Rebirth: Contract Husband Falls in Love with Me-Chapter 440 - 225: Adding to the Frustration (Part 2)

Seeing the drippy soup and broth on the table, and the scattered bones, fish bones, ginger slices, and garlic peels on the ground, Liu Ya couldn’t help feeling a surge of irritation. She would need to tidy up first before calling the maids to clean.

"Everyone else is also tired from the day’s work, so I let them rest. Moreover, I’m used to having Liu Ya serve me closely," Sang Wan said with a smile.

"That makes sense!" Mrs. Li nodded earnestly, "A slave like that, who has been raised by oneself, is intimately familiar. The maids in a big household are the most cunning with hidden schemes, and at the slightest inattention, they may trip up their master! Especially someone like you, who comes from a lesser background, they probably respect you even less! Isn’t it necessary to be more cautious and vigilant? It’s better to keep Liu Ya around; she’s the better choice!"

"Madam!" Unable to bear it any longer, Liu Ya spoke with a stern face, "At your age, shouldn’t you understand the consequences of speaking recklessly? What will people think of our miss if they hear you talk like that? Does the miss still want to be respected?"

"You girl, you dare to lecture me?" Mrs. Li was so angry that she pointed at Liu Ya with chopsticks and said to Sang Wan, "Miss Wan, look at how she talks to me!"

Sang Wan was seething with rage in her heart, cursing that if it weren’t for her junior status, she would have really given her a piece of her mind! If what Mrs. Li said was overheard by other maids, just as Liu Ya said, what would they think of her?

"Auntie, those words of yours aren’t pleasant, and besides, our family isn’t that complicated. You’re overthinking it! Let’s just eat. I see you’re also tired today; have your meal and rest early!" Sang Wan said indifferently without even glancing at her.

"Mother, it’s our cousin’s family matters, why bother saying more, let’s just eat!" This was the first smooth speech Sang Yan had made since she entered the Shi Mansion. Sang Wan’s face had just turned quite unpleasant, which truly surprised her.

Mrs. Li, feeling displeased at not being backed up by Sang Wan, yet sensing her anger, laughed and said, "I was just concerned about Miss Wan, and I couldn’t help but say a bit too much. Don’t take it to heart, Miss Wan! Ha ha, let’s eat, let’s just drop the subject!"

Finally, after much difficulty, the meal was finished. Sang Wan then led her aunt and cousin back to the warm pavilion, where Mrs. Li had already sent the little maids away, leaving only her, Xingzhi, and two honest and steady little maids to serve them.

Lifting the curtains, she led them into the warm pavilion and quickly had tea brought forward for them to rinse their mouths.

Mrs. Li, thinking it was tea for drinking, let out a content burp and waved her hand, "I’ve just eaten, and my stomach is full, I don’t want to drink tea now, just leave it there, no need!"

The little maid pursed her lips and smiled, "Madam, this is for rinsing your mouth, not for drinking."

Ha ha, is that so?" Laughed Mrs. Li as she glanced at Sang Wan and picked up the tea for rinsing as instructed.

"Miss, I’ve already asked someone to prepare the guest room, and there is hot water in the kitchen. When your in-laws leave, we can send it over," Mrs. Li said, stepping forward with a smile.

"Thank you for your hard work, Mrs. Li, I had forgotten about that!" After thinking for a moment, Sang Wan smiled and said, "Let’s have my aunt and cousin stay in the side house tonight; there’s no need to go to the guest room. Mrs. Li, you’ve been busy all day too, you can rest as well. Having Liu Ya and Xingzhi around will suffice!"

"Understood, then I shall retire now!" said Mrs. Li, curtsying before she exited.

Mrs. Li didn’t have a good impression of Mrs. Li, and seeing her take another glance at her as she was leaving, as if with some hidden meaning, her dislike grew. Turning to Sang Wan, she said, "Is this Mrs. Li your nephew-in-law’s wet nurse? These big household’s wet nurses really put on airs, acting as if they’re one’s own mother! Miss Wan, you’re really too easy-going with her—"

"Auntie!" Sang Wan’s voice turned stern, and she fixed her gaze on Mrs. Li, "Mrs. Li is the young master’s wet nurse, and she has taken great pains in caring for the young master. Even in front of my mother-in-law, the young master treats her with great respect. Auntie, refrain from speaking nonsense!"

Mrs. Li opened her mouth, staring at Sang Wan, unable to say a word for a long while.

She had intended to tell Sang Wan about what happened that day and to have Sang Wan scold Mrs. Li as a way to vent her anger, but unexpectedly, Sang Wan protected Mrs. Li instead! This left Mrs. Li feeling stifled and helpless, so she could only cough and lower her head to drink tea to cover up her emotions.

Concerning herself with this would only cause her more displeasure, Sang Wan thought, and after calming herself down, she said, "Auntie, what exactly brought you here today? Just say it so you can go back to your room and rest! I have arranged for transportation so that tomorrow morning you can be sent home. Can you really leave the family at ease if you don’t go back? Aren’t you worried uncle might be influenced by that concubine into doing something again?"

Mrs. Li was silent for a long while. She had intended to stay for a few more days, but now those words couldn’t leave her lips. Hearing this, Sang Yan secretly sighed with relief. Staying in the Shi Mansion for a few days with her mother’s temperament, who knew what embarrassment could be caused? It was truly uncomfortable for her to be by her mother’s side.

"Mother, cousin is right. If you have something to say, just say it quickly. Cousin—she will help you find a solution! With so much happening at home, how can you leave it behind? Right now is the busy farming season, we should hurry back!" Sang Yan also urged hastily.

"Well, that works too," Mrs. Li agreed reluctantly and then smiled, "Miss Wan, after the busy season, I’ll bring Ayan to visit you again!"

Sang Wan responded vaguely, "Auntie, if you want to visit next time, please send a message in advance to notify us. Wait for my reply before coming. Otherwise, what would we do if it’s like today? It was fortunate that Liu Ya did not accompany me out today."

Mrs. Li hurriedly laughed, "I ran into your cousin Fangzi from your mansion on the road today. She’s quite nice, and she even invited me to visit her! Miss Wan, you must pass on my regards tomorrow, and I’ll go see her when I come back next time—"