Chapter 204: Chapter 190: Persuading Granny Song (Part 1)
With Third Brother’s approval, Song Fang felt completely at ease.
As for her parents, she believed that as long as Third Brother stepped in, he would surely get them to agree.
Thinking that this matter could be settled, Song Fang was surprised to find herself a bit elated.
Though she wasn’t exactly sure what she was elated about.
The dining place was a small restaurant, not far from Xie Zheng’s family.
Originally, according to Song Wei’s suggestion, they were to book a private room at a tavern, but Granny Song and Aunt Xie disagreed, saying that with so many mouths in two families to feed, going to the tavern would mean ordering many dishes and spending a lot of Silver. Eating anywhere decent would suffice; where wouldn’t make a difference.
Song Wei understood that the elders were used to saving and were reluctant to waste Silver Coin, so he didn’t persist and let Xie Zheng choose the location.
The courtyard in the alley was a bit far from Xie Zheng’s place, so Song Wei rented a spacious carriage when they left.
Song Fang eagerly went ahead to open the curtain for her parents; after they boarded, she waited for her brother and sister-in-law to board, and then got on with Yuanbao.
...
Across the street in the alley, a plain and unmarked dark green carriage was parked. Only after the Song Family had all left did the person inside slowly lower the curtain.
It was Princess Changping.
She looked at Prince Consort Lu beside her, with a trace of relief in her voice, "The message from the Hidden Guard was indeed accurate; Wanwan truly has recovered."
Lu Xingzhou clasped her palm, which was covered with a thin layer of sweat from anxiety earlier, "The incident back then wasn’t Ah Yin’s fault. Now that Wanwan is blessed by the heavens and has recovered completely, it is indeed fortunate. You should move on and stop putting so much pressure on yourself."
Wen Wan gave up the chance to recover for her child, something that had always been a knot in the Eldest Princess’s heart.
She always felt that if she hadn’t left suddenly back then, Wanwan wouldn’t have chased after her and fallen into an ice pit, with a fever wreaking havoc on that girl’s life for over a decade. How could a mother not feel guilty or saddened?
Regaining her thoughts, the Eldest Princess smiled at Lu Xingzhou and instructed the coachman to return to the mansion.
——
With five adults and two children seated in one carriage, it was inevitably crowded but also lively.
Someone brought up the topic, which quickly turned to Song Fang.
Granny Song looked at Song Wei, "Third Son, you’ve been in the Capital for so long and should know quite a few people. When you have a chance, help your sister look for a good match. She’s of age now; though I don’t worry about feeding her, I’m afraid of others gossiping."
An eighteen or nineteen-year-old woman unmarried was either taken with someone or had health issues.
In the countryside, Granny Song could rely on relatives to ask around for suitable matches.
Unfortunately, they were in the Capital now, where Granny Song was unfamiliar with people. Even if she wanted to matchmake, she had nowhere to find someone, so it was entirely up to her son.
Upon hearing this, Song Fang silently lowered her head.
Song Wei, however, didn’t mention Xu Shu at all, and instead asked Granny Song, "Do you have any standards for your ideal son-in-law?"
"There is the old standard, and now the new one," Granny Song responded, "Back in the countryside, I just wanted someone reliable and capable of living a good life for Fangniang. Now, my daughter is the sister of a third-place scholar, beautiful and graceful, so the standard must be raised. At least, he should be a scholar."
Song Fang couldn’t help but say, "The Capital is full of scholars; isn’t your requirement basically saying nothing?"
"Do you think everyone is like your Third Brother?" Granny Song retorted. "There are many unreliable scholars; if you can find someone like your Third Brother, would I have to worry every day following you around?"
Song Fang: "... Alright, I guess I’ve figured it out. You just don’t want me to get married."
Granny Song chuckled, "I do hesitate to let you marry, but can you truly bear not marrying?"
Song Fang’s face showed frustration, "There’s no one else like my Third Brother in the world, and now you’re asking me to find someone the same, where am I supposed to go to find such a person for you?"
Besides, someone as mature and steady as Third Brother makes a good older brother, letting her rely on someone occasionally as his sister.
But when it comes to being a husband, forget it; her personality is too restless. She couldn’t be considerate and gentle like her sister-in-law. With such a man, she’d feel oppressed and mismatched, and how would life go on thereafter?
Granny Song asked her, "If you don’t marry someone reliable, what are you looking for? Someone younger than you who’s glib, without any ideas for big or small matters, leaving you to handle everything like a matriarch? Can you tolerate that with your temperament?"
"Oh, you’ve hit the nail on the head," Song Fang suddenly laughed, "You truly are my mother; you know my temper is bad."
Granny Song maintained her stance, "Then you definitely need to find someone steady."
"Mother means finding someone with a good, mature temperament, to better tolerate my own temper, right?"
"Am I wrong?"
"You’re not wrong." At this moment, Song Fang wouldn’t dare contradict her mother, "It’s just that, I feel a bit tired."
"What?"
"Think about it, finding someone like Third Brother, whatever I want to do, wouldn’t I have to be as cautious as a thief?"
Granny Song furrowed her brow, "In front of your sister-in-law, would you dare to call her a thief?"
"Who’s calling names? I’m just making a point, mainly wanting to let you know, I don’t like that kind of thing."
Granny Song was simply at a loss, "Do you think this is like buying cabbage in the street? It’s not up to a girl to pick and choose! Besides, this is the Capital, not our countryside, there are plenty of girls more capable than you in the Capital. If there are such good conditions, why would they choose you instead of someone better?"
"Who says it’s not?" Song Fang counted on her fingers, "A scholar, achieving a bit of success in the Capital, steady and reliable. Tsk, such a good husband, why would he choose your daughter over someone else?"
Granny Song: "..."
The conversation couldn’t go on!
Wen Wan silently glanced at Song Wei beside her, whose expression remained normal, secretly amused.
Every time this mother and daughter get together, there’s always endless amusement.
Old Song, who remained silent, glanced at his wife, who was quite upset, "They say children have their fortune. For Fangniang’s marriage, just let Third Son help with the filtering. Why worry so much? You’ve worried all your life, doesn’t it tire you out?"
"If I, as the mother, don’t worry about my daughter’s lifelong affairs, who else should I rely on? You as the father?"
Rarely did Old Song speak more, "If Fangniang had no thoughts at all, she wouldn’t keep talking back to you."
What’s it called to awaken someone from a dream with a single sentence?
This is it!
Granny Song only then realized that her daughter hadn’t listened to anything she said before.
Isn’t this clearly having someone in mind already?
Once reminded by the old man, Granny Song immediately stared at her daughter over and over, making Song Fang’s scalp tingle.
Before she could speak, Song Fang spoke first: "Father’s right, Third Brother has good taste, just let him help with the selection, once he nods, I’ll marry without a word, why make it so complicated?" As she spoke, she looked at Song Wei, "Third Brother, am I right?"
Facing her mother’s questioning gaze, Song Wei pondered for a moment and slowly spoke: "There’s a good candidate, good family background, clean household. Most importantly, his mother and grandmother quite like Little Sister."
Granny Song continued to ask, "Which family?"
"General Changwei’s Mansion."
Granny Song was taken aback, "General’s Mansion? Can we match that?"
Song Wei grinned, "This could be a marriage that just needs mother’s approval. It’s just that, the young master’s temperament at the General’s Mansion is different from what mother expects."
"How is it different?"
Granny Song always worried about her daughter, but she unconditionally trusted her youngest son. So, hearing Song Wei say the young master at the General’s Mansion differed from her expected son-in-law, she didn’t immediately reject him, wanting to hear Third Son’s view first.
Song Wei replied, "He’s quite a kind-hearted person, values emotions and righteousness. When I first came to the Capital, he helped me quite a bit. Only one thing, he’s like mother, sharp-tongued but soft-hearted."
Granny Song: "???"
She had met many sharp-tongued but soft-hearted women throughout her life, she’s one herself.
But to say a man is sharp-tongued but soft-hearted... What kind of character is this?
She couldn’t help but turn her gaze to her daughter.
Instead of the steady ones, she prefers those who speak harshly and seem annoying?
Song Fang felt awkward under the gaze, "Don’t look at me, anyway Third Brother said, in the whole Capital, you won’t find a household cleaner than theirs. Moreover, I know his mother and grandmother, they’re good people, aren’t you always saying? When choosing a husband, also consider the mother-in-law. The Xu family mother-in-law went through hardships with the General when she was young, is quite reasonable in handling things."
Fearing her mother’s insistence on prior views, Song Fang spoke a few more words for herself, "Think about it, under the Emperor’s feet in wealthy households, which household doesn’t have unseen secrets? Want good family background, skills, and moral character, can you guarantee their household is trouble-free? If his mother is competitive and difficult, wouldn’t I be oppressed after marrying?"
"According to your view, in such a large Capital, can’t find a clear background and decent husband?"
"It’s not that they’re nowhere, just very unlikely. Even if there is, they may not fancy me."
Granny Song looked at Song Fang, then Song Wei, and finally at Old Song with closed eyes appearing as a meditative monk, suddenly she relented, "Alright, since Third Brother has spoken, whatever you say goes, I, this old woman, have no say."
Upon hearing this, Song Fang’s face showed a smile, casting a grateful look towards Song Wei.