CHAPTER 166: CHAPTER 158: TRUST! (SECOND UPDATE)

Song Wei had just arrived home, and with the poetry competition being months past, Xie Zheng felt no need to bring it up and add to Song Wei’s troubles. He simply reminded him tactfully, "From now on, you should be wary of that traitor Hao Yun; he’s quite skilled at stabbing people in the back."

Seeing his serious expression, Song Wei vaguely guessed something was up, and likely not something good. He didn’t inquire further, just nodded and responded with an "Mm".

Song Wei appeared more composed and mature than he had a year ago.

Xie Zheng knew well that Song Wei was someone with a guarded heart, so he changed the topic, "Yesterday, my aunt paid a return visit and picked up two fish from our place, saying they were to nourish the body of your cousin’s wife. I heard my mother mention it briefly; could it be she’s expecting?"

Upon hearing this, Song Wei paused briefly while refilling his tea, not denying it, "Just arrived home; I was planning to tell you all once things settle down."

Xie Zheng clapped him on the shoulder, "You’re really something; you kept calm about such wonderful news. If I hadn’t asked, were you planning not to mention it today?"

Song Wei made no definite reply.

Wanwan had just become pregnant not long ago, the fetus wasn’t stable yet, so it truly wasn’t suitable to publicize it prematurely.

So focused on the young wife, Song Wei hadn’t realized he was increasingly acquiring superstitious habits.

Xie Zheng said, "I need to go home and tell my wife, so she can come visit."

Song Wei was about to say there was no need for trouble just yet when Xie Zheng continued, "Our cousin is young and inexperienced in this matter, but my wife isn’t; she can have a good chat with her."

Song Wei glanced at him, "Do you think your folks can really talk to Wanwan?"

Xie Zheng’s brimming confidence came to a halt, realizing belatedly the fact that the young cousin-in-law couldn’t speak, leaving him a bit embarrassed, "Well... she could just come and keep her company!"

Song Wei did not refuse; Wanwan indeed needed family care at this time.

True to his word, Xie Zheng mentioned it at home, and the next day Aunt Xie came with her two daughters-in-law. Their family had a fishpond and was never short of fish or shrimp, so they brought a bucket of lively ones over, asking Granny Song to make a fresh stew for Wen Wan to replenish her body.

The three stayed in Wen Wan’s room, aware she couldn’t speak, but they had plenty to talk about. Wen Wan sat beside them listening, feeling progressively warmer with the conversation, her smile never leaving her face.

——

With everyone busy with the autumn harvest, it took a few days before Second Lang’s wife heard that Song Wei and his wife had returned from the Capital.

Even though they were just separated by a wall, her mother-in-law’s lips were tight, leaving her unable to find out about her sister-in-law’s pregnancy.

As for tenant matters, Song Wei having passed as a scholar had already granted their family tax exemption on eighty acres; she wasn’t worried about that. She mainly wanted to know if Song Wei could pass the provincial exams and become a scholar.

After all, there was a substantial difference between a scholar and a candidate. With a Mr. Scholar in the family, there’s enough confidence to boast to others.

Early in the morning, while the courtyard gate on Song Wei’s side was still closed, her husband urged her to go to the fields. Second Lang’s wife let him leave first, bending over to peek through the courtyard gate on the side.

By chance, she locked eyes with her mother-in-law, who had just risen, through the crack in the door.

Second Lang’s wife was startled, stepping back two paces before falling onto the ground.

Granny Song opened the door and eyed her, "It’s early morning, and you’re poking around at people’s door like this; are you asking for a beating?"

Second Lang’s wife got up and patted the dust off her, "Mother, I heard villagers say the Third Son is back; is it true?"

"He’s been back a couple of days."

"So why hasn’t there been any commotion?"

"Do you think everyone is like your family, making a fuss about having a son before it even shows, and spending a lot of wasted money to boot?"

Second Lang’s wife hung her head, boiling with rage over the matter, but it was all due to her mother’s sourcing of that heartless woman. From last year, she’d claimed that as long as she took the prescribed medicine, she’d surely have a big baby boy for Old Song Family. But after taking it for so long, all it did was burn money, and nothing of substance came from it, leaving her nauseated just from the smell of the tonic.

Granny Song felt Second Lang’s wife deserved it! She brought it upon herself!

At last year’s end, Granny Song had to fish out a few copper coins to buy fabric for new clothes for the three girls, but Second Lang’s wife was unwilling, claiming the family’s finances were tight, and if it’s spent on the daughters, there wouldn’t be enough for the medicine.

In the middle of the festive season, Granny Song couldn’t stand the sight anymore and took out her own money to buy fabric herself, just to let the three girls have a bit of joy.

Before the clothes were even made, Da Ya fell ill, burning up with fever. The couple had to call in doctors and get medication, costing quite a bit, much more than expected.

At least it was her own flesh and blood, Second Lang’s wife wasn’t truly averse to seeing her daughter well off. With the ability to raise a spirited and radiant daughter, she could find a good son-in-law and collect quite a dowry. But she didn’t like going out and feeling people’s criticism for her not being able to bear a son.

Yet, upon thinking it over, while she herself couldn’t bear sons, she still had three daughters, which was somewhat better than a sister-in-law who couldn’t lay an egg.

Second Lang’s wife comforted herself quietly, feeling relieved, and looked at her mother-in-law with a smile, "Mother, our third sister-in-law hasn’t conceived yet, has she?"

Granny Song didn’t give her a pleasant look, "Early morning, don’t come looking for trouble!"

Well, from that reply, she clearly hadn’t conceived.

Second Lang’s wife was thoroughly at ease now; as long as her third sister-in-law couldn’t bear children, she wasn’t too disadvantaged in her mother-in-law’s eyes. Going out, she could still claim it wasn’t her own issue, rather Old Song Family’s men naturally weren’t destined for such things.

Hoisting her hoe, Second Lang’s wife strode off towards the fields.

Granny Song turned her head and saw Third Lang’s wife push the door open and come out. She asked if she was hungry and if she wanted an egg broth cooked for her.

Wen Wan wasn’t really hungry, but she couldn’t not eat. She gestured with sign language saying she would go and cook.

Granny Song waved her hand, "Don’t bother with those useless gestures, I can’t understand them anyway. Go back to your room and freshen up. I’ll cook for you."

Wen Wan picked up the basin to go to the kitchen to fetch hot water. Song Wei, who had just finished dressing, reached out with his long arms and took the wooden basin from her hands, "In the future, don’t run to the kitchen unnecessarily. What if the floor is slippery and you fall?"

Wen Wan didn’t insist, watching him go out to fetch hot water. She sat in front of the dressing table and started to comb her hair.

After resting for a night, Wen Wan’s complexion looked much better today.

Since she got pregnant, her once slim figure began to become more rounded, and her skin became increasingly delicate and smooth. Now, looking into the mirror, she truly appeared full of life, both delicate and charming.

Wen Wan reached out to touch her small face and pinched it. It indeed was rounder than before she got pregnant.

The bronze mirror suddenly reflected Song Wei’s handsome and tall figure. The man seemed to have noticed her little action just now, and a smile she couldn’t hide appeared around the corners of his mouth.

Wen Wan immediately felt embarrassed, not daring to turn her head and look at him. She silently turned the bronze mirror face down on the dressing table.

Then quietly went to wash up.

Song Wei sat next to her and, seeing she was almost done, said, "We’ll take a trip to the town later."

Wen Wan listened and turned her head back in confusion to look at him.

Song Wei said, "You’ve been jostled for so long, and we haven’t seen a doctor during the journey. We don’t know if the fetus is stable or not. Without confirmation, I can’t relax."

Wen Wan nodded. Given her husband’s unlucky fate, on the way back, while she was experiencing morning sickness and vomiting, she also had to help him avoid disasters, which was indeed quite taxing.

It was visible that although her husband desired her voice to recover, he was still very much concerned about the baby in her belly.

Wen Wan, being the mother, couldn’t let anything happen to the baby at all.

Granny’s egg broth was soon ready, and she personally brought it to the west room.

Wen Wan gratefully took it and placed it on the table.

Standing at the door, Granny Song said, "After you finish eating, you two should go to town and find a doctor to check your pulse. Don’t let the jostling cause any problems."

The throat couldn’t be cured, and if something were to happen to the child, that would really be all for nothing.

She added, "If you can’t go, I’ll go myself to fetch a doctor for you."

As Wen Wan ate the egg broth, she thought that Granny and her husband truly were mother and son, connected at heart, thinking of the same thing simultaneously.

Song Wei shook his head, "Mother, don’t worry. I’ll take Wanwan to the town. She’s been cooped up in the carriage for over half a month; it’s good for her to go out and walk a bit."

Granny Song frowned, "I’m worried you won’t have good luck once you step out."

Song Wei glanced at Wen Wan with a smile, his gaze full of trust and certainty, "With Wanwan around, nothing will go wrong."

Granny Song felt puzzled.

Last night, after Wen Wan went back to the room to sleep, she kept Third Son in the main room to ask if anything happened during his long stay in the Capital.

Third Son said nothing happened.

She thought at the time, maybe what the fortune teller at the town said wasn’t entirely accurate, not only could Third Lang’s wife turn Third Son’s fortune around, but she could also help him avoid disasters?

Now, hearing Song Wei’s words, Granny Song’s doubts became even more apparent.

While Wen Wan was still eating, she called Song Wei out and quietly asked, "Is it true what you told me before that your wife can foresee when something will happen to you?"

This kind of thing isn’t something everyone can easily accept. Song Wei didn’t impose his trust in Wanwan on his mother and just said, "If you believe, Mother, then it’s true. If you don’t, just consider it non-existent."

Given the situation, of course, Granny Song believed! Blind as she might be, how could she not see that Third Son had been doing smoothly these past two years?

"I just feel it’s too mystical."

She was superstitious, but once things went beyond some normal boundaries, she couldn’t help but find them incredible.

Song Wei laughed and said, "At first, I didn’t believe it either, but later without Wanwan, I probably wouldn’t have managed to live in peace these past two years."

Granny Song heard this and was deeply troubled, "You say she has that ability, why would the heavens not be kind and let her be a whole person, insisting she can’t speak, such a pity."

Song Wei lowered his gaze, his voice a bit hesitant, "Perhaps, seeing her pitiful, the heavens gave her a special ability so she can protect herself."

"Now that you put it that way, it does sound like it," Granny Song said, watching her daughter-in-law finish eating. She didn’t say more, gave Song Wei a couple of casual reminders, took the empty bowl from Wen Wan, and turned back into the kitchen.