Second Lang’s wife just couldn’t sit still, always finding reasons to come over and get scolded. It was a common occurrence, so Granny Song wasn’t surprised. She turned her head to see Wen Wan trying hard not to laugh and rolled her eyes, "Alright, I’ll feed the chickens. You go make breakfast. I reckon my big grandson should be getting up by now."
Wen Wan handed the bowl filled with chaff to her mother-in-law and went to the kitchen. Already familiar with the Song family’s eating habits, she swiftly prepared breakfast in no time.
Father-in-law was a busy man, always either at the fields, in the carpentry shop making furniture for others, or hunting in the mountains with a bow and arrow. He almost never ate breakfast with them.
After washing his face, Father-in-law came to the kitchen, grabbed two steamed buns made of white flour, and left. He mentioned that there were many animals in the mountains in the spring, and with such good weather, he should take a look around. Maybe he’d bring home a good catch.
After sending off Father-in-law, Song Yuanbao got up next. Standing at the door half-awake, his eyelids drooped.
Wen Wan heated some water, wrung a towel dry, and wiped his face.
Song Wei, who had unknowingly stood behind her, suddenly spoke, "He’s already eight years old, can’t he wash his own face? Isn’t he being too spoiled?"
Song Yuanbao didn’t mind at all, hugging Wen Wan’s waist and poking his head out to sniff at Song Wei, "Dad, you’re already twenty-eight and still need Mom to dress you. You’re fussier than I am."
Song Wei: "...Come over here."
"No way! I’m just being pampered!"
Outside, some friends came to call Song Yuanbao to the private school, and he didn’t have time to eat at home. He slurped down half a bowl of porridge and left with an egg.
This left just Song Wei and his wife, Granny Song, and Song Fang at the breakfast table.
Granny Song recalled the ranting of her eldest grandson from last night, unable to put her mind at ease, she looked at Song Wei and said: "Your second sister-in-law cooked a pot of eggs for Yuanbao yesterday and said some unpleasant things. I guess she still hasn’t given up trying to win Yuanbao over. When you have time, you should talk to Yuanbao properly. Don’t let him be tricked foolishly by your second sister-in-law."
Song Fang chuckled, "Mom, what are you worrying about? Yuanbao is such a clever kid. It’s good enough that he’s not tricking people himself. With that bit of wit, even I wouldn’t fall for her tricks. How can she possibly deceive your exceptionally clever eldest grandson?"
The words were pleasant to hear, and Granny Song’s tense expression eased considerably.
Song Wei, who had been silent, slowly spoke, "The village school only teaches the basics. Yuanbao has almost learned everything there. Staying there longer would just be a waste of time. I’ll go to the town school in a while to see if we can send him there to study."
"This year?" Granny Song asked.
Song Wei nodded, noticing his mother’s reluctant expression, he comforted her, "I also switched to town school after three years at the village school. Yuanbao’s talent isn’t bad. If he works hard at the town school, he could take the exams in a few years."
Granny Song had something to say, but she didn’t mention it in front of her son. Only when she and her daughter-in-law were washing dishes in the kitchen did she speak to Wen Wan, "Third Son used to dream of studying and taking the imperial exams. Even when things didn’t go well each time, he never gave up the idea, until the accident with Big Lang and his wife. That’s when he finally gave up.
I, as a mother, tried advising him a few times, but he’s burdened by guilt, always feeling like he caused trouble for his brother and sister-in-law. He hasn’t forgiven himself all these years.
I figured he wouldn’t listen to me, but he might listen to you, his wife. Find a chance to persuade him for me."
Wen Wan put the clean bowls into the cupboard, looked up at her mother-in-law with a face that clearly said, "How do you know he’ll listen to me?"
For the first time, Granny Song understood Wen Wan’s expression, gave her a look, and scolded, "You were chosen through a fortune-telling match as my daughter-in-law. If you weren’t destined to benefit him, why would I let you into the Song family?"
Since the engagement last year, Song Wei not encountering any misfortune was a welcome sign that Granny Song had long noticed.