Fang Wan brought the tea to her mother, then turned to the kitchen to fetch some pastries. As she passed Song Shi, his eyes followed her—from her face to her waist, then from her waist to the hem of her skirt. He looked as though he wished he had eight pairs of eyes.
Sister-in-law Song noticed it all, and her heart sank even further.
They were not even married yet, and he was already bewitched to this extent. What would happen after she married into the family?
She wanted to say something to ease the tension. She even considered finding an excuse to call off the engagement. But just as the words reached her lips, she remembered what Old Master Song had told her before they left—
“Old woman, listen to me. I am determined to arrange this marriage with the Fang Household. When you get there, don't give me any attitude. You must put the gold bracelet on her wrist. Scholar Fang and I have been friends for many years, and I trust his daughter's character. If you ruin this for me, you’ll answer to me when we get home!”
Sister-in-law Song shuddered. Old Master Song had been the Village Head for so many years, and what he said at home went. She did not dare defy him.
Besides, there really was nothing to criticize about this girl—except that she was far too beautiful.
Just as she hesitated, Song Shi suddenly leaned over and tugged discreetly at the corner of her clothing beneath the table. In a lowered voice, he asked, “Mother, where’s the bracelet?”
Sister-in-law Song glared at him.
This boy! He had stubbornly refused to come when they set out, and now he was urging her on!
Song Shi did not retreat beneath her glare. Instead, he tugged at her clothing again, his eyes urgent as his lips moved soundlessly: Hurry up and take it out!
Sister-in-law Song’s heart was a tangled mess.
She did not want to give it to her.
But she could not disobey Old Master Song, and her son was acting like this. The steps had already been laid right beneath her feet; if she refused to walk down them, she would have no way to explain herself when she returned home.
“Sister Fang.” Sister-in-law Song forced a smile and took the red cloth bundle from inside her clothing. She unfolded it layer by layer, revealing the heavy gold bracelet inside.
Mother Fang froze, then her eyes reddened again—this meant they were presenting the betrothal gift.
“This was passed down from my mother-in-law.” Mother Song held out the bracelet. Her tone was not as warm as before, but there was nothing objectionable about it. “Today, I’ll put it on Wan'er—Little Wan. Tell me, what day would be suitable for setting the wedding?”
Mother Fang looked helplessly at her daughter.
Fang Wan set down the plate of pastries in her hands and walked over to Mother Song.
She neither refused nor acted coy. She inclined her body slightly and extended her right hand. “Thank you, Auntie.”
Mother Song slipped the bracelet over her wrist. Its golden gleam was striking against the moon-white sleeve. Mother Song’s gaze lingered on the bracelet for a moment, then on Fang Wan’s face. Her lips moved, but in the end, she said nothing.
Fang Wan straightened and took a step back. She lowered her eyes to look at the bracelet on her wrist, her expression calm and revealing neither joy nor sorrow.
Song Shi watched from the side, his heart pounding so hard it felt ready to leap out of his throat. He practically sprang from his chair, then took the two bolts of cloth he had brought as an apology gift and held them out to Auntie Fang with both hands. Even his voice trembled.
“Auntie Fang, these are the finest fabrics I picked out from the shop. They’re for you and Miss Fang to have two new sets of clothes made!”
Mother Fang was flattered and startled. “Song Shi, this is too much…”
“It’s only right, only right!” Song Shi pressed the cloth into Mother Fang’s hands, though his eyes kept sneaking glances at Fang Wan.
Fang Wan inclined her head slightly toward Song Shi, her tone neither warm nor cold. “Thank you, Young Master Song.”
It was only a mild, casual sentence, but Song Shi felt as though he had drunk honeyed water, sweetness flowing from his mouth straight into his heart. His face broke into a radiant smile.
======
Fang Wan returned to the kitchen and closed the door behind her, then let out a long breath.
She removed the gold bracelet Auntie had placed on her wrist and looked at it in her palm for a moment before putting it back on.
When Mother Song had placed the bracelet on her wrist, Fang Wan had sensed the older woman’s hesitation and reluctance. Though she wore a smile, the complicated emotion that had flashed across her eyes had not escaped Fang Wan’s notice.
Fang Wan understood that Mother Song was probably not very pleased with her. A fatherless eldest daughter marrying while still in fresh mourning—any mother-in-law, including Song Shi’s mother, would have reservations about that.
But Song Shi’s attitude had surprised her.
The difference between Song Shi’s behavior before and after was too great. When he had first entered the courtyard, he had worn a cold expression, looking as though he had been forced into a corner. But after seeing her, he seemed to have become an entirely different person. His eyes had shone like a dog’s upon spotting a meaty bone, and his attentiveness had gone a little too far.
Fang Wan could not say that she had any particular fondness or dislike for Song Shi.
He was reasonably good-looking, and his clothes were presentable. It was just that his eyes were far too unruly, always darting toward her. Then again, what man did not look at a woman that way when he went to see whether she would make a suitable wife? Her father had kept her hidden away so carefully while he was alive that she had hardly met any unrelated men. She did not even know what a normal betrothal meeting was supposed to be like.
She had agreed to this marriage not because of Song Shi himself, but because of the Village Head Song behind him.
Her father had been very close to Village Head Song when he was alive. Though her father had been a licentiate and somewhat rigid in temperament, he had never been muddleheaded when it came to human relationships and worldly affairs. Anyone he considered a close friend was certainly someone he trusted. She remembered that whenever her father mentioned Village Head Song, he would always say, “Old Song is far-sighted and responsible. He’s someone a person can entrust things to.”
Her father had died too suddenly and had not had time to arrange anything. Her mother was weak, and her younger brother was still small. A widow and her children without a man to protect them were like a piece of fat meat without a fence around it in this village—someone could sink their teeth into them at any time.
She needed someone with enough standing to protect her.
Old Master Song was the Village Head, highly respected in the village. When he spoke, his words carried even more weight than the Clan Head’s. Marrying into the Song family would be like climbing onto a great tree. Who would dare bully the Fang Household after that?
As for how much Song Shi might accomplish, she did not expect much from him. As long as he did not cause trouble and lived an honest, ordinary life, she was confident she could hold the household together.
Fang Wan smoothed her hair while looking into the water jar, then straightened the white velvet flower in it. Carrying the plate of pastries, she walked out.
In the main room, Mother Song was making occasional conversation with Mother Fang. Song Shi sat to one side, his ears practically stretched toward them, yet he could not hear a word. His mind was filled with the profile of Fang Wan lowering her head moments earlier.
When Fang Wan entered with the pastries, Song Shi’s eyes lit up again.
“Miss Fang, let me help you.” He stood and reached for the plate.
Fang Wan shifted slightly to avoid his hand. Her tone remained mild. “You’re too polite, Young Master Song. I can manage it myself.”
Song Shi’s hand froze in midair before he awkwardly withdrew it, though the smile on his face remained.
Mother Song watched her son looking so hopeless and sighed inwardly again.
The girl was beautiful, yes, but she was too beautiful. She worried that her son would be completely controlled by his wife in the future and be unable to hold his head up at home. She also worried that the girl was too conspicuous and would attract all kinds of trouble that could neither be explained nor cleared up.
Old man, old man—you’ve certainly found me a hot potato.
But the bracelet had already been given, and the words had already been spoken. There was no possibility of taking them back.
Mother Song could only persuade herself to be more open-minded. At least the girl looked as though she understood propriety. She was courteous and measured with others, and she handled things neatly. When she had come in earlier to serve tea and bring the pastries, her steps had been steady and her eyes had not wandered. She was not like those frivolous girls. Old Master Song was right: a daughter raised by Scholar Fang should not be lacking in character.
Only after thinking this did her expression gradually soften.
When it was time to leave, Mother Song held Mother Fang’s hand and exchanged a few polite words with her. Song Shi, meanwhile, stood at the courtyard gate, turning back every few steps. He looked as though he wished he could see straight through the threshold of the Fang Family Courtyard.
Fang Wan saw them out and gave a small curtsy. “Goodbye, Auntie Song. Goodbye, Young Master Song.”
Song Shi hurriedly returned the courtesy, bending so deeply it looked as though his waist might snap. “Please stay, Miss Fang. Please stay!”
Once they had left the Fang Household, Mother Song walked ahead with a grim expression, while Song Shi followed behind, grinning almost from ear to ear.
“Mother,” Song Shi came closer and asked in a lowered voice, “what do you think of Miss Fang?”
Mother Song shot him a look. “What do I think? After the way you were acting just now, like you’d lost your soul, you still have the nerve to ask?”
Song Shi rubbed the back of his head and gave two sheepish chuckles.
Looking at her son’s carefree, thick-skinned expression, Mother Song finally could not hold back a sigh. “Shi-ge’er, tell Mother honestly. Have you taken a liking to the girl from the Fang Household?”
“Yes!” Song Shi nodded vigorously, his eyes shining.
“What about that maid in the city?”
Song Shi froze. Then he waved a large hand dismissively, his face full of disdain. “What maid? You must be mistaken, Mother. When did I ever say anything about a maid?”
Mother Song was speechless.
She shook her head, too lazy to argue with this son of hers, whose attitude changed faster than the turning of a page.
Song Shi only continued forward, his steps so light that he seemed to be walking on clouds.
One thought kept turning over and over in his mind: once he returned, he would end things with Qingluo.
Suddenly, he stopped and glanced back in the direction of the Fang Family Courtyard.
The little courtyard was bathed in golden-red light, and a thin wisp of cooking smoke rose from its roof.
His wife was in there.