Chapter 203: Chapter 189: Acting Becomes Reality (Part 3)
After the Xu Family carriage returned home, Xu Shu found out that Song Weiâs parents and Wen Wan had arrived in the Capital. He told Song Fang about it in the evening when he went to pick her up.
Song Fang was somewhat surprised, "Why didnât they write a letter beforehand to inform us that they were coming to the Capital?"
Xu Shu had asked the guards earlier, and they said Miss Song didnât allow them to send a message, "Maybe your Third Sister-in-law thought everyone was busy, afraid that you all would take leave to welcome her, so she didnât mention it."
This explanation made sense, and Song Fang didnât think much of it. She quickly discussed with Xu Shu, "Since itâs my parents, I must have dinner with them tonight, so I wonât go back to the General Mansion."
In such matters, Xu Shu couldnât possibly stop her, but he thought of something and asked, "What if your parents bring up your marriage? What will you do?"
Song Fang hesitated for a moment, "I donât know either, letâs talk about it when the time comes!"
She didnât want to give up the opportunity to study at Hongwen Academy, but her age was already there, and if she didnât marry soon, sheâd truly become an old maiden unable to get married.
Lately, Song Fang had been contemplating how to balance both.
Heading back to the small courtyard in the alley, she didnât plan to take a carriage, fearing it would draw attention.
Xu Shu saw her saying just a few words before readying to leave, and suddenly called after her, "Ever thought if you really marry into the General Mansion, you could continue using this slot to study at Hongwen Academy?"
Song Fang was stunned for a good while before asking him, "What did you just say?"
Xu Shu coughed as if to cover up, "I was just saying casually, you can listen casually, do you really think I meant it?"
He shouldnât have mentioned it, because once he did, Song Fang took him seriously, "If I take it seriously, would you feel unhappy about seeing me every day?"
This comment directly fueled Xu Shuâs arrogance, and he raised his chin slightly, "Being with a woman like you whoâs neither gentle nor virtuous and only knows how to argue, living with you is sheer torture."
"If itâs torture, why do you make sure to come to pick me up every day?"
"If it werenât for Old Mrs. Xu, and if it wasnât hard to explain to her, do you really think Iâd be willing?"
Song Fang laughed out of anger, "Cut it out! Old Mrs. Xu doesnât even know Iâm at Hongwen Academy, how could it be hard to explain?"
Xu Shu: "... Are you kidding me? Let me tell you, I eat onions and garlic, but I donât eat tricks."
"I donât eat tricks either. You provoke me again, Iâll really marry you, and you wonât have a comfortable life for decades!"
Xu Shu burst into laughter upon hearing this, "If you have the guts, donât just talk, do it!"
Song Fang was both embarrassed and annoyed, "If you can come with a grand sedan chair to marry me, Iâll just marry then!"
Xu Shu stroked his chin, "What else can I do? Just marry!"
"You..." Song Fangâs cheeks were burning fiercely, "Do you really dare to marry me?"
"Someoneâs crying out to marry, would I be a fool not to marry?"
Song Fang was angry at his cavalier attitude, "Youâre willing to marry, but Iâm not willing to marry!"
After saying that, she blushingly jogged a few steps forward.
Xu Shuâs voice leisurely drifted from behind, "Youâve been staying with our family since you were eighteen, and now youâll soon be twenty after the New Year. Even if you were really my cousin, by now itâs already an unclear cousin relationship in outsidersâ eyes. If you donât marry me, who else can you marry?"
Song Fang stopped her running pace after hearing this, turned back and glared at him, muttering under her breath, "Scoundrel!"
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Just arrived in the Capital, Song Wei planned to invite both families to dine out, so today he didnât buy groceries, and everyone was waiting for Song Fang to finish school.
At this time, Old Song was sitting in the main room drinking tea, occasionally chatting with Song Wei, while Yuanbao listened from the side.
Wen Wan squatted by the well, washing Jinbaoâs recently changed clothes and diaper.
Granny Song was holding the little grandson, swaying around in the yard.
Hadnât seen her parents for nearly two years, when Song Fang returned and saw Granny Song standing in the yard, her eyes instantly reddened.
Granny Song saw the girl dressed neatly and refreshingly, with an improved temperament, looking quite different from the village girl two years ago and initially didnât dare to recognize her. Only after Song Fang called out for her mom did she realize.
"Oh my, is this our Fangniang? I thought it was a young lady from some wealthy family coming here with an issue!"
Granny Song hugged Jinbao, letting him lie on her shoulder, and eyed Song Fang, full of surprise.
At home, the Third Sonâs wife mentioned that Hongwen Academy is an official school for girls, akin to the Imperial College where the Third Son studied, where entry requires a slot regardless of how powerful oneâs status is.
Granny Song originally thought Hongwen Academy simply taught girls to read and write, but she didnât expect her daughter to enter for nearly two years and undergo such transformation. If not for her unchanged facial features, she wouldnât dare claim her daughterâs flesh and blood as her own.
Song Fang couldnât help but laugh with tears, "Listen to yourself, no matter how other places change, can your daughterâs face change to the point where her mother doesnât recognize her?"
Granny Song was delighted hearing this and said, "Youâve gotten whiter, and prettier too."
Song Fangâs face blushed slightly.
Then, she heard her mother ask again, "Youâve been in the Capital for so long, do you have any thoughts about marriage?"
Previously, when her mother mentioned marriage, Song Fang was generally numbed without knowing the feeling of shyness, but today as her mother started, she felt somewhat embarrassed, slightly lowering her head, and said, "With you two not around, what thoughts could a girl like me have?"
"Hasnât your Third Brother helped you find any prospects?"
During those years, it was unimaginable, but now, being the sister of a third-place scholar, after two years at the Hongwen Academy, sheâs got both looks and poise.
Not to mention marriage into a noble family, she should at least be a match for an ordinary talented young man, right?
Hearing Granny Songâs words, Song Fang was silent for a moment and said, "Iâll find some time to talk to Third Brother myself."
Granny Song didnât press her any further.
Song Fang didnât plan to continue this topic and her gaze landed on the little guy in her motherâs arms, exclaiming in surprise, "Is this my little nephew? Heâs grown so big!"
Granny Song put down her little grandson to face Song Fang, "Donât be fooled by his chubbiness, heâs actually only five months old."
Song Fang stroked Jinbaoâs chubby face, bent over, and spoke to him with a smile, "Little guy, do you know who I am?"
Another stranger, Jinbao turned his chubby face away, ignoring her.
"Hey! Youâre just a tiny tot and you already have a temper, huh?" Song Fang reached out and gave him a pat on the butt.
Jinbao immediately became unhappy, stretching out his little foot in a cotton sock to kick at his aunt.
Song Fang dodged, not letting him kick her, and the little guy cried out of frustration.
Wen Wan, who had just finished washing clothes, wiped her hands and came over, taking Jinbao from the mother-in-lawâs arms with a smile, "Little trickster, using tears to deceive when youâre upset, thatâs your aunt, could she really bully you?"
After speaking, Wen Wan looked up at Song Fang, finding her standing rooted to the spot for a long time, motionless.
Granny Song couldnât help but glance at her daughter-in-law, "There you go, another one scared stiff by you."
Wen Wan could hardly contain her laughter.
No help for it, her "silent" image had become so ingrained in peopleâs minds, and now suddenly she was speaking, all her old acquaintances had the same reaction upon seeing her.
Wen Wan wasnât in a hurry to speak to her sister-in-law, wanting to give her some time to adjust.
Song Fangâs jaw nearly dropped in shock, unable to compose herself for a moment.
Her parents might not know, but she remembered clearlyâwhen Third Sister-in-law chose to save the child, Doctor Li had said that she might never have the chance to recover.
Song Fang had always thought her little sister-in-law might not be able to speak again in this lifetime.
Who would have thought that a trip home to Ningzhou would have restored it all???
Wen Wan smiled and briefly explained, saying she recovered on the day Jinbao was born.
After hearing that, Song Fang was still incredulous, "If Iâd known having a child was this effective, why bother drinking three big bowls of medicine every day back then? Just have a baby and all problems solved!"
"Listen to what youâre saying," Granny Song scolded, "the doctors said it was because your Third Sister-in-law had been treated early. Do you think just having a baby would work better than divine intervention?"
Song Fang stuck out her tongue, saying she wanted to go inside to see her dad.
After some small talk with Old Song, Song Wei asked everyone to prepare to head out for a meal.
After everyone had left the courtyard, Song Wei stayed behind to lock the door, and Song Fang didnât rush to leave, waiting at the back to walk with her Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law.
Song Wei asked her, "Little Sister, do you have something to discuss with me?"
Even though he was her brother, he was a whole generation older, and his overly steady demeanor was somewhat stifling to her.
Song Fang took a deep breath, then said, "Third Brother, Mother asked me about marriage earlier."
"Do you have any thoughts?"
Song Fangâs ears reddened slightly, fearing Wen Wan might laugh at her, she deliberately lowered her voice, "Iâve thought about it, I am who I am. Pretending to be gentle and virtuous to serve someone might work for ten days or half a month, but for a lifetime, I really canât do it."
Hearing her say this, Song Wei understood, "You want to find a husband who can tolerate your temper?"
Song Fang hesitated but nodded.
Song Wei smiled silently, his smile carrying an understanding of her mind.
Song Fang blushed again, not daring to look up at her Third Brother.
Wen Wan also understood Song Fangâs meaning, yet since her husband hadnât spoken, she, as a sister-in-law, had even less right to meddle in her sister-in-lawâs lifelong matters.
Song Fang waited a long time without hearing Song Wei speak, feeling a bit discouraged, "Third Brother, just say it straight, do you agree with my idea of letting a fake situation become real?"
Song Wei rarely teased her, "I thought you two had long let a fake situation become real."
"Third Brother~" Song Fang was so embarrassed she wanted to dig a hole and hide.
Song Weiâs expression became serious, analyzing, "Xu Shu just has a bit of a loose tongue, but his character is faultless. More importantly, his family doesnât care much about family background, and their household is clean. Youâve already spent so much time with Mrs. Xu and Old Mrs. Xu that you know their temperaments better than I do. As I see it, in the Capital, such a family is hard to find."
Song Fangâs heart warmed, "So does this mean, Third Brother, you agree?"
Song Wei nodded, "As long as youâre willing to marry, Iâll find a way to persuade our parents."