Chapter 240 - Changes In The Household
Chapter 240: Changes In The Household
“Fang’er!” Wang Shi quickly called out to Gu Fangzi who had run out.
“You! You scared her!” Wang Shi shot her son a glare and said, “While you were away, I was lucky to have her accompany and console me. Look at you. Without even thanking her, you gave her such a look. How can she feel well!”
Shi Fengju replied, “Mother, I am thankful that she stayed by your side. However, that is another matter. As a young lady, how can she approach… I can’t accept that!”
Hearing that, Wang Shi quickly glanced around her. Nanny Jiang and others tacitly retreated before Wang Shi continued, “I planned to speak with you about this in a few days, but since you’ve mentioned this today, I might as well tell you about it! Fengju, Fang’er is really a good lady. She treats this family well, she treats me well, and she treats you well! When something happened to you, she was really devastated. Alas, she still pretended to look happy in front of me as she consoled me. Behind that, she must’ve cried secretly. I went vegetarian and so did she. Every morning and night, she burned incense and prayed to Bodhisattva for your safe return! Fengju, I’ve decided. After some time, the two of you will consummate! She only has you in her heart and doesn’t care about her status. What are you discontented with? I’m sure Sang Wan won’t mind.”
Shi Fengju immediately felt very unhappy and he asked with what seemed like a smile, “Mother, if she cried secretly in private, how would you know?”
“Listen to what you are saying!” Wang Shi froze and unconsciously derided. “You’re old enough, but you speak so indifferently! Alas, sometimes I feel that I don’t understand what you are thinking! In the past, you refused to marry Sang Wan and had to force yourself to marry her into our household after delaying for so long. Now, you side with her on everything… I don’t mean anything. I’m naturally delighted to see how harmonious both of you are. However, what did Fang’er do wrong? You can’t abandon her when you have Sang Wan! Unless…”
Doubtful, Wang Shi asked, “Did Sang Wan tell you something in private?”
“Mother.” Shi Fengju said with a bitter smile, “Is Sang Wan someone like that? What’s more, do you see your son as someone without his own judgement? Mother, I cannot accept Cousin Fangzi having me in her heart. Mother, don’t ask about this anymore! You don’t have to intervene in this…”
“That’s out of the question!” Wang Shi’s expression suddenly sank, “Fengju, people say that you’ll be able to see how true your friends are when you are in trouble. When life and death was uncertain, she was only concerned about you, and she cared only about you. She has done so much for this household, even I am touched by her! How can you be like this? What did she do to make you dislike her? I think that whatever she has done is because she only has you in her heart and is afraid to lose you! You can’t belittle her for this. “
When she saw her son remaining silent, she knew he clearly did not take her words seriously. Thus, she felt angry and helpless, telling him everything that Gu Fangzi had done for the household while he was away.
Disregarding everything else, there were two things that shocked Shi Fengju.
“Mother, what did you say? Cousin got herself involved in the Shi Ji sea freight business?” Shi Fengju was greatly shocked.
Although the Shi family had countless fertile lands and woods, innumerable restaurants and shops, their largest business came from freight transport. The family had its own fleet of nearly two hundred ships, large and small, that travel between the northern and southern ends of the canal and coastal cities every year. It also does business with many maritime merchants and profit from the price difference of importing and exporting. Every year, the revenue made there accounted for half of the entire family’s earnings.
Shi Fengju had always been very strict with the sea freight business. Once or twice every year, he would travel with the fleet to the north and south to personally inspect and resolve any issues discovered. Since Qingzhou was at the southern end of the canal, where the Shi family was, the Shi family’s sea freight headquarters was built in Qingzhou and half of Qingzhou’s wharf was owned by them.
When the two of them got along well in the past, Gu Fangzi also went to the wharf with him. As such, she knew a lot about sea freight and had a good relationship with many of the supervisors.
At this moment, raging waves of anger swirled inside Shi Fengju. How dare she take advantage of when he was weak to get involved!
“Saying that she got herself involved is so unpleasant to hear!” Wang Shi frowned and said, “The boat you took to travel outside belongs to our family as well. Regardless of whether the problem lies with the boat or the crew, the crew has to be held responsible! It’s a good thing that Fang’er was able to help! With her intentions, how can you talk about her like this!”
Holding his anger back, Shi Fengju asked, “Did she tell you this too?”
“I think she’s very right!” Wang Shi did not deny it. Seeing her son’s expression become more and more ugly, she said, “Don’t blame her on this matter. If you want to blame anyone, then blame me instead. I called several of the supervisors here to hear from them! If you think that Fang’er is greedy for power, you are wrong! She was hesitant at first because she was afraid that you would misunderstand her when you return, but I reassured her not to worry about it! She will tell me about the sea freight’s situation in a few days.”
Not knowing what to say, Shi Fengju hurriedly asked, “Mother, did she ask you to make any decisions? You don’t know anything about the business, so did you tell her anything?”
“What are you saying!” Wang Shi said, “Does your mother not even have this self-knowledge? Of course, I don’t know about the business, so there’s no way I’d dare to make any reckless decisions. Our family’s practices are set and the ancestors are watching us! I only told her to remind them to work diligently and inspect all ships regularly to prevent any mistakes. I also told her to remind the workers more often to learn not to panic at critical moments. That’s all!”
That’s all? Shi Feng suddenly felt powerless. Did his mother not know that those words could give rise to countless more words! With those words from his mother, who knew what else Gu Fangzi could do. Although the supervisors were not under Wang Shi’s management, they would not dare to disobey her.
No words could describe Shi Fengju’s anger. He had not expected Gu Fangzi to become more and more competent!
Wang Shi continued talking endlessly, but Shi Fengju no longer listened. Claiming he was tired as an excuse, he left the courtyard.
If this made him annoyed, he did not know whether to be happy or worried about what else was to come.
During the first few weeks of May, Sang Yufei, who had gone to take the imperial examination, returned. He came in third in the examination. He would be going back to the capital to work at Hanlin Academy after giving thanks to his ancestors.
This was a joyous event. The Shi family, needless to say, was able to add glory from the Sang family’s achievement.
However, they did not expect the Sang family to tie another knot with their family. The Sang family sent a matchmaker to seek the Shi family’s Third Missy’s hand for the marriage.
Wang Shi was naturally happy to hear that. The Sang family did not dislike the fact that Shi Lian was a concubine’s daughter and it was also very respectable to have a son-in-law who came in third in the examination.
Although delighted, Wang Shi suddenly remembered that Shi Lian had met with a huge fire. When she saw no scars were left on her leg, she was relieved and vaguely brought up the incident that happened to Shi Lian. Unexpectedly, that matchmaker seemed to have known about the matter and said it was fine. Wang Shi was then really happy.
Since Sang Yufei had to hurry back to the capital, the faster the marriage was done, the better. Hence, the entire household became busy.
Shi Lian’s husband came in third in the examination and was the Shi family’s in-laws. Naturally, Wang Shi refused to neglect him and ordered everything to be handled in accordance to how a daughter would be married off if her mother was not a concubine.
Other than having to wait for Shi Fengju and his wife to return to decide on the wedding date, everything else was ready and it was all arranged by Gu Fangzi.
Normally, Gu Fangzi could not get involved as it was inappropriate for a ‘concubine’ to arrange a young missy’s wedding.
By mouth, Wang Shi was in charge of it. However, Gu Fangzi was the one on the ground, which made people speechless.
Deep down, Gu Fangzi was clearly jealous and hated this marriage. What right did an ordinary Shi Lian have to marry the candidate who came in third in the examination as his legal wife? She, who was childhood sweethearts with her cousin, had to become a concubine instead! What’s more, Shi Lian’s husband-to-be was also Sang Wan’s elder brother! This made Gu Fangzi even more unhappy.
Even so, Gu Fangzi appeared to be happier than anyone, and she became more affectionate towards Shi Lian and took care of everything.
She knew fully well that this was a golden opportunity! Heaven was clearly siding with her!
She was certain that by arranging Sang Wan’s elder brother’s marriage wholeheartedly, Sang Wan would not drive her away as soon as she got back! As long as everything went well, she would be able to convince her!
She believed that Sang Wan would not do that, and neither would the Sang family even if she wished to.
As for her big cousin who wanted to send her away, Sang Wan would have no choice but to dissuade him.
Therefore, Gu Fangzi was able to live the days feeling comfortable and at ease, and was not worried about their return.
What she thought was exactly what Shi Fengju was worried about and he knew that he could not do anything to her for the time being.
At this moment, Sang Wan in the Ning Garden1 listening to Nanny Li talk about the changes that had taken place in the household while they were away. As such, she also knew about it.
Shocked and furious, Sang Wan did not manage to come back to her senses for quite a while.
Deep down, she was puzzled why her second brother would suddenly ask to marry Shi Lian? What horrified her the most was the fact that Gu Fangzi was the one arranging everything for the marriage.
“Old Mistress is very pleased with Young Master Sang. Although she is delighted with this marriage, she would not personally handle it. Although there are Second Old Mistress and Third Old Mistress in the household, Third Missy is Old Mistress’s daughter. Without Old Mistress saying anything, it was not appropriate for them to get involved. I’m sure Miss Gu had a part to play in Old Mistress making the decision!” Nanny Li said angrily with a sigh.
Sang Wan did not say a word. In this case, does this mean she owes Gu Fangzi a favor?
Her mind was already in chaos, Gu Fangzi just had to visit her precisely at this moment to ‘show concern’ and give her ‘congratulations’. Naturally, she also mentioned the marriage.
It was only when Shi Fengju came back, did Gu Fangzi take her leave with a broad smile on her face.