"Aunt Zhao, what delicious food are you going to make?" the chubby boy asked excitedly.
Zhao Dahe had been talking the most about how his mother’s cooking had gotten so good and how it was the best he’s ever had, so he was very curious about just how good it was.
"Just some home-cooked meals," Meng Yao replied with a smile.
Anyone Zhao Dahe could bring over must not be someone he had a bad relationship with, so Meng Yao was very friendly to the chubby boy.
"Auntie, I love home-cooked meals the most," the chubby boy said sincerely.
"Qin Zheng, enough already! If you want to eat, go back home and eat!" Zhao Dahe grumbled, giving the chubby boy a nudge on the shoulder.
The first sentence he addressed as Aunt Zhao, and by the second sentence, he was just calling her Auntie, Qin Zheng really doesn’t consider himself an outsider!
"Hey, although the chef at my house cooks well, it’s good to change flavors once in a while, right? You know, I only have you as a friend, if I don’t go to your house, where else would I go?" the chubby boy said with conviction.
"Well, you can’t go empty-handed," Zhao Dahe thought for a moment and said.
"Don’t worry about that, do you think I have no sense of manners?" The chubby boy grinned so widely that his smile almost reached his ears.
It was clear that the two of them had a really good relationship.
At least at home, Meng Yao hadn’t seen Zhao Dahe be so close and casual with Dajiang or Xiaoshu.
"Next time Dahe comes home, Qin Zheng, you can come along, and I’ll prepare some things in advance," Meng Yao invited the chubby boy.
"Then I won’t stand on ceremony with you," the chubby boy said formally, cupping his hands to salute Meng Yao.
Meng Yao gave Zhao Dahe a few more instructions, and seeing that it was getting late, she prepared to leave.
Taking a few steps, she remembered something, "Dahe, do you have enough silver with you? If not, I can give you some more first."
Even though she had told Zhao Dahe to handle the gift himself, now that she had some silver on hand, giving her son a bit of support wasn’t a problem.
"Auntie, don’t worry, Dahe has silver. He received a reward from the teacher that he hasn’t used yet. And next time..." Qin Zheng said with a cheerful voice, but before he could finish his sentence, Zhao Dahe covered his mouth.
This guy is great in every way, it’s just that sometimes his mouth is a bit too quick.
"Mom, if you don’t hurry, you’ll miss Uncle Niu’s cart," Zhao Dahe urged Meng Yao.
Meng Yao gave Zhao Dahe a meaningful look and pulled on a slight smile, which made Zhao Dahe’s heart tremble.
It always felt like his mom seemed to know something.
If a child is saving a bit of pocket money, let him, she’s quite open-minded.
"Take good care of yourself, if there’s anything, let Uncle Niu send a message home."
Zhao Dahe followed behind Meng Yao and saw her out of the school.
Qin Zheng was very puzzled, "Dahe, why did you cover my mouth just now? Why didn’t you tell Auntie that you’ll be getting three taels of silver this time? If I had your ambition and capability, I’d definitely let my parents know, to make them happy."
"Do you think I’m like you?" Zhao Dahe gave his friend a sideways glance, "Your family has been in business for generations, with a big family and a big business. The amount of monthly silver you get, our family might not even earn that much in a year. The reason I didn’t tell my mom about the three taels was to save a little silver."
"But is it okay to keep it from Auntie?" Qin Zheng hesitated.
"Didn’t you see my mom’s expression just now? It seemed she had already seen through me," Zhao Dahe said weakly, "I really don’t know what’s gotten into my mom, lately she’s been a bit different from before. If you say she doesn’t care for me, it’s not true. But if you say she does... there’s always something strange about it."
"So do you think Auntie’s change is good or bad?" Qin Zheng asked.
Zhao Dahe pondered for a moment before saying, "It should be good."
Qin Zheng spread his hands, "There you go, if it’s good, what’s there to be puzzled about? After all, people are always changing."
Zhao Dahe nodded, "You’re right."
When Meng Yao spread the cloth on Song Xiu’er’s bed, Song Xiu’er immediately said, "Mom, I’ll make clothes for Xiaohua."
A reflex action, that was quick.
"It’s not for making clothes for Xiaohua; it’s for you," Meng Yao said.
Song Xiu’er hurriedly waved her hands, "This pattern is too bright, it’s suitable for young girls, not for me, not appropriate."
"Young girl?" Meng Yao raised an eyebrow, "Xiu’er, how old are you?"
"I’ll be seventeen this year," Song Xiu’er said softly.
"Then you’re also a young girl," Meng Yao said, "What’s meant for you is yours, don’t keep thinking about making it for Xiaohua. If you make it and she doesn’t like it, wouldn’t it be wasted? Also, don’t rush to make it, taking care of your health is more important."
Song Xiu’er looked anxious, "I..."
Zhao Dajiang, who was sitting nearby, spoke up, "Mom said it’s for you, so just keep it, why all this dithering."
Don’t think Zhao Dajiang was speaking up for Song Xiu’er.
Meng Yao only needed a glance at him to know that the simple-minded guy was just following her instructions.
If it’s given to you, you have to take it; if you don’t take it, you’re in the wrong.
Similarly, if it’s not given, you can’t ask for it, because that’s wrong too.
Meng Yao let out a long sigh, realizing it was going to be a long road to change these two.
Not wanting to bicker further with Song Xiu’er and Zhao Dajiang, Meng Yao picked up her things and headed to Zhao Xiaoshu’s room.
As soon as she walked in, Zhao Xiaohua rushed up, "Mom, hurry up, you need to reconnect Xiaoshu’s arm."
Meng Yao froze, "What?"
"Xiaoshu was practicing joint dislocation with me, I dislocated it, but can’t put it back," Zhao Xiaohua said, on the verge of tears.
Looking at Zhao Xiaoshu, his left arm hung unnaturally.
Even an adult would find it unbearably painful, but little Xiaoshu didn’t utter a sound.
If it weren’t for the thin beads of sweat on his forehead and his pale face, Meng Yao would have thought it didn’t hurt.
"I bought some fine cotton to make clothes for you, what style do you like? Tell mom," Meng Yao sat down and asked gently.
Surprised, Zhao Xiaoshu was momentarily distracted, allowing Meng Yao to support his shoulder with one hand and grip his upper arm with the other, applying force to reset the arm.
Then, Meng Yao’s face turned stern, "Zhao Xiaohua, do you realize, this is your brother! Dislocating a joint is extremely painful, if others don’t know, you should know, shouldn’t you? How can you be so callous at such a young age?"
Zhao Xiaohua seemed to be frightened by Meng Yao, standing there dumbfounded, muttering, "I... I just wanted to see if I learned it."
"So you used your brother as a test?"
Zhao Xiaohua’s eyes turned red, on the verge of tears.
"No crying," Meng Yao said sharply.
Zhao Xiaohua flinched, biting her lip hard to hold back the tears.
Meng Yao stood up and walked to Zhao Xiaohua, speaking with a blank expression, "You’ll never truly understand how much it hurts unless you experience it. I taught you this to prevent you from being bullied, not to let you bully your brother. Should I dislocate your arm, or will you do it yourself?"