The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity

Chapter 332 - 301: Wanwan’s First Time as a Persuader (3rd Update)

Song Wei’s words made Wen Wan attentive, and she found an opportunity to specially take Jinbao to visit the Xie Family next door.

Xie Tao and his wife were away on a business trip, Xie Zheng had gone to the Hanlin Academy, leaving Aunt Xie and Uncle Xie with a few grandchildren and Yang at home.

Upon seeing Wen Wan, Yang warmly welcomed her into her room, personally brewed hot tea, and gave Jinbao some Dragon Beard Candy.

Wen Wan placed the little one on the circle chair by the table, letting him eat the candy by himself, then spoke with Yang, "Xie Zheng went to the Hanlin Academy?"

Yang said, "Today is not a resting day, he left early in the morning."

Wen Wan asked again, "Has he been busy lately?"

Yang did not hurry to answer, but instead looked at Wen Wan, "Does Third Sister-in-law have any business?"

Wen Wan spoke slowly, "Our family is about to move, we will definitely have to host a banquet, I wonder if he has the time to come."

Yang said, "I don’t know if he will have time, he has been coming back quite late recently, when I asked him, he said there were things at the government office that delayed him."

Wen Wan nodded thoughtfully, "Then we will see, if by chance Xie Zheng is not there, we will have to wait for another day to have Third Son invite him for a drink."

Moving past the topic of Xie Zheng, Wen Wan inquired about the injury of Xie Tao’s family kid.

Speaking of this matter, Yang’s complexion darkened slightly, "On the day of the incident, a doctor was promptly called to bandage the wound, some blood was lost, but the doctor said it was not too serious, as long as he rests peacefully and changes the medication frequently, he will recover in no time. But unexpectedly, the second sister-in-law is not willing to let it go, I compensated and apologized, but nothing works."

Hearing Yang’s words, Wen Wan understood most of it.

Actually, Xie Tao’s wife has been wanting to split the family for some time, previously in the countryside, she was always under her mother-in-law’s thumb, back then the family income was low indeed, and both households needed each other’s support to maintain a living.

Now, Xie Zheng has passed the Advanced Scholar exam and became a scholar, before being officially appointed, he doesn’t have any salary; meanwhile, Xie Tao and his wife had a successful business year with considerable profits.

However, since the Xie Family hasn’t split, it means a significant portion of the money earned by the couple is handed over to the main family for the mother-in-law to distribute.

Xie Tao’s wife, who naturally cares for money, witnessed the substantial amounts spent on Xie Zheng’s studies over the years, now that he is an official, there are no visible benefits, yet they continue to contribute even more.

In the past two years, it equates to the fact that Xie Tao and his wife had to support the entire family with their business income.

Given Xie Tao’s wife’s nature, can someone be willing to continue like this? It’s no surprise she proposed to split the family!

Wen Wan regained her thoughts and asked Yang, "Did Aunt say anything?"

Initially, she wanted to inquire if Aunt Xie had mentioned buying a house, but she hesitated, thinking if Aunt Xie hadn’t disclosed it, it’d be troublesome for her to bring it up prematurely, thus she altered her words last minute.

Yang recalled, "Mother-in-law doesn’t wish for us to split the family, she did speak at length to the second sister-in-law, but unfortunately, the second sister-in-law didn’t heed it."

Yang spoke, glanced at Wen Wan, seemed to think of something, hesitated for a moment, then said, "Why not, Third Sister-in-law help me persuade her?"

"Me?" Wen Wan hadn’t thought of getting involved, it’s not about indifference, but it’s someone else’s family matters, she as an outsider can’t presume to determine right or wrong.

Furthermore, from Xie Tao’s wife’s perspective, it’s understandable to propose splitting the family; if she persuades, it’s akin to urging Xie Tao’s wife to contribute more money to support the main family.

Who would be willing to do that?

Wen Wan felt troubled, but Yang had no intention of retracting her words, so she could only smile awkwardly, "I will try my best, but if persuasion fails, please don’t blame me."

Seeing Wen Wan nod, Yang seemed relieved as if seeing a savior, her complexion eased considerably.

Waiting to persuade Xie Tao’s wife, Wen Wan didn’t leave, chatted with Yang a bit, and then went to sit in the main hall with Aunt Xie for a while.

Xie Tao and his wife returned, it was already dusk.

Seeing Wen Wan there, Xie Tao’s wife’s initially unpleasant demeanor quickly turned friendly, smiling broadly, "Why did Third Sister-in-law come? Have you had dinner?"

Wen Wan said she would eat at home, but there were a few words she wanted to discuss privately with her.

Xie Tao’s wife was washing her hands, upon hearing this, she turned to glance at Wen Wan, and seeing Wen Wan wasn’t joking, she asked Xie Tao to step out, "Whatever Third Sister-in-law wants to say, feel free to speak."

Wen Wan said, "You know about Da Ya coming to our house, right?"

Xie Tao’s wife apparently didn’t expect her to bring up the matter of Da Ya at Song Erlang’s house, was momentarily stunned, then nodded, "If I remember correctly, that girl has been there for almost two months."

"Do you think she’s changed a lot?" Wen Wan asked again.

"She has indeed changed a lot." Xie Tao’s wife spoke of Song Jiao with some amusement, "When she first came, her skin was sallow and she was just a country bumpkin. In just two months, she’s been completely transformed. If she went back now, her own parents might not recognize her."

Wen Wan nodded, "Back then, Second Sister did everything she could to bring Da Ya to the Capital, with the aim of finding her a good family to marry into and lead a comfortable life."

Xie Tao’s wife didn’t know why Wen Wan specifically came to tell her this, but since Third Sister-in-law rarely visited, she was happy to chat a bit.

Hearing Wen Wan’s words, Xie Tao’s wife agreed, "Who wouldn’t say so? With Third Brother being so capable, raising Da Ya in your family, when she reaches marriageable age, there would be countless young gentlemen lining up to court her!"

Wen Wan smiled and said casually, "Your daughter could also rely on her uncle to marry into a good family in the future."

In an instant, Xie Tao’s wife understood Wen Wan’s intention. She suddenly fell silent, her face darkening slightly, and after a long time, she asked, "Did my mother-in-law send you to persuade me not to split the family?"

Wen Wan didn’t answer directly, "The grudges between the adults, I’m an outsider and can’t interfere. I’m just concerned about the children. After all, if your two branches of the family split, yours being a merchant family while the main branch is an official’s, the social status difference is significant, as you well know.

If you really become a merchant family, the range of choices when your daughter picks a husband might not be as broad.

I’m not trying to force you; I’m just explaining the potential risks of splitting the family. As for whether or not to split, you have to decide for yourself."

Xie Tao’s wife pressed her lips tightly together, her expression quite conflicted.

Not speaking, Wen Wan remained silent as well, quietly sitting and waiting.

After a long while, Xie Tao’s wife finally said, "Third Sister-in-law is right; I can’t let my anger delay the children. Regardless of my brother-in-law’s official rank, he is always a Capital Official. As long as he’s an official, our daughter can rely on him to be a young lady from an official’s family, making marriage proposals not too difficult in the future."

Wen Wan didn’t expect her first attempt at being a persuader to be so successful. Pleased, she continued to analyze for Xie Tao’s wife, "As long as you don’t split the family, when Xie Zheng rises and gains some power and status, your family’s business could be turned over to someone else to manage. In any case, having the name of an official’s family sounds better than a merchant’s."

Xie Tao’s wife nodded; possibly because of Wen Wan’s good-natured demeanor, she felt her own temper had tamed somewhat while talking to Third Sister-in-law.

Aunt Xie had tried tirelessly to persuade her second daughter-in-law without success, but with just a few words from Wen Wan, Xie Tao’s wife’s attitude completely changed.

In the main hall, Aunt Xie and her eldest daughter-in-law heard Xie Tao’s wife say she wouldn’t bring up splitting the family again, their expressions surprised.

Xie Tao’s wife didn’t stay long in the hall; after speaking, she turned and left, leaving only Wen Wan, Aunt Xie, Yang, and Jinbao.

Aunt Xie looked at Wen Wan with an expression that was hard to read, perhaps grateful or something else, "Third Lang’s wife, you really are something."

Wen Wan slightly tugged at the corner of her mouth, "Aunt overpraises me. I just chatted with her casually. It’s not as big a deal as you think."

She didn’t want to disclose the content of her chat with Xie Tao’s wife, so she made up an excuse with a smile, "Maybe she gave me, as an official’s wife, some face."

No matter how she was persuaded, as long as the second branch agreed not to split the family, everything was good.

After being happy, Aunt Xie invited Wen Wan to stay for dinner at their house.

Having been there too long, Wen Wan quickly got up and said her family was waiting, so she couldn’t stay for dinner.

After speaking, she bent down to pick up Jinbao.

Aunt Xie personally escorted her out.

Once Wen Wan left the Xie family’s place, she had only walked a few steps when she reached her own doorstep. Just as she was about to enter, she saw Xie Zheng approaching from a distance. When he saw her, his eyes seemed a bit evasive.

Recalling what Yang had said earlier, Wen Wan, about to step inside, withdrew her foot with a smile and greeted Xie Zheng.

Bumping into each other, Xie Zheng couldn’t avoid it, so he called out, "Third Sister-in-law."

Wen Wan asked him, "Finished at the Lower Court?"

Xie Zheng nodded.

"The Hanlin Academy isn’t busy today?"

Xie Zheng: "... Why does Third Sister-in-law ask this?"

Wen Wan half-jokingly said, "I heard from Yang that you’ve been coming home quite late recently, so I thought it might be because you were busy at the government office."

Hearing this, Xie Zheng’s eyes turned complicated when he looked at Wen Wan.