The farmland couldn’t be secured, and Second Lang’s wife didn’t dare stay and have a staring match with her mother-in-law. She found an excuse and led Song Erlang back to the next courtyard.
Granny Song glanced at Old Song who was sitting beside her, "Did you see that? You learn the skills of those you follow. Erlang followed his wife and didn’t learn how to honor his parents, only learned to covet. I made it clear to Third Son and his wife today; from now on, just enjoy your peace and blessings, don’t bother with their troublesome affairs. That Second Lang’s wife, she’s not easy to deal with. If you get involved without a good reason, you might find yourself in a mess unnecessarily."
Old Song thought of how Song Erlang couldn’t say a word in front of his wife and sighed, "Alright, you’re in charge. I’ll do as you instruct."
Granny Song laughed at his resigned look, "That’s more like it!"
Having dealt with the matter of the farmland, Song Wei introduced the second issue. "Mom, after I leave, you must help me safeguard the treasures in the study. Not only should you not give them away, even if my mentor comes offering money, you can’t give them."
"Wait, where did you get a mentor?" Granny Song was a bit puzzled. "How come I’ve never heard of this before?"
Song Wei replied, "I often visit the county town and met him there."
Granny Song seemed to understand a bit, "Is it the mentor who taught you to ’identify valuables’?"
"Then if he’s your mentor, why would he be after your things?"
Song Wei chuckled and shook his head, "You don’t understand my mentor. If he weren’t interested, he wouldn’t have taken me on as a disciple. Anyway, when we leave, you should lock the study securely. My mentor knows the rules of our trade, and he won’t forcefully take anything without my permission."
Granny Song didn’t understand the value of Song Wei’s collection, "I’m just baffled. Clearly, they’re items cast aside that even dogs don’t want. Are they really that valuable?"
Song Wei explained, "The value isn’t in the item itself but in who used it or who collected it."
Granny Song still didn’t understand.
Song Wei patiently continued, "For example, take this tea cup from our family. It’s inherently not valuable, but if it were used by the current Holy Emperor, its significance and value would be entirely different."
The statement was straightforward enough, and Granny Song suddenly understood, "Then the inkstone you brought home twenty years ago..."
"Golden Star Inkstone," Song Wei interjected, "It was used by the founding emperor during his military campaigns. Later, it drifted into civilian hands, and I was fortunate enough to acquire it, although it’s damaged from age. Those who can’t recognize its value truly wouldn’t see it."
"The... founding emperor?" Granny Song was so startled she almost fell from her chair, "Oh my! Our family actually possesses an inkstone used by the founding emperor? Am I dreaming?"
Old Song reached out to steady her, setting her upright, "Stay seated. Soon, Third Son might bring out something new and surprising, and your old back can’t take the strain."
Granny Song cast a sidelong glance at Old Song then turned to Song Wei, "Go with peace of mind. I have enough free time at home to look after the study once I stop working in the fields."
With Granny Song’s promise, Song Wei was completely relieved and went with Wen Wan back to their room to pack.
At that moment, Wen Wan’s heart was in turmoil.
She had always thought the items on the antique shelf in her husband’s study were merely for decoration.
Who knew they were all collected piece by piece by him?
Moreover, from what he said, each item was extraordinary.
It was truly astonishing.
Song Wei noticed Wen Wan staring at the antique shelf and smiled, "Actually, I wasn’t initially interested in antiques; it’s all because of a treasure passed down from our family. When I was little, I found it in a cupboard, didn’t understand it, and secretly took it to the county town. That’s where I met my current mentor, who recognized it as something used by a concubine from the previous dynasty, wanted it, but I didn’t give it to him. This led him to pressure me to become his disciple, or else he wouldn’t tell me what it was."