"I was wrong, Mother! Please don't let Dajiang divorce me. I beg of you!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The young woman wailed at the top of her lungs and continuously knocked her head on the ground. Her forehead became red after a short while. Meng Yao instinctively went to help the woman up, but she was stunned when she saw the pair of outstretched hands.
The hands were dry, yellow, and had prickles at the tip of the nails. The woman's nails were uneven, with blackness under her nails.
'Are those her hands? How could that be possible?'
A good mental state and clean hands were essentials for doctors. A tall, thin young man approached in a daze to pull the crying woman. Although the young woman struggled, the man quickly dragged her to the door.
Meng Yao did not have time to think as she shouted, "Let go of her!"
The young man was obedient and let go of the woman's hand. The young woman's forehead hit the door frame, and her injury worsened.
Meng Yao hurriedly approached the young woman as she thought about how she should treat the wound on the young woman's forehead. Although the cut was not deep, it would quickly get infected if left alone.
The young woman shrank back and dodged Meng Yao.
'This…'
While confused, Meng Yao felt a sharp pain in her head, and several memories that were not hers filled her mind. Meng Yao looked at the young man in disbelief. He was her son! Meanwhile, the pitiful young woman on the ground was her daughter-in-law.
Ying Luo was thirty-three years old before she transmigrated and had three sons and one daughter. Her eldest son was the young man in front of her, and his name was Zhao Dajiang. He was seventeen years old and got married last autumn.
Ying Luo's second son, Zhao Dahe, was fourteen years old and studied in a town school. Her third son, Zhao Xiaoshu, was nine and an apprentice in a carpenter's shop in town. Finally, Ying Luo's daughter, Zhao Xiaohua, was Zhao Xiaoshu's twin.
However, Zhao Xiaoshu was born half an hour earlier. Although they were born only half an hour from each other, their lives differed vastly.
Ying Luo's predecessor had it easy when she gave birth to Zhao Xiaohua. In addition, Zhao Xiaohua was the predecessor's only daughter, so the predecessor doted on her. Zhao Xiaohua never needed to do any work compared to her brothers.
Ying Luo's predecessor suffered a great deal while giving birth to Zhao Xiaoshu, which took a massive toll on her body. Zhao Xiaoshu did not cry when he was born, so a man had to take him to a doctor to save his life.
Ying Luo's predecessor thought that the Heavens had sent her youngest son, Zhao Xiaoshu, to pay for her sins, making her displeased with him.
One would say that the emperor loved his eldest son, while the people loved his youngest son. However, that was non-existent in Ying Luo's predecessor. Otherwise, she would not have sent Zhao Xiaoshu to the carpenter's shop to become an apprentice at such a young age.
One knew that it was challenging to become an apprentice since it was no different from selling one's body. Life would be better if one met a good master, but meeting a bad one would result in concurrent beatings. Unfortunately, Zhao Xiaoshu's master was a bad one.
Meng Yao digested the new memories in her mind with difficulty. She was twenty-eight years old and graduated with her Ph.D. before she transmigrated. She immediately threw herself into her work enthusiastically shortly after, and before she realized that she had yet to solve her personal problems, she was already thirty-three years old.
The elders arranged for Meng Yao to have a few blind dates, but they ended without success, so she accepted that she would not get married. However, she skipped love and marriage and had four children.
Did that count as her responding to the country's call?
Nonetheless, that was what Meng Yao wanted. She never wanted to be a princess or a lady from a noble family, but at least she was a daughter of a humble family. It did not matter to her if she was poor since she was a young girl. Age thirty-three was not a considerable number compared to ancient times.
Meanwhile, Meng Yao felt so aggrieved that she was about to explode.
"In-law Meng Yao!" A loud voice caused Meng Yao's ears to buzz. 'Good heavens. Did she bring a megaphone with her?'
Immediately after, a thin old lady covered in dirt appeared before Meng Yao. It was Song Xiu'er's mother, Madam Née Li.
Before Meng Yao could react, Madam Née Li lifted her leg and kicked Song Xiu'er while cursing and swearing.
Meng Yao did not think before grabbing a broom from the head of the bed to hit Madam Née Li. She felt depressed that someone had come to beat her up.
Madam Née Li shouted as she dodged, "What's wrong with you, Meng Yao?! It's me, Xiu'er's mother!"
"I didn't give you the right to come into my house and beat my daughter-in-law in broad daylight. That's why I'm beating you!" Meng Yao slapped Madam Née Li even harder. She had seen how ruthless Madam Née Li was to her daughter, Song Xiu'er.
'Xiu'er's must be in great pain.'
Meng Yao did not need to search for her predecessor's memory when she saw how ruthless Madam Née le was to her daughter. She could tell that Madam Née Le was not a good person. Therefore, she gladly hit Madam Née Li with the broom.
"Mother, stop! Xiu'er is bleeding!" Zhao Dajian's voice filled with fear.
Meng Yao turned around and saw Song Xiu'er fainted in a pool of blood. "Why are you standing around? Hurry and carry her to the bed!" Meng Yao thundered.
Zhao Dajiang hurriedly carried Song Xiu'er to the bed while Meng Yao's face turned ashen when she grabbed Xiu'er's wrist. As expected, Song Xiu'er was pregnant.
Meng Yao looked at the pool of blood on the ground and knew there was no saving the unborn child.
Madam Née Le could not be bothered to argue with Meng Yao. She prepared to slip away without worrying about Song Xiu'er's condition while Meng Yao was not paying attention.
"Don't stand there doing nothing! Quickly, call for a doctor!" Meng Yao urged.
Zhao Dajiang hurriedly ran out while Madam Née Li's men had moved into the courtyard. Meng Yao ran out and pulled Madam Née Li back. "You think you can leave after killing someone?!"
Madam Née Li's face turned pale, but she refused to admit her crime. "Don't spew such nonsense, Meng Yao. I didn't kill anyone."
Meng Yao pointed at the pool of blood on the ground and said through gritted teeth, "Xiu'er is pregnant, so you killed my eldest grandson."
"I didn't know she was pregnant. If I knew, would I have kicked her? Don't you have a mouth, Xiu'er? You could've said something. I wouldn't have asked Dajiang to divorce you if you told me you were pregnant," Madam Née Li scolded Song Xiu'er.
Meng Yao was shocked. She had met many people, but never one as shameless as Madam Née Li. Madam Née Li blamed Song Xiu'er for what happened instead of facing the music.
"You're a terrible person. The one lying there almost dead is your daughter!" Meng Yao was furious as she grabbed the broom again. "You kicked her so hard that she had a miscarriage, yet you still have the nerve to say that?!"
Madam Née Li jumped to avoid Meng Yao. "You're not a good person either. Xiu'er is bleeding because of you. You said I was the one who caused her to miscarry, but you're the black-hearted person who killed Xiu'er's child! Tell me, Xiu'er, did Meng Yao do this? Don't be afraid and just tell me so I can decide what to do for you!"
Song Xiu'er looked at the two blankly with her near-lifeless eyes.
Meanwhile, Meng Yao could not be more familiar with Song Xiu'er's gaze. Then Song Xiu'er pulled a hairpin from her hair and stabbed it into her neck.