Shi Fengju closed his eyes for a while then woke up soon after. He looked affectionately at her and a smile crept on the corners of his lips before he was startled by her exclamation. He quickly sat up and patted her shoulder as he said with a smile, “What are you shouting for? Even though it’s late now, there’s nothing else today!”

“Why didn’t you wake me up? It’s already time to light the lamps! We’ve been in here for half a day. How will the servants think of us!” Sang Wan couldn’t help but grumble and glare at him.

All along, Shi Fengju always woke up earlier than her. With a smile, he said, “All the servants here belong to us. Who will dare to gossip? You are always too careful!”

While they spoke, they got off the bed and wore their shoes.

Before they could wear their clothes and tidy up, Liu Ya’s penetrating voice was heard coming from outside. “Eldest Missy, you’re here!”

That startled Sang Wan and she almost sprained her ankle as hurriedly put on her shoes. She heard Shi Fengju’s low laughter over her head and couldn’t help but glare at him. “You can still laugh! If your eldest sister came in, I don’t know what she would say in front of Mother!”

“Then don’t get up!” Shi Fengju laughed.

Don’t get up? Sang Wan looked down at her wrinkled and messy clothes, as well as her loosely tied hair bun that was too late to organize now. While she was baffled, Shi Fengju had already laid her back on the bed and took off her shoes before saying with a low chuckle, “Just lie down. I’ll go out and have a look!”

Shi Yumei looked at Liu Ya and said with a snort, “Why? Can’t I come at this time!”

“I dare not. Eldest Missy, please come in!” Liu Ya said aloud.

Shi Yumei suddenly stopped and stared at her, “Why are you being so loud? I’m not deaf!”

“The household was filled with noise and clamor these days. Having to deliver the messages here and there, how can they hear me properly unless I speak loudly! Who knew that it would take time to adjust back! It’s all my fault!” Liu Ya said with a smile.

Upon hearing her mention Shi Lian’s lively marriage, although Shi Yumei did not attend, she could imagine the liveliness then and she became jealous, causing her face to sink. She said coldly, “How shallow. To think you’d be so happy just because of a little bit of liveliness!”

Liu Ya didn’t realize the contempt in Shi Yumei’s words. She nodded honestly and said with a smile, “I wouldn’t dare to compare myself to you! I am naturally shallow!”

Shi Yumei had met a snag, but she couldn’t do anything that was beneath her dignity. Thus, she held back her anger and said while she walked, “Where’s your Mistress? Does she not welcome me? Why do I not see her!”

Liu Ya didn’t know what to say and could only smile to herself. Then, she saw Shi Fengju lift up the curtain from the warm room and called with a smile, “Big Sister!”

“You’re here too!” Shi Yumei was taken aback and looked at the warm room. “Why haven’t you lit the lamp at this time!”

“Oh.” Shi Fengju casually said with a smile, “I just came back from my study room just now and got to know that Sang Wan is unwell, so she’s resting inside! Is anything the matter?”

Shi Yumei didn’t say anything and only sighed without a word.

Shi Fengju was aware that she had something to say, so he ordered the servants to serve tea and gestured with his eyes for them to take their leave before he said with a smile, “Big Sister, what’s on your mind?”

Shi Yumei wanted to say something but hesitated. Finally, she said with a sigh, “I plan to go home tomorrow! You might ask why I’m going back so soon? It’s because of the same troubles at home. Fengju, you’re so clever, so there’s nothing you don’t know.”

Shi Fengju indeed knew. In fact, everyone in the Shi Family knew that the only matter that could make Shi Yumei so embarrassed was nothing but her husband being grouchy!

“I’ve already ordered Head Servant Jin to give your family money at the start of every month. Did he not do what I say?” Shi Fengju narrowed his eyes.

“No! No!” Shi Yumei hurriedly said, “Head Servant Jin would always send someone to deliver our money at the start of every month. However, however… You know… Your Eldest Brother-in-law has so many friends and often goes out to those poetry clubs to meet with his friends, so the expenditure is a little big…”

Shi Fengju sighed secretly in his heart. However, he did not intend to indulge his prideful Brother-in-law and help him to pay in vain as not only would he not be grateful, his appetite would grow even bigger! He didn’t even attend the Shi Family’s wedding, yet he sent his wife over to ask for money while he hid safely without making a sound. Clearly, he didn’t take the Shi Family to heart at all, so why should anyone help such a person?

Shi Fengju suddenly remembered what Sang Wan had told him in the past that it would be better to persuade his eldest sister to divorce, and his heart wavered. If things remained the same as how it was in the past for his sister, it would be better for her to divorce!

“Without money to be in the club, your eldest brother-in-law’s friends don’t want to meet him anymore. When they don’t call him out for gatherings, he becomes angry and vents it all out at home! He talked about being overly-subjective and his mind becoming rigid after disregarding the outside world. How will he make progress if he’s like that? Let’s not say the coming exams, he won’t even make it for the one after! He really worries me. He can’t calm down to study. If he fails the examination again and again, what do I hope for in the future! Fengju, why don’t I write you a receipt for a loan. Please help us again!”

Shi Feng then responded after a while, “Big Sister, don’t indulge him too much! Take our new brother-in-law and Third Brother as examples. They studied diligently and never attended so many gatherings or clubs. Will those who truly spend their time studying have the time to do those things? It’s better that you persuade your husband to lock himself behind closed doors and study! Besides, you know his friends. Which one of them is decent? It’s good that they stay away from him! Whatever you’re doing for him now, I’m afraid that if he passes, he might not even have you in his eyes! Big Sister, I urge you to think more thoroughly! “

Shi Fengju was just testing his elder sister’s feelings. However, he could see her face slightly change as she regretted even asking.

Sure enough, Shi Yumei replied unpleasantly, “I only asked you to help. If you don’t want to and feel that I’m taking advantage of you, you should just say it! I won’t blame you. After all, I shouldn’t have bothered you about this, and I’m not that unreasonable! Yes, your eldest brother-in-law has a strange temper, but he is also a decent person. Although there are times when he would say some unpleasant things, he has never done anything to let me down! I’ve nothing to say if you compare that Sang family’s scholar to my husband. I’m sure he was just lucky! But you shouldn’t belittle your eldest brother-in-law like this, right? As a woman, my husband is my support for this lifetime. His future is where all my hope lies. You want me to think more thoroughly, but what can I do! Aren’t you clearly hinting at something bad!”

She became angrier and lashed out, “You’ve never said such things to me in the past. Did someone make you this? Who is so bad-hearted and wicked that they cannot bear to see me well-off and want to see my family ruined!”

Shi Yumei raised her voice when she lashed out as she casted a glance into the room.

Sang Wan sat up after a while and felt baffled.

She couldn’t hear the conversation outside clearly, but Shi Yumei’s angry words were loud and clear, and she knew they were directed at her. She did not know how she had offended her without doing anything!

“Big Sister!” Shi Fengju secretly laughed at himself. She had guessed correctly. Although Sang Wan did not instigate anything, she had said it herself which gave him such a thought. However, Sang Wan only did so with good intentions! His eldest sister’s response made him feel that his wife had been wronged.

“Big Sister, just take it as I spoke nonsense! I’ll apologize to you! Don’t be so oversensitive. Who would instigate anything behind your back!” Shi Fengju hurriedly smiled and apologized.

Upon seeing him like this, Shi Yumei couldn’t say anything more. She responded, “I ran my mouth. Fengju, don’t take it to heart as well!’

“Big Sister, we shouldn’t see ourselves as strangers! We are siblings. Why would I take it to heart!” Shi Fengju quickly replied with a smile.

“That’s good! That’s good!” Shi Yumei said again.

“Oh, that’s right. Have you had your dinner?” Shi Fengju asked with a smile.

Shi Yumei then remembered that he probably had not had his meal yet, so she got up and replied with a smile, “I had mine at home. Then, I won’t disturb you anymore. I’ll take my leave first!”

Shi Fengju nodded his head and got up to see her off. “Big Sister, take care!”

When Shi Yumei saw that he didn’t mention anything about the money, she was slightly disappointed, but she said her goodbye. If she were to ask about it again, it would be too embarrassing. She could only hold it back, and leave with a smile.

After Shi Fengju saw her off, he returned to the warm room. At this moment, Liu Ya and Zhide had lit the lamp and were helping Sang Wan up.

Upon seeing Shi Fengju come in, Sang Wan ordered the two servants to draw water for him to wash his face. Then, she asked him, “Your big sister’s words just now, when had I ever offended her?”

Knowing that she would definitely ask about this, Shi Fengju quickly replied with a smile, “You didn’t! I said something wrong and caused her to have a wrong idea. It really has nothing to do with you!”

“Oh,” Sang Wan shot him a glance before responding. It would be strange if she believed him!

Shi Fengju smiled bitterly and slightly shook his head. He hurriedly pulled her close to him and leaned on her shoulder before saying, “Sang Wan, don’t think too much. Big Sister just came back and the two of you haven’t spoken much to each other. How could you have offended her!”

Sang Wan replied faintly, “I’m not the one thinking too much. It’s her. You don’t have to tell me all these. I’m really fine!”

Soon, Liu Ya brought the water in, and Sang Wan and Shi Fengju cleaned their faces and gargled water in their mouth. Not long after, she instructed the servants to set the table and had dinner with Shi Fengju.

When Shi Yumei pondered about what excuse to give to her husband when she returned home, she felt annoyed after a while. She complained about her husband’s failing to live up to expectations and her brother not sparing her feelings. Not able to come up with an excuse, she eventually braced herself to talk to Wang Shi and managed to get a banknote worth four hundred silvers after lying to her.

Roughly seven days later, it was the day Sang Yufei had to be on his way to the capital.