Mrs. Fang suddenly burst into laughter, glaring at Sang Wan, "What? Were you disappointed that I didn’t make a scene? Don’t laugh at me! It’s not that I wouldn’t have caused a scene, but it was only because your elder brother kept persuading me, and because I think the Shi family isn’t all bad and Shi Fengju himself has some redeeming qualities, otherwise I would have already caused a big fuss! Humph, to make them see they shouldn’t underestimate us!"
Sang Wan felt both frightened and angered within her heart. If a scene had really erupted, her mother-in-law would definitely be furious, and it would become a joke throughout the manor. Her elder brother and sister-in-law really have it tough.
"Eldest sister-in-law, I’m so sorry! It’s all Miss Wan’s fault, causing you two to be wronged!" Sang Wan stood up and kneeled deeply before Mrs. Fang in a solemn bow.
"Don’t do this!" Mrs. Fang hurriedly stood up and helped her up, seeing Sang Wan’s eyes were a bit moist, her own heart felt sour as well, gently patting her hand she softly said, "How could this be blamed on you! Ah, it’s not easy for you in such a major family! Alright, stop this, oh!"
"Um! Sister-in-law!" Sang Wan smiled brightly, thinking secretly in her heart, ’Someday, I will definitely get revenge for my brother and sister-in-law!’
"Hehe!" Observing her closely, Mrs. Fang exclaimed, "No wonder people say a Buddha needs gold and a person needs clothes, look at our Miss Wan, this getup truly— hehe, is beautiful! Really beautiful! You look just like a young madam from a wealthy family! Don’t you agree, Liu Ya?"
"Exactly! Who wouldn’t praise our mistress!" Liu Ya grinned proudly.
Mrs. Fang suddenly sighed and shook her head, speaking earnestly, "I still think, that Miss from another family, Miss Wan, you need to handle her quickly! Really, how can a girl from a relative’s family not understand her place! Does she think she can take over this household?"
Sang Wan silently clasped her forehead, her sister-in-law was as stubborn as ever! Trying to divert her attention was as difficult as ascending to heaven!
"Don’t worry, sister-in-law, I will!" Sang Wan’s face flushed slightly, becoming somewhat bashful as she lowered her head and whispered softly, "Mother-in-law said, said to let the cousin handle it for now, and asked me to, um, soon bless the Shi family with offspring..."
Mrs. Fang was taken aback for a moment before clapping her hands and laughing, "Exactly! That’s right too! Your mother-in-law has thought things through. Honestly, Miss Wan, you need to put in more effort, everything else is secondary, having a son is what truly provides peace of mind!"
"Mm!" Sang Wan’s face turned as red as a boiled shrimp.
Beside them, Shi Fengju and Sang Hong were also enjoying their time together, so Sang Wan and Mrs. Fang went out to join them, sitting down in the hall to drink tea.
Mrs. Fang glanced at the sky outside and made a signal with her eyes to Sang Hong.
Sang Hong then smiled and said, "Well, I wonder when it would be convenient to meet your mother-in-law?"
Shi Fengju replied with a smile, "No rush, big brother and sister-in-law, please rest first! It must have been tiring traveling from afar."
"If possible, we prefer to meet the mother-in-law first! It’s getting late, and we still need to head back home!" Mrs. Fang hurriedly said.
Shi Fengju and Sang Wan exchanged glances and then he laughed again, "Why the rush? Why don’t big brother and sister-in-law stay for the night and leave tomorrow? It will probably be dark by the time you get home!"
"Yes, sister-in-law, please stay and spend more time talking with me!" Sang Wan also pleaded.
Mrs. Fang had a negative impression of the Shi family, and initially didn’t want to stay any longer at all. Sang Hong also did not want to trouble his sister, but couldn’t resist Shi Fengju and Sang Wan’s repeated requests and reluctantly agreed.
After sitting idle for a while, Shi Fengju invited Sang Hong to the study to talk, while Sang Wan stayed behind to chat with Mrs. Fang. Liu Ya and others took Sang Xiaoquan and Sang Xiaonuan to play in the courtyard, and the staff were busy preparing the guest room.
When Mrs. Wang got up, Sang Wan sent someone to call from the study, and with Shi Fengju, her brother and sister-in-law, niece and nephew, they all went to meet her.
Mrs. Li had clearly explained to Mrs. Wang everything Mrs. Jiang told her, simply stating that Sang Hong and his wife were delayed on the road, Mrs. Wang didn’t mind and didn’t blame them, but instead asked a few caring questions. Seeing Sang Hong’s refined appearance and Mrs. Fang’s crisp and decisive manner, and though their children were a bit shy they were also pretty and charming, she was pleased and thought to herself: ’Scholar families, indeed different from ordinary folk!’
Seeing Mrs. Wang’s warm and courteous behavior, which, aside from her more lavish and elaborate dressing seemed no different from a typical elderly lady, Sang Hong and his wife reassured themselves, feeling that Sang Wan would not be mistreated.
The next morning after breakfast, Sang Hong and his wife took their children and went home. Shi Fengju originally wanted to send a carriage to escort them, but Sang Hong firmly refused, saying it was too much trouble and they would hire a carriage themselves. Shi Fengju had no option but to comply, and Chang Huan helped arrange for the carriage, personally seeing them off the city.
"These Shi family members are not bad, though wealthy, they don’t look down on others!" Mrs. Fang said gleefully on the carriage.
Sang Hong laughed and said, "See? What did I tell you yesterday? It was a misunderstanding! It’s good I stopped you; otherwise, if you had made a scene, what would Miss Wan do?"
Hearing this, Mrs. Fang awkwardly smiled but still was indignant and huffed, "Why should I be blamed for getting upset? Those dog slaves who look down on people! They are no better than us, really don’t know what they are so arrogant about!"
Sang Hong sighed, "Even on one hand not all fingers are the same length, in such a big household with nearly a hundred people, who can guarantee that all are decent? In the future, try not to act impulsively!"
"That’s right!" Mrs. Fang suddenly remembered and said, "Liu Ya said that yesterday’s incident was most likely caused by that cousin called Gu Fangzi, who is currently managing the Shi family’s inner courtyard! I could tell she was up to no good!"
"Liu Ya?" Sang Hong frowned, "How would Liu Ya know? Did you tell Miss Wan? Didn’t I instruct you not to mention it? Why bother!"
Mrs. Fang staggered, retorted, "Why can’t I mention it? Think about it, if Gu Fangzi really intends to make life difficult for Miss Wan, if we tell Miss Wan, at least she will be aware, right? Otherwise, Miss Wan would suffer their schemes without even knowing it!"