“That’s right, that’s right,” Meng Lang replied casually.

Zhou Wan didn't seem to suspect her at all, and Aunt Meng finally felt relieved.

“It’s just a pity that we are an ordinary family. My son usually does manual labor to earn some wages, and my wife and I supplement our income by washing clothes. Now that my wife has encountered this kind of thing, it’s only thanks to my daughter’s help that we can save money for medicine. I’m so sorry to my wife.”

Zhou Wan thought about it and realized that she had been negligent. Since she was going to help, she might as well help all the way through.

She returned to Tianxiang Tower and found Third Sister.

"Third Sister, it's like this, do you still remember Aunt Meng who came back from Luoping Village with me?"

"Of course I remember," Third Sister said, picking up the kettle and making tea with smooth, graceful movements. "You two have been rushing around frantically, taking the money and disappearing without a trace, all because of her."

Zhou Wan smiled sheepishly and told San Niang in detail about Aunt Meng and her daughter-in-law.

"So, what are your thoughts?"

Zhou Wan said seriously, "Look how hard they've worked. Our Tianxiang Restaurant has empty rooms, and we often throw away leftover soups and broths that we didn't finish selling. They're all made from genuine medicinal herbs, it's such a waste. Why don't we take them in? It would be a good deed."

After thinking for a moment, San Niang said, "Outsiders are not allowed to stay inside Tianxiang Tower."

"Oh dear, it wasn't said that they should live in the inner room. The room where their servants live still has two empty rooms that no one has cleaned. The two of them, mother and daughter-in-law, don't need a lot of space."

Third Sister felt uneasy, but remembering what Zhou Wan had said about how Aunt Meng had taken good care of her on the way back to the capital, she nodded in agreement.

When Zhou Wan returned and told the Meng family about it, Meng's wife wanted to refuse, but Meng's mother was very enthusiastic and readily agreed. She kept chanting "Amitabha" and said that Miss Zhou was truly a kind person in their family, and that her son and daughter-in-law would take good care of Miss Zhou in the future.

Zhou Wan was so flattered by her that she hurriedly started packing her things and asked two people to carry Meng's wife to Tianxiang Tower.

Meng Lang was worried about his elderly mother and wife, so he traveled between the two places every day, working up a sweat every day. Even at midday, he would still run over to visit them and ask about their well-being.

He was caught in his disheveled state by San Niang two or three times. One day, Zhou Wan finished talking to San Niang about important matters and was about to leave when San Niang called him back.

“Well, since Meng’s wife and Aunt Meng are moving here, it’s not convenient for her son to be alone over there. Why don’t they come to Tianxiang Restaurant together? Just today, Old Xu told me that Xiao Yang is sick and we need a waiter. Why don’t you have him come and help out?”

Zhou Wan was overjoyed. "Third Sister is so thoughtful. I thank you on behalf of the Meng family!"

Meng Lang was already tired of this life of constant travel. Now that he didn't need to support his wife and elderly mother, and no one was watching him, he spent his free time going out to meet a couple of shady friends, buying some snacks, and living a carefree and enjoyable life. Gradually, he went to Tianxiang Restaurant less and less.

Hearing that there was such a job with free food and lodging and high wages, he was overjoyed, thinking it was a windfall.

Seeing that Meng's wife's condition was improving day by day, Meng Lang was also living a very comfortable life at Tianxiang Tower, and he looked much more energetic.

"Hey, Xiao Meng, it's really nice to be around you. It's a pity that once your wife recovers, we'll probably have fewer opportunities to meet."

Meng Lang was enjoying his drink when he suddenly heard these words. He was stunned and sobered up as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water.

Yes, he got this job because of his wife's illness and Zhou Wan's kindness; it's not a long-term solution. He was just filling in for someone else's job, and once his wife recovers, the three of them will have to go back to that miserable, miserable life of hardship.

It's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. He can't even imagine how he lived that kind of life!

He tossed and turned in bed all night, unable to sleep. How could he stay here indefinitely? If his wife's illness didn't get better, wouldn't he have achieved his goal?

…………

Since the three members of the Meng family moved in, Third Sister hadn't paid any attention to them. One day, she had just finished her work and thought of the three women from the Meng family, so she decided to go and visit them.

Unexpectedly, this visit led to trouble.

Although Third Sister had never interfered in their affairs, she still remembered the rules of Tianxiang Tower clearly. The celadon bowl filled with plain water in front of her was clearly a bowl designated for holding Chinese medicine, to prevent confusion!

She couldn't help but recall Zhou Wan's worried sigh a couple of days ago, saying that Meng's daughter-in-law was probably too weak. Even after drinking medicine for a month, there was no improvement. Her menstruation was still intermittent, and her complexion was still haggard. They had called a doctor to take a look, but there was still no change.

So that's where the problem lies!

She found Zhou Wan, her face displeased, and asked, "Who has been taking care of the Meng family's daughter-in-law lately?"

Zhou Wan didn't know why San Niang asked such a question, and was puzzled, but still answered honestly, "It's Meng Lang. He's quite loyal and righteous. He specially applied to me to deliver food and medicine to his wife every day when he arrives at the restaurant."

Third Sister is such a clever person; she could easily figure out the cause and effect after a little thought. To repay Zhou Wan's kindness, Aunt Meng went to work in the kitchen very early every day and didn't return to her room until very late. That bowl of water was most likely placed there by Meng Lang!

She told Zhou Wan what she had seen, but Zhou Wan didn't believe her. She followed her to the room and saw the bowl of clear water and the celadon bowl that had been filled with water for too long, so that there was no smell of medicine at all. Zhou Wan's anger flared up as well.

"He doesn't care about his own wife, but instead plots to harm her like this?"

Zhou Wan angrily ordered people to pack up Meng Lang's belongings, then rushed to where Meng Lang was working and threw the things in front of him.

"You don't need to come tomorrow. Take your things and go back to where you used to be!"

Meng Lang was unaware that his scheme had been exposed, nor had he anticipated this turn of events. He felt as if the scattered items on the ground and the gazes of those around him were slaps that stung him like a slap.

He grabbed Zhou Wan and shoved her to the ground.

"What did I do wrong? Why should I be able to come and go as I please?"

Those around were startled and quickly helped Zhou Wan up. Everyone's gaze towards Meng Lang changed, and they whispered among themselves.

Meng Lang was startled by the force of his own push, but the stares of the crowd made him disregard everything else. With that shove, he knew he was finished and couldn't stay there any longer, so he recklessly went all out, becoming even more arrogant than before.