"Yes, mother!" Sang Wan answered respectfully.
Mrs. Li then said with a smile, "Madam really is both filial and polite, young master is fortunate, and Miss, you are also blessed! It must be said, Master has truly good judgent!"
"Indeed!" Mrs. Wang couldn’t help but beam with joy, nodding her head and saying, "Miss Wan is truly good-natured, though perhaps a bit too polite. There’s no need to be so ceremonious in your own family life!"
Mrs. Li glanced at Sang Wan and then laughed with Mrs. Wang, "I just ntioned how fortunate you are, Miss, but it seems I was mistaken; it should be Madam who is fortunate! Which mother-in-law is as generous and caring for her daughter-in-law as you are, Miss!"
Everyone who heard this broke into laughter. Then they all sat down together to eat warmly and affectionately.
Sang Wan admired them in her heart; she had initially been sowhat worried that Mrs. Li might praise her in front of Mrs. Wang—Mrs. Li had often praised her in front of Shi Fengju, and if it caused Mrs. Wang to feel resentful, it would have been unpleasant. But who would have thought, Mrs. Li was extrely astute; her words were smooth and traceless, yet people would unknowingly take them to heart.
After lunch and sitting for a while, Mrs. Li and Sang Wan left together. Mrs. Wang inevitably reminded Sang Wan once again to treat Mrs. Li well and not to neglect or disrespect her. Sang Wan replied to each reminder with respect.
No sooner had Sang Wan and Mrs. Li left than Gu Fangzi ca into the main courtyard, smiling cheerily with a plate of bright yellow loquats in her hands.
These were fresh fruits just presented from the manor.
Mrs. Wang, seeing their bright and charming colors and slling the faint fragrance, couldn’t resist tasting two. The fruit was juicy and sweet, and it lted deliciously in her mouth. Mrs. Wang then praised with a smile, "Not bad!" and said to Gu Fangzi, "Have you sent so to Ningyuan? The loquats are quite sweet this year, not sour at all. I think Mrs. Li would love them, so send over so more."
Gu Fangzi cheerfully agreed, "The manor just sent these, and I picked out a plate for you to taste first. I will have soone distribute them everywhere in a bit." She then added, sowhat pointedly, "I saw from a distance Mrs. Li and cousin-in-law’s figures as I was coming; I wonder if they were returning from visiting you, Auntie?"
Mrs. Wang answered with a contented smile, "Indeed, Mrs. Li had returned to Ningyuan yesterday, and she especially ca to pay her respects today. I chatted with her a little longer, so I simply invited them to stay for a al!"
Gu Fangzi clapped her hands with laughter and said, "Had I known they were here, I would have sent these over earlier! My timing was off, making it look like I purposely avoided them."
"Nonsense!" Mrs. Wang scolded with a smile, "You’re getting more and more petty, girl. Mrs. Li is not that kind of person!"
"Mrs. Li certainly isn’t," Gu Fangzi hurriedly said with a smile, "but after all, cousin-in-law is a new bride, and she is in charge of the household I manage, so I..."
"My dear child, don’t worry!" Seeing Gu Fangzi’s cautious and concerned expression, Mrs. Wang couldn’t help but take her hand and comfort her softly, "Auntie is here for you! I understand everything!"
"I knew Auntie loves the most!" Gu Fangzi bead with joy, wearing a relieved smile, and quickly added, "Actually, I’m just overthinking it, with cousin-in-law’s kind and open-minded nature, how could she possibly think that way? You know that Mrs. Li always had so peculiar temperants, but watching cousin-in-law being so close and affectionate with her, if Mrs. Li treats cousin-in-law that well, she would naturally be good to too!"
Mrs. Wang’s brow furrowed slightly after hearing this, an inexplicable shadow crossing her heart, yet she scolded Gu Fangzi with a teasing smile, "Stop talking nonsense! Mrs. Li is an old servant of the house, and she’s your big cousin brother’s wet nurse, you mustn’t be disrespectful!"
"Yes, yes!" Gu Fangzi replied with a laugh, then jokingly said, "Honestly, Mrs. Li doesn’t know how fortunate she is to be treated so well by you and big cousin brother! Now she’s got cousin-in-law to back her up too; I wouldn’t dare to provoke her!"
"Miss Wan and Mrs. Li get along well?" Mrs. Wang couldn’t help but ask.
"Yes," Gu Fangzi said with a smile, "Perhaps it’s just fate that cousin-in-law and Mrs. Li are ant to get along well, they chat and laugh together, and cousin-in-law even helps support Mrs. Li as she walks!"
A trace of sourness crept into Mrs. Wang’s heart. Sang Wan was her daughter-in-law, and the person she should be close to was herself, right? Thinking of how close Sang Wan had beco with Mrs. Li behind the scenes made Mrs. Wang feel uncomfortable, even if she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
If soone else had told her this, she would have believed it wholeheartedly, but she knew there had always been so discord between Gu Fangzi and Mrs. Li. This niece of hers didn’t like Mrs. Li, and Mrs. Li had never hidden her dislike for Gu Fangzi in front of her.
It was also because of Mrs. Li that she had hesitated and wavered with the marriage arrangents between the Shi family and the Sang family; otherwise, with the Shi family’s wealth and influence, if they really had wanted to break off the engagent, it wouldn’t have been impossible.
With this thought in mind, Mrs. Wang was not fully convinced by Gu Fangzi’s words and half jokingly, half seriously said, "Mrs. Li just returned to Ningyuan yesterday; how could she and Miss Wan have beco so intimate in barely half a day? Perhaps you’re exaggerating!"
"This is based on fact, where have I exaggerated?" Gu Fangzi protested with a feigned grievance, then said, "Maybe Auntie hasn’t heard, but for so reason Mrs. Li was very angry last night and made a scene wanting to leave Ningyuan right away! Big cousin brother couldn’t persuade her no matter what! Guess what happened next? I heard that cousin-in-law said a few words and managed to calm Mrs. Li down completely! Everyone in Ningyuan knows about this!"
"Is that so?" Mrs. Wang was astonished, and quickly asked, "Do you know exactly what happened?"
Gu Fangzi shook her head, "I only heard a rough idea; I don’t know the specifics."
Mrs. Wang then berated, "Fengju is really being foolish!"
Gu Fangzi stiffened, opening her eyes wide in surprise.
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