"Your young master and lady, are they really waiting for us?" Mrs. Fang didn’t believe it, and looked at Chang Huan with suspicion.
"Oh, listen to what you are saying!" Chang Huan forced a smile, meaning it couldn’t be clearer — who doesn’t know that today the lady’s natal family members are coming to acknowledge their kin!
"Alright Axian, let’s not keep Awan and brother-in-law waiting any longer, let’s go!" Chang Huan was a reliable person, so Sang Hong naturally trusted him. He believed his sister was not someone who would deny her own kin; perhaps there really had been a misunderstanding before. It’s understandable! After all, the Shi family has a big family business, countless relatives and friends, and many visitors during festivals; it’s excusable if the servants got confused in the hustle and bustle.
Sang Hong tended to think the best of people, but Mrs. Fang thought differently. Especially after the humiliation she had just suffered, it was impossible for it to be completely wiped away by Chang Huan’s words.
All she did was snort coldly and said, "If they really are waiting for us, then let them come and pick us up! We’ll just wait right here! Ah, a quarter of an hour, if they don’t come, then we will go back! We can’t neglect the stuff waiting to be done at home!"
Chang Huan was dumbfounded, and the smile on his face was very strained, "This, this—"
"Don’t pull on me! Your name is Chang Huan, right? Go and tell your young master and lady right now! A quarter of an hour, remember that!" Mrs. Fang glared at Sang Hong but still spoke.
"Yes, this slave will go right now! I’m going!" Chang Huan hurriedly nodded and dashed away.
Seeing it was already past noon and brother and sister-in-law were still nowhere to be seen, message absent, Sang Wan couldn’t help but think of what happened on this day in her past life, feeling anxious and suffocated, almost bursting into tears. Shi Fengju hurriedly consoled her with kind words.
"Young master! Lady! Your uncle and aunt have already arrived, Chang Huan is leading them in!" Finally, someone ran in and reported.
"Really!’’ Sang Wan’s eyes brightened, and she stood up.
She was always graceful and composed, it was rare to see her flustered, Shi Fengju couldn’t help but smile, "Don’t panic, since they are here now it’s all good! I’ll go and greet them, you can come slowly!"
"Okay! Thank you, young master!" Sang Wan nodded continuously, her smile blooming like a flower.
So, the outgoing Shi Fengju met the returning Chang Huan who had delivered Mrs. Fang’s message. Feeling it necessary to give the young master a heads up, he relayed the situation. Shi Fengju halted briefly, his brow furrowing, "Check what happened. There was no disrespect towards uncle and aunt, right?"
"This slave wouldn’t dare!" Chang Huan quickly straightened up to reply.
Shi Fengju nodded, "Let’s go, lead the way!"
Only when Sang Hong and Mrs. Fang saw Shi Fengju did they finally feel relieved.
After hearing from Chang Huan, Mrs. Fang’s mood had actually calmed down a lot, and Sang Hong had persuaded her again, with Shi Fengju’s arrival and his thorough etiquettes, always smiling and respectfully calling "big brother, sister-in-law," Mrs. Fang didn’t show any emotions. Sang Hong and Shi Fengju exchanged greetings, while she only followed behind holding her children.
"I’m really sorry for neglecting big brother and sister-in-law! Please come in! Miss Wan is waiting at the second gate!" Shi Fengju gestured invitingly with his hand.
"Brother-in-law is considerate! No need for such formalities among family!" Sang Hong cupped his hands.
After entering the second gate, as soon as Sang Wan saw them, she smiled joyfully and came forward, kneeling down, "Big brother, sister-in-law! You have finally arrived!" she said, grasping Mrs. Fang’s arm, her face full of joy.
Mrs. Fang’s heart softened too, and she smiled, quickly calling Sang Xiaoquan and sister to come forward and call "Auntie," Sang Xiaoquan and sister obediently greeted, and Sang Xiaonuan looked up admiringly, "Auntie is so beautiful!"
Everyone couldn’t help but laugh, Sang Wan affectionately pinched her cheek, and laughingly said, "Our Xiaonuan will grow up to be even more beautiful!"
The group returned to Ningyuan, and after the maids brought in water for them to wash up, Sang Wan mentioned to Shi Fengju, "Shall we go to see mother? My big brother and sister-in-law haven’t seen her yet!"
Shi Fengju looked at the time and smiled, "Big brother and sister-in-law must be hungry after the journey, let’s eat first! Mother might already be taking her nap, it won’t hurt to see her later!"
Sang Wan then instructed Mrs. Li to personally check and to inform Mrs. Jiang. Mrs. Li agreed and left.
Ningyuan then called for the meal to be served.
Being young, Sang Xiaoquan and sister didn’t join at the table, so Sang Wan ordered clean dishes to be set aside for them and asked Liu Ya to take them to an adjacent room to eat. The four adults then sat down by host and guest distinctions.
Sang Hong and Mrs. Fang were indeed very hungry and didn’t delay. Mrs. Fang was still concerned about the children and worried they might be disruptive, hastily and hurriedly ate, then softly told Sang Wan she would go check on the children.
Sang Wan smiled and went with her.
With only Shi Fengju and Sang Hong left at the table, Shi Fengju signaled to dismiss the maids and after exchanging a few pleasentries, smiled and asked, "Did big brother and sister-in-law have a smooth journey?"
"It was fine." Sang Hong paused, then smiled and nodded.
Shi Fengju also smiled and hesitantly said, "I heard from Chang Huan that you were visited at the residence, was there an incident? Brother, please don’t mind, there’s no other meaning to my question, just worried that the servants might not know the rules and might have offended big brother and sister-in-law. Whatever it is, you can just tell me!"
Sang Hong shook his head lightly and casually smiled, "Brother-in-law is overthinking! No, really, there was nothing! Haha, isn’t everything fine now, what could there be!"