"Xiong Er, you first help big brother to rest a bit. Sister-in-law said, twice a day, estimated, it won’t be long before she comes. When sister-in-law arrives, we will help big brother out," said Xiong Er’s wife.
"Okay, okay, okay," responded Xiong Er, "Big brother, let’s go, I’ll help you lie down in the house."
"No, you guys need to clarify things first, where did this sister-in-law come from?" Zhao Ting was utterly confused.
He was certain that at the time, he and Meng Yao had specifically inquired about Xiong Da’s family situation. Xiong Da had a younger brother and a sister-in-law, while he himself was all alone. This suddenly appearing wife, what was going on?
Xiong Er’s wife saw her brother-in-law behaving as if he was hiding something even at this moment, and in her heart, she disdained him greatly.
However, she said verbally, "Big brother, if there’s someone suitable, you should get married. Otherwise, Xiong Er talks about this every day. The fact that sister-in-law could shamelessly find me and Xiong Er shows that she has you in her heart. No matter the misunderstandings you had with sister-in-law before, she’s stepped down, you should be the bigger person and not stoop to her level. Sister-in-law cried so sadly; she must be regretting it. Women often have sharp tongues but soft hearts, it’s very normal. Men should be more magnanimous and not be petty."
Zhao Ting was even more bewildered.
Xiong Er also chimed in following his wife’s words, "Yes, big brother, you didn’t let sister-in-law know about your injuries, that’s a misunderstanding, just clear it up. You and sister-in-law even set a date for getting married and hid it from me, your brother, isn’t that right!"
The couple spoke in such a convincing manner, Zhao Ting didn’t know how to react for the time being.
Earlier, when Xiong Er’s wife said someone would come, should he leave?
Little Dou had been hovering around him since he got here, but he was sure it was his first time meeting the Xiong Er couple.
"Big brother, when she arrives, speak properly!" Xiong Er’s wife saw her brother-in-law remain silent, thinking he was embarrassed from being exposed, and hurriedly urged, "If sister-in-law wasn’t worried about you, she wouldn’t have come looking."
Just as she was speaking, there was a knock on Xiong Er’s courtyard door.
Xiong Er’s wife was overjoyed, "It must be sister-in-law."
Xiong Er walked over, saying, "Wait a moment, I’m coming."
Zhao Ting nervously swallowed, staring intently at the direction of the courtyard door, who could it be?
If there weren’t a screen wall, he could see the visitor at a glance.
Now with the wall blocking, it was really distressing.
First emerged the strong figure of Xiong Er, then—
The visitor was completely concealed by Xiong Er.
Zhao Ting stood up with his cane, only then did he see the person!
He opened his mouth in shock; why had Meng Yao come?
How did she find Xiong Er? No, why did Xiong Er say she was Xiong Da’s wife?
Zhao Ting’s expression was seen by Xiong Er’s wife, and she believed he knew the woman and that there was clearly delight in his eyes.
Apparently, his relationship with this woman was indeed unusual.
"Xiong Da, what happened to you?" Meng Yao exclaimed.
Indeed, this woman cares for his big brother; upon meeting she didn’t first question why big brother disappeared but noticed his injuries, a true sign of heartache for big brother.
Hmm, this sister-in-law is not bad.
Zhao Ting blurted out, "Why did you come?"
Upon hearing this, Meng Yao started crying again, "You actually have the nerve to ask. You disappeared without a word, and I waited and waited but you didn’t show. So I came to your brother’s house, Xiong Da, what do you mean? If you don’t want to marry me, just say so. I may be a woman, but I have pride too. You say it directly, and I won’t cling to you."
Meng Yao, Yao Meng, you really are something!
Xiong Er’s wife took over the conversation, "Sister-in-law, don’t be mad at big brother. He suddenly lost contact because he got injured. He didn’t want you to worry, so he didn’t contact you. Sister-in-law, be the bigger person and don’t stoop to his level."
"How did he get injured out of the blue!" Meng Yao began to wipe her tears again.
"Hey, stop crying, stop crying," Zhao Ting quickly said.
Although he knew Meng Yao was acting, seeing her cry still left him somewhat at a loss.
Xiong Er’s wife pulled Xiong Er, and the two of them tiptoed out. At times , they needed to give the parties enough time and space. They as outsiders would be awkward to stand here.
"Why did you pull me out?" Xiong Er asked, puzzled.
"You pissed me off, but when you want to coax me, do you want others in the room?" Xiong Er’s wife pinched him.
"That definitely won’t do, if there are outsiders, I won’t have the face to coax you," Xiong Er said.
"Then big brother wouldn’t feel comfortable with us standing there?" Xiong Er’s wife glared at him.
"Yes, yes, yes, wife you’re thoughtful, right, we’ll go out together to buy some food and later leave big brother and sister-in-law home for a meal," Xiong Er said.
The sound of the courtyard gate closing resounded and Zhao Ting exhaled in relief.
"How did you find this place?"
"How did you get hurt, is it serious?"
Zhao Ting and Meng Yao spoke in unison.
Zhao Ting laughed, "Then I’ll go first. I made these injuries myself to blend into the Heaven and Earth Sect successfully."
Heaven and Earth Sect? Quite an ambitious name, but it sounds rather silly. Check latest chapters at novelꜰire.net
"I came to Qingzhou Prefecture and unintentionally met Xiong Er. His face resembles Xiong Da by seventy to eighty percent," Meng Yao said, "For a reasonable excuse, I claimed to be Xiong Da’s unwed wife."
He’s currently using Xiong Da’s identity.
Then this unwed wife, wouldn’t she be his wife?
Zhao Ting’s heartbeat inexplicably quickened.
"Aren’t you afraid of being exposed?" Zhao Ting feigned calmness.
"I’m not an idiot, I know how to adapt. Besides, now with you confirming it personally, how could it be exposed?" Meng Yao said indifferently.
"Then, is it Ren Zhong who requested you to come?" Zhao Ting asked again.
Meng Yao shook her head, "Dahe had exams, so I was worried and came. Meeting Xiong Er was coincidental, using Xiong Er to find you was a gamble, but it turned out my luck was pretty good."
"What are you looking for me for?" Zhao Ting hoped in his heart.
"Because I thought of a possibility, so I came looking for Master He to verify," Meng Yao said.
From the words of Xiong Da and that mother-daughter pair, she learned that the Heaven and Earth Sect hadn’t only appeared in the recent two years, deeply entrenched for years. Meng Yao felt it was impossible for the Qingzhou Prefecture Government to know nothing.
So Meng Yao guessed whether this Heaven and Earth Sect could be colluding with the Government?
The highest official in Qingzhou Prefecture is Li Tanyun, if Li Tanyun were colluding with the Heaven and Earth Sect, then...
Meng Yao communicated her speculation, and Zhao Ting was again shaken inside.
Indeed, he vaguely grasped clues of collusion between the Heaven and Earth Sect and Government, yet hadn’t obtained solid evidence.
Meng Yao merely guessed what he painstakingly investigated and found out?
Could this really be the mind and insight a rural woman has? What in the world had the previous Zhao Ting taught her?