"Second Brother," Shi Fengju said with a smile, "You will be staying in the capital for several months, and it’s inconvenient not having someone to look after you. This scholar is not like the usual young servants, it’s tough to find a suitable one, and the wrong choice might just add troubles. If you don’t mind, from now on, Shi Ming will follow you!"
"This—" Sang Yufei couldn’t help but look at Shi Ming. Seeing Shi Ming nodding and smiling slightly, he knew Shi Fengju had already mentioned it to him beforehand.
"Brother-in-law means well, Second Brother, just accept it! I find Shi Ming to be very smart and agile! It’s just that I owe brother-in-law another favor now!" Sang Hong smiled and clasped his hands together. He was a bit worried about his younger brother going so far away alone. Moreover, Shi Ming had been running around helping a lot these days, proving to be a very clever and honest person.
"Thank you for the praise, Uncle!" Shi Ming grinned broadly, giving a bow.
Everyone laughed upon seeing this.
"Big Brother, don’t be so formal! That’s settled then!" Shi Fengju playfully scolded Shi Ming, "Look how clever you are! Listen well, from today onwards, you are no longer a person of the Shi family, you are Second Master Sang’s scholar. Go and salute your new master! Do your duties well, don’t disgrace me!"
"Yes, young master!" Shi Ming hurriedly kowtowed to Sang Yufei acknowledging his new master, feeling somewhat reluctant to leave his old master, and after getting up he looked eagerly at Shi Fengju, "Then, will I still be able to see the young master in the future?"
"What nonsense!" Shi Fengju was both amused and annoyed, "Our families are now related by marriage, it would be hard not to meet in the future! I wonder what you are even thinking!" He then turned to Sang Yufei, "Second Brother, Shi Ming is your scholar now. If he ever becomes arrogant, speaks out of turn, disobeys, or doesn’t follow rules, feel free to punish or even sell him as you see fit. You needn’t consider my feelings!"
"The person brother-in-law gives won’t be like that! You are worrying too much! Still, I’ll remember what you said!" Sang Yufei said with a laugh.
"I will definitely serve Second Master well, please rest assured, young master!" Shi Ming straightened his back, making a solemn promise. Among Shi Fengju’s trusted servants, Chang Huan was mainly responsible for external matters, while he often served in the study. The last time Shi Fengju commanded him to serve Ren Zhixian, Ren Zhixian severely criticized him. Privately, Shi Ming was furious, thinking to himself that he was a professional who had served the young master for many years without a single complaint from him. Now, following Sang Yufei, Shi Ming silently vowed to prove himself, determined not to let Sang Yufei find any faults, thinking you doubt my ability to serve in the study? Now I am serving a top scholar, maybe next year I will even serve a top scholar in the imperial examination! Then you’ll see if I can serve in the study or not.
After Shi Fengju and Sang Wan left, the Sang family started to account for the gifts they’ve received in the past few days.
Little did they know until they counted – they were taken aback. After being busy for most of the day, they tallied nearly a thousand acres of fertile land, over four thousand taels in gold and silver, plus antique calligraphy and paintings, decorative items, the Four Treasures of the Study, ginseng, bird’s nests, silk fabrics, clothing, shoes, and hats all adding up to nearly two to three hundred pieces, the value of which was too massive to be estimated at once.
The family couldn’t help but worry, uncertain how to prepare for return gifts of such value. And while it was manageable with gold and silver, because they could purchase gifts, the real items given by others were inconvenient to be regifted. In addition, even if the few thousand taels was sufficient, how to purchase suitable items was another matter, especially considering that their small town, Yangliu Town, might not have the best offerings!
Both Sang Hong and Sang Yufei couldn’t help feeling a headache, realizing returning gifts was indeed a challenging task!
And yet, this matter couldn’t wait. In another month, Sang Yufei would set off for the capital, and when visiting the Shi family, he would need to stay for at least ten to eight days. Thus, counting the days, he would need to leave home by mid- to late-October at the latest.
"Eldest Master, Second Master, don’t worry too much," Shi Ming came forward with a soothing smile, "The son-in-law has instructed me that in a few days, someone will make another trip here. The Shi Mansion has yet to send a congratulatory gift to Second Master!"
The hearts of Sang Hong and Sang Yufei immediately eased, and they couldn’t help but exhale, saying, "Thank goodness for the brother-in-law, otherwise this matter would have been tough indeed!"
Sang Hong then told Sang Yufei, "When you go to the Shi family, make sure to get along well and exchange knowledge with the Third Young Master of the Shi family, as a way to partly repay the brother-in-law!"
"Rest assured, big brother! The Third Young Master and I get along very well, we really enjoy each other’s company!" Sang Yufei said with a smile.
"That’s good to hear! Now I’m truly relieved!" Sang Hong said, laughing. He had been a bit worried since the Third Young Master from the Shi family was the beloved youngest child and might inevitably be proud and have the temperament of a young master. He had been thinking of giving his second brother a good admonition to, for the sake of the brother-in-law, wholeheartedly and effusively interact with the Third Young Master. But now, it turned out the two actually got along!
"Oh!" Mrs. Fang suddenly smiled and spoke, "Yesterday, Aunt Wang from Yangliu Bay came to talk to me, Second Brother, you’re not getting any younger. You’ve always been studying for examinations, fearing it might affect your performance. Now that you’ve placed in the Xie Yuan,