Although her eldest brother doted on her, Sang Wan still had to consider her sister-in-law’s feelings. Her brother steadfastly objected to her working in the fields, but household chores in front of or behind the house were sothing she couldn’t just ignore. Even she herself felt sowhat ashad to be engrossed in books all day long, let alone pay attention to Liu Ya?
But now things were different; perhaps in the not-too-distant future, she would have to live together with Liu Ya. Reading could enlighten one’s mind, irrelevant of gender. Her father said so when he was alive, and both her eldest and second brothers agreed, and she truly believed it as well. Thus, now that she had both the ti and opportunity, she had to educate Liu Ya. Who knew, she might beco a right-hand person in the future.
Moreover, having an excuse not to leave the house was also for the best.
Sang Wan was very afraid, deathly afraid that Liu Ya would wander off and—just like in her past life—would no longer belong to her!
"Big Madam! Big Madam!" After breakfast that day, while Sang Wan was in the wing room teaching Liu Ya to read and write at the table that had been cleared away, a rotund-faced maid dressed in a silver-blue long vest and white damask dress rushed in. Sang Wan looked closely and recognized her as Xiao Que’er, a maid from Mrs. Wang’s side.
Sang Wan hurriedly asked what was the matter?
"Big Madam, please go quickly, the main lady is calling for you to co over imdiately!" Xiao Que’er said in haste.
"My mother-in-law is calling for ? Is sothing the matter?" Sang Wan dared not delay when she heard Mrs. Wang’s summons.
Xiao Que’er shook her head, "You’ll know when you get there!"
Sang Wan nodded, tidied up her dress a bit, and looked into the big brass mirror belonging to Cheng Liang to check if her hair was in disarray. Then she caught sight of Liu Ya with one hand on the table and the other holding a brush, looking up at her eagerly. Sang Wan couldn’t help but chuckle and scolded her: "Make sure to write each of the ten characters I just taught you twenty tis, and do you rember the passage I taught you yesterday? I will check when I co back!"
"Yes, Big Madam!" Liu Ya hung her head in dejection, stuck out her tongue in frustration, and continued to write laboriously.
"You co with ," Sang Wan said with a smile, turning to Xingzhi.
Xingzhi replied promptly, helping Sang Wan, and they followed Xiao Que’er together.
Halfway there, a young matron with a hairpin of kingfisher feathers in her bun, dressed in white outer coat with red plum blossoms and a jujube-colored hibiscus patterned pleated skirt, her slender waist swaying, holding a brocade handkerchief, paused as she lifted her eyes upon seeing her.
This was Mrs. Zhou, the daughter-in-law from the second house. Shortly after entering the family, her husband, Shi Er Lang, eloped with a famous brothel prostitute taking a large sum of money and had yet to return. Mrs. Zhou was reclusive on normal days; even in her past life, Sang Wan had seen her only a few tis, and in this life, she hadn’t seen her at all since entering the household.
Sang Wan intentionally paused her steps with a confused look and glanced at Xingzhi as if inquiring.
"This is the second Madam!" Xingzhi hastily introduced Mrs. Zhou to Sang Wan, and then, along with Xiao Que’er, they stepped forward to greet and pay their respects to Mrs. Zhou.
"It turns out to be my sister-in-law!" Sang Wan nodded and greeted her with a smile.
"Big sister-in-law!" Mrs. Zhou also returned the greeting.
After the pleasantries were exchanged, Sang Wan casually said with a smile, "We’ll chat more when there’s ti tomorrow," and then she hurriedly excused herself.
"Big sister-in-law, are you going to see our Aunt?" Mrs. Zhou suddenly asked.
"Yes, my mother-in-law has so matters to discuss with . I’m just on my way over!" Holding an absolute status and authority within the mansion, Sang Wan did not wish to engage in further conversation with Mrs. Zhou and hurried on her way.
Mrs. Zhou’s gaze swept over Sang Wan, and it seed a ripple passed through the depths of her eyes, but she said no more, simply nodding with a smile, "Then I shall not disturb you any longer, big sister-in-law, please go ahead!" She watched Sang Wan and her servants depart before she slowly left.
Just as Sang Wan entered the main courtyard and passed the passageway, she heard the sound of robust laughter from a middle-aged woman. Sang Wan’s heart skipped a beat, and she unconsciously slowed her pace, wondering who this woman was, to dare laugh so boisterously and confidently in front of Mrs. Wang.
A sudden flash of insight crossed her mind, and Sang Wan’s heart clenched as she gripped the handkerchief in her hand, her face turning pale.
If her guess was correct, this woman should be Mrs. Zhuang—her mother-in-law Mrs. Wang’s sworn enemy!
Although the Zhuang family did not hold the title of Qingzhou’s richest, they were still a prominent and influential household in the area. For so reason, Mrs. Zhuang had an open feud with Mrs. Wang, always striving to outdo her in everything, to feel triumph over her. In the past few years, their overt and covert battles had escalated, ranging from whose shops did better business, whose sons were better, whose maids were more attentive, whose old nannies were more loyal, whose gardens were bigger and had more valuable flowers, and so on. Now it was even to the extent where they would compete over who offered incense first each month at the Shuiyun Temple.
Sang Wan couldn’t help but be on guard, mustering all the caution she could to cautiously proceed. In her past life, it was Gu Fangzi who had sched, causing her embarrassnt in front of Mrs. Zhuang, leading to Mrs. Wang being ridiculed and her own life becoming increasingly difficult. Little did she expect, Mrs. Zhuang had arrived so soon!
In this lifeti, who knew what Mrs. Zhuang would do and what traps Gu Fangzi had set, waiting for her?
"Daughter-in-law pays respects to Mother!" Sang Wan stepped forward and kneeled to Mrs. Wang, speaking softly.
Mrs. Wang appeared startled, and although the displeasure in her eyes flickered away instantly, it did not escape the watchful Sang Wan, which made her feel sowhat stifled. She had just appeared and said but a word; could she have done sothing wrong again?
"Hehe, co, quickly pay respects to Mrs. Zhuang. Mrs. Zhuang is a renowned lady of Qingzhou City!" Mrs. Wang gestured towards Sang Wan with warm hands, introducing her with a beaming smile.
In front of Mrs. Zhuang, Mrs. Wang would not show any displeasure, naturally portraying a harmonious and intimate mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship, so as not to give Mrs. Zhuang any reason to mock them.
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