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Song Fengshou and Tang Shi were left dumbfounded but continued to argue their innocence.
“It’s not true, we really didn’t steal the silver…”
“Thieves always say that,” the officer interjected, unwilling to entertain further arguments from the two individuals who appeared so defiant in the face of irrefutable evidence. He simply dragged them towards the magistrate’s office.
To avoid any unsightly yelling on the way, their mouths were sealed shut.
Song Fengshou and Tang Shi, reduced to making muffled sounds, looked crestfallen as they were led into the county office, feeling the urge to burst into tears.
What had they done to deserve such a calamity?
Song Jingyun returned from the county school in the evening, carrying a large oil-paper package in his hands.
Upon opening the package, a lotus leaf sticky rice chicken was revealed.
“I noticed a new shop opened, with many customers, so I bought this chicken for you to enjoy,” he said as he deftly twisted off the chicken legs and tore off chunks of meat, placing them in Jiang Mixia’s bowl. He then placed some meat in his own bowl and started to eat slowly.
As the weather grew colder and his wife appeared fatigued, having lost weight recently, he felt she needed a good meal.
“Don’t forget to eat,” Jiang Mixia handed him a chicken leg and kept one for herself to nibble on. “Today, your uncle and aunt came over.”
Song Jingyun paused his chicken leg consumption.
Although he had no memories from the original Song Jingyun when he arrived in this place, based on the later introductions from Jiang Mixia and Jiang Youcheng, he knew about his uncle, Song Fengshou, and his aunt, Tang Shi.
“They came for what reason?” Song Jingyun inquired.
“They mentioned wanting you to return to your family,” Jiang Mixia replied. “They gave several reasons, emphasizing that your future entails serving as an official. Remaining a son-in-law for too long may lead to disrespect. They suggested I should think more broadly and send you back to the Song family.”
“Did you agree to it?” Song Jingyun asked again, this time with a sense of urgency.
Jiang Mixia blinked, “Yes, I agreed.”
Song Jingyun paused, the chopsticks in his hand clattering onto the table. A mix of hurt and sadness filled his face as he trembled, “You don’t want me anymore?”
“Didn’t you mention before that as long as I obediently followed your instructions, respected my parents, I could be a good son-in-law?” He sounded really hurt, almost crying.
“Don’t worry, I was just teasing you, I didn’t agree.” Jiang Mixia immediately said seeing how hurt her husband is.
“Really?” Song Jingyun’s expression softened slightly.
“Absolutely true, more genuine than gold!” Jiang Mixia assured, fearing Song Jingyun might doubt her decision. “Not only did I not agree, but I even chased them away with a broom from the courtyard.”
“It’s true,” Zhucui and Chengmao also testified beside them, “They were indeed shooed away.”
Relieved by their confirmation, Song Jingyun breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s a relief.”
But his wife’s jest and teasing had genuinely scared him, making him believe she no longer wanted him.
How outrageous of his wife!
Feeling even more aggrieved, Song Jingyun sought comfort from Jiang Mixia that night, hoping to mend his wounded heart.
Jiang Mixia, feeling unable to resist Song Jingyun’s persistence and slightly embarrassed about almost making her young husband cry with her teasing the day before, relented and allowed him to continue.
Throughout the night, Song Jingyun asked for water three times.
The next morning, Jiang Mixia found herself so stiff that she could barely get out of bed. Song Jingyun brought breakfast to their room, explaining to Zhucui and Chengmao that Jiang Mixia had been startled the previous day and needed rest.
Jiang Mixia thought to herself, “Truly, teasing the husband brings a moment of joy…”
Ahem!
Jiang Mixia, utterly exhausted, had breakfast and then snuggled under the covers with a warm water bottle to catch up on some much-needed sleep. Meanwhile, Song Jingyun left the house on time.
Instead of heading to the county school, he went directly to the magistrate’s office.
As a top scorer in the imperial examination, Song Jingyun was a prominent figure in the county. Having been hosted by the county magistrate previously, the guards at the magistrate’s entrance recognized him and promptly escorted him to see Magistrate Lin.