Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Lady Qian Leaves
Qian Shi pondered for a moment and looked at Meng Yao, "Is it convenient for us to go over there?"
"We’re only staying temporarily, there’s nothing inconvenient about it," Meng Yao said casually, thinking that she only needed to explain to Lu Luoxing later.
"Yuanxing, go back and tell your father that he should take good care of himself and not worry about us," Qian Shi said. "Discuss your engagement with Hong Xing with him. If you both still agree, then arrange it as soon as possible. Only, the dowry I promised for Hong Xing is no longer available."
"Madam, how can you say that? How would we not agree?" Qian Yuanxing hurried to explain. "I will work hard to earn money in the future and make it up to her."
Hong Xing, feeling shy, glanced quickly at Qian Yuanxing and then lowered her head.
"Good, you are a good child. Your kindness and your father’s will always be remembered by me. If I can turn things around in the future, I will certainly not treat you unjustly," Qian Shi said, moved.
Meng Yao took Qian Shi and the others back to the Hundred Herbs Hall, using the back door.
After settling everyone in, Meng Yao told Doctor Su, who had no objections, allowing them to stay as long as they wished.
The Hundred Herbs Hall was the property of the owner. Without instructions from the owner, he wouldn’t dare to make decisions on his own, but the owner had previously given such instructions, so it was not an issue.
Meng Yao shared her plans with Qian Shi, who thought for a moment, "I know the magistrate of Xuzhou and Li Tanyun have always been at odds, so we shall go to Xuzhou."
Meng Yao instinctively looked at Zhao Xiaoshu, realizing that Zhao Xiaoshu would also have to go to Xuzhou.
"Ah Yao, your brother-in-law has many classmates in Qingzhou. He usually keeps a low profile, so I think, as long as I don’t go to Qingzhou, the Li couple may not press him too hard. However, he is not good at taking care of himself, so I would like to ask you to take care of Xiaoshu as well as look after him a bit," Qian Shi said seriously.
"I want to go to Xuzhou with you," Wang Fuzi directly opposed.
Qian Shi glared at him, "You can’t help with business matters. Following me would only hinder my efforts to make money. Rest assured, I will find my footing soon and then come to get you. You are Xiaoshu’s teacher now; you can’t neglect his studies, right?"
Wang Fuzi felt somewhat dejected, but he knew that everything Amin said was true. He was, indeed, quite useless, unable to offer any help, and instead causing Amin to spare thoughts for him.
"Then you have to come for me as soon as possible," Wang Fuzi said with a low mood.
With Wang Fuzi having no objections, Meng Yao naturally would not refuse.
Qian Shi was of a decisive character. The next day, she took Hong Xing to Butler Qian, and when she returned, she was alone.
"It’s settled with Butler Qian. Hong Xing will temporarily stay at Yuanxing’s mother’s relatives’ house. When the time comes, Hong Xing will marry out from there," Qian Shi said nonchalantly.
"Sister, there’s no need to rush. Why not wait until after Hong Xing and Yuanxing marry before leaving?" Meng Yao could see the reluctance in Qian Shi’s heart.
"No, I must go quickly," Qian Shi said resolutely.
Qian Shi was stubborn, and Meng Yao couldn’t persuade her. It was only after much pleading from Wang Fuzi that she agreed not to leave immediately, but to depart the next day.
After checking on two injured patients, Meng Yao performed acupuncture on the young man and changed the medicine for Lian Niang’s husband.
While changing the medicine, Doctor Su finally saw the stitched wound, both surprised and delighted.
The wound was healing well, swollen but not red, with no pus around the needle marks.
Lian Niang saw the wound and covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.
Meng Yao comforted her with the baby in her belly, then routinely instructed her before busy preparing medicine for Qian Shi.
As Qian Shi was going to Xuzhou to start anew, Meng Yao needed to prepare daily medicines for her to prevent any health issues due to acclimatization. Otherwise, Qian Shi might stubbornly endure to save money, leading to major health problems, which would not be worth the risk.
Meng Yao worked tirelessly from noon until late at night, gathering an assortment of bottles and jars into a box.
Not only were there pills for different ailments, but also some defensive sedatives prepared.
Qian Shi looked at those bottles and jars, her eyes reddening, "Ah Yao, thank you."
"I don’t object to you going to Xuzhou, but if you encounter situations you can’t handle, do not push yourself too hard," Meng Yao advised. "Think about brother-in-law, think about Zhenzhen."
"Don’t worry, I cherish life very much. As long as there’s life, everything is possible. Without life, everything is empty talk," Qian Shi said.
Only then did Meng Yao feel reassured, "Then, sister, quickly go back to your room to rest, and talk to brother-in-law properly, so as not to make him feel upset."
The next day, when Meng Yao woke up wanting to see Qian Shi off, she found that Qian Shi had already left.
Wang Fuzi spoke sullenly, "She left before dawn, not wanting to disturb you, saying she couldn’t bear the sadness of parting."
"How long has she been gone?" Meng Yao asked.
"It’s been an hour," Wang Fuzi said.
It was too late to catch up.
Meng Yao was glad that she had placed some silver in the medicine box the previous day.
"Brother-in-law, you shouldn’t be too sad either," Meng Yao comforted Wang Fuzi. "Sister has the experience of traveling afar. I’m sure everything will go well."
"Dahe’s mother, I used to think that everything else was inferior to studying. But now, I kind of understand what others say about scholars being useless," Wang Fuzi sighed. "Academic success only matters if you achieve something with it. For someone like me, I’m indeed useless. My only achievement is that Dahe topped the county exam. But what does that have to do with me? It’s Dahe’s own talent. Otherwise, why have I taught for so many years, yet only Dahe has succeeded?"
"Brother-in-law, you mustn’t dwell on this. If you keep thinking this way, you’ll be ruined. If you’re like this, what’s the point of sister’s hard work abroad?" Meng Yao quickly advised, "Dahe indeed has some talent, but if not for your guidance, how would his talent be directed towards academics?"
"And you have to consider Xiaoshu too. Didn’t you say his talent is even greater than Dahe’s?"
Wang Fuzi felt much less downcast immediately, "Right, right, right, Amin is working so hard; I mustn’t hold her back."
Only then did Meng Yao breathe a sigh of relief, "Xiaoshu, fetch water for your master to wash, and tidy yourself up, I’ll cook for you."
Usually, she had her breakfast made by the women.
With Wang Fuzi and Zhao Xiaoshu now, how could she bear to trouble others?
She kneaded the dough and made some hand-pulled noodles, topping it with a simple scrambled egg.
Simple but with no compromise on flavor.
At first, Wang Fuzi didn’t have much appetite, but after one bite, it was clear that the second bite came much faster.
Truly, a good meal can lift one’s spirits at any time.
Perhaps because the meal was so appetizing on Meng Yao’s side, both women and Lian Niang followed suit and made hand-pulled noodles.
Seeing this, Meng Yao reminded the two women to cook the noodles for the patients till soft and tender.
They both agreed.
After eating, Wang Fuzi insisted on not staying at the Hundred Herbs Hall, saying that with Qian Shi gone, there was no point for the Li couple to keep an eye on him either. Meng Yao could only help him and Zhao Xiaoshu hire an ox cart and let the two of them head back first.