Chapter 5 Chapter 5 A Belated Gift After a hearty meal, Zhao Ming...
After a hearty meal, Zhao Mingsheng watched Zhao Qingyue get on the ox cart to school, then he rested his head on his hand and began to think about what he should do today.
If she were in the Marquis's Mansion, she would be finding a shady spot in the garden, enjoying the breeze and playing the piano, or lighting a stove of fine sesame incense in the room and painting a picture.
She shook her head, getting rid of those images from her mind. She couldn't act like a spoiled brat anymore when she got to the countryside.
Just as I was thinking about it, a woman's loud voice came from outside the courtyard, "Is Doctor Zhao home?"
Perhaps Zhao's father was in the inner room preparing medicine and didn't hear anything. Before Zhao Mingsheng could figure out how to respond, the woman outside the courtyard started yelling, "Is Doctor Zhao here?"
Zhao Mingsheng had never heard such a loud voice in his life. He was afraid that the woman outside the yard would continue shouting and hurt her throat, so he quickly responded.
"Here I am!"
Perhaps because she had suddenly heard the young woman's voice, the woman outside was stunned for a moment. Then she poked her head in from the door. When she saw Zhao Mingsheng, her eyes lit up and she smiled widely.
"Oh my goodness, what did the girl eat to grow up so tender and pretty?"
Zhao Mingsheng was a little overwhelmed by the sudden enthusiasm and could only smile shyly. Looking at the woman in front of her, who was dressed simply, strong and plump, and could do the work of two of her, she didn't know how to address her.
"Ma'am, what do you want from my father?"
The woman grabbed Zhao Mingsheng's hand and patted it enthusiastically, "My dear, you're still Madam? Just call me Aunt Wang! Look at your tender little hands. People who grew up in the city are really different!"
The villagers knew something about the Zhao family, but they only knew that the baby was mistakenly taken away from a family in the city and was recently swapped. They didn't know that it was a high-ranking family like the Marquis' Mansion, so they just sighed for a while and didn't come to disturb them just to watch the fun.
As they were chatting, Zhao's father came out from the inner room carrying a medicine box, looking like he was in a hurry to go out.
Seeing Aunt Wang in his yard was a bit surprising, so he stopped to say hello. "Why are you here, Aunt Wang? Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, I'm fine!" Aunt Wang said, patting her chest twice with her big hands to show that she was in good health. "I passed by your fields yesterday and saw that you needed watering, so I came to tell you. Do you think you're going out?"
Father Zhao nodded and said, "I have to go to Xing'antang in the county now. There's nothing valuable growing in that land, so let's just do it!" There was no trace of pity on his brow. After saying that, he stepped on the medicine box and prepared to go out.
Zhao's father, a quack doctor, usually prepared herbs at home and sold them in town. Occasionally, when the Xing'an Hall in town was too busy, they would ask him to help out with consultations and earn some money for the family. Today happened to be one of those few days every month when Xing'an Hall was open.
Aunt Wang stopped by to say something. Since the owner wasn't worried, she was even less anxious. "Saving people is more important. Treating the disease is more important. Go quickly! If I finish watering my fields sooner, I'll do it for you."
On weekdays, if anyone in the village has a headache or fever, they can come to see Doctor Zhao and he will definitely cure them. Most of the families in the village are grateful to him, so they will naturally help in other ways if they can.
When Zhao Mingsheng heard that his family had land, his brows immediately lit up with joy, and his eyes lit up!
Now there is something to do!
She no longer cared about being shy and grabbed Aunt Wang's sleeve, "Auntie has to go water the fields, let me go with you!"
"This..." It was obvious that the delicate child was not cut out for working in the fields. Aunt Wang was undecided and looked at Father Zhao.
Zhao's father frowned tightly. He didn't expect his daughter to take the initiative to ask to go to the fields. He was in no hurry to go out. He said earnestly, "Girl, there are many mosquitoes in the fields. The sun is quite strong today. Be careful not to get sunburned!" As if he thought of something, he put his hand into his arms and fumbled for a moment, then took out two taels of silver and handed it to Zhao Mingsheng.
"Take the flowers. If you get bored, Daddy will ask someone to take you around town. You can buy whatever you like."
Although two taels of silver is not a lot, it is enough for an ordinary family to live for a month.
Zhao Mingsheng shook his head violently, looking at his father with eyes full of expectation, "I don't want money. I don't have anything to do at home anyway. Dad, just let me go, okay?"
The coquettish words came out of her mouth, and even Zhao Mingsheng herself was stunned. Except for her grandmother, she had never spoken to anyone in such a tone before.
Zhao's father's brows relaxed, his heart melting at what he heard. How could he object? He just thought she was just a child, thinking that maybe she would understand after going there once and suffering, so he stopped trying and let her go.
Seeing that time was almost running out at Xing'antang, Father Zhao turned around and gave a few reminders: "Be sure to pay attention to safety. It doesn't matter if you can't finish watering. Don't tire yourself out." After saying this, he left in a hurry.
After bidding farewell to Zhao's father, Zhao Mingsheng, who had gotten what he wanted, looked at Aunt Wang excitedly and said, "Let's go too!" He pulled Aunt Wang and rushed out.
I pulled it once and it didn't move. I pulled it again and it still didn't move. It was like an ant trying to shake a tree.
Zhao Mingsheng turned her head in confusion and saw Aunt Wang looking her up and down with her small eyes.
"Girl, are you planning to go out dressed like this?"
Zhao Mingsheng then remembered that the dress she was wearing today was brought from the Marquis' Mansion. Although she had intentionally chosen a dress with simple colors and styles, it was still a bit cumbersome to wear when working in the fields. It was indeed time to change into a new one.
But she only brought a few sets of clothes from the Marquis' Mansion, and none of them were suitable for working in the fields.
In desperation, she knocked on the door.
Meng was leaning against the head of the bed, dancing with an embroidery needle in her hand. When she looked up and saw Zhao Mingsheng coming, she couldn't hide her joy.
"Come and see the pattern I embroidered for you!"
A pair of lotus flowers are embroidered on a white scarf, the petals and stamens are lifelike and each one is clearly visible.
"It's really beautiful." Zhao Mingsheng praised sincerely.
Meng put down her handkerchief and lovingly touched Zhao Mingsheng's head, asking, "What's the matter with you coming here so suddenly?"
Zhao Mingsheng felt a little embarrassed. "Mom... do you have any extra clothes for working in the fields?"
"Yes, yes, but what do you want those clothes for?"
Zhao Mingsheng had no choice but to repeat what he had said to his father.
After hearing this, Mrs. Meng had the same reaction as Mr. Zhao, with a frown on her face showing disapproval.
Zhao Mingsheng sighed silently, they were truly a couple.
After finally convincing his mother, Zhao Mingsheng finally got the right clothes.
She changed her clothes and was about to close the wardrobe when Meng suddenly called her.
"Wait a moment!"
Zhao Mingsheng paused as he closed the door. "What's wrong, Mom?"
"Good boy, give me the box at the back of the cabinet."
Although Zhao Mingsheng was a little confused, he still did as he was told.
This is a very ancient box, carved with some patterns that Zhao Mingsheng cannot understand, adding a bit of mystery.
Meng fumbled with the secret buckle of the box and took out a smooth white jade pendant. She then handed it to Zhao Mingsheng. "This is for you. I wanted to put it on you after you were one month old, but I didn't expect..."
As if she was thinking about the past, there was a gloom in Meng's eyes.
Zhao Mingsheng didn't know how to comfort her, so he could only stay by Meng's side silently and hold her hand.
"But fortunately, my son...you are back!" When she said this, the haze in Meng's eyes disappeared and her face became a little redder.
Zhao Mingsheng suddenly thought of himself in his dream, the self who did not return to his biological parents.
How sad the Zhao family must be!
Zhao Mingsheng silently took the jade pendant, and its warm texture warmed her palm.
Fortunately, she came back. She didn't miss a family that loved her so much. The emotions that she had been missing for fourteen years seemed to be flowing back little by little.
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