The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity

Chapter 363 - 331: Your Decisions and the Child’s Growth Matter

Song Jiao is young, and she might not quite understand, but Wen Wan knows very well that Xie Zheng’s family’s situation is special. He hopes for this examination more than anyone else.

Because examination means assignment of official positions, and assignment of official positions means that from now on he can officially receive a salary and eat the emperor’s grain, no longer relying on the silver coins from the second house to live.

...

Jinbao’s goal was to play hoop-la, and Wen Wan planned to go to Mirror Lake, already deciding that she would take a decorated boat with many people because she couldn’t row a boat herself. Unexpectedly, halfway there, they encountered a shadow play performance.

The little guy saw a lot of people gathering outside, stuck his head out of the carriage window for a few glances, and completely forgot about the hoop-la game. He turned back and grinned at Wen Wan.

Wen Wan asked him, "Do you want to go down and play too?"

Jinbao nodded incessantly.

Let Uncle Lin pull over, Wen Wan got off with her son and niece, buying each of them a serving of cherry pancakes. These were made by picking fresh cherries, boiling them until they softened, removing the pits, mashing the cherry flesh into a paste, pressing it into small cakes with molds, and finally sprinkling it with sugar.

Wen Wan bought two servings, wrapped individually in oil paper, convenient for eating outside.

The shadow play troupe set up a tent with a few tables inside, one table with four long benches, accommodating eight people, six coins per person, children free of charge.

Wen Wan paid twelve coins and found an empty table to sit at, placing her feet on a floor full of melon seed shells.

It seems that someone had already listened to a performance before them, no wonder there weren’t many people.

Wen Wan sat her son on the bench between herself and Song Jiao, eyes cast on the white curtain used for the shadow play.

Before long, the shadow play began.

Song Jiao looked up, then glanced at Jinbao. Seeing the little guy watching intently, even forgetting his cherry pancake, she whispered to Wen Wan, "Third Aunt, do you think the little guy can understand it?"

"A child just over two years old, who can hardly speak properly, how could he understand? At most, he finds it novel that the shadow figures behind the curtain can talk and move."

After a pause, Wen Wan continued, "Just wait, given this little rascal’s temperament in our family, he might just ask me to buy it back later to perform for him at home."

Song Jiao chuckled, "That’s not possible. Even if we did buy a set, we wouldn’t know how to perform it. Are you planning to learn a thing or two from the master right here?"

Wen Wan didn’t have such an idea, but unfortunately, her words proved prophetic. When the shadow play concluded, the little guy who had been obediently sitting on the bench suddenly got unruly, demanding that she buy the shadow figures home.

Song Jiao remembered what her third aunt had said earlier, "..."

Wen Wan looked at her son, "Have I spoiled you too much?"

Jinbao was frightened into silence by his mother’s sudden serious expression.

Wen Wan’s face sank, "If you don’t want the shadow figures, I’ll buy you whatever delicious food you want later. If you do want the shadow figures, I’ll abandon you here to watch them all you want!"

She was genuinely angry. She didn’t have time to discipline him herself and left it to her mother-in-law, who was overly indulgent, always thinking the child is young, giving whatever he wanted. Just two and a half years old, and already so spoiled. What would become of him when he grows up if this continues? Wouldn’t he turn into another Lu Yanqing?

But she could only blame herself for this anger, couldn’t blame others, nor her mother-in-law.

It was the first time Jinbao had been scolded by his mother. Feeling aggrieved, he sniffed, his mouth pursed, on the verge of tears.

Wen Wan said again, "If you cry, I’ll leave immediately, truly abandoning you. Do you believe it?"

Jinbao held back his voice, looking at her with tearful eyes.

Song Jiao, seeing this, felt really pitiful and softly advised, "Third Aunt, it’s just a shadow play. I have money on me. I’ll go buy them, don’t scold him like that."

After speaking, she got up to look for the shadow play master.

Wen Wan forbade her to go, "Rural children his age consider it fortunate to have enough to eat. Who dares reach out for such things? To put it bluntly, Jinbao is just spoiled!"

Song Jiao pursed her lips, "But he’s just over two, still doesn’t understand anything."

Wen Wan was adamant, "Precisely because he doesn’t understand, he needs to be taught what moderation means. Let him know what he should want and what he shouldn’t, what he may want or may not. Children aren’t born good or bad, it all depends on how adults teach them step by step. If we give him this, that, from a young age, he’ll think everything under the sky is his. When this idea becomes a habit, who will straighten him out? Should he do something he shouldn’t, others will first blame me, his mother, for not teaching him properly."

In her anger, Wen Wan’s words came out almost without a breath.

Song Jiao was rendered speechless by her, originally intending to buy shadow puppets, but now had no mind for that and sat back down, her heart shaken by Third Aunt’s words, feeling anxious and at a loss.

Wen Wan was silent for a while, digesting her anger, and then looked at her son again, "Jinbao, do you still want the shadow puppets?"

Jinbao didn’t make a sound, holding a cherry pastry in his small hand that had been bitten, he extended his arm to offer it to Wen Wan, looking at his mother with a mixture of eagerness to please and a hint of trepidation in his eyes.

Song Jiao quietly reminded him from the side, "Jinbao, tell your mother you don’t want it, say it quickly!"

Jinbao’s eyes were still filled with tears, choked to the point he couldn’t speak.

Wen Wan didn’t force him, turning her back and squatting down in front of him, "If you don’t want the shadow puppets, come on up, mom will carry you for a round, and then we’ll go back."

Jinbao sat still.

Wen Wan frowned, turning her head to see him clutching the oily paper wrapping the cherry pastry tightly.

Thinking of the scene where the little one handed her the slightly eaten pastry to curry favor, she was touched in her heart, her mood softened, reaching out to take it, saying, "Just this once, not to be repeated, if you don’t listen again, mom won’t take your bribes, but will have to spank your bottom, do you hear?"

She took the cherry pastry from the little one, even though it had his saliva on it, Wen Wan didn’t mind, quickly finishing it.

Afterwards, Wen Wan did as she said, carrying the little one for a round, seeing the sky was getting late, and then brought her son back to the carriage.

The little one was throwing a tantrum at his mother, not speaking even after getting on the carriage, eventually succumbing to his sleepiness, his small body tilting over and falling asleep in his mother’s arms.

Wen Wan held her son, silently sighing in her heart.

Song Jiao noticed her mood wasn’t right, and didn’t dare to make a sound the whole way.

Her mother-in-law was still at the Xu Family, Wen Wan had no reason to return to the mansion first, so she had Uncle Lin go to the General Mansion, by the time they arrived, Jinbao was still asleep, Wen Wan carried him to Song Fang’s room, placed him on the small couch, and covered him with a blanket.

It was already dusk, most of the guests who came in the afternoon had left, those remaining were either distant relatives who couldn’t leave for a while, or were among those with excessively close relationships, who were kept for dinner.

Song Fang hadn’t gone out at noon, but now had to show her face, leaving Mei Zhi to watch over her son and daughter, she made an appearance at the table with relatives.

With fewer guests, the atmosphere at dinner was much more relaxed.

Song Fang proposed a toast with tea as a substitute for wine to everyone.

After dinner, Wen Wan followed Song Fang to her room, Jinbao still not awake, Wen Wan uncovered the blanket, gently picked him up, said goodbye to the Xu Family, and followed her mother-in-law out the door.

...

Just like when they came, the father-in-law and mother-in-law took one carriage, while Wen Wan and Song Jiao, with Jinbao, took another, not speaking a word the whole way to avoid disturbing the little one’s sleep.

Upon returning to the Song family, the sky was already darkening.

The servants had already lit the lanterns outside the main gate, their warm yellow light casting a dignified aura over the large stone lions outside the door.

Wen Wan, holding her son, quickly greeted her mother-in-law and returned to her own courtyard.

Song Wei had been out of the Lower Court for a long time, and was having dinner and dealing with business in his study when he heard the noise, he came out to see, and saw Wen Wan holding the sleeping Jinbao, he didn’t say anything, waiting until Wen Wan had placed Jinbao in the inner room and came out, he then asked, "Why did it take so long?"

Wen Wan simply said that Mrs. Xu had insisted on them staying for dinner and there was nothing she could do.

Song Wei could see her spirits were low, his voice becoming more gentle, "What’s wrong?"

Wen Wan sat down, was silent for a while, then slowly said, "Husband, how about I don’t go to the Hongwen Academy anymore, and just stay home to take care of the child?"

Song Wei didn’t say he agreed, nor did he say he disagreed, his tone calm, "What exactly happened?"

Wen Wan recounted the day’s events taking Jinbao out to play, "Even though he is only two and a half, don’t you think this is the best time to discipline him, husband? Precisely because he doesn’t understand, he will think whatever adults say or do is right, we should guide him well, not just indulge him because he’s young, not wanting to scold or educate him. I don’t want to spoil the child, nor do I want to see another Lu Yanqing."

Song Wei understood her concerns, no longer advising as before, he softly said, "Alright."

Wen Wan was a bit surprised, lifting her head, "You don’t oppose?"

Song Wei said, "Your decision and the growth of the child are important."