CHAPTER 335: CHAPTER 170: FANGZI IS TRULY WONDERFUL

Third Madam Shi originally didn’t want to talk about it, but after bottling up her frustration all night, she couldn’t hold back when someone finally showed concern and asked her about it. She sighed and said, "Indeed! Moving house today took longer than expected, and I didn’t realize that it was past mealtime while tidying up. By the time the food was delivered from the kitchen, it had already gone cold. I had Mrs. Gui go make a new bowl of noodles. Who would have thought that on her way back, she would be knocked over by a careless maid? Not only were the noodles scattered, Mrs. Gui also twisted her waist! I am not afraid of being laughed at when I say this, but Xiaolin had never experienced such hardship before, and now she’s making a fuss and crying." She then chuckled and sighed, "Thank goodness you brought these pastries over. I really didn’t know what to do with the child!"

"So that’s what happened!" Gu Fangzi suddenly understood and replied with a smile, "It’s quite a coincidence! But I’m no stranger, why would I laugh at you? It’s not just the children who are growing and can’t withstand hunger, adults can’t either. If you don’t mind, I have a small kitchen on my side and can have Lan Xiang go cook a bowl of noodles for you right away! The only thing is, they will be plain noodles for sure!"

"Oh my, how could I trouble you with that! No need, no need, these pastries will do, really!" Third Madam Shi quickly declined with a smile.

"Third Aunt, please don’t treat me like an outsider," Gu Fangzi said with a smile, "The fire in my small kitchen is already lit, it will be quick and no trouble at all! How could these pastries stave off hunger? A bowl of hot soup will do much better! Besides, Third Uncle doesn’t eat sweets, and he must be hungry too!"

"This—"

"Hehe, Fangzi, then I’ll have to trouble you this time! I won’t stand on ceremony then, just a casual bowl of noodles will do! Come to think of it, I am actually quite hungry!" Third Master Shi said with a laugh from the side.

Gu Fangzi was overjoyed and replied with a smile, "It’s my fortune that Third Uncle is not treating me as an outsider!" Then she immediately ordered Lan Xiang to go back and cook the noodles.

Lan Xiang agreed and hurried off.

"I’m really grateful to you!" Third Madam Shi said, thanking Gu Fangzi, who replied with continuous modesty and courtesy.

Knowing they were going to eat noodles later, Third Madam Shi prohibited Shi Yulin from eating too many pastries and had Yingxia put away the tray of snacks. Only then did Shi Yulin obediently behave.

Before long, Lan Xiang came back with the food box, and thankfully, nothing went awry this time.

A steaming large blue-and-white porcelain bowl of noodles was placed on the table, wafting a delicious aroma, causing the Shi family of four to perk up involuntarily: indeed, skipping a meal could really make one famished!

Yingxia hurried forward and, along with Lan Xiang, divided the noodles into small porcelain bowls. Although the noodles were plain, they were topped with fresh bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, and green vegetables, mixed with sesame oil and sesame paste, coupled with crispy dried radish, sesame oil-dressed turnip cubes, spicy and sour shredded seaweed, and other small dishes, making the meal particularly delicious.

With the hot soup and noodles in their stomachs, their rumbling hunger was finally appeased. They were sated and their whole body felt comfortable and warm.

"Fangzi, we’re so thankful for your help tonight! Just look, we’ve even troubled you with this!" Gu Fangzi bade farewell, and Third Madam Shi and her daughter escorted her to the door, holding her hand in endless gratitude.

"Third Aunt, don’t mention it! It’s a younger generation’s duty to show respect to elders. Such a small matter isn’t worth your continued concern. If you keep this up, I’ll feel embarrassed!" Gu Fangzi replied with an even more gentle and humble smile.

"Hehe, okay, okay! Then Third Aunt won’t bring it up again!" Third Madam Shi responded with a hearty laugh, gently saying, "It’s dark and the road is slippery, please be careful!"

"Ah," Gu Fangzi said with a smile, "I’ll be careful. You all must be tired too, rest up quickly! I’ll come visit another day."

"What visit or no visit, just come over when you have time, we can hang out and chat!" Third Madam Shi laughed.

Gu Fangzi smiled, "Good, Fangzi would not ask for more!" She departed with Lan Xiang, both laughing as they went.

Watching as their figures receded into the distance, Third Madam Shi couldn’t help sighing in her heart: such a nice girl, who knows who will be fortunate enough to win her hand in the future!

They had just returned and were completely unaware of Gu Fangzi and Shi Fengju’s history as childhood sweethearts, having no knowledge of the fact that she had already entered the Shi family’s home.

"What’s the matter, why such a long face?" Sang Wan couldn’t help but smile, "Who has wronged you?" If it had been before, Sang Wan would have felt distressed and anxious, convinced that Liu Ya was being bullied, but now, with Mrs. Li protecting her, Sang Wan didn’t believe anyone would dare to provoke her, so her tone was inadvertently laced with a hint of teasing jest.

"Miss!" Liu Ya couldn’t hold back anymore and leaned in to ask Sang Wan in a whisper, full of mystery, "That, um, that— are you and young master really—"

Sang Wan’s face instantly turned red, along with the base of her neck, as she bowed her head feeling somewhat guilty and evaded Liu Ya’s gaze.

"Miss!" Liu Ya became anxious and stammered, "Didn’t you say you two were a fake couple? How could you—" Muttering to herself, she said, "No wonder I couldn’t find that bedsheet no matter how hard I searched..."

"Liu Ya!" Sang Wan took a deep breath several times to calm her emotions, lifted her eyes, and said faintly, "Forget what I said before! Pretend I never mentioned it."

"How can I forget when you and the young master—" Liu Ya mumbled under her breath and then giggled, "Actually, I think the young master has been getting better and better towards you, Miss. Once you give birth to the young master’s heir, he will surely treat you even better! Seeing you and the young master like this now, I feel relieved! You don’t know, otherwise, I would have been so worried, always thinking about what we, mistress and servant, shall do in the future! Now there’s nothing to worry about! Hehe, also, there’s the second uncle, with him supporting you, nobody dares to trouble you, Miss!"

"You, you!" Sang Wan was amused, annoyed, and moved all at once and lightly tapped Liu Ya on the forehead, saying with a laugh, "You sly girl, have you been pacing around the house restlessly since this morning, just to ask about this?"

"Exactly!" Liu Ya nodded without hesitation and sighed a relief, saying, "It was almost the death of me holding it in!"

Sang Wan couldn’t help but snort with laughter and shook her head.

Liu Ya also laughed, but then her expression suddenly changed to a mournful one, and she said pitifully, "Miss, it’s true now between you and the young master, but, but I don’t want that!"

"Don’t want what?" Sang Wan asked, puzzled.

"Don’t want to be a concubine for the young master!" Liu Ya said, "Miss, you must promise me. I have been loyally devoted to you, Miss, and have never had such improper thoughts towards the young master!"

Sang Wan had almost forgotten about this matter, but hearing Liu Ya mention it, she was touched and hurriedly held her hand, softly saying, "After so many years together, don’t you know who I am? Rest assured, I will not let you do anything you’re unwilling to."

"Mhm, with Miss’s words, I am now at ease!" Liu Ya smiled with a wide grin and hurriedly said, "The water will get cold soon, Miss. Please go bathe now! I’ll leave you to it!"

Sang Wan smiled, watched her leave, and then comfortably undressed to bathe in the tub. Warm water enveloped her body, the mist on her face, as she leaned back in the bathtub, she softly smiled.

After bathing and wrapping herself in a brocade quilt, she sat at the head of the bed lost in thought, and soon Shi Fengju came back clean and fragrant. He wrapped his arms around her, leaning her onto his chest, and murmured with a smile, "Miss Wan..."

Upon waking, daylight had already enveloped the sky, and the couple embraced, chatting for a while before getting out of bed together.

Today felt much more relaxed since the maids didn’t know about the changes in their relationship. As long as they themselves didn’t say anything, nobody would dare to speculate so boldly. Yet, they both subconsciously felt like thieves yesterday.

"By the way, should we prepare two gifts today for Third Uncle and Third Aunt and the two younger sisters since they just moved yesterday?" Sang Wan asked Shi Fengju with a smile during breakfast.

Shi Fengju suddenly found himself a bit troubled and said with a laugh, "By rights, it’s unnecessary, after all, it’s also Third Uncle and Third Aunt’s own house. Sending gifts would seem too estranged! However, since they have just come back, not sending gifts would seem indifferent! I didn’t know what to do until you brought it up, now I’m at a loss!"

With a snicker, Sang Wan said, "There’s something you don’t know? That’s a rarity! How about we ask mother then, see what she has to say?"

"That sounds good!" Shi Fengju laughed, and after breakfast, they went to Mrs. Wang’s place.

Coincidentally, Shi Yumei was looking for Shi Fengju and intercepted him halfway, leading him away. Although Shi Fengju was reluctant, he didn’t have the heart to refuse his sister’s face and had to follow her. Thus, Sang Wan went alone to pay respects to Mrs. Wang.

Unexpectedly, Third Madam Shi was also there, chatting with Mrs. Wang.