CHAPTER 17: CHAPTER 17: EVEN THE OLD OX IN THE PEN ISN’T AS RUTHLESS AS YOU

Song Wei’s strong and firm arm encircled Wen Wan’s waist, forcing her to lean closer to him.

A night of warmth had thoroughly shortened the distance between them.

The shyness from before seemed to have completely vanished, and even their breathing was more at ease.

Wen Wan was someone who was easily contented; as long as Song Wei treated her well, she would strive to be a good wife, not causing trouble or becoming a burden.

Before long, Yuanbao came knocking, "Dad, Mom, breakfast is ready!"

Wen Wan hadn’t yet adjusted to her relationship with Yuanbao, and thus the call of "Mom" made her feel internally uncomfortable.

Song Wei noticed this and smiled, "Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it after a few times."

After all, due to the hierarchy, Yuanbao couldn’t address her by her given name like before.

Wen Wan opened the door and saw little sister-in-law Song Fang standing in the yard screening beans with a sieve. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she strode over to Song Fang, intending to take the task over herself.

Song Fang didn’t let her, instead scrutinizing this little sister-in-law who, she had heard, was already sixteen, the same age as her, yet looked even younger.

Song Fang asked with a cheerful smile, "How was it spent the first night at our house, sister-in-law? Comfortable?"

Before Wen Wan could respond, Song Wei’s voice came from behind, "Early in the morning, are you planning to interrogate a convict?"

Song Fang stuck out her tongue sheepishly, straightened her expression, and said to Wen Wan, "Mom said, since it’s the wedding of third brother and sister-in-law, sleeping a bit longer is fine. Breakfast is warming on the stove, hurry and eat!"

Wen Wan glanced at Song Fang.

Song Fang didn’t understand what she meant.

Song Wei helped to explain, "Your sister-in-law is asking if you’ve already eaten."

Song Fang suddenly understood and said quickly, "Dad and Mom have already eaten and gone to work, and I’ve eaten too. Only Yuanbao hasn’t, he said he’d wait to eat with you!"

Song Wei nodded, "Since Yuanbao is waiting, Wanwan, you go first, I’ll come right after."

Having been siblings for so many years, Song Wei could tell that Song Fang wanted to say something privately to him.

Once Wen Wan had gone to the kitchen, Song Fang sidled up to Song Wei and whispered, "Third brother, did the Wen Family report her age falsely? Is sister-in-law really the same age as me? She looks younger than me. You’re ruthless, only picking young ones to marry, even the old ox in the family courtyard isn’t as sharp as you, at least it knows how to act its part..."

Song Wei: "Has Mom been too busy lately to consider finding you a husband?"

"...Hey, don’t be like that, good brother, I was speaking without thinking, ignore my words as if they were nonsense, will you?"

——

The kitchen in the Song family was quite large, with a dining table set up inside.

When Wen Wan went in, Yuanbao was already sitting there.

The transition from default sibling to mother-child relationship seemed to require an adjustment, for when Wen Wan appeared at the Song family dining table, Yuanbao’s call of "Mother" was a bit awkward.

Wen Wan could understand Yuanbao.

It’s not just him; she felt uneasy herself.

But Song Wei said, since the hierarchy is clear, Yuanbao, being the junior, can’t just say what he likes, the proper address still needs to be made. Eventually, everyone would get used to it.

Breakfast was made by her mother-in-law: a basket of wheat buns, a pot of white rice porridge, and a plate of stir-fried bamboo shoots.

The Song family had a good living standard; the porridge was made with pure rice, cooked thick and fragrant, unlike the Wen Family, who mixes in sweet potatoes, and rarely eats pure rice throughout the year.

She placed the warmed porridge and buns onto the table and sat down, noticing Yuanbao biting his spoon and staring at her, she gave him a puzzled look.

Yuanbao’s eyes darted around mischievously, and he suddenly cheered, "To celebrate Dad and Mom’s wedding, I’ve decided today..."

Before he could finish speaking, Song Wei, who had just walked in, cut him off, "Want to skip class again?"

With his little scheme exposed, Yuanbao pouted, "Can’t I take a day off on such a joyous occasion?"

"If I recall correctly, you didn’t go out at all yesterday."

"But Mr. Yan keeps teaching the same stuff over and over, my ears are about to grow calluses from listening." Yuanbao muttered, though much softer this time, clearly afraid of Song Wei’s stern demeanor.

Song Wei pulled a chair over and sat down, "Alright, since you know the Three Hundred Classics so well, stay home today and transcribe the Analects, I’ll test you tonight."

Yuanbao: "...After a day of not seeing him, I suddenly miss Mr. Yan quite a bit."