CHAPTER 478: CHAPTER 245: SHI YUMEI BORROWS MONEY

Shi Fengju had only closed his eyes for a moment and was already awake, looking at her affectionately with a smile on his lips, full to the brim with admiration for her beauty. Startled by her sudden movement, he hurriedly sat up too, patting her shoulder and laughing, "Why the sudden panic? It’s just a bit late, there’s no other matter today!"

"You didn’t even call me, and now it’s already time to light the lamps! We’ve been sitting in this room for half a day, what must the maids think?" complained Sang Wan with a slight frown.

Shi Fengju was already used to her ways, and chuckled, "Everyone in this courtyard is under our command, who would dare to gossip? You’re always overly cautious!"

While speaking, they both got off the bed and started putting on their shoes.

Before they could tidy themselves, Liu Ya’s voice, loud and piercing, could be heard, "Great aunt, you’re here already!"

Sang Wan almost twisted her ankle in shock, hurriedly putting on her shoes in a fluster. From above her, Shi Fengju’s low chuckle was heard, and she couldn’t help but look up at him and exclaim, "You can still laugh! If your eldest sister came in and saw us, who knows what she might tell mother."

"Then why don’t you just stay down!" Shi Fengju laughed.

Stay down? Sang Wan looked down at her slightly wrinkled and disheveled dress and her hair bun that had loosened a bit, dazed, when Shi Fengju had already scooped her up horizontally, lay her on the bed, removed her shoes for her, and chuckled, "Just lie down, I’ll go have a look!"

Meanwhile, Shi Yumei glanced at Liu Ya and huffed, "What? I can’t come at this time now?"

"Great aunt, I wouldn’t dare assume so, you flatter this lowly one too much! Please, come in!" Liu Ya called out loudly again.

Shi Yumei abruptly stopped, staring at her and said, "Just invite, why do you need such a loud voice? I’m not deaf!"

"With the mansion being busy and noisy these days, as a servant, I need to shout while relaying messages. How would others hear otherwise! It’s my fault that I haven’t adjusted yet!" Liu Ya hurriedly explained with a smile.

When Shi Yumei heard her mention the recent bustling wedding of Shi Lian, although she didn’t attend, she could imagine the liveliness and felt yet more sour inside, her face darkening further as she coldly said, "Getting so worked up over such little excitement, so inexperienced!"

Liu Ya was completely oblivious to the disdain in Shi Yumei’s words and sincerely nodded, replying with a smile, "How could this servant dare to compare with great aunt! Indeed, I am inexperienced!"

Having encountered a blunt refusal in Shi Yumei’s subtle snub and feeling it beneath her to make a scene, she restrained her anger and as she walked further inside, she asked, "Where is our master? Does she not welcome me, or why do I not see her?"

Liu Ya, caught off guard and unsure of what to say, just then saw Shi Fengju lifting the curtain from the warm pavilion and coming out, smiling as he called, "Eldest sister!"

"Oh, you’re here too!" Shi Yumei was startled and instinctively glanced towards the warm pavilion, "It’s this late, why haven’t you lit the lamps?"

"Oh," Shi Fengju casually laughed, "I just came from the study; I found out that Miss Wan is feeling slightly unwell and is lying down to rest inside! Did my eldest sister come for something?"

Upon hearing this, Shi Yumei didn’t say anything more, just sighed, without further comment.

Shi Fengju knew she had something to say, so after instructing the servants to serve tea and signaling everyone to leave, he smiled again, "Eldest sister, you can speak freely if there’s anything."

Shi Yumei hesitated several times before finally speaking, "I plan on going back home tomorrow! What could possibly be the matter with me? It’s just the annoying issues back at home. As my clever younger brother, there’s nothing you don’t know."

Indeed, Shi Fengju knew because there was no one in the Shi family who didn’t know. The thing that could make Shi Yumei so embarrassed was none other than her husband complaining again!

"I’ve already instructed Butler Jin to give your household silver at the start of each month. Could it be that Butler Jin hasn’t done so?" queried Shi Fengju with slightly narrowed eyes.

"No, no!" Shi Yumei hurriedly said, "On the first of every month, Butler Jin sends someone with the silver, never missing a month. It’s just, just—you know, your brother-in-law has many friends, and often there are poetry gatherings and scholarly meetings, so his expenses are a bit high..."

Shi Fengju internally sighed but decided not to indulge his proud brother-in-law who seemed to carry his eyes on his forehead any longer. Supporting him financially was indeed fruitless as not only would he not be grateful, but he might even become greedier! The fact that he didn’t even show his face during family celebrations but sent his wife to ask for money while hiding behind her, not uttering a word, clearly showed he didn’t take the Shi family seriously! Why should he help such a person?