CHAPTER 164: CHAPTER 156: RETURNING HOME (SECOND UPDATE)

Wen Wan is pregnant for the first time and has severe morning sickness. On this journey, she eats and then vomits, and soon after vomiting, she gets hungry again, feeling quite tormented.

Every time they get near a marketplace, Song Wei always asks the driver to stop, then goes down to buy fresh fruits, all according to Wen Wan’s preference for sour flavors.

Wen Wan slumps into the wide seat of the carriage, listless.

She never imagined that pregnancy could be this uncomfortable; the little one inside her likely senses that his parents are going home, and is excitedly causing a ruckus.

Currently, Wen Wan is experiencing a mix of sweetness and discomfort.

She’s happy about the baby’s existence but is plagued by morning sickness, leaving her feeling low-spirited all day.

Luckily, Song Wei takes care of everything meticulously, from food to bathing and dressing, so Wen Wan doesn’t have to worry about anything, keeping her mood from turning too irritable.

By the time they reach Ningzhou, it’s already late August, and they’ve missed the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Before leaving, Song Wei had already sent a letter to his parents.

In the letter, Song Wei did not mention Wen Wan’s pregnancy, planning to surprise his parents once they reached home.

Granny Song only knew that Third Son and his wife were coming back, but wasn’t sure of the exact day, so every day she’d drag Sanyang to sit at the village entrance for a while.

On some days, she’d even go far out of the village, spending the day sunning herself by the field ridge, only to return slowly for dinner when she didn’t see her son and daughter-in-law’s figures by evening.

Today happened to coincide with a visit Granny Song made to Aunt Xie’s house.

When Song Wei and the others arrived at the gate, the yard was tightly locked.

The appearance of the carriage attracted many villagers who gathered around, excitedly exclaiming as if they had found treasure upon seeing Song Wei back.

"Third Son, you went out and hit it big, huh? You’ve even got a carriage now, doing well for yourself!"

"Third Son, when is the prefectural exam? Any chance you’ll pass as a scholar?"

"Third Son, my father-in-law’s family also wants a name on the register. Can you add a spot?"

"Third Son..."

The crowd buzzed incessantly.

Wen Wan got a headache from the noise, clutching tightly to her bundle on her shoulder, her brow furrowing deeply.

Song Wei glanced at the crowd and spoke, "Wanwan is not feeling well. If you all are here to discuss land registry, then please return. The prefectural exam is on the eighth of next month; whether I do well depends entirely on the mood."

Song Wei has always been steady, speaking with restraint, never having directly broken off relations with people before. This sudden remark today left the villagers a bit at a loss.

Someone couldn’t hold back, muttering that Song Wei just went to the Capital, and now he seemed to look down on them, village folks, and lectured him about not forgetting one’s roots.

The words reached Song Wei’s ears clearly, and he looked at that person with a faint smile, "Indeed, one shouldn’t forget one’s roots. Are you saying there’s something I shouldn’t forget from your family? Is it feeding and clothing me, raising me, or was it standing up for me when I was despised and cursed by others for my bad luck?"

That person was at a loss for words, and the crowd’s voices suddenly ceased.

They were all there for the land registry, and Song Wei’s personal matters were of little concern to them.

Seeing Wen Wan’s weak-looking face, Song Wei’s voice deepened further, "I’ll say it again, Wanwan is not feeling well. Whatever it is, go directly to my mother; she will discuss it with you properly. If you truly feel it’s unfair or reluctant to register the land under my name, suit yourselves. I have no objections."

Turning others’ generosity into an entitlement and then blaming them for lack of kindness?

Such audacity makes Wen Wan feel disgusted just thinking about it.

At that moment, she suddenly felt a churn in her stomach, unable to care about the villagers not having dispersed, she threw aside her bundle and squatted to vomit.

Song Wei hurriedly bent down to gently pat her back.

A woman noticed, "Third Lang’s wife seems to be having morning sickness, huh?"

Song Wei had no intention of explaining, took out the key, unlocked the yard gate, picked up Wen Wan in his arms, directly entered the west room, laid her flat on the bed, then returned to invite the driver inside, closing the yard gate and keeping the villagers outside.

In other times, he wouldn’t have acted this way.

Now, it’s due to concern, as Wanwan’s condition directly affects his emotions, coupled with the villagers’ insistence, causing him to feel frustrated, so he simply didn’t show a good face. They can say whatever they want since their mouths are their own.

He got water for Wen Wan to rinse her mouth and settled her comfortably, then personally brewed tea for the driver, inviting him to sit in the main room.

Originally Xu Shu intended to leave the carriage and driver for Song Wei for emergency use, but unfortunately, the driver is from the Capital, and the carriage is registered there, neither can stay in the countryside for long.

Song Wei thought to let the man rest for a night, at least have a good sleep before setting off, but the driver declined, saying the recent rainy weather has made the road difficult, even a day’s delay would make the return hard, so after tea, he prepared to leave.

Song Wei didn’t insist on keeping him, personally escorting him outside the gate.

At dusk, Granny Song returned, spotting her house’s open gate from afar, and immediately thought of Third Son.

She rushed into the house and sure enough, Third Son was back.

Granny Song got excited for a while and asked him, "Why is it just you alone, where’s your wife? Where’s Fangniang?"

Song Wei let his mother sit, poured her a cup of tea, and slowly explained, "I left little sister in the Capital to study and learn a skill."

"Study and learn a skill?" Granny Song widened her eyes, "She’s just a girl, what’s she studying and learning?"

Song Wei answered with a smile, "The Capital has an official school designated only for girls from noble families. I managed to get her an entry through connections. If she doesn’t go, it would be a waste."

The women’s official school, Granny Song had never heard of, nor dared to imagine before, feeling quite intrigued. But upon reflecting, she thought her daughter was actually not bad, learning some things there would be good, understanding more would allow her to choose a good family in the future.

She asked again, "Then where’s your wife?"

Song Wei paused, then said, "Wanwan is pregnant and felt unwell during the journey, she’s resting inside."

Granny Song listened, unable to respond immediately.