Wang Yongzhu was about to persuade further, but Old Granny Zhang was very resolute: "I’ve been tired all day, and I’ve finally got a chance to rest comfortably. If I go to the front to eat, I’d have to put on a cheerful old lady’s act, wouldn’t that be uncomfortable? Just let lie down for a while; with Sister-in-law Wu and Sister-in-law Ding here, I won’t starve, right?"
Wang Yongzhu had no choice. He tidied up his clothes and instructed Old Granny Wu and Old Madam Ding to serve well, before taking Gu Yu along and following the people sent by Lady Gao to the main courtyard.
Song Hong’s mood was quite good initially. The Clan Leader agreed readily, and the clan elders had no objections. Everything went smoothly.
This brat Chongjin, although he still didn’t talk much with his father, used to not even see him. Now being able to sit in the sa carriage was already a significant improvent for Song Hong.
He was quite confident, thinking that after so ti, his eldest son’s heart might just warm up.
Happily, he first took his fortunate eldest son to see the Old Duchess.
The Old Duchess’s eyes widened imdiately upon seeing Song Chongjin, staring at him for a long while with reddened eyes, she gestured him over: "Child, you’ve suffered all these years!"
Looking at the Old Duchess’s reddened eyes, Song Chongjin felt a suppressed excitent, not knowing why, and lowered his eyes, stepping forward to stand before the Old Duchess: "Greetings to the Old Madam!"
"Why call her Old Madam? You should call her grandmother!" Song Hong frowned.
Song Chongjin followed the hint smoothly. The Old Madam seed kind and not malicious, so he called, "Chongjin greets Grandmother!"
The Old Duchess grasped Song Chongjin’s hand, tremblingly saying, "Good child, you’ve suffered! Your father and we all owe you—"
Song Hong blushed, "Mother, spare so face."
The Old Duchess spat at Song Hong, "Pah! After doing such things, what face is there to keep?" Then addressing Song Chongjin again, "Chongjin, good child, since you’re back, rest assured to stay! If there’s anything you lack or find inconvenient, just tell your father. He owes you decades and should treat you well! If he doesn’t treat you well, you co tell Grandmother, and I’ll stand up for you!"
"Oh, my poor grandson, suffering outside for these twenty-odd years. Look at this face, these hands, my poor grandson!" She couldn’t help but cry.
Hearing the Old Duchess cry, Song Chongjin couldn’t help but want to withdraw his hand. It brought back unpleasant mories.
Back then, Song Chunhua would keep holding his hand and cry, and then make demands, adopting an attitude that she’d cry until she got her way.
Now, whenever anyone cried in front of him, except for his dear wife and respectable mother-in-law, he’d wish to retreat three feet away.
However, considering this was his first ti eting the Old Duchess, and he might need to inquire about the Qi Family’s matters from her later, he couldn’t be too obvious.
So he stood there stiffly.
It was Song Hong who interjected humorously: "Alright! I know once Mother has a grandchild, nothing else matters. Even her son is worthless. Now, acting for the grandson’s sake, okay, I’ll compensate him well, treat him well, isn’t that enough? If I don’t treat him well, you can hit with a cane, does that work?"
Song Chongjin silently repeated several tis what his dear wife taught him: If you feel disgusted by the people at the Duke’s Mansion, don’t worry, just disgust them back.
Summoning his courage, Song Chongjin finally spoke: "Grandmother’s words are etched in my heart. Just returning to the Duke’s Mansion, I’m already apprehensive, especially eting Grandmother, worrying that Grandmother wouldn’t accept . Now that Grandmother shows such affection, my heart is filled with gratitude. Grandmother’s kindness is rembered in my heart. If I lack anything or find it inconvenient, I’ll speak to Father. If Father doesn’t treat well in the future, I’ll definitely ask Grandmother to stand up for then!"
Besides, since the Old Madam has spoken, don’t bla him if he really seeks her out in the future.
The Old Madam was stunned, looking at Song Chongjin a few more tis.
But Song Hong, naturally not knowing Song Chongjin’s true thoughts, only felt that this fortunate eldest son’s attitude towards his mother was good, thinking he was surely filial.
They didn’t talk to him nicely because they had resentnt, but treating him well, giving him wealth and high rank, how could he not be won over?
Though the Old Duchess now recited Buddhist scriptures and stayed away from matters, she had been a household’s head mother initially, and was good at reading people. However, she couldn’t quite tell the thoughts beneath Song Chongjin’s dark expression.
Seeing that her son’s deanor was normal, seemingly not surprised, she didn’t think much more.
It was their first eting after all. The Old Duchess rembered Song Chongjin’s mother, Qi Huan, and felt both guilty and sad, thus being particularly generous, took out several valuable items from her private collection and gave them to Song Chongjin.
Pointing to two boxes among them, she said, "I’m not well these days, too lazy to see people. Inside these two boxes are headpieces for your wife. Although your wife is a country woman, since she’s your bride, she should be treated well."
Upon hearing this, Song Chongjin’s gaze ward a bit, "Thank you, Grandmother! Co New Year, I’ll bring Yongzhu to bow to Grandmother! She’s a good girl, rest assured, I’ll treat her well for my whole life!"
The Old Duchess was taken aback, about having guessed sothing, her smile becoming warr, "Very well, Grandmother will wait for that day to receive your respects. Then, we’ll prepare a great gift for your eting! Alright, it’s getting late, you haven’t gone to greet the household head yet, don’t be too late! I won’t keep you for a al then!"
Song Hong and Song Chongjin dared not delay, stood up to bid farewell.
Upon reaching the main courtyard, the mont Lady Gao saw Song Chongjin, she was montarily lost. No wonder Lord Duke was so eager to recognize him; this child resembled Lord Duke greatly.
Looking at him was like seeing the young Lord Duke.
Over there, Song Chongjin politely and distantly greeted, "Chongjin greets Madam!"
Lady Gao snapped back to reality, seeing Song Chongjin’s polite deanor, she pursed her lips and reciprocated, "Rise!"
Song Hong noticed no one else was in the main courtyard but Lady Gao and couldn’t help but ask, "Where are Brother Jin’s Daughter-in-Law and my in-law Madam?"
Hearing the ntion of the two, Lady Gao couldn’t help but feel a headache, showing on her face, "Brother Jin’s Daughter-in-Law and the in-law Madam have returned to their courtyard to rest."
Song Hong nodded; matters of the inner courtyard were sothing he typically didn’t involve himself in.
But seeing Song Chongjin nearby, he asked one more question, "How was the setup in the courtyard? Are the staffs all arranged? Do Brother Jin’s Daughter-in-Law and the in-law Madam have any requests?"
The question flowed naturally as he intended to brush up on goodwill in front of his fortunate eldest son, indicating, look, your father does care about your small family.
Lady Gao’s expression suddenly beca peculiar.
Instantly he felt sothing wasn’t right: "What’s the matter?"
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