CHAPTER 114: CHAPTER 114: A BIT SHORT ON CASH, LOOKING TO EARN SOME SILVER

This time, it was Zhao Ting who was somewhat bewildered.

He thought to himself, you’re Ren Zhong’s wife; of course, whether Ren Zhong gives someone a boost is related to you.

Could it be that she’s holding a grudge, so she’s saying this?

Zhao Ting deliberated before speaking, "I understand that you’re upset, Madam, but now is not the time to be angry. The matter must be resolved, right? Though the County Magistrate was wrong, you are the Magistrate’s wife and can’t just stand by, right? Even if not for yourself, you must think about the young master, no?"

Meng Yao tasted the words and got a sense of what they meant.

It was a misunderstanding that she was Ren Zhong’s wife.

Though she didn’t know what she had done to give this person the wrong impression, it was a big misunderstanding.

"Let me clarify, I have no relationship with Ren Zhong!" Meng Yao explained, word by word, "Well, there is a relationship—I am the younger sister of Ren Zhong’s late wife. Meaning, I’m Ren Zhong’s sister-in-law!"

Zhao Ting blinked. Was there something missing from the original Zhao Ting’s memories?

How could he not know that the Meng family was the sister of Ren Zhong’s late wife?

Meng Yao also figured out who the woman he mentioned was. Undoubtedly, he had heard all the rampant rumors.

So, the person he thought was Ren Zhong’s wife and the woman rumored to be involved with Ren Zhong was actually her.

Zhao Ting’s eyes still held confusion.

Meng Yao solemnly repeated herself, and Zhao Ting could tell she wasn’t lying and immediately felt a bit embarrassed.

"As for the rumors you’ve heard, let me explain, that person is also me," Meng Yao said.

Zhao Ting struggled to sort it out, somewhat grateful that the waiter from the Yueke Lai Inn had kicked him out; otherwise, it would have been difficult to wrap things up now.

"I was presumptuous," Zhao Ting awkwardly admitted, "So, Madam, are you currently married?"

Meng Yao looked Zhao Ting up and down, thinking, indeed, this person is so eager to learn about her affairs because he’s taken a liking to her, right?

"I still think fondly of my late husband, so I am not married," Meng Yao replied.

She first had to establish her single status. Whether she still pines after her late husband depends entirely on how capable this fellow is.

Zhao Ting felt a bit guilty.

He wasn’t the original body.

Unable to feel the original body’s deep emotions for this Meng family member.

He simply couldn’t inherit such deep emotions.

"I have a clumsy tongue and touched upon Madam’s sad past; I hope you can forgive me," Zhao Ting tried to make himself appear very sincere.

Meng Yao: You misunderstood; there is absolutely no sadness.

"Regardless, thank you," Meng Yao said.

The intention was good.

After a simple meal, Meng Yao said goodbye to Zhao Ting.

Zhao Ting had originally intended to escort Meng Yao back, but she refused.

"Right now, everyone thinks I’ve latched onto the County Magistrate for my son, and if Mr. He shows up, the rumors will only get more outrageous," Meng Yao said.

Something along the lines of one woman and two men would probably sound even worse.

"Don’t these rumors bother you, Madam?" Zhao Ting asked.

"If you care, it’s related to you. If you don’t care, it’s merely what others say," Meng Yao spoke lightly, truly not caring.

"Madam is open-minded," Zhao Ting sincerely remarked.

"If I cared about what others said, I probably wouldn’t be alive now," Meng Yao smiled.

Widows are always the talk of the town.

The original body had a hard time right after losing her husband.

What kind of rumors hadn’t she heard?

Zhao Ting thought so, too; it’s indeed hard for a widowed woman to lead a good life.

So, is compensating with two thousand silver a little too little?

Maybe, he should go to the Government Office to see if there are any wanted criminals?

For one, work hard for the Court, and for another, earn more silver.

Originally, Emperor Jing also wanted him to dress incognito to solve some old cases.

One must admit, having Zhao Ting’s identity made everything convenient for him.

At least, he didn’t have to worry about being doubted no matter what he did.

When he was a Prince, he didn’t dare to reveal any of his skills. He constantly reminded himself that he was a carefree Prince, playing the role of a playboy superbly.

Unfortunately, even so, he couldn’t escape Emperor Jing’s suspicion in the end.

Now, he had no such worries at all.

"I’ll be staying in Huaiyuan County for these days. If Madam has any tricky matters, you can find me at the Fuxiang Inn," Zhao Ting said.

"Alright," Meng Yao accepted his kindness.

After seeing Meng Yao off, Zhao Ting headed straight to the Government Office to find Ren Zhong.

Ren Zhong looked at the person in front of him with a bit of a headache. Having helped capture a wanted criminal, how could he still linger?

Ren Zhong spoke with no expression, "What can I do for you again?"

"Master, is there any thorny case accumulated in the Government Office? The kind with reward silver." Zhao Ting grinned.

Ren Zhong slightly raised an eyebrow, "Hmm?"

"I’m a bit tight on money and want to earn some silver," Zhao Ting explained.

Coming to the Government Office to earn silver, and doing it so boldly—he was something.

However, there was indeed a tricky case at hand.

"How about being an arrest officer?" Ren Zhong asked.

Zhao Ting rolled his eyes, "Master, do you take me for a fool? As an arrest officer, solving cases is part of the duty. Aside from the monthly salary, there’s nothing else. I want the reward silver!"

"There are only a couple of tricky cases like that. Being an arrest officer is a surefire job," Ren Zhong said.

"Then I’ll take all the reward silver first, then become an arrest officer."

Ren Zhong: It makes so much sense, he couldn’t argue against it.

Ren Zhong pulled out a dossier.

After returning to the inn, Meng Yao conducted some psychological guidance for Zhao Dahe to relax his mind before the exam.

In the end, she realized she was being unnecessary.

This boy had a rock-solid mentality and didn’t need any guidance.

He didn’t feel any pressure at all.

"Get a good rest. Tomorrow morning, we’ll escort you to the exam hall," Meng Yao said, and then sent Zhao Dahe off.

She still had things to do; the county exam consisted of five sessions, one session per day.

Eating, drinking, and all others must be resolved within the exam venue.

So, she had to prepare some food for Zhao Dahe that stored well.

Additionally, pills to refresh the mind, for colds, for vomiting and diarrhea—any possible situation had to be addressed.

After all, exams don’t just test strength.

Luck is also crucial.

For instance, the draw for the exam room during check-ins.

With good luck, the exam room shelters from the wind and rain, and is far from the latrines.

With bad luck, if the exam room leaks wind and rain plus being right next to the latrines, the foul smell makes it hard to eat or sleep, how can one have the energy for exams?

Moreover, based on the research Meng Yao did in advance, she knew the exam rooms were very cramped.

Though it was spring now, the cold lingers.

Not easy to endure.

In short, she had to prepare comprehensively.

Wen Nuan helped Meng Yao with the food preparation.

The little girl wished to handle all the chores herself.

Because after the Madam asked what food she was preparing for her brother, she told her that exams are exhausting, and he needs to eat well to bear it.

The Madam said, prepare food together.

Smoked meat and baked goods.

Big chunks of meat, all made with fine white flour.

Recently, they’d been eating better than they did during the New Year in previous years.

Her brother even marveled that it felt like it was New Year every day.

She would surely remember the Madam’s kindness.

Once her brother finished the exam, she would continue to work diligently as a maid for the Madam.