"Dad! Mom! I’m hungry, I don’t want to sleep! I can’t sleep on an empty stomach!" Shi Yulin became anxious upon hearing her father say this.
"It’s all my fault! I’m useless!" Mrs. Gui was also regretful to death; had she known such an affair would occur, she should not have refused Liu Ya’s offer to send someone! If they confront each other tomorrow, wouldn’t it be disadvantageous for her? Mrs. Gui quickly blamed herself and then said, "Actually, the maid beside the First Madam mentioned sending someone for me, but I refused because I didn’t want to trouble them. Third Madam, please don’t blame the First Madam..."
"Hmph!" Third Madam Shi coldly said, "If she were sensible and truly respected us as elders, even if you declined she would have definitely sent someone. Once you declined, she just took the opportunity to back off, clearly showing she never intended to!"
Third Madam Shi, frowning, glanced at her hungry daughter who was crying, couldn’t help but feel heartbroken and said sternly, "Don’t stop me! I am going to find her!" After saying that, she called Yingxia and other maids, ready to head out.
"Stop right there!" Third Master Shi also became anxious and quickly grabbed her, whispering sternly, "What are you making a fuss about at this time!"
"It’s you who’s making a fuss at this time!" Third Madam Shi responded unapologetically, "Let go of me!"
"You are not allowed to go!"
Seeing their parents arguing, Shi Yuzhen and Shi Yulin, the sisters, were all frightened. Shi Yulin also forgot to cry for hunger, her eyelashes wet with tears, she looked dazedly and involuntarily hid in her sister’s arms.
"Master, Madam, the cousin has arrived!" Suddenly a maid reported, temporarily interrupting their argument.
"Cousin? Fangzi!" Third Madam Shi was startled, "Why has she come!"
"Stop making a fuss!" Third Master Shi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, "The guest is here, they mean well! Please have them come in!"
What a timely rain! Third Master Shi secretly wiped off some sweat; he knew his wife always paid attention to decorum and face, and naturally she would stop making a fuss once guests arrived.
"Yes, Master!" The little maid promptly responded and went out to invite Gu Fangzi and Lan Xiang in.
"Third Uncle, Third Aunt!" Gu Fangzi removed her dark green cloak, wearing a cream-colored wool skirt, and walked forward smilingly to greet Third Master Shi and his wife, then after paying respects, she nodded and greeted Shi Yuzhen and her sisters with a smile, "Second Cousin, Fourth Cousin!"
"Fangzi, please sit down!" Third Madam Shi indeed collected her anger, politely and cheerfully welcomed Gu Fangzi, "Coming here so late, is there something matter?"
Gu Fangzi thanked her and sat down, then laughed, "Nothing much! I just heard that Third Uncle and Third Aunt moved today, and specially came to visit and greet!"
"Hehe, you are thoughtful! Still thinking of us!" Third Madam Shi couldn’t help feeling somewhat touched. Neither of her sisters-in-law had said a word or sent someone to check on them, but Gu Fangzi still remembered them!
"Third Aunt, you are too kind! It’s just proper!" Gu Fangzi replied shyly, laughing again, "I didn’t bring any valuable gifts for Third Uncle and Third Aunt, just some homemade mung bean cake and pine nut osmanthus sugar. Please try them, Third Uncle, Third Aunt, and both cousins!" As she spoke, she signaled Lan Xiang to bring them out, and coyly smiled, "They are just some humble things, please don’t laugh at them!"
"I want to eat! Oh, oh! There’s food!" Shi Yulin’s eyes lit up upon hearing about mung bean cake and pine nut osmanthus sugar, her face full of excitement, she clapped her hands and cheered, rushing over before Shi Yuzhen could even hold her back.
"Xiaolin!" Third Madam Shi’s face also slightly changed, she grabbed her younger daughter who was reaching for the pastries and scolded, "Xiaolin!"
Smelling the aroma of mung bean cake and pine nut osmanthus sugar and seeing it almost within reach, Shi Yulin pouted with a crying tone, feeling wronged, "Mom is bad, not letting me eat the mung bean cake, I’m so hungry! I’m really hungry!"
"You!" Third Madam Shi felt both heartache and anger, at a loss for words.
"Sister, be good!" Shi Yuzhen smiled awkwardly at Gu Fangzi and quickly grabbed Shi Yulin’s hand to take her to the side.
"No!" Shi Yulin refused to leave and simply started crying loudly.
"What’s wrong with Fourth Cousin!" Gu Fangzi anxiously embraced Shi Yulin, gently wiped her tears with a handkerchief, handed her a piece of mung bean cake, and softly smiled, "Here, your cousin gives you this, be good, don’t cry!" Gu Fangzi also smiled apologetically at Third Madam Shi, "I’m not an outsider, I’m more than happy if Fourth Cousin likes to eat, please don’t blame her!"
Shi Yulin nestled comfortably in front of her, took the sweet mung bean cake and started eating, finishing a piece quickly, her mouth puffed up as she mumbled with a mouthful, "Want more!"
"Eat slowly, be careful not to choke!" Gu Fangzi chuckled and gently patted her back, fetching another piece for her. Glancing around, she smiled lightly at Third Madam Shi and Shi Yuzhen, "I made these myself, they really taste pretty good, Third Aunt and Second Cousin should also try them!"
Shi Yuzhen’s stomach was also burning with hunger, but being older, she wasn’t as straightforward as Shi Yulin. Hearing this, she couldn’t help but look towards her mother, her eyes full of longing and pleading that she could not hide.
"Since it’s your cousin’s kind gesture, go ahead and try it!" Third Madam Shi sighed softly.
"Mhm, Dad, Mom, you try it too!" Shi Yuzhen first handed it to her parents. Third Master Shi doesn’t eat sweets and smiled shaking his head, Third Madam Shi also picked up a piece and started eating, then Shi Yuzhen ate as well.
"By the way," Gu Fangzi looked puzzled, and with an apologetic smile said, "just now Fourth Cousin said she was hungry, could it be... Third Uncle, Third Aunt, you haven’t had dinner tonight?"