Chapter 284 - 143: A Sense of Not Belonging
"Great Aunt, where are we heading to?" the coachman asked with a smile.
Shi Yumei glanced at Sang Wan and said, "You should be asking your Great Madam! Your Great Madam is the rightful mistress of the Shi Mansion! How tactless can you be, not even understanding this bit of etiquette? Are you not afraid that Great Madam will make you pay for this later!"
"I have never been around Qingzhou City, and there’s nothing I need to buy. Let’s just listen to eldest sister!" Sang Wan replied with a faint smile, neither too soft nor too forceful.
"I don’t have any objections either. I’ll follow eldest sister’s lead!" Shi Lian also hurriedly said with a smile. In truth, she was the one least daring to offend the eldest sister. If eldest sister were to hold a grudge and say something in front of their mother, she would be left without anyone to speak on her behalf! If not for acknowledging the face given by Sang Wan and understanding her reason for the invitation, Shi Lian would not have stepped out.
Shi Lian decided to just play the part of an accompaniment obediently today, not daring to utter any more than necessary.
"Let’s head to Guanghe Street in the east of the city; I want to check out the jewelry there!" Shi Yumei then ordered.
"Yes, Great Aunt!" The coachman replied crisply, cracked his whip, and the carriage smoothly made its way toward Guanghe Street.
This street was famous for its gold and silver shops, and cosmetic and rouge stores. The wide and straight avenue was lined on both sides with shops big and small, teeming with bustling traffic and the clamor of crowds, making it extremely lively.
Shi Yumei gently lifted a corner of the carriage curtain to peek outside and immediately her spirits lifted as she sighed, "It’s still as vibrant as it used to be, unchanged! Oh no, it’s even busier than before. It seems there are many more shops than before! Look at these storefronts, tsk tsk, truly incomparable to other places!"
After Shi Yumei’s remarks, there was silence. Both Sang Wan and Shi Lian did not respond.
Sang Wan treated her with respect from a distance. Having to endure daily sarcastic comments was already a challenge, and she had no duty to actively flatter and please others; Shi Lian, on the other hand, did not wish to stir up trouble and thus kept quiet as well.
The scene became slightly awkward for a moment. Sang Wan and Shi Lian subconsciously glanced at each other and saw a hint of helplessness in each other’s eyes.