Chapter 79 - 40: The More One Tries to Hide, the More One Is Exposed
Sang Wan glanced at Mrs. Li, who stood by with a faint smile on her face, not showing any sign of emotion, and with a slight smile, she said: "After you’ve finished reading the books and writing that you should in the morning, you can go! Mrs. Li, why don’t you also take the day off today! How could one table be enough? I think we should set up two big tables in the side hall of the west wing. Let’s not only invite those from our courtyard, but also those in the mansion who we are acquainted with and get along with. Mrs. Li probably has quite a few old sisters too! Decide the dishes yourselves, set it by the standard of five taels per table, tell the kitchen to pick the best ingredients to prepare the dishes, and buy two bottles of good wine. The silver can come out of my account!"
As soon as Sang Wan spoke, Mrs. Li and Liu Ya were both delighted. Liu Ya, being quite casual with Sang Wan, felt endlessly grateful upon hearing this, her face filled with smiles, and she accepted without declining. Mrs. Li, on the contrary, declined several times, laughing joyously as she said "I shouldn’t" and "I dare not accept." Naturally, Sang Wan insisted repeatedly, and only then did Mrs. Li also accept with thanks.
Xingzhi, Hong Ye, and others also eagerly came forward to express their thanks and to congratulate Mrs. Li and Liu Ya. A banquet at an ordinary restaurant would already be quite sumptuous at two taels of silver, and one for five taels per table would surely have everything one could want, and the portions ample, so everyone was naturally overjoyed. Even the little maidservants began to share in the happiness.
Mrs. Li excused herself at once, thinking to instruct Xingzhi and the others in a while, then go to speak to her old sisters and by the way invite them to come over for dinner in the evening. Happy occasions, of course, are best shared with as many people as possible.
When Liu Ya thought about having to read and write first, although she wasn’t as repulsed as before, she still showed a dispirited look like that of a frostbitten eggplant, drawing a stern glance from Mrs. Li: "You girl, hurry off and don’t think about being lazy! Lady Sang Wan is doing this for your own good; don’t be unappreciative of her kindness!"
As it was, Mrs. Li was originally quite skeptical and somewhat displeased with Sang Wan teaching Liu Ya, Xingzhi, and Hong Ye to read and write, because she felt that for a servant girl, it’s sufficient to understand how to serve the Master and to be loyal. What use was there in reading and writing? It’s better to be a bit denser! It prevents them from becoming conceited with a few characters they know and getting above their station with unnecessary ideas.
But now she no longer saw it that way. In everyone’s eyes, those who could read and write were impressive people, and naturally, Mrs. Li thought the same. If her own daughter could read and write, that would be the best!
Moreover, with that statement, she was also telling Sang Wan that she had seen and remembered all her kindness towards her and her daughter, and asked Sang Wan to rest assured.