Meng Yao looked at Sun Shi and Lin Shi with satisfaction. The original persona had a bit of a feisty nature, but wasn’t articulate, always bottling up feelings and never able to express them. So, every time she would stifle her anger. Now, it’s Sun Shi and Lin Shi’s turn to stifle their anger. At least this is some retribution for the original persona.
"Alright, I know you’re upset to see me, so don’t force yourselves. I’m busy too, so I won’t stay here to be an eyesore. From now on, whether there’s something or nothing, don’t come looking for me." Meng Yao said unhurriedly, "I’m leaving now!"
Meng Yao knew they called her over for a reason.
If there’s something, just say it. Why must you trample on others first? Such a nasty habit! Spoiled!
Sure enough, Meng Yao had only taken two steps when Sun Shi called out, "Come back here."
"Are you intentionally seeking discomfort? Clearly you don’t like me, yet you insist on me not leaving." Meng Yao said, looking helpless.
"Zhao Ting has been dead for several years, you should start planning for yourself." Sun Shi suppressed her inner anger and spoke as calmly as possible.
This is... asking her to remarry?
If the original persona had a good relationship with the Meng Family, Sun Shi saying such words would definitely be for her own good.
But as everyone knows, the original persona’s relationship with the Meng Family was as bad as it gets. How could Sun Shi sincerely consider her well-being?
Meng Yao became wary, "What do you mean?"
Sun Shi probably realized that beating around the bush was pointless, so she straightforwardly said, "You should get married. The other family is quite wealthy."
The same rhetoric as years ago.
"Oh? I wonder, how wealthy is that?" Meng Yao asked.
Her question gave Sun Shi and Lin Shi the illusion that she was interested in the marriage proposal.
"They have a hundred acres of fertile land, shops, servants in the house. Once you marry into the family, you won’t have to lift a finger or worry about food, and you’ll live in luxury." Sun Shi said, "They don’t mind you having several children already, and are willing to let you bring your daughter along."
"What about my sons?" Meng Yao asked.
"Dajiang is already married and doesn’t need looking after. As for Dahe, he’s studying, and the family won’t abandon him. Xiaoshu won’t be short of food with them taking care. They’ll help you look after everything, so you can marry with peace of mind." Sun Shi said.
To think they would be so kind as to promise to take care of the original persona’s sons!
When something seems too good to be true, it usually is!
"Oh~ investing so much, I suppose, the rich household promised quite the benefits?" Meng Yao pinpointed, "Is this because you couldn’t exchange me for a valuable dowry years ago, and have never let it go? What do you take me for? A thing? Something you can do with as you please? Don’t you remember anything? You failed back then, what makes you think I’ll listen to you now? Keep dreaming!"
Sarcasm, disdain, Meng Yao displayed it thoroughly.
"Fine, very fine, you’re something!" Sun Shi’s lips trembled, her voice sharp, "Eldest, why are you still standing there? Tie up your sister for me. Eldest daughter-in-law, go inform the Wang Family, tell them our family agrees to the match."
Tie her up? They want to use force?
Meng Cheng didn’t move, "Mother, with Meng Yao’s unruly temperament, if we send her over, will it be a marriage or a feud? If something goes wrong, won’t it still drag our family down? I think we should drop it."
To Meng Yao’s surprise, Lin Shi actually echoed Meng Cheng’s words, "Mother, if Ayue doesn’t want to, then forget it. Why force her? Daughter-in-law knows you mean well, but it has to be with her consent!"
"You’re speaking up for her?" Sun Shi looked disbelieving.
"No, we’re just stating the facts." Meng Cheng denied.
Lin Shi also said she was just stating facts.
"Fine, fine, I don’t care anymore, is that not enough?" Sun Shi looked like a mother deeply hurt by her children.
What act was this now?
From aggressive to deflated in an instance?
It shouldn’t be, this doesn’t match Sun Shi’s persona in the memories.
Particularly puzzling was Meng Cheng and Lin Shi’s reactions.
"Ayue, the past is the past, after all, we’re family, live in the same village, bring the kids back more often in the future." Meng Qingshan, who had been silent, finally spoke.
There weren’t any especially good or bad memories of Meng Qingshan from the original persona’s perspective.
Because Sun Shi was the decision-maker in the Meng Family, all big and small matters were decided by Sun Shi.
So, in the original persona’s memory, there wasn’t any hatred towards Meng Qingshan.
Of course, there wasn’t any fondness either.
The original persona, having Meng Family blood, didn’t even visit the Meng Family, why would she? Unless her brain was damaged.
"No need." Meng Yao coldly rejected, "I’m leaving."
Although her heart felt like Sun Shi hadn’t revealed her main intent, seeing the current situation, Sun Shi probably wouldn’t say anything, so Meng Yao decided not to waste time here anymore.
The fox’s tail would eventually show.
Meng Yao left straightaway, Lin Shi followed.
"Ayue, it was my fault for what happened back then." Lin Shi spoke.
Meng Yao remained expressionless. Over a decade, Lin Shi had never apologized to the original persona. Now apologizing, it couldn’t be genuine.
Moreover, neither the original persona nor Meng Yao cared for Lin Shi’s apology.
"Mother has felt guilty for many years, if we hadn’t forced you back then, you wouldn’t have brought Zhao Ting back out of resistance and married hastily." Lin Shi continued, "That’s why you became a widow at such a young age! It’s always been a pain in Mother’s heart!"
"Mother’s personality means that even if well-intentioned, it comes off as malice." Lin Shi went on, "After Zhao Ting passed, Mother was still angry, so..."
"So, what exactly are you trying to say?" Meng Yao impatiently interrupted Lin Shi.
Lin Shi awkwardly forced a smile, "As father said, in the future, come home more with the kids, we’re family, after all. The younger ones should have more contact. Ru Yue and Xiaohua are about the same age, let them play together more."
Meng Yao neither agreed nor disagreed, gave Lin Shi a meaningful look, then headed straight home.
Zhao Dahe couldn’t wait to ask Meng Yao, "Mother, why did they call you back?"
"Oh, no major issue, they wanted me to remarry." Meng Yao didn’t hide it from the children.
Zhao family’s siblings immediately got nervous, watching Meng Yao closely.
Meng Yao calmly said, "Don’t worry, I refused."
The Zhao siblings collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
"Mother, it’s not that we oppose you remarrying, but if you were to remarry, you should choose someone you like all-round, and not follow their arrangement. Who knows what kind of rubbish they’ve lined up for you? Maybe they just want to trade you for a dowry!" Zhao Dahe spoke earnestly.
"If you can think of that, can’t I?"
"Mother is smart, she definitely wouldn’t be fooled." Zhao Dahe gave a little flattering.
Meng Yao mentioned the reactions of Meng Cheng and Lin Shi, Zhao Dahe was sharp, "This is way out of line."
"What do you mean, out of line?" Meng Yao asked.
"It felt like a tiger’s head and a snake’s tail." Zhao Dahe said.
Sun Shi gave up too easily!
"I suspect that the marriage thing was just a random mention, they have something else in mind." Zhao Dahe said confidently.