CHAPTER 139: CHAPTER 137: UNREASONABLE (4TH UPDATE)

Lu Xingzhou listened, then suddenly said, "The Princess Mansion has medical officers who were transferred from the Imperial Hospital, and their medical skills are quite good. If Mr. Song doesn’t mind, I can ask one of them to see your little wife. What do you think?"

Song Wei shook his head, "No merit, no reward. I appreciate the Prince Consort’s kindness, but I must decline."

Seeing that he had already refused so firmly, Lu Xingzhou didn’t want to embarrass himself further.

After sitting for a while, Song Wei excused himself to leave.

Xu Shu got up and followed him downstairs, the two heading straight to the Imperial College.

Upon entering the gate, Xu Shu patted his chest in relief, "That scared me. If it wasn’t for my cleverness, playing along with your act, we might have really been entangled by that little scoundrel by now."

Thinking of something, Xu Shu’s expression changed, "Song Wei, do you think the Prince Consort might secretly send someone to investigate us after what we said?"

Song Wei calmly said, "We were telling the truth. If he wants to investigate, let him. I don’t mind."

Then, he gave Xu Shu a solemn look and added, "But thank you for coming with me today."

"We’re like brothers; no need for thanks." Xu Shu lifted his chin, full of pride, "Next time I come to your place, have your wife cook a meal for me. I’ve never tasted her cooking."

Song Wei nodded in agreement, "Alright."

——

After the two left, Lu Yanqing turned to Lu Xingzhou, who had remained silent, "Father, should I arrange someone to investigate? If Song Wei dared to lie, I’ll make him kneel before you and apologize!"

Lu Xingzhou stopped him, "No nonsense. Regardless of whether Song Wei was lying or not, asking him to pass on experience is not going to happen. Let’s head back. Don’t you have classes this afternoon?"

At the mention of studying, Lu Yanqing immediately slumped, "I’m not feeling well. I want to take a leave and go home to rest."

"Alright," Lu Xingzhou said, "When we get back, I’ll ask your mother to take a look at you."

Lu Yanqing: "...It’s not too serious. I can still manage to go to class."

——

With Song Wei going to study at the Imperial College, only Song Fang and Wen Wan were left at home. Although there was no one to talk to, Song Fang didn’t mind, happily humming little tunes as she brewed medicine for her little sister-in-law every day.

In the first couple of days, Wen Wan instinctively resisted drinking the medicine. But later, she got used to it, and it was no different from drinking water. Each time Song Fang brought it to her, she would tilt her head back, close her eyes, and gulp it down.

This continued for half a month.

Song Wei personally went to invite Doctor Li over.

Doctor Li asked Wen Wan to open her mouth and try to make sounds like last time, then listened intently with narrowed eyes.

Song Wei, Song Fang, and Xu Shu stood tensely aside, all eyes eagerly fixed on Doctor Li, watching him frown, hearts in their throats.

After making the sounds, Wen Wan tightly clutched her clothes, looking at Doctor Li.

"Sir, how is Wanwan’s condition? Is there any chance of recovery?" Song Wei asked.

Doctor Li contemplated for a moment, nodded, and said, "It sounds like there has been slight improvement compared to half a month ago. It is treatable, but the treatment will be lengthy. Also, I do not have absolute confidence that I can fully cure Miss Song."

Xu Shu and Song Fang both looked at Song Wei.

In times like this, only he could make the decision.

Song Wei did not rush to speak; instead, his gaze fell on Wen Wan, and in a low tone, he asked, "Wanwan, the gentleman says there’s no guarantee. Will you agree to proceed?"

Wen Wan thought, she was already in the worst condition now. Even if it couldn’t be cured, it wouldn’t get any worse than this. Moreover, there was still a possibility of recovery!

She nodded, indicating her willingness to accept treatment.

Song Wei smiled with relief and said to Doctor Li, "Then I’ll trouble the gentleman."

Doctor Li nodded, "I will change the prescription. Miss Song must continue taking the medicine for conditioning, without interruption. I will come every three days to perform acupuncture."

With those words, everyone felt more at ease.

Song Wei had Doctor Li stay for a meal before personally seeing him out the door.

Xu Shu had his family’s coachman take Doctor Li back. He stayed behind and said to Song Wei, "I’ve brought the Divine Doctor for you. Whether it works out from here depends on your wife. I’m at the end of my help."

Song Wei replied, "Whether it works out or not, I owe you a favor."

——

Every day was spent soaking in medicine and undergoing acupuncture every three days.

Just like that, the days quickly passed until the end of the year, and the Imperial College started its break.

Song Wei finally got a rare chance to sleep in. After getting up and having breakfast, he accompanied his little wife to shop for New Year’s goods.

Song Fang stayed at home to tidy up the house, turning everything inside and out upside down.

Song Wei bought red paper, planning to write some couplets himself and a few "Fu" characters to stick up to catch the festive spirit of the New Year. Holding the red paper, he thought of his parents far away in Ningzhou and looked at Wen Wan, "I wonder how Mom and Dad are doing?"

More than half a month ago, they had just sent a letter back, and his parents’ reply probably wouldn’t reach the Capital until after the New Year.

——

Speaking of Ningzhou, since Song Wei and his wife took Song Fang to Beijing, there hasn’t been much happening here, except Song Yuanbao becomes taciturn every time he returns from his monthly break, often eating his meal and then locking himself up in the study. Whether he reads or not, Granny Song isn’t sure, but undoubtedly he feels uncomfortable inside.

It’s understandable since his father left for a year without even sending a letter once a month. The little guy was still nursing when Third Lang himself raised him, never separated from his father for so long, how could he be content?

Granny Song didn’t try to comfort him, thinking that maybe with time he’ll get over it.

All the land under Third Son’s name was rented out, Granny Song and Old Song were not used to being idle at first, always thinking about finding something to do.

Old Song was fine, not farming, he could accept more work making furniture. If there wasn’t any work, he’d go roam the mountains. With luck, he could hunt some game, or at least bring back two bundles of firewood.

Granny Song felt restless, the vegetable plot was just palm-sized, not enough to keep her busy for long, so she helped Second Lang’s family with their kids occasionally and visited around the village.

Da Ya was over eight, nearly nine, ordered by her parents to work in the fields. Er Ya and Sanyang were still little, spinning around Granny Song all the time. Don’t underestimate those two little girls, they could eat prodigiously, often grabbing good snacks from grandpa when grandma wasn’t around.

Old Song was softhearted; once the little granddaughters spoke, he took out the snacks Granny Song bought for Yuanbao, making his own decision.

The two little girls devoured them as if they hadn’t eaten snacks for several lifetimes, after finishing still pocketed the leftovers to bring home, not leaving even a crumb for Song Yuanbao.

When Granny Song found out, she scolded Old Song harshly, saying he doesn’t know how to raise kids, letting Second Lang’s daughters go wild like that. With a mountain of gold and silver, they’d squander it all.

Old Song said, "It’s just some snacks, if they’ve eaten them, they’ve eaten them. Yuanbao isn’t back yet, right? When he comes for his monthly break, I’ll go to town to fetch him, and buy more snacks for him while I’m at it."

Granny Song glared at him, "Is this a matter of buying or not? Those daughters of Second Lang’s, eating others’ things and taking the leftovers home too, has Yuanbao ever done such things? I say, like mother, like daughter. If those two girls are not properly taught, they’ll end up just like their mother, always coveting others’ things."

Old Song initially thought it wasn’t a big deal, but after being told by his wife, suddenly felt Second Lang’s wife was not teaching them right. But since the snacks were already given away, he couldn’t ask for them back. After a moment of silence, he suddenly said, "Why don’t I let Yuanbao go eat at their house and bring back snacks?"

Granny Song: "..."

——

Winter came, and as it turned cold, Granny Song set up a stove outside the study, holding Sanyang in her arms while warming by the fire.

In the afternoon, a slender old man wrapped in a heavy cotton coat and wearing a melon-skin hat came, peering into Song family courtyard, just meeting eyes with Granny Song sitting outside the study.

The old man didn’t feel awkward, simply walked into the courtyard and coughed, "Is this the house of Song Wei and Song Sanlang?"

Granny Song didn’t know what he was up to and didn’t reply, asking him, "Who are you?"

"I am Third Lang’s master." The old man raised his chin, his face full of pride.

Master?

Granny Song’s face changed, Third Lang repeatedly instructed her before leaving to guard the study carefully, else his master would come "treasure-hunting." It’s been only a few days, and he’s already come?

Not wanting to lose face, the old man lifted his chin high, Granny Song raised hers even higher, "Maybe you’ve got the wrong place?"

"No mistake." The old man tucked his hands into his sleeves, glanced around, and said with certainty, "This is surely Third Lang’s lair."

Granny Song wanted to chase him away, but thought, after all, the man is Third Lang’s master; if she really did so, it would be hard to deal with the repercussions, so she restrained herself and asked, "What exactly do you want to do?"

The old man chuckled and said directly, "He owes me a treasure, I’m here to collect it."

Granny Song positioned her back against the tightly locked study door, "Third Lang is not here; he went to Beijing. If you want any treasure, go ask him for it in the Capital."

The old man’s eyebrow raised slightly, "I’m not looking for him, just the treasure. It doesn’t matter if he’s not here, as long as the treasure is."

Granny Song furrowed her brow, "Hey! You old man, are you being unreasonable?"

The old man puffed up his chest, "I am being unreasonable, what can you do about it? He owes me!"

Granny Song said in a rough voice, "Even borrowing money comes with a promissory note; you have no evidence, yet claim my Third Lang owes you? Is that how you shamelessly demand things? Go away, go away, if you don’t leave, believe it or not, I’ll beat you up?"

The old man didn’t leave, got himself a chair from the main room, sat opposite Granny Song, surrounded most of the stove, warmed his frozen hands, and lazily said, "I am Third Lang’s master; once a teacher, always a father. If you dare hit me, it’s like hitting his father."

Granny Song: "..."

At such an old age, how can one be so shameless?

The old man added, "Starting today, I’ll stay here, eating and living with you. When you give me the treasure, I’ll leave."

Granny Song clenched her teeth, unable to handle this, handed the problem over to Old Song, hoping that Old Song could come forward and send him away.

As a result, when Granny Song went to the main room and came out after a while, the two old men were sitting by the stove, each with half a bowl of wine, and on the bench beside them were left-over fried peanuts from breakfast.