The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 496 - 463: Does What Kind of Man I Am Really Matter?
After changing clothes, Song Wei went to Rong’an Hall.
Second Lang’s wife had just finished feeding porridge to her mother-in-law. Upon seeing Song Wei at the door, she greeted him with a smile.
Song Wei responded lightly and asked if Granny Song was feeling any better.
Second Lang’s wife hesitated and said, "She seems about the same as when I was here earlier today."
In fact, her condition was more severe than during the day.
Earlier, when feeding her porridge, she would cough for a long time after each bite, making it uncomfortable for the one eating and exhausting for the one serving.
Song Wei did not linger outside and went straight to the inner room.
"Mother."
Hearing her son’s voice from behind the curtains, Granny Song deliberately covered her mouth with her hand to stifle her cough.
After suppressing her cough, Granny Song asked, "Erlang, you’ve returned so early today?"
Song Wei didn’t mention that he had come home early on purpose. "There was nothing for me at the government office today." He then asked if she was feeling any discomfort besides the cough.
Granny Song said she was fine and that she had improved.
Hearing this, Song Wei remained silent for a moment. "Tomorrow, I’ll find a way to bring someone from the Imperial Hospital to see you."
Granny Song had heard that ordinary officials did not have the privilege to call for an Imperial Physician. Even if Erlang was favored by the Emperor, an exception would require multiple approvals, which might not be granted.
Knowing how busy her son has been recently, Granny Song shook her head vigorously. "Erlang, no need to trouble yourself, mother is fine, really she is... cough... cough, cough, cough..."
Before she could finish speaking, she began coughing again, each cough bringing pain to her chest.
Even through the curtains, Song Wei could tell that his mother wasn’t well.
But right now, he couldn’t do anything.
...
Upon leaving the room, Second Lang’s wife was still outside.
Song Wei approached her, "Wanwan isn’t able to tend to the illness. During this period, I’ll have to trouble you, Second Sister-in-law, to put in some extra effort."
"It’s expected."
Second Lang’s wife said, "Third Sister-in-law mentioned it’s been two or three days already. Would it be worth considering another doctor?"
The elderly cannot endure as much as the young. Her cold has come on strongly, and if it gets worse, no one would know how to handle it.
"I’ll do my best," Song Wei replied with three words.
Doctor Li’s medical skills were rare in the Capital. To find someone more skilled would only be possible at the Imperial Hospital, and Song Wei wasn’t sure if he’d be able to get an Imperial Physician.
...
Song Erlang packed up and went home, finding no one there. He figured his wife might have gone to the third branch, so he bought some things, hired a carriage, and followed. Upon arrival, he learned that his mother was seriously ill.
Seizing the moment when Granny Song felt slightly better after her second dose of medicine, the whole family went to see her after dinner.
Granny Song had a sharp tongue, but truthfully, seeing her children and grandchildren together when she was gravely ill made her happy.
Song Jiao chatted with her for a while, and Granny Song remembered that the girl was recently discussing marriage and asked if it was successful.
The Liang Family hadn’t proposed yet, so Song Jiao wasn’t sure if it was a success and looked towards her mother.
Second Lang’s wife took over the conversation, "You’re coughing and can hardly breathe, yet you still have the energy to worry about others?"
Granny Song glared at her, "Jiaojiao is my granddaughter, not yours. If you don’t care about her, this old woman does."
Hearing the curiosity in her mother-in-law’s words, Second Lang’s wife had to truthfully say, "Mr. Liang has a good impression of Jiaojiao. If nothing goes wrong, the Liang Family should be choosing a date for the proposal. If you want to know more, you better get well soon. When the time comes, not only the engagement, but even the wedding, you will have a part in it."
Seeing her grandmother’s lips curl into a smile, Song Jiao gently patted her hand.
Clearly, the elder felt comforted by this.
Song Jiao quickly added to her mother’s words, "Yes, grandmother, you need to recover quickly. When I get married, I still have to kneel before you."
Granny Song suddenly laughed, "Your mother has already said it, I am a bane that will live a thousand years. Don’t worry, this old woman isn’t dying any time soon, just a bit seriously ill."
Hearing this, Song Erlang frowned and quietly reprimanded his wife, "You’re always idle, carelessly running your mouth?"
Second Lang’s wife had intended to provoke her mother-in-law. Now being scolded by her husband, she had nothing to say.
Granny Song waved her hand, "Everyone out, there are too many people, it’s noisy, let me catch my breath."
Second Lang’s wife gathered the two daughters, took the son, and left the room with her husband.
Song Erlang still needed to take care of his business, so he couldn’t stay at Song Mansion. After visiting his birth mother, he said goodbye.
Second Lang’s wife, having tended all day, was a bit tired. While bathing her son and planning to sleep early in order to get up and make porridge for her mother-in-law the next day.
Song Qi was still in Wen Wan’s room.
Although she had already mentioned it to her Third Aunt during the day, fearing that her sincerity wasn’t enough and her Third Uncle wouldn’t agree, she was now kneeling in front of Song Wei, begging for a spot.
Song Wei looked at the little girl, "The official enrollment at Hongwen Academy is after the Mid-Autumn Festival. Sending you now isn’t out of the question, but I worry you haven’t learned enough characters and might not keep up. Here’s the deal: wait at home for six months. First, you’ll have more time to learn characters; second, your sister’s wedding is approaching, and they might not have as much energy. You need to help your parents take care of Duobao, understood?"
Song Qi nodded solemnly, "Thank you, Third Uncle, I understand."
...
After Song Qi left, Wen Wan asked Song Wei, "How do you know Jiaojiao’s wedding is approaching?"
It wasn’t hard to guess; since Song Wei and Liang Jun were close, if the Liang Family were selecting a date, he’d surely know right away.
Nevertheless, Wen Wan wanted to hear him say it directly.
Song Wei’s lips curled into a teasing smile, "I foresaw it."
Wen Wan wanted to roll her eyes, "If Mr. Song were clairvoyant in matters of marriage, would you be twenty-seven and still unmarried?"
Song Wei smiled, "How do you know I wasn’t waiting for you?"
The words made Wen Wan’s heart race suddenly, "Waiting, waiting for me? What do you mean?"
Song Wei didn’t answer, merely found amusement in her bewildered expression.
Wen Wan tried recalling.
In those days, what seemed merely coincidental now felt like traps when looking back years later.
No wonder she never understood how Song Wei could interpret her sign language.
Looking at him again, Wen Wan felt both embarrassed and bashful, "Did you deliberately have Yuanbao approach me?"
Otherwise, where else would he have learned sign language? Their family didn’t have anyone who couldn’t speak.
Song Wei neither agreed nor disagreed, the smile at his eyes deepened.
Wen Wan, realizing her voluntary offer for him to marry her had been a trap, felt so embarrassed she wished to disappear, "Truly cunning."
All these years, she hadn’t noticed at all.
Or rather, it wasn’t a lack of chance to notice, but she had subconsciously categorized Song Wei as an honest and upright gentleman. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦
Now that the gentleman had revealed his sly side, she found it hard to accept.
Wen Wan didn’t ask when he had set his sights on her, only said, "So, you clearly wanted to marry me, why didn’t you propose sooner? Why wait until I came to you with the suggestion; it’s like I walked into your trap."
Song Wei chuckled, "I had the marriage proposal ready. When someone falls into your arms, you wonder, why not marry her?"
Wen Wan was baffled, wondering if she had ever truly believed he was an upright gentleman in the past.
Not wanting to give him the satisfaction, Wen Wan muttered under her breath, "Even using your wiles on a young girl, doesn’t it trouble your conscience?"
"A little troublemaker like you," Song Wei noted her past habit of mischief when she had a bad feeling, "if I don’t marry you, you’ll only go and make trouble for others."
Hearing this hint at her antics in past years to find ways to trip people up, Wen Wan flushed further, "So you mean that by marrying me, you’ve achieved a great act of saving the community?"
"Possibly." Song Wei laughed, having already lured her years ago. Words that come out of his mouth, how many can be true?
Thinking this, Wen Wan looked up, locking eyes with the man’s smiling ones, huffing lightly, "From today onwards, Mr. Song’s image in my heart has totally collapsed."
Song Wei asked her, "Who I was in your mind, was that as important? Either way, I’m your husband. In life, you’ll stick with me through thick and thin. You might even foolishly ask me to marry you yourself one day."
