"I’ll prepare some gifts for her," Meng Yao said.
After all, she genuinely liked her son, so she couldn’t be neglected.
Just then, a dashing young lady arrived.
"Mom, do you have a guest? I’ll come back later,"
she said, smiling at Meng Yao and turning to leave.
"You come back here," Mrs. Qian called out.
"I’d better not, Mom, you know I’m not good at socializing," the dashing young lady said.
"This is your Aunt Meng," Mrs. Qian pulled her back.
"Hello, Aunt Meng," Mrs. Qian’s daughter greeted Meng Yao cheerfully.
"You’re Zhenzhen, right? I’ve heard your mother mention you often, and today I finally see you," Meng Yao replied with a smile.
"My mom only ever talks about how disobedient I am or how I’m never at home. There’s nothing else," Qian Zhenzhen said with a twinkle in her eye.
"That’s definitely not it. Your mother talks about all the good things, like how sticking with martial arts alone is commendable. She even said if she weren’t too old and tied down by family matters, she’d want to roam the world, too," Meng Yao said.
Those were things Mrs. Qian had certainly never said.
Meng Yao deduced these wishes from Mrs. Qian’s words during a drinking session.
Mrs. Qian looked slightly surprised at Meng Yao. She had never shared these thoughts with anyone, yet this was truly how she felt.
Even Qian Zhenzhen was somewhat taken aback, her tone a bit incredulous as she looked at Mrs. Qian, "Really?"
"What’s real or not? Do you think you’re the only one with a dream of adventure?" Mrs. Qian retorted.
"So, when I leave this time, Mom, pack your things, and I’ll take you on an adventure," Qian Zhenzhen said boldly, "I’m quite skilled now, I’ll protect you well."
"You little rascal, you’re all grown up and still act so recklessly. With your Aunt Meng here, aren’t you afraid she’s laughing at you?" Mrs. Qian said, exasperated yet amused.
"What’s reckless about it? My master said I’m a very reliable and trustworthy person," Qian Zhenzhen protested, "Anyway, I’ve always done a great job with the tasks my master gives me."
"If I go on an adventure with you, what about our family’s business?" Mrs. Qian asked.
"There’s Uncle Qian and Hong Xing," Qian Zhenzhen replied.
"Fine, let’s say you can entrust them with that, but what about your father? You want me to leave him behind while going with you? How heartless are you, Qian Zhenzhen?" Mrs. Qian teased.
Qian Zhenzhen felt a bit guilty, "I didn’t say leave him behind, if he wants to come, he can come."
"You know your father’s temperament, don’t you?" Mrs. Qian tapped Qian Zhenzhen on the head.
Qian Zhenzhen looked sheepish.
"See this little monkey of mine? Other girls are mothers at eighteen, but at eighteen she’s just..." Mrs. Qian sighed, "We even had to pay a huge amount of silver to the Government."
At seventeen, if not married, the Government would forcefully arrange a match.
If you resisted, you had to pay a hefty silver fee.
"Mom, there you go again," Qian Zhenzhen scrunched her eyebrows, looking like ’spare me’.
"I’m not making things up about you, just speaking the truth, yet you don’t like to hear it. Today, you’ll have to listen whether you like it or not. You make my life uneasy, can’t I grumble a bit? I never used to express it, but now there’s Aunt Meng, am I not allowed to vent?" Mrs. Qian snorted.
"Of course, of course, you can speak your mind. I’ll pour you some water so you can moisten your throat and then talk,"
"Yao, you see this child, if she doesn’t make me angry she won’t stop," Mrs. Qian lamented.
Meng Yao calmly said, "Fate decides marriage, sister, worrying is useless."
Qian Zhenzhen continuously nodded, "Yes, yes, Aunt Meng is right. Besides, life is just a few short decades, there are so many interesting things to experience, why not live a little."
"Even if you live a few lifetimes, it’d be tough to experience everything," Mrs. Qian said in exasperation.
"That’s why I’m not in a rush to get married. If I get married, won’t I end up like you, Mother, tied down by household trifles?" Qian Zhenzhen argued confidently.
"I’m not wasting my breath with you!" Mrs. Qian clutched her chest, "Go chill out somewhere, the more I see you, the more blocked my chest feels."
"Can I leave today? I’ve packed my bags," Qian Zhenzhen said joyfully.
"Don’t you dare! If you leave today, I will sever ties with you," Mrs. Qian stood up sharply.
"I won’t leave, I won’t. Didn’t I say that in spring when the liver energy rises, if you’re too fiery, it harms the liver," Qian Zhenzhen grinned cheekily.
"Such a bunch of nonsense," Mrs. Qian snorted.
Meng Yao interjected, "Actually, what Zhenzhen said isn’t entirely nonsense. In spring, the liver energy does rise, making people easily irritable, which can indeed harm the liver."
"Aunt Meng, you know medicine?" Qian Zhenzhen was intrigued.
"I know a little," Meng Yao replied.
"Then shall we spar? I got a medical book from my master, and have been studying it a lot these days at home."
"If you’re just a beginner, then winning against you wouldn’t be fair play," Meng Yao replied.
"What do you mean ’fair play’? You two want to spar?" Mr. Wang, with hands behind, walked in, "Zhenzhen, you can’t bully people just because you’ve practiced some kung fu for a few years! Aunt Meng is your elder. Haven’t I taught you to respect your elders?"
"Sir, if it comes to a match, who knows who’d win! But my mother currently has an arm injury and shouldn’t move too much," Zhao Dahe said, "Xiaoshu has been learning from my mother for some time, he can spar with you."
Obviously, Qian Zhenzhen was more interested in kung fu than medical books.
"Me with him? Isn’t that bullying a kid?" Qian Zhenzhen pouted.
"It’s just practice, what does age have to do with it? You might not be able to bully him at all. Right, Xiaoshu? You’re trained by your mother," Zhao Dahe encouraged Zhao Xiaoshu.
Zhao Xiaoshu maintained a stern little expression, "I won’t embarrass my mother."
Meng Yao glared at Zhao Dahe, this rascal, as if she couldn’t see through his intentional scheme.
"Qian Zhenzhen, don’t get too carried away," Mrs. Qian quickly intervened.
"Then I’ll use only one hand and let him have ten moves," Qian Zhenzhen declared grandly.
Zhao Dahe egged on, Zhao Xiaoshu was eager to try, and Qian Zhenzhen was full of enthusiasm.
Meng Yao could only say, "Xiaoshu, don’t hurt your sister Zhenzhen."
In a normal spar, Xiaoshu might not be a match for Qian Zhenzhen. But since she planned to use only one hand and give ten moves, Meng Yao could practically foresee the result.
Zhao Dahe sighed, his goal unachieved.
Qian Zhenzhen: I suspect you’re underestimating me.
Zhao Xiaoshu clasped his hands toward Qian Zhenzhen, "Sister, pardon me."
Qian Zhenzhen put her hands behind her back, signaling for Zhao Xiaoshu to attack her.
Zhao Xiaoshu learned close-quarters combat from Meng Yao, with no fancy moves.
Qian Zhenzhen truly underestimated Zhao Xiaoshu.
Qian Zhenzhen found herself lying awkwardly on the ground, having been flipped over Zhao Xiaoshu’s shoulder with clever strength.