CHAPTER 120: CHAPTER 120: SOMETHING DOESN’T FEEL RIGHT

Meng Ruyu felt some anger. No matter how things were before, she called out now, which already showed respect to Meng Yao. Yet, her attitude was really uncalled for.

This person is really annoying. No wonder no one in the family likes her except for that aunt who favors outsiders.

Just look now, not talking about past events, a young girl crying and coming to her, shouldn’t the Meng family disregard past grievances to comfort her?

And the result?

She could actually show such an indifferent look, acting as if it didn’t concern her.

"Aunt, please help me," Meng Ruyu suppressed her anger, tearfully pleading, "Grandma is old and can’t withstand hard labor. I secretly went to see her. She worked with injuries and is skin and bones now."

"I can’t help," Meng Yao leisurely responded, "They broke the laws of Zhou Country, that’s why they ended up like this. Besides, the County Magistrate offered a choice at the time, just pay the fine silver."

Who knew, Meng Qingshan could be so heartless.

He could abandon his own wife Sunshi, who gave him children, even his own son, he could heartlessly ignore.

Although the fine silver was considerable, the Meng family definitely could afford it. At most, if they pay, it would be a setback to the pre-liberation days.

"Grandpa said there is no silver," Meng Ruyu wiped her tears, "My brother and I begged him, but he just wouldn’t relent."

Her brother was fine, as the eldest grandson of the Meng family, that old man’s attitude towards him hadn’t changed.

Moreover, now that old man had the silver, he was much more generous with her brother, which made her brother initially stand with her, but now persuade her to let it go, that spending all the family’s wealth to get them back would make the Meng family a laughingstock in the village—not worth it.

She overheard Grandpa muttering with Matchmaker Ma, saying he fancied a middle-aged widow in her prime from the neighboring village under forty.

The widow didn’t want a bride price, suggesting her marriage to her son and brother’s son, a fool who is twenty but still snot-nosed and urinates publicly.

Moreover, the widow said to prevent Grandpa from having the reputation of abandoning his first wife, she is willing to enter as a concubine.

She would serve Grandpa, and when Grandma returns, she would serve her too.

Grandpa was tempted by the gentle and charming widow.

So he had Matchmaker Ma persuade her.

They even said the fool was very clever when born, only became silly due to an accident that hurt his brain, but it didn’t affect childbearing.

How could Meng Ruyu possibly marry a fool?

So she secretly left, originally intending to seek her aunt for help, but someone stopped her and pointed out another way, so she came to ask Meng Yao.

"I can’t help you," Meng Yao said emotionlessly.

It wasn’t that she was hard-hearted.

But she could see through, Meng Ruyu’s desperate pleas were fake.

Her pitiful appearance reeked of cunning and ulterior motives.

Meng Ruyu wanted to curse, but she remembered the person who pointed the way to her and suppressed her anger again, feigning a pitiful look, "Aunt, I know coming to you puts you in a difficult position, but, I have no other choice."

Meng Ruyu sobbed, "On my maternal side, they believe my uncle’s trouble was the Meng family’s doing, and they don’t let me enter their home now. At my aunt’s, my uncle-in-law resents Grandma too and stopped me, I couldn’t even meet my aunt. I really am at a dead end!"

Meng Ruyu felt she was playing the pitiful act quite convincingly, but Meng Yao remained unmoved.

On the side, Wen Nuan frequently glanced at Meng Yao, curious about how a lady who extended help to her and her brother could be so cold to a relative seeking assistance.

This girl’s family must have done something utterly outrageous.

"Done talking?" Meng Yao asked.

Meng Ruyu looked astonished.

"If you’re finished, please leave. I’m tired and need to rest," Meng Yao said.

This was a signal to kick her out.

Wen Nuan rolled up her sleeves and said crisply, "This girl, please. My lady needs to rest."

Meng Ruyu refused to leave, but she wasn’t stronger than Wen Nuan, who quickly pushed her outside.

Watching the door shut tight, Meng Ruyu was out of options.

She hesitantly pleaded, hoping to attract more onlookers to pressure Meng Yao.

But though there were onlookers, none inquired further.

They knew Madam Zhao wasn’t easy to deal with. Besides, she was now related to the County Magistrate, no one would step in just for a weepy girl.

Besides, they didn’t know the truth of the matter.

If they did step in and later found out the girl wasn’t pitiful, then what?

Even if she was pitiful, so what?

Who doesn’t have a tragic story?

For all they knew, their own stories might be worse.

Thus, watching from afar was fine.

Meng Ruyu cried until her eyes hurt, yet no one stepped up to defend her.

The only one approaching was the innkeeper, "Miss, this is an inn. Your crying disturbs business, you should leave quickly."

For a moment, Meng Ruyu forgot to cry.

What’s wrong with this world?

She cried so sincerely, yet no one was moved?

The innkeeper, seeing her dumbstruck and not leaving, grew impatient, "If you keep this up, I’ll report to the authorities. No matter your relation with Madam Zhao, her stance is clear. What’s the point of sticking around?"

Meng Ruyu wiped her tears, glared at the innkeeper, lifted her skirts, and hurriedly descended the stairs, leaving the guesthouse.

The innkeeper knocked on Meng Yao’s door, politely saying, "Madam Zhao, rest assured, I’ve already sent her away."

Wen Nuan opened the door and handed the innkeeper a few copper coins, "Madam says this is for the assistant to have tea."

The innkeeper beamed with joy.

Nobody was as considerate as Madam Zhao.

Meng Yao pondered, somehow feeling Meng Ruyu’s visit seemed odd. She cried, she pleaded, but left without achieving anything, something didn’t feel right.

Is this what she calls a dead end, having to come to her?

After leaving the guesthouse, Meng Ruyu walked along the street for a while, quickly turning into a small alley, zigzagging as if familiar with the county town.

Soon she knocked on the door of a house in a small alley.

When the door opened, she quickly slipped inside.

Upon re-emerging, she had a bulging purse in her hands.

Opening to check the sufficient silver inside, she tucked the purse into her bosom and hurriedly retraced her steps to leave.

The next day.

As Meng Yao and Wen Nuan were preparing to go out, Ap brought Ren Zi’an over.

"Madam, the master asked me to inform you, yesterday someone paid the fine silver at the government office, and early this morning, Lin Shi left the office," Ap brought the news to Meng Yao.

"Lin Shi left alone?" Meng Yao asked.