The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity

Chapter 338 - 306: Jinbao Complains: Daddy Keeps Going in Circles (Part 2)

Song Wei’s character has always been steady, never one to vie with others for dominance, but today, perhaps because he was scorned by a child in front of his wife and child, he rarely showed a stubborn side, with an air of determination not to stop until he rowed the boat away.

However, he didn’t really see the child as a rival, even in such an awkward situation. As he exerted effort, a gentle smile remained on his refined face, making it clear he wasn’t losing his calm.

Before long, after figuring out the tricks, Song Wei finally rowed the small boat away, heading toward the opposite shore.

The willows were green, the lake water leisurely.

The man rowed, carrying his wife and child around the lake, becoming a unique sight on Mirror Lake.

Upon reaching the opposite shore, they found someone setting up a stall with ceramic dolls to ring-toss.

The craftsmanship of the ceramic dolls was not very exquisite, but many people were playing. One coin per ring, you grab whichever one you land on, if you miss, it’s in vain.

Before Wen Wan could speak, Jinbao pointed to one of the ceramic dolls and said he wanted it.

She looked to the man beside her.

Song Wei patted his son’s head, stepped away for a moment, returned shortly, with ten rings in hand.

Wen Wan said, "Five for me, five for you, let’s see who gets more."

Song Wei handed five rings to her.

Wen Wan took them, bent over to adjust her angle, aimed at the nearby ceramic doll, and tossed the willow ring in her hand. It only hit the ceramic doll’s head and bounced off, missing the target.

Wen Wan, unwilling to give up, tossed the second, the third...

All five were gone, and none hit the mark.

She felt a bit flushed, muttering, "The rings are so small, the positions calculated beforehand, how could one easily win?"

Hearing this, Song Wei smiled and handed all five rings to her, "Want to try again?"

"I don’t want to." Wen Wan didn’t take them and suddenly said, "I want to watch you throw."

Song Wei freely admitted, "I’m not good at this."

"You haven’t even thrown one, how do you know you’re not good?" The less he wanted to try, the more she wanted to watch; probably a balance psychology at work, feeling that she shouldn’t be the only one to make a fool of herself.

Song Wei said, "Alright, I’ll throw it, but if I miss, you can’t blame me."

Wen Wan pursed her lips and smiled; she wanted him to miss.

Song Wei chose his angle and swiftly threw one, and indeed, missed.

The willow ring was too light, the force difficult to master precisely. This was a money-making trick the stall owner calculated before setting up, but the people here came for entertainment, no one would quarrel over a few coins if they missed.

Seeing both parents miss, Jinbao got anxious, took a ring from his father’s hand, and threw it at the ceramic doll he had his eye on.

The little guy used brute force, the willow ring swayed on the ceramic doll’s head, and slipped down perfectly.

The combined efforts of the two adults weren’t as good as a two-year-old baby.

The stall owner, seeing that the couple bore an extraordinary bearing, didn’t dare to laugh, quickly fetched the ceramic doll and respectfully handed it to the baby, praising him, "The young master’s skill is precise, he might become an expert archer someday!"

Jinbao didn’t understand what the stall owner said but happily took the ceramic doll and hugged it in his arms.

When they reached the next stall with the textile zodiac stuffed animals, the little guy immediately threw away the ceramic doll, keeping his eyes fixed on the monkey. This time it was Song Wei who nabbed it, reclaiming some face from the previous round.

...

When encountering tasty and fun things, the little fellow’s skill at picking sesame seeds and throwing away watermelons grew more apparent. They toured every stall nearby; Wen Wan had her arms full of things, casually bought a bamboo basket to carry them. The little guy walked a long way, finally stood still because his feet hurt.

Since Wen Wan was holding the bamboo basket, Song Wei squatted down, picked up his son, and rowed the rented boat back.

That night when they returned home, Granny Song asked the little guy, "What did Jinbao do today?"

Jinbao said, "Circles."

Wen Wan, who was drinking tea, almost spat it out but held back.

Song Wei corrected him, "It’s ring-toss."

Jinbao shook his head, "Circles, Daddy circles."

Song Wei: "..."

——

The Black Wind Mountain bandit case is ongoing. During the trial at the Imperial Supervision Office, He Yumei also told the chief judge, the Left Imperial Censor, that her subordinates had long since turned over a new leaf. If she were released, she’d reveal the secret of Black Wind Mountain.

The Left Imperial Censor was troubled for two days over this and reported the matter to Emperor Guangxi.

Emperor Guangxi asked, "The secret of Black Wind Mountain?"

The Left Imperial Censor said, "Their leader, He Yumei, said there’s something within Black Wind Mountain that concerns the empire’s society of Great Chu. As long as Your Majesty agrees to release them and promises no post-autumn reckoning, she will reveal the secret."

Emperor Guangxi glanced at the Left Imperial Censor, "You believe this?"

Just the ravings of a desperate person on the brink of death trying to save her life.

Could the vast territory of Great Chu be destroyed by the words of a bandit leader?

It’s a colossal joke!

The Left Imperial Censor was at a loss, "Your servant just thought it necessary to report this to Your Majesty."

Emperor Guangxi waved it off, "They’ve been king of the mountain for years without being eradicated, one can imagine how cunning they are. Order to strictly follow the trial process, execute those to be executed, exile those to be exiled. As dignified magistrates of the Three Judicial Departments, don’t make a fool of yourselves by being led by a woman."

Faced with Emperor Guangxi’s criticism, the Left Imperial Censor could only retire with a flushed face.

...

Within less than half a month, all the processes of this case were completed. Among the forty-six captured bandits, some were sentenced to death and others to exile.

As the leader of Black Wind Mountain, He Yumei did not struggle or cry for injustice on the way to Xingtai. She looked very calm, not at all like someone about to face her demise.

The execution was to take place outside the Meridian Gate, at the same time, 11:45 for all death row prisoners.

Song Wei took advantage of his lunch break, arriving at the Meridian Gate before 11:45.

The execution platform was already full of bandits in prison clothes, kneeling. He Yumei was in the center, her calmness in the face of death made her particularly conspicuous.

The supervising execution officer was the Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

Song Wei approached him, indicating his intention to speak with He Yumei.

Song Wei was considered half responsible for this case, and the Minister of the Ministry of Justice had no reason to stop him, so he nodded in agreement.

Glancing at He Yumei’s back, Song Wei stepped forward and stopped beside her, his voice lowered, "The secret of Black Wind Mountain you mentioned last time, is it that Hundred Inches Heart painting?"

He Yumei was not surprised that Song Wei found the painting since it was not hidden meticulously. She curled her lips, her eyes calm with acceptance of death, "The other day I asked you to release my subordinates, but you didn’t even let me finish my sentence before ordering an arrest. What now? We haven’t even hit the road, and you’re regretting it already?"

Song Wei said, "Your men have committed many crimes; even if I didn’t arrest them, others would have in the future."

He Yumei suddenly raised her head, her disheveled hair revealing eyes full of mockery, "If they hadn’t been driven to desperation, they wouldn’t have chosen this path." She added, "I don’t mind dying, but once my brothers are gone, you all will regret it in the future, including the Dog Emperor."

Song Wei’s expression was calm, "The paintings Shifang Cliff, Hundred Inches Heart, Thousand Feet Snow, and Ten Thousand Miles Spring, together hide a secret. After Mr. Liu passed away, his descendants were tasked with guarding these four paintings. However, as dynasties changed, they spread to various places, with only the Hundred Inches Heart reaching your hands. Isn’t that correct?"

He Yumei pressed her lips, silent.

"If I’m not mistaken, your late husband, who killed my brother and sister-in-law’s Mountain King, was indeed Mr. Liu’s descendant. Initially, they weren’t bandits, but because someone sought the four paintings, even going so far as to resort to murder, they were driven to a dead-end, which prompted them to take to the mountains and lead a life of banditry from then on."