CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 42: SCHEMING THIRD SON (PART 1)

Wen Shun joined the school at the start of spring, and up to now, he only recognizes a few characters. His writing resembles a dog’s scratch, let alone taking exams. It’s already good if he can read the couplet at the entrance of the Xie Family Private School completely.

Mrs. Zhou didn’t expect it to be so difficult to get into the town school. She gritted her teeth but still felt a bit unwilling, turning to Song Wei, "Didn’t Third Son study at the town school before? The private tutor inside surely knows you. With your endorsement, can our Shunzi be exempt from the exam?"

Song Yuanbao, who is a good-for-nothing rascal, managed to get into the town school, so she couldn’t believe her own son couldn’t do it. If Song Wei could pull strings for Song Yuanbao, how could he ignore his brother-in-law?

Wen Wan rolled her eyes dramatically when she heard this.

She didn’t notice it before when she was at her mother’s house, but today she realized that her stepmother was such a shameless person.

It’s been said that the town school doesn’t teach character recognition, but she’s persistent, even thinking that her useless son is a genius, no worse than anyone else. He hasn’t even learned to crawl and already wants to compete in running with others.

The Song family married a wife, but Mrs. Zhou wants to package her natal family along with her, attempting to make Song Wei handle both big and small matters.

Don’t think Wen Wan doesn’t know that whenever Mrs. Zhou is around outsiders, she keeps mentioning "my son-in-law" continuously.

She didn’t see her raise a single daughter, but she’s all affectionate calling for the son-in-law, ordering him around like a firstborn son.

With the conversation going that far, Wen Wan thought Song Wei would refuse, but surprisingly, he agreed right away, "Alright."

Mrs. Zhou was overjoyed, "I knew it, once Third Son takes action, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish."

Song Wei didn’t respond to Mrs. Zhou’s words, and out of politeness, he invited her, "We’ve reached the doorstep, mother-in-law. Come inside for a cup of tea!"

Mrs. Zhou quickly waved her hand, her face beaming with delight, "I won’t go in. I must hurry back to share this good news with Shunzi’s father and Shunzi. Oh right, Third Son, when can Shunzi attend the town school? Please give me a confirmation so I can prepare in advance."

Song Wei: "As long as you’re ready, he can start anytime."

"Good, good, that’s wonderful." Mrs. Zhou was full of joy and quickened her pace towards Lower River Village.

Wen Wan looked at Song Wei, her expression somewhat frustrated.

It was clearly a matter that could be settled in a few words; why did he have to take it upon himself? Has he become addicted to handling her family’s trivial matters?

Song Wei looked at the little girl sulking silently, his gaze softened, and he voluntarily took her hand into his palm, "Come on, let’s go home."

——

Not a few days later, Wen Shun indeed withdrew from the Xie Family Private School and followed Song Wei to the town school.

As Mrs. Zhou said, the private tutor in the town school knew Song Wei well and, out of respect, opened the back door for Wen Shun, exempting him from the entrance exam and allowing him to join classes directly.

A brand new set of the Four Books and the Five Classics would cost about twenty taels of silver, but the set in Wen Shun’s hands was a handwritten copy given to him by Song Wei before coming.

Upon arriving at the town school, he didn’t dare act up. After taking his seat, he opened the book obediently. The teacher started the lecture directly, and his classmates beside him were more diligent and studious than the next, listening and taking notes, writing effortlessly.

When Wen Shun looked at the book in front of him, there wasn’t a single character that looked familiar. After a whole class, nothing stuck in his mind except the expression of "Who am I? Where am I?"

The teacher was very gentle and patted Wen Shun on the shoulder before leaving, praising him for paying attention in class, having a positive attitude.

Wen Shun pulled at his mouth, revealing a somewhat guilty smile.