Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Anyway, My Big Brother Can’t Be Wrong
Xiong Er’s wife had been craning her neck, finally hearing the sound of knocking.
"It must be Xiong Er coming back," Xiong Er’s wife said as she hurried to open the door.
"You’re finally back. I’ve been waiting for you for ages," Xiong Er’s wife said urgently and in a lowered voice under Xiong Er’s puzzled gaze, "A woman came, claiming to be your brother’s unwed fiancée. She can’t find him anywhere, so she came to our house."
"My brother’s unwed fiancée? I’ve never heard of her! Could she be a fraud?" Xiong Er questioned suspiciously.
"I don’t think she’s lying. Could it be that your brother has abandoned her?" Xiong Er’s wife spoke even more quietly.
"Impossible, there’s no way my brother would do such a thing!" Xiong Er stated firmly.
"You should come inside with me and take a look. If it’s not right, we can ask your brother about it," Xiong Er’s wife suggested.
Xiong Er followed his wife into the house, scrutinizing Meng Yao with a critical look, "Are you really my brother’s unwed fiancée? How come my brother never mentioned you?"
Meng Yao’s tears flowed as soon as Xiong Er finished speaking. She leaned against the table, staggering up with a face full of heartbreak, "So, he was just deceiving me... He said you’re the closest person to him, and even you don’t know about his marriage plans. It shows he was just fooling me... How laughable that I believed it."
Xiong Er’s wife quickly went to support Meng Yao, "Please, don’t cry. There could be some misunderstanding! If my brother didn’t want to marry you, why would he tell you our address? Xiong Er, don’t just stand there looking dumb!"
"You, this, I, what am I supposed to do?" Xiong Er mumbled, "But my brother never said anything."
Meng Yao’s sobbing became louder.
"You’re thick-headed. Maybe my brother didn’t get a chance to tell you, or perhaps he wanted to surprise us? We don’t meet him very often," Xiong Er’s wife said.
The woman seemed genuine. Besides, who would joke about their own reputation?
Especially a widow, leading a hard life, she cherishes her reputation even more.
If she wasn’t at her wit’s end, where would she have sought them out?
Xiong Er scratched his head, "That’s true. So, wife, what should we do?"
"Can you find my brother? If you call him over, the truth will come out," Xiong Er’s wife suggested.
Xiong Er thought for a moment, "My brother told me that if he doesn’t seek me out, I shouldn’t look for him without reason."
"I always say you’re thick-headed, and you don’t like hearing it. Isn’t this something important?" Xiong Er’s wife said angrily.
"Alright, I’ll send a message to my brother," Xiong Er decided.
Meng Yao looked hopeful, "Then, when can Xiong Da come?"
"I can’t say for sure. Sometimes when I send a message in the morning, he’ll come by the afternoon. Sometimes it takes three to five days, and other times, I don’t see him for several months," Xiong Er replied.
If he comes the same day, it means he’s not busy.
Three to five days means his tasks are nearby.
If it’s several months, naturally, he’s not in Qingzhou Prefecture.
Who knows about her luck or when she will see He Yan.
"Then I’ll leave first and come again in the afternoon," Meng Yao said.
"Sister-in-law, where are you staying? Why not stay at our place?" Xiong Er’s wife offered.
"I’ve temporarily found a place to stay. It’s not proper to stay at your house," Meng Yao said, "I’ll come by twice a day. If Xiong Da wants to see me, we’ll meet eventually."
Xiong Er’s wife sighed, seeing that this woman was genuinely devoted to her brother-in-law.
"Alright, when my brother-in-law comes, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him here for you," Xiong Er’s wife promised.
"Thank you very much. My family has practiced medicine for generations, and I’ve learned some medical skills. You take medicine long-term, and your spleen and stomach are very weak. In this state, no matter how much medicine you take, if your spleen and stomach are out of harmony, the medicine won’t be absorbed properly, and even the most suitable medicine will have little effect," Meng Yao explained.
"That’s true. I remember there used to be some effect from the medicine, but gradually, there was none," Xiong Er’s wife said in surprise.
"You can divide your medicine into two parts after boiling, mix it with warm water, and soak your feet twice a day, in the morning and evening. Also, eat a light diet to nourish your spleen and stomach," Meng Yao advised.
"That won’t do. This prescription was written by the shopkeeper of Hundred Herbs Hall. I’ve only been taking it for a few days. It’s normal for the effect not to show quickly. After more time, you’ll definitely be better," Xiong Er said anxiously, "She..."
The identity is still uncertain, so they can’t just casually listen to her.
Can learning some medical skills compare with the shopkeeper of Hundred Herbs Hall? He had heard that the shopkeeper used to treat concubines in the palace when she was in the Capital City. Even the magistrate’s wife and daughter usually sought her out.
Meng Yao was not angry. Xiong Er’s wife’s condition was not acute, so they could follow her advice in the future.
Xiong Er’s wife glared at Xiong Er, thinking he was truly lacking sense.
The future sister-in-law meant well, and even if he didn’t accept it, he shouldn’t have said it outright, right?
How awkward this is?
"Sister-in-law, I definitely believe what you’re saying. Xiong Er is just plain, don’t hold it against him," Xiong Er’s wife said.
Meng Yao remained composed, "It’s all good, no matter what."
After speaking, she nodded to the couple and then left directly.
"Should I follow her and see where she’s staying?" Xiong Er asked his wife.
"Follow her for what? Didn’t you hear her say she’ll come by twice a day? She didn’t mention where she’s staying because she doesn’t want to. If we don’t trust her, she’ll be wary of us! This is your brother’s business. We should discuss with him first!" Xiong Er’s wife said, "Stop dawdling and hurry to send the message to your brother!"
After speaking, she grumbled in confusion, "I’ve never seen brothers who are so troublesome to meet. Not allowed to go directly, do you think my brother is involved in murder and robbery?"
Xiong Er glared at his wife, "What nonsense are you talking? My brother would never do anything unethical. If you badmouth my brother again, don’t blame me for falling out with you."
"You just protect your brother! If everything’s fine, would that woman come crying to us?" Xiong Er’s wife rolled her eyes.
Even if Xiong Da has some reason, he should make things clear.
Promising marriage and disappearing halfway, what woman could bear it?
Xiong Er rubbed his nose, "It could be that she’s just clinging to my brother."
Anyway, his brother was surely not at fault.
Xiong Er’s wife huffed, "Fine, whatever it is, we’ll know when your brother gets here."