CHAPTER 337: CHAPTER 171: HUMILIATION (PART 2)

Mrs. Wang glanced at her and waved her hand, "I’m not angry with you, I still trust how you handle things! Alright, there are no outsiders here, sit down!"

What? Sang Wan was stunned, involuntarily lifting her gaze towards Mrs. Wang with surprise.

"Why would you think I’m angry with you? Blaming you?" Mrs. Wang was both exasperated and slightly amused, huffing, "Don’t I know my own daughter-in-law? Of course, you’re not that kind of person! Humph, your Third Aunt has always been difficult, and I haven’t seen her for years; she’s gotten even more vigorous! She comes back and starts nitpicking the moment she sees us, huh, is she trying to put someone in their place?"

The more Mrs. Wang spoke, the more agitated she became, "My own daughter-in-law, it’s not her place to lecture! If she’s so capable, why doesn’t she bear a son and then instruct her own daughter-in-law? What right does she have to be commanding my daughter-in-law around!"

From her initial confusion, Sang Wan finally regained her composure, realizing that her mother-in-law was annoyed at Third Aunt for overstepping her bounds! Mother-in-law’s words are harsh indeed; were Third Aunt to hear that jibe about having no son, it would be as good as stabbing someone’s heart with a knife!

"Mother!" Sang Wan silently breathed a sigh of relief, unsure whether to blame or thank Third Madam Shi. In any case, she had narrowly escaped punishment in front of Mrs. Wang!

She stepped forward and gently massaged Mrs. Wang’s shoulders, speaking softly, "Don’t be angry, it’s the festive season, getting angry will make both Fengju and me upset! Mother, perhaps Third Aunt has misunderstood something! Later, Miss Wan will have someone investigate clearly and make things right with you!"

"What’s there to investigate," Mrs. Wang said angrily, "Isn’t it just about someone determined to find fault where there is none, just to assert their identity as the master of the Shi family? Humph, no one has said they aren’t! Every year’s business profits have never shortchanged them a bit of silver, and each year we send a substantial sum for them to use. Now, they come back and are displeased with everything they see! If they’re so capable, they shouldn’t have come back at all, I don’t need them! To insult my daughter-in-law right in front of me, huh! Does she even regard me as her elder sister?"

"Mother!" Sang Wan treated the last sentence as though it was just air, softly trying to calm her down nonstop. The mother-in-law’s words were truly powerful; had it been a daughter-in-law with a slightly stronger pride or more sensitive feelings, she surely would be deeply hurt and upset: it turns out mother-in-law is not just standing up for herself, but fuming over her own "rights" being encroached upon!

After a long tirade, Mrs. Wang’s mood gradually eased, but she still said resentfully, "Since they’ve spoken to this extent, you should just stay out of the third house’s affairs in the future! Let them do as they please, make their own bed to lie in! All good intentions but no good deeds, better to save yourself the trouble and avoid being undeservedly spurned! Do you hear me?"

Seeing Mrs. Wang was still furious, Sang Wan didn’t dare to contradict her and quickly agreed, further advising, "Mother, don’t be angry, if it’s like this from now on, it’s no concern of ours, why let it upset you? It’s all Miss Wan’s fault for botching things up and causing Mother to be angry!"

Mrs. Wang waved her hand, gently patting her hands, "Don’t say that, I am the one who feels sorry for you! Ah, how well do I know you handle matters? And with Mrs. Li looking after things, and Fengju occasionally checking in, nothing could possibly go wrong! You are good, don’t take this matter to heart, just treat it as if a mad dog were barking!"

Sang Wan bit her lip, muttering an ’mhm’ twice, almost unable to hold back her laughter, feeling a warmth in her heart. Having her mother-in-law’s protectiveness directed towards her actually felt quite nice.

"Alright, you go back! Do what you need to do, humph, don’t worry, I assure you that not a single word of today’s matter will get out! If anyone dares to gossip, just watch how I deal with them!" Mrs. Wang said, having vented her spleen.

"Then Mother, rest well. It’s warmer at noon, you should go out for a walk, it’s good for both body and mood. I’ll head back now!" With a sense of relief, Sang Wan said with a smile.

"Mm! Go ahead!" Mrs. Wang nodded in satisfaction, instructing her, "Call Mrs. Jiang in for me!"

Following the orders, Sang Wan went out to call for Mrs. Jiang and left the main courtyard.

Within Ningyuan, Liu Ya helped her remove her heavy woolen clothes while indignantly muttering, "I don’t know what sort of drug Third Madam Shi has taken, how could she publicly humiliate our dear Sang Wan like that! Seeing that really makes me feel for Sang Wan! Since being nice gets one nowhere, maybe Sang Wan should just stop dealing with the third house’s matters, let them do as they please, that should satisfy them, right?"

"Liu Ya!" Before she could finish, Sang Wan urgently stopped her, reproaching, "How can you speak with so little restraint? Such words should not be spoken! If they get out, even I can’t protect you!"

"This is Ningyuan, I’m only speaking a couple of words. Who would say anything outside? Even if they did, I’m not scared!" Liu Ya was also someone who became reckless when agitated: "I’m just feeling indignant for Sang Wan! Even if Sang Wan really did something wrong, Third Madam Shi should not have scorned you like that in front of everyone! Why is she bullying you like this! To tell the truth, even the family head has never humiliated you so! She’s not even your real mother-in-law!" As they spoke, the two of them entered the warm pavilion.

"Liu Ya!" Sang Wan’s expression darkened, and she sternly warned, "The more I ignore you, the more spirited you get? How many times have I told you that disaster comes from the mouth? Have you forgotten everything that Mrs. Li has taught you?"

"Miss Wan..." Liu Ya’s voice wavered, biting her lip and looking at Sang Wan with pitiful eyes, feeling aggrieved.