Meng Xiaohe hadn't expected Concubine Mei to say such things. She stared blankly at Concubine Mei, rendered speechless by anger.
Concubine Mei, however, had no intention of letting her off. "Meng Xiaohe, how did I not realize you were so venomous? Trying to sow discord between my son and me, what are your intentions?"
"..." Meng Xiaohe trembled with anger, unable to utter a single word. She never dreamed Concubine Mei would twist the narrative.
Seeing Meng Xiaohe's state, Concubine Mei became even more brazen. Raising her voice, she continued, "Meng Xiaohe, you're not old, but your heart is cruel. I truly don't know what you're scheming, keeping our Bao'er from me."
"You're talking nonsense..." Meng Xiaohe finally managed to utter three words after a long pause.
"I'm talking nonsense? Everyone's eyes are on us. All along the way, haven't you been clinging to our Bao'er, not letting me, his mother, hold him?"
"..."
The onlookers thought, "We've seen shameless people, but never someone as shameless as Concubine Mei." She was clearly the one not holding the child, yet she claimed Meng Xiaohe wouldn't let her. Utterly shameless, truly unparalleled in the world.
"You..." Meng Xiaohe, naturally not one to argue, could only weep when falsely accused by Concubine Mei.
"Oh, why are you crying? As if I'm bullying you."
"And what do you think?" a clear, childish female voice cut in without warning.
"I've seen shameless people, but never someone as shamelessly shameless as you? You twist facts and present them as truth, and you're so self-righteous about it. Is it because your surname is Mei (没, meaning 'no' or 'lack') that you are so devoid of face and shame? A Mei with no face and no shame?"
"You..." This time, it was Concubine Mei who was so angered she couldn't speak.
"What 'you'? I advise you, as a person, don't be too much of a Concubine Mei."
Fu Xinci couldn't stand Concubine Mei's disgusting demeanor and retorted, "I really don't know when Pigsy's rake fell into your hands. Your ability to twist things around is so perfected, even that old pig's thick skin would bow in defeat."
"..."
"Remember this, as a person, don't be a Concubine Mei. Big face, thick skin, and ungratefulness top the list."
"..."
Fu Xinci stripped away Concubine Mei's thick skin in just a few words. She was so angry she panted, her breathing sounding like a bellows.
Jiang Tou'er had heard the commotion earlier. He had remained silent until the young girl had thoroughly vented Meng Xiaohe's anger. Then, imitating a refined gentleman, he walked over slowly.
Pointing at Concubine Mei, he said, "This child is yours, no one can take him away. Since you want to raise him yourself, then take him and raise him. We need to move on soon."
"D-deputy..." Concubine Mei started, wanting to say that if she held the child, how could she walk? Wasn't there a donkey cart?
Jiang Tou'er saw her gaze drift towards the donkey cart and a mocking laugh escaped his lips. "What are you dreaming of? Do you think a sinner like you is worthy of a donkey cart?"
"..." Concubine Mei was so choked by Jiang Tou'er that she couldn't open her mouth. She hadn't expected her treatment to be so different from Meng Xiaohe and her brother.
"What are you still standing there for? Take the child and get back quickly, don't dawdle here."
"Deputy..."
"If you can't handle him, leave the boy here. And stop spewing donkey dung."
Concubine Mei hadn't anticipated that her painstaking efforts would not only fail to get her a seat on the donkey cart but would also earn her scolding from that bratty girl and Jiang Tou'er. Her face flushed instantly, as red as an old piece of cloth.
Jiang Tou'er had seen plenty of people like her and had no patience for further arguments. He spoke with less tolerance, "Get back quickly, I'm not waiting for someone to carry you back."
"I'm going back now." Concubine Mei didn't want to be whipped. She stuffed Bao'er into Meng Xiaohe's arms and turned to run back.
"She's really too much," Ke'er said softly, stroking Bao'er's little hand as she rebuked Concubine Mei.
Fu Xinci wanted to say that Concubine Mei was not only too much, but also shameless. However, fearing she might set a bad example for the child, she chose not to continue.
Once in Meng Xiaohe's arms, Bao'er immediately stopped crying. He whimpered, wiped away tears that weren't there, and then broke into a wide smile, showing all eight of his front teeth.
Bao'er was a thoughtful child. Seeing the lingering tears in Meng Xiaohe's eyes, he immediately suppressed his smile. He reached out his little paws and wiped her eyes, making cooing sounds. Everyone assumed he was trying to cheer Meng Xiaohe up.
"Indeed, good shoots can grow from bad bamboo. This boy has more conscience than his mother," Meng Qishan had been holding back his anger, fearing he might lose control and hit that shameless woman.
"Of course. Thankfully, Bao'er doesn't take after her," Meng Qitian said, standing beside his brother, his anger about to boil over. If not for Xinci stepping in for his sister earlier, he would have acted.
From a distance, Meng Qinghuai and his wife watched the scene unfold, their hearts filled with comfort.
Xu Shi glanced at her husband and asked the question that had been on her mind for days. "Husband, after we arrive in Liaodong, how will we live?"
"Wife, your husband has thought it all through. When we get to Liaodong, we'll follow your second brother. Originally, I was thinking of having Qishan and the others care for your second brother in his old age. Now that the eldest nephew and his wife have come, there's nothing more to say. We will follow your second brother, working like oxen and horses."
"Ah." Xu Shi felt a flicker of hope after hearing her husband's words.
Little did they know, Meng Qinghuai had long ago regarded his second brother as the sole salvation for their family. He was the only light in his over thirty years of life. The kindness his second brother had shown their family was something he wanted their children to repay for a lifetime, and if his sons couldn't, then his grandsons would continue.
Meng Qingping was unaware that he had just acquired another sweet burden.
Just then, Qi He emerged from the bushes, carrying several wooden sticks, following behind a burly man and Nianzi.
Meng Qishan and the others' eyes lit up. "Qi He." Meng Qitian, having grown close to Qi He in recent days, spoke with an imperceptible hint of familiarity.
"Come over quickly. Brother Nianzi has one for each of us. Pick your own," Qi He said, pulling out a stick first before shouldering his own and walking towards where Meng Qingping was resting.
"Grandpa Meng, Uncle Fu, Sister Fu, I also asked Uncle Zhu Zi and Brother Nianzi to bring one for each of you."
Looking at the wooden sticks the young boy placed before them, the two longer ones were likely for Meng Qingping and his son, while the shorter one was for Fu Xinci.
"Thank you, Head Wang and Nianzi, for your thoughtfulness. And thank you, young Qi, for your kindness," Meng Qingping's heartfelt gratitude was evident. The journey to Liaodong was still long, and who knew what they might encounter along the way. Having a stick in hand felt like having a bit of reliance, a bit of courage.
"Grandpa Meng, I don't need thanks. Just make sure to give them a little if Sister Fu finds more good food later."