CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 48: ZHAO DAHE LEFT UNNOTICED

"Mom, why did Madam Han give us another silver note?"

After laughing enough, Zhao Xiaohua couldn’t wait to ask.

"Do you think their son is worth only fifty taels? Can they be happy about that? Didn’t Madam Han mention, her son is a pupil, with a promising future ahead. Isn’t this basically an insult?" Meng Yao explained.

Zhao Xiaohua was puzzled, "I didn’t mean that! I was just expressing that Han Muchi is valuable."

"A beautiful misunderstanding," Meng Yao said.

"Then this silver note..." Zhao Xiaohua blinked, "Should I return it and explain?"

"I think Madam Han would prefer not to see you," Meng Yao replied.

"Why so petty? It’s just a proposal rejection! But I can’t compromise myself just to please her. We’re not even related, why should I?" Zhao Xiaohua muttered.

"As Madam Han said, in the future, Han Muchi is definitely not a creature confined to a small pond. Xiaohua, do you really..." Meng Yao asked.

"Mom, why are you being so strange? What does Han Muchi’s future have to do with me?" Zhao Xiaohua wondered, "There are many promising people out there, not just Han Muchi, why should I marry him? Besides, what’s the use of just being good at studying? He’s not even smart."

How could someone clever fall into the river in the middle of winter?

Zhao Xiaohua looked disdainfully.

Meng Yao felt relieved, seeing this she felt assured Zhao Xiaohua wouldn’t be troubled by Han Muchi in the future.

"You’re right, absolutely right." Meng Yao agreed happily, "Whatever he does, it has nothing to do with our family or you."

"Then mom, this silver note..." Zhao Xiaohua asked eagerly.

"Oh, I’ll keep it for you as part of your dowry." Meng Yao calmly tucked the silver note into her bosom, but actually tossed it into her space.

"Mom~" Zhao Xiaohua pouted and acted cute.

Meng Yao pulled out a string of copper coins, "Here, buy whatever you want."

Trading a silver note for copper coins, Zhao Xiaohua sighed inwardly, having something is better than nothing.

"Thank you, mom." Zhao Xiaohua put the copper coins into her purse.

At the Han Family.

Madam Han barely managed to return home, smashing many things to quell her anger.

Han Muchi heard the commotion and came over, looking at the mess in confusion.

"You just fell into the water yesterday, why aren’t you resting in your room?" Madam Han forced a warm smile.

"Mom, did someone upset you?" Han Muchi glanced at the maids who didn’t dare to make a sound, cautiously asking.

"No, they didn’t upset me." Madam Han patiently said, "I just thought about how after your father went, those people in the clan bullied us. I couldn’t control my anger. Don’t worry, I won’t be like this in the future."

Han Muchi declared firmly, "Mom, don’t worry, I will definitely help you fight back."

Those who bullied them that day, he would make sure to return the favor in the future.

"Chi, I believe in you." Madam Han was moved.

Han Muchi comforted Madam Han for a while and then shyly inquired about the marriage proposal.

"The Zhao Family refused." A spark of anger reignited in Madam Han’s heart, but she had to extinguish it in front of her son.

Han Muchi was stunned, "Why?"

Not that he was heartbroken, he was simply curious.

Before the Han Family had any trouble, many families showed interest in marrying their daughters to him. Besides, he was known as ’Little Pan An.’ Whenever he went out in the village, young girls would follow him from afar, whispering.

Why would they refuse?

"How would I know why?" Madam Han sighed.

"But I with her..." Han Muchi said reflexively.

"Miss Zhao said it was just a lifesaving gesture, nothing significant. Moreover, she said that anyone else in danger, she would have saved them the same way." Madam Han explained, "She told me to tell you not to take it to heart. If she had to marry every person she saved, she couldn’t manage it!"

Han Muchi chuckled.

In his mind, the image of the young girl appeared, imagining her tone when she said those words.

Yes, she was right, he was being presumptuous.

Madam Han couldn’t understand why her son was laughing.

"Since that’s the case, mom should send some gifts as thanks," Han Muchi said.

"Already did, gave a hundred taels as a medical fee," Madam Han mentioned, still feeling a sting.

It wasn’t that her son wasn’t worth it, it was that she felt the pain of giving money to such a mother and daughter.

Han Muchi thought the money was appropriate, "Then I’ll go back to reading."

Madam Han saw Han Muchi back to his room, "Reading is not urgent, health is more important."

"I understand, mom."

Han Muchi sat at his desk, opened a book, but somehow couldn’t focus at all.

After a while, a smile crept onto his lips, he put the book aside, spread out rice paper, ground ink, and picked up a brush. Stroke by stroke, Zhao Xiaohua’s image came to life on the paper.

The expression lively and dynamic.

After finishing the painting, Han Muchi admired it for a long time, the smile on his face becoming even warmer.

She saved him, something that couldn’t be repaid with just money.

She was completely different from the girls in the Han Family, different from the ladies from family friends too.

In a few years, he would ask his mom to propose again.

Madam Zhao probably refused because they were still newcomers.

Once they understand, he believed that Madam Zhao and Miss Zhao would surely not refuse this marriage.

Han Muchi carefully put away the painting, and pulled out a medical book from his book box. After some thought, he folded the painting and placed it inside the medical book.

She knew how to save people, she must be learning medicine.

So if he gave her a medical book, she would surely be happy!

Zhao Dahe, after waking up, heard about Zhao Xiaohua being proposed to and couldn’t stop laughing.

"Laugh for what! I’m so young and already getting proposals, Zhao Dahe, you’re turning fifteen after the new year! Besides being pined for, has anyone come to propose to you?" Zhao Xiaohua mocked Zhao Dahe’s lack of suitors.

Zhao Dahe’s laughter abruptly stopped.

Oh right, why hasn’t anyone come to propose? He was talented and scholarly, it shouldn’t be this way.

"If you can successfully pass the county exam, then people should come to propose." Meng Yao said.

No one came to propose because they knew he wasn’t a real scholar yet.

After all, being admitted to the county academy is like officially stepping onto the imperial examination path.

What he was studying now was at most preschool level.

Preschool, what prospects could that have?

If Zhao Dahe didn’t study and was as capable from a young age as Zhao Dajiang, that would be a different story.

Otherwise, who would want a weak scholar? They’d starve!

"Mom, when someone comes to propose for me, you can’t just decide casually." Zhao Dahe said, "If Zhao Xiaohua can choose for herself, so should I."

After all, he chose a different path, so the previous standards for choosing a wife also had to change.

"Rest assured, you’ll make the decision yourself." Meng Yao replied.