Chapter 383: Chapter 351: Leveraging Minimal Effort for Maximum Effect
Seeing that Jinbao was about to leave with Grandpa, Wen Wan suddenly said, "Dad, let me give him a bath first. Heâs been touching sheep on the farm, and he smells like lamb."
Jinbao, hearing this, purposely stretched out his little arm to sniff it but couldnât smell anything.
Wen Wan said, "The smell is on you, of course, you canât smell it. Come quickly, Mommy will take you for a bath, otherwise, if people smell it outside, they will definitely make fun of you."
The little guy didnât want to be laughed at, so he quickly walked over to his mother and took Wen Wanâs hand proactively.
Wen Wan told her mother-in-law and took Jinbao out. The little guy said he would make himself smell nice, and his childish words came back through the door, which made Granny Song laugh out loud.
With Yun Caiâs help, Wen Wan soon had her son cleaned up, applied some balm, and changed him into a fresh outfit, finally feeling at ease as she handed him over to her father-in-law.
After the grandfather and grandson left, Wen Wan looked at her mother-in-law, "I went to the farm, and the tenants sent quite a bit of game and farm goods. Iâve already sent the mules that carried the goods back. The game unloaded is outside the warehouse now. Do you want to keep the hides to make something? If not, Iâll let Song Jiao and her two sisters choose."
Granny Song waved her hand, "There are quite a few furs left from last year that havenât been used. I donât lack anything. You just let the sisters go pick."
Er Ya heard this, her face full of excitement, "Thank you, Third Aunt."
Wen Wan said, "As long as you behave and listen to your parents, in the future, you wonât be left out of good things like this."
Er Ya nodded vigorously.
As for what she was thinking, only she herself knew.
After choosing the hides and returning, Er Ya was clearly in high spirits, her smile never leaving her face.
To celebrate Jinbaoâs birthday, Song Jiao made a set of clothes, and Er Ya made a pair of tiger-head shoes. Song Jiaoâs craftsmanship was more delicate, while Er Yaâs was a bit inferior. However, Wen Wan didnât mind such gestures of kindness, feeling happy both on the surface and inside.
She held the tiger-head shoes in her hands, examining them while asking about their familyâs wonton selling business.
Song Jiao said, "Third Aunt helped pick a good location. Even though weâve just opened, the daily income is still considerable."
Granny Song listened and advised Song Jiao, "Go back and tell your parents to work steadily. Itâs not easy to make a living in the Capital. Think more about how to make money, and donât daydream about things falling from the sky. Not to mention itâs impossible, even if it were, it wouldnât fall on your family."
"Look at your second cousinâs family. When they first came, life was tough, yet the couple worked hard with persistence. They saved some silver from the fish and shrimp business. This year, they opened a tavern and even hired someone to manage it, while they became hands-off. Isnât it true that hard days are over for them?"
"Your parents have no education. In the Capital, they rely on their skills to make a living and nothing else. If you must rely on something, perhaps only you two sisters. So, you both better study hard. If anyone has bad intentions and doesnât follow the right path, your third uncle wonât help you, and youâll end up marrying a poor boy, living a tough life forever."
Er Ya listened to her grandmotherâs pointed words, pursed her lips, and then looked at Song Wei, who hadnât spoken, "Third Uncle, I heard you named Big Sister. Could you give me a name too?"
Song Wei asked her, "Youâve been here so long, and your parents havenât given you a proper name?"
Er Ya pouted, "With my parentsâ level, can they come up with a name thatâs nice to hear? Third Uncle, be kind and give me a decent one, will you? Otherwise, being called Er Ya all the time, I wonât be able to get married."
Granny Song gave her a sideways glance, "Even if they call you a fairy, youâre not going to ascend to heaven, are you?"
"Of course not," Er Ya smiled ingratiatingly at her grandmother, moving over to massage her legs, "I just want a nice name like Sisterâs, thatâs all. Is that too much to ask?"
Granny Song looked at Song Wei, "Since Er Ya has spoken, you, as the third uncle, should give her a name, so she doesnât have to keep thinking about othersâ names."
Song Wei thought for a moment and said, "Song Qi."
Granny Song asked, "Is there any special meaning?"
Wen Wan explained on behalf of her husband, "Qi and Jiao both have meanings of beauty."
Granny Song nodded and said, "Alright, thatâs it."
"Song Qi, Song Qi..." Er Ya repeated her name softly and then smiled broadly, "Thank you, Third Uncle."
Song Wei looked at her, "The nanny from the Xu Family is with you. Take the time to learn from her. It will only be beneficial for your future."
"Okay." Song Qi smiled, pursing her lips.
The two sisters were here, so naturally, they stayed for dinner. Wen Wan quickly instructed the kitchen to prepare.
Song Yuanbao glanced at the sky as it got late, and after sitting for a while, he said he needed to return to the palace.
Song Wei stood up to see him off.
Earlier there were too many people around, and it wasnât appropriate to talk in front of the women. Now that itâs just the father and son alone, Song Yuanbao took the initiative to mention the matter of Yutang Palace, saying that the Imperial Concubine arranged for little palace maids to serve His Highness for a trial marriage. Itâs been almost two months, and His Highness hasnât allowed anyone in to serve him even once.
Song Wei said, "His Highness is the same age as you, just fourteen. His body hasnât fully developed, how can he have anyone serve him in bed?"
"Itâs not like that," Song Yuanbao explained. "Heâs young, and itâs understandable that he doesnât want anyone to serve him in bed. But he never lets anyone in to guard night, not even palace maids or eunuchs."
"Oh?" If it were an ordinary familyâs child, it wouldnât be hard to understand. But the other party is a prince, which makes it quite intriguing.
Song Yuanbao thought for a moment and still decided to speak out, "Last Mid-Autumn Festival, I accidentally discovered a little secret of His Highness. It turns out he doesnât let anyone guard at night because he has an unsightly sleeping posture. When heâs awake, he can control all his bad habits, but once asleep, he canât restrain himself at all. So I think heâs probably afraid of people seeing this unknown side of him."
Saying this, Song Yuanbao looked up at Song Wei, "Itâs really not decent to poke at someoneâs privacy behind their back, but Iâve pondered for a long time and couldnât come up with a way to enlighten him. The Imperial Concubine hasnât forced him, saying itâs fine as long as he completes the task before the age of seventeen. But seeing His Highness like this, itâs not about seventeen; even at twenty-seven, he might not be able to overcome it on his own."
Finally, he asked, "Father, can you help me come up with some advice?"
Song Wei smiled, "It seems you really consider His Highness a friend."
Otherwise, with Yuanbaoâs personality, encountering a situation like this, he would mostly choose to keep his distance and not get involved. There arenât many people who make him care so much.
Song Yuanbao did not deny it, and said frankly, "He is both a mentor and a friend."
Although he doesnât quite appreciate His Highnessâs serious and strict nature, thinking about it, the person has the potential to inherit the throne in the future. Could he possibly go about learning and doing nothing all day?
Returning to his thoughts, Song Yuanbao continued the previous topic, "Father, you still havenât given me advice yet!"
Song Wei nodded, his expression gentle, "Itâs not difficult to say. If you show him a sleeping posture worse than his, maybe the situation will change."
Song Yuanbao slapped his forehead, "Right, why didnât I think of that?"
Song Wei reminded, "But you must be careful. His Highness is mature and not easily fooled. If he sees through the trick, you might suffer a little."
Song Yuanbao expressed indifference; having been a companion for so long, he hasnât suffered the least?
The father and son parted at the main gate. Song Yuanbao boarded the carriage heading to the Imperial City, while Song Wei turned back and entered the main gates, heading to the outer study.
Song Qi received a very serious name, feeling pleased, she left Rongâan Hall, following Wen Wan back to Qingteng Residence.
Jinbao went out with his grandfather, Yuanbao returned to the Imperial Palace, giving Wen Wan a temporary break. After returning to the house, she had some green bean soup delivered to cool down and drank it with her two nieces.
Song Qi glanced at Wen Wanâs elegant and content expression as she ate, then saw her eldest sister Song Jiao exhibiting the exact same demeanor as their third aunt, and secretly curled her lips.
After finishing the green bean soup, Yun Cai brought in a basin of water for everyone to wash their hands.
Taking advantage of Wen Wan standing by the basin rack, Song Qi took the initiative to mention Su Yaoqi, "Third Aunt, does that young master often come to our house?"
When she heard the words "our house," Song Jiaoâs eyelids trembled. She looked up at Song Qi but didnât say a word.
"Why inquire about him?" Wen Wanâs mood was indifferent.
Song Qi said, "Earlier, eldest sister told me that no one is perfect, and nobody wants to have defects, so when facing othersâ defects, you canât mock if you canât sympathize. But at the time, I was really just surprised, and didnât mean to mock him. I think his reaction was mostly a misunderstanding, and I want to explain it to him face-to-face."
Wen Wan finished washing her hands, was drying them with a towel, and turned around upon hearing this. She gave Song Qi a meaningful look and said, "You donât need to explain to him."
"Why?"
"You two wonât know each other in the future anyway. Whether he misunderstands or not, what does it matter to you?"
"But I..." Song Qi bit her lips, looking aggrieved.
"Alright, after we finish lunch, Iâll have someone send you two back." Wen Wan didnât want to continue the topic. Song Qi is prickly, slight disagreement with her and she would bristle like a hedgehog.
As an elder, Wen Wan didnât want to engage in a quarrel with her niece over this.
Song Jiao saw her third aunt handle the matter lightly but effectively and was slightly relieved.