Chapter 8: Scared to Death by Rebirth

“Xiu’er’s body has been in poor condition since she was a child. I’m afraid she can’t get pregnant again since she miscarried,” Doctor Li said with great difficulty through gritted teeth. He cursed the Song family in his heart.

Song Xiu’er still cried even though she prepared herself to hear the terrible news.

“P-Perhaps my medical skills aren’t good enough, or my diagnosis isn’t accurate. H-However, I urge you to take care of yourself and…” Doctor Li could not bear to continue. He dared not say his medical skills were unparalleled, but he was not a quack doctor either.

“You will get better, Xiu’er. You’re still young, so I’m sure you’ll do fine,” Meng Yao continued what Doctor Li tried to say. “I’ll have to trouble you to prescribe Xiu’er, Doctor Li.”

Doctor Li could only sigh and obey Meng Yao’s request. After that, Meng Yao glanced at the prescription. The medication was a gentle qi replenishing medication, suitable for Song Xiu’er.

“I’ll tell Dajiang to go with you and get the medicine.” Meng Yao inquired, “How much will the medicine cost?”

“The prescription is for seven days, and I picked most of the herbs myself, so I’ll give you a discount—It’s seventy copper coins per set,” Doctor Li said after some thought.

Seven meals in seven days would cost four hundred and ninety coins. Meng Yao went to her room and took some money to give to Doctor Li. Then she called Zhao Dajiang and told him to follow Doctor Li to get the medicine.

Meng Yao turned to try and comfort Song Xiu’er, but Song Xiu’er immediately struggled to get down from the bed and knelt before Meng Yao.

“W-What are you doing, Xiu’er? You shouldn’t kneel on the cold ground like that. You might get a cold.” Meng Yao could not bear to see Song Xiu’er’s pitifulness.

“Give me the divorce papers, Mother-in-law,” Song Xiu’er said through gritted teeth.

Previously, Song Xiu’er cried and shouted, saying she did not want to leave the Zhao family. However, she had cut ties with her maternal family and even took the initiative to ask for a divorce.

“Are you asking for a divorce because Doctor Li said you can’t get pregnant anymore?” Meng Yao asked.

“Dajiang is still young, and the Zhao family must continue its lineage. I-I can’t be a burden to the Zhao family,” Song Xiu’er said with incredible difficulty.

“You know I have more than one son, right? I have three sons and a daughter, and they can continue the family’s lineage. I’m not worried, so you shouldn’t be too. You said that Dajiang is young, but you are too.”

“Didn’t Doctor Li say that you might be able to get pregnant again if you recover well? If you still can’t bear a child, I’m sure we’ll figure something out,” Meng Yao said.

Song Xiu’er sniffled and tried to speak, “B-But…”

“No buts, Xiu’er! I told everyone I would take care of you, so there’s no point in getting a divorce now. Your mother said I’m manipulating you. Do you want everyone in the village to look down on me?” Meng Yao’s face sank as she uttered every word fiercely.

“I-I didn’t mean it that way, Mother-in-law. I won’t leave even if you want me to divorce Dajiang. I-I will stay with the Zhao family to serve you as a maid,” Song Xiu’er explained with great haste.

“A maid? You should look at our family’s situation. We can’t afford a maid, my dear.”

“I don’t want money, Mother-in-law. I will serve you as long as you feed me,” Song Xiu’er said pitifully.

“Things aren’t that simple, Xiu’er. I will become old and tired one day. It’s not that you can’t leave. I won’t stop you from doing whatever you want once you’ve recovered. But now, you have to listen to me, okay? Go and lay down so you can take your medicine and eat your food,” Meng Yao spoke sternly.

“I don’t feel comfortable with this, Mother-in-law,” Song Xiu’er cried. One dose of medicine costs seventy coins, and the Zhao family would collapse if she continued to take it.

“Then buck up and get better quickly. You can always take less medicine to save some money, but if you’re still uncomfortable with that arrangement, you can think of this as me lending you money.”

“You can earn some money and pay me back once you’ve recovered fully.” Meng Yao pondered and continued, “If you can’t afford to pay us back, then you can work for us in exchange for the medicine. We can discuss it more when you’ve paid your dues.”

Song Xiu’er frantically kowtowed three times to Meng Yao. “Thank you, Mother-in-law!”

Song Xiu’er was not a fool and could tell the good from the bad. She knew her mother-in-law was only fiercer for Song Xiu’er’s own good.

Song Xiu’er did not comment on her previous mother-in-law. However, she felt no other woman could be as kind as Meng Yao.

“Don’t kneel so much next time. Others might think I’m mistreating you again if you do, and that would ruin my reputation,” Meng Yao helped Song Xiu’er up as she grumbled.

“Yes, Mother-in-law,” Song Xiu’er said.

“Hurry up and lie down while I go to the kitchen and make you something to eat.” Meng Yao said as she exited the room.

The Zhao family kept a lot of chicken in their backyard, and Ying Luo’s predecessor usually stewed them so Zhao Dahe could nourish his body whenever he returned, even though he did not need it.

Meng Yao skillfully caught a hen from the chicken pen and made a nourishing stew. She sliced the hen’s neck to drain its blood, rinsed it in hot water, and plucked its feathers. Meng Yao had finished making the stew when Zhao Dajian returned with the medicine.

“Quickly boil the medicine and bring it to your wife, Dajiang. Also, Xiu’er can’t get wet during her confinement since she just had a miscarriage, so you’ll be washing her clothes for the entire month,” Meng Yao instructed.

“B-But, Mother, I have never washed clothes before! I don’t know how to,” Zhao Dajiang said as he awkwardly rubbed his hands together.

“You can always learn, Dajiang. Do you think I will wash the clothes for you and your wife for an entire month? You’re a capable person, Dajiang,” Meng Yao scolded her son. Zhao Dajiang would be dreaming if he thought his mother would serve him willingly.

“Okay, Mother. I will learn.” Zhao Dajiang nodded frantically, like a chicken pecking at rice. “I will wash your clothes too, Mother.”

“I don’t need you to worry about me. Just tend to your wife and stay out of my way,” Meng Yao said unhappily. “Help me keep an eye on the chicken stew while you’re boiling the medicine. I will return to my room for now since I’m tired.”

Zhao Dajiang agreed.

Meanwhile, Meng Yao looked at the dark roof as she lay on the bed. She could not help but sigh.

Ying Luo had suddenly transmigrated and had no time to digest the information in her mind. She finally had some time alone. Ying Luo began to wonder why she transmigrated since she did not recollect getting into a car accident, having cancer, or dying of murder.

She only remembered doing research in a laboratory till late. However, she did not work constantly. She finished checking her lab results and fell asleep in the laboratory lounge. Then Ying Luo appeared in Meng Yao’s body when she opened her eyes.

But what happened to the original Meng Yao? Now that Ying Luo was in Meng Yao’s body, no one in the Zhao family could do anything about it. No matter what Ying Luo did, she could not figure out why she transmigrated.

Ying Luo had possessed Meng Yao’s body after a night’s sleep in the laboratory lounge. She wondered if she could return to her past life if she fell asleep. With that thought in mind, Meng Yao peacefully closed her eyes. There was only one way to find out if she could return to her past life.

Meng Yao dreamt while asleep, or rather, she learned some things in the dream as a bystander—things that scared her predecessor to death. Indeed, her predecessor died of a scare of her rebirth.