Upon hearing Wang Shi’s order, Nanny Jiang stepped forward to help Sang Yufei. Shi Yumei could not help but open her mouth to speak. However, Sang Yufei interjected with a smile and raised his hand to refuse Nanny Jiang’s help. Together with Shi Lian, he knelt in front of Wang Shi and said with a smile, “How can we forget traditions? Mother, please accept this cup of tea!”


  Everyone froze and then started smiling very soon. “Alright, alright,” Wang Shi smiled and said delightedly before drinking the tea they offered without hesitation. After acknowledging them, she gave them a gift.

  When it was Second Old Master Shi, Third Old Master Shi, and their wives’ turn, they declined to receive his kowtow. Sang Yufei insisted and bowed at the very least.

  After the ceremony ended, they went to the ancestral hall to pray to the ancestors. Then, Second Old Master Shi and his brother, as well as Shi Fengju, invited Sang Yufei to the reception pavilion to have a talk. Naturally, Shi Lian followed her mother-in-law and two aunts to tell them in detail about her experiences in the Sang family and how well she was getting along with her eldest sister-in-law. She also listened respectfully to her mother’s guidance.

  Wang Shi then said with a smile, “I didn’t expect you to be so blessed as to become the wife of an official! You have to remember to serve your husband well in the future and be filial to his sister-in-law! Don’t throw away our Shi family’s reputation! As long as you live your life comfortably, I won’t have anything to worry about when I reunite with your late father!”


  Shi Lian stood up hurriedly and bowed in acknowledgement.

  Wang Shi didn’t have much to say to her. After asking her briefly how she was, she instructed her to return to Fu Qu Lodge to rest. When her gaze landed on Shi Yumei, who was staring at Shi Lian the entire time, she said with a smile, “Yumei, since you happen to have nothing to do, why don’t you see her off? It’ll be hard for the two of you to meet in the future!”


  Wang Shi put a lot of thought into it. All she hoped was for Shi Yumei to be on good terms with Shi Lian so that Sang Yufei could help Ren Zhixian in the future. Shi Yumei was reluctant at first, but after thinking about something, she finally agreed and went out together with Shi Lian.

  Knowing that Shi Lian would be returning, the servants had already been sent to tidy up Fu Qu Lodge. Therefore, by the time Shi Lian and Shi Yumei arrived, tea and refreshments were ready to be served.

  Shi Lian did not have much to say to Wang Shi, let alone Shi Yumei. Upon arrival, she racked her brain to come up with an excuse to make Shi Yumei leave. However, Shi Yumei took the initiative to sit down before eyeing her with a smile.

  As a result, it became difficult for Shi Lian to speak, so she instructed Cai Yun and the rest to serve tea.

  Shi Yumei dismissed the servants and eyed Shi Lian with a smile, “Are you used to living in the Sang family? How is their family? Do they treat you well?”


  Shi Lian could sense that something was amiss and she forced a smile as she replied, “They are all very nice and they treat me well.”


  “That should be the case!” Shi Yumei sighed softly and said, “It’s their blessing for a lady like us to marry into their family. They’ll definitely treat you well! I’m only afraid that our own servants are more knowledgeable and sensible than them! Since they’ve seen our family’s grandness, they definitely have to treat you like a deity! Oh, Third Sister. You’re really lucky to marry into a small household to avoid being mistreated. Although they are poor and simple, it’s actually not a bad thing! By the way, what kind of dowry did Mother arrange for you? I’m sure she included many hectares of fertile land, right? The Sang family has certainly struck it big this time! Where would they ever find such a good marriage!”


  Shi Lian suddenly felt uncomfortable as if she had swallowed a fly. The Sang family treated her as a close relative; she had gotten pretty close with her eldest sister-in-law, and her nephew and niece greeted her very fondly. Deep down, she had regarded them as close relatives as well. Thus, when she heard Shi Yumei’s words, they sounded ear-piercing to the ear.

  However, Shi Lian held herself back. She did not retort in the end and only returned a faint smile.

  It was not that she did not want to or did not dare, but she could not. She had married better than Shi Yumei, so it was only human nature for her to be jealous. Today was the day for her to return home and Shi Yumei was used to being arrogant, overbearing, and not knowing what peace keeping meant. Shi Yumei would definitely seize the chance to make a big fuss if she said anything inappropriate. When that happened, there would be friction between the two families.

  However, Shi Yumei refused to let her off when she did not answer, and she went on to ask with a smile, “Third Sister, do I make sense? Am I wrong? (Sigh), the Sang family really knows how to scheme! You have always been honest and kind, but you’ve got to draw on your haughtiness in the future. Don’t lower the reputation of the Shi family and let them look down on us! I heard that your eldest sister-in-law has a very sharp mouth. If you end up being put into a difficult situation because of that rural vixen, it would bring shame to our family! “


  “Eldest Sister.” When Shi Lian heard those unbecoming words, she said softly with a smile, “A woman has always listened to her husband. I am not more knowledgeable or tactful than you, but what I do know is that I have to serve my husband and be filial to my eldest brother-in-law and his wife. I dare not listen to all that you have said.”


  “That’s why I said that you’re honest!” Shi Yumei snorted. “Like, what can they do to you? Haven’t they clearly gained from the marriage? Don’t you feel wronged that you have to marry someone who come from a family of a lower status than ours? “


  Shi Lian answered, “A married woman should listen to her husband. My marriage was arranged by Mother. No matter what, I will accept readily.”


  Shi Lian’s intention was to express that she did not have any undesired thoughts about her marriage, so she wanted Shi Yumei to stop! There was nothing more that had to be said.

  Unexpectedly, Shi Yumei let out a pitiful sigh and said softly, “Third Sister, look at how wronged you must’ve been to say that! You are really too honest! Why didn’t you say so earlier if you’re unhappy with the marriage? Even if you cannot bring yourself to tell Mother, you could have written to me and I would have helped you!”


  Before Shi Yumei finished, Sang Wan and Liu Ya came in. Shi Lian’s face immediately turned pale.

  Shi Yumei was secretly satisfied. She pretended not to have seen Sang Wan and told Shi Lian, “(Sigh), it’s too late to change or regret what’s already done! Oh, what to do? Only time can help you to accept it. Still, if you don’t wish to go to the capital and suffer, why don’t I speak to Mother about it? Maybe she can use the excuse of being unable to bear separating with you to make you stay a while longer!”


  “Eldest Sister!” Shi Lian was so anxious that tears almost burst out from her eyes. Before Shi Yumei could continue, Shi Lian hurriedly interrupted, “When did I have such intentions or said such a thing! Please don’t misunderstand me! I never meant that!”


  “We’re sisters, not strangers. There’s no need to hide anything from me!” Shi Yumei looked like a caring elder sister as she scolded Shi Lian, who dismissed her suggestion anxiously. Then, she pretended to glance inadvertently at the door and stopped what she was going to say before smiling, “Oh my, Sister Sang Wan, you’re here! (Chuckle)… did you just arrive?”


  “Eldest Sister, Third Sister!” Sang Wan came in with a smile and said, “I’m here to see Sister Shi Lian. I didn’t expect Sister Yumei to be here too.”


  Shi Yumei got up and answered with a smile, “In that case, I won’t disturb the both of you. I’ll head over to my mother’s place.”


  “Sister Yumei, take care!” Sang Wan smiled and nodded.

  “Sister Sang Wan, I…” Shi Lian hurriedly stood up.

  “Third Sister!” Sang Wan held onto her hand and pinched it slightly. “There is no need to explain to me. How can I not know your character!”


  “Sister Sang Wan, you… you really believe me?” Shi Lian felt both shocked and happy as she anxiously looked at Sang Wan with teary eyes.

  Sang Wan sighed quietly to herself. Some people just could not stand seeing others doing better than them! They see others as undeserving and would incite disharmony so as to feel better.

  “Of course!” Sang Wan nodded and said with a smile, “If I don’t even know this, I would have known you for nothing! If you really did look down on my family, then you wouldn’t have asked me for advice last time!”


  “Sister Sang Wan! Thank you!” Shi Lian blinked her eyes and turned around. She hurriedly invited Sang Wan to sit down and instructed the servants to serve tea as she raised her handkerchief to dab her eyes.

  Her eldest sister was too crafty and vicious. She seized the loophole in her words caused by a moment of negligence to twist them and force logic onto her. Not only was she rude and arrogant, her false reasoning was, without a doubt, clear and logical. If Sang Wan had any negative opinions because of that and brought it up to her family, Shi Lian knew that her future in the Sang family was destined to be miserable. Although her husband was in love with her, she knew very well how much he respected his eldest brother, and eldest sister-in-law, and cherished his family.

  Sang Wan smiled and changed the topic, “Have you gotten used to the environment there? My eldest brother and sister-in-law are easy to get along with, I didn’t deceive you, right?”


  “Yes,” Shi Lian nodded with a smile. Talking about her husband’s family, her eyes turned gentle and she could not help but smile as she brought them up. Of course, there was a disagreement which led her to dismiss the three servants that were given to her. The servants were servants after all. Even though they followed her to the Sang family, they still regarded themselves as the Shi family’s servants and behaved arrogantly. However, Shi Lian did not mention such an upsetting matter to Sang Wan.

  When Sang Wan heard that Shi Lian was getting along well with her eldest brother and sister-in-law, she was completely relieved. Her eldest sister-in-law was a nice person, but not everyone could tolerate her temper. Shi Lian had a gentle character and did not behave like a haughty young lady, which was just about compatible. If her second brother had married a true young lady from a wealthy family or a government official’s family, she was afraid that the situation would not be the same.

  “By the way, did Second Uncle and Aunt cause any trouble?” Upon thinking of Sang Pingliang and his wife, Sang Wan worriedly asked.

  Since Shi Lian was the new daughter-in-law, it was not convenient for Fang Shi to tell her about the complicated family conflict. In case Second Aunt Sang decided to sow discord or speak out of line and ended up pulling Shi Lian to side with them without being aware of the situation, Fang Shi would certainly be unhappy. Therefore, Sang Wan felt it was necessary to let her know about the history between the Sang family and their extended family.

  “They didn’t.” Shi Lian shook her head. She hesitated for a moment before she spoke again, “About Second Uncle and Aunt, my husband has told me about them and said that I should consult my eldest sister-in-law if problems arise and look to her for a decision.” With that, she continued with a smile, “In any case, we’ll be going to the capital soon. We might not even have the chance to see them!”