"Second Uncle, have some water."
Song Lin took the cup, but as he took a sip, his peripheral vision caught sight of a dark, matted mass.
It was Song Xiaocui’s hair.
She was clutching a pastry, devouring it in large bites. Seemingly bothered by an itch, she reached up to scratch her head, and pastry crumbs became embedded in her greasy, matted hair. Her hands were equally slick and grimy, shining with enough oil to fry a meal.
Seeing Song Lin watching her, she blinked, and a glob of yellowish eye boogers fell into her pastry.
"Do you want some, Second Uncle?" She pressed the pastry toward his lips, grinning. "I'll let you have a piece."
Between her greasy, shining hands, the delicate scent of the pastry mingled with the stench of hair oil—plus that eye booger of unknown origin...
"Urgh—"
Song Lin retched again.
He vomited even more violently than before, as if he were trying to heave up his very innards. Supported by Meng Wan, his eyes were bloodshot, yet he kept them locked on Song Xiaocui, who was still hopping around while being swatted by Mother Song, all the while shoving more pastry into her mouth.
The pride of the family.
The model of a noble lady.
Every smile and movement measured to perfection.
Where had it all gone?!
"Second Brother, tell Mother to stop hitting her!" Eldest Sister-in-law cried, watching Song Xiaocui with distress, and grabbed Song Lin’s sleeve in her urgency.
She had been eating, and as she touched him, she left a greasy smudge on his sleeve.
"That damn girl deserves a beating!" Eldest Brother roared. "Can't you see how sick you've made your Second Brother?!"
With a sallow complexion, Song Lin shook off Eldest Sister-in-law and said weakly, "Mother, stop hitting her."
Mother Song gave Song Xiaocui one final, vicious pinch before finally stopping.
Song Lin finally snapped out of the joy of reuniting with his family and took a proper look at the Song family in the room: Father Song letting the dog-boy tumble and run wild on the bed; Mother Song still scolding Song Xiaocui; Song Xiaocui greedily stuffing her face; two eldest nephews running around the room, ransacking everything; Eldest Brother and his wife continuing to gorge themselves at the table; and Song Xiaomei, who was rummaging through Meng Wan’s vanity case, busy primping herself.
He squeezed his eyes shut.
In his past life, the Song family had arrived at this same time, but he had already been betrothed to Lu Wanwan. The moment they entered the Capital, they had been taken to a separate residence at Prince Ping's Mansion, attended to by maids and matrons, living in luxury. By the time he left the palace to visit them, they had been clean and presentable.
Now...
He gritted his teeth, struggling to banish the images of stinking socks and eye boogers from his mind, until he finally calmed down.
He called Meng Wan over to fetch the waiter and instructed, "Go fetch a few tubs of water for bathing, and then go to the tailor shop next door to buy some sets of clothing."
"That... Scholar Song, what about the payment?" The waiter asked, extending a hand awkwardly.
Song Lin said impatiently, "Put it on my tab!"
"But the tailor shop..."
"Isn't the tailor shop yours, too?"
The waiter was startled. How did Song Lin know that?
"Are you still going to be difficult?" Mother Song’s loud voice rang out. "My son is a top scholar! Staying at your inn is an honor for you. It's just a few sets of clothes—you dare ask for money?! Do you believe I’ll have my son order them to seal your shop?!"
The waiter felt nothing but contempt. This was a property of Grand Tutor Lu’s household; could the Song family really afford to cross them? However, recalling how confidently Song Lin had claimed he would win the title of top scholar, and the praise Grand Tutor Lu had once bestowed upon his talent, the waiter decided to play along.
"Very well, I shall put it on the tab first," he said, beaming. "May I wish the Scholar a top rank in the imperial examinations and a triumphant parade through the streets!"
Song Lin looked somewhat satisfied.
Meng Wan pulled him aside quietly. "Brother Lin, we’ve already spent quite a lot these past few days, and we’re nearly out of money... How can we keep putting things on the tab?"
Her voice was soft, but Mother Song heard her, and her brows shot up immediately.
"You haven't even married into this family yet, and you're already trying to manage my son’s accounts! To think the Meng family are supposed to be scholars—have you no shame?"
Meng Wan’s eyes reddened instantly.
Mother Song turned to Song Lin and asked in a low voice, "Is it true we're out of money?"
She took a handful of silver fragments and some copper coins from her bodice and shoved them into Song Lin’s hands. "Take this. Is it enough? That tailor shop... is it expensive?"
Song Lin felt a pang of heartache, and his previous annoyance with his family vanished.
He said gently, "That tailor shop belongs to us. Mother, if you need anything, just take it; don't be a stranger."
"Really?" Mother Song brightened. "Our Second Son is the capable one after all!"
The Song family cheered up as well.
At this, Father Song said in a deep voice, "Second Son isn't young anymore. Once he wins the top scholar title, we won’t be just an ordinary family anymore. We can't have him paired with the daughter of a mere scholar."
"Exactly!" Song Xiaomei chimed in. "Second Brother is so handsome and will be a top scholar; even a princess would be a suitable match. How could he possibly marry someone from the countryside? It’s embarrassing!"
Meng Wan was panic-stricken and grabbed Song Lin. "Brother Lin..."
"Who are you grabbing?!" Mother Song shoved her hand away roughly. "How dare you try to seduce my son right in front of me?"
She turned and smacked Father Song. "Meng Wan is the daughter of Second Son’s mentor! If you don't let him marry her, are you trying to make my son a heartless, ungrateful official?! How dare you!"
Song Lin also said firmly, "Father, I will only ever marry Wanwan in this life. Don't speak of this again."
Father Song was silenced and bowed his head, saying nothing more.
Song Lin took Meng Wan’s hand and gave her a reassuring look.
"Stop arguing, you all, come look! No wonder this is the Capital, goodness me..." Eldest Sister-in-law was pressed against the window, staring at the dazzling array of stalls below, unable to stop watching even the passersby. "It’s nothing like our small county town; even the roads are brand new!"
"Don't embarrass the Second Son!" Mother Song gave her a sharp swat. "Look at your unrefined behavior!"
Eldest Sister-in-law gave a fawning smile. "I'm just looking from inside the room, I'm not going out."
"Wow... what a beautiful carriage." Song Xiaomei followed her gaze. "There’s writing on the side, too. It looks like the character 'Lu', the one Second Brother taught me."
Song Lin paused.
Meng Wan instinctively walked to the window and happened to see Lu Wanwan lifting the carriage curtain.
"She’s so pretty, even prettier than Second Brother," Song Xiaomei said in awe. "Is she a fairy goddess from a stage play...?"
Father Song blinked, then suddenly remembered: "Lu? Could it be that Grand Tutor Lu who praised the Second Son?"
Song Lin nodded.
"Then is that the daughter of the Lu family? Is she married? Since her father thinks highly of you, if you were to propose, could you marry this young lady from the Lu family?"
Song Xiaomei’s eyes lit up. "Right! Then that beautiful carriage and those beautiful clothes she's wearing would all belong to us! Second Brother, go propose to her!"
Seeing that Mother Song was about to hit someone again, Father Song quickly added, "A Grand Tutor’s daughter as his primary wife, and let Meng Wan be a concubine! A top scholar should have a few concubines, shouldn't he?"
Mother Song began to waver.
"What do you mean, Grand Tutor’s daughter? She’s a fraud! Once Wanwan’s mother arrives in the Capital, her good days will come to an end!" Song Lin said with some impatience. "And I have said: I will only ever marry Wanwan!"
Hearing this, Meng Wan burst into tears.
She didn't know what her mother arriving in the Capital had to do with Lu Wanwan, but Song Lin's words touched her deeply.
Yet, could the Song family really agree to let her through their door?
And if they knew that Lu Wanwan was enamored with Song Lin...
At this thought, Meng Wan’s face slowly turned pale.