TIPS – Chapter 59

“What’s there to be afraid of? You’re not the same as before. If you go back, do you think she could eat you alive?” Yang Shuangjiao told her, “You know what our mother is like. As long as you’re doing well and you don’t forget her, everything will be fine.” That was why every time Yang Shuangjiao went back, she was scolded by Feng Shi—because she was stingy and unwilling to give money.

Yang Shi hesitated for a long time before saying, “I don’t think I can go anytime soon. The family is too busy. If I leave, what will happen to the household?” If Song Jingwei hadn’t married into the family, she could have left things to Shen Dongming and Shen Junxi to take care of themselves. But ever since her daughter-in-law arrived, Yang Shi felt like she had another child to carefully tend to, making it impossible for her to leave.

“Well, that’s true…” Yang Shuangjiao said regretfully. “Then I guess I’ll have to go alone. I’m planning to visit in a couple of days—I haven’t been back for over half a year. Do you want me to take anything for her?”

Yang Shi nodded. “Of course, I should send something.” Even if she couldn’t go in person, sending a gift would be good.

“No need for anything else, just send some money. It’s easy to carry.” Yang Shuangjiao said, casually playing with her ring.

“That… should be fine.” Yang Shi started thinking about how much private savings she had and how much she should send. In truth, the allowance Song Jingwei gave her regularly had added up to a decent amount, but she had never thought about using the household’s money to support her natal family—that wouldn’t be right.

“My dear sister is such a filial daughter. When I see our mother, I’ll be sure to put in a good word for you.” Yang Shuangjiao said with a smile, holding Yang Shi’s hand. Then her gaze swept over Yang Shi’s appearance, and she exclaimed in surprise, “Sister, you dress so plainly! You don’t even wear a ring?”

Yang Shi smiled and said, “I’m too old for jewelry.”

Yang Shuangjiao scolded, “Nonsense! Which woman doesn’t like to look nice? Don’t tell me brother-in-law never bought you any jewelry?”

Yang Shi glanced at her dressing table, where there was a redwood box given to her by her daughter-in-law a while ago. It was filled with gold and silver jewelry, meant for her to wear for fun. Seeing that her older sister was obviously trying to probe her private savings, Yang Shi said nothing and simply smiled foolishly.

“Aren’t you always saying your daughter-in-law treats you well? Even if brother-in-law didn’t buy you jewelry, your daughter-in-law should’ve at least given you something as a keepsake, right? Having nothing at all just doesn’t seem right.” Yang Shuangjiao said, her gaze also drifting toward Yang Shi’s dressing table. The entire room was filled with exquisite furnishings—there was no way that such a beautiful dressing table wouldn’t have some valuable things inside.

“I just don’t like wearing those things. If I did, my daughter-in-law would certainly have given me a few pieces.” Yang Shi said with a smile.

“Oh, come on! Are you saying your daughter-in-law is so generous that what’s hers is yours?” Yang Shuangjiao disliked Yang Shi’s tone—mainly because she was envious. Why couldn’t she be as lucky as Yang Shi, having such a good daughter-in-law?

“Of course not,” Yang Shi replied. “I’m just saying that my daughter-in-law treats me well and doesn’t hesitate to share good things with us.” After all, the food, clothes, and even the home they lived in all belonged to her daughter-in-law. If her daughter-in-law were stingy, how could he allow them to live so comfortably? He would have been strict and controlling long ago.

It was no joke—Yang Shi thought to herself with relief. If Song Jingwei had disliked them and treated them poorly, what could they have done? Ask her son to divorce him? That was impossible. Not only was Shen Junxi deeply fond of his wife, but given Yang Shi and Shen Dongming’s honest and kind personalities, they would probably have had to endure and try to appease him instead.

That’s why having a good daughter-in-law was a blessing. Likewise, having good in-laws was also a blessing. If both sides treated each other well, the family would prosper in harmony. Even if they weren’t rich now, they would surely become more prosperous in the future.

Early in the morning, Yang Shi stepped out of her room at just the right time, preparing to go to Song Jingwei’s courtyard to ask for fabric. Just as she walked out, she saw Yang Shuangjiao and her daughter smiling at the door.

“Oh, sister, what a coincidence! Where are you off to?” Yang Shuangjiao asked.

Yang Shi hesitated awkwardly. “I… wasn’t planning to go anywhere.”

“Didn’t we agree yesterday to go get some fabric from your daughter-in-law? Let’s hurry!” Yang Shuangjiao said, grabbing her sister’s arm and pulling her along without waiting for a response.

“Elder sister…” Yang Shi tried to resist, but she couldn’t break free and ended up being dragged along like a duck to market.

Meanwhile, Song Jingwei had been staying up late recently. He had only just woken up and was in the middle of getting dressed, washing up, and combing his hair. The mirror in front of him was an old-fashioned bronze mirror, which wasn’t very clear. Having used modern mirrors before, he found these ancient ones rather useless. But he had no choice—he still needed a mirror to manage his long hair, which was already a struggle to tie up every day.

“Jingwei, are you up?” Yang Shi knocked on the door cautiously and called out. Earlier, she had run into her son outside and asked if his wife was awake, only to be told that he wasn’t.

Shen Junxi had also asked Yang Shi why she needed to see his wife.

Yang Shi found it hard to explain—taking two women to disturb her daughter-in-law’s sleep early in the morning wasn’t something that would make her son happy.

“Come in,” Song Jingwei replied when he heard Yang Shi’s voice.

“I’ll go in first…” Yang Shi hesitated at the last moment and turned to tell Yang Shuangjiao and Wang Chunxing to wait outside, hoping they would comply.

“Aiya, he already said we could go in, so let’s go.” Yang Shuangjiao disapproved of her younger sister’s timid behavior. It was just a daughter-in-law—how could a mother-in-law be afraid of him? She pushed open the door with a grin and said, “Nephew’s wife, it’s us. We’re not disturbing you, are we?”

As soon as Song Jingwei heard Yang Shuangjiao’s deliberately affected tone, he felt annoyed, but he didn’t show it on his face. He simply asked, “What can I do for you?” while watching the mother and daughter stride boldly into his room, looking around curiously.

“Oh, nothing much, we just came to see you.” Yang Shuangjiao thought to herself, This room is indeed more spacious and refined than Yang Shi’s. Tsk tsk, look at the decorations, the tall vases… “Tsk tsk tsk…” The whole room was filled with expensive items.

Yang Shi, walking at the back, kept signaling to her elder sister with her eyes while forcing a smile and explaining to Song Jingwei, “It’s like this—Mother wanted to ask you for a piece of fabric. Didn’t you mention last time that you had some brightly colored floral fabric? Just one piece will be fine.”

“Oh…” Song Jingwei pulled open a drawer and took out a key. He originally thought of letting Yang Shi get the fabric from the storeroom herself, but seeing the two people with her, he felt uneasy and said, “Alright then, let’s go. I’ll get it for you from the storeroom.”

“Ah, okay.” Hearing his straightforward agreement without a hint of displeasure, Yang Shi relaxed a little. She didn’t know why, but even after living together for so long, she still felt nervous every time she talked to her daughter-in-law alone.

“Alright, let’s go,” Song Jingwei said, glancing sideways at the two women who were still scrutinizing the room.

Yang Shi quickly stepped forward to pull Yang Shuangjiao away, saying, “Elder Sister, let’s go.” Her daughter, Wang Chunxing, was also staring fixedly at Song Jingwei’s dressing table. There, an open wooden box gleamed with golden hair ornaments, hairpins, and various other pieces of jewelry, dazzling her eyes.

“Elder Sister!” Yang Shi called out.

“Oh, oh…” Yang Shuangjiao finally snapped out of it and pulled her daughter along, scolding, “What are you looking at? Stop staring and hurry up!”

Wang Chunxing looked at her mother with grievance. It wasn’t just me staring—you were mesmerized too! But she couldn’t say that out loud in front of everyone.

“Jingwei, let’s go,” Yang Shi said apologetically, embarrassed by the situation. That was really disgraceful, she thought. And these two just had to be my relatives…

“Mm.” Song Jingwei led the way. The household storeroom was in his courtyard, filled with things that had been brought from the Song family estate.

There were a total of thirty-eight large chests. Some of the bigger furniture pieces were already in use, but plenty remained. The spacious storeroom was still half-filled with items.

When Yang Shuangjiao and Wang Chunxing stepped inside, they were completely captivated. Good heavens, Yang Shuangjiao thought, just what kind of godly family does my sister’s daughter-in-law come from?

Look at those solid wood chests, each half the height of a person—who knows how much silver is packed inside? Look at the exquisitely crafted furniture—selling even one piece could probably fetch a fortune.

And those ornaments placed on display! One was made of coral, another of jade… The mother and daughter felt dizzy just looking at everything.

But really, their reactions only showed how short-sighted they were. Truly wealthy people wouldn’t even bat an eye at these things.

“The fabric is here. Please pick one yourself,” Song Jingwei said, remembering where the fabric was stored. He walked over and opened the chests one by one.

“Alright,” Yang Shi responded quickly, seizing the moment while Yang Shuangjiao and Wang Chunxing were still gawking at everything. She swiftly said, “This one is fine. The color and pattern are both good.” She only chose one piece.

“Is that enough?” Song Jingwei asked.

“It’s enough, it’s enough,” Yang Shi replied. A young girl doesn’t need much—this piece can make three outfits.

“Alright then.” Since she said so, Song Jingwei didn’t insist further. He closed the chest and asked, “Is there anything else you need?” He figured it would be best to take everything at once and avoid making another trip.

“No, just the fabric,” Yang Shi said. “Let’s go.” She was worried that Yang Shuangjiao might do something inappropriate. Having grown up together, she knew her elder sister’s personality —she loved keeping up appearances and was greedy for wealth. To enjoy riches, she was capable of doing anything.

By the time Yang Shuangjiao and Wang Chunxing came back to their senses, Yang Shi and Song Jingwei were already waiting at the door. Yang Shi called out, “Elder Sister, let’s go!”

“Already? Are you sure you got everything?” Yang Shuangjiao asked reluctantly. She remembered that her daughter hadn’t picked a fabric yet.

“It’s all taken care of. Look at this pattern—do you like it?” Yang Shi showed her the fabric she had chosen.

Yang Shuangjiao glanced at it, about to say it wasn’t suitable and suggest going back in to choose another, but before she could, Wang Chunxing’s eyes lit up when she saw the fabric. “What a beautiful fabric! Is this for me?” She immediately grabbed it from Yang Shi, overjoyed.

“Hehe, as long as you like it,” Yang Shi said happily.

Since her daughter had interrupted, Yang Shuangjiao couldn’t say anything else. She pouted and muttered, “Look at you acting so desperate, as if you’ve never seen anything nice before.” It was just a piece of fabric—a good one, yes, but still just a piece of fabric.