CHAPTER 50: CHAPTER 50: HIS LEGS ARE HIS OWN

After eating, Zhao Dahe clung to Meng Yao asking.

"Really nothing, just went to rescue someone. It’s the emergency method your dad taught!" Meng Yao sighed, "I just helped a little, the rest were Hundred Herbs Hall’s doctors busying around. As for being tired, it’s because of the bumpy carriage ride, think about it, rushing to save someone, how fast does the carriage have to go?"

Zhao Dahe was skeptical, "Really?"

"Would I fool you?" Meng Yao said helplessly.

Zhao Dahe reluctantly believed, "Then tell Hundred Herbs Hall to customize a more comfortable carriage so you don’t have to suffer."

"Alright, I’ll tell them." Meng Yao said, "I’m still a bit tired, so I’ll go back to rest. I won’t get up early tomorrow, if you want to eat anything, have your sister-in-law make it for you."

"Then you should hurry back to rest, no need to worry about me." Zhao Dahe said.

The next day, Meng Yao specifically waited until Zhao Dahe left before getting up.

Song Xiu’er warmed her meal in the pot, after eating, Meng Yao went to listen to Qin Zheng’s lecture.

The lecture was about the notes Zhao Dahe brought back yesterday.

Zhao Xiaoshu was listening very intently, Zhao Xiaohua as usual, looked uninterested.

Meng Yao glared at her, so she sat up straight.

Meng Yao followed along for a while, to be honest, she wasn’t very interested either.

The sound of knocking came from outside, Meng Yao took the opportunity to leave.

It turned out to be Han Muchi.

"Young Master Han coming here, is there something?" Meng Yao asked expressionlessly.

She really didn’t have a good impression of this person.

"Aunt Zhao, may I come in?" Han Muchi asked.

"If there’s something, Young Master Han should say it here." Meng Yao replied.

"I came to express my gratitude." Han Muchi said.

"No need, Madam Han already came yesterday." Meng Yao replied.

"My mother is my mother, I am me." Han Muchi insisted, "A life-saving grace, I must thank in person."

Meng Yao, helpless, let him in.

"Xiaohua, Young Master Han is here." Meng Yao called Zhao Xiaohua.

Zhao Xiaohua, who didn’t love listening to Qin Zheng’s lecture, immediately ran out from Zhao Xiaoshu’s room.

Han Muchi saw Zhao Xiaohua, and a smile unconsciously appeared on his face.

Zhao Xiaohua greeted Han Muchi confidently, "Are you better?"

"Thanks to Miss Zhao’s blessing, already fine." Han Muchi replied.

Zhao Xiaohua nodded, "That’s good. The riverside is dangerous, for someone like you with a brain..."

Zhao Xiaohua quickly shut her mouth.

"Hmm?" Han Muchi didn’t understand.

"Nothing." Zhao Xiaohua awkwardly paused, almost blurting out "not very bright," but remembered she took quite some silver from his mother yesterday, so couldn’t say he wasn’t bright.

"Is there something Young Master Han came for?" Zhao Xiaohua changed the topic.

"I came to thank Miss Zhao." Han Muchi took out a medical book, handing it with both hands to Zhao Xiaohua, "Miss Zhao is studying medicine, and I happen to have a medical book at home, thinking Miss Zhao would like it, so I brought it for her."

"For me?" Zhao Xiaohua was a bit surprised, "Your mother gave quite a lot of silver already! It’s enough! You don’t need to be so courteous!"

"What my mother gave is my mother’s, what I give is mine. This is..." Han Muchi looked at Zhao Xiaohua earnestly, "This is my heartfelt token."

"Sigh, I didn’t do much, I can’t accept it. My mom said medical books are precious." Zhao Xiaohua firmly refused, it wasn’t an act, she really didn’t want it, she didn’t enjoy reading, even medical books.

She learns medicine, taught by her mother, and she’s happy learning like this.

Why trouble herself unnecessarily?

Han Muchi received the signal that Zhao Xiaohua wanted it but was embarrassed.

"Take it, this was specifically found for you." Han Muchi insisted, "You and I, there’s no need to be so distant!"

Zhao Xiaohua was very puzzled, "Why should I not be distant with you? We are neither kin nor cousin! Why are you getting so chummy, what’s your intent? Yesterday my mother told your mother clearly!"

"Is there something wrong with me?" Han Muchi was very confused.

Twelve-year-old Han Muchi, youthful in appearance, was very different from the cold-faced seventeen-year-old he’d become.

"What does it matter to me if there’s something wrong with you?" Zhao Xiaohua tilted her head, "You are quite strange."

All of Zhao Xiaohua’s actions were genuine, not a bit of pretense. This left Han Muchi hurt.

And let him understand, in Zhao Xiaohua’s eyes, he really didn’t matter.

"Madam Zhao, we agreed yesterday, that matter is settled, no one owes anyone anything! How can you go back on your word?" Madam Han stomped angrily into the Zhao family’s yard.

Meng Yao didn’t even need to speak, Zhao Xiaohua was quick with her response.

"Madam Han’s words are quite interesting, how did we go back on our word? As for Young Master Han, no one from our family invited him, his legs are his own! Is it our fault? I was just thinking of asking Madam Han to take him back!"

A face full of disdain, without any cover-up.

Han Muchi’s face was not looking good.

Madam Han’s face was even darker, like ink.

"We won’t keep you, Madam Han." Meng Yao said politely.

The message in her words was clear to everyone, you should leave, our house doesn’t welcome you.

Han Muchi was dragged away by Madam Han.

Looking utterly dejected.

Madam Han was both angry and distressed.

Her son, a prodigy, now in the countryside, humiliated by rural women and girls.

She would remember this debt clearly, and sooner or later, she’d settle it properly with this Meng family.

"Mom, Han Muchi didn’t take his book." Zhao Xiaohua said.

Chasing after them to return the book? Tussling and explaining if seen wouldn’t look good.

"Let Xiaoshu take it back later." Meng Yao said.

Zhao Xiaohua nodded, took the book into Zhao Xiaoshu’s room.

She held it by the spine, the pages opened, and a folded piece of paper floated out.

Zhao Xiaohua picked it up and unfolded it, looking surprised.

It was her portrait.

Meng Yao also saw it.

She watched Zhao Xiaohua, not saying anything.

Girls often get moved by such small details, and from being moved to being emotionally swayed is not far.

So, Meng Yao was observing Zhao Xiaohua’s reaction.

After all, just now Han Muchi’s dejected appearance could easily attract sympathy.

Although Zhao Xiaohua seemed indifferent at the time, young girls’ thoughts are hard to guess, what if she was different inside and out?

Zhao Xiaohua kept staring at the portrait, making Meng Yao very uneasy.

Was the little girl feeling she had been too heartless to Han Muchi?

Now, was she moved by a simple portrait?

"Mom, do all scholars know how to draw?" Zhao Xiaohua asked.

Meng Yao, not understanding the reason, still nodded.

"Isn’t Han Muchi good at studying?" Zhao Xiaohua asked again.

Meng Yao replied, "After all, at his age, he’s already a child prodigy. Your second brother is fourteen and hasn’t even sat for exams yet."

Meaning, he’s quite good.

"Then why did he draw me so ugly? Worse than the flowers you draw, mom. And with this, he dares to give it as a gift?" Zhao Xiaohua disdainfully folded the paper, slipped it back in the book, and called out, "Zhao Xiaoshu, can you run an errand for me!"