Chapter 180: Chapter 180: I Am Xiong Da’s Fiancée
The woman greeted Su Ye warmly, "Madam Yue, it’s still twenty eggs today. I also brought you a piece of the bean paste my mother-in-law made."
Su Ye introduced them to each other, and only then did Meng Yao learn that this was the woman responsible for preparing three meals a day for the students, whom Zhao Dahe found through a broker, Mrs. Lu.
The Lu family raised quite a few chickens, so Su Ye didn’t buy eggs from the morning market daily but set a quantity with Mrs. Lu, who would bring them directly when she went to work each day.
The eggs were quite large, indicating that they had been carefully selected.
With a smile, Meng Yao praised Mrs. Lu’s skill in raising chickens, for generally, farm-fresh eggs tended to be smaller.
Her words made Mrs. Lu relax and open up, animatedly discussing her family’s chicken-raising situation with Meng Yao.
Their daughter and son were responsible for feeding the chickens. Both were very patient, digging worms by the muddy riverbank daily, even digging a pit in their backyard vegetable garden to raise worms. They chopped them up to add to the chicken feed, resulting in larger eggs than others’.
"Mrs. Lu is excellent at teaching children," Meng Yao said.
Mrs. Lu waved it off, "How is that teaching children? Rural kids, aren’t they all like that?"
"I’m from the countryside too, and it’s normal for kids to feed chickens, but it’s rare to see such attentiveness and thoughtful feeding," Meng Yao said.
The smile in Mrs. Lu’s eyes deepened; after all, everyone likes hearing their children praised.
"If you ask me, Madam Zhao is impressive, having raised Zhao so well!" Mrs. Lu said.
"This, I really didn’t teach," Meng Yao said.
To be honest, when it came to Zhao Dahe’s studies, she couldn’t take any credit.
"Then you gave birth to him beautifully," Mrs. Lu said sincerely.
Meng Yao chuckled, chatting casually with Mrs. Lu. Mrs. Lu was straightforward; by the time they reached home, she had almost laid bare her family affairs.
Once home, Su Ye carried two large bamboo baskets of meat and vegetables to the outer courtyard kitchen. Mrs. Lu asked Su Ye if everything should remain as usual. Su Ye nodded, and Mrs. Lu started bustling around.
"Auntie, Dahe usually eats with us. Auntie, you and little Hua can also eat with us," Su Ye said.
Su Ye originally only cooked for herself and Yue Sihai, but after Zhao Dahe joined in once, he boldly dragged Wen Shu along to continue eating.
"From now on, you and Sihai should eat with us," Meng Yao said.
No one knew how picky Zhao Dahe was better than Meng Yao.
Without her around, Zhao Dahe often had to choose between Mrs. Lu and Su Ye. With her there, it was obvious what choice he’d make.
Thinking back to the delicious meals from yesterday, Su Ye readily agreed, "In that case, I’ll help auntie with the cooking."
Cooking for a couple more people was no trouble for Meng Yao.
It then became Meng Yao and Su Ye cooking, while Little Hua and Wen Nuan cleaned up afterward.
After that, Meng Yao assigned Little Hua some homework, then asked Su Ye to guide her as she went to find the person who might be ’Xiong Er.’
Upon arriving at the location, Meng Yao sent Su Ye back home.
Su Ye hesitated but didn’t ask, retracing her steps.
Meng Yao knocked on the door, and a woman wrapped in a thick cotton jacket, looking pale with colorless lips, answered.
Just from observation, Meng Yao could tell the woman was qi-deficient and seriously anemic.
The woman looked at Meng Yao quizzically, "Who are you?"
Her voice was weak and breathless.
"Is this the home of Xiong Er?" Meng Yao asked directly.
The woman’s confusion deepened, and she became a bit wary, "My husband is called Xiong Er. Who are you?"
"I’m here to find Xiong Er," Meng Yao replied.
"My husband isn’t home," Xiong Er’s wife said. "If you need him for something, you can tell me instead."
"When will he be back? I’ll wait for him to return," Meng Yao said.
"Miss, what’s your relation to my husband?" Xiong Er’s wife asked suspiciously.
Before coming, Meng Yao had thought of a plan and said directly, "I’m Xiong Er’s soon-to-be... sister-in-law."
Upon hearing "soon-to-be," Xiong Er’s wife’s expression changed instantly.
Upon hearing "sister-in-law," Xiong Er’s wife sighed in relief.
"But I’ve never heard Xiong Er mention you!" Xiong Er’s wife still seemed puzzled.
"I... I don’t know either, but Xiong Da mentioned Xiong Er to me, telling me you live here," Meng Yao said with concern. "But with the wedding day approaching, Xiong Da can’t be found anywhere."
Meng Yao sighed, "I had no other choice but to come here to find you, hoping to ask the second brother where Xiong Da has gone."
Xiong Er’s wife pulled the door open, stepping aside to let Meng Yao in.
"I haven’t seen my elder brother many times either. It’s usually Xiong Er who communicates with him," Xiong Er’s wife said. "Sister-in-law, don’t worry. Xiong Er went to buy medicine and should be back soon."
"I noticed the color of your face doesn’t look good..." Meng Yao remarked.
Xiong Er’s wife bitterly smiled and shook her head, "I’ve had this chronic condition for a long time. Half the year, I need to take medicine. I don’t know how many days I have left. Xiong Er, honest and sincere, insists I can be cured, spending all the money we earn on my medicine. I know my own body, it won’t get better!"
"Take the doctor’s advice, and you’ll surely get better," Meng Yao said.
"Oh, I know how it is. I’m not worried about anything else, just can’t stop worrying about Xiong Er," Xiong Er’s wife said with a worried expression. "Sister-in-law, once I’m gone, please, you and the elder brother, do persuade him more, get him another wife."
Meng Yao: ...
Making up an identity on a whim and now I’m responsible for marriages?
Besides, in Xiong Er’s wife’s case, it’s not like the illness is incurable.
With the right treatment and care, it can be managed.
"I don’t even know where Xiong Da is right now. I don’t even know if the marriage will happen, let alone..." Meng Yao appeared more worried than Xiong Er’s wife.
Xiong Er’s wife’s expression froze slightly.
She wondered, could it be that the elder brother doesn’t want to marry this person, so he’s intentionally hiding?
Although Xiong Er’s wife didn’t know much about her elder brother-in-law, she had heard plenty from Xiong Er.
Elder brother is a capable person, treats Xiong Er well, a man of integrity. Such a man probably wouldn’t do something to ruin someone’s reputation, right?
After all, this person looks quite attractive.
No, something’s wrong here.
Xiong Er’s wife suddenly realized an issue.
"Have you been married before?"
Meng Yao’s hair was styled as a married woman’s.
"My previous husband passed away, but Xiong Da said he doesn’t mind. He said he’s getting old, and marrying a young girl would only bring ridicule," Meng Yao said smoothly.
Xiong Er’s wife thought it made sense. The elder brother was in his thirties. It seemed reasonable for him to marry a widow.
Promptly, Meng Yao showed an anxious expression, "Why isn’t Xiong Er back yet?"
"Don’t worry, he’ll be back soon," Xiong Er’s wife reassured.