Chapter 318: Chapter 287: You Might As Well Beat Me to Death
It was unexpected for Mr. Qi from the Su Family to take the initiative to visit, thought Song Wei.
He asked Uncle Lin to escort the guest to the front hall and changed his robe before coming out.
The Song familyâs layout was much smaller than Su Qing had imagined. He hadnât been seated long when he saw a man approaching from outside.
Clad in a cerulean wide-sleeved cross-collared long robe, the visitor appeared more scholarly, exuding a refined elegance, compared to Su Qing, a martial man.
The Su Family had a scholarly heritage, but due to Su Qingâs humble origins, he had never had the opportunity to follow the literary path into officialdom like his brothers. Thus, he harbored a subconscious resistance toward scholars.
...
Pulling his thoughts back, Su Qing smiled faintly, "This is my first visit, merely to express gratitude for your householdâs kindness in sheltering my wife the other day. I hope it wonât inconvenience Mr. Song."
Song Wei moved his gaze from the ribboned gift box on the table to the man speaking.
He had often heard the name of Mr. Qi from the Su Family, but it was his first time meeting Su Qing in person.
Arrayed in a black robe and wearing black high-top boots with white soles, his attire was sharp and efficient.
Finding a seat, Song Wei slowly began, "Mr. Qi from the Su Family, pleased to meet you."
Su Qing slightly curved his lips, "Iâve always been curious about what kind of person led the Jinyi Guards to break the Ningzhou coal mine case. Unfortunately, I hadnât had the chance to visit before, and today, upon meeting you, Mr. Song isnât quite what I imagined."
Song Wei did not shy away from the topic of the coal mine case, "I am very curious about what impression I left in Mr. Qiâs mind."
Su Qing raised an eyebrow slightly, "Because you almost cost me my official position, naturally, I thought you were utterly unforgivable."
After a short, low laugh, Su Qing looked back at Song Wei, "But on second thought, you handled that case beautifully."
At least, it caused Su Xiang to suffer a significant blow.
Suspended for a year and fined for three, it might seem mild to outsiders, but Su Qing knew well how severe the loss was for Su Xiang.
Song Wei drank his tea lightly, "I thought Mr. Qi came here to formally challenge me."
"Mr. Song is a scholar with no martial prowess, and I am a military general. To challenge you, wouldnât that be unsporting?"
As if not expecting the other to be so âsharp-tongued,â Song Wei paused his tea-drinking motion.
...
In a hurry to head to the border area, Su Qing didnât linger long at the Song family.
Song Wei personally saw him out; Su Qing had ridden there, and Song Wei watched his figure vanish around the corner before turning back.
The servants had already packed all the belongings to be moved. Lin Xiaoyue stood outside the main gate holding Ah Nuan. Upon seeing Su Qing from afar, she walked a few steps forward and asked directly before the man dismounted, "How did it go?"
Recalling the earlier encounter with Song Wei, Su Qing smiled slightly, "No wonder the Prime Minister stumbled multiple times in his hands. This Mr. Song is indeed an extraordinary person."
"You two didnât argue, did you?" Lin Xiaoyue was more concerned about this.
Amused by her words, Su Qing laughed and said, "How can two grown men argue?"
"If not argued, then did you fight?"
Su Qing: "..."
Gracefully dismounting, he handed the horse to a servant, walked over, and said, "Itâs cold outside, why not wait inside the house?"
Lin Xiaoyue pursed her lips slightly. After Su Qing went to the Song family, she had taken a nap with Ah Nuan but was startled awake by a dream of that night when the main courtyard caught fire; too frightened to stay indoors, she stood outside holding her child.
Seeing her not answer, Su Qing refrained from asking further, letting her get into the carriage first while he spoke to the butler, then returned.
With his wife accompanying him, Su Qing didnât plan to ride anymore. He lifted the curtain and entered the carriage.
Lin Xiaoyue made space for him, then looked at the little girl in her arms and said, "By the time we return, Ah Nuan will be able to walk."
After speaking, she sighed, "Itâs just a pity I havenât been able to give you a son."
Su Qing chuckled, "Once we reach the border area, there will be plenty of opportunities for more children."
Lin Xiaoyueâs face warmed a bit, yet she didnât deny it.
Even though she adored their daughter, she understood that having heirs was a womanâs foundation, and no man wouldnât wish for a son to carry on the lineage.
Unless she truly couldnât have more children, Lin Xiaoyue fervently hoped that Su Qingâs first son wouldnât be borne by another woman.
This is also an important reason why she agreed to go with him â so much could change in two or three years of not seeing each other, and who knows, maybe when Su Qing writes to her, there might be another woman lying beside him.
Previously, afraid of getting hurt, she always pushed him away, always preparing for him to have multiple wives, so she didnât feel it so deeply.
Even when Lin Xiaorouâs actions provoked her into writing to him, she herself was still in a daze, unsure where to place her feelings.
Until, the main house caught fire.
Having stayed by Su Qingâs side for five years, Lin Xiaoyue had never felt such a desperate desire for the man to suddenly appear by her side as she did that night.
Maybe it was when she saw the flames devouring the main house helplessly, or maybe during the escape, she deeply realized her reliance on him.
"You didnât sleep well last night, do you want to rest for a while?" Su Qingâs low voice sounded in her ear.
Lin Xiaoyue snapped back to reality, her gaze meeting the manâs deep, ink-black eyes.
She paused her breath, shook her head, and said no need.
ââ
Ningzhou.
Mrs. Cao, who was arranged to receive Da Ya, had already arrived. The carriage was parked at the entrance of the village, and she sat at Song Erlangâs house, drinking tea awkwardly.
Originally thinking she could take the person directly, unexpectedly that girl was not willing at all.
Second Langâs wife tried every possible persuasion, her lips nearly worn out, but Da Ya just wouldnât listen.
Their yard wasnât very large, and Second Langâs wifeâs voice reprimanding her daughter could be heard through the wall in the main room.
"Iâm offering you a life of luxury in the Capital and youâre not happy, what do you want? Do you want to piss me off?"
Da Yaâs retort was just as strong, "You havenât even been to the Capital, you donât know what itâs like, why force me to go?"
Second Langâs wife was exasperated, "So many people are dying to go to the Capital, and here you are, with a free opportunity in front of you, acting blind? Iâm telling you Song Daya, you will go whether you like it or not, defy me again, and I wonât acknowledge you as my daughter!"
Da Ya immediately burst into tears, "Youâre just trying to get rid of me by sending me to Uncleâs house in the Capital, Iâm not going, not going! Push me again and Iâll run away from home!"
The fierce quarrel between the mother and daughter scared Er Ya and Sanyang. They hid in the main room, one on each side clinging to Song Erlangâs sleeves without daring to speak.
Therefore, the slap that landed on the daughterâs face from Second Langâs wife was particularly crisp and loud.
Hearing this, Mrs. Caoâs hand trembled as she held the tea bowl.
Originally it wasnât her place to speak about other peopleâs family affairs, but seeing the situation getting worse, Mrs. Cao worried that Song Daya might do something foolish under pressure, so she said to Song Erlang, "Sir, itâs better to go and advise them, Madam is pregnant, and the commotion might not be good for the baby."
Mrs. Caoâs use of âSirâ and âMadamâ was according to Song Weiâs naming, not knowing how prestigious and proud it sounded to the ears of Song Erlang and his wife.
Song Erlang stood like a stake in the main room, only coming to his senses after hearing Mrs. Cao and instructing Er Ya and Sanyang not to go out. He stepped out over the threshold to the next room.
Da Ya sat crying on the ground with half her face swollen from the slap.
Second Langâs wife had reddened eyes, her chest heaving with rage.
Seeing this when he pushed the door open, Song Erlang didnât dare say a word against his wife, and inquired at Da Ya on the ground, "Your mom is doing this for your own good, why wonât you listen?"
Da Ya was stubborn, "Sending me to be raised by someone else is also for my own good?"
Song Erlang frowned, "What do you mean someone else? Thatâs your Third Uncle and Third Aunt, itâs one family!"
Song Daya was furious, "All those years you didnât consider Third Uncle as family, now when I can be traded for benefits, youâre acting brotherly..."
"Song Daya!"
Before she could finish, Second Langâs wifeâs angry voice cut her off, "Are you really going to defy me?"
Da Ya didnât respond, her sobs becoming more pronounced.
"Fine, very well, if you donât go to the Capital, you can marry Liu Laizi from the next village, letâs see how well you live then!"
"Mom!" Da Ya panicked, changing from sitting on the ground to kneeling, crying as she shook Second Langâs wifeâs arm, "I can do housework, help you earn money by raising fish and shrimp, I can do other things too, please donât send me away. I just want to stay at home."
Her pleas only earned a cold sneer from Second Langâs wife, "Useless one!"
"Da Ya, donât be foolish." Song Erlang bent down to pull her up, "Which girl doesnât get married when she grows up? Your mother wants you to have a good life in the future, thatâs why she wants to send you to the Capital. Whatâs wrong with the Capital? Your Third Uncle is an official, his family doesnât worry about food or clothes, and they have servants. You go there as a lady, and with your Third Uncleâs connections, youâll have no trouble finding a good family."
Da Ya didnât expect her father to say this too. She gritted her teeth and declared, "Iâd rather marry a mud-legged man and stay in the village for life than go so far away. If youâre not happy with that, then beat me to death!"