"I’ll pass on the seat." Xie Zheng said, "I have some errands in town. Here’s the deal, tell me in advance when you’re leaving, and I’ll come see you off."
Song Wei casually responded, and the two parted ways.
When he got home, he found his mother sitting in the living room with a worried expression. Song Wei walked over, "Mother, what’s the matter?"
Granny Song looked at him, "Third Son, you’re taking Fangniang to Beijing?"
Song Wei nodded, "I promised her earlier, I can’t go back on my word. Besides, it’s good for little sister to stay in the capital for a while and broaden her horizons."
"How long will you be gone?"
Song Wei thought for a moment and said, "Next year is the county exam year, I’ll need to come back for the exam. It’s roughly a year’s time from now, I’ll bring her back to you then."
"What about your wife? Is she going too?"
Granny Song disagreed, saying that Song Wei was going to study, not to become an official. If both of them went, wouldn’t there be issues with food and lodging? It’s not just for a day or two, but a whole year. How much silver will it cost over a year? Can the Song family’s meager savings withstand such squandering?
Song Wei didn’t argue with his mother over money, he simply smiled and asked, "Mother, do you want grandchildren?"
That question stumped Granny Song. By the time she reacted, her expression had changed, "Third Son, say that again?"
"We’ve delayed long enough, it’s time to have a child. If I don’t take Wanwan to the capital, and let her wait at home for a year, where will the grandchildren come from?"
Granny Song thought about it and realized it made sense! Having grandchildren is the most important thing. With a resolute heart, she agreed, "Fine, just for that statement, I’ll even empty the family savings to get you a small house in the capital for your wife."
Song Wei said it wasn’t necessary, "Mother, you don’t need to worry about money, just agree to let me take little sister and Wanwan to the capital."
"Where did you get the money?" Granny Song frowned, "Are you planning to use Wan Niang’s dowry? Third Son, we can’t do something that would cause people to talk behind our backs. The Song family may have thin savings, but we’re not so poor that we need to resort to taking from our daughter-in-law. Think it over, I still need to maintain my dignity in the future!"
Song Wei laughed and said it wasn’t like that, his mother was overthinking.
"Then tell me, where did the money come from?"
Song Wei explained, "Mother, do you remember the inkstone I picked up at the market stall when I was a child?"
"I have a vague memory," Granny Song said, "At that time, you insisted on spending money to get that worthless thing, hugging it like a treasure, instead of buying treats or fabric for clothes. So, it turned out to be an antique?"
"You have a discerning eye, Mother," Song Wei chuckled.
"So, you’re saying you sold the treasure you’ve kept for over twenty years?"
Song Wei nodded, "Someone who appreciated it offered a high price, so I sold it."
"That’s quite something!" Granny Song was incredulous, "The treasure you wouldn’t even let Fangniang see, you were willing to part with."
Song Wei said, "Anyway, that’s not the only treasure I’ve collected."
"Alright, I won’t go on about it," Granny Song waved her hand, "After you get to the capital, make sure to give me a chubby grandson, I think about it day and night, until my eyes light up just thinking about it."
"A child, maybe. But whether it’s a grandson or not, I can’t guarantee."
Granny Song’s face fell, "Then what are you saying? Just get on with it. If it really ends up being a girl, do you expect me to put her back in the womb?"