Chapter 179: Chapter 179: This Dream Was Way Too Scary
Each of them talks as if their mouths were smeared with honey.
Su Ye purposely said, "Can’t stand my cooking? That’s great, I can save myself some effort then. Right, Aunt? Do they really think we enjoy cooking for them?"
"Exactly, and they’re so picky about it." Meng Yao chimed in.
Zhao Xiaohua reluctantly put down her chopsticks, "Mom, I’m not like Dahe and Brother Sihai, I’m not picky. I love everything you and Sister Su Ye cook."
After saying that, she made a face at Zhao Dahe.
Su Ye laughed heartily, while Yue Sihai looked forlorn.
Zhao Dahe rolled his eyes, "You little suck-up."
"You’re the suck-up, I’m just telling the truth."
"Zhao Xiaohua, what did I tell you?" Meng Yao glared at her.
"I’m a big girl now, I need to learn to be more composed. Sorry, Mom, I won’t do it again." Zhao Xiaohua quickly stopped making faces and put on a dignified expression.
The speed was astonishing.
After the meal, Su Ye was still the one helping Zhao Xiaohua clean up the mess, and Meng Yao was serving Digestive Tea, sharing a bowl with each of them.
After Zhao Dahe and the others drank, they went to the outer courtyard.
Su Ye mentioned that after dinner every day, these students would gather together to communicate, learn from each other, and improve together.
After cleaning up, Su Ye and Meng Yao agreed to go to the morning market the next day and then returned to their rooms.
Meng Yao strolled around with Zhao Xiaohua and Wen Nuan for a while, reminding them not to play around and to rest early, then went back to her room.
Lying in bed, Meng Yao pondered, wondering if she should take the chance tomorrow to ask Su Ye for directions and see if that person was indeed Xiong Er.
Meng Yao had a premonition that Magistrate Li Tanyun might have ties with the mysterious organization.
For now, Li Tanyun seemed not to have directly targeted them or the Qian Family, but it’s hard to say in the future.
Perhaps she was overthinking before bed.
Meng Yao dreamed.
In the dream, she and He Yan destroyed that organization, helping Ren Zhong gain merits, and Ren Zhong was promoted several ranks.
He Yan, on the other hand, ended up in a bad state, heavily wounded to the point she had no means to help.
She was very sorrowful, holding He Yan and crying bitterly.
Crying and crying, the mask on He Yan’s face fell off, revealing a face.
Looking somewhat familiar, then that familiar face merged with the face in her memory.
Meng Yao, shocked, tossed the person out, causing them to fall heavily on the ground.
Then, the heavily injured He Yan, wearing Zhao Ting’s face, couldn’t catch his breath and died.
Meng Yao suddenly sat upright, gasping for air.
That dream was quite terrifying, wasn’t it?
Why did He Yan turn into Zhao Ting?
Thankfully, after turning into Zhao Ting, he died.
Meng Yao thought perhaps she should earnestly light two long-lasting lamps for her original self and Zhao Ting at a thriving incense temple, asking Buddha and the Bodhisattvas to bless the two of them. If the two can’t forget each other, let them have a chance to reunite in the future.
The sky was already grayish, so Meng Yao got up directly, got ready, and went to the courtyard to practice boxing.
Halfway through, Su Ye came, and seeing Meng Yao practicing boxing, joined without a word.
After finishing a set, Meng Yao was slightly sweating but felt refreshed.
"Aunt, you’re really amazing." Su Ye’s eyes sparkled with admiration, "Dahe always says you’re incredible, that there’s nothing you can’t do. At first, I doubted, but now I think Dahe wasn’t exaggerating at all. He’s actually too humble."
Meng Yao was amused yet helpless; she didn’t know Zhao Dahe liked to boast like this.
"I think the boxing technique Aunt just practiced is great for close combat." Su Ye seemed very interested in military boxing.
The layman watches the excitement, the expert looks at the technique.
"Your boxing style just now wasn’t bad either; it’s solid moves without any frills." Meng Yao also remarked.
It wasn’t mutual flattery, but truly so.
Su Ye’s boxing style clearly came from real combat experience; although not beautiful, each move was powerful.
Su Ye was surprised yet slightly proud.
"I created it myself; every move is something I summarized from real combat."
The words were simple, but Meng Yao understood the difficulty behind them.
At the same time, it revealed the tough life Su Ye had from a young age.
"Whenever we have some free time, how about the two of us spar?" Meng Yao suggested.
She could see the eagerness in Su Ye’s eyes.
Sure enough, as soon as she spoke, Su Ye’s eyes squinted with joy, "Sure, sure."
"Let’s go, we need to head to the morning market." Meng Yao said.
Su Ye picked up a large bamboo basket and led Meng Yao to the morning market.
Vendors at the morning market were already in place, but there were still few buyers.
Su Ye led Meng Yao to the end of the market, arriving at a pork stall.
The pork on the chopping block was still steaming slightly, clearly freshly slaughtered.
The vendor was obviously familiar with Su Ye and greeted her, "Miss, the usual?"
"Yes, Uncle."
The vendor sliced off a big piece of prime pork belly with a swift motion of his knife.
"This uncle is quite precise, no need to weigh it." Su Ye said to Meng Yao, "And, the price is the fairest. I’ve checked several pork vendors at the market, and Uncle’s pork is the best."
The vendor was all smiles hearing this, and he gave Su Ye an extra pig tail.
"Thank you, Uncle." Su Ye said happily.
"You’re straightforward, Miss, and so am I. Can’t let a big guy lose to you, a young lady!" The vendor said cheerfully.
Meng Yao found the pig trotters to be nice and got a pair, also some ribs, and seeing the pork shoulder was good, added some as well.
Just starting the day with a good sale put the vendor in a cheerful mood.
"Young lady, if you need more in the future, just come by. Rest assured, you’ll get the best price." The vendor warmly said, "The person you brought is as straightforward as you are."
After paying, the vendor insisted on giving a pig liver to Meng Yao, saying she shouldn’t mind.
Pig liver is a good thing, and Meng Yao certainly didn’t mind, thanking him repeatedly.
Next, they bought various vegetables, and during the conversation, Meng Yao discovered that greenhouse technology in Zhou Country was still rather common, at least not exclusively for the nobility.
Of course, most noble families had dedicated greenhouses.
For others, growing vegetables was mostly to supply city dwellers with moderate means.
Similar to meat, not every family would afford to eat them daily.
After one round, the two bamboo baskets in Su Ye’s hands were packed full.
What Meng Yao bought was also stuffed into the baskets, and when Meng Yao wanted to help carry some, she was directly refused, "Aunt, I’m very strong. Not to mention these two baskets, even four would be a breeze for me, no need to feel embarrassed. You’re an elder, it wouldn’t be right to have you carrying stuff, then I’d be the one embarrassed!"
Since Su Ye said so, Meng Yao could only follow behind with empty hands. When they reached the crossroads, they met a woman carrying a bamboo basket, who greeted Su Ye, and no wonder Su Ye didn’t buy eggs earlier, the eggs were waiting here.