Chapter 196: Chapter 182: Struck by Lightning
Song Wei listened and felt quite surprised.
Most scholars are concerned about their reputation. Even if their nature isn’t good, they will behave courteously in front of others, making their scholar’s demeanor evident at a glance.
It’s not unusual for scholars to get drunk.
It’s also not unusual for scholars of their cohort to get drunk because they didn’t perform well in the exams.
However, for a scholar to get drunk and mistreat a young lady from the inner residence of such a prestigious family like the Prime Minister’s mansion is indeed unusual.
No matter how you listen to it, it doesn’t sound like an accident; it seems like someone did it deliberately.
Perhaps, thinking it’s advantageous to lean against a big tree for shade, and seeking an opportunity to align with the Su Family for support is also possible.
Just then, Xu Shu asked him, "Don’t you find this matter suspicious?"
Song Wei glanced at him indifferently, "No matter how suspicious, it’s not you who got mistreated, worrying so much doesn’t you get tired?"
"You’re really no fun!" Xu Shu sneered lightly, "It’s hard for me to get some new gossip to share with you, if you have no thoughts, then no thoughts, why always spoil my mood?"
Song Wei picked up the teapot to refill his tea and easily shifted the topic, "How’s the General Mansion lately?"
Knowing he was about to ask about Song, Xu Shu immediately gathered his thoughts and said truthfully: "It’s all an act, anyway our family won’t mistreat her."
The General Mansion indeed never mistreated Song Fang, whether in terms of food, clothing, or the master’s and servants’ attitudes towards her, it was all excellent.
However, Song Fang insisted on returning, and it wasn’t for enjoying the treatment in the General Mansion.
She is someone with principles; one should not forget their roots.
Initially, it was because of an agreement with the General Mansion that she got the spot to enter the Hongwen Academy. Now, even though her brother became an Advanced Scholar, she couldn’t burn bridges and push people away.
She couldn’t bear it in her conscience.
The play she needed to act with Xu Shu, Song Fang was fully committed to every day, after all, it was part of her duties.
Song Wei said, "My sister is already nineteen, it’s not suitable for her to stay in the General Mansion any longer."
Xu Shu’s heart skipped a beat, "You’re thinking of using your Advanced Scholar status to transfer her spot to yourself?"
Song Wei nodded.
Xu Shu did not immediately agree, feeling a bit subtle, like he had become accustomed to bickering with Song privately and then showcasing affection in front of the old lady.
Suddenly one day, this life was not going to continue, he felt an emptiness, losing all energy.
In the evening, Xu Shu still went to Hongwen Academy to pick up Song Fang as usual.
He didn’t ride this time, sneaking onto the carriage with her unnoticed.
Song Fang was startled, "What are you trying to do again?"
Xu Shu lazily leaned against the big pillow, resting his chin on his hand, stared at her intently.
Song Fang felt uneasy, frowning, "If you have something to say, just say it."
"I just want to know if you would do something that goes back on your words."
Song Fang glared at him, "Who said I’m going back on my words? Haven’t I already returned to the General Mansion?"
"But your third brother said he wants to transfer your spot at Hongwen Academy under his name."
Understanding what this means, Song Fang knew right away.
It means from now on she would completely sever ties with the General Mansion.
The separation was definite; however, Song Fang’s original plan was to wait until graduation from Hongwen Academy. She didn’t expect her third brother wanted the transfer to happen so soon.
"Your third brother also mentioned, since you are nineteen, you should get married and can’t stay at the General Mansion any longer."
Xu Shu said deliberately, watching Song Fang’s reaction closely.
Song Fang remained silent, falling deep into thought.
She understood her brother’s concern, if it was in Ningzhou, at her age, a girl could already be taking care of household chores, or at least pregnant or recently given birth like her peers.
However, if she marries now, she won’t be able to continue at Hongwen Academy.
Going to Hongwen Academy, by the time she graduates, she will be in her twenties, even if she transforms into a proper lady, it would be difficult to find a desirable husband.
In the countryside, families rarely want a girl over twenty, let alone in the Capital, once her age is known, the first thought would likely be she has some hidden illness, otherwise why still unmarried by twenty.
Seeing her deep in dilemma, Xu Shu raised an eyebrow, "Whether to go or stay, you figure it out yourself, after all, I’m not forcing you."
Song Fang was resentful, this man initially cautioned her about "going back on words," if she leaves the General Mansion early, she’d be labeled as someone breaking promises.
How could he say he’s not forcing her?
But even without Xu Shu’s pressure, she couldn’t bring herself to do such undignified things!
After pondering for long without any decision, Song Fang could only find an excuse to delay, "When my parents arrive, I’ll ask their opinion about my marriage, then I’ll give you an answer."
—
Accompanying Song Yuanbao back to his hometown, besides the guards arranged by Xu Shu, there were hidden guards from the Eldest Princess.
The little guy didn’t inherit his dad’s unlucky disposition. Along the way, he ate well, drank well, and slept well, and it seemed as if he arrived in Ningzhou without much endurance.
The Song family was busy preparing for the full moon banquet.
In the countryside, women rarely complete their postpartum care and often have to go back to work once they are almost recovered.
The daughters-in-law of the Song family have much better conditions. Whether it was the now-deceased Da Lang’s wife, or the Second Lang’s wife, who only gave birth to daughters, or even the Third Lang’s wife, who just started speaking not long ago, each one thoroughly completed their postpartum recovery.
However, during the time of Da Lang’s wife and the Second Lang’s wife, the conditions were not as good as they are now, so their food during confinement might have been lacking, but compared to other families, it was considered top-notch.
By the time of the Third Lang’s wife, she was catered to with bird’s nest soup every day from the moment she was a few months pregnant.
It got even better after giving birth, as her father had a shop in the county with money, her stepmother personally came to take care of her with a bunch of supplements, and her in-laws would kill an old hen now and then to stew for her. On ordinary days, it would either be peanut pig’s trotters or crucian carp soup.
She recovered in such luxury, just like her wedding, which was a unique event in the whole ten-mile radius, making many young wives envy the Song family’s daughters-in-law for their good fortune.
Someone said, "Back then, when you were asked to marry, each one treated Song Sanlang like he carried the plague and avoided him like the plague. Now you’re regretting it? Too late!"
"How was I supposed to know Song Sanlang would become so successful and pass the scholar’s exam! If I’d known, I’d have screamed and cried to marry into the Song family."
"How could you know anything! You’re always a beat too late!"
"..."
——
The day Song Yuanbao returned to the village, the commotion he caused was twice that of his dad returning from the Capital.
Why?
Because this kid loved to show off; he didn’t have the Xu family guards wait outside and brought them directly with him.
Think about it, such a big carriage neatly followed by two rows of guards outside, who else could be in the carriage if not an official?
Hearing the noise, the villagers came rushing over, thinking it must be Song Wei who passed the exam in the Capital and was returning home in glory.
The person inside the carriage hadn’t even stepped out, and people outside were already praising.
"I’ve always said, Sanlang is not an ordinary person. Look at the style of this carriage, what a high-ranking official he must be!"
"And having guards at his command, his official rank must not be low."
"Then what are you waiting for, hurry, greet the official!"
Saying that, they threw down their farm tools and knelt down in unison.
Inside the carriage, Song Yuanbao yawned and lifted the curtain to step down.
Everyone looked and saw it was a boy. They didn’t see Song Sanlang.
"Yuanbao, where is your dad?"
Song Yuanbao said earnestly, "My dad didn’t come."
"If he didn’t come, how can you fool people?"
"We’re all your elders, aren’t you afraid you’ll shorten your lifespan by having us kneel to you?"
"This kid needs a scolding!"
Song Yuanbao glanced at everyone, "I never had anyone announce my dad was coming back in a carriage, nor did I ask you all to kneel at my door. You did it on your own accord, so now you find you’re kneeling in front of the wrong person. You can’t blame that on me, right?"
"Hey! You cheeky little thing, you think you’re something now, huh?"
Song Yuanbao stretched and cracked his neck, not having his dad’s patience to reason with unruly villagers, he directly instructed the guards, "Guard the courtyard gate well, if anyone dares cause trouble at my door, don’t be polite, just throw them out!"
Under the villagers’ angry stares, Song Yuanbao smiled, "I forgot to tell you all, my dad has passed the exam and become an official. Even if you want to spread rumors about him, you have to have the means to go to Beijing first."
"..."
They initially thought Song Yuanbao was playing tricks on them, but upon hearing Song Wei truly became an official, they all deflated.
Song Yuanbao wasn’t interested in their sudden flattery. He went straight into the courtyard.
Mrs. Zhou was squatting by the well cleaning diapers for Jinbao. She smiled and greeted Song Yuanbao.
Song Yuanbao was a little surprised to see Mrs. Zhou at his home, but he still smiled and called out, "Grandma."
Mrs. Zhou’s smile visibly broadened.
In the past, this little rascal always ignored her, but today was the first time he called her Grandma. It seems the trip to the Capital with Sanlang taught him some manners.
Song Yuanbao didn’t linger in the courtyard and went straight to lift the curtain of the west room.
Wen Wan was changing clothes for Jinbao. The little guy was so small, with tender skin, and he was quite active. Whenever Wen Wan tried to pull his arm, he would pull back, refusing to change.
Wen Wan was afraid of hurting him, so she had her mother-in-law help.
Suddenly seeing an additional little boy in the room, Song Yuanbao was stunned and stood at the inner room entrance for a while without moving.
Just as she finished changing the little one’s clothes, Wen Wan turned around, coincidentally spotting Song Yuanbao, and smiled to greet him, "Yuanbao, you’re back?"
This unexpected greeting struck Song Yuanbao like a bolt of lightning, rendering him even more motionless.