CHAPTER 295: CHAPTER 148: A VISIT OR JUST ADDING TO THE WOES_2

Gu Fangzi studied Shi Lian with both eyes, and then said to Shi Yumei with a smile, "Cousin seems to be in good spirits, it looks like your rest has been quite rewarding, and your mood isn’t bad either!"

Shi Yumei gave a slight smile and couldn’t help but make a barbed comment, "Indeed! I thought she must have felt aggrieved and upset, so I hurried over to visit and comfort her. It turns out that third younger sister knows quite well how to take care of herself; I was worried over nothing!"

Shi Lian’s face stiffened slightly, having been hurt out of the blue—how could she possibly not feel aggrieved at all? But she knew all too well that even if she felt wronged, what could she do about it? Expect her elder sister to apologize and admit fault? That was unthinkable to her! She was already very grateful for the care her elder brother and sister-in-law had shown her!

Little did she know, not showing her sadness and distress had now become yet another fault for her elder sister to pick at. Shi Lian knew that even if she did appear disheveled, with a gloomy expression, traces of tears on her face, and light worry between her brows, her elder sister would still be annoyed, convinced she was just putting on a show!

In a word, it was her fault no matter how you looked at it!

Shi Lian felt a rush of stifled anger in her heart, but she had always been able to endure. Keeping any sign of understanding Shi Yumei’s insinuations off her face, she looked down slightly embarrassedly and chuckled, "Actually, I’ve always preferred peace and quiet over hustle and bustle, so this doesn’t really bother me! I am just grateful that elder sister and cousin came to see me!"

"Look at this sweet talk! You’ve become quite articulate!" Gu Fangzi said with a smile, feigning affection as she pinched Shi Lian’s cheek lightly, teasing her, "Everyone says third cousin is too honest and doesn’t like to talk much, but I think she’s quite clever!"

Shi Yumei nodded unenthusiastically and said, "Fangzi is quite right, our little sister can indeed be surprising!"

Shi Lian continued to smile foolishly, "It’s so embarrassing to be praised by elder sister and cousin like this!"

Who knows if she’s really foolish or just pretending? Shi Yumei gave her a blank look and said nothing, while Gu Fangzi kept a lip-smiling expression.

It was then that Cai Yun brought over the tea. Shi Lian busily made polite gestures for others to go first, and Shi Yumei and Gu Fangzi each took a cup.

Upon lifting the lid of the tea, a wisp of steam and the light fragrance of the tea rose to greet them. Gu Fangzi took a gentle breath, sipped the tea, and then praised with a laugh, "Top-quality Longjing tea, did elder sister give this to you? I remember that elder cousin loves to drink this tea, and Ningyuan usually divides a lot of it every year!"

Of course, it was Sang Wan who gave it; who else would think of her? As for those tea leaves routinely sent from the public storehouse, who knows how many kickbacks Madam had accepted to bring them back, they were definitely not for a young lady’s consumption!

Noticing a change in Shi Yumei’s expression, Shi Lian secretly resented her, realizing she had already completely offended her petty-hearted cousin by being close to her elder sister-in-law. She was deliberately trying to sow discord and set traps.

Upon hearing that her elder sister-in-law had gifted her with elder brother’s favorite tea leaves, how could her elder sister not be annoyed?

As expected, Shi Yumei let out a cold laugh and said indifferently, "Your elder sister-in-law really does dote on you! She even specifically sent tea leaves for you! What? Don’t they give you your regular allotment in the household?"

Cai Yun saw an opportunity to complain but her lips moved, and without leaving any trace, was silenced by a look from Shi Lian.

"Of course, I have my allowance, which is never delayed and always delivered on time every month!" Shi Lian quickly said with a smile, "It’s just that the doctor recommended that I should drink some mild tea in these coming days. Although Pu’er is good for the stomach, it’s not suitable for me right now. So, it was only yesterday that elder sister-in-law sent some Longjing tea over. I knew elder brother always drank this type, I initially declined to accept it, but elder sister-in-law insisted that elder brother had instructed her to make sure I accepted it, so I reluctantly did. Today is actually the first time I’m brewing it!"

Shi Yumei then didn’t say much, but Gu Fangzi laughed, "So that’s the case. Elder brother usually doesn’t concern himself with these matters. To think that he specifically had elder sister-in-law send tea leaves over for you! It seems third cousin has really turned a misfortune into a blessing!" After saying this, she gently held Shi Lian’s hand and affectionately chuckled.

Shi Lian was fiercely angry in her heart, thinking to herself, weren’t there plenty of times when elder brother sent things to you before? Even a piece of pastry or a fresh fruit would have been given to you. Now, to provoke like this in front of elder sister, isn’t that going too far?

Surprised, Shi Lian widened her eyes and said with unexpected laughter, "Really? I always thought elder brother was very considerate! But, haha, cousin did say something true, this time I really did turn a misfortune into a blessing. Elder brother has never sent tea leaves to me before! Not even once has he sent fruit or pastries, you have no idea how happy I was yesterday! And having elder sister and cousin rarely come and sit with me, it also makes me very happy!"

Gu Fangzi involuntarily recalled all the kind things Shi Fengju used to do for her and felt slightly awkward. She glanced at Shi Yumei and saw that she had also inadvertently given her a look, obviously also remembering the past. Gu Fangzi was silently irate, thinking if it weren’t for that lowly Sang Wan supporting you from behind, would you dare talk to me like this!

"Look at you, cousin! If we came often, you’d probably find it a bother!" Gu Fangzi chuckled again.

"Not at all! We are all sisters, after all!" Shi Lian said with a shy smile.

Just as they were talking, Sang Wan arrived. Hearing that Shi Yumei and Gu Fangzi were here, she instinctively thought to avoid them, but the young maid from Fuqu Pavilion had already seen her, so Sang Wan had no choice but to enter with a smile.

"Elder sister-in-law!"

"Sister!"

Shi Lian secretly exhaled in relief, while Gu Fangzi quickly stood up, clasped her hands loosely in front of her, and gave a slight curtsy to Sang Wan. Only Shi Yumei remained seated, unconcerned and sipping her tea.

"So elder sister and little sister are here too!" Sang Wan said with a smile as she advanced. The maids quickly brought a chair over.

"What? Surprised to see us? We’re heartless for not coming by more often, unlike you, sister-in-law, who sincerely cares for third sister-in-law!" Shi Yumei could never speak normally to Sang Wan; whenever she opened her mouth it was always with sarcasm or barbs.