CHAPTER 466: CHAPTER 239: CHANGES AT HOME

"Fang’er!" Mrs. Wang hastily called after Gu Fangzi had already dashed out the door.

"You! Look how you’ve frightened her!" Mrs. Wang scolded her son and said, "These past days, it was all thanks to Fang’er who stayed by my side and comforted me. Yet you, instead of thanking her, gave her an unpleasant look as soon as you returned. How do you expect her to feel both inwardly and outwardly?"

Shi Fengju replied, "Mother, I am naturally grateful to her for accompanying and consoling you, but certain things must be distinguished. For a young lady to act in such a manner—I simply cannot accept it!"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang swept her gaze around, and Mrs. Jiang among others withdrew. Then Mrs. Wang spoke, "This matter could have waited a few more days, but since it’s been brought up today, it won’t hurt to discuss it! Fengju, Fang’er is indeed a good girl; she’s good for this family, good to your mother, and even better to you! These days when you were in jeopardy, she was extremely anxious and upset. Sigh, she would force a smile to cheer me up in my presence, but she would cry secretly when alone. When I observed a fast, she would fast along with me. Day and night, she would faithfully offer incense and pray to the Bodhisattva, hoping for your safe return! Fengju, I have decided, in a few days you two will consummate the marriage. She holds only you in her heart and does not covet a title. What more could you ask for? I believe Miss Wan will not object."

Shi Fengju immediately felt a surge of displeasure and, with a smile that was not quite a smile, he asked, "Mother, if she was crying secretly alone, how would you know about it?"

"Listen to what you are saying!" Mrs. Wang, caught off guard, laughed and scolded, "You’re a grown man, yet you speak so thoughtlessly! Sigh, sometimes I feel more and more that I don’t understand what you’re really thinking anymore! In the past, you did everything you could to resist marrying Miss Wan into our family, dragging it on for so many years until you begrudgingly accepted her. Now look at you, protective of her in every way—I have no ulterior motive, seeing that you and your wife are harmonious naturally delights me. But what fault does Fang’er have? You can’t just cast her aside now that you have Miss Wan! Could it be—"

Mrs. Wang expressed with some suspicion, "Did Miss Wan say something to you behind my back?"

"Mother," Shi Fengju said with a bitter smile, "How could Miss Wan be that kind of person? Besides, is your son so easily influenced? Mother, I have my reasons for not taking in my cousin as a concubine. Please, do not ask further! Leave this matter be—"

"No!" Mrs. Wang’s countenance suddenly turned stern, and she said, "Fengju, they say adversity reveals true feelings. You’ve treated Fang’er like that, yet when your life was in the balance, she wholeheartedly worried about you, cared for you, and did so much for this family. Her affection for you has even moved me! How can you be like this? What has she done to cause such repulsion in you? I believe that even if she did make a mistake, it must be because she has you in her heart and is afraid of losing you! You cannot degrade her for this reason."

Seeing her son remained silent and obviously not taking her words seriously, Mrs. Wang felt both angered and helpless. She went on to recount all the things Gu Fangzi had done for the estate in these past days.

Other matters could be overlooked, but two incidents particularly shocked Shi Fengju.

"What did you say, Mother? My cousin has intervened in the Shiji Shipping business?" Shi Fengju was taken aback.

Although the Shi family owned countless farmlands and forests, and numerous restaurants and shops, transportation was their main business. The Shi family had nearly two hundred ships of various sizes that belonged to their own fleet. Each year, they travelled to the northern and southern ends of the canal as well as to coastal cities, conducting business with many sea merchants, buying and selling goods for profit. The earnings from this accounted for half of the Shi family’s total profits each year.

Shi Fengju has always been very strict with the shipping business, making personal trips with the fleet north and south once or twice a year to inspect operations and solve any problems. Since Qingzhou was the Shi family’s stronghold and almost at the very southern end of the canal, the headquarters of the Shiji Shipping was located there. On Qingzhou Wharf, half the territory was occupied by the Shi family.

Back when they got along well, she too had accompanied him to the wharf and was familiar with many shipping matters, even having good relations with many of the managers.

At this moment, Shi Fengju’s heart was filled with a tumultuous rage. She had such audacity! To take advantage of the situation while he was preoccupied!

"What do you mean by interfering? You’re making it sound so unpleasant!" Mrs. Wang furrowed her brows and said, "The ship you took when you left was one of our own. That the mishap happened to it, whether it be an issue with the ship or the people, is inseparable from those involved in our shipping business! It’s a good thing that Fang’er helped to sort it out, tough as it was for her. How can you speak of her in such terms!"