Chapter 79 - 40: The More One Tries to Hide, the More One Is Exposed

Words : 1019 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Chapter 79: Chapter 40: The More One Tries to Hide, the More One Is Exposed Sang Wan glanced at Mrs. Li, who stood by with a faint smile on her face, not showing any sign of emotion, and with a slight smile, she said: "After you’ve finished reading the books and writing that you should in the morning, you can go! Mrs. Li, why don’t you also take the day off today! How could one table be enough? I think we should set up two big tables in the side hall of the west wing. Let’s not only invite those from our courtyard, but also those in the mansion who we are acquainted with and get along with. Mrs. Li probably has quite a few old sisters too! Decide the dishes yourselves, set it by the standard of five taels per table, tell the kitchen to pick the best ingredients to prepare the dishes, and buy two bottles of good wine. The silver can come out of my account!" As soon as Sang Wan spoke, Mrs. Li and Liu Ya were both delighted. Liu Ya, being quite casual with Sang Wan, felt endlessly grateful upon hearing this, her face filled with smiles, and she accepted without declining. Mrs. Li, on the contrary, declined several times, laughing joyously as she said "I shouldn’t" and "I dare not accept." Naturally, Sang Wan insisted repeatedly, and only then did Mrs. Li also accept with thanks. Xingzhi, Hong Ye, and others also eagerly came forward to express their thanks and to congratulate Mrs. Li and Liu Ya. A banquet at an ordinary restaurant would already be quite sumptuous at two taels of silver, and one for five taels per table would surely have everything one could want, and the portions ample, so everyone was naturally overjoyed. Even the little maidservants began to share in the happiness. Mrs. Li excused herself at once, thinking to instruct Xingzhi and the others in a while, then go to speak to her old sisters and by the way invite them to come over for dinner in the evening. Happy occasions, of course, are best shared with as many people as possible. When Liu Ya thought about having to read and write first, although she wasn’t as repulsed as before, she still showed a dispirited look like that of a frostbitten eggplant, drawing a stern glance from Mrs. Li: "You girl, hurry off and don’t think about being lazy! Lady Sang Wan is doing this for your own good; don’t be unappreciative of her kindness!" As it was, Mrs. Li was originally quite skeptical and somewhat displeased with Sang Wan teaching Liu Ya, Xingzhi, and Hong Ye to read and write, because she felt that for a servant girl, it’s sufficient to understand how to serve the Master and to be loyal. What use was there in reading and writing? It’s better to be a bit denser! It prevents them from becoming conceited with a few characters they know and getting above their station with unnecessary ideas. But now she no longer saw it that way. In everyone’s eyes, those who could read and write were impressive people, and naturally, Mrs. Li thought the same. If her own daughter could read and write, that would be the best! Moreover, with that statement, she was also telling Sang Wan that she had seen and remembered all her kindness towards her and her daughter, and asked Sang Wan to rest assured. Although Mrs. Li didn’t show any reaction nor offer an opinion about Gu Fangzi’s previous instigations, Sang Wan’s expression was fully observed by her. If at that time Sang Wan had shown even a little bit of discontent or indignation, she would have felt uneasy—because she’s a competent old servant, between the young master and her goddaughter, she would only choose the young master and would never incite Liu Ya to fight with Lady Sang Wan and disrupt the peace in the young master’s household. This was something Mrs. Li believed Sang Wan should understand without her needing to pledge loyalty or to declare it openly. If she had to explicitly express this sentiment, it would lose its meaning. And if Sang Wan truly harbored any resentment, expressing it would be futile. As a result, Sang Wan indeed did not disappoint her. She dismissed Gu Fangzi’s provocations entirely! Instead, Sang Wan even took the initiative to spend her own silver to arrange a feast for her and her daughter. Mrs. Li felt even more comforted and grateful in her heart. When Shi Fengju returned in the evening, he saw how quiet the house was with only two maids outside, and Sang Wan nestled on the couch in the inner room reading a book, he couldn’t help feeling surprised. After hearing Sang Wan explain, he smiled and said: "I had been thinking about this very thing, but then I forgot, it’s hard on you to remember! But it seems that two tables might be a bit too few." While helping him out of his coat to change, commanding the little maidservants to bring hot water, Sang Wan chided him: "Ten taels of silver, three or four tables of sumptuous banquet can be done, don’t worry, Mrs. Li will handle it!" Though Mrs. Li carries some prestige, after all, she is a servant, two tables is proper, any more and it might look presumptuous. What’s done in private doesn’t matter, but in public, there must always be the semblance of propriety. Shi Fengju immediately understood and smiled: "You’ve thought it through!" "Are you hungry? The meal was just delivered, it’s being kept warm, should I serve it now?" Sang Wan looked at him and asked. "No rush," Shi Fengju’s face suddenly showed a hint of a strange blush, he lifted his hand to his lips, coughed lightly, then gave a sheepish smile and pulled a small flat white jade box from his chest and handed it to her: "Actually, I passed by Minghua Hall today and casually bought this for you, take a look and see if you like it."

Chapter 79 - 40: The More One Tries to Hide, the More One Is Exposed

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