"Yuanbao, Yuanbao, can you stop talking about him in front of me all the time? It’s driving me nuts!"
Wen Shun’s shout left Mrs. Zhou startled, taking quite a while to recover, "What’s this now? From what I gather, is that little brat Yuanbao bold enough to bully you?"
Wen Shun shook his head, saying no.
Mrs. Zhou was puzzled again, asking if the teacher didn’t hit you and your classmates didn’t bully you, then why aren’t you studying properly?
Wen Shun replied, saying he just doesn’t like studying, and as soon as the teacher starts lecturing, he feels like sleeping.
This made Mrs. Zhou feel suffocated, "Back then, to get you enrolled, I sacrificed my old face, finally persuading your brother-in-law to send you to the town school, such a prestigious place. In less than ten days since you started, you tell me you’re quitting. Are you trying to piss me off to death?"
Wen Shun buried his face in the quilt without speaking.
Mrs. Zhou continued grumbling, saying how Wen Shun had caused so much trouble at home just to go to school. Back then, he looked like a promising boy, and now he’s because of those kids from the Xie Family Private School. She swore she’d go make a scene there someday when she had the time.
Wen Shun was almost asleep but sprang up in shock hearing the last sentence, "Mom, what are you doing?"
Mrs. Zhou glared at him, "What do you think I’m doing? I’ve been hoping for ages that you would make something of yourself. We spent so much money, and you haven’t achieved anything, and now you say you’re quitting. So you’re saying my few taels of silver were all for nothing? If I tossed them into the water, at least I’d hear a splash!"
Wen Shun rolled his eyes. The reason he made a fuss about studying in the first place was for the mental challenge; his mom would have to provide white rice every day and oily dishes. But once he actually started school, forget white rice; just getting enough to fill his stomach was considered lucky.
Anyway, studying doesn’t seem promising, so he might as well go home, where he feels free and can run wild without anyone controlling him.
But Mrs. Zhou didn’t think that way.
A few days ago, she visited her mother’s home and spent some time at Mr. Zhou the scholar’s house. The food and clothing there was enviable—even if she couldn’t name them, Mrs. Zhou thought they were the best. She imagined if her son could one day become a scholar, she too could be respectfully called "Old Madam" like Mr. Zhou’s mother, gossiping about fields and collecting taxes, lying down with a fan during hot days, fanning leisurely all afternoon, doing nothing. In cold days, she wouldn’t have to get soot on her hands from firewood; she could buy coal instead. And perhaps, hearing that their family produced a scholar, those selling coal might give it for free.
Wen Wan heard that Wen Shun left the town school, thinking that her stepmother’s dreams probably won’t come true in this lifetime.
She glanced at Song Wei, who was bent over washing his hands by the basin rack. She hadn’t thought much about it before, but now, she felt he looked rather cunning.
Having known her younger brother for many years, Wen Wan knew his stubborn nature well. To make him willingly leave the town school without a word of complaint probably took a lot of scheming from Song Wei.
No wonder he readily agreed to Mrs. Zhou’s request to send Wen Shun to the town school that day. So this is what he was waiting for!
As she thought about it, Wen Wan felt a chill down her back.
He had promised to marry her so quickly too; could there be some hidden agenda with that too?
Song Wei finished washing his hands, turned around to find a dry towel, and noticed his wife looking at him strangely. Her expression was like she was on guard against a wolf—something seemed off.