It was just as Meg Yao thought. Zhao Dahe's behavior at the ancestral hall differed significantly from her predecessor's memory. That was the real Zhao Dahe—carefree yet infuriating.
Meng Yao was puzzled, 'Aren't scholars supposed to be gentle and elegant?'
Zhao Dahe's behavior was more in line with a hooligan that had nothing to do. It was a waste of a handsome man.
"Okay, fine. I'll give the pouch back to you. Do you think your mother would be greedy for silver? Don't you remember that I was the one who paid for your books? I saw you standing up for your sister-in-law just now, so I was engrossed in thinking about your motives," Meng Yao said as she unhappily stuffed the pouch into Zhao Dahe's hand.
Zhao Dahe happily tucked the pouch into his pocket as he said, "What's there to ponder, Mother? You were the one who said it. No matter how useless big brother and sister-in-law are, they're still a part of the Zhao family. Bullying your family members is okay, but outsiders can't."
Zhao Dahe was right. Ying Luo's predecessor mentioned it was okay to make a fuss behind closed doors but not in public. Meng Yao agreed with it and thought there was finally something to be proud of in her predecessor.
Others would bully the Zhao family if the single mother and four children did not unite.
"Honestly, Big Brother, didn't I tell you to take care of the family while I'm gone? Not only did you anger our mother, but your wife almost died!" Zhao Dahe said impatiently.
Zhao Dajiang retorted through gritted teeth, "I'm not the one who angered Mother…"
"I never said you weren't the one who made me angry?" Meng Yao interrupted Dajiang. 'What kind of person is Dahe? How could he laugh at a time like this?' Meng Yao thought.
If she did not interrupt Zhao Dajiang, he would have told Zhao Dahe that Song Xiu'er had given all her food to her family. Zhao Dahe looked harmless, but he was not. He blamed Zhao Dajiang for what happened and disliked Song Xiu'er.
"Dajiang, none of this would have happened if you protected Xiu'er from Madam Née Li," Meng Yao rebuked.
"B-But that was Xiu'er's mother," Zhao Dajiang stammered.
Zhao Dajiang thought he could not stop a mother from hitting her child.
Meng Yao was speechless. She knew her predecessor had brainwashed Zhao Dajiang too successfully since Zhao Dajiang thought it was fitting for a mother to hit her child. Thus, in Zhao Dajiang's eyes, the Song family's actions were typical.
"Didn't I tell you that you can't teach Big Brother these things, Mother? He's got a one-track mind, and no matter what happens, he can't adapt." Zhao Dahe rolled his eyes.
"I didn't think anything bad about it before, but I am aware now. Don't worry. I will ensure your big brother knows it," Meng Yao said.
However, it was hard to say if Zhao Dajiang could learn from his mistakes.
"Listen up, Dajiang. You have to be good to Xiu'er and protect her. Do not allow anyone to abuse her, understood?"
Zhao Dajiang was okay with it since he thought whatever his mother said was right. Meanwhile, Song Xiu'er and Zhao Dahe looked at Meng Yao in unison, their eyes filled with doubt.
Then Meng Yao said calmly, "We don't have enough money to get another wife for you, Dajiang."
'That's normal,' Zhao Dahe thought. Otherwise, he would have seen that his mother had changed.
Nonetheless, Zhao Dahe did not care about Song Xiu'er's nourishment. Even if it would be costly, he thought his mother was just saying those things to maintain the Zhao family's reputation. Meanwhile, inviting Doctor Li over was not a big deal since the Zhao family could not just watch Song Xiu'er die.
Even though Zhao Dahe looked down on Song Xiu'er, he could not deny she was quite capable, and with her around, his mother could relax.
Simultaneously, Song Xiu'er did not know why, but she felt that her mother-in-law was different from before. Even though Meng Yao once said she despised Song Xiu'er, Song Xiu'er felt that her mother-in-law liked her more now. It was as though Meng Yao only said those disdainful words for Zhao Dahe to hear.
Zhao Dajiang did not overthink it. He only did whatever his mother told him to do. Soon after Meng Yao and the others arrived home, Doctor Li appeared at their door.
Doctor Li was embarrassed when he looked at Meng Yao. Then he said, "I was wrong, Mrs. Zhao. I didn't know the truth, yet I accused you of what happened to Song Xiu'er. I am terribly sorry."
Doctor Li previously blamed Meng Yao for Song Xiu'er's malnourishment.
Meng Yao revealed an appropriate yet fake smile as she said, "Never mind that, Doctor Li. I know I can be too fierce sometimes, and I don't have an outstanding reputation. It's my fault, not yours. Besides, you were just a kind doctor concerned for a patient."
Doctor Li felt guilty yet touched upon hearing Meng Yao's words. He had studied with his brother, and Li Zheng always taught him to look at things with his heart since eyes were susceptible to illusions.
Although Mrs. Zhao was notorious, that was her true nature. Meanwhile, Madam Née Li was usually polite to everyone on the outside, and it was evident that a dog that bit would not bark. Meng Yao even praised Doctor Li for his kindness as a doctor, but Doctor Li felt he did not deserve it.
"I know I made a mistake, and I refuse to pretend that nothing happened even though you don't mind, Mrs. Zhao. How about this? You won't have to pay for this house call. Please accept it as my apology, Mrs. Zhao," Doctor Li was filled with determination when he spoke.
"N-No, there's no need, Doctor Li," Meng Yao said as she frantically waved her hand.
"How could you refuse, Mother?!" Zhao Dahe looked disapproving. "Doctor Li is sincerely aware of his mistake and wants to make it up to you. What will he think if you insist on rejecting him? One would say it's better to make amends before passing."
"Yes, I agree. Dahe is right," Doctor Li quickly chimed in.
Meng Yao glanced at Doctor Li, then at Zhao Dahe. Zhao Dahe looked righteous when he recited those words, but Meng Yao felt he was up to no good for some reason.
After that, Doctor Li meticulously checked on Song Xiu'er, his face increasingly severe. Meng Yao had checked on Song Xiu'er's condition before, so she knew how bad her body was. Considering Doctor Li's expression, Meng Yao thought he must think the same as her.
"What are you doing, Dajiang? Go and boil some water for Xiu'er." Meng Yao ordered.
"You must be tired after rushing home, Dahe. You should go to your room and rest." Meng Yao wanted to send Zhao Dahe away.
"Are you trying to get rid of me, Mother?" Zhao Dahe asked, filled with suspicion.
"Yes, that's what I'm trying to do. There might be a lot of blood in this room, and I don't want it to stain your scholar robes. Besides, Doctor Li will perform acupuncture for Xiu'er soon, so there's no need for you to be here," Meng Yao said indifferently.
Zhao Dahe stopped being suspicious and turned to leave while Doctor Li said awkwardly, "I-I don't know how to perform acupuncture, Mrs. Zhao."
'Isn't acupuncture something a Chinese doctor should know? He's a man, so doesn't he perform acupuncture for his wife? If so, that would tarnish his reputation.'
"I-I've seen other doctors perform acupuncture in the past and thought you could do it too," Meng Yao said, embarrassed.
"He must be an excellent doctor then," Doctor Li said confidently. There were very few people in Zhou State who were good with acupuncture.
Meng Yao did not know if acupuncture would be effective, but she knew how to do it.
"What is wrong with Xiu'er's body, Doctor Li. Can you tell me?" Meng Yao asked sternly.