Xu Shu felt a jolt in his heart; if someone as proud as Song Wei opened his mouth to ask for help, it couldn’t be good.
"I need you to find me a doctor with miraculous skills."
As soon as Song Wei finished speaking, Xu Shu jumped up, "It was you who refused to write the article for me and restricted my freedom for tutoring. Now you want me to find a divine doctor for you? After all my hard work, you’re taking all the credit? I’m telling you, Song Wei, there’s no one as deceitful as you! Write your own articles if you want; I’m done serving you!"
Having said that, Xu Shu turned and was about to leave.
Song Wei didn’t stop him, just gave him a indifferent glance before shifting his gaze back after a while.
Xu Shu was so enraged by Song Wei’s nonchalant attitude that his head ached, and even after he had walked far away, the snort that came from his nose could still be heard.
Song Wei silently curled his lips and stepped forward to walk.
Yesterday, under Xu Shu’s guidance, he toured the Imperial College and familiarized himself with the surroundings. Today, new students arrived, and since he was free, he helped the scholar to welcome the newcomers. After lunch, he attended two classes given by the School Principal in the first-grade lecture hall, finishing school at dusk.
Standing outside the main gate of the Imperial College, looking at the "Hongwen Academy" for women officials across the street, Song Wei was momentarily lost in thought until the exclamations of other students around him brought his mind back. Looking up, he realized it had started to snow.
In the Capital’s winter, when snow falls and the wind blows, if you wear thin clothes, it feels as if a layer of skin is being peeled off you alive from the cold.
Song Wei adjusted the slightly thin Imperial College uniform on his body and headed home early while the snow was still not too heavy.
As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he smelled the aroma of mutton.
Just at that moment, Song Fang opened the curtain and came out. Upon seeing Song Wei, she exclaimed joyfully, "Third Brother is back?"
Song Wei smiled, "What delicious food are you making?"
Song Fang teased, "It’s all Sister-in-law’s idea. As for what it is, you’ll have to go in and see for yourself."
Listening to this, Song Wei became even more curious. When he lifted the curtain and walked into the main house, he found a clay pot on the table, with "ba-da ba-da" boiling meat and vegetables inside, steaming hot with a fragrant aroma.
Wen Wan was standing on tiptoe, using tongs to stir the charcoal in the stove. Upon seeing Song Wei, she quickly closed the lid, pulled out a chair for him to sit on, and then retrieved a thicker robe for him to change into.
There was no warming pot in Ningzhou, so it was Song Wei’s first time seeing one, making it an interesting novelty, "What’s this?"
Song Fang entered with bowls and chopsticks and responded, "This is a warming pot. We saw it at a small restaurant when we went shopping in the market yesterday. The owner explained it well enough, so we bought one, thinking to try making it ourselves at home. Try it, Third Brother—we sisters made this warming pot for the first time. How does it taste?"
Taking the bowl and chopsticks Song Fang handed over, Song Wei put a piece of mutton in his mouth and nodded with satisfaction, "Not bad."
Song Fang’s eyes lit up, "Really tastes good?"
Song Wei added, "The broth is nice."
"That’s all thanks to little Sister-in-law." Song Fang looked at Wen Wan and proudly said, "She spent half the afternoon simmering the mutton bone broth!"
"Wanwan has put her heart into it." Song Wei pulled her to sit beside him, serving her half a bowl of meat and advising her to eat more since she had lost weight due to Beijing matters and needed a good replenishment.
As the snow fell heavier outside, the three didn’t feel cold at all, huddled around the warming pot, enjoying a cozy dinner.
After a night, a thin layer of snow accumulated on the ground; though not thick, it still crunched underfoot.
When Song Wei arrived at the Imperial College, he discovered someone had arrived earlier than him, shivering from the cold with a crimson nose, holding a snack box, likely using it to keep warm.
Song Wei pretended not to see and deliberately took a detour to walk to the side.
Being ignored, Xu Shu shouted at Song Wei, "Are you blind? I’ve been standing here half the day, and you act like you don’t see me? Keep pretending!"
Song Wei glanced sideways, smiling slightly, "Oh, isn’t this Mr. Xu? Have you come today to find someone to serve you?"
A grown man holding grudges? So stubborn! So self-righteous!
Xu Shu silently cursed, then approached Song Wei with a fake smile, like a beaming white-steamed bun, "Don’t be like that. You’re the boss—as long as you accept this box of snacks, and continue tutoring me from today, you’ll be my big brother, and as for the matter of the divine doctor, leave it to your buddy here."
Song Wei didn’t take the snacks and eyed Xu Shu, "If I’m not mistaken, you pretended to go home yesterday and got beaten, right?"