Recalling the groveling appearance of a re slave just now, Mrs. Wang felt even more disgusted.
"Auntie! Please don’t say that! After all, she’s a relative from my sister’s natal family!" Gu Fangzi hurriedly tried to persuade her, pausing before adding in a low voice: "Sister has been devoted in serving you, Auntie, and has also taken good care of cousin. Even if she hasn’t made great contributions, she has worked hard. Auntie, you should at least save so face for sister!"
Mrs. Wang let out a long sigh, her irritation dissipating sowhat for no apparent reason. Holding Gu Fangzi’s hand, she lanted, "Fang’er, you are always so considerate of others! Sang Wan treats you like this, yet you are still wholeheartedly sincere towards her, truly rare! Ah, if Sang Wan had your kind of magnanimity, the dispute between you and Fengju wouldn’t have lingered on till now—" Mrs. Wang regretted ntioning this at the wrong ti and coughed to silence herself.
Gu Fangzi managed a smile, "Auntie, it’s okay, I can wait! Really! One day, cousin and sister will see my true feelings!"
"You’ve been wronged!" Mrs. Wang sighed softly, her gaze filled with even more pity. Regarding this matter, Mrs. Wang also found herself in a dilemma, caught between her son and her niece who had grown up by her side. Both were equally stubborn, unwilling to give in, leaving her in the most difficult position.
"Auntie, cousin and sister might arrive soon, I, I think I should avoid them for now! I’m afraid sister might misunderstand..." Gu Fangzi suddenly said.
Mrs. Wang was sowhat unconvinced, feeling it might not be necessary, but Gu Fangzi’s current status was indeed awkward. If Sang Wan were to harbor suspicions, it would unnecessarily create trouble, so avoiding the situation might be for the best. Thus, she nodded in agreent.
"Auntie, when you speak with sister later, please be patient and don’t get angry! I shouldn’t say this, but it’s not worth it for us to have a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law falling out over such a person!" Gu Fangzi said with a smile as she walked towards the warm pavilion, then suddenly turned back and smiled again.
"Alright, I got it!" Mrs. Wang glanced at her with feigned annoyance and smiled.
Speaking of the recent inventory taking at the business, Shi Fengju had not attended. According to Shi family rules, each shop conducts its own inventory monthly, conducted by the respective shopkeepers. Every two months, the senior shopkeepers would perform a uniform inventory. At the end of each quarter, all business accounts would be summarized and presented before him. He would scrutinize especially important monthly and bimonthly inventories closely, while for the rest, he would spot-check.
The weather was nice that day, and after breakfast, Shi Fengju accompanied Sang Wan for a walk in the garden. When they reached the lakeside, they couldn’t help but be tempted by the sight of the lotus flowers blooming and the lush green lotus leaves and asked the boatwoman to row a boat for them to enjoy the lake and flowers.
While they were enjoying themselves, Chang Huan suddenly found them, saying there was an urgent matter at the business and requested the young master to go imdiately. Shi Fengju naturally would not decline and promptly returned to Ningyuan with Sang Wan, who helped him change clothes and sent him on his way, then sat idly in the room by herself.
Not long after Shi Fengju left, Mrs. Wang sent soone to invite Sang Wan over. Sang Wan couldn’t have imagined that Shi Fengju’s departure and her visit to her mother-in-law would be for the sa reason, and hastily made her way over after getting ready.
Upon entering the main hall, Sang Wan imdiately sensed that the atmosphere was sowhat unusual. Mrs. Jiang was the only one attending Mrs. Wang; Xiuchun and the other maids had all retreated outside. While Mrs. Wang’s expression was calm, Sang Wan keenly felt a restrained calmness. As for Mrs. Jiang, her gaze lowered, her hands loosely clasped in front of her, she didn’t look at her once.
Sang Wan quickly stepped forward to greet her, smiling: "I do not know what orders mother has for calling your daughter-in-law over."
Mrs. Wang took a deep breath and replied with a faint smile: "Can’t I call you over just to talk if there’s nothing important? Have a seat!"
"It’s not my intention, daughter-in-law; being able to accompany and amuse mother is my good fortune!" Sang Wan quickly smiled and complied, taking a seat at the lower end.
Mrs. Wang herself was not one for beating around the bush. After thinking for a mont, she asked, "Do you still have an uncle and aunt back in your natal family?"
Hearing this, Sang Wan tensed up and beca alert, nodding and smiling: "Yes."
"They are your elders, then!" Mrs. Wang continued with a smile: "If I’m not mistaken, they seem to have never visited our family, have they? When will you invite them over? I would like to et them too!"
"Why would mother—out of the blue—think of this?" Sang Wan asked with a smile.
Mrs. Wang saw her avoiding a direct answer and instead asking her questions back, which was both disrespectful and showed guilt. Her expression changed instantly, and she said with displeasure: "Now you’re questioning in return when I ask you sothing! All of a sudden, I rembered this matter today; they are relatives, yet we’ve never t. That won’t do. If so don’t know about this, they might think the Shi family looks down on people!"
Sang Wan would not believe Mrs. Wang had suddenly thought of this matter; although she didn’t know the specifics, she could guess that this was almost certainly related to Gu Fangzi.
A slight stiffness appeared on Sang Wan’s face as she lowered her eyes in silence.
Mrs. Wang saw her still acting out of vanity at this point, refusing to speak the truth and getting increasingly angry. Just as she was about to erupt, Sang Wan raised her head and said: "Since mother has already said this, I will send soone to bring my uncle and aunt over to the estate later! However, if my uncle and aunt were to show any disrespect, please do not take it to heart, mother."
Sang Wan sighed inwardly. Since Mrs. Wang had already said as much, she guessed the matter couldn’t be concealed much longer. It was better to co clean quickly.
Mrs. Wang felt slightly better hearing this, and then smiled: "What amusing words! You’re a junior, how can you speak ill of your own uncle and aunt? Miss Wan, these are not words you should say! When they co, they are guests, and we would be fortunate not to offend anyone to point of laughter, so how could it possibly be they who show disrespect!"
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