"There's nothing we can do if he doesn't improve! In this dog-eat-dog capital, you won't survive long if you're not shrewd! It's only because the fruit and vegetable shop you opened together is now famous that he's doing a little better! You don't know about his brothers, I can't even describe them, they're really awful! I've never seen anyone like them before!"
There was nothing she could do; Shen Meng started complaining again in no time! She really had no one to confide in, so she was unusually affectionate towards Song Yan'er!
"If you don't want to live together, just move out. Going back occasionally won't cause any of this mess!"
Song Yan'er understood Shen Meng's feelings very well. Anyway, she wasn't very tired, so she decided to be a dumping ground for Shen Meng's feelings.
"Hehe, who wouldn't want that? You don't know, ever since our businesses became famous, everyone's been trying to squeeze something out of us. Apart from his father and grandfather, none of them are any good! Even his grandmother, at her age, is still thinking about taking advantage of the younger generation! I'm so annoyed for her!"
Song Yan'er...
Um, Bai Zihua's grandmother is like that? She must be Xiao Yang's maternal grandmother! She seems like a difficult person to get along with; I should be careful!
Song Yan'er was somewhat curious about Xiao Yang's mother. Shen Meng had returned to the capital and gotten married not long after that incident, so she should know quite a bit about her! After all, she had heard that Xiao Yang's mother often went back to her parents' home!
"Her? She's so clueless. She treats Xiao Yang's second brother's child like her own grandson all day long! She's just like her mother! But you don't need to worry about her too much, after all, we don't rely on her for anything right now!"
Song Yan'er said thoughtfully, "How can there be such a woman? She doesn't like her own son but likes someone else's son. Isn't she out of her mind?"
Song Yan'er felt indignant on Xiao Yang's behalf whenever she thought about what happened to him when he was a child!
Chen Meng plopped down on a bench and looked at Song Yan'er with a gossipy air, saying:
"However, I heard that Xiao Yang's mother has changed her mind and now regrets it. A few years ago, when Xiao Yang had just disappeared, she wanted to go look for him, but General Xiao stopped her! He said he had news of Xiao Yang, so she gave up!"
Then, with a meaningful tone, she added, "Your mother-in-law is quite the smooth operator. Be careful. I've heard she's been trying to marry the young princess of the Marquis of Wu'an's family to her son! I wonder how shameless she is!"
Because Chen Meng is the owner of Zui Hongyan and also the granddaughter-in-law of the old chief magistrate, she can talk to many noble ladies in the capital. So when they get together, they talk about the gossip of the capital!
Song Yan'er was somewhat surprised to hear Chen Meng's words: "She doesn't know that Xiao Yang is already married? The princess wouldn't be willing to be a concubine, would she!"
Shen Meng was amused by Song Yan'er's naivety:
"You're lucky you know a good friend like me who cares about you! Of course, the princess wouldn't be a concubine, but she wants you to be one! You two got married in Peach Blossom Village, not in the capital. If Xiao Yang is willing, it's just a matter of a word!"
Song Yan'er...
So that's what they were planning!
Shen Meng looked at Song Yan'er with a sly grin:
"Girl, tell me the truth, aren't you even a little bit nervous? It's okay, that's how it is in the capital. A higher-ranking official can crush you. Who can blame them for having a good family background! If Xiao Yang doesn't agree, all our efforts will be in vain!"
Song Yan'er looked at Chen Meng with amusement: "Why should I panic? If Xiao Yang dares to betray me, I'll just kill him with one blow! Why think so much? One-legged toads are hard to find, but two-legged men are everywhere!"
Shen Meng looked at her with admiration: "I knew it was my sisters who suited my taste! Those so-called noble ladies from the capital are nothing but trash. If it weren't for my business, I wouldn't want to be with them!"
Chen Meng is now completely relaxed, comfortably sprawled on the table:
"Ah, it's so good to have you here. Talking to you makes me feel so relaxed!"
Song Yan'er rolled her eyes: "Then come sleep with me tonight and leave your cousin aside?"
Deep in Dreams...
"That still won't work. Sisters are sisters, and men are men. What sisters can do, men can't do, and what men can do, sisters can't do. These things can't be confused!"
Song Yan'er had a "I knew it!" look on her face!
"But your marriage is different, isn't it? You keep talking about being a man all the time, aren't you ashamed! Can Bai Zihua stand it?"
Chen Meng didn't take it to heart: "What's the big deal? I haven't said that to anyone else. I'm always putting on an act in public!"
Song Yan'er...
Okay, you're right!
"Oh right, I forgot to ask you, where did the old lady go? Why didn't she come with you? I really miss her!"
Song Yan'er suddenly realized that she hadn't told Shen Meng about the old lady's identity. Judging from her expression, Bai Zihua probably hadn't told her either! She was somewhat looking forward to seeing Shen Meng's expression when she met the old lady!
According to Xiao Yang, they'll probably be summoned to see the Empress Dowager for her "last moments" in the next couple of days!
The more Song Yan'er thought about it, the more expectant she became. Then she gave Chen Meng a meaningful look and said, "You'll see it soon!"
Shen Meng, being rather oblivious, didn't notice the playful tone in Song Yan'er's voice; she simply assumed that the old lady was old and needed to walk slowly!
"Okay, let me know when she arrives!"
"OK!"
...
"My cousin isn't leaving again now that he's back!"
Bai Zihua was particularly afraid that Xiao Yang would leave again and not stay in the capital. If it weren't for Song Yan'er's fruit and vegetable shop opening in the capital and his father-in-law's recent transfer to the capital, where he was unfamiliar with the place, Bai Zihua would have liked to go back to his cousin right after getting married!
No matter how Bai Zihua changes in other people's eyes, he's still the same as before in front of Xiao Yang! He likes to rely on Xiao Yang!
"Hmm, I don't know yet, but they probably won't leave!"
Xiao Yang really doesn't know if he will leave again, because after the imperial examination, he doesn't know if the emperor will reassign him!
However, my cousin told me that the time had come and I should return to the capital! The gist of it was that I needed to go back to the capital to help him vie for the throne! I heard that my uncle wanted to retire and live a quieter life, which is why the time for the throne scramble had been brought so close! Otherwise, with my uncle's health, he could have held on for another twenty or thirty years!
Xiao Yang looked at Bai Zihua's unhappy face and asked, "What's wrong? You're having a great year in both your career and love life, aren't you happy?"
Bai Zihua immediately spat out: "Cousin, I want to move out and live on my own like you. You don't know Chen Meng's personality. She and my dear stepmother have a big fight every three days and a small fight every two days. Occasionally, she even has to fight with Grandma! Every time they fight, they blame me! No matter what I do, I'm wrong! Anyway, I'm exhausted every day!"
Xiao Yang...
Xiao Yang knew his grandmother and aunt's personalities. In the past, when Bai Zihua had nothing, they treated him as if he didn't exist. But now that the fruit and vegetable store and Zui Hongyan's business were booming, it would be strange if they were willing to give up!
Xiao Yang looked at Bai Zihua helplessly:
"Be nicer to your wife! She might leave you someday!"
Bai Zihua...
How did you know that Chen Meng wanted a divorce as soon as she got angry, saying that she couldn't live with him anymore?
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