Chapter 3 Serving Tea_2

"Mother! Uncle, Aunt!" The two stood still, and Shi Fengju bowed to the three elders in greeting. Sang Wan stood gently at Shi Fengju's side, her hands slightly crossed in front of her, her demeanor soft and compliant.

"You have arrived!" Mrs. Wang smiled kindly and asked a few casual questions. Second Master Shi and Mrs. Mi also exchanged pleasantries with a smile. Then, glancing at Sang Wan with a smile, Mrs. Wang said, "Alright, let's start!" A maid then carefully placed a brocade cushion in front of Mrs. Wang and another maid approached with a tray, on which sat a tea cup decorated in bean-green and gilded with double happiness characters, the light steam carrying a faint fragrance of tea.

Sang Wan's palms unconsciously tightened; she almost rigidly moved towards the cup, looking into it and feeling a chill in her heart.

It was exactly like in her past life!

The light yellow-green tea was clear and reflective, with a fragrant and pleasant aroma becoming richer as she approached - a sign of top quality tea. However, soaking in the tea was a strand of hair about an inch long. In her past life, already nervous, she dared not look closely and merely presented the tea. That immediately displeased her mother-in-law Mrs. Wang, who, although did not rebuke her directly, displayed a very unhappy expression with knitted brows. Afterwards, it was Gu Fangzi who smilingly eased the situation for her.

Although the hair in the tea was not placed by her, she had transmitted the tea cup and failed to spot the issue, indicating that she was careless, disrespectful, and lacked consideration for her mother-in-law and elders. Thus, how could the mother-in-law favor her? How could she qualify as the main lady of the Shi family?

Because of this incident, both her mother-in-law and her husband had a poor impression of her, and even the maids and servants subtly belittled her. Yet, she remembered Gu Fangzi's kindness!

"Ahem," seeing her lost as if her soul had wandered off, Shi Fengju coughed to remind her.

Sang Wan quickly returned to her senses, apologized to him with a light smile, and reached for the tea cup, but recoiled as soon as she touched it.

"This tea seems a bit cool, and drinking cold tea in the morning is not good for your health. Let's replace it with another one," Sang Wan said, glancing at Mrs. Wang with a smile that seemed to be explaining, yet she directly ordered the maid carrying the tray.

Being a newlywed and considered somewhat precious, Mrs. Wang of course would not embarrass her in public. Seeing that her daughter-in-law spoke out of consideration for her health, Mrs. Wang's heart grew even fonder. Although she also meant to take only a sip or two of the tea, she appreciated the thoughtfulness of her daughter-in-law!

Mrs. Wang smiled and gestured to the maid with her mouth.

The maid had no choice but to kneel down in response and withdraw, while another quickly prepared a new tea and brought it forward.

Thus, Sang Wan held the tea cup with both hands, stepped forward, and knelt gracefully in front of Mrs. Wang, raising the tea cup over her head, "Mother please have some tea!"

"Good, good!" Mrs. Wang leaned forward to receive it, sipped cheerily from it twice, and handed a small red lacquered box to Sang Wan, smiling and saying, "From now on, we are one family. You are a well-educated lady from a scholarly family, well-read and understanding of many principles. There's no need for an old woman like me to ramble on, you understand it all! Going forward, have a good life and bear descendants to prosper our Shi family soon!"

"Yes, mother! I have taken your words to heart," Sang Wan respectfully agreed, knocked her head again to Mrs. Wang, then stood up.

"Good, good!" Mrs. Wang, seeing her daughter-in-law so soft-spoken and obedient, was even more pleased, her smile broadening joyfully.

Sang Wan also secretly heaved a sigh of relief and proceeded to serve tea to the uncle and aunt.

In her past life, fearing to breach decorum, she said, "I have been raised with strictness and humility from a young age and dare not forget it!" Seeing her mother-in-law looking puzzled and progressively colder, she regretted it too late!

Scholarly family! Sang Wan couldn't help but bitterly smile! Indeed, the Sang family was a scholarly family, but this term, when applied to wealthy families, connotes elegance and high status, commanding respect; yet, when applied to a fallen family like hers, it seemed more like mockery!

In those days, the Master of the Shi family admired her father's scholarship, was deeply impressed by his knowledge, and thus arranged this marriage. But although her father was full of learning, his path through the imperial examinations was continually unsuccessful. After achieving a small degree as a scholar, he achieved nothing further. His elder passed away in discontent and gloom, and after spending much money on the examinations over the years, the Sang family fell deeper into decline. Now, her older and younger brothers had also only reached the level of 'scholar', and Sang Wan dared not think much about the future.

Second Master Shi was enthralled with caring for his goldfish, parrots, hwamei, and orioles like he would his ancestors, never allowing another to care for his beloved creatures. Although he sat receiving the new niece-in-law's kowtow, his mind was already eager to return to feeding his fish, changing the water, and bathing the Hwamei bird. He hardly noticed Sang Wan, taking the tea cup mechanically with a grunt of approval, drank the tea, handed over a red envelope, and couldn't sit still anymore, continually glancing at Mrs. Mi with the corner of his eyes, signaling her to hurry.

When it was Mrs. Mi's turn, after drinking the tea, she lifted her handkerchief to dab at the corner of her mouth, handed over her gift and, glancing at Gu Fangzi with playful eyes, said smiling to Sang Wan, "What a talented niece-in-law, sister-in-law! Just look, a beauty with brains, clever and quick-witted! Ah, truly enviable. Sister-in-law, you will be blessed! Niece-in-law, being well-read and learned, you must surely learn quickly and ease your sister-in-law's and eldest brother's worries soon. Miss Gu from Gu family can also take a rest! Sister-in-law, don't you think so? Although Miss Gu is capable, she is still an outsider! Even though she has lived with us for many years, she is ultimately still a guest!"

Having said this, Mrs. Mi covered her mouth and giggled, her gaze casually sweeping over Shi Fengju and Gu Fangzi as if pulling an invisible thread linking the two, signaling to Sang Wan her implication.