CHAPTER 89: CHAPTER 89: MOTHER, WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING?

Meng Yao arranged a small desk for Ren Zi’an and set his brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone on it.

A copy of "Thousand Character Classic," a copy of the "Student Rules," and a calligraphy practice book.

"Brother An, where have you got to in these two books?" Meng Yao asked.

"I’ve finished them, but my father said, ’Reading a book a hundred times, its meaning will naturally appear.’ I haven’t read them a hundred times yet!" Ren Zi’an replied, "My father said, the principles spoken in books are not fixed; everyone has their own understanding."

This County Magistrate is certainly not an inflexible reader.

"Your father is right," Meng Yao said.

"Mother, why do you and father not live together? Other people’s fathers and mothers all live together," Ren Zi’an asked the question that puzzled him most.

"You see, the principles in books aren’t fixed. Similarly, matters in life aren’t fixed. Life doesn’t have to be lived within confines. Most people’s state of living, while not necessarily wrong, also isn’t definitely right," Meng Yao contemplated and said.

Ren Zi’an’s little face showed confusion, seeming to understand but not entirely.

Meng Yao gently rubbed his small head, "Brother An is good; some things don’t necessarily need to be questioned to the root, right?"

Ren Zi’an nodded, "Yes."

"Then can Brother An tell me what your favorite food is?" Meng Yao asked.

"Anything mother makes, I love to eat," Ren Zi’an said.

"A lying child is not good, you know," Meng Yao said with a smile.

Ren Zi’an looked a bit pale, and when he spoke, his breath had a hint of fatigue, and his tongue was heavily coated.

Symptoms of indigestion were evident.

A child this age with indigestion was mostly due to not liking to eat vegetables.

Ren Zi’an felt a bit guilty; his voice lowered a lot, "I love eating meat the most."

"Staying with me, you won’t have a lot of meat to eat," Meng Yao said.

"Mother, do you not have any money? It’s okay, I have some here," Ren Zi’an unfolded his clothing, pulled out a silver note, "Mother, here, see if it’s enough; if not, next time I see father, I’ll ask for more."

It was a silver note for a hundred taels.

"Brother An, did your father give you this silver note?" Meng Yao asked.

"It’s my yearly New Year money; father converted it to a silver note," Ren Zi’an said, "Father said, one’s own money should be managed by oneself."

This family education is quite enlightened.

"So remember to keep it safe; wealth shouldn’t be exposed, and you can’t let others see the silver note," Meng Yao advised.

"I won’t show it to others, only to you, Mother," Ren Zi’an said seriously, "Anything of mine can be given to Mother."

Meng Yao’s heart ached slightly. This little guy, having never experienced maternal love, was thus so cautious and humble.

"I have money; I don’t need Brother An’s," Meng Yao said.

"But aren’t you out of money, Mother? You can’t always have meat to eat," Ren Zi’an said, puzzled.

"When I said you can’t have a lot of meat, I didn’t mean I have no money to buy it; it’s because, though meat is good, it should be eaten in moderation. Eating too much is bad for health. Just like Brother An—when you sleep at night, aren’t you always restless?" Meng Yao asked.

Ren Zi’an shook his head, "I don’t know."

"Didn’t your nanny ever tell you that you always toss and turn at night?" Meng Yao rephrased.

Ren Zi’an nodded, "She did say that."

"That’s because you eat too much meat; it’s hard to digest, and there’s heat in your stomach, which is why you toss and turn at night and sleep poorly," Meng Yao said.

"Father said eating meat helps grow the body," Ren Zi’an replied.

So, this habit of eating meat was cultivated by the County Magistrate.

Meat is good, but even the best things need to have limits.

A child’s spleen and stomach are tender, and most easily harmed.

"Eating more vegetables can also help grow the body," Meng Yao said.

"I’ll listen to Mother," Ren Zi’an stopped dwelling on this issue.

"Brother An is really good," Meng Yao praised.

After tidying up Ren Zi’an’s things, Meng Yao noticed he looked tired, so she coaxed him to sleep. He had been worn out these days and had jolted all the way here by carriage, and soon he fell asleep.

But he kept gripping Meng Yao’s fingers.

After he fell into a deep sleep, Meng Yao gently pried his fingers one by one, covered him with the quilt, used a pillow to block his side, and then tiptoed out, closing the door quietly.

Zhao Dahe was still in the main hall; he felt there were some things he needed to clarify with his mother.

"If you have something to say, just say it outright. Don’t have that constipated look on your face," Meng Yao said unkindly.

"Mother, what are you planning to do?" Zhao Dahe asked.

"What do you mean, planning to do?" Meng Yao was puzzled.

"I mean, regarding Little Zi’an," Zhao Dahe said, "Though I don’t know what happened between you and the County Magistrate, for Little Zi’an’s sake, Mother, know when to stop. Otherwise, the one hurt will be Little Zi’an."

Why did Meng Yao feel this sounded like "For the sake of the child, you shouldn’t get divorced?"

What could have happened between her and the County Magistrate? She had seen him for the first time a few days ago, under everyone’s watch—what could have happened?

"Come, come, Zhao Dahe, tell me clearly: what exactly happened between me and the County Magistrate? What kind of love-hate drama have you imagined?" Meng Yao asked, both crying and laughing.

"Mother, don’t..." Zhao Dahe wanted to say ’stop being so stubborn,’ but he knew if he said it, he’d definitely get beaten up, so he hesitated.

"After all, Little Zi’an has come to us. And you don’t have to worry that we won’t accept him. Although it was sudden, we know the fault doesn’t lie with Little Zi’an," Zhao Dahe changed his tone, "Little Zi’an is endearing and can’t be disliked. We all will accept him and treat him as our own younger brother."

"Why do you plan to treat the County Magistrate’s young master as your own brother? Dahe, you have your own younger brother! You can’t just because of Brother An’s status..." Meng Yao said earnestly.

"Mother!" Zhao Dahe said seriously, "What are you saying? Am I that kind of person? Our willingness to treat Little Zi’an as our own brother is because he was born by you, and he is our sibling with the same mother."

"No, Zhao Dahe, why are you also fooling around like Zhao Xiaohua?" Meng Yao was utterly speechless, "Little Zi’an is five years old—five years ago, what was I doing? Don’t you remember?"

Five years ago, her original self was busy earning money to pay off debts.

"Besides, don’t you have any common sense? Is having a child an instantaneous thing? Don’t you need to be pregnant for ten months? In your memory, did you see me with a big belly five years ago? Even if you don’t remember, could the villagers not remember? As a widow, suddenly being pregnant—would the village tolerate it?" Meng Yao said, knocking Zhao Dahe on the head.

Zhao Dahe was dumbfounded, and it took him a long time to come up with, "Then why does Zi’an call you Mother? And the County Magistrate sent him here?"

Would anyone send a child over if there was really no connection?

Meng Yao rolled her eyes, "I’d like to know too. As for why the County Magistrate sent him over—it’s not because he is too worried about him? A hunger strike protest—which parent can withstand that?"