CHAPTER 305: CHAPTER 274: THE SU FAMILY’S DAUGHTER, PINGTING (SECOND UPDATE)

Granny Song murmured in a low voice, "Second Lang’s wife’s abacus is quite the calculation. She can’t rely on herself, wants to use her daughter to gain favor. She hasn’t thought about it, everything in the Capital costs money. Once Da Ya comes, it’s equivalent to leaving you two young ones to take care of her. Originally, it wasn’t impossible, but our family only has Third Son making money..."

Listening to her mother-in-law’s objections, Wen Wan firmly said, "I support letting Da Ya come."

Actually, she had thought about this issue more than once, she just never knew how to bring it up with her husband.

She didn’t like Song Erlang and his wife, but the child shouldn’t be delayed because of that couple.

After all, she is her niece, a member of the Song family. Since there’s an opportunity for Da Ya to marry a city person and change her fate, they can’t just watch her remain in the countryside as a farmer all her life.

"As for the silver coin, mother needn’t worry," Wen Wan said, "Third Son and I will find a way."

Her dowry had never been used, and it was about time to find an opportunity to pawn it.

In the evening when Song Wei returned, Wen Wan said nothing at first but handed Song Erlang’s letter to him to read.

Song Wei read it for a while, and quickly noticed something wrong with Da Ya’s "betrothal" matter, then looked at Wen Wan, "Did Wanwan see something?"

Wen Wan smiled and said, "Whatever my husband sees, I see too."

Song Wei put down the letter, paused for a moment before speaking, "Then what does Wanwan think?"

It seemed, regardless of whether she agreed or not, he respected her decision.

Wen Wan didn’t directly say she agreed to let Da Ya come, but analyzed, "Second Lang’s wife’s motives are a bit selfish, but her original intention is good. Which mother doesn’t plan for her children? She can’t rely on our family herself, and wants her daughter to rely on us for a good marriage. Standing in her shoes, it’s not wrong. Furthermore, I don’t wish for my husband to dislike their family’s child because of Second Brother and his wife, that’s not right."

Song Wei listened quietly, his lips curved into a faint smile.

Seeing this, Wen Wan’s face inexplicably warmed up, feeling a bit unsure, "Did I say something wrong?"

Song Wei looked at her, his deep eyes filled with the satisfaction of "Our family has a wife who is coming into her own."

Though it was not quite appropriate for married-four-years Wen Wan, in this moment, she genuinely felt this was how her husband viewed her.

After a long time, she heard his low, rich voice, "You spoke well, addressing the matter, not the person."

Unexpectedly praised, a sense of pride welled up in Wen Wan’s heart, "So, does my husband agree to let Da Ya come to the Capital?"

Song Wei lightly replied yes.

Wen Wan seized the chance and said, "Should I pawn my jewelry?"

Noticing the faint disapproval in his gaze, she quickly compromised, "Just one piece, one will suffice."

Song Wei asked her, "Are you out of money?"

"No," Wen Wan said lowly, "Just recalling what mother said during the day, everything in the Capital has to be bought, and in our family, it’s only my husband who has earnings. More people mean more spending mouths, I don’t want my husband to be so burdened. Anyways, there are valuable items handy, pawning one should be fine."

Song Wei seemed touched by her consideration, smiled, "Even if something is to be pawned, it won’t be your dowry."

Song Wei had many highly valuable antiques at hand, casually selling one could be worth several times her little pieces of jewelry.

But in doing so, he became the sole breadwinner, while she seemed unable to contribute anything but spend.

Wen Wan’s gaze towards him turned resentful.

As if seeing through her thoughts, Song Wei asked, "Isn’t it right for a man to earn a living and support his family?"

This left Wen Wan speechless, she awkwardly pursed her lips and smiled.

After discussing it with her husband, Wen Wan told her mother-in-law the next day that Third Son had already sent a reply to Ningzhou, and by next year, they’d let Da Ya come to the Capital.

Granny Song wasn’t against her granddaughter’s happiness, she just felt Second Lang’s wife handled this poorly. If you want your daughter to go to Beijing, just say so. Why make up a twelve-year-old betrothal to annoy others?

Wen Wan laughed and said, "It’s already settled, let’s leave it at that, Mother. Don’t be upset. When Da Ya comes, all you see is your granddaughter, not Second Lang’s wife."

Her words had some truth, and Granny Song quieted down after murmuring for a while.

...

Life in the Song family continued peacefully and warmly, not disrupted by the small episode with Da Ya.

But at the Martial Champion Mansion, things turned upside down.

Su Qing was transferred to the border area and hasn’t returned.

Lin Xiaoyue gave birth to a daughter early last month for him, cute as jade and snow, named Su Pingting, with the nickname Ah Nuan.

The daughter’s name was agreed upon by Lin Xiaoyue and her husband in a letter; they didn’t know if it would be a son or daughter at the time, so they each picked one.

Today, the household is hosting a full moon celebration.

Early in the morning, Lin Xiaorou came to Lin Xiaorou’s bedroom.

After being cooped up in the room for a month, Lin Xiaoyue was finally able to go out for some fresh air. She was in high spirits, sitting by the dressing table while a servant girl arranged her hair.

Seeing Lin Xiaorou through the bronze mirror, Lin Xiaoyue reminded her, "Today is my daughter’s full moon celebration. Many people from the main house will come, so you better behave, or else don’t blame me for kicking you out."

Lin Xiaorou found a seat and sat down, unconcerned, "If you send me to the border area, won’t you be more annoyed?"

Lin Xiaoyue stared at the figure in the bronze mirror that treated the Champion Scholar Mansion like her own home, coming and going freely, and suddenly felt a surge of doubt.

Not long after Su Qing left, Lin Xiaorou had clamored to go to the border area to find him, only to be confined for more than half a month and released. Yet, she didn’t go look for him and instead stayed, eating and drinking well.

If she hadn’t heard Lin Xiaorou say it herself, Lin Xiaoyue wouldn’t have seen any sign of her liking Su Qing.

As the atmosphere remained tense, a servant girl outside came to report, "Granny Qi, the grand ladies are here."

Lin Xiaoyue’s eyes flashed with mockery, "Please let them in."

She had given birth to a daughter, not a son. Normally, there’s no reason for these legitimate wives to come all the way for the full moon of a concubine-born daughter. The reason they are giving face is all because among all the Su family members who were suspended, only Su Qing was first reinstated, and upon his return from the border area, he might directly be promoted.

If Su Qing becomes someone the Emperor Guangxi relies upon, it won’t necessarily be a bad thing for the Su family.

In Su Qing’s absence, Su Xiang found it inconvenient to personally handle matters, so they naturally relied on the women.

Lin Xiaoyue instructed the servant girl doing her hair to speed up, standing before the ladies entered.

At the forefront was the Prime Minister’s wife, the Su family’s grand lady.

Following behind were several sisters-in-law, all legitimate wives, none were concubines.

Such a considerable honor was quite clear.

Lin Xiaoyue threw a glance at Lin Xiaorou, hinting for her to leave first, and then looked at the grand lady, smiling, "We didn’t send out invitations, and yet a few sisters-in-law have come a long way. Yue Niang truly feels bad."

Fourth Granny responded with a smile, "Listen to this girl’s words, it’s as if we’re gate-crashers."

"Aren’t we, indeed, gate-crashers?" Second Granny self-deprecatingly said, "Seventh’s household hasn’t even set the table!"

Lin Xiaoyue’s smile slightly faded, "As long as the sisters-in-law don’t mind waiting, I’ll have the kitchen go out to buy groceries."

These words cornered Second Granny’s sarcasm, bluntly telling her that the seventh household really hadn’t prepared any food for them today.

Second Granny, surprised at Lin Xiaoyue’s sudden sharp tongue, looked displeased.

Grand Granny, benevolent as always, said, "Since Mr. Qi is not here, why set a table? We’re just here to take a look at the little girl, and we’ll leave soon."

Saying this, she walked up to the cradle, gently picked up the little girl wrapped in cotton, and kept calling her cute.

During this time, the maidservants from the main house brought in the gifts from the grand ladies, filling up a whole table.

The guests were supposed to be received in the front hall; Lin Xiaoyue hadn’t expected everyone to gather in her bedroom, so she had to have Lin Xiaorou add seats for the few of them.

Lin Xiaorou seemed a bit unwilling, but in the end, under Lin Xiaoyue’s compelling gaze, she brought chairs for everyone.

Fourth Granny glanced at Lin Xiaorou and suddenly said, "I’ve heard this is Seventh Brother’s wife’s family. Did Mr. Qi take her in as a concubine before he left?"

Lin Xiaorou said with an expressionless face, "Granny, please choose your words carefully."

She didn’t know how these women were related to each other, but none of them seemed kind-hearted, and she felt displeased with every one of them.

Fourth Granny smiled, "Old Seventh is a responsible man. If he hadn’t made her a concubine, he wouldn’t have allowed his wife’s sister to stay at his house ruining her reputation." The ridicule in her eyes turned to a smile, "Speaking of which, the tale of sisters serving one husband... I’ve only heard of it until now. It’s quite a sight."

Lin Xiaorou’s face darkened, her fists clenched slightly in her sleeves.

However, Lin Xiaoyue was already accustomed to these women’s nature of fighting wherever they went and appeared calm and unhurried, "Fourth Sister-in-law, these words are for our ears only. Make sure not to let them reach the Empress Dowager, or it might delay the Prime Minister’s reinstatement once again."

Once, along with the Empress Dowager, a legitimate sister was also selected into the palace. However, that sister was frail and didn’t survive many years.

But even so, it cannot erase the fact that the Empress Dowager and her biological sister once served the late Emperor together.

Upon hearing this, Fourth Granny’s face stiffened.