CHAPTER 159: CHAPTER 159: THE QIAN FAMILY IS SET UP

Song Xiu’er, Zhao Xiaohua, and Wen Nuan helped Zhao Dahe and Qin Zheng pack their luggage.

Meanwhile, Meng Yao was applying makeup and disguise to Zhao Dahe.

As for Qin Zheng, he took care of it himself; self-reliance is the way.

Meng Yao had taught him how to apply makeup, and now he’s quite skilled at it.

Meng Yao often pondered that makeup skills require talent. As for her, she relied purely on system enhancements. But Qin Zheng was different; it’s his genuine talent.

In his own words, he’s been good at drawing since childhood, which laid a strong foundation.

Qin Zheng still maintained the initial makeup style that Meng Yao had done for him.

As for Zhao Dahe, his facial features were drawn much sharper; when not smiling, he looked like a block of ice. The down-to-earth character he used to have was completely gone.

No need to do much, just remain expressionless, giving others the feeling of someone not to be messed with.

"When you’re out and about, don’t panic when something happens. Don’t try to be a hero. If you can’t win, run. If you can win, clean up well after a fight, and never give anyone a chance for revenge," Meng Yao earnestly advised. "Always remember, a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake."

Moreover, they weren’t even a strong dragon yet.

"If something does happen, go to the Hundred Embroidery House or the Hundred Herbs Hall. But, the Hundred Embroidery House can only handle minor issues. The Hundred Herbs Hall can handle slightly larger ones," Meng Yao said.

"Here, this is the token for the Hundred Embroidery House, and this is for the Hundred Herbs Hall," Meng Yao handed a pouch and a silver needle to Zhao Dahe. "Keep them safe, don’t lose them."

Yesterday, Meng Yao went to the Hundred Embroidery House and the Hundred Herbs Hall specifically for this matter.

What she didn’t expect was Zhao Dahe’s decisiveness; once he decided to leave, he left immediately.

"Thank you, mother. I’ll remember everything you said in my heart," Zhao Dahe said.

Meng Yao hesitated but eventually told Zhao Dahe about He Yan and also sketched his current appearance for Zhao Dahe to remember. He Yan had disguised himself as Xiong Da, something Qin Zheng knew, but what if they weren’t always together?

"Though you might not encounter him, remember him as Xiong Da," Meng Yao said. "If you do run into him, it might save your life in critical moments."

One must always think of the worst-case scenarios.

Zhao Dahe carefully memorized the person in the sketch, even though he thought it unlikely they would meet. But if his mother asked him to remember, he did it—because it was her concern for him.

Meng Yao also prepared them medicines for colds, both cold and hot types, cough suppressants, phlegm reducers, TCM pills for liver relief, and mood alleviations.

Additionally, there were special foot bath pills she had created.

At night, toss one in when soaking feet; it has a calming effect and aids in sleep.

Zhao Dahe and Qin Zheng’s bookcases were packed full, and the wooden luggage boxes that Zhao Xiaoshu made were also stuffed to the brim.

The suitcases had wooden wheels and handles wrapped in iron sheets for easy pulling.

If not so, Zhao Dahe wouldn’t have brought so much stuff no matter what.

Meng Yao personally drove them to Anyang Town to avoid the Li couple from finding out.

Besides, Li Baixia usually did business and knew people from the transport company; she asked him to find someone reliable so she could be more at ease.

The saying goes, a mother worries a thousand miles away. Meng Yao profoundly felt it this time.

In ancient times when information was severely delayed, if something did happen, she could not know immediately at all.

Thus, she tirelessly gave Zhao Dahe and Qin Zheng all sorts of instructions.

Even though they promised to remember her words and strictly follow her advice, Meng Yao was still uneasy.

She had to quickly handle family matters and move the whole family to Qingzhou Prefecture; only then could she be reassured when everyone was together.

After bidding Zhao Dahe and Qin Zheng farewell, Meng Yao sat briefly at the Li Family’s house before driving herself home.

As soon as she got home, Meng Yao discussed moving to Qingzhou Prefecture with Song Xiu’er and Zhao Dajiang for future preparations.

What Meng Yao didn’t expect was that Zhao Dajiang, usually compliant with his mother, was the first to oppose.

Even Song Xiu’er, who usually listened to her mother-in-law, expressed support for Zhao Dajiang.

The reason for Zhao Dajiang’s reluctance was simple: aside from farming, he knew nothing else. Moving to Qingzhou Prefecture without being able to farm would make life meaningless. Also, this was home, something he couldn’t just abandon. During festivals, he could still offer incense to his father.

In the end, Zhao Dajiang and Song Xiu’er insisted on staying to take care of the Zhao Family’s ancestral home.

Even when Meng Yao said they could still farm in Qingzhou Prefecture, Zhao Dajiang refused to go along.

Sons eventually don’t listen to their mothers; plus, the more stubborn Zhao Dajiang’s personality was, the harder it became to communicate.

Once their minds were set, they wouldn’t turn back.

Meng Yao could only put the matter aside temporarily, planning to slowly persuade Zhao Dajiang later on.

As for Zhao Xiaohua, she clearly expressed that she would go wherever her mother went.

As for Wen Nuan, there was even less need to worry. Following them to Qingzhou Prefecture meant that, at the very least, she could frequently see her brother, which was an unexpected joy.

Meng Yao was busy arranging the move to Qingzhou Prefecture, but things weren’t going well for the Qian Family.

Business at home encountered issues; Qian’s steward was injured while handling affairs, enraging his son enough to argue, which resulted in someone getting severely injured, and now he had been taken away by government officers from the Government Office.

On top of that, a supplier that had closely worked with the Qian Family also faced problems.

The expensive fabric had coloring issues, with blotchy colors.

Shops that sourced goods from the Qian Family all came forward, demanding compensation.

The Qian Family couldn’t help realizing they had been set up.

If they compensated, almost all of the Qian Family’s assets would be depleted.

But if they refused compensation and the Government intervened, there was even more uncertainty.

The Qian Family approached Meng Yao with a pretext to entrust the bookshop’s matters to her. The original agreement of collaboration between her and Meng Yao shifted to one between Meng Yao and Qian Zhenzhen. The Qian Family hoped to leave some business for their daughter.

Meng Yao, sharp-minded, pressed the Qian Family for answers.

Unable to avoid it, the Qian Family disclosed their current predicament.

"Don’t worry, how is Steward Qian right now?" Meng Yao asked.

"At his age, after getting injured—and with his son now taken by the government officers—his anger got the better of him and he vomited blood. Right now, he’s still unconscious. The doctor from the Hundred Herbs Hall said that even if he wakes up, most likely, he won’t fully recover," the Qian Family sighed.

"Alright, I’ll first go with you to see Steward Qian, then make a trip to the county office," Meng Yao decisively stated.

The Qian Family felt gratitude but still declined Meng Yao’s help.

"Although there’s no concrete evidence, I know that the troubles facing the Qian Family can’t be separated from the Li couple. If you align too closely with us, who knows if they might turn on you?"

"They’re not targeting our family now, merely because of Dahe’s reputation. If Dahe doesn’t succeed in the examination, it’s only a matter of time," Meng Yao said. "Sooner or later. Didn’t you say it yourself, sister? We’re sisters, sharing fortunes and adversity together. The promises we made while swearing sisterhood can’t be dismissed."

Qian’s eyes turned red with emotion, "A-Yao, rest assured, as long as we get through this, I’ll definitely lead you to prosperity in the future."