In the previous life, the original self abandoned her youngest son, Zhao Xiaoshu, at a carpenter's shop and stopped caring.
Zhao Xiaoshu's master was a drunkard, drinking three meals a day whenever there was no work, and he would beat Zhao Xiaoshu when drunk. Once, he beat Zhao Xiaoshu so severely that he stopped breathing. The master panicked and dumped him in a graveyard.
He went to the Zhao Family and claimed the boy was lost, insincerely giving the original self two strings of coins in compensation.
The original self wasn't fond of Zhao Xiaoshu anyway, so seeing money, she didn't pursue the matter further.
Nobody could have expected that Zhao Xiaoshu, thrown into the graveyard, would come back to life.
He didn't return to the carpenter's shop, nor did he return to the Zhao Family.
When Zhao Xiaoshu reappeared, he had grown into an adult.
The carpenter first lost a business deal, paying considerable silver in compensation; then the shop caught fire, consuming all his possessions, and he broke his leg wandering at night with no money to treat it, so the leg rotted.
His wife and daughter severed their relationships with him.
Ultimately, he fell into a shallow smelly ditch and drowned.
The drowned carpenter was delivered to the Zhao Family by Zhao Xiaoshu, tossed in front of the original self.
A swollen face and a rotten leg.
The original self was scared to death.
After death, perhaps Heaven wanted to offer her a chance for change, reincarnating her to the day the carpenter 'beat' Zhao Xiaoshu to death.
But the original self was too timid; when she opened her eyes and thought of the carpenter's tragic fate, she didn't manage to do anything before dying again.
That gave Meng Yao an opportunity.
Meng Yao awoke abruptly, reborn on the day Zhao Xiaoshu was 'beaten to death'!
Panicked, Meng Yao jumped off the kang, slipped her shoes on, and ran out.
Zhao Dahe emerged sluggishly, "Mom, what are you rushing around for?"
"You're coming to town with me," Meng Yao said while going back to fetch the family's silver to carry.
"At this time, why go to town?" Zhao Dahe protested, freshly off a cattle ride, feeling sore.
"When I say go, you go. Stop dragging your feet," Meng Yao said irritably.
She had to go; if not...
The image was too beautiful, Meng Yao couldn't even imagine.
She wasn't timid; in the future, she wouldn't be scared to death by the carpenter's tragic appearance.
But it was clear that Zhao Xiaoshu wouldn't return as family. If the original self hadn't died of fright, it wouldn't end well for her. Eventually, she'd face Zhao Xiaoshu's wrath.
"Dajiang, after the chicken soup is ready, serve Xiu'er the soup and give her a chicken leg. After she eats, make sure Xiu'er takes her medicine. Got it?" Meng Yao instructed Zhao Dajiang.
"I remember, Mom." Zhao Dajiang agreed.
Only then did Meng Yao hurriedly drag Zhao Dahe out the door, heading to Bull Uncle's house in the village, a place for transport.
"Mom, going to town is fine, but why give the chicken leg to Song? There are only two chicken legs, and normally one is mine and the other goes to my little sister. Are you giving mine or my sister's to Song?" Zhao Dahe asked.
"Do you even have to ask? Of course, it's yours that goes to Xiu'er," Meng Yao replied. "You're older; Little Flower you're older, as her brother, can you really compete for food with your sister? Besides, isn't the chicken body edible apart from the legs? Isn't the rest of the meat just as edible?"
"You know I love chicken legs the most," Zhao Dahe grumbled, displeased.
Chicken legs were always his; even his little sister only got them thanks to him. Look around; none of the village girls had such a privilege.
"Just because you like it does it mean you should get it? And I love it too, but who gives it to me? Books talk about respecting elders and caring for the young. Zhao Dahe, did you read the book into a dog's belly?" Meng Yao was worried she wouldn't have time to remedy things while mad at the mess left by the original self, having no intention of coaxing Zhao Dahe.
If she failed to remedy it, once Zhao Xiaoshu grew up, would life be anything good?
"I'd willingly give it to you, Mom," Zhao Dahe admitted.
"That's your sister-in-law, and a senior sibling is like a mother," Meng Yao patiently explained.
"You're a scholar; a good reputation is more important than anything." Meng Yao took a deep breath and lowered her voice.
Zhao Dahe shot her a peculiar look, "Mom, I'm not taking office, so why do I need a good reputation?"
Meng Yao was somewhat confused, reflexively asking, "If you're not taking office, why study?"
"Are you really my mom?" Zhao Dahe questioned as he scanned Meng Yao doubtfully.
Meng Yao's expression darkened, "You little rascal, who else would I be if not your mother? Are you so daft from studying that you can't even recognize your own mom?"
"Who knows if you're a spirit? Tales and stories say spirits devour people, then transform using the consumed person's appearance, and then..." Zhao Dahe muttered.
Meng Yao smacked Zhao Dahe's head, "I tightened my belt to put you through school, and you read silly books? You're going to make a name for yourself, aren't you? I should just beat you!"
With a hand on his head, Zhao Dahe cried, "Mom, if you hit me so hard and make me dull, who will study then?"
"Whose fault is it but yours for babbling nonsense!"
"Wasn't it Mom who forgot my original purpose in studying?" Zhao Dahe argued defensively. "You said reading and literacy would make me esteemed in the village without needing me to accomplish anything, just the identity of a scholar. Mom also said, among the many students in Zhou Country, few become officials. As your son, you know my worth best."
So the original self sent Zhao Dahe to study solely for the status of being a scholar?
The approach was quite distinct.
"Didn't you say you ranked third this time?"
"That's because there were no rewards before."
"So you're in it for the silver?" Meng Yao asked.
"Of course! If time weren't tight this round, I'd aim for first place." Zhao Dahe declared proudly.
So what misunderstanding did the original self have regarding her son?
With tight timeframes, he still bagged third; if he studied well, wouldn't he be a scholar of exceptional talent?
"Then study well, become a scholar, a scholar, a scholar, and an official, receiving court salaries with more silver, isn't that better?" Meng Yao cautiously inquired.
If Zhao Dahe could become an official, even without her having time to remedy things, with him as backing, her fate shouldn't be too harsh, right?
"Mom, it's not easy being an official. Besides, books said being an official comes with many temptations. You know I'm quite easily swayed. When I mess up, will I lose my head?" Zhao Dahe sneered, "Being an honest official is tiring and without silver. As a corrupt official, while silver comes, one fears for their life."
"But being an official has benefits; at least in Shanghua Village, you'd be number one. At home, not being tyrannical but ensuring nobody dares to mess with you," Meng Yao persuasively argued. "Overall, just not being a corrupt official has abundant benefits. Silver from being an honest official, though less, always beats farming! Don't you agree?"