The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 489 - 456: As You Grow Old, I Will Grow Old With You (Part 2)
Yang was merely helping as entrusted by Wen Wan to go through the motions; she couldn’t control Song Qi. Seeing Song Qi no longer running wild, she stopped asking.
While talking to Yang, Yun Duo quietly raised her eyes to look at Song Qi.
Even though she was a maid brought over from the Song Mansion by Song Jiao and spent days and nights together with Song Qi, having long understood Song Qi’s temperament, this current expression either indicated she was provoked or feeling guilty about something.
Yun Duo felt it was the latter and suddenly became a bit worried about her own lady, whispering to Yang, "Let me go check."
Yang did not stop her and nodded.
After Yun Duo left, with no one else to talk to, Yang turned her attention to Song Qi, "Qi Qi, what’s really going on with you?"
There was still plenty of food on the mat. Song Qi picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a piece of roasted duck meat, and stuffed it in her mouth, avoiding the question, "I’m starving; let me eat something first."
Yang handed her a water pouch, "Eat slowly, here, take a sip of water."
Song Qi took the water pouch, gulping half of it to finally calm her restless emotions. Facing Yang again, she no longer felt guilty, deliberately steering the conversation toward Song Jiao, "Auntie, if my sister and Mr. Liang fancy each other, does that mean the marriage is set?"
Rarely, she was obedient, and Yang was pleased to chat with her, "Whether the marriage can be set still depends on if their family will follow up by inviting a matchmaker over to talk about marriage; otherwise, without matchmaking words, all talk is futile."
Song Qi uttered an "oh," then asked Yang, "If they truly get engaged, will my sister’s dowry be provided by my third uncle and aunt?"
"This..." Yang found it difficult, "I’m just an outsider; how would I know the matters of your two families? As for the dowry, instead of asking me, you may as well go back and ask your parents."
...
To prevent worrying the elders, Liang Jun didn’t take Song Jiao very far. The two just chatted briefly and started to return, meeting Yun Duo, who was searching for them midway, and the three returned together.
Safely delivering Song Jiao back to Yang’s side, Liang Jun politely greeted and then left.
Song Qi watched him walk away into the distance, pulled back her gaze, and swept her eye over to Song Jiao, seeing her in seemingly good spirits. She pouted, "Big sister couldn’t possibly be fancying that man named Liang, could she?"
Song Jiao didn’t want to listen to her, but in Yang’s presence, she didn’t tear her face, simply responding calmly, "Third uncle’s judgment can’t be wrong; I trust third uncle."
Song Qi naturally dared not question the third uncle’s judgment and, fearing Song Jiao would latch onto that, forcibly changed the topic, "What did you two talk about?"
Song Jiao pressed her lips together and remained silent.
At this moment, Yang suddenly said, "The sky doesn’t look quite right; it seems it might rain shortly. We better head back, lest we catch a cold from the rain."
Detecting her auntie’s assistance in defusing the situation, Song Jiao gratefully glanced at her, then helped pack up the items and directly returned to the Song Mansion.
Wen Wan, having spent the whole morning fertilizing the flowers with the little one, noticed the change in the sky and wondered if those who went out for a spring outing might get rained on when she heard from the gatekeeper that they had returned.
Wen Wan washed her hands in her room, stepped out to meet Yang and the sisters Song Jiao and Song Qi, and smiled as she led them inside. Once seated, she asked Song Jiao, "Did you see Mr. Liang?"
Song Jiao lowered her head slightly, "Yes, I did."
"How was your conversation?"
Song Jiao said, "Mr. Liang behaves with uprightness and is a rarely seen gentleman."
This meant they got along quite well.
Wen Wan felt satisfied, "The top three candidates who passed the exam last year all have families. Among the remaining Advanced Scholars, Mr. Liang is the most sought-after. In fact, before you, he was courted, but an unexpected incident occurred midway, so it didn’t work out."
"Mr. Liang mentioned this matter as soon as we met." Facing her aunt, Song Jiao dared not conceal anything.
"Oh?" Wen Wan felt surprised.
Song Jiao clasped her hands on her lap, showing some shyness and nervousness, "He was afraid I might mind if I found out later, so he told me beforehand that he was once arranged to meet another lady before me."
This move by Liang Jun achieved utmost honesty and transparency.
Wen Wan now viewed him differently.
No wonder her husband would say Liang Jun is sincere and trustworthy.
It turns out her husband’s words were true.
Otherwise, if it were other men, at least 80% would choose to hide it.
Yang said, "From what we’ve heard, Mr. Liang indeed seems excellent."
Wen Wan didn’t rush to a conclusion, looking at her niece, "Jiaojiao, what about your own opinion?"
In front of so many people, Song Jiao was too embarrassed to speak too bluntly. Blushing, she said, "He’s quite nice. As for the rest, it’s all up to the arrangement of Third Uncle and Third Aunt."
With a slight withdrawal of her smile, Wen Wan said, "No matter whether you two eventually work out or not, there’s something I need to say upfront. Although Liang Jun was chosen for you by your Third Uncle, we haven’t made it a completely arranged marriage. You’ve had the chance to meet and understand each other. If you truly decide to be with him, it’ll be a joy if things go well in the future. If things don’t go well, you can’t blame your Third Uncle."
"I understand." Song Jiao nodded.
She was no longer a child and wouldn’t make unreasonable demands.
With this clearly stated, Wen Wan’s expression softened slightly.
Song Qi had been absent-minded since she came back. When the adults were talking, she didn’t suddenly interrupt anymore. Noticing something was off, Wen Wan asked her if she was feeling unwell.
Afraid of revealing a flaw, Song Qi went along with Wen Wan’s suggestion and said it was probably the weather changing, which made her catch a cold.
Wen Wan asked Yun Cai to go to the kitchen and make her a bowl of ginger soup.
Song Qi didn’t refuse and drank it in a convincingly proper manner.
They hadn’t sat for long when it started to rain outside.
The rain stopped by the afternoon, and Wen Wan arranged for someone to send them back home.
Turning back, she saw Jinbao puffing angrily on a round stool. Wen Wan looked at him with a smile, "What’s the matter?"
Jinbao’s glance was filled with resentment, "Why did Mother let Second Sister into our house?"
Wen Wan pinched his bun-like face, "Oh, the little one knows how to hold grudges now?"
"Jinbao doesn’t like Second Sister." He pursed his little lips, a "so mad" expression written all over his face.
Patiently, Wen Wan explained, "Second Sister didn’t do anything wrong today. If Mother kicked her out without reason, then it would be my fault, understand?"
"Don’t understand, don’t understand." Jinbao covered his little ears, refusing to listen to the reasoning.
Wen Wan pulled his hands away from covering his ears, "No misbehaving, otherwise you won’t be Mother’s little treasure anymore."
Hearing this, Jinbao looked at her with aggrieved eyes.
...
Song Jiao had a good impression of Liang Jun. Wen Wan mentioned this to Song Wei when he returned and asked him to subtly find out Liang Jun’s attitude towards Song Jiao.
"There’s no need to find out." Song Wei said, "Liang Jun came to the Divine Soldier Bureau to see me as soon as he returned to the city and told me what happened during the day."
"What did he tell you?" Wen Wan’s curiosity was piqued.
"Liang Jun said that he clicks well with Song Jiao. If there’s no objection from our side, he’ll pick a date to send a matchmaker to propose."
"So soon?"
Song Wei looked at her with a smile, "Many court officials can’t wait to have him as a son-in-law right now, and you find this fast?"
"That’s true." Wen Wan changed her attitude, "A good son-in-law is hard to come by. Since they are interested, there’s no need for us to play hard to get. Besides, since Jiaojiao herself is quite fond of Mr. Liang, let’s just proceed this way. Once their family sends someone over to finalize the engagement, we can discuss the details."
At this point, Wen Wan thought of Song Jiao’s dowry, "Since Jiaojiao is marrying into the Liang Family under your name, shouldn’t we give her a bit more dowry?"
As for matters of the inner household, Song Wei generally didn’t interfere and entrusted them to Wen Wan, "The financial authority is in Wanwan’s hands anyhow. Add whatever you wish."
Wen Wan smiled with pursed lips, "Aren’t you afraid I’ll squander all the hard-earned silver coins you’ve worked for?"
Song Wei met her playful gaze, "You’ve been spending for so many years and haven’t run out yet. It seems you’re not trying hard enough."
Wen Wan’s smile grew sweeter as she tilted her head, leaning on his shoulder, "Time really flies. When I first married you, Jiaojiao was still a little country girl, thin and sallow, drooling every day, dreaming of eating meat. In the blink of an eye, she’s almost of marriageable age."
Song Wei tilted his head, looking at his young wife warmly, "Do you think I’m old?"
Wen Wan was a bit surprised by his sudden question but could sense his subtle concern about age from his gentle tone.
Her head still rested on Song Wei’s shoulder as she lifted her eyes to look at him. From his clean-shaven chin to his slightly curved lips, up to his high, straight nose and deep-set eyes.
A man in his thirties is in the prime of his life. Despite the merciless passage of time, she saw nothing but depth and steadiness, not a hint of age on him.
Perhaps at the very beginning, he wasn’t her ideal husband. But as time went on, his face, his name, he himself became the only one she wanted to spend her life with.
Knowing he was waiting for her answer, Wen Wan met his gaze and slowly said, "If you grow old, I will grow old with you. Heaven is always fair; I won’t stay young forever."
