Chapter 493 - 460: Sudden Awakening

Chapter 493: Chapter 460: Sudden Awakening

The rumors spread by the beggars were not about Song Jiao having a sweetheart and discussing marriage with Liang Jinshi, but rather about the earthquake two years ago, which brought disaster to the Song Sicheng’s elder brother’s family far away in Ningzhou. Despite the shortage of government supplies, this family managed to overcome their difficulties.

Among them, Song Erlang’s second daughter, Song Qi, was portrayed as a filial daughter who risked her life during the turmoil to rescue her younger brother and encouraged her parents to grit their teeth and get through tough times.

The Great Chu highly values filial piety.

As the beggars spread the story, more than half of the Capital came to know about Song Erlang’s story, especially making Song Qi a paragon of filial piety.

Standing at the street corner, listening to passersby praise the "filial daughter" of the Song family, Song Qi’s emotions were complex and difficult to express.

"Hey, Qi Qi, why are you here by yourself?"

The speaker was Aunt Pan, the neighbor next door to Song Erlang’s family, carrying a vegetable basket. Seeing Song Qi, her eyes were kind, and her words were full of respect. "I didn’t expect you to be so filial at such a young age. If my son had half of your filial piety, I wouldn’t have to chase after him to discipline him."

Song Qi tugged at the corner of her lips, not knowing how to respond.

She hadn’t eaten for so long, her face was haggard.

Aunt Pan noticed something was wrong and asked, "Are you feeling unwell? I’ll take you to the clinic."

Song Qi shook her head and sniffled, "I’m fine."

After saying goodbye to Aunt Pan, she returned home, standing outside the main gate, looking up at the small gray courtyard, a surge of unprecedented emotions welled up inside her, making her nose tingle.

The door was suddenly pushed open, and the person who came out was the Second Lang’s wife. She was about to go out to look for Song Qi when she saw her daughter had already returned.

"Qi Qi, why aren’t you going in?" Knowing she hadn’t eaten for a day and night, the Second Lang’s wife continued, "I’ve cooked lean meat porridge on the stove, your sister is watching it inside, it should be ready soon. Come in and I’ll serve you a bowl to warm your stomach."

Song Qi stood still, only looking at her mother.

The Second Lang’s wife had to reach out to pull her in.

Rarely, she did not push her biological mother away, but even after being pulled back into the main room, she did not utter a word.

The Second Lang’s wife had her sit down and went to the kitchen.

Song Jiao was standing by the stove, where the sound of bubbling porridge came from the pot.

She was lost in thought, but seeing her mother come in, she quickly snapped out of it, "Mom, did you find her?"

"She came back on her own." The Second Lang’s wife said as she crouched to take out a small bowl from the cupboard, preparing to serve porridge for Song Qi.

Song Jiao handed the spoon to her mother, "Since Qi Qi has come back, I’ll go to Uncle’s house."

She didn’t want to say more; it wasn’t the first time Song Qi had run away from home throwing a tantrum.

It’s always the same old story.

"Jiaojiao." The Second Lang’s wife stopped her, took a while to speak, "When you see your aunt, tell her I’ll properly educate my own child, let her not worry and focus on her pregnancy."

"Alright." Song Jiao nodded, stepped out of the kitchen, and went back to her room to pack up her things.

As she left with her bundle, she saw Song Qi standing at the door of the main room, staring at her without blinking.

Song Jiao originally wanted to greet her but was afraid that as soon as she spoke, it would lead to a never-ending argument. She swallowed the words back, looked away, slung the bundle over her shoulder, and turned towards the main gate.

Just as she was about to step over the threshold, Song Qi’s voice came from behind, "Are you going to Uncle’s house?"

Song Jiao replied calmly, "Is there something?"

"I’m going with you."

The Second Lang’s wife opened the kitchen curtain with a bowl of porridge, just in time to hear this sentence, pursed her lips, "If Qi Qi is going, drink the porridge first. After drinking, Mom will accompany you."

Song Qi felt her empty stomach and ultimately did not insist further.

After Song Jiao left, she took the small bowl from the Second Lang’s wife’s hands and went inside.

The Second Lang’s wife sat beside her, urging her to eat slowly, afraid she’d burn herself, and then asked, "Why did you suddenly decide to go to your uncle’s house?"

Song Qi paused her action of drinking porridge.

The Second Lang’s wife thought she wouldn’t speak, but Song Qi unexpectedly said, "My life was saved by Uncle and Aunt."

Back in Ningzhou, she had fainted in the snow, and it was the Hidden Guard sent by Uncle who saved her.

The rumors on the street today, she didn’t need to think to know they were Uncle’s doing.

Counting it up, the third uncle has saved her life twice already.

Second Lang’s wife didn’t fully understand, so Song Qi continued, "That’s right, I was planning to jump from the tower to end it all, but it was third uncle and aunt who showed me that if I just keep living, I can still draw the attention of many people, I won’t be ignored, and I won’t feel invisible."

Second Lang’s wife focused on the first half of the sentence, her face turning pale with shock, "Qi Qi, you..."

"It’s all in the past now." Song Qi buried her head and took a sip of porridge, as if the thought of suicide was merely child’s play to her, not something she truly cared about.

Second Lang’s wife clutched her chest in fear, "You silly child, how could you think of... Sanyang is already gone, if anything were to happen to you, what would your father and I do?"

Mentioning Sanyang, Song Qi put down the spoon she was using and stood up, "I’m done eating, I’m going to the third uncle’s house now."

Second Lang’s wife saw there was still half a bowl left, thought she hadn’t eaten her fill, and then packed a few pastries she had bought a couple of days ago, grabbed her son from the inner room, locked the door, and followed Song Qi out of the alley.

There was a carriage service just outside, so Second Lang’s wife hired a carriage and headed straight to the Song family.

...

Song Jiao arrived at the Song Mansion first.

Wen Wan saw her come with luggage and asked what was going on.

Song Jiao bit her lip and said, "I want to come back and stay; can aunt and uncle take me in?"

Wen Wan certainly wouldn’t refuse but was puzzled by the reason, "Why come back all of a sudden at this point?"

In front of Wen Wan, Song Jiao didn’t dare to hide anything, "My personality conflicts with Qi Qi’s; if we stay under the same roof any longer, something bad will eventually happen."

This reason wasn’t hard for Wen Wan to understand either, "Did your parents know you’re coming to our house?"

"They know." Song Jiao nodded, "I discussed moving back here with my mom a few days ago, and she agreed. But Qi Qi suddenly threw a tantrum—she’s been fasting and running away, making the household anxious; I had to help take care of my brother, so I couldn’t leave until now."

"How’s Qi Qi doing now?"

"When I left, my mom was cooking porridge for her; she should be calm by now."

Wen Wan nodded, "Alright, you can go back to your old courtyard; I’ve had someone clean it daily, so it’s quite tidy, pretty much the same as before you left."

"Thank you, aunt."

Wen Wan noticed the weariness around the young girl’s eyes and instructed her, "If you feel exhausted, you don’t need to keep me company later; take a good rest, and simply inform your grandfather and grandmother at dinner."

After Song Jiao returned to Wutong Garden, Wen Wan planned to check on Song Qi, but before she could leave, she was informed that the mother and daughter had come personally.

Wen Wan simply sat down, "Let them in."

Soon, Second Lang’s wife brought Song Qi to Qingteng Residence.

Wen Wan had already directed Yun Cai to pour tea, inviting them to sit.

Second Lang’s wife sat aside with her son.

Song Qi didn’t sit, stood dazed for a while, then knelt down before Wen Wan with a thud.

Wen Wan was somewhat surprised, asking her, "What are you doing?"

Song Qi straightened her body and looked Wen Wan in the eyes, "My issues have caused a lot of worry for third uncle and aunt. This kneeling is to thank aunt for the guidance she gave me outside my door that night. Thank you for using the rumor to show me I have a reason to live."

After speaking, she bowed down, her forehead touching the floor.

Wen Wan signaled to Yun Cai, who quickly went to help Song Qi up.

"I only helped salvage your life," Wen Wan said, "It’s your parents who truly gave you life, and if you want to express gratitude, it should be toward them."

Song Qi pressed her lips together.

While she had come to terms with many issues, when it came to her parents, especially her birth mother—thinking about the countless slaps she’d received—she found forgiveness difficult, let alone gratitude.

Second Lang’s wife understood Song Qi’s temperament and said, "Being grateful or not, we’re all family, no need for formalities as long as the family can live peacefully going forward without any more trouble, I’m satisfied."

Wen Wan was only responsible for bringing Song Qi back, regarding whether she’d forgive her mother and when, she couldn’t say much. Pointing to the pastries on the table, she said to the mother and daughter, "Have something to eat to hold you over, the kitchen is busy, so stay for lunch before going back."

On the way, Song Qi had eaten the pastries given by her mother and had little appetite. She glanced at Wen Wan several times, hesitant to speak.

Wen Wan noticed and asked her if she had something to say.

After much hesitation, Song Qi finally decided to speak, "I’ve heard that a fifth-rank official has a slot for the Hongwen Academy; can aunt help me speak to uncle about securing that spot for me?"