Du Ruyi smiled as she watched Zhao Dahe and Zhao Xiaohua bicker, his figure gradually overlapping with the Zhao Ting in her memory.
Though they don’t look much alike.
But, the feeling she got was very similar.
In the eyes of others, Zhao Ting was a refined young man, but in private, he loved to joke around.
As for the changes after amnesia and now, people do change, right?
Perhaps because Du Ruyi’s gaze was quite focused, Zhao Dahe quickly noticed she was watching him.
Her face was unfamiliar, not someone he recognized.
Zhao Dahe directed his gaze towards Meng Yao.
"Li Tanyun’s wife, Du Ruyi, you can call her Aunt Du," Meng Yao introduced to Zhao Dahe.
The things Meng Yao did, she hadn’t purposely explained them to Zhao Dahe, so there were some things Zhao Dahe didn’t know.
However, he knew his mother’s disposition, and since she brought someone back and introduced them calmly, it meant this Du Ruyi wasn’t an adversary.
So Zhao Dahe didn’t hesitate, and openly called out to Du Ruyi.
Du Ruyi responded with a smile, "You’re quite like your father."
Zhao Dahe keenly caught the important part, Li Tanyun’s wife, so she’s an old acquaintance of his father’s?
Though Yun Ying remained expressionless, curiosity brewed within him.
He knew who Li Tanyun had married, and the person couldn’t be a villager, thus—
Yun Ying gave Meng Yao a meaningful look.
Indeed, it wasn’t that simple.
Of course, Meng Yao noticed Yun Ying’s meaningful look, she was very composed; she really was a village woman. She had never said Zhao Ting was a villager.
Yun Ying understood well that curiosity doesn’t always need to be satisfied with answers.
"Your Aunt Du specifically came to see you," Meng Yao calmly stated, "If there’s anything you want to know about your father, you can ask her."
"Looking at Aunt Du’s age, she probably only knows about my father’s younger days, which I’m not interested in," Zhao Dahe replied with a smile.
"Then let me ask you, what kind of person is your father? After all, we’ve been out of contact for many years," Du Ruyi asked.
"In that case, you’ll have to ask my mom. What do I know?" Zhao Dahe shrugged, "Back then, I was young and don’t remember much. But my mom wouldn’t be willing to talk about it now, so Aunt Du, you can wait for another chance or ask my father directly when you see him."
"Your words are quite sharp," Du Ruyi laughed freely, "Sister Meng, I overheard him bickering with Xiaohua earlier. Your cooking is excellent, do you mind if I stay for a meal?"
"As long as you don’t mind," Meng Yao replied.
She had a good impression of Du Ruyi, so she didn’t resist the idea of becoming friends with her.
"Of course, I don’t mind," Du Ruyi said cheerfully.
"Any dietary restrictions?" Meng Yao asked.
"No restrictions at all," Du Ruyi replied.
"Xiaohua, keep your Aunt Du company," Meng Yao instructed Zhao Xiaohua.
"Yun Ying, I have something to discuss with Aunt Du, so..." Zhao Dahe glanced at Yun Ying, who was sitting upright.
Yun Ying stood up slowly, "I’ll visit the teacher."
This person drew a lot of attention; Du Ruyi glanced at him another couple of times to confirm she hadn’t seen him before.
"What do you want to tell me?" Du Ruyi asked as she sat down at the table.
"What kind of person is Li Tanyun?" Zhao Dahe asked, his gaze piercing as he stared at Du Ruyi.
Du Ruyi pondered for a moment, "Not sure if ’sanctimonious’ fits? Or perhaps ’two-faced’?"
Thinking of the things he did, Du Ruyi added another word, "Ruthless."
"So where does Aunt Du stand?" Zhao Dahe asked.
Du Ruyi sized up Zhao Dahe, "Did your mom not tell you?"
It seemed Sister Meng hadn’t said anything to Zhao Dahe.
"Why are you so curious about what kind of person Li Tanyun is?" Du Ruyi inquired.
"The Li Family of three is not unfamiliar to Aunt Du, right?" Zhao Dahe replied with a question of his own.
Du Ruyi nodded, "Not unfamiliar. From the way you speak, it’s clear you are not unfamiliar either."
"I come from Fengyang Town," Zhao Dahe stated.
Ah, it made sense; Li Tanyun’s cousin’s family lived in Fengyang Town.
"So what about it?" Du Ruyi queried.
"Li indicated that I marry their daughter, we agreed," Zhao Dahe’s tone was light, "Probably because they had something to rely on, so after being rejected, they got angry and irritated, and caused quite a bit of trouble for our family."
Du Ruyi expressed that she knew nothing about it.
"Yes, Li Tanyun doesn’t need to know, those who want to please him know just fine," Zhao Dahe sneered, "The matter started because of me, I can handle it, but targeting those around me, what’s that about?"
The incident with the Qian Family weighed heavily on Zhao Dahe’s heart. Yes, Lady Li never got along with Master’s wife, but before this, it was just minor conflicts over many years, and they had lived in relative peace.
In conclusion, the issue with the Qian Family, he bore undeniable responsibility.
Even though no one blamed him.
But he blamed himself.
"Isn’t Li Yan’er any good?" Du Ruyi asked.
"What’s that got to do with me? Just because she’s good, does that mean I have to marry her? There are plenty of good girls in the world, can one marry all of them? Besides, whether Li Yan’er is good or not, Aunt Du should know, right?"
"Raised in privilege, a bit domineering, but normal," Du Ruyi said.
"You call trampling on human life domineering?"
Clearly, she didn’t know.
Indeed, it wasn’t a good matter. Even family, the Li Family must have kept it hidden.
"Evidently, the character of the Li Family runs through the whole family," Du Ruyi sighed, "Rest assured, Li Tanyun’s reign won’t last long. Once he no longer serves as the Li Family’s support, they’ll have to behave themselves."
Everything Zhao Dahe asked, Du Ruyi told without holding back.
Soon, Zhao Dahe learned about the recent incidents happening with Li Tanyun.
Certainly not, where’s there such a coincidence?
Thinking it over, it must’ve been something his mother did.
Oh, right, Yun Ying too.
"Aunt Du, I’m unfortunate, but you’re quite unfortunate too," Zhao Dahe concluded, "Strictly speaking, you’re even more unfortunate than I am." Google seaʀᴄh 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹·𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒·𝗇𝗲𝘁
A woman who wasted the best years of her life. Not just deceived emotionally, but her life threatened.
Though Li Tanyun temporarily gave her cold medicines to ruin health. But later, when the Du Family lost their value, how could Li Tanyun allow Du Ruyi to stay in that position? By then, wouldn’t Du Ruyi only have one outcome?
Hence, Du Ruyi was more unfortunate.
"It’s a bit unfortunate, but fortunately, I met your mom, I stopped the losses in time, the good days are ahead," Du Ruyi had thought it through clearly over these days.
If she hadn’t met Meng Yao, perhaps her life could be described with ’unfortunate’.
But the heavens had favored her, so she met Meng Yao.
Then she wasn’t considered unfortunate.
"Indeed, meeting my mom, Aunt Du, you actually have quite good luck," Zhao Dahe said proudly.