After Becoming An Evil Mother-In-Law, She Just Wants To Clear Her Name! - Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Meng Yao Brings Zhao Xiaohua to Town

“My skills can improve.” Meng Yao looked at Zhao Dahe calmly. “You can eat the food if you like. I won’t force you if you don’t.”

It would be fine as long as Meng Yao refused to admit it. There was nothing Zhao Dahe could do even if he wanted to get to the bottom of it.

“You’re such a strange person, Dahe. Why would you question Mother’s cooking?” Zhao Xiaohua was delighted because her mother’s cooking was better than Xong Xiu’er’s.

Zhao Dahe scratched his head. ‘Xiaohua is right. It’s great that Mother has improved her cooking.’

Zhao Dahe finished his soup and placed it on the table. “I’ll have another bowl.”

Previously, Song Xiu’er would have to serve them, so no one stood up to refill Zhao Dahe’s bowl. He felt awkward.

Meng Yao glared at Zhao Dahe. “What’s wrong? Is your butt glued to the stool? Can’t you stand up?”

Zhao Dahe ladled a bowl of soup for himself and took a big bite of the pancake to vent his frustration.

“Xiu’er can’t get out of bed since she needs to rest. Xiaoshu also needs some time to recover, so someone else needs to wash the dishes.” Meng Yao looked at Zhao Dahe and Zhao Xiaohua.

Then she continued, “Dahe will wash the dishes today since he only comes home once in a while. Dajiang and Xiaohua will take turns washing the dishes when he’s not around.”

“B-But, Mother!” Zhao Dahe was upset. “Gentlemen should stay away from the kitchen!”

“You’re not a gentleman,” Meng Yao said mercilessly. “Ask Dajiang or Xiaohua for help if you don’t want to do it. I don’t know which of them would be willing to help you.”

Zhao Xiaohua quickly reacted. “I’m still a kid, Dahe. I can’t help you. Also, I’m going to town with Mother later.”

Zhao Dajiang wasn’t so foolish this time. “Mother told me to care for Xiu’er. I need to boil medicine for her.”

Zhao Dahe did not want to do any housework. His mother would dote on him in the past and wouldn’t allow him to do chores. However, it looked like Meng Yao no longer doted on him, and a child without a mother’s love was like a blade of grass.

Zhao Dahe suddenly remembered his father saying he wanted to hire an elderly woman to work for them. ‘Why am I so foolish? I could have hired someone!’

“I will hire a woman to help me, Mother,” Zhao Dahe said excitedly.

“Of course, but you have to be responsible for her food, clothes, housing, and transportation. Also, you must pay her,” Meng Yao warned.

Zhao Dahe was dumbfounded. He had some silver, but it was barely enough to hire someone to help him with the chores.

‘I need to get food, clothes, housing, and pay someone to help me? I-I don’t have enough money.’

Meng Yao was the one who paid for Zhao Dahe’s expenses. Zhao Dahe reluctantly cleared the table and washed the dishes. Then he went into the kitchen frowningly.

Meanwhile, Meng Yao gave Zhao Dajiang some instructions and went to see Song Xiu’er.

However, Song Xiu’er was frightened. Meng Yao knew some people would need time to change. Meng Yao knew Song Xiu’er was afraid of her predecessor, so she took her time eliminating it through minor interactions with Song Xiu’er.

Then Meng Yao went to Zhao Xiaoshu’s room and saw he had already finished his breakfast. When Meng Yao entered the room, Zhao Xiaoshu was sitting on the bed in a daze, lost in thought.

“I’ll take the rest of the dishes out. I’ll tell Dahe to wash these too.” Meng Yao said smilingly, “I’m going to town with Xiaohua. Do you want anything while we’re there?”

Zhao Xiaoshu only shook his head.

“You should rest. Call Dajiang or Dahe if you need anything,” Meng Yao said. “I’ll get you some of Xiaohua’s snacks. How does that sound? You can eat them if you’re hungry. I’ll make you some more food when I return.”

Zhao Xiaoshu puffed up his cheeks, his face full of reluctance. He was in the carpenter’s shop for too long and became more observant.

“I don’t want to eat,” Zhao Xiaoshu refused.

He thought his mother loved Zhao Xiaohua more and didn’t think he could compare to Zhao Xiaohua, especially since she was home.

Meng Yao glanced at Zhao Xiaohua when she said, “Why do you refuse to eat my snacks, Xiaoshu? We’re twins and shared Mother’s womb, so what’s mine is yours. You can eat my snacks if you get hungry but not too much.

“I-It’s not that I don’t want you to eat at all—Mother said it’s not good to overeat,” Zhao Xiaohua added.

“Let’s go, Xiaohua. We can’t catch up to Mr. Niu’s oxcart if we don’t leave now. You wouldn’t want to walk, would you?”

Meng Yao was afraid Zhao Xiaohua would make things worse. Zhao Xiaoshu had gotten severely hurt after all. An injured person would be more sensitive, and the more Zhao Xiaohua spoke, the more mistakes she would make. Meng Yao thought it would be better if Zhao Xiaohua stopped talking to Zhao Xiaoshu.

Meng Yao gave Zhao Xiaoshu’s dishes to Zhao Dahe. Then she left alongside Zhao Xiaohua under Zhao Dahe’s bitter gaze.

When they arrived at Mr. Niu’s house, a few people were waiting at the entrance. Everyone wanted to go to town. Meng Yao paid Mrs. Niu and pulled Zhao Xiaohua to find a seat on the oxcart.

The comfort level on the oxcart was average, and the bumps were severe. However, Meng Yao would rather deal with that than walk more than ten miles to get to town.

Soon after, more people came in twos and threes.

“Are you going to town with your mother, Xiaohua?” A pretty little girl said softly. Her teary almond-shaped eyes made one like her at first glance.

The pretty little girl wore a long dress embroidered with peach blossoms, standing out from the crowd. The little girl wore her hair in two buns with a pearl string.

The little girl’s dress was something Zhao Xiaohua longed for, and it was the dress Taozhi’s uncle gave her.

Zhao Xiaohua’s eyes lit up as her face turned green with envy. Children of that age could not hide their joy when it came to something they liked.

Meng Yao gently nudged Zhao Xiaohua, bringing her back to her senses. Zhao Xiaohua grinned and replied, “Yeah, my mother is taking me to town.”

“Why are you going to town?” Taozhi asked.

“We’re just going to look around.” Zhao Xiaohua didn’t want to tell Taozhi why she went to town. She wanted to put on her new dress and appear before her friends to surprise them.

Meng Yao knew what Zhao Xiaohua thought, so she smiled and patted Zhao Xiaohua’s hand.

Taozhi didn’t pry. Instead, she sat beside Zhao Xiaohua and the two whispered to each other. Meanwhile, Taozhi’s mother, Madam Jin, also sat down and nodded at Meng Yao.

According to the original Meng Yao’s memory, Madam Jin was a quiet person. The original Meng Yao did not have much contact with Madam Jun. Meng Yao only knew which family Madam Jin was from. Besides that, their friendship only consisted of head nodding. Therefore, Meng Yao avoided talking to Madam Jin.

Zhao Xiaohua stopped whispering to Taozhi and looked at her mother expectantly. “Mother, Taozhi said her mother took her to a store to get some shoes, the kind with beads sewn on the surface.”