."
"It’s my son’s reading time now," Ren Zhong replied.
"Sir is indeed strict in educating your son! Then, could sir pass this bag of pine nut candy to the young master?" Zhao Ting said.
"My son’s teeth are not very good, he can’t eat candy," Ren Zhong refused.
"Why do I feel like sir seems hostile towards me?" Zhao Ting narrowed his eyes.
"Is there? No, you must be mistaken," Ren Zhong calmly said.
Zhao Ting chuckled, "If you say so, then it is."
This Ren Zhong seems to be a very possessive man.
A man , whether good or bad, Zhao Ting knew that with Ren Zhong present today, he wouldn’t be able to see anything, so he said, "Yesterday, I startled your wife, it was my fault, and I hope she can forgive me."
Meng Yao smiled slightly, "You speak too seriously, sir. Yesterday was just a misunderstanding. Moreover, if it weren’t for you, the vicious fugitive would have been hard to capture. Your merits outweigh your faults; you’ve done a great deed for the people of Huaiyuan County, and you’ve brought justice for the victims."
This woman does have some insight.
Recollections about her mostly involve trivial matters of daily life.
Perhaps, after marrying Ren Zhong, she picked up good habits through being around him.
After all, for someone like Ren Zhong, even without family favor, he can’t be considered insignificant.
"Madam, you overpraise me. My initial purpose was just for the reward silver," Zhao Ting said.
"No one can comment on your intentions. If the final result is good, then one can’t deny the good outcome just because the starting point wasn’t noble. Moreover, a gentleman loves money, but he acquires it properly," Meng Yao replied with a smile.
Her words sounded refreshing, like a spring breeze.
At least, it was much more pleasant than listening to Ren Zhong.
"Madam is perceptive and insightful, truly rare. If madam were a man, I would definitely seek to make her my confidant," Zhao Ting said sincerely.
"I still have official duties, and sir has said all that needs to be said, please go," Ren Zhong tried to keep his tone calm.
"Then I won’t disturb any further, sir, let’s go," Zhao Ting said nonchalantly.
Ren Zhong made a gesture of invitation, signaling Zhao Ting to walk ahead.
Zhao Ting shrugged slightly, with a faint smile, and walked ahead of Ren Zhong.
This fierce-looking man indeed has a good build.
At least, he’s the first person she’s seen with such a good physique since crossing over.
Long arms and a slender waist, broad shoulders, long legs.
Although not too burly, visually, it felt just right.
After all, Meng Yao couldn’t appreciate those overly muscular physiques.
Ren Zhong suddenly stopped, turned around, and saw Meng Yao staring ahead intently.
"Ahem," Ren Zhong coughed heavily, "Please take extra care of Miss Luo."
Meng Yao snapped back to reality and responded, "Alright."
After Zhao Ting followed Ren Zhong out, he didn’t linger at the Government Office and left straight away.
He would look for another opportunity to meet with the Meng family, after all, asking about the children of her ex-husband in front of Ren Zhong wasn’t good for her.
Meng Yao took over from arrest officer Xu’s wife, and at this point, Luo Qingqing had stopped crying.
Sitting silently on the bed, hugging her knees.
This is an extreme lack of security, a self-protective posture.
The repeated departure of important people undoubtedly hit her hard.
"Miss Luo, we can’t delay arranging for your grandmother’s funeral," Meng Yao said.
Right now, Luo Qingqing needed someone to lay out the priorities for her, in other words, she needed someone to push her forward.
"Right, right," a glimmer of light seemed to return to Qingqing’s eyes, "I can’t let my grandmother leave with an uneasy heart. Madam, what should I do now?"
Meng Yao explained what needed to be done, and Qingqing immediately got out of bed and hurriedly walked outside.
After two consecutive days of busyness, Meng Yao had been staying with Qingqing in the evenings and hadn’t returned to the inn.
Rumors about Meng Yao and the County Magistrate were also slowly spreading in the marketplace.
While Zhao Ting was dining in the inn’s lobby, he overheard people at the next table vividly describing how remarkable this group of exam candidates was, and that one of them had a mother who got involved with the County Magistrate.
The person speaking was eloquent, narrating with such emotion as if he had witnessed the entire process.
The pork rib he intended to spit out got bitten through by Zhao Ting.
He got up and sat at the neighboring table, "Brothers, mind if I join for the gossip? I’ve ordered a roast chicken, let’s all have some?"
How could gossipers refuse?
"I heard people say the County Magistrate is a good official, how can he..." Zhao Ting lowered his voice.
"Brother, you don’t know, all men, how many aren’t lustful? I heard that the scholar’s mother, while not young, is still charming. How many men can resist such a woman?" the gossiper said with a sly grin.
Zhao Ting thought the words of mature charm didn’t fit Meng even a bit.
Such words apply to someone who initially attracts but shows age upon close look.
With a tight face and graceful figure, Zhao Ting felt that even saying Meng was in her twenties just based on appearance would be convincing.
"Aren’t you afraid that speaking of the County Magistrate’s affairs might reach his ears and get you punished?" Zhao Ting asked.
"Haven’t you heard the saying, the law does not punish the majority?" the gossiper replied, "Everyone is talking, can the County Magistrate deal with them all?"
"But the County Magistrate has a wife!" Zhao Ting emphasized.
"Sigh, we all know, she isn’t in good health. Perhaps precisely because of this, the County Magistrate couldn’t hold himself back. Besides, wealthier men often have three wives and four concubines, let alone the County Magistrate," said the gossiper.
There’s no smoke without fire, this Ren Zhong indeed deserves a new level of respect from him.
Zhao Ting thought he should visit that scholar’s mother and see if he could resolve this matter for Meng.
Additionally, Ren Zhong needed a bit of a warning.
If he remained incorrigible, then Zhao Ting would surely stand up for Meng.
"Brother, do you know who that scholar is? And where they are staying now?" Zhao Ting asked.
The gossiper sized up Zhao Ting, winking, "Brother, daring to snatch from the County Magistrate."
Zhao Ting chuckled, "Everyone has a love for beauty, if I can’t do anything, at least I can feast my eyes."
"Though I don’t know, I can find out," the gossiper said.
Zhao Ting caught the hint and beckoned to the waiter, "Waiter, bring a good pot of wine and a few good dishes."