Chapter 40 (2/2)

Not asking would have been better! Sang Wan’s face turned flush, “I’ll go bring out the rice!”

s.h.i.+ Fengju looked at her flee into the dining area and became a slightly shaken but he shook his head and gave a smile. After settling his heart down, he slowly entered the dining area. However, his heart could not help but feel particularly pleased.

In a flash, it was almost the Double Fifth Festival and w.a.n.g s.h.i.+ suddenly called for Sang Wan to head over.

Sang Wan’s heart felt a little tensed and she quickly finished putting on her makeup before bringing along Nanny Li and Liu Ya with her.

From the depths of her mind surfaced a scene which happened in her past life where her own sister-in-law came up to the doorsteps to create a ruckus. The peace that Sang Wan had was once again disturbed.

Hopefully, everything would no longer be the same!

The festive gifts needed to be prepared for relatives and friends were done by Gu Fangzi. Sang Wan did not question it and w.a.n.g s.h.i.+ said nothing about it.

w.a.n.g s.h.i.+ only asked for someone to bring the gift list meant for her parental house and had her take a look. It was a Qingzhou custom that for the first festival after a woman gets married, the members of her parental house would come over as guests, and her husband’s family would need to prepare a gift to reciprocate to their courtesy.

Two jugs of realgar and calamus wine; four boxes of dumplings; two large carp; two live chickens, ducks, and goose each; ten pounds of pork belly; two tins of tea leaves; a pair of valuable vase; two pouches; two rolls of brocade; and a gold neck accessory for each child. Sang Wan received the list and read the above.

According to the Qingzhou customs, just preparing these would have been sufficient which the Sang family would prepare of a similar standard. However, in the list added two envelopes containing a hundred silver each.

Sang Wan’s face slightly changed as she stared at it without a word.

w.a.n.g s.h.i.+ at first did not take much notice of her change in expression but seeing so, she laughed, “Oh yes, it must’ve been hard on your brother and sister-in-law since your family’s condition isn’t quite good as of now so I had someone specially include two envelopes of silvers! If that is not enough, tell me and I’ll add more into them!”

w.a.n.g s.h.i.+ spoke like a day without rain; as if all was fine, but Sang Wan was doing her best to hold her expression back.

At this point, Sang Wan was able to conclude that it was not w.a.n.g s.h.i.+ who came out with the idea but was instigated by Gu Fangzi to have those envelopes added. To w.a.n.g s.h.i.+, she was doing a good deed; however, her actions were considered an insult in accordance with the customary rules.

For a homecoming gift, the generosity of the husband’s family is a representation of how much they valued the wife’s family. However, it was not the same this time around.

Sang Wan was clear of her own sister-in-law’s temperament. Her brother would definitely look at the gift with sadness for he would feel that he had let his own sister down, but her sister-in-law would definitely become furious that the s.h.i.+ family was looking down on them and that they had intended to ridicule them from the very start!

Right before Sang Wan could open her mouth to speak, she heard Gu Fangzi laugh, “Cousin Sang Wan, no need to feel uneasy, we aren’t distant, are we not? That gift is my aunt’s goodwill! Just look at how greatly Aunt w.a.n.g values Cousin Sang Wan!”

“Keke, Fangzi’s right, we’re relatives!” w.a.n.g s.h.i.+ laughed and looked at Sang Wan before speaking again, “It isn’t easy for your older brother and sister-in-law. When they’re here, accompany them and have a chat with them, will you? Oh, also have Fengju go with you.”

Deep down, Sang Wan was angst but she forced a polite smile on her face. Biting the bullet, she carefully worded her speech, “Sang Wan shall thank Mother for your goodwill on behalf of my older brother and sister-in-law! Only that, like what Mother said, we’re relatives, so there’s no need for the envelopes. Otherwise, my older brother and sister-in-law may not feel comfortable. If I may——”

“Cousin Sang Wan, just listen to what you’re saying!” Gu Fangzi laughed, “Already, Aunt w.a.n.g said that she had done it out of goodwill. Your older brother and sister-in-law would definitely see it as an elder doing good for them, so why would they not be at ease? Does Cousin Sang Wan think that Aunt w.a.n.g is trying to humiliate your brother and sister-in-law? If that is how Cousin Sang Wan thinks, then it would have been a waste for Aunt w.a.n.g to put in so much thoughts into it!”

Seeing w.a.n.g s.h.i.+’s face change to an unexpected, Sang Wan quickly stood up and bowed, “Sang Wan doesn’t dare! Sang Wan definitely did not mean it that way! Mother, Sang Wan only felt that the gift is too much…”

In the end, Nanny Li understood and smiled at a side, “This old servant wishes to speak, but isn’t sure if it is proper to do so!”

w.a.n.g s.h.i.+ would never argue with Nanny Li. Smiling, she requested, “Old sister, please speak!”

Nanny Li smiled and went on, “Miss, forgive this old servant for being discourteous but this time around, you’re in the wrong, Miss!”

“Oh? How am I wrong?” w.a.n.g s.h.i.+ began to ponder.

“How are you not?” Nanny Li smiled to answer, “Relatives would often exchange gifts which is a part and parcel of our custom. Miss truly is generous, but that may be met with others seeing the s.h.i.+ family as a family who shows off their wealth and looks down on their relatives!”

w.a.n.g s.h.i.+ was taken aback and she immediately understood. The smile on her face vanished and she spoke, “No doubt I’m wrong! Remove that! Sang Wan, I wasn’t thoughtful enough but I hope you won’t put that to heart and be angry at me!”

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