A moment later, a maid with large eyes and a round face entered, carrying an exquisite box. She curtsied and announced clearly, "Second Master, Second Mistress, our mistress has instructed me to deliver this fine set of the four treasures of the study to Fifth Young Master."
Feng Shi had the items accepted and said politely, "Fourth Sister-in-law is very thoughtful. Please convey my thanks to her."
The maid added, "Since the items have been delivered, I shall take my leave now."
Feng Shi quickly instructed a maid, "Escort Miss Zhu'er out."
Meng Shuping looked innocently at Meng Wenxiu, "See, Fourth Mistress sent a fine set of the four treasures of the study. How could he have the nerve to give me some junk?"
Meng Wenxiu felt both embarrassed and surprised. He knew this set of the four treasures of the study cost no less than dozens of taels of silver. Why would Fourth Sister-in-law give such an expensive gift to Meng Shuping?
But now, he was in a difficult position. He had originally intended to have someone bring a set of the four treasures of the study from his own study, but after seeing Fourth Madam's gift, his own set seemed too shabby to present.
After a moment of hesitation, Meng Wenxiu instructed the maid, "Go and bring the set of Ru kiln bluish-white porcelain tea ware from my study."
He had acquired this tea set by chance and had originally intended to keep it for himself. Giving it away now pained him, but he couldn't let others say he was stingy, especially when his gift couldn't even compare to that of an aunt by marriage.
Hearing this, Meng Shuqi was shocked, "Father, that's your beloved—"
Meng Wenxiu waved his hand, affecting indifference, "It's just a tea set. Compared to Ping Geer, it's nothing."
Watching Meng Wenxiu put on a show of generosity, Feng Shi smirked mockingly. She never thought she'd see the day.
Meng Shuqi cast a dark look at Meng Shuping. This Meng Shuping had just returned today, yet not only was Grandfather protecting him, but even his own father had changed his previous attitude. What special merits did he possess?
Meng Huiyun glanced at Meng Shuping with jealousy and said sourly, "Father is so good to Fifth Brother. Even Grandmother and Fourth Aunt dote on Fifth Brother..."
Meng Shuping, however, was baffled by Meng Wenxiu's sudden change. "What's wrong with him? Did Grandfather hit him so hard earlier that it rattled his brains?"
"Or is it because Grandfather wants to punish Yang Geer, and he's giving such an expensive gift to protect Yang Geer?"
Meng Wenxiu finally couldn't take it anymore. He slammed the armrest of his chair and shouted, "Enough!"
Instantly, everyone in the room looked at him with shock and confusion. Meng Huiyun was completely stunned. She never expected her father to snap at her so harshly for the newly returned Meng Shuping.
Her eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Meng Wenxiu, her face full of grievance. "Father, what did I do wrong?"
Feng Shi suppressed her laughter and pretended to be puzzled. "Master, what's wrong?"
Meng Wenxiu: "..."
Meng Shuping was startled. "Is he regretting it now? There's no need, really no need. Even if he didn't give me anything, I wouldn't say anything. Giving silver would be just fine. Why is he so angry?"
A vein bulged at Meng Wenxiu's temple. He suppressed his rage and bit out, "Ping Geer has been back for so long. Why isn't the food from the kitchen ready yet?"
Meng Shuping looked at him with mixed feelings. "If he's hungry, he's hungry. Why take it out on us? It's not our fault he's hungry. He really must be bipolar, mustn't he?"
Feng Shi began pinching her thigh again, though her face still showed great surprise. She was fighting to contain her laughter.
Meng Huiyun became even more convinced that Meng Wenxiu had scolded her and humiliated her in public because of Meng Shuping. The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt, and her resentment toward Meng Shuping grew.
Facing the bewildered and suspicious stares from everyone, Meng Wenxiu opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. It was all that boy's fault, thinking nonsense!
After collecting himself, he was about to explain when he saw everyone turn away as if nothing had happened. Feng Shi even casually called over a young maid. "Go to the kitchen and ask when the food will be ready."
The young maid quickly replied, "Yes."
Seeing everyone pretending nothing was wrong, Meng Wenxiu felt stuck. He couldn't speak, nor could he stay silent. He sank back into his chair resignedly. Fine, since no one else could hear that voice, let Meng Shuping say whatever he wanted. He would just pretend not to hear it.
A short while later, the person sent to fetch the tea set and the one sent to the kitchen returned one after another. After Meng Wenxiu gave the tea set to Meng Shuping, the food from the kitchen was also brought over. Everyone then took their seats at the dining table to begin the meal.
A maid was carrying a soup tureen to the table when, for some reason, she suddenly stumbled and veered toward Meng Shuping.
Meng Shuping quickly tried to dodge but couldn't avoid it completely. The soup from the tureen splashed out, drenching him.
The others immediately turned to him. "Ping Geer / Fifth Brother, are you alright?"
The maid who had been carrying the soup barely managed to steady herself. When she saw Meng Shuping's sorry condition, she panicked and knelt on the floor. "Master, Mistress, I didn't do it on purpose!"
But no one paid her any attention at that moment. Meng Shuping shook his clothes to keep the fabric from sticking to his skin. Feng Shi quickly instructed another maid, "Fortunately, we have clothes ready. Manjiang, take Fifth Young Master to change first, then bring the burn cream. If he's scalded, apply it right away."
Meng Shuping followed the maid to the adjacent room. He took off his clothes and checked his skin. Luckily, he was unharmed. Otherwise, it would have been truly miserable.
A short while later, he changed and returned to the main room. As soon as he emerged, Feng Shi immediately asked, "Ping Geer, were you scalded?"
Under everyone's gaze, Meng Shuping stiffened and instinctively grabbed the hem of his clothes. "N-no."
Meng Shuqi sighed with relief and said kindly, "Fifth Brother, next time, don't move around so recklessly. If you bump into the maids again, spilling the soup is a small matter, but if you get scalded, it won't be good."
Meng Wenxiu snorted. "So impulsive and undisciplined. How unbecoming! After all, he was raised in the countryside—completely lacking in steadiness."
Meng Shuping walked nervously to the table, feeling furious. "How does he know whether I moved or not? He speaks as if he saw it himself. Making false accusations—who can't do that? Does he think he's the only one with a mouth?"
He sat back down on the stool, gathered his nerve, and said, "W-wasn't it you who tripped her just now? I saw it."
Meng Qingyun looked at Meng Shuping with admiration. This newly returned brother was quite interesting. His thoughts sounded bold, but his words came out so timid.
Meng Shuqi had known all along that Meng Shuping hadn't seen anything. Without changing his expression, he put on a show of magnanimity. "Fifth Brother, I know you just returned and are afraid of angering Father, but you can't push the blame onto me. Don't worry, Father knows you didn't do it on purpose and won't blame you."
Meng Wenxiu glared angrily at Meng Shuping. "Enough. Just be more steady next time. A man of character should have some sense of responsibility."
Meng Shuchun sighed. Meng Qingyun pouted. She knew it—Meng Wenxiu favored those two siblings from concubines. It was always like this. Whenever she and her brother clashed with them, their father always took their side.
Meng Shuping was almost laughed bitterly by the father and son's performance. "Look at them, putting on a show together, bullying honest people. They think I can't argue? Just watch me tear them apart!"
He stiffly forced out a few words. "Whoever did it is a dog."
"Pfft—" Feng Shi and Meng Qingyun could no longer hold back. Their bodies shook with suppressed laughter, and they quickly pinched their thighs, struggling not to laugh out loud. No, they couldn't be too unrestrained.
Meng Wenxiu didn't even notice them. He slammed the table. "How impudent!"
Meng Shuping lowered his head. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. He knows it was his precious son who did it. He knew exactly who I was criticizing."
"And he still has the nerve to lecture me with such self-righteousness. How shameless."
Feng Shi finally managed to suppress her laughter and said, "Since they each have their own version, why not have that maid brought back and ask her? Then we'll know exactly what happened."
Meng Wenxiu's face darkened. Seeing how confidently Meng Shuping was criticizing, he began to doubt himself. Stiffly, he said, "No need. It's just a small matter. There's no need to make an issue of it. Let's eat."
Meng Shuping looked understanding. "I knew it was him. Tsk, a man of character should have some sense of responsibility."
Meng Shuqi's face turned ugly. He never expected that not only had he failed to harm Meng Shuping, but he had also come off worse.
But there would be another day. Just wait and see.
Meng Shuping felt that since his return today, it had been one misfortune after another. To prevent any further mishaps, he deliberately ate faster. Of course, there was another reason—he hadn't eaten enough at noon, and after expending so much energy in the afternoon, he was now extremely hungry.
Seeing this, Meng Huiyun covered her mouth with her hand and laughed. "Fifth Brother, why are you eating so quickly? No one is competing with you."
Feeling everyone's eyes on him again, Meng Shuping was getting frantic. "Ahhh, why is she so annoying? Family, who gets it? I really don't want this kind of spotlight on me! Can't they just ignore me?"
He pretended not to hear and continued eating. Moreover, he had figured it out—while the girl's words seemed harmless on the surface, given this family's mindset, they carried another implication.
*After all, he's from the countryside and has never had good food. He's so eager when he sees something delicious.*
Seeing that Meng Shuping didn't respond, and noticing the others subtly mocking her, Meng Huiyun felt both embarrassed and resentful. She could only put on a hurt expression and turned to Meng Wenxiu. "Father, have I offended Fifth Brother in some way? Why is he ignoring me?"
Meng Wenxiu looked at Meng Shuping with displeasure. "Didn't you hear? Your sister is speaking to you. Why are you ignoring her?"
Being stared at by everyone, Meng Shuping grew furious. "Of course, it's because I lack upbringing. Are you a fish? How forgetful—wasn't that what you said? Have you forgotten already?"
"How can anyone be this clueless? Can't she tell I don't want to engage with her? Why does she insist on humiliating herself? Is she asking for a slap in the face?"
Just as Meng Wenxiu was about to scold him, Meng Shuping suddenly shut his eyes and spoke rapidly, "Father, it's not that I'm ignoring my sister. It's just that my father in the countryside said, 'No talking during meals or bedtime.' I thought the rules in the Earl's household were the same. Turns out they're not?"
After saying this, he mentally cheered himself on. *"Meng Shuping, you can do this! As long as you keep your eyes closed, they can't see you!"*
Meng Shuping gathered his courage and continued, "Father and sister grew up in the Earl's household—how could they be without manners? Ah, it must be that the customs in small towns are different from those in the capital."
After saying this, he didn't dare to look at anyone else, only nervously lowering his head and fidgeting nervously.
Meng Wenxiu and Meng Huiyun's faces flushed bright red. They had always looked down on Meng Shuping, considering him crude and uncultured since he was recently brought back from the countryside. Yet now, they were being mocked by someone like him for having worse manners than country folk—the embarrassment was unbearable.