Zhao Xiaoshu felt a bit lost. Children, aren't they all hoping for a gentle and kind mother? Especially those who have never received love, they yearn for this kind of affection even more. But since he had never received it, he had no idea how to respond.
"It's so good you're okay. Today, your mother and second brother came to take you home. From now on, you won't be an apprentice anymore." Meng Yao took out a piece of paper from her pocket, the one with the handprint when Zhao Xiaoshu was sent to the carpenter's shop.
She just went back to the carpenter's shop and got it easily after talking to the carpenter's wife.
As she was leaving, Ya'er came out to see her off and even apologized, saying she should not have lied. She saw her father beat Xiaoshu severely, then stuffed Xiaoshu into a sack. Her father also said that if she told anyone about it, he would put her into a sack too.
"Aunt, my mother is ill, I can't leave her alone."
"Now that you're taking Xiaoshu home, will you treat him well?"
The little girl's face was full of guilt and unease.
"Don't worry, he's my son, I'll definitely treat him well." Meng Yao gently patted Ya'er's head, "After your father comes back, he won't be able to hit you for a while, but one day he'll get better. So, if you and your mother want to avoid being beaten, you'll have to find a way,"
"What way..." Ya'er seemed to ask but also seemed to be talking to herself.
"Make sure he doesn't get better, or leave," Meng Yao said.
After all, this is someone else's family matter, and even if Meng Yao wanted to intervene, she had no standing to. Moreover, they're not related by blood, even if she helped once, she couldn't help for a lifetime.
Ya'er and her mother must eventually stand on their own.
"Go home?" Zhao Xiaoshu murmured, "Can I really go back?"
"Of course you can, that's your home, you can go back if you want." Meng Yao said gently, "What happened before was my fault. When I gave birth to you, I suffered greatly and hurt my body. I couldn't figure things out and blamed you for it, so I neglected you all these years."
"Don't worry, it won't happen again, I'll make it up to you," Meng Yao said sincerely.
Meng Yao thought Zhao Xiaoshu would be moved.
Instead—
Zhao Xiaoshu sneered, "Has Mother found another good place for me again? Just like how you sent me to the carpenter's shop as an apprentice?"
Yes, back then, Zhao Xiaoshu had been deceived into going to the carpenter's shop by her original self.
"No, before, I just wanted you to endure some hardship. But I never expected that carpenter to be so cruel," Meng Yao explained helplessly.
"Yes, he was cruel. But if Mother hadn't shown indifference towards me, how could he have dared? You probably don't know, every time he hit me, he'd say: 'Your mother doesn't care about you anyway, even if I beat you to death, your mother wouldn't feel a bit of heartache, she might even thank me for getting rid of a burden.'" Zhao Xiaoshu stared at Meng Yao expressionlessly and said coldly.
So, that damn carpenter was constantly psychologically abusing Zhao Xiaoshu, constantly slandering her original self.
Now Meng Yao regretted it, regretted being merciful to the carpenter.
Such a person, death is not a loss.
Zhao Dahe stood up abruptly, his face stern, and stormed out without a word.
"Hey, Dahe, where are you going?" Meng Yao asked.
"To kill that bastard, he hit my brother, and I haven't even hit him yet, what right does he have?" Zhao Dahe's eyes were bloodshot, he looked like an enraged beast.
His reaction surprised Meng Yao.
After all, Zhao Dahe was never close to his younger siblings. Maybe that was something taught by her original self, family members could bully each other, but not outsiders.
"Come back."
"Mom, can you swallow this insult?" Zhao Dahe was puzzled.
"Of course not, that's why I already went to vent my anger." Meng Yao said calmly, "I just regret not being harsher, I only broke one of his hands and a leg, I should have broken all his limbs."
Zhao Dahe looked bewildered, "Mom, what did you just say?"
"I said, hurry up and pack, we're going home, Uncle Niu is still waiting for us at the town entrance," Meng Yao said.
Even as they boarded the ox cart, Zhao Dahe was still bewildered.
As was Zhao Xiaoshu—
Mother actually avenged him!
That man was a carpenter. His skill in carpentry was his livelihood. Mother actually broke his hand! What should he do, why did this make him so happy?
"Xiaoshu, if it weren't for your mother insisting on coming to the town today to find you, you'd be in serious trouble!" Uncle Niu sighed, "It's true what they say about the bond between mother and son! You were in trouble, and your mother even dreamed of you in a graveyard."
Zhao Xiaoshu glanced up at Meng Yao.
Meng Yao immediately forced a smile.
Did she dream of herself being left in a graveyard and rush there?
Zhao Xiaoshu was unsure how to feel about this, perhaps she really was going to take him home?
As she said, she regretted her past actions.
So, maybe he should trust her, right?
Zhao Xiaoshu lowered his eyes, no, he couldn't trust her so easily.
Meng Yao sighed, it seemed warming this boy's heart was going to be a long task.
The ice hadn't formed overnight, she couldn't rush it, but at least she had brought him back home now.
As long as he doesn't leave home, this boy, when he grows up, shouldn't turn dark, right?
With time spent together, Meng Yao was confident that she could touch his heart with love.
On the other side, a separate story unfolds.
Ya'er finally understood the reason why Xiaoshu's mother said her father couldn't hit her temporarily.
Her father, who had been carried back from the town, with a broken wrist and a broken leg, covered in other various injuries. He couldn't even stand, let alone hit someone.
"Aren't you going to get the doctor for me? Do you want me to be in pain to death?" the carpenter roared.
Instinctively, Ya'er was about to walk out.
But as she reached the doorway, Ya'er's steps slowed down.
If she didn't get the doctor, would her father just lay in bed the whole time? If so, neither she nor her mother would have to be afraid of being beaten.
And as for making money? Her father's best apprentice was already as skilled as him.
Unfortunately, her father tricked him into signing a death contract back then, so he couldn't leave the carpenter's shop.
After all, all the work they received was done by him anyway.
Ya'er completely stopped her steps, turned, and went to the backyard.
When she grew up, she would be willing to give her father's best apprentice his indenture contract back. Then, whether he stayed or left, it would be up to him. Plus, any money they earned in the future, she would be willing to share some with him.
As Ya'er came out from the backyard, she wore a sweet smile on her face. How wonderful it was to look forward to the days ahead.
She did go to the Hundred Herbs Hall, but not to get a doctor for her father, rather for her mother.
Her father had always refused to get proper medical treatment for her mother, but now, they finally could.
The doctor at the Hundred Herbs Hall was skilled, and her mother would recover soon, no doubt.
When she arrived at the Hundred Herbs Hall, Ya'er revealed her identity, and the doctor, with a stern expression, said he was unwilling to do a house call.
Ya'er panicked and asked why.
The doctor fiercely cursed her father.
Ya'er, without saying anything, rolled up her sleeves to reveal her bruised arms, "He beats me and my mother every day. We aren't on his side. Doctor, I beg you, please go and see my mother."