Chapter 258: Chapter 258: The Young Hero Returns
258 Little Hero Returns
Miss Zhao’s mind was now filled with the erroneous ideas her mother had instilled in her. She was told how wonderful the county town was, how going there would enable her to wear beautiful clothes like Niu Lili, and accessorize with gorgeous jewelry.
The young girl was only twelve years old and easily influenced by her own mother. At this point, she had been completely led astray.
Upon hearing her mother say that her grandparents didn’t want her to go to the county town, she grew discontented.
She knelt before the Village Chief and the Village Chief’s wife, crying, "Grandpa, Grandma, why won’t you let me go to the county town? If I go, I can wear beautiful clothes, eat delicious food, and marry into a county town family in the future. Don’t you want what’s best for me? Don’t you want me to marry well?"
With these words spoken, one could imagine how disappointed the Village Chief and his wife must have been.
In the end, the Village Chief waved his hand dismissively. "If you insist on going, then fend for yourself. I just hope you won’t regret it later."
With that, he shook his head and went into the main hall, ignoring the mother and daughter from the second branch of the family.
Thus, the mother and daughter happily ran to Mrs. Wang’s house.
Three days later, Mrs. Wang’s daughter returned home, taking two young girls with her: Mrs. Zheng’s daughter, Zhao Miaomiao, and the daughter of the Village Chief’s second daughter-in-law, Zhao Liuniang.
When Zhao Zhitong heard this news, she was surprised for a good while. It wasn’t strange that Zhao Miaomiao went. After all, Mrs. Zheng and her step-grandmother, Mrs. Wang, were thick as thieves, so Mrs. Zheng must have been eager to send her own daughter along. The strange part was Zhao Liuniang. Logically, given the Village Chief’s upright character, he would never have agreed to let his granddaughter go to the county town.
Eventually, they learned from Tian Cuihua that the Village Chief had only agreed because Liang Clan had brought her daughter to cry, make a scene, and threaten him.
Sun Mei shook her head repeatedly. This was clearly not a good opportunity, yet they were so eager to push for it.
Tian Cuihua also shook her head and sighed, "Isn’t that the truth."
Obviously, Mrs. Zheng and Liang Clan didn’t think so. On the day Zhao Miaomiao and Zhao Liuniang left the village with Lady Zhao, the two mothers were still showing off on the street, acting as if they had struck gold.
Naturally, many other villagers shared their view, considering it a wonderful opportunity and feeling quite envious.
On the street, upon seeing a radiant Mrs. Zheng, people would stop to ask a few questions.
"Mrs. Zheng, I heard your daughter was chosen by Lady Zhao to be taken to the county town?"
Mrs. Zheng’s face was full of pride, the gloom from the pig-raising incident completely swept away. "Yes, yes! Lady Zhao said my young lady is very good-looking, praising her for being so charming and vivacious. She also said my girl looks so well-behaved and sensible, and that a good family in the county town would surely grow fond of her."
Many surrounding villagers voiced their envy.
"Wow, Mrs. Zheng, you’re set for a great future! When your young lady finds a good husband in the county town, just like Lady Zhao, your family will enjoy endless blessings!"
"Indeed! Look at our entire village; only the daughters of Mrs. Zheng and Liang Clan were chosen. This is truly great fortune!"
Listening to the envious voices around her and fantasizing about a future with a fine son-in-law, Mrs. Zheng was so excited her grin wouldn’t leave her face.
"But I heard that Lady Zhao initially wanted to help her late elder brother by taking his daughter to the county town to find a good family. Why didn’t she take her in the end?"
At this moment, someone suddenly raised this question.
Mrs. Zheng immediately scoffed, "Why else? Because that Mrs. Sun wouldn’t allow it!"
"What? Why? Such a wonderful opportunity! Has Mrs. Sun lost her mind?"
Many villagers nearby were puzzled. It was clearly such a great chance; why would Mrs. Sun refuse it?
Mrs. Zheng pursed her lips. "Why else could it be? Think about it, everyone. Mrs. Sun, after all, isn’t their biological mother. Since her own daughter wasn’t chosen, how could she possibly let her husband’s brother’s daughter go off to enjoy such good fortune?"
Many of the surrounding villagers were skeptical.
"No way, Mrs. Sun is a very kind person. She takes excellent care of all three children of Zhao Dong’s elder brother. She doesn’t seem like that kind of person."
"That’s right, Mrs. Sun really isn’t like that."
Mrs. Zheng, still pursing her lips, retorted, "Then why didn’t she let Zhao Ya go this time? Don’t be fooled by her act; she’s very good at putting on a show."
"Ultimately, she’s not their biological mother, so how could she be as devoted as one? Look at those three children. The eldest follows Zhao Dong to the fields every day to toil; he’s practically their family’s beast of burden. The eldest is already fourteen this year, isn’t he? Next year he’ll be old enough for marriage discussions. What kind of good family could he possibly find?"
"I heard they don’t even bother with their second son. They just let him, a child so young, wander off to ’all corners of the country’ every day, never asking where he goes or what he does. That’s like living on the edge of a knife! Is that something a biological mother would do?"
Just as Mrs. Zheng was gossiping with several old women, a clear and robust young man’s voice suddenly interjected.
"Oh? Then pray tell, what sort of things *should* a biological mother do?"
The young man’s voice, hearty and clear, carried an unmistakable air of chivalry and righteousness.
The gossiping women all looked over and saw a young man in green. He wore a smart, tight-fitting outfit, a dark purple sword in hand. Wherever he stood, his posture was as straight and tall as a pine tree, his aura as refined and tranquil as bamboo.
Looking at his features, his sharp, sword-like eyebrows and bright, star-like eyes, reminiscent of an eagle’s, radiated a heroic spirit.
Many people didn’t even recognize who this young man was. After a moment, someone called out uncertainly, "Is this... is this the second son of Zhao Dong’s elder brother?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding crowd erupted.
"Yeah, isn’t that the second son of Zhao Dong’s elder brother!"
"Quick, go tell Sun Mei her second son is back!"
With that, several warm-hearted women ran to Zhao Dong’s Residence to deliver the news.
Zhao Yu held his sword with both hands, glanced at Mrs. Zheng, greeted everyone, and then warned her, "My uncle and aunt have been very good to us. My siblings and I have always regarded them as our biological parents. If you continue to spread such baseless rumors, then among us, people of the martial world who traverse all corners of the country, we would be forced to draw our swords against you."
After speaking, he drew his sword slightly with a SHING.
This startled Mrs. Zheng into silence; she truly didn’t dare to speak anymore.
Zhao Yu nodded to the crowd again before heading home.
Only after Zhao Yu had left did the villagers break into fervent discussion.
"That really is the second son from Zhao Dong’s elder brother’s family! I haven’t seen him in so long, I almost didn’t recognize him. He’s grown so handsome; he doesn’t look like a village boy at all!"
"I think I heard he didn’t come back last year. So it’s been two years, right? Two years, and he’s changed so much! This child, he’s growing up so fast!"
"Yes, and it seems Zhao Dong’s family is good at raising children. Look how well this second son has been raised! My husband says that people with great martial arts skills can even become bodyguards in the palace."
"You’re quite the dreamer! Do you think just anyone can become a bodyguard in the palace? However, with good martial arts, becoming a bailiff (capture-officer) in the local government office is certainly possible."
Zhao Yu’s appearance felt like a sharp slap across Mrs. Zheng’s face.
At this moment, many families began to contemplate securing Zhao Yu as a son-in-law once he came of age.
「Zhao Family.」
The family was gathered in the courtyard, listing the provisions they needed for the New Year, when suddenly they heard someone shouting outside the courtyard gate.