CHAPTER 342: CHAPTER 174: WHY HAVEN’T WE PREPARED NEW YEAR’S GIFTS FOR OUR RELATIVES?_2

"How could I blame you! I haven’t even had the chance to thank you!" Third Madam Shi busily laughed, expressing her true feelings, and then asked Mrs. Gui to bring over a brocade box, from which she took out a pomegranate ruby bracelet and slipped it onto Sang Wan’s wrist, saying with a smile: "I just got things sorted out from the chaos of returning, and finally remembered that I haven’t given you, Miss Wan, a meet-and-greet gift yet! Pomegranates are most auspicious and miraculous, surely they will bless you with a son soon and a life full of children and happiness!"

Sang Wan’s face instantly turned red and she lowered her gaze, thanking them with a shy smile.

"What is there to be shy about," Third Madam Shi couldn’t help but laugh and said: "Fengju loves you so much, he must be looking forward to becoming a father as well! Once you have children, everything will be complete for you!"

"Isn’t that the truth!" Mrs. Gui also added, jesting with a smile: "Madam Shi, you look like someone who is blessed, surely you will be able to have a son in one go!"

"Exactly!" Third Madam Shi also laughed, and while her servants joined in the lively talk, Sang Wan felt it improper to state her position, and just put on a forced smile. She soon looked for an excuse to get up and hurriedly took her leave as if escaping.

"I know you have lots of things to attend to, I won’t keep you anymore! When you are free tomorrow, come visit Aunt Shi again!" Third Madam Shi personally escorted her to the door, holding her hand and stepping forward to avoid the following maids, softly laughing and saying: "Miss Wan, I was too impulsive the other day and said some inappropriate things, please don’t take it to heart! Aunt Shi knows you are a good girl, not one who is different on the inside from the outside!"

Sang Wan quickly laughingly said: "Aunt Shi, don’t say that. You are an elder, and Miss Wan is a junior, how could I deserve such words from you! You are really flattering me too much!"

"Alright, alright, then Aunt Shi won’t say anymore," Third Madam Shi smiled and said: "In the future, when you’re free, do visit Aunt Shi more often!"

"Hmm, if Aunt Shi doesn’t detest my dullness, I shall dutifully comply!" Sang Wan smiled and nodded, then departed.

Although Sang Wan did not know why Third Madam Shi’s attitude had changed, it was all good for her, as if a huge weight had been lifted off her chest, easing her breath greatly.

Unexpectedly, trouble soon stirred up from Shi Yumei’s side again.

The next morning, after Sang Wan and Shi Fengju went to Mrs. Wang’s place to pay respects, Yumei discontentedly said: "Miss Wan, I heard that the gift list for sending festival gifts to relatives and friends has been prepared and ready?"

"Yes..." Sang Wan hesitated slightly and nodded, subconsciously glancing at Fengju. "Fengju and I have already reviewed it two days ago, and from today, we have started sending them to the homes of relatives and friends..."

"Really?" Yumei raised an eyebrow: "What about our family? Why haven’t we prepared gifts for our family’s relatives and friends?

Your family? Sang Wan was momentarily stunned, then remembered she must be referring to the Ren family. Sang Wan was at a loss for words and looked at Fengju sheepishly, who also furrowed his brows, about to speak when Mrs. Wang suddenly realized and said: "Your family? You mean the Ren family?"

Sang Wan bit her lip and almost burst out laughing, her heart also eased considerably. Originally, she thought these questions were posed by her mother-in-law through Yumei, but it seems her mother-in-law just found out about this and does not seem very supportive, which makes things much easier.

"Mother!" Yumei called out, sounding hurt, and said displeased: "It’s almost New Year, after all, we are also people of the Ren family, we should send some New Year gifts to the elders in the clan! Otherwise, people will talk!

Shi Fengju silently snorted to himself, thinking still worried about people talking? That’s new! Without thinking, he knew it was Ren Zhixian’s bad idea prompting her, if not for his instigation, his elder sister wouldn’t have thought of it.

Shi Fengju scoffed inwardly—he has the nerve to instigate his elder sister to stand up for it while he himself hides behind not making a sound. Is that what a man does?

"This—" Mrs. Wang also furrowed her brows, her daughter’s words resonated with her. After all, they are people of the Ren family, ignoring the clan elders might make it difficult if they need the clan’s help in the future. After all, their surname is Ren, and it’s inconvenient for the Shi family to intervene on their behalf outside.

"Miss Wan," seeing her mother seemed moved, Yumei immediately felt triumphant and instructed Sang Wan: "You must hurry and prepare today, you need—"

"Elder sister!" Shi Fengju suddenly interrupted her and asked with a smile: "It’s brother-in-law who is the head of the household, shouldn’t such a big matter be decided by him? Why is it elder sister who is speaking now? I think we should ask brother-in-law to come over and talk about it!"

Yumei was momentarily embarrassed, and quickly chuckled: "He has been busy studying these last few days! Let’s not disturb him! Oh right," Yumei pulled out two pieces of paper from her person, and smilingly said: "Here are the lists he drafted, just prepare according to these!"

Xiuchun took the papers and presented them to Shi Fengju. Seeing them, Fengju’s anger deepened, yet his face remained unperturbed, smilingly he said: "Not proper, not proper, it’s still better to have elder brother-in-law come in person to clarify! He hasn’t made it clear, and we would not know how to prepare correctly, how large two pieces of bacon should be, what kind of meat? A pair of chickens: are they roosters or hens? How large? We need to ask clearly first! Elder brother-in-law is from a scholarly family, his standards differ from ours, what if the preparation does not meet his satisfaction, wouldn’t that be a waste of effort?"

Shi Fengju sneered inwardly, they prepare New Year gifts for him, and he doesn’t even show his face or say a kind word, considering Shi family members as slaves at his command, thinking of himself as a lord?

Sang Wan lightly held her handkerchief, calmly sitting with her gaze lowered, pretending she heard nothing, feeling both amused and annoyed inside. This elder brother-in-law, truly an exquisite character! No wonder Fengju was annoyed.

Yumei was momentarily speechless, also sensing her brother’s displeasure, and sought help by looking towards Mrs. Wang: "Mother!"

"I think what Fengju said is also reasonable," Mrs. Wang said: "You just invite your son-in-law over once. Studying won’t be impacted by this short time, wouldn’t it save trouble if he explained clearly?"