Someone summarized Song Wei's life:
Born amidst hardship, difficult examinations, and even harder to find a wife.
A miserable childhood, endless struggles in youth, but finally improvement in his thirties.
At thirty years old, he finally saw the clouds clear and the moon shine, making an impressive name for himself by attaining third place in the scholarly examination.
Such a tale could be crafted into a theatrical story to be told in tea houses and taverns, surely drawing packed audiences every time.
...
Xie Zheng also became an Advanced Scholar, but compared to the stark contrast and impact of Song Wei's achievements, it seemed rather ordinary.
When Aunt Xie received the news and came over, she found that many villagers from Upper River Village were delivering gifts to the Song family.
In front of Granny Song, she no longer heard the familiar addresses of "Big Sister," "Old Sister," or "Scholar's Mother," but instead, everyone respectfully called her "Old Lady."
