Chapter 120: Chapter 119: Entering the Capital
Song Wei and Wen Wan were about to leave, but Yuanbao hadn’t returned yet.
Old Song personally went to the town, asking him to take a leave to see his parents off.
Yuanbao stood at the gate of the town school, remained silent for a while, and then said to Old Song, "I won’t go!"
"You child." Old Song smiled lovingly, "Your father will be gone for a year. Don’t you want to see him one last time?"
"Who cares about him!" Yuanbao snorted, and without waiting for Old Song to say more, turned and went through the gate, clenching his little fist tightly in his sleeve, with stubborn tears shimmering in his eyes.
Old Song sighed and left, driving the ox cart away.
When Song Wei heard from his father that Yuanbao wouldn’t come to see them off, he wasn’t too surprised. He slung the book basket over his shoulder and conveniently took the heavy bundle from Wen Wan’s hands.
Song Fang had never left home before, and now that she was leaving, her heart was filled with mixed emotions. When she reached the gate, she was reluctant and planned to go back and hug her mother.
Song Wei reminded her, "Better not look back."
Before Song Fang could ask why, Granny Song’s voice came gusting like the wind, "Hurry up and leave early, what, thinking of staying for a meal?"
Song Fang: "..."
Well then, her tears had been prepared for nothing.
Glancing at her sister-in-law’s sulky face, Wen Wan couldn’t help but smile.
No wonder her husband asked her to take the things and leave without saying a word to his mother, to avoid any sentimental farewells.
Old Song watched the three walk away into the distance and turned to his wife, "The children are leaving, can’t you say something nice?"
"Can nice words be eaten as food?"
Granny Song still muttered complaints under her breath, but when she turned around, her eyes were red.
Xie Zheng and Xie Tao had mentioned earlier that they would see them off, and the ox cart was parked at the village entrance.
When Song Wei and the others arrived, they found Father Wen was also there.
Seeing her father, Wen Wan, unlike her calm demeanor at the Song family, instantly had red eyes.
"Wan Niang."
As if he hadn’t slept well all night, Father Wen looked a bit weary, and his voice was a little hoarse.
Wen Wan looked up at him, her lips gently pressed together, feeling even more miserable than on her wedding day.
Father Wen’s gentle gaze fell on her reddened eyes, and he reached out to pat her head, "It’s a good thing that Third Son can go to the Capital to study. I heard from your father-in-law that at most, it will be a year before he returns. Let’s not cry, properly serve him, and when Third Son makes his mark on the Imperial College exams, your days will improve."
Wen Wan sniffled, nodded, and held back her tears.
After getting on the Xie family’s ox cart, she waved goodbye to Father Wen.
Xie Zheng had already said what he needed when he gave Song Wei the farewell feast, and today he came just to see him one last time.
Probably due to the sadness of parting, no one spoke on the ox cart for half a day.
Xie Tao found it awkward and broke the silence first, making small talk to lighten the mood.
After escorting them to the county seat, the Xie brothers headed back.
Song Wei and the others followed the caravan to the capital, jolting for over twenty days before arriving in the famously wealthy and prosperous city.
All three of them were visiting the Capital for the first time, unfamiliar with the area, relying solely on asking for directions. They first found an inn, had a hot meal, and then went out to find housing.
Before coming, Wen Wan had already heard from her husband about the high prices in the Capital and was mentally prepared.
Song Fang knew nothing about these matters. She only knew that the courtyard in the alley was not even half the size of the Song family house, yet it cost three hundred taels of silver per set and not a single coin could be bargained down. Even for rent, it would cost several taels of silver each month.
"Isn’t this daylight robbery?" Song Fang felt quite annoyed, looking at Song Wei, "Third Brother, maybe I should take Little Sister-in-law back, and you can stay in the Imperial College. This way, we can save quite a bit of silver. Otherwise, renting this courtyard will make us penniless."
Song Wei laughed and asked, "Don’t you want to stay and see the sights?"
"Forget it!" Song Fang pouted, "Seeing the sights in the Capital costs silver, and it’s not suitable for a country girl like me at all."
Song Wei didn’t argue with her, took another glance at the courtyard which was very close to the Imperial College, and made a decision, telling the owner, "We’re not renting, we’re buying directly."