CHAPTER 46: CHAPTER 23 THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN TWO LADIES_2

Mrs. Zhuang, not content, quickly shifted her gaze and said with a smile to Mrs. Wang, "As a sister, I don’t mean to speak unpleasantly, but you know, the Shi family is the wealthiest in Qingzhou. Miss Wan, who used to be unmentioned, is now the legitimate eldest daughter-in-law of the Shi family’s main branch. How can she dress so simply? Look at the fabric of her clothes; it’s not very impressive! The color of her cosmetics is also not moist and delicate enough; it is taking away five to six points of a great beauty’s appearance! Alas, the hair jewelry is very ordinary too! Surely they’re not this year’s latest style, are they? If I were in your shoes, dear sister, wouldn’t others gossip if they saw this? They might think the Shi family has fallen on hard times! That even the main branch’s eldest daughter-in-law is dressed so ordinarily!"

Mrs. Zhuang’s words clearly struck a nerve with Mrs. Wang, whose expression soured as she glowered at Sang Wan and retorted, "Who said that! Our Shi family is thriving! Our young master Fengju is capable, and the family business is growing year by year! Such idle gossip is pointless to listen to! Sang Wan certainly has the finest clothes, jewelry, and cosmetics, but she has always been too laid-back to dress up! Our Shi family is known for being benevolent and generous, even strangers receive our kindness, so how could we neglect our own daughter-in-law?"

Sang Wan immediately understood why her mother-in-law had looked displeased when she first stepped in; the reason was right here!

She discreetly observed her mother-in-law’s attire—a dark cyan-colored, four-part cloud brocade coat with a peony pattern, an official green skirt with an eight-treasure rabbit and double happiness pattern interwoven with gold. On her forehead, she wore a hairpin with kingfisher feathers, pearls, and colorful gemstones shaped into wealthy peony flowers; on her temples, she adorned golden hairpins inlaid with mutton-fat white jade and a Kuan Yin bringing sons design, and red corals shaped into Buddha’s hands. Around her neck hung a string of eighteen jadeite beads, with gold pendants inlaid with eight treasures hanging from her ears. On her wrist, she wore a bracelet of smooth and lustrous mutton-fat white jade, and on her finger, a gold ring set with a thumb-sized ruby. She was dressed extravagantly and luxuriously, even more solemn and refined than when Sang Wan had first seen her.

Turning to Mrs. Zhuang, she wore a dark purple cloud brocade coat with grapevine patterns and a dark blue skirt with gold floral patterns, equally bedecked with brilliance and opulence!

Clearly, from the moment these two met, it was a competition—both came prepared and in full regalia!

Then looking at herself, wearing a plain coat embroidered with folded branch chrysanthemum patterns in bean-green and a long skirt of white damask, wholly lacking accessories, with only her commonplace daily jewelry, the comparison made her look, at best, understated or, at worst, shabby. No wonder her mother-in-law was displeased.

"That’s what I thought!" Mrs. Zhuang covered her mouth and giggled as if she had an epiphany, the handkerchief in her hand softly green as jade, made from the costly Tianshui jade fabric that not even a hundred taels of gold could buy.

"Sister Wang is certainly not that kind of person, and the Shi family isn’t so stingy!" Mrs. Zhuang stated emphatically, then turned to Sang Wan with a smile, "Miss Wan, this is where you’re wrong! Why wouldn’t a young daughter-in-law dress nicely? You’ve got the means! If people misunderstand, how terrible would that be? They might think your mother-in-law and young master Fengju are stingy! Oh, I speak candidly, Miss Wan, don’t be upset! Maybe I’m mistaken, perhaps you’re just accustomed to your former simplicity! Haha, Sister Wang, it really shows that matching families in marriage matters. Otherwise, once they enter the same household, changing personality and habits is not easy! Oops, I’m being nosy again, aren’t I?"

Mrs. Zhuang’s speech was a mix of laughter and lecturing, alternating her words between Sang Wan and Mrs. Wang, her facial expression always smiling, but brimming with sarcasm and mockery.

Listening to Mrs. Zhuang’s ridicule and thinking about her own reservations toward the marriage, Mrs. Wang felt even more irritated. If not for Mrs. Zhuang being present, she would have already lashed out at Sang Wan.

She lowered her eyes, her gaze flickering, mentally repeating the mantra "keep calm, maintain dignity" several times. She took a deep breath to settle herself, not knowing how to refute Mrs. Zhuang’s words, and then forced a smile, saying, "You’re making it sound more serious than it is! Sang Wan is gentle, virtuous, and well-mannered, and has been exceptionally filial to me as her mother-in-law since she entered the door! Our marriage was arranged by the late Master of our family. His judgment is unquestionable! Otherwise, how could our Shi family have become the wealthiest in Qingzhou today? Don’t you think?"

Mrs. Zhuang’s expression stiffened slightly before she managed an awkward smile.

In the past, the late Master of the Shi family and the Master of the Zhuang family were both clerks in the same trading company. Though their fortunes diverged afterward, there was always competition between the two families, which reached a fever pitch between Mrs. Zhuang and Mrs. Wang.

Mrs. Wang’s remark hit the bullseye—if the late Master Shi had poor judgment, it is likely the Zhuang family would be the wealthiest in Qingzhou today! Would the Zhuangs then be considered the defeated by the late Master Shi? Could his choice be wrong?

Sang Wan quietly found it amusing—she hadn’t expected her mother-in-law to say something so scathing that Mrs. Zhuang would be stewing over it all evening!

"It was my oversight," Sang Wan quickly said with a smile, "I was in such a hurry I did not change my clothes, and have made you the subject of ridicule, Madam! Please forgive my rudeness!"

"Madam Zhuang is most understanding and would never quibble with you, the younger generation, would she? You know now, right? Do not make such a mistake again to prevent misunderstandings!" Mrs. Wang said.

"Yes, thank you for the guidance, Madam, I will remember!" Sang Wan rose and respectfully saluted Mrs. Wang.

Mrs. Zhuang was indeed bothered by what Mrs. Wang had said, and though she didn’t show it on her face, it was stuck in her heart. Watching this mother-in-law and daughter-in-law putting on an act in front of her felt increasingly irksome, she laughed again and said, "How come I don’t see Fangzi today? Usually, she’s here making conversation and adding to the fun. Why don’t I see her today? No wonder I’ve been feeling like something’s missing!"