Chapter 99: Chapter 98: Who Else but Your Own Daughter?
The Zhou family was expelled from the clan, and the Song family finally cleared up.
Granny Song was sleeping in the room, and Wen Wan went to the kitchen to cook.
When Song Fang returned, the courtyard gate had already been opened by Wen Wan. She did not rush in but leaned on the gate, poking her head inside to take a look. She sniffed hard, not smelling the foul odor of manure from yesterday, and felt relieved. She called out to Old Song behind her, "It’s safe now, Dad, let’s go in!"
Old Song reached out and poked her forehead, "You, if your mother knows, she’ll have something to say about it again."
Song Fang had a usual expression, "Let her say what she wants!"
As if afraid of being overheard by her mother, Song Fang covertly covered her mouth with her hand and sidled up to Old Song, whispering, "I’d rather hear mom nag a bit more than be stuck in the yard with a manure jar. Honestly, it was genius of her to come up with this idea."
Old Song had left yesterday at noon to see Uncle Xie about something and hadn’t seen the manure jar Granny Song had set out. He only heard about it from Song Fang, who went to the Xie Family afterward to "take refuge."
Now, looking at the yard, which seemed as clean as if it had been washed with water, the walls freshly whitewashed—without any smell, he smiled kindly at his daughter, "Silly, isn’t it?"
"It can’t be! I distinctly remember..." Song Fang found it hard to believe, the courtyard was abnormally clean, "Hey dad, did we come to the wrong place?"
Song Fang looked around everywhere, confirming it was indeed their home. But how had it gone from stinking to clean overnight?
Hearing voices, Wen Wan wiped her hands and came out, seeing it was her father-in-law and little sister-in-law who had returned. She waved at them, signaling that the meal was ready and to come in and eat.
Song Fang asked her, "Sister-in-law, didn’t mom put a manure jar in the yard yesterday, making the air unbearable, right there?"
As she spoke, she pointed to the edge of the yard wall.
Wen Wan was uncertain whether the little sister-in-law wanted her to confirm or deny it, so she simply stood there with no reaction.
Old Song glared at Song Fang, "All right, all right, spare your third sister-in-law and go wash your hands and eat!"
Song Fang walked over and linked her arm with Wen Wan’s, heading into the kitchen and sitting at the dining table.
Old Song returned to his room and saw Granny Song sleeping soundly. He figured she must have been worn out by the Zhou family business the night before, so he didn’t wake her and instead went to the west room to call Song Wei for dinner.
On the way back, Song Fang saw the Zhou Family people moving things out and had been puzzled. Only when Song Wei came in did she find out they had been expelled from the clan.
"Impressive, third brother, you’re really something," Song Fang gave him a thumbs-up, then said, "When will you do the same to the Wang Family?"
"The Wang Family?"
Song Wei had no idea about Mrs. Wang He coming by to propose a marriage swap.
Song Fang recalled Mrs. Wang He’s arrogant face that day. Her little face fell, and she recounted everything, especially praising her sister-in-law’s calmness and intelligence in handling the situation.
Song Wei smiled at Wen Wan, then looked back at Song Fang, speaking slow and deliberate, "To make the Wang Family give up, there is only one solution."
"What solution?"
Song Wei said, "It’s to settle your engagement early."
"Boring, isn’t it?" Song Fang rolled her eyes, "Do we always have to talk about engagements? I’m still young, right? Mom and dad want to keep me around them for a couple more years. Dad, isn’t that right?"
Old Song couldn’t bear to refuse his daughter’s expectant eyes, but as her father, he had to speak sensibly, "Fangniang is the same age as your third sister-in-law, already seventeen this year, so not so young anymore. If you delay another year or two, you’ll really become an old maid!"
"I’m not old at all!" Song Fang muttered under her breath.
Song Wei put down his chopsticks and said, "The ones introduced before, it wasn’t that you didn’t want to marry, but you didn’t fancy them at all."
"I really didn’t fancy them," Song Fang raised an eyebrow, lifting her chin to meet her brother’s gaze, "What are you going to do about it? Are you going to tie me up and put me on a bridal sedan chair?"
Song Wei nodded, "Okay, I understand now."
"I haven’t even said anything yet, what do you understand?"
After living under the same roof for many years, how could Song Wei not understand his own sister, "A few days ago, I went to the county town and saw County Magistrate Lu. He told me, if I top the county exam again, he’ll recommend and sponsor me to go study at the Capital City Imperial College.
If I really go, your sister-in-law will surely go with me, and then you’ll have a chance to join in the fun."
"Really?" Song Fang was overjoyed, pounding the table in excitement, "Third brother, you have to keep your word, dad and sister-in-law are listening! If you dare to go back on it, I’ll have dad punish you!"
Song Wei smiled, "You can go, but I have a condition."
"Oh my, as long as I can go to the Capital to see the world, I’ll agree to ten conditions, let alone one. Just say it!"
"When the time comes, you must stick close to your sister-in-law and not run around causing trouble for us."
Song Fang beamed, "Why are you my true brother? Such a simple request. Fine, I promise, I won’t cause trouble for you. But then again, I want to go to the Capital, but you have to top the county exam first to have this opportunity, right?"
"That’s right," Old Song interjected, "If your third brother doesn’t pass, then what he said today, you might as well just dream it."
"Oh, dad, can’t you hope for the best?" Song Fang was anxious; her dream was to go to the Capital, and now there was a glimmer of hope. But she hadn’t even had a chance to relish it before her father poured a bucket of cold water over her excitement.
Old Song patted her head, "You little girl, so full of thoughts despite your age."
"Isn’t that so?" Song Fang responded smoothly, "Who let me be your real daughter?"