The Daily Life of a Down-on-Hard-Life Medicine Girl Supporting Her Family

Chapter 39 Mastering the Youngest Son

Zhao Minghua was unaware of the affairs of the Xiao family, but he had finally met the person in charge.

As soon as I got home, I ran straight to my mother's yard.

"Son greets Mother."

"Oh my, is the sun rising in the west today?" Mrs. Zhao looked up at the setting sun. "And it's not setting in the east either."

"Mother, what do you mean?"

"What do you mean? You're such a busy person, what brings you here? Tell me, did you mess with your older brother, or did your father beat you up?"

Aside from avoiding trouble, why would he voluntarily come to me to pay his respects?
Moreover, whose youngest son would come to the main courtyard to pay his respects so late in the evening?

"No?" Zhao Minghua touched his nose sheepishly and gestured for the old woman and maid serving him to leave.

As soon as the servants left, Mrs. Zhao let out a sigh.

"Tell me, what trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?"

Why would someone ask her for help for no reason?
They say that no one visits the main hall without a reason, and her good youngest son wouldn't come to the main courtyard without a reason.

"No, Mother, I really didn't cause any trouble. In fact, I'm very well-behaved. My grandfather praised the medicinal herbs I brought and said he would encourage me to work with Miss Xiao more often in the future."

"Wait a minute." Mrs. Zhao finally remembered something she wanted to ask: "How old is this Miss Xiao you mentioned? What does she look like? What is her character like?"

"Mother, what are you trying to do?"

Zhao Minghua's eyes widened.

"I don't want to do anything, but I'm afraid of what others might want to do?"

Mrs. Zhao couldn't quite understand why, in such a large town as An'nan, Miss Xiao knew Minghua.

"Mother, that Miss Xiao is about fifteen or sixteen years old. She is exceptionally beautiful and of impeccable character..."

No, why is Mother looking at him like that?
"Are you mesmerized?"

Zhao Minghua's eyes widened even more in shock!

"Mother, you really dare to dream like that?" Zhao Minghua laughed: "You think your son is as handsome as Pan An, as romantic as Song Yu, and as talented as Cao Zhi?"

"What, you think you're not good enough for her?"

Mrs. Zhao dislikes nothing more than people saying bad things about her son.

Yes, she can say her son is bad, but others can't.

"Mother, you haven't met that Miss Xiao... Never mind, why should I tell you all this? We can't just gossip about Miss Xiao behind her back." Zhao Minghua almost forgot about the important matter: "Mother, has the marriage proposal from that powerful Xiao family been discussed yet?"

"What, have you changed your mind? Want to talk now?"

"No, no, no, it's good that we didn't talk about it, Mother. You have no idea, I met him in person today, oh my god..."

"What do you mean by 'seen the real person'?" Mrs. Zhao laughed angrily. "Isn't there a fake person involved? Haven't you and Chunlan met before?"

"What? When did I see her? I swear I've never seen her before, and even if I had, I wouldn't know who she is, and I don't want to know." Zhao Minghua reacted quite strongly: "Mother, please don't make me marry her! I'd rather become a monk in a temple than marry her!" "You child, what's wrong with her now?" Mrs. Zhao frowned: "She's the eldest granddaughter of the Xiao family patriarch, more than a match for you, and you're still complaining?"

The master said he wouldn't allow any discussion, and he looked at him with obvious disgust. What kind of looks are these two, father and son, giving each other?

How come a girl with such a good family background and such a good life isn't good enough?

"Brother Minghua, Brother Minghua..."

"Are you possessed or bewitched?" Mrs. Zhao stared at her son in astonishment. "Can't you speak properly?"

"Yes, yes, that's exactly it. That's how she calls me. She doesn't say a single human word. It gives me goosebumps all over. Mother, if I marry a wife like that, I guarantee I won't be able to walk steadily." Zhao Minghua swallowed hard. "Really, she's terrifying as soon as she opens her mouth."

"You mean..."

"Yes, that's exactly it. I didn't even know who she was, but she kept calling out to me." Zhao Minghua was truly frightened. "So, I came to you, Mother. You must make a decision, you must stay calm, and you absolutely must not marry yourself a daughter-in-law like this! Unless you can stand it!"

"You child..." Mrs. Zhao got goosebumps from hearing that sweet, delicate voice: "I've met Xiao Chunlan a few times. She seems quite dignified and virtuous. How could she be as despicable as you say?"

“Mother, you probably don’t know, there are some people who love to pretend!” Zhao Minghua pointed out directly: “They either pretend in front of you or in front of me. They say one thing to one person and another to another. They just don’t let anyone see their true colors. It’s terrifying to think about living with someone like that for the rest of your life.”

He shivered after saying that.

"Alright, alright, I understand. I've already made it clear to the Xiao family that this marriage is off."

Mrs. Zhao also dislikes pretentious women. In her opinion, a daughter-in-law should be poised and elegant. She doesn't need to be beautiful or talented, but she must be gentle and virtuous. A good daughter-in-law brings prosperity to three generations, and she doesn't want a daughter-in-law who is always causing trouble.

"That's good. Thank you, Mother. I'll take my leave now."

Having gotten the answer he wanted, Zhao Minghua turned and ran.

"You stop right there!"

"Mother, is there any further instruction?"

"It's almost dinnertime, stay and have dinner with me."

"Huh?" He looked up at the sky. "It's still early. Isn't Father at home? He'll come back to keep you company. Son, you should go back to your own yard to eat."

"If you dare to run away, I'll send a matchmaker to the Xiao family to propose marriage tomorrow."

"Mother, you should be kind!" Xiao Minghua was completely flustered, feeling that his mother had found his weakness: "You already said you refused, why are you changing your mind now?"

"My son is unfilial and doesn't want to eat with his old mother, so I'll find a daughter-in-law who's willing to keep me company," Mrs. Zhao said slowly. "I remember that Xiao Chunlan was quite fond of being close to me, so I imagine that as my daughter-in-law she'll pay her respects on time and have meals with me every day..."

"Mother, I'll accompany you, I'm willing to accompany you." Zhao Minghua quickly surrendered: "Mother, please take back what you just said. A gentleman's word is his bond."

“Your mother is a lowly woman.” Mrs. Zhao had finally managed to find a way to control him, so she naturally wouldn’t let it go: “Besides, marriage is a major life event, and it’s the parents’ decision and the matchmaker’s words. It’s only right that you listen to your parents’ arrangements.”

“Mother, Mother, you are a good person, the best mother. You would never let your son marry someone I hate just by looking at her and whose voice I find repulsive, right?” Zhao Minghua went directly behind Mrs. Zhao and started massaging her shoulders: “Mother, you’ve worked hard. Let me give you a massage.”

"A man who fears neither heaven nor earth is afraid of getting married!" Mrs. Zhao laughed in exasperation. Her precious youngest son had never been so filial before. "If you won't marry someone like this, then tell me, what kind of woman do you want to marry?"

(End of this chapter)