Song Wang

Biodata

Background / History

Childhood and Work in the Mines

Song Wang’s grandfather originally gave him a name whose character meant “flourishing.” After an educated official stayed with the family while recovering from a foot injury, his grandfather changed that character to one meaning “hope,” alongside renaming his younger sister Song Ning 7.

He finished middle school and left education at sixteen. His grandfather wanted him to attend high school, but Yang Yindi opposed the idea with destructive outbursts. At home, Song Wang worked in the fields from morning until night and handled the household’s chores before leaving with other villagers to work in the coal mines 111 118.

He sent much of his earnings to Yang Yindi, believing that providing more money would persuade her to treat his grandfather and sister better. After his grandfather died, he cut unnecessary expenses and worked harder, hoping to fund a good marriage for Song Ning 118.

The Attempted Marriage to Widow Yu

Song Wang returned after Yang Yindi’s household wrote that Song Ning had disappeared. Only upon arriving did he learn that they had nearly married his sister to an intellectually disabled man. Yang Yindi then urged him to remain in the village, marry, and help arrange Song Ning’s future 112.

His own wedding to Yu Shuilian, known as Widow Yu, was already being prepared when Song Ning arrived. Yu Shuilian was ten years older and had two children. Rather than receiving a bride price, her prospective husband was to move into her household, and she had paid the Song household one hundred yuan 111 112 114.

Although Song Wang initially avoided answering whether the marriage was voluntary, he publicly said that he had chosen it. Yu Shuilian subsequently claimed that they had slept together and threatened police action; the supplied passages do not independently establish her account. When the confrontation escalated into threats against Song Ning, Song Wang stepped in front of his sister to protect her 113 114 115.

The confrontation ended with Yu Shuilian, Song Chengbing, Yang Yindi, and others being taken away. Song Ning reassured her brother that they no longer had to live at anyone else’s mercy. Overwhelmed, he broke down and explained why he had spent years giving his earnings to their aunt 117 118.

Settling in Capital City

Song Ning later sent Song Wang ahead to Capital City with a written address, a contact person, and a letter of introduction. Gu Zheng doubted his ability to arrange accommodation independently, but Song Ning trusted his willingness to follow clear instructions 281.

Through Li Suying, he obtained paid work as a live-in caregiver for the seriously ill Grandpa Qiu. He kept the elderly man’s room clean and developed a good relationship with him. Grandpa Qiu offered accommodation to Song Ning as well, but she declined to mix her personal housing needs with her brother’s employment 283.

After Grandpa Qiu’s death, the siblings stayed in the courtyard. Song Wang preserved and aired the old man’s belongings, maintained the household, and planned vegetable planting. When Song Ning asked what work he actually wanted to do, he eventually admitted that he loved making liquor—a skill he had practiced with their grandfather 308 310.

Becoming a Brewing Technician

With Song Ning’s encouragement, Song Wang joined a distillery as a technician. He struggled with unfamiliar social situations but began brewing a fresh batch on his first day. Because the factory needed finished liquor within a month, he chose bran-qu liquor, which he identified as erguotou 337 342.

The completed batch earned praise from Factory Director Zheng Chunzhi and Technician Li. Their recognition gave him unusual confidence: he wanted to move beyond basic grain liquor and develop his own recipes once he had sufficient time and support 374 378.

When the factory’s future became uncertain, he feared that running it would exceed his abilities. Song Ning instead separated the responsibilities: he would concentrate on brewing, while experienced colleagues handled management and sales. She asked him to document his recipes, ingredient proportions, starter cultures, and production precautions for eventual large-scale operations 506 509.

At the formal handover, Song Ning asked him to sign the winery contract himself. She retained her promised tax obligations, while he accepted responsibility for production and signed an employment contract appointing Zheng Chunzhi director of the Xingfu Road Winery, responsible for management and sales 560 561.

Wu Tao Ying and the Courtyard Dispute

Coworker Wu Tao Ying initially disparaged Song Wang’s awkward speech and brewing prospects, then became markedly attentive after visiting his large courtyard home. She persuaded him to pose as her boyfriend to resist a family-arranged match, using a threatened act of self-harm to secure his help. He explicitly told her that he lived in the courtyard but did not own it 357 363 364.

Song Wang subsequently treated their relationship as genuine and considered marrying her, despite previously saying that she was too loud and brash for him. He valued the prospect of a home, children, and a welcoming extended family enough to accept hardship or unfair treatment 370 371.

The relationship collapsed when he overheard Wu Tao Ying deny dating him, profess her feelings for Kong Jianming, and insult him. Song Wang fought Kong Jianming, then missed work for two days while distressed. Song Ning confronted both his unauthorized absence and his belief that he should accept mistreatment simply because a city woman had shown interest in him 425 429.

Wu Tao Ying’s family later pressured him to let them occupy spare courtyard rooms. He initially blocked the entrance but eventually faltered; Song Mei and Song Lan intervened to prevent their entry. Song Ning afterward told him that obeying her was not enough—he needed to judge situations himself and learn to refuse unreasonable demands 451 454 455 483.

Marriage and Family Responsibilities

Song Wang developed feelings for Zheng Chunzhi, whose patient teaching and praise made him feel at ease. He openly told her that he wanted to care for her and build a family together. Song Ning supported the match and prepared the bride price and other wedding arrangements 595 596 597 599.

They registered their marriage on the fifth day of the first lunar month. Song Ning also provided Zheng Chunzhi with a courtyard home, intending it to give her security and provide a fallback for Song Wang’s family 621.

As Song Ning’s remaining birth-family relative, Song Wang repeatedly asked about her future with Gu Zheng. He wanted advance notice of any marriage and later offered to help settle matters alongside Zheng Chunzhi 543 686.

He eventually revealed that he was withholding something connected to their grandfather’s last wishes. After Gu Zheng assured him that he would treat Song Ning well for life, Song Wang knelt, kowtowed three times, and asked his deceased grandfather whether giving her “the things” before marriage would violate those wishes. Their contents are not identified in the supplied passage 687.

Appearance

• Good-looking: The Song siblings are known in their village for their attractive appearance 114.
• Initially worn by labor: Before turning twenty-four, he already has a tired-looking face; mining has left him sallow and thin 113 114.
• Later stronger-looking: After several months in Capital City and better meals, he becomes straighter and sturdier 364.
• Frequent visible embarrassment: He blushes readily, particularly during introductions, praise, and romantic situations 356 364 374 384.

Personality

Song Wang is upright, kind, honest, and hardworking, but socially anxious and poor at expressing himself. He often stammers, lowers his head, or retreats from complicated interpersonal situations. His limited education and experience leave him vulnerable to people who exploit his sense of obligation 111 118 315 342.

His devotion to his family is practical rather than eloquent. He mines coal, saves money, cooks, and offers to fund Song Ning’s dowry because these are ways he understands how to help. That devotion also becomes protective courage when he places himself between his sister and danger 115 118 308.

Song Ning challenges his habit of putting everyone else first. Brewing gives him an area in which he can exercise judgment and develop confidence; accepting the winery contract marks a departure from his usual instinct to back away from responsibility 310 509 561.

Abilities & Skills

Brewing and Liquor Recognition

His strongest specialized skill is liquor-making, learned through small-batch work with Grandpa Song 310.

• Makes liquor from corn and sorghum and retains several brewing recipes 310 509.
• Identifies Niulanshan Red Grain Daqu by smell after having tasted it only once 310.
• Produces a well-received batch of bran-qu liquor under a one-month deadline 342 374.
• Understands the importance of fermentation quality and the time required for better-aged liquor 363 378.
• Can organize technical details into written production procedures, though he initially lacks confidence in factory management 506 509.

Physical Labor

He is accustomed to strenuous work through farming and mining 111 118.

• Handles fieldwork, household chores, and sustained coal-mining labor 111 118.
• Volunteers for physical work when unsure what other employment he could perform 308.
• Has greater brute strength than Kong Jianming during their fight; no formal combat training is documented 425.

Caregiving and Household Work

• Keeps Grandpa Qiu’s bedroom clean and conscientiously attends to him 283.
• Cooks for the household and offers meals to visitors 321 337 558.
• Knows farming and proposes seasonal vegetables for the courtyard garden 308 310.
• Plans to improve the grape arbor’s yield for both eating and winemaking 321.

Observation and Identification

• Notices Gu Zheng’s frequent attention toward Song Ning 119.
• Reports recognizing a woman despite changes in hairstyle, makeup, and clothing, remembering her cold gaze and distinctive presence; he admits uncertainty when questioned closely 607 608.

Relationships

• Song Ning — Younger sister and principal supporter. She frees him from family exploitation, helps him find a career, and insists that he develop independence rather than rely on her to resolve every problem 118 310 483 561.
• Grandpa Song — Grandfather who wanted him to continue his education and taught him liquor-making. Song Wang later safeguards a matter tied to his final wishes 111 310 687.
• Yang Yindi — Aunt who controls his schooling, labor, and earnings. He gives her money hoping to improve her treatment of his grandfather and sister 111 118.
• Song Chengbing — Uncle whose household the siblings eventually sever ties with 543.
• Yu Shuilian / Widow Yu — Prospective bride in the interrupted village wedding; she expects him to move into her household 112 113.
• Grandpa Qiu — Former employer whom he cares for conscientiously and remembers after his death 283 310.
• Wu Tao Ying — Coworker and former romantic involvement. Her rejection and her family’s attempted occupation of the courtyard expose his difficulty setting boundaries 425 451 455.
• Zheng Chunzhi — Wife and winery director. Her patient instruction and recognition of his brewing ability help him gain confidence 561 597 621.
• Gu Zheng — Song Ning’s partner. Song Wang approves of his ability to protect her, while increasingly taking responsibility for confirming his intentions 366 543 687.
• Song Mei and Song Lan — Courtyard tenants who prevent the Wu family from forcing its way inside when he cannot firmly refuse them 384 455 483.
• Technician Li — Experienced colleague who praises his first successful factory batch and is expected to assist him professionally 374 509.

Notable Quotes

“I do! Ning! I love making liquor!” 310

“Sis! As long as you think I can do it, I... I'm willing to try!” 561

“Seeing you puts me at ease! I... I want to take care of you! I want us to be a family!” 597