The Registrar's wife was surnamed Xiao.
Madam Xiao carried herself with the dignified air of a noblewoman. Aside from Luo Jinyu by her side, a maid followed behind her.
She stood there, giving a reserved nod to Song Yanyan and her mother, her gaze settling on Song Yanyan with a hint of appraisal.
"Jinyu," Madam Xiao said with a beaming smile, "is that the little girl you mentioned? The one who had a dream about a white-bearded old Daoist who said her family would save you?"
Luo Jinyu, her face tinged with shyness and composure, nodded. "Foster Mother, it's her."
Madam Xiao's smile deepened as she beckoned to Song Yanyan. "Little girl, come here."
Song Yanyan glanced at Tian Denghua.
Although Tian Denghua felt displeased—they were in the middle of a meal, and being summoned in such a coaxing tone made her daughter seem like a pet—she also knew that minor officials who oversaw their livelihoods were not to be offended.
Tian Denghua took out a faded but clean handkerchief, wiped the corner of Song Yanyan's mouth, and led her by the hand to Madam Xiao. "This humble woman greets the Registrar's wife."
Madam Xiao's expression remained indifferent. She paid little attention to Tian Denghua, focusing her gaze more on Song Yanyan.
"Little girl, I heard from Jinyu that you dreamed of a white-bearded old Daoist?" Madam Xiao seemed genuinely interested, her lips curving into a smile as she asked.
Song Yanyan glanced at Luo Jinyu.
Luo Jinyu was smiling with restraint.
Song Yanyan knew it—Luo Jinyu would spread this story everywhere to elevate her own status.
Lowering her eyes, Song Yanyan repeated the same explanation she had given Luo Jinyu earlier.
Madam Xiao listened, her eyes sparkling with fascination.
Luo Jinyu appeared somewhat embarrassed. "…Perhaps it was just a coincidence. But at the time, Miss Song accurately guessed my surname was Luo, which truly startled me."
While claiming it was a coincidence, Luo Jinyu deliberately highlighted Song Yanyan's correct guess about her surname to add credibility to the dream of the white-bearded old Daoist.
Although Song Yanyan disliked Luo Jinyu and instinctively felt uneasy around Madam Xiao, she didn’t want Luo Jinyu to be rejected by the Registrar's wife. In fact, she hoped the two would stay firmly together.
With a serious expression, Song Yanyan nodded earnestly, playing along. "That's right. The white-bearded old Daoist in the dream told me that this Miss Luo has a noble fate-pattern. But my family is too poor to benefit from her fortune; instead, we might hold her back. So…"
Song Yanyan sighed with genuine emotion.
Madam Xiao's smile visibly brightened.
She chuckled and sighed. "The moment I saw Jinyu, I felt a connection with her. Later, when she told me about this incident, I realized there was such a story behind it."
Song Yanyan nodded solemnly in agreement. "This shows that Madam's household has good fortune. They say a golden nest attracts a golden phoenix, right?"
These words brought smiles to both Madam Xiao and Luo Jinyu.
Finally, Luo Jinyu looked at Song Yanyan with a hint of satisfaction.
Madam Xiao was also very pleased.
The foster mother and daughter, content and satisfied, left arm in arm.
Behind them, Tian Denghua let out a sigh of relief, then secretly spat on the ground in disdain.
"Putting on such a foul airs, making my daughter go over to ask questions. And in the end, not even giving a gift to the younger generation. Even we country folk know to wrap a few copper coins as lucky money for children!" Tian Denghua snorted disdainfully, then pulled Song Yanyan toward the wonton stall. "Come on, let's go eat ours. They've made our wontons go cold."
Song Yanyan didn't care about the magistrate's wife's gift. In her heart, she only hoped that this magistrate's wife and Luo Jinyu would be locked together forever.
If possible, Song Yanyan would willingly swallow the key herself to ensure they stayed locked tight!
After Tian Denghua and Song Yanyan finished their wontons, both mother and daughter felt warm all over. They continued strolling through the market. During this time, Tian Denghua bought two dried fish and some salt, replenishing some of the household's shortages.
The gourd ladle at home had been used for too long and was worn almost to the point of having holes. Tian Denghua stood before a stall selling gourd ladles, haggling with the vendor, when Song Yanyan suddenly widened her eyes.
Huh? That man and woman up ahead—weren't they her second brother and that Zhai Family girl?
Clearly, Song Yueping hadn't seen Song Yanyan.
Song Yanyan didn't call out either, watching as Song Yueping and the Zhai girl's figures disappeared at the end of the street.
Tian Denghua also managed to buy the gourd ladle she wanted at a satisfactory price. After paying the copper coins contentedly, she noticed her daughter seemed to be staring off into space somewhere.
"Let's go, let's go." Tian Denghua beckoned to Song Yanyan. "Come, Mother will take you to buy some fabric."
Song Yanyan responded softly, "Mother, I just saw my second brother with the Zhai Family girl."
Tian Denghua curled her lip. "Your second brother was buying things for that Zhai girl, wasn't he?"
Song Yanyan exclaimed in surprise, "Mother, how did you know!"
Tian Denghua gave a cold snort, not bothering to explain much to her still-young daughter. She simply patted her daughter's hair bun and said briefly, "I guessed it when I gave your second brother the silver… Forget it, let's not mention that unlucky thing, your second brother. Come, Mother will take you to buy some pretty jewelry. My daughter is so beautiful, she deserves to be dressed up nicely!"
Seeing that Tian Denghua had her own understanding of the situation, Song Yanyan didn't say more. She obediently agreed and linked arms with Tian Denghua.
The disaster that would cripple her second brother's leg wouldn't happen until next spring…
For now, there was still time!
…
Tian Denghua and Song Yanyan bought quite a few things at the market. The heavier items went into the basket on Tian Denghua's back, while the lighter ones were wrapped in cloth by Song Yanyan and carried on her back.
There was also a portion—a few pastries Song Yanyan bought with her own money for her third brother.
Song Yanyan declared earnestly, "Third Brother spends all day studying those classical texts, it's both hard work and mentally exhausting. I need to give him some extra nourishment!"
Tian Denghua scolded her verbally, saying, "You little spendthrift, as soon as you have money you waste it," but she still happily took Song Yanyan toward the county school.
The gatekeeper at the county school was inside his room warming himself by the brazier when he was called out. He was initially a bit displeased.
But he couldn't resist Song Yanyan's pretty face and sweet mouth, calling him "Grandpa" with every sentence, saying "Grandpa, you've worked hard." She even took one of the pastries bought for Song Xingming and offered it to the gatekeeper. "These pastries are really delicious, Grandpa, have a taste!"
The gatekeeper took the pastry, his smile so wide the wrinkles on his face nearly bloomed like chrysanthemums. Not only did he readily agree to go find Song Xingming and relay their message, but he also warmly invited the mother and daughter to warm themselves by the fire in the small guardhouse beside the county school's entrance.
Song Yanyan gave the gatekeeper a sweet smile. "Thank you, Grandpa. You're so kind."
Delighted, the gatekeeper hurriedly closed the door and went inside the county school to deliver the message.
Once the gatekeeper had left, Tian Denghua let out a soft "tsk" and turned to look at Song Yanyan.
She felt a pang of heartache—that pastry wasn't cheap, and her silly daughter had just given it away like that?