The carriage slowly drove out of the city gate. Meng Zhao looked back through the carriage window until the waving figure could no longer be seen before sitting up straight.
On the carriage, Yin Chun broke the silence first, "After being away for a year, I can finally go home. I wonder if my younger siblings will still recognize me when I get home."
Huang Cui scoffed and said, "If they forget about you, just hide the things you bought for them and don't give them to them anymore."
"Even if we don't give them to them, we won't give them to you. Just give up on that idea." Last time Yin Chun went out with Meng Zhao, she bought two doll ornaments. Huang Cui took a liking to them at first sight and asked for them several times, but Yin Chun refused, saying they were for her younger siblings.
Huang Cui retorted, not to be outdone, "Who cares? Last time the shopkeeper took me to Yongcheng County, I bought two dolls there too, and they were very pretty."
Seeing the two of them bickering, Meng Zhao couldn't help but laugh, which eased the sadness of their earlier parting.
The carriage sped along the official road. As they passed an intersection, Shen Yun suddenly asked, "Sister Meng Zhao, should we go and see Aunt Gu? It won't take much time."
Meng Zhao raised her head and followed Shen Yun's gaze towards the capital. Her eyes flickered slightly, as if she wavered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure and gently shook her head. "Forget it. This is Shen Qinghe's first year as the top scholar. I guess his family is very busy. I won't bother them."
"The top scholar? Shopkeeper, you know the top scholar?"
The speaker was Su Meng. Ever since she heard from Shen Yun that Meng Zhao was going back, she took the initiative to find her and said she wanted to leave with her. After considering it for a few days, Meng Zhao took her with her. Otherwise, Fang Xiaohua's current position would be hers.
Upon hearing her question, Shen Yun immediately replied, "It's more than just knowing her. Sister Meng Zhao is also the sister-in-law of the top scholar. Shen Erlang was able to continue his studies thanks to Sister Meng Zhao's support. Without Sister Meng Zhao, it's uncertain whether he would have been able to become the top scholar."
Meng Zhao immediately stopped her, "Xiao Yun, don't say that."
Shen Yun said with some grievance, "I'm not lying, I'm telling the truth. If it weren't for you, who knows what would have happened to the Shen family back then."
Meng Zhao was somewhat displeased. "Even if it's the truth, our statuses are different now, and we can't say things like that anymore. Even if the Shen family doesn't mind, if it gets out and others hear it, it will cause some unnecessary trouble." Besides, even if she wasn't in the original book, Shen Qinghe still became the top scholar. Although she had done him a favor, she couldn't claim too much credit for him becoming the top scholar.
Seeing Meng Zhao's serious expression, Shen Yun pursed her lips and said, "Okay, I understand, Sister Meng Zhao. I won't say it again."
Su Meng glanced at Meng Zhao and found it really strange. When the shop first opened, some people came to cause trouble, but no matter what it was, Meng Zhao resolved it herself. If she had revealed that she was the sister-in-law of the top scholar earlier, there wouldn't have been so many problems.
After traveling for more than half a month, the carriage finally reached the territory of Qingshi County. Meng Zhao was eager to return home and urged the driver to speed up the whole way. As soon as the carriage entered the alley, she jumped off impatiently. Without bothering to exchange pleasantries with the neighbors, she pushed open the front door of her house, her voice filled with barely suppressed excitement: "Mother, Father, I'm back!!!"
Upon hearing Meng Zhao's voice, Meng Dashan, who had been sitting in his chair, suddenly jumped up. "Zhao Zhao, is Zhao Zhao back?"
Xu Yunrong was even faster. As soon as she heard the sound, she ran to open the door. When the door opened, she saw Meng Zhao standing in the yard wearing a fluffy cloak with a bright smile on his face.
Upon seeing Xu Yunrong, Meng Zhao joyfully opened her arms and rushed towards her like a little bird: "Mom, I missed you so much!"
However, before she could even hug him, Xu Yunrong reached out and pressed her hand against Meng Zhao's head, her tone icy: "Who are you? I've never seen you before?"
Meng Zhao was stunned. What happened? Had her mother lost her memory after she went out for a while? So she asked anxiously, "Mother, what's wrong? Don't scare me. Are you hurt?"
Xu Yunrong snorted coldly, turned her head away, and said with obvious sullenness, "Who's your mother? I don't have a daughter I haven't seen for more than half a year." After saying that, she shouted to Meng Dashan beside her, "Meng Dashan, there's a stranger in the yard, quickly chase him away!"
Meng Zhao then realized that her mother was angry. She felt relieved, as long as she wasn't hurt. She quickly slid to her knees and said, "I'm sorry, Mother. I was wrong. I didn't expect to stay for so long and make you worry."
Xu Yunrong still turned her head away and didn't speak, but the expression on her face softened slightly. Seeing this, Meng Zhao quickly looked at Meng Dashan beside her, her eyes pleading for help.
Although Meng Dashan also missed his daughter, he didn't dare to say anything when he saw his wife's expression. He could only pout at Meng Zhao behind her back, indicating that he couldn't help her.
Having no other choice, Meng Zhao resorted to playing the victim. She shrank her neck and said in a slightly aggrieved voice, "Mother, it's so cold outside. I've been in the carriage for so long, and my legs are so stiff from all the jolting. Please let me come in and warm up."
Hearing Meng Zhao say that, Xu Yunrong couldn't hold back any longer. She turned her head, her tone still hard, but her eyes softened: "Now you know how painful it is? Then will you dare to go to such far places again?"
Meng Zhao was very shrewd. Seeing that Xu Yunrong had softened a bit, he quickly rushed forward and threw himself into her arms like a spoiled kitten: "I won't dare to do it again! Mother, you have no idea how much I missed you while I was away. I brought you a lot of good things this time. Take a look later, I guarantee you will like them."
Xu Yunrong finally couldn't hold back any longer. She led her to the stove in the house with heartache, rubbing her hands as she said, "Mother doesn't ask you to bring any gifts, I just ask you to come home soon."
Seeing his daughter only comforting her mother, Meng Dashan felt a little regretful. He should have pretended to be angry too. But if he got angry now, it would be too late. So he interjected, "Father is the same. I don't ask you to make a lot of money. I just ask that you be safe and sound."
Meng Zhao pouted, turned around and hugged Meng Dashan, her voice tinged with coquettishness: "Dad, I missed you so much too."
When Meng Dashan was hugged by his daughter, his heart was warmed and he couldn't hide his smile. He gently patted Meng Zhao's shoulder and said in a tone full of affection, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."
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