CHAPTER 304: CHAPTER 273: JINBAO THE GLUTTON

Like the Empress Dowager before him, Song Wei had carefully timed sending word to Wei Qian in Ningzhou.

Thus, when Yan Li reached his one-month anniversary, he received a reply from his father-in-law far away in the Capital.

The letter said that Fanghua had given birth to a son, both mother and child were safe, and the child was named Yan Li.

After reading the letter, Song Wei immediately informed Wen Wan.

Wen Wan was playing with their son in the courtyard.

The one-and-a-half-year-old Jinbao had learned to walk a short distance without support, but due to his poor balance, he would fall after a few steps, and Wen Wan had to keep a close eye on him. Otherwise, the prideful little one would sit on the ground, pouting and refusing to get up when he fell.

Upon hearing a man’s voice, Wen Wan picked up her son and sat him down beside her, took the letter from Song Wei, glanced at it, and then smiled with relief, saying, "It’s a son, after all! The godfather has finally weathered the storm and can see the moonlight." She looked again at the little one’s name, "Yan Li, Lu Yanli, hopefully, he’ll grow up well and not repeat Lu Yanqing’s old mistakes."

Song Wei didn’t comment on this, his gaze turning to Jinbao.

In the cold December days, the little one wore a windproof cotton hat on his head, and his body was wrapped in thick cotton jacket and pants. His little boots were waterproof, and his usually active chubby hands were tucked into his sleeves by his mother to keep them warm.

His entire body was wrapped up like a cotton ball, looking like a soft, round rice dumpling from a distance.

The little one was clumsy; he couldn’t get his hands out, wanted to grab snow but couldn’t reach it, and was so anxious he kept kicking his legs in Wen Wan’s arms.

Noticing her son’s intent, Wen Wan tapped his forehead, "Didn’t get enough of it yesterday?"

The little one looked up at his mother, completely forgetting about how he’d stuffed his face with snow while playing with his brother yesterday and ended up crying from the cold.

He gazed at Wen Wan for a long while, then suddenly lifted his tiny arm, pointing to the white stuff on the ground, and clearly uttered a word, "Snow～"

With his tiny hands tucked in his sleeves, only the chubby arm was visible when he pointed, looking inexplicably adorable, Wen Wan told him, "Good babies can’t play with snow."

Jinbao seemed to understand, responding to his mother, "Brother, brother..."

His little eyes clearly accusing—his brother could play, so why couldn’t he and still be a good baby?

Wen Wan: "..."

Faced with her precocious son, Wen Wan suddenly felt at a loss for words, and in the end could only hand the little one over to the man, letting him explain.

Unlike Wen Wan, Song Wei didn’t prohibit the little one from playing with snow; he sat on a small stool, holding his son with one arm while bending down. With his free hand, he easily pinched a small snowball the size of a fingernail.

Seeing the white ball in his father’s palm, Jinbao opened his mouth with an "ah," indicating he wanted to eat it.

Song Wei brought the snowball closer but didn’t put it in his mouth; instead, he touched it to the little one’s soft lips.

The cold sensation made the little one shiver, his body shrinking back as he shook his head vigorously.

Beside them, Wen Wan laughed outright, "I told you not to touch it, but you insisted. Now you know better, right?"

Jinbao glanced pitifully at his mother, who was enjoying his discomfort.

Afraid he’d start crying, Song Wei took the clay sound ball from the side and shook it twice, the whirring sound quickly diverting the little one’s attention away.

Song Wei then said something softly to his son. Even though the little one couldn’t understand, he still laughed joyfully.

When coaxing their child, Song Wei’s handsome features were covered with an indescribable gentleness.

Perhaps it was because Wen Wan’s social circle was too shallow; she thought back carefully and realized that in all her memories, she had never seen another man with the kind of patience Song Wei had for a child.

Even though she was Jinbao’s biological mother, sometimes when Jinbao was too naughty and caused trouble, she wanted to spank him first without saying a word to teach him a lesson.

However, she would always succumb to Song Wei’s "gentle strategy" in the end.

Whenever Jinbao clung to his father, Wen Wan would question herself, wondering if she wasn’t capable of raising a child properly.

Otherwise, why were the same words ignored when she said them, but when his father spoke, even if Jinbao didn’t understand, he would remember not to touch those things again.

——

The Song family moved to the capital last year, and it’s already been more than a year since.

During this year, Song Wei wrote two letters back home.

No matter what happens in Erlang’s family, Song Wei will never disown his elder brother.

Knowing that his second brother and his wife haven’t studied, Song Wei didn’t write anything profound in his letters, only common greetings.

Being the younger brother, even though Song Erlang couldn’t write himself, he found someone to write back.

The last reply was in September, Song Erlang mentioned in the letter that their family had been managing the fish pond for over a year. Although it wasn’t as profitable as the daily income seen by the Xie family, over the past year, it was much more lucrative than farming, and they planned to rent out most of their fields once the fish pond stabilized to focus more on it, aiming to renovate the house next year.

After learning about the situation, Song Wei didn’t reply and put the letter away.

Originally intending to write back to inquire about the little nieces at the beginning of December, he didn’t expect Song Erlang to proactively send a letter.

On the day the letter arrived in the capital, Song Wei was still at the government office, Wen Wan, resting at home, received it and intended to wait for her husband to return to read it. But her mother-in-law urged her, "There’s nothing secret in Erlang’s family’s letter, you can open it and read it to me."

With her mother-in-law’s words, Wen Wan didn’t hesitate further, deftly opened the envelope and took out the letter paper to read aloud.

Song Erlang first greeted everyone here, and then got to the main topic, saying his wife was pregnant, the first three months weren’t stable enough to announce, but now it’s a little over three months, he thought of somehow informing his parents.

After listening, Granny Song calculated and said, "Erlang’s wife reported her joy only after three months of pregnancy, and this letter took over a month to reach the capital, isn’t it already over four months, nearly five?"

Wen Wan replied that if nothing unexpected happened, it should be this far along.

After listening, Granny Song suddenly sneered, "Luckily the capital is far from home, otherwise I’d have to see your second sister-in-law beating drums and broadcasting this all day long, oh, just thinking about it is embarrassing."

Wen Wan found it amusing, her mother-in-law truly understood Second Sister-in-law’s nature, even accurately guessing her reaction.

Granny Song urged her, "Continue reading, let me see if there’s anything new."

Wen Wan composed herself, her eyes fell on the letter paper, and continued reading to her mother-in-law.

The next topic was about Da Ya.

Da Ya is a year younger than little Song Yuanbao, aside from farm work, she often helps her parents raise fish and shrimp. The girl is diligent, half of today’s success with the fish pond is due to her.

However, according to Song Erlang and his wife’s words, Da Ya is just someone who helps out when free.

This couple loves face, naturally wouldn’t admit their lack of ability and patience, almost causing the fish pond to fail multiple times.

The letter described Da Ya as hardworking, and at eleven years old, people were already interested in her, and Second Lang’s wife thought the boy’s family was good, planning to set the engagement after Da Ya turns twelve next year.

Upon hearing this, Granny Song couldn’t help but curse, "Was Tian Family kicked in the head by a donkey? Setting an engagement at just twelve, is their family so poor or is there something wrong that they want to sell her for money? She thinks the boy’s family is good now and hastily sets the engagement, what if in three years the family’s situation worsens, what then?"

Granny Song, having lived in the capital for a year, was broad-minded and didn’t believe Second Lang’s wife could find a decent husband for Da Ya with her materialistic views, likely choosing someone for their wealth.

Wen Wan didn’t interrupt, only speaking after her mother-in-law had vented, "If you ask me, Second Sister-in-law might have other thoughts."

"What other thoughts?" Granny Song was momentarily confused.

Wen Wan analyzed, "Last time I accompanied my husband to Ningzhou for a case, I visited my family, told my dad and second mom about me studying at Hongwen Academy, by now, Second Sister-in-law must have heard about it.

Think about it, Fangniang married into the General Mansion, and now I am an official’s wife. With Second Sister-in-law’s character, would she willingly watch others live lavishly while marrying her daughter into poverty?"

After Wen Wan’s analysis, Granny Song suddenly understood, "So according to you, the engagement is fake, they actually want to force us to bring Da Ya to the capital?"

Wen Wan nodded, "Second Sister-in-law deliberately said twelve for engagement to make you opposed, your opposition plays right into her hands, she wants you to make the decision.

Our family has already changed status, mother is now the mother-in-law of an official, if we’re fortunate she might even be granted a title, to choose a husband for the granddaughter, would she pick a rural man? No, she would certainly pick from the capital, and that’s exactly what Second Sister-in-law is waiting for."

Granny Song was infuriated yet amused, "Good, that conniving woman, calculated everything down to the in-law’s head, didn’t waste a year of scheming taking over the fish pond."

Then asked Wen Wan, "What do you think about this matter?"

Wen Wan replied, "If Da Ya comes here, I naturally have no objections, the courtyard is spacious and can accommodate another person, but ultimately it depends on father-in-law’s and husband’s decision, if they oppose it, I have nothing to say."