"Miss," Liu Ya glanced at her and said gently, "This servant is just feeling aggrieved on your behalf! Although our Sang family is not wealthy, we are certainly free from want, and Miss, when have you ever endured such cold words and sneers? The words of these people really cut deeper than knives, none of the people in this city are good!" Liu Ya said with resentnt.
Sang Wan couldn't help but laugh at her words, then softly grasped her hand and said, "It doesn't matter, we live our lives for ourselves, not for them to see. Just let the idle talk pass and don't take it to heart. Liu Ya, we can't control how others view us, but we mustn't look down on ourselves! One day, when we hold our heads high with pride, let them see then!"
"Right! What does this mont count for? I refuse to believe that they will look down on us forever! Hmph, if they were in our shoes, they would probably fare even worse!" Liu Ya straightened her chest and tilted her chin defiantly.
"That's the right way to think!" Sang Wan encouraged her quickly: "You go down and think carefully, where did you go wrong this ti and how should you deal with such a situation if it arises again?" Seeing that Liu Ya looked slightly unconvinced, Sang Wan sighed lightly, "Think about it, what good does arguing with people accomplish?"
Liu Ya's expression froze, and she realized that although one cries out against injustice, there are tis and places for doing so, otherwise it is nothing but bringing humiliation upon oneself and asking for trouble! Just like this ti, her rebuttal appeared so weak and futile, it might even beco a laughing matter for others to pass around!
"This servant has rembered," Liu Ya said softly.
Sang Wan nodded for her to go down and rest, and mulled over the matter in her mind, her thoughts inevitably drifting towards Gu Fangzi. It wasn't that she was overly suspicious, but Gu Fangzi's behavior was truly worth her concern!
In the main courtyard, Mrs. Wang exhaled in relief upon hearing what Mrs. Jiang had said, repeatedly murmuring "What a close call!"
The Sang family might not be as prominent as the Shi family, but Sang Wan had married into the Shi family and therefore beca a daughter-in-law of the Shi family—a master of the household! Losing face for her ant the Shi family also lost face.
"She is still quite astute, not asking excessive questions. Otherwise, if this incident were blown open, there'd be no hiding it!" Mrs. Wang sighed softly. Having her own daughter-in-law mocked and ridiculed by the household servants was uncomfortable enough internally, not to ntion if outsiders got wind of it, the Shi family wouldn't show their faces in Qingzhou City! Especially that Mrs. Zhuang from Zhuang's Trading Firm, she would surely laugh herself to death!
That woman was simply jealous of their Shi family, and would find reasons to nitpick and gossip even when there was nothing afoot. Now ard with this excuse, she would surely blow things out of proportion!
"Have you given clear instructions below? If anyone dares to speak a word about this incident, I want them beaten to death! Those two gossipy Xiaosis, give them a beating and send them to the manor to do hard labor! If they still don't behave, send them off to the Sichuan Forest to chop wood! Hmph, they've really turned against us!" Mrs. Wang declared angrily through clenched teeth.
"Madam, rest assured, this old servant has given the orders. The eldest madam is also a wise person! She won't bring it up again," Mrs. Jiang imdiately said.
Mrs. Wang was naturally reassured by Mrs. Jiang's handling of matters. She nodded, and her expression eased. But still feeling dissatisfied, she snorted coldly, "There's one thing the daughter-in-law said correctly! What are those stewards and housekeepers even good for? How did our household co to have such undisciplined creatures! Today it's a minor matter, but in the future, if these blind fools cause a major blunder, we'll be in real trouble! Order them to tighten up and, in a few days, have all those stewards co to see ; I want to spell it out for them myself!"
"Yes, Madam!" Mrs. Jiang knew that her master cared a lot about face and naturally, soone would have to bear the brunt of her ire due to this incident. This ti, soone was bound to be unlucky.
Mrs. Wang finally felt the unpleasant knot in her heart loosen, thinking for a mont before saying, "The daughter-in-law has been wronged in this matter, you think, should I give her sothing to calm her?"
Mrs. Jiang found herself speechless, thinking to herself that Madam had just enjoyed her daughter-in-law's tea and given her gifts the day before. Now this issue was clearly just a small misunderstanding, and Madam hadn't even dealt with it herself, so what was there to reward for no reason? Wasn't this creating an issue out of nothing?
"This old servant sees that the eldest madam has a steady character and understands the big picture, and presumably—, hehe, besides, the eldest madam still has to cook dinner tonight. When you enjoy her cooking later, it won't be too late to reward her!"
In Qingzhou's custom, the new bride is expected to personally cook for her in-laws the evening after entering her new ho to demonstrate her deftness and dostic prowess, showing her capability in managing household affairs.
"Right, right, how could I have forgotten about that! We'll talk about it tonight!" Mrs. Wang slapped her forehead smilingly, "Later, help find a pair of high-grade gold hairpins to prepare!"
Mrs. Jiang promptly agreed and went to carry out the task.
Impatient at heart, Mrs. Wang couldn't wait till evening and sent for the concubine daughter Shi Lian and niece Shi Rui to go to Ningyuan to sit for a while and keep Sang Wan company.
Sang Wan was quite surprised to see Shi Lian and Shi Rui arrive together.
Sang Wan had more to talk about with Shi Lian, while Shi Rui, just eleven, was still a naive little girl who understood nothing. But which new daughter-in-law isn't wary of their sister-in-law? Sang Wan was no exception; with a beaming smile, she enthusiastically rose to personally welco them into the house to sit.
Shi Lian's birth mother, Aunt Rou, had passed away, and being raised under the whim of an erratic and suspicious stepmother, Shi Lian had always been cautious and careful, usually staying in her room doing needlework, making clothes and socks for her stepmother and two older brothers, rarely visiting the garden, let alone venturing out. Shi Rui, on the other hand, was a child of the second house born to Aunt Fang who was favored by Second Master Shi. Rui was also pleasing to the eye and, being younger, her nature was still lively.
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