Chapter 54 V2 : Abacus (1/2)
Wang Shi was pleased and proudly glanced at Old Mistress Zhuang in the eye.
Feeling discontented and helpless at the same time, Old Mistress Zhuang remained silent. However, the one to speak up was Old Mistress Li and she smiled, “Staying true to the facts, I may have strayed a little on my judgement. From the way I see it, why don’t we send the two’s best and most appreciated work to the gentlemen in the house and have them do the judging? How about it?”
In many households, there would be two or three gentlemen who were knowledgeable in the world of poetry. The proposed idea to kick the ball out by Old Mistress Li was so as not to offend either party.
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Wang Shi was already completely satisfied, for at least the Shi family marrying such a daughter-in-law in would not have any dissatisfaction from the public anymore. And so, why not be generous? Wang Shi grinned, “No need for this to become so troublesome! Miss Tang coming here from afar isn’t easy, so we’ll let her have the perfume!”
A bottle of Western perfume may seem rare to find for other families, but for the Shi family, obtaining one by their own means was nothing! Something like that bottle was not very important to Wang Shi.
Wang Shi was full of generosity, but little did she know that her words were of a great insult to Old Mistress Zhuang and Miss Tang; as if they were really contesting for the bottle of perfume!
Miss Tang had eaten a loss for being a guest from afar. Although her heart felt extremely embarrassed, it would be inconvenient for her to say anything. As such, Old Mistress Zhuang became the one to speak, ” Ai, that cannot be the case! How can we change what has been set? The perfume’s a small matter!” With that said, she immediately ordered for the four chosen poetry to be sent out.
“Really, taking my kindness for granted!” Wang Shi became angry and snapped.
Seeing the gunpowder in the air, the crowd quickly laughed and greeted the event as the past.
Old Mistress Zhuang’s sister-in-law, Old Mistress Jiang, was somewhat annoyed. With a shallow smile, she sneered, “If I may say, it’s not as if the Shi family’s young master is taking the imperial examinations, so isn’t these poetry somewhat irrelevant to Young Mistress Shi! The Shi business is so huge, so shouldn’t it need someone to help in managing the household? Oh, I forgot. I heard that Old Mistress Shi let her niece, who grew up in the household, do it instead! No wonder the Shi family’s Young Mistress had so much time on her hands to read poetry because there was someone to carry all that huge burden!”
Old Mistress Jiang’s words caused the crowd to turn silent in an instant.
Gu Fangzi and Shi Fengju being lovey-dovey was something known throughout the whole of Qingzhou city. What Old Mistress Jiang did was inciteful, with words of sarcasm. A string of words which brought about ridicule to Sang Wan for being ignorant, and also Old Mistress Wang for putting up an act; to boast about Sang Wan when she obviously valued her niece, Gu Fangzi, more!
That was a thorn in Wang Shi’s heart. Hearing those words, she was dismayed and furious. However, she knew not how to cover up, but subconsciously went to look at how her daughter-in-law would react.
Sang Wan’s heart was furious and embarrassed. Saying that she did not blame her mother-in-law was impossible. It had been clear that the engagement had been set between her and Shi Fengju, yet she had let the relationship between Shi Fengju and Gu Fangzi continue, and to even go as far as encouraging them!
But the die had already been cast, and what had already been established could neither be changed by her, nor expressed by her. Seeing Wang Shi giving her a glance, Sang Wan felt even more embarrassed and awkward. How she wished she could cry this bitterness away.
“Mother-in-law is kind and had accepted Cousin Fangzi into the household since young. So how is that wrong?My cousin-in-law is entirely grateful and wishes to return the favor, isn’t it normal for humans? As for how I am, what has that got to do with my cousin-in-law? Old Mistress Jiang’s words truly puzzle me!” Sang Wan’s tone was gentle, but one could feel the chill in those words as her brilliant eyes looked at Old Mistress Jiang. There was no anger or flaunting of power as she displayed her virtuousness.
Old Mistress Jiang was pushed to a corner by her manner. Feeling a little guilty, she remained her strong front and she sneered, “Although you may not understand, that doesn’t mean your mother-in-law doesn’t!”
Wang Shi snapped angrily, “I don’t understand too! Sang Wan is our Shi family’s daughter-in-law, and will become the person in-charge of our household in the future! This fact will never change! Old Mistress Jiang coming at us with such provocative words, just what is the meaning of that?”
Sang Wan quickly smiled, “Mother, I think Old Mistress Jiang is only being concern, worrying that your daughter-in-law isn’t virtuous enough and that she’ll not be able to be a support for her husband! She’s worried about our Shi family! Do not worry, Old Mistress Jiang, for Sang Wan will not let you worry any longer! The Shi family being the head of riches would continue in the long run! Managing the household, and managing the business records, Sang Wan dare not flaunt her little knowledge of it!”
“Oh? Other than writing poetry, does the Shi family’s young mistress know how to use the abacus as well? Could you let us witness it for a bit!”Old Mistress Jiang saw Old Mistress Zhuang’s darkened face, and could not help but become secretly angry. How she wished Sang Wan would embarrass herself in front of the crowd, exposing that ugly self; just like the saying to kill the snake and show the stick.
“That’s it! If even using the abacus is difficult, then you’re not fit to be the Shi family’s daughter-in-law! Don’t you say so, Sister Wang?” Old Mistress Zhuang laughed.
Wang Shi did not speak, and she glanced at Sang Wan.
“Then please, may I have Old Mistress Zhuang bring me an abacus! Sang Wan hopes not to disappoint everyone here!” Sang Wan remained fearless and smiled.