CHAPTER 236: CHAPTER 119: DO YOU HAVE IT OR NOT

Sang Yufei involuntarily furrowed his brows lightly and after a moment he spoke, "Big Brother, Brother-in-law, I still need to participate in the imperial examination next year. With the mixed quality of people in the local area, I feel it’s still better to—"

Sang Hong had already understood his meaning and nodded, saying, "When people come to congratulate us, we welcome them and treat them with courtesy, but for the gifts they bring, we should decline them."

"That’s exactly what I think, too!" Sang Yufei immediately relaxed. The reason he had been hesitant to speak earlier was because he felt that having just managed to make a name for himself, his elder brother and sister-in-law should have been able to benefit from his rising status. But by refusing, it would all come to nothing.

"This is not proper," Shi Fengju shook his head and said, "We are all family here, and I’ll speak frankly. Second Brother, you’re afraid that mean and unscrupulous people will tarnish your reputation, but ultimately, they are people from our own hometown. If you dismiss their kindness outright, it might lead people to think you’re arrogantly aloof and despise others. Forgive my bluntness, but this is not good for Second Brother!"

"That can’t be, can it?" Sang Hong was taken aback. Even displeasure at receiving gifts from others is not allowed?

"Brother-in-law is right," exclaimed Sang Yufei, his face turning slightly pale as he broke into a cold sweat. A reputation for being proud and aloof often implies being unsociable and reclusive, then what official position could he hold in the future? It would be enough to offend people!

"We haven’t considered this thoroughly enough... this matter—" Sang Yufei frowned, "Well, let’s just accept the gifts they send for now! Later, we can prepare a slightly lesser gift in return!"

Hearing him say this, Shi Fengju inwardly nodded, thinking that Second Brother could definitely make it in the officialdom if he thought this way. If he had the same opinion as Big Brother, he would have advised him not to enter officialdom at all, to avoid future suppression and difficulties, which would be too much to bear. A slight misstep could anger someone, possibly even endangering his life.

"Make sure the return gift is slightly lesser, that way they also understand you appreciate the gesture!" Shi Fengju then added with a smile.

"What Brother-in-law said makes great sense," Sang Yufei nodded with a smile.

Sang Hong then sighed, "Brother-in-law has seen more of the world and thinks more completely about issues, these things I really don’t understand, well! You two consult with each other! As long as it’s good for Yufei, I have no objections!"

"Big Brother!" Sang Yufei looked at Sang Hong gratefully, feeling very warm inside.

Shi Fengju then said, "That aside, there will probably be quite a few people coming consecutively to offer themselves as servants. These people," Shi Fengju raised his eyebrows, "are mostly opportunistic and cunning individuals, keeping them is harmful and useless. It’s better to firmly decline. If we need servants at home, it’s much better to expend extra effort to buy some from a reliable middleman; they are also more reassuring to use. If the two brothers wouldn’t mind, just let me know whenever you need to purchase servants!"

The middleman of Qingzhou City is naturally familiar to the Shi family, and the Shi family’s housekeeper also has his own method of selecting people.

Sang Yufei quickly said with a smile: "Look at what Brother-in-law is saying! If there’s a need later on, we will naturally still need to bother Brother-in-law. Thank you in advance!"

"Second Brother, you’re too polite!" Shi Fengju also smiled and nodded his head.

While the three of them were discussing, in a corner, Mrs. Fang was chatting with Sang Wan while busily sewing a shoe sole, and Sang Xiaoquan, along with Liu Ya, Xingzhi, and others were playing noisily in the courtyard.

"Ah, I think our son-in-law is really not bad, truly considerate! It’s rare indeed!" Mrs. Fang exclaimed, nudging Sang Wan emphatically.

"Sister-in-law..." Sang Wan could only respond with a smile.

"I am someone who always speaks the heartfelt truth!" Mrs. Fang sighed, "With our son-in-law’s background, to still treat us like this, he’s better than many others in this world! Miss Wan, you really are fortunate!"

Sang Wan stammered, her smile growing somewhat unnatural. It was impossible not to feel guilty. Compared to his past life, he treated her so much better now, including her family. But still, he was being ambiguous, sometimes his gaze seeming so fiery, it made her cheeks flush and heart race, yet he never clearly stated his intentions, what was all this about?

There was also Gu Fangzi, a thorn forever lodged in her heart. Thinking of how much commotion she could cause even during her mourning period, Sang Wan believed the day Fangzi came out of mourning would be the day she openly declared war on her. By then, could he still treat her as he does now?

Words can crush gold and destroy bones; Gu Fangzi has been operating in the Shi Mansion for years, raised almost like a daughter by her mother-in-law, and being his childhood sweetheart, she had everything, while she had nothing! No, she also had a sister-in-law who for some reason just disliked her and would find reasons to provoke and needle her!