Chapter 152: Third Shi Family is coming back (1/2)

Sang Wan secretly complained. She had never been in charge of such a major family matter before. With New Year around the corner, she had to deal with the cleaning and decorations, offerings to be offered to the ancestors, hospitality, annual gifts for friends and relatives, rewards for the servants, as well as food and clothing for the entire family. Even with the help from Nanny Li, Zhide, Liu Ya and the rest, the household department servants would regularly find fault in her management, putting her under immense pressure. Now that the Third Shi family was coming back, wouldn’t she have to make arrangements for them and their servants? It’d be great if the Third Shi family was easy going and understanding, but if they were like Shi Yumei and her husband, then she would have to forget about spending her new year peacefully!

“They didn’t seem to have included their reason in the letter. We’ll have to wait until they arrive before asking. Really, why didn’t they write back earlier if they were returning? Don’t they know it’s soon to be New Year? Fancy them on the road at such a time!” Wang Shi sighed.

Shi Fengju pointed at the letter and laughed, “Mother, you have wronged Third Uncle! This letter was sent two and a half months ago; something must have happened on its way here that delayed the delivery!” Shi Fengju raised his brows and said, “Third Uncle might also be delayed on his way here. We should get his house tidied, who knows when he will arrive!”

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“Right, right!” Wang Shi turned to Sang Wan and said, “Sang Wan, we’ll have to trouble you further. When you go back, instruct the servants to begin the arrangements! Your third uncle and third aunt haven’t returned since seven to eight years ago, so don’t make them feel wronged else it’ll be embarrassing for our family!”

Although Wang Shi bore a grudge against Third Shi Family’s Old Master Shi Guanghui and Third Shi Family’s Old Mistress Zhang Shi, they were still family after all and she would never mistreat them.

“Yes…Mother!” Sang Wan bowed and answered calmly. It was her duty, there was no way for her to escape from it anyway.

“I remember that Third Uncle and Third Aunt used to live in Qing Hui Garden, but it’s impossible to finish cleaning it in time since that place has been left empty for so many years. Why don’t we pick another place for them and tidy it up for them to stay first before deciding again next year?” Shi Fengju said with a smile.

“This,” Wang Shi hesitated and said, “This isn’t good. They had always stayed in Qing Hui Garden. Other places won’t be as grand as Qing Hui Garden, will they be unhappy if we change a place for them to stay? It’s going to be New Year soon, it won’t be propitious to create unhappiness within the household!”

“Third Uncle and Third Aunt aren’t like that. Mother, you’re thinking too much!” Shi Fengju laughed, “Qing Hui Garden has three yards and more than ten rooms of different sizes, just cleaning away the dust that’s been collecting might take a few days. The plants in the garden needs pruning, the aged doors and windows require changing, and not to mention the furniture, the list just goes on! They might even arrive before we are done, won’t that be worse then?”

Wang Shi suddenly became anxious. She couldn’t help but regret slightly. If she knew this day would arrive, she wouldn’t have locked up Qing Hui Garden in the first place and abandoned it rashly then things wouldn’t become this rushed.

“Alright then!” Wang Shi used to take charge of managing the household as well. Given that Qing Hui Garden was large and had been abandoned for many years, how could it be easy to give it an overhaul? It would only make things difficult for Sang Wan! As such, Wang Shi nodded and said, “Then, get Ji Cui Tower ready first and let them stay there for now!”

Ji Cui Tower was situated at the southeastern side of the flower garden, with its entrance facing Peony Park. It had servants tidying it regularly, so only simple decoration was needed. There were eight rooms in total, which should be enough to accommodate the Third Shi family. Since their journey back was long, the luggage they brought along should not be much. And even if they brought a number of luggage with them, they could all be stored in the storehouse without any trouble. As for the servants, having just a few who were closer to them to stay together in Ji Cui Tower would be enough. The rest of the servants could stay in the servants’ quarters in the household.

“Mother is right, Ji Cui Tower is quite appropriate. Oh right, my two cousins are no longer considered young anymore. I’m afraid they won’t be staying together with Third Uncle and Third Aunt. We’ll have to prepare another place for them to stay.”

How troublesome! Wang Shi frowned at the thought, so she waved and said impatiently, “Anyway, just do whatever you think is appropriate!”

Shi Fengju smiled, “Han Shuang Pavilion, which is at the east of Ji Cui Tower, isn’t too small, we’ll settle with that then! I think my two cousins have at most four to five servants so it won’t be crowded.”

Wang Shi nodded and smiled to Sang Wan, “Sang Wan, you’ve heard it all, just make the arrangements accordingly! Hasten the preparations too! At least have the beddings and charcoals ready; this year’s winter is pretty cold! Who knows whether they’ve brought enough clothes with them, just prepare another two sets for each of them!”

Not caring about everything else, Sang Wan could only agree first and ask Nanny Li about the details when she returned back to Ning Garden. As of now, she was really clueless and did not even how Third Shi family looked like.

“Don’t just know how to say yes, you have to do it well! Your third uncle and third aunt are finally back after so many years, we mustn’t make them unhappy! Sister Sang Wan, you’ll have to be more meticulous!” Shi Yumei couldn’t help but cut into their conversation.

“Your big sister is right, you can leave everything else to the servants to handle first, just put all your focus into this!” Wang Shi nodded and said.

“Yes, Mother. Sang Wan understands!” Sang Wan hurriedly answered.

Shi Yumei glared at Shi Fengju and said, “Then you should do it well since you’ve already said so. Fengju rarely has the time to rest at home for a few days, so don’t go pushing everything to him once you go back! He shouldn’t be worrying about all these! Fengju, you are so overly-sensitive, Mother wasn’t asking you just now, so why did you answer instead? I remember that you didn’t use to care about what happened in the household!”

Feeling sorry as well, Wang Shi also stared at Shi Fengju and said, “Don’t interfere in women’s business, go and rest! If Ning Garden is too noisy, just come to your mother, no one will bother you during your rest!”