The family parted on bad terms. Song Yao and Song Zhenqing were both disgruntled—the former because his marriage proposal had been rejected, and the latter because the "vision of perfection" he had brought home refused to be manipulated and was nothing like what he had imagined.
The father and son left their home, each harboring their own secrets, and took their study materials to Scholar Song Rusong’s house to seek guidance. Upon arriving, they discovered that there were distinguished guests present.
The visitors were several scholars from a neighboring county who had come to discuss poetry and literature with Song Rusong. Song Yao, sensing a rare opportunity, hurriedly brought his son forward to pay their respects before taking a seat at the lower end of the room.
Chapter 43