CHAPTER 394: CHAPTER 362: SECOND UPDATE

After some joking, Wen Wan asked Song Fang, "Why did you suddenly come back? You should’ve notified us so I could come out to meet you."

"I specifically asked them not to make a fuss," Song Fang said. "We’re all family, why be so formal? If you did go out to meet me, I’d actually feel uncomfortable and might not want to come again."

She paused, then answered Wen Wan’s first question, "I’ve spent over half a year taking care of two kids and nearly drove myself crazy. So I came to my mom’s to slack off and have some tea and chat with you guys."

As she spoke, she stretched lazily, grabbed an apple from the table, took a bite, and leaned back casually. "It’s comfortable here at my mom’s; you can do whatever you want and nobody minds."

Granny Song tossed a sideways glance at her, "Look at you!"

"What’s wrong with me?" Song Fang protested. "Just stepped inside and heard you talking about me. Now you’re talking again. Third sister-in-law, does mom often badmouth me behind my back?"

Granny Song said, "You think I like you that much to talk about you daily? You’re really full of yourself."

Song Fang threw up her hands, "See what I said? A daughter married off is like water spilled, neither dad nor mom cares. I’ve really become a loner now."

"At least you have some self-awareness."

"No choice, being disliked this much, I have to save some face, right?"

"Stop joking around, have you eaten? If not, I’ll have them make something for you."

Song Fang suddenly sat upright, grinning, "I want mom’s homemade soup dumplings."

Granny Song asked her, "Isn’t the Xu family feast enough for you?"

"I’m sick of gourmet food; sometimes you need some plain porridge and side dishes to mix things up! Are you going to make it or not?"

Wen Wan listened to this playful mother-daughter banter, silently amused, "Mom, since little sister-in-law wants to eat, let’s hurry to the kitchen. I’ll help you."

"Hey, hey, hey, third sister-in-law, you don’t need to go. Stay and chat with me. It’s not like there’s nobody in the kitchen, let them lend a hand. It’s just a bowl of soup dumplings, not a big deal."

Granny Song also told Wen Wan to stay and accompany Song Fang.

It wasn’t hard for Wen Wan to sense from her mother-in-law’s tone and gaze that beneath her sharp words, her heart was warm and always sided with her daughter.

After Granny Song left, Wen Wan asked Song Fang, "Why did you come alone? Where are Jingyi and Jingbo?"

Song Fang snorted lightly, "I threw them to that jerk Xu Shu; I came back for some peace."

"Did you two fight?"

"Not exactly a fight. I was feeling frustrated, wanted to take a breather, and unknowingly rode the carriage to our gate; could I just leave without getting a drink?"

Wen Wan heard the lie in her words and smiled, advising, "Life isn’t always smooth sailing; the first couple of years are fresh, then you get tired of each other. You have to slowly adapt and make concessions, otherwise it would be constant chaos."

Song Fang didn’t believe it, "But I never saw you and my third brother fight."

"Of course you never see us fight. How do you know we haven’t had arguments privately?"

"Sure, blow your trumpet," Song Fang pouted, "I know my third brother better than you do. He’s naturally incapable of quarrelling. If he ever argued with you, I’d write my name backwards."

Wen Wan originally said that to comfort Song Fang, now being exposed, she had nothing to hide, "We don’t fight because of the age gap. Think about it, he’s twelve years older than me; would he really have the nerve to bully me?"

"That’s true," Song Fang slowly realized, "I wonder why I never noticed older men are more patient and tolerant?"

"Well, maybe at that time you only had eyes for Xu Shu."

"Pfft, who would care for him? If he hadn’t been so persistent hanging around me, I wouldn’t have paid him any attention."

Wen Wan laughed, "Regardless, Xu Shu was your choice; my third brother just told me, no matter how bad he is, I picked him myself blindly."

Song Fang looked at her suspiciously, "Wasn’t it my third brother who proposed to you?"

Knowing she let something slip, Wen Wan’s cheeks turned crimson with a trace of bashfulness in her eyes.

Seeing Wen Wan suddenly silent, Song Fang got curious, eagerly sat upright, and looked at her with excitement, "Third sister-in-law, spill the beans, what happened?"

"Spill, spill what?"

"You and my third brother!"

"It’s all ancient history, nothing new."

"Even if it’s ancient, I want to hear it. Maybe once I hear it, my mood will improve."

Wen Wan was speechless for a moment, fighting her embarrassment, she straightforwardly said, "When I was fifteen, my family arranged a marriage. My stepmother listened to her mother’s coaxing and, for five taels of silver and two acres of farmland, wanted to marry me off to Limp Wang from Zhou Village. In desperation, I approached your third brother..."

It was as if discovering an amazing secret, Song Fang was momentarily unable to react.

When she did, she eagerly asked, "So you chose to marry my third brother?"

"Yes," Wen Wan nodded, blushing.

"Wow, that’s a rarity! I said my third brother was like an ironwood that suddenly bloomed. Tell me more, how did you approach him? Wait, weren’t you mute at the time?"

"Yes, back then I was mute and couldn’t speak."

Even being mute, she got the third brother to willingly marry her?

Song Fang gave Wen Wan a thumbs up, "You’re impressive."

Wen Wan thought back, also feeling she was quite impressive then. How did she happen to know just a few words, write them out, and convince him to agree to marry her?

Afraid Song Fang might ask for details, Wen Wan quickly changed the subject, "Talking about this has strayed a bit. Let’s not only talk about me, but about yourself too!"

"What’s there to say about me?" Song Fang took another bite of her apple. "You all know how I got involved with Xu Shu."

"I mean, are you planning to stay mad at him?"

"I don’t know. I’m upset right now, just don’t want to see him."

Wen Wan heard her tone and smiled, "Looks like you’re really upset. Eat more soup dumplings later; wait until you’ve cooled down to go back to your in-laws."

She reminded, "It’s not good to run to your mom’s every time you fight. This time people won’t say anything, next time they might. You need to consider for yourself and for your children."

"I know," Song Fang drawled lazily, "That’s why I didn’t throw a tantrum or say I wouldn’t go back. I just thought it’s rare to come; let’s have a good chat. Aren’t you eager to kick me out?"

"How could I?" Wen Wan said, "You’re the esteemed aunt, a guest. Would I kick you out?"

Song Fang choked on her tea, "Please don’t use ’esteemed’. I can’t bear it."

While the sisters-in-law were chatting, Granny Song came in with steaming soup dumplings and put it in front of Song Fang, "Esteemed Aunt, your dumplings are ready."

Song Fang took the chopsticks Granny Song handed her, stirred the dumplings in the bowl, sniffed them, and closed her eyes in enjoyment, "Familiar taste, mom’s still best."

"Now you remember my good side?" Granny Song said while wiping her hands and sitting down.

Song Fang was busy with her dumplings and didn’t reply.

Granny Song looked at her eating style and disapproved, "Slow down; no one’s taking it from you. Eating dumplings like you’re starving, you’re still the Xu family’s Young Madam, don’t you care about your image?"

Song Fang swallowed a mouthful, smiling at her mom, "In front of you, what image do I need? Wouldn’t that let you laugh at me?"

Granny Song glanced at her daughter-in-law, "See? My daughter has self-awareness."

Wen Wan laughed along. Though appearing harsh, she envied the way Song Fang and her mother interacted.

If her biological mother were still alive, perhaps she could behave as wildly and carefree in front of her mother as Song Fang did.

Thinking of her biological mother, Wen Wan glanced at the jade bracelet on her wrist, recalling the pawnshop Great Courtier’s words, her eyes slightly lowered.