"Mother, please let Miss Wan sit down. Xiuchun can take care of everything! When we have relatives and friends over on ordinary days, we do not fuss over such formalities, let alone with big sister and brother-in-law who are practically family. Why would the rules seem to multiply in their presence?" Shi Fengju spoke leisurely as he picked up a piece of braised mutton with his chopsticks.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang instinctively turned her head and realized that Sang Wan was standing by her side serving her! She exclaimed, "Oh dear," and hurriedly said with a laugh: "You child are too serious! Your big sister was just speaking casually, yet you took it to heart! Come on, have a seat! Sit down!"
"Then, thank you, Mother!" Sang Wan glanced at Shi Yumei and saw that she did not make any further comment. She smiled, slightly bent her knees in thanks, then handed her chopsticks and plate to Xiuchun before sitting down beside Shi Fengju. Of course, Shi Yumei couldn’t say anything more, could she? If she had spoken up again, wouldn’t it have seemed like the eldest daughter of the Shi family was more distant than friends and relatives?
Moreover, at this moment, most of the dishes on the table were her favorites; they were obviously more appealing than feuding with her sister-in-law. In a moment of good spirits, she couldn’t bother with pettiness.
Shi Yumei was lively by nature, and she talked and laughed a lot with her mother and brother during the meal, eating with great pleasure. Shi Fengju even specifically had someone warm up a pot of three-year-old Double Ninth Chrysanthemum wine. The amber-colored liquor in the pale-blue jade cup was fragrant and rich, a feast for both the eyes and the nose, making Shi Yumei even happier and thoroughly enjoying the meal.
Only Ren Zhixian, trapped by his own words about the "way to maintain health" and cornered by Shi Fengju’s few remarks, couldn’t swallow his pride and openly contradict himself. Thus, he quietly ate the radishes and cabbages before him, looking at the colorful and aromatic dishes on the table, inhaling the scents that kept wafting into his nostrils, and could only take the opportunity to swallow hard during his meal.
However, the stir-fried cabbage and radishes of the Shi family, though simply stir-fried, were cooked with plenty of oil, and the cook’s skills were superior, making it a hundred times tastier than what he ate at home, infused with a particular freshness. Little did he know that the cook had added stock and a secret seafood mushroom sauce to the dishes!
The flavor was indeed better, but it also made his cravings more intense, and his eyes unconsciously looked towards the table again.
After the meal, everyone sat in the flower hall chatting. Mrs. Wang and Shi Fengju hadn’t seen Shi Yumei for over a year, and the three talked very happily. In the midst of their spirited conversation, Ren Zhixian cleared his throat and announced that he needed to rest, insisting on leaving.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang thought about their long journey and figured they needed to rest, so she quickly called people to send them back. Shi Fengju, however, glanced indifferently at Ren Zhixian, who sat there rigidly, and felt a slight displeasure. This man was clearly trying to spoil the mood intentionally. What sort of mindset did he have?
"Mother, we’ll come over to accompany you tomorrow!" Shi Yumei said with a smile as she got up.
"Cough, cough!" Upon hearing Shi Yumei’s words, Ren Zhixian coughed dramatically and covertly gestured to her with his eyes.
Shi Fengju was slightly surprised and observed quietly from the side.
Shi Yumei’s expression paused for a moment, then as if suddenly realizing, she turned back to clasp Mrs. Wang’s arm and said with a smile, "Mother, I’ll sleep with you tonight! I want to be by your side!"
"This—" Mrs. Wang looked at Ren Zhixian for a sign of approval, but Ren Zhixian’s gaze wandered evasively as if he hadn’t noticed.
"It’s settled then, Mother! I’ll stay with you!" Shi Yumei said cheerfully.
"Well, alright, that’s settled! Mother is more than happy!" Mrs. Wang chuckled affectionately and patted the back of her hand.
"Cui Zhu, let’s go!" Ren Zhixian looked up and called for Cui Zhu.
Mrs. Wang’s expression changed slightly, and Shi Fengju’s gaze sharpened: Was it not bullying? On his first day at his mother-in-law’s house, in front of his mother-in-law, brother-in-law, and principal wife, he brazenly called over his maid and concubine. And this maid was also his wife’s dowry maid, the only one serving her at present!
Just as Shi Fengju was about to speak, he heard his sister rebuke Cui Zhu with a low "What are you dawdling for? Hurry up and go!" so he closed his mouth in annoyance, watching Ren Zhixian leave with Cui Zhu in measured steps.
"I don’t want to say it, but this—," Mrs. Wang became annoyed.
"Mother!" Shi Yumei cooed: "Men, aren’t they all ? It’s just a maid, what of it!"
"You!" With her daughter saying so, what could a mother do?
"We should head back as well!" Shi Fengju held back his frustration, taking Sang Wan with him to leave. He, as the younger brother, was even less convenient to meddle in his sister’s household affairs.