CHAPTER 372: CHAPTER 340: LIVING WELL AS A FAMILY

Second Lang’s wife suddenly fell silent, not because she was persuaded by Er Ya’s reckless youthful words, but because she had deeply felt during the journey to Beijing that this girl’s heart was filled with resentment. At times like this, apart from going along with her wishes, saying anything else would completely fall on deaf ears.

Unlike his wife’s indifference, Song Erlang frowned directly, "This time our family was destroyed by the natural disaster, if it weren’t for your third uncle and third aunt, do you think you would be sitting in a carriage heading to Beijing now?"

Er Ya was indifferent, "Mom and Dad worked hard to raise a daughter for eleven years, only to give her away to the third family void of any return. Now that our family is in trouble, isn’t it right and proper for the third family to help out with money and effort? Why should I be grateful to them? They didn’t provide me with luxurious clothing and food to raise me into a pampered princess, it’s Da Ya who should be grateful to them!"

Song Erlang’s face was grim, "How can you, at such a young age, say such heartless words?"

"Even if I have a conscience, it will never be for the third family." Er Ya’s voice grew louder and louder, deliberately intending to be heard by those in the carriage ahead, "At the time I cried countless times, shedding endless tears, begging you to let me go to Beijing, but you refused. Now look, the daughter has become someone else’s. Just a moment ago, standing at the city gate, did she call you and glance at you willingly? She’s now a distinguished lady, holding a high status, eager to not recognize us country folk.

It’s clear how much of that woman’s enchanting potion was fed to eldest sister over the past year. Only you think the third family has a gentle and amiable nature. In fact, she’s just like her early-deceased mother Mrs. Lu... Ah—"

Before Er Ya finished speaking, she was slapped loudly by her mother.

"Where did you learn to say such things?" Second Lang’s wife spat fire from her eyes.

If it weren’t for the disaster this time, she wouldn’t have known that the daughter she painstakingly raised turned out to be so selfish and self-serving.

Listen to those words, are they something an eleven or twelve-year-old girl would say?

Previously in Ningzhou, she was questioned by her birth mother about why it was Sanyang who went missing and not her, and now she’s been mercilessly slapped across the face.

The rebellious girl had hatred flash in her eyes, covering her red and swollen cheek, remaining silent.

Normally, when the wife scolded or even physically disciplined the daughter, Song Erlang wouldn’t fail to offer a few words of persuasion, but today he uncharacteristically remained silent.

The reason why Da Ya went to the Capital, the couple knew better than anyone. It wasn’t at all like what Er Ya had said.

Moreover, back then, it was they who insisted on a family separation with Third Brother. Now, with nowhere else to turn, it was still Third Brother willing to lend a helping hand. If it weren’t for Third Brother’s people arriving in time that day, Er Ya wouldn’t have survived, and they wouldn’t know how much longer they could hold out.

Er Ya, as a junior, had already been outrageously disrespectful to her elders, let alone the fact that they were lifesavers.

...

In contrast to the stalemate in Song Erlang’s carriage, the atmosphere was much livelier in the carriage ahead.

Song Jiao was playing cat’s cradle with Jinbao, the little guy really liked this game.

Wen Wan asked her, "Earlier at the city gate, what was the matter with you and Er Ya?"

Song Jiao lowered her eyes, "Nothing much, maybe it’s been too long since we’ve seen each other, and we’ve become a bit estranged."

Seeing through the little girl’s lie, Wen Wan didn’t push her, but instead shifted the conversation.

Song Jiao seemed to think of something, looking at Wen Wan again, "Third Aunt, I don’t think I’ve seen Sanyang, didn’t she come?"

The letter from Wei Qian said that the girl was still missing to this day.

As for the matter of Sanyang, Wen Wan didn’t want Song Jiao to hear it from her, and simply said, "Perhaps she just fell asleep in the carriage and didn’t get down. When we get home, ask your parents."

"Okay."

Although she had a bit of an unpleasant encounter with her younger sister, the thought of the family being able to reunite from now on made Song Jiao’s heart warm. She quickly brushed away the little bit of unpleasantness in her heart, with a soft smile on her face and bright eyes filled with hope for the future.

——

The two carriages stopped consecutively in front of the Song Mansion’s gate.

Yun Cai had long led a group of servants to wait outside, and upon seeing Wen Wan, respectfully called out, "Madam."

Following Wen Wan’s instructions, she brought a stool to the side of Song Erlang’s carriage, inviting Second Master and Second Madam to get off.

Just as Song Erlang and his wife set foot on the ground, they were awestruck by the vermilion gate and the two grand stone lions at the door, remaining unresponsive for quite a while.

"Dad, Mom." Song Jiao quickly approached, smiling cheerfully at her mother, then extended her hands, "Let me hold Duobao for a while!"

Earlier at the city gate, it was too rushed for Second Lang’s wife to take a good look at what her daughter had become after over a year in Beijing. Now seeing her grow into an elegant young lady, she couldn’t help but smile as she passed Duobao over, "Oh my, is this really my daughter?"

Song Jiao spun around in place holding her brother, "Take a good look, Mom, in what way don’t I look like your daughter?"

Second Lang’s wife had initially schemed to send her eldest daughter to the Capital in hopes of transforming her, so she could one day become someone of high status. Seeing the graceful and dignified aura of a noble lady emanating from her now, she was naturally satisfied. Sharing a glance with Song Erlang and nodding, "Yes, she is my daughter."

As soon as she finished speaking, she heard Er Ya coldly snort nearby.

Song Jiao turned towards the sound and saw her sister’s half-swollen cheek with a clear palm print. Without needing to think about it, she knew what had happened in the carriage before. The smile faded from her face, and she asked her mother what had happened.

The Second Lang’s wife was happily anticipating her eldest daughter’s transformation when suddenly she heard her asking about Er Ya. Her face immediately soured, instructing her not to bother, saying Er Ya was just idling and making a fuss over nothing.

With so many servants around, Song Jiao couldn’t say much more and ushered her parents into the mansion.

Song Erlang’s eyes stayed fixed on the plaque above the Song Mansion’s grand entrance, continuously expressing admiration, "Third Son has indeed made a name for himself. In just a few short years in the capital, he’s acquired such a grand estate."

Wen Wan noticed the red mark on Er Ya’s face, quickly averted her gaze, pretended not to notice, and led the group inside.

During the time, Song Jiao asked her parents, where’s Sanyang, why haven’t I seen her?

The Second Lang’s wife’s face turned gloomy and after a long while finally said, "Sanyang is missing."

"What?" Song Jiao was so startled that she almost dropped Song Duobao.

"On the night of the earthquake, the situation was really too dangerous. So many people were fleeing for their lives all at once, and it was nighttime, the scene was too chaotic, she just got separated from us."

The more Song Jiao listened, the more confused she became, "Mother, what exactly are you talking about, what earthquake, what escape, I don’t understand a word of it?"

"You... you didn’t know?" The Second Lang’s wife looked at her in astonishment.

"If I knew, would I be asking you?"

Leading the way, Wen Wan paused upon hearing their conversation, turned around, and said to Song Jiao slowly, "Actually, we received news even before the New Year. In order not to upset you, your Third Uncle and I decided to keep it from you temporarily after discussing it, and secretly arranged for people to bring your parents to reunite with you."

After speaking, Wen Wan asked her, "You won’t blame me, will you, niece?"

Song Jiao shook her head, "I know Third Uncle and Third Aunt are doing it for my own good, I just feel sorry for Sanyang. She’s only six this year, so young. Where could she have fled to, could she already be..."

"Your Third Uncle has already arranged for people to search diligently." Wen Wan interrupted her unfinished words, "In any case, alive we need to see the person, dead we need to see the body. For now, no news is actually good news."

With Wen Wan’s comforting words, Song Jiao’s troubled emotions slowly eased.

Granny Song often said, be influenced by those around you. Song Jiao is an example.

In the time with her birth parents, she did not receive good education nor the conditions to grow, so naturally, some of her views were extreme and narrow.

Being around Song Wei and his wife for a year, influenced by ears and eyes, Song Jiao gradually changed her bad habits, becoming a bit more calm and collected with people and matters than before.

...

The empty courtyard prepared for the Second House had been tidied up, so Wen Wan didn’t have anyone arrange guest rooms, directly leading them to the courtyard.

Upon entering and seeing the tasteful décor inside, an air of prosperity hit them in the face, Song Erlang and his wife were again stunned.

From the moment they entered the main gate till now, the shock seemed never-ending.

The Second Lang’s wife never expected Wen Wan would arrange such a good courtyard for them, her eyes showing gratitude, "Really troubling Third Sister-in-law, my husband and I truly feel apologetic."

Wen Wan smiled, "I’m no longer going to the Hongwen Academy, idle is idle, just treated it as killing time. It was arranged in just a few days, Second Sister-in-law please check carefully, if there is anything you’re unsatisfied with, just let me know, and I’ll have someone change it."

"I’m satisfied, already very satisfied." Compared to the snow-through-wind disaster shelters, this courtyard was simply a palace of gold and silver, how could there be dissatisfaction?

Looking at the Second Lang’s wife, Wen Wan could feel politeness from her response, unlike her previous sharpness and bitterness.

Wen Wan thought, those who have had a brush with Yama Hall are indeed different.

This natural disaster perhaps made Second Sister-in-law finally realize—nothing is more important than being alive.

In the face of life and death, one thought can lead to heaven, and another to hell; this probably speaks of people like them.

Thankfully, Second Sister-in-law chose the former.

"Hot water has been heated in the bathhouse," Wen Wan said, "Later, take a hot bath first to change clothes, and I will then bring you to Rong’an Hall to meet father and mother." She also mentioned there was a set of new clothes prepared for them, just unsure if they would fit.

Since birth, Song Erlang had never been served like this; now seeing everything arranged by Wen Wan for them as a couple, he increasingly felt embarrassed.

The Second Lang’s wife asked Song Jiao to place Song Duobao on the bed in the inner room to sleep. She hesitated for a moment but finally spoke up, "Third Sister-in-law, I didn’t say things nicely before back at home, nor acted well, I hope you don’t mind. From now on, let’s all live together harmoniously as a family."

These words were clearly an intention to make amends.

In hindsight, the Second House had long since had nothing, now everything they ate and where they lived were provided by the Third House. Unless the Second House insisted on splitting, there was no reason for disagreement.

However, such a big matter couldn’t be decided by Wen Wan, a young woman, alone. They probably needed to ask her mother-in-law’s opinion as well.

"What happened in the past, let the earthquake and snow cover it up, shall we?" Wen Wan said tactfully, "If I still minded those, I wouldn’t have agreed to have people arranged by Third Son to fetch you from home."