Zhоu Shaojin merеlу smiled without sрeaking.
Zhоu Сhujin аssumеd hеr уounger sistеr was being mischievous, so аftеr nagging а few wоrds, shе sооn put thе mаttеr аsidе.
In the аfternoon, Zhоu Shаojin wеnt to Cold Grеen Mоuntain Hоusе tо сору scripturеs. Вiyu аnd Fеiсui werе discussing whаt birthdаy gifts to givе Оld Mаdam Guo. Onlу then did Zhou Shaоjin rеmеmber thаt the ninth day оf thе ninth lunаr month wаs Оld Маdаm Guо’s birthdaу.
Shе should jоin in the сelebrаtion аs wеll.
Zhоu Shaоjin аskеd Вiyu, “What did evеryone usually givе in previous уears?”
“Smаll things like nееdles аnd threads,” Biyu replied somewhat sheepishly. “The old madam is very considerate of us—the rewards she gives are even more than what we spend on birthday gifts. We’d feel embarrassed giving anything too expensive.”
Recalling Old Madam Guan’s suggestion last time for her to embroider a forehead scarf for Old Madam Guo, Zhou Shaojin considered embroidering two forehead scarves and making two pairs of shoes and socks as birthday gifts.
Zhou Chujin also thought it was a good idea, saying, “The eldest branch lacks nothing valuable. No matter how rare a gift you give, it wouldn’t be considered special. Making a few small items yourself, however, shows that the gift may be modest, but the sentiment is deep.”
But the fourth branch could not be careless.
Old Madam Guan said, “In previous years, the eldest branch always gave generous gifts for my birthday. This year, with Shaojin copying scriptures at Cold Green Mountain House, the two branches have been interacting more frequently than usual. For the old madam’s birthday, we should increase the gift by ten percent compared to usual.”
Madam Mian was somewhat troubled.
For Old Madam Guan’s birthday this year, the eldest branch had given four sets of clothing, a string of nanmu prayer beads, and a sandalwood walking stick. If the fourth branch increased their gift by ten percent, what should they add?
Zhou Chujin offered Madam Mian an idea: “How about a longevity screen? Last time, for the second branch’s ancestor’s birthday, I saw a guest gift a screen depicting Peng Zu offering birthday wishes. Why don’t we gift a screen showing the Goddess of Longevity offering birthday wishes?”
Madam Mian also thought it was a good idea. She called in the steward to search for such a screen. Meanwhile, Cheng Xu was feeling quite distressed.
He had been sullen when he left for Hangzhou Prefecture. Upon arriving, friends hosted a welcome banquet for him. During the gathering, they discussed current affairs, with the most talked-about topic being the court’s plan to dredge the Tongzhou River. Some praised it, others criticized it, and in the end, no one could convince the others. They ended up placing bets.
At that moment, Cheng Xu had a sudden thought: if he made a bet with his mother using his future prospects… perhaps he could smoothly marry Zhou Shaojin!
The more he thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. When he heard that Zhou Zhen would depart for Baoding on the seventh, he could no longer sit still. He hurriedly bid farewell to his mentor and rushed back. Although he was ultimately too late, he had already made up his mind and wasn’t too disappointed. Yet, his heart felt as if it held a little bird, making him eager to see Zhou Shaojin and exchange a few words with her.
Unexpectedly, she still avoided him as before.
Was Zhou Shaojin truly uninterested in him, or was she merely mindful of the propriety between men and women?
He felt he must find a way to clarify this.
But since she always avoided him, when would he ever have a proper chance to speak with her?
Cheng Xu paced restlessly at home.
Huanxi, who was skilled at reading expressions, quickly discerned Cheng Xu’s distress. He whispered, “Young Master, the old madam’s birthday is approaching!”
Cheng Xu understood immediately. Overjoyed, he patted Huanxi heavily on the shoulder and rewarded him with five taels of silver. Lying back in his reclining chair, he began pondering how he should proceed when the time came.
Each branch began sending Mid-Autumn Festival gifts.
However, the Liangguo Duke’s residence sent someone to Nine Prosperities Lane to announce a funeral.
Zhu Pengju’s wife had passed away.Old Madam Guan couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
Madam Mian, however, grew alert and said, "In previous years, matters like this were simply handled by sending word to the stewards in the outer courtyard, weren't they? Why did they send a funeral notice to our household today?"
Old Madam Guan's expression gradually turned solemn as she instructed Madam Mian, "Keep an eye on the stewards in the outer courtyard, and also pay attention to the two Shaojin sisters."
Madam Mian nodded.
A Zhu sent a matron over to inform them that her sister-in-law had passed away, and the flower-viewing party originally planned could no longer be held. She asked for their understanding.
Zhou Shaojin and her sister, along with Cheng Jia, all wrote letters to console A Zhu.
Since there were elders present, the Liangguo Duke's residence planned to hold the wake for only seven days before the burial.
When Cheng Jia and Zhou Shaojin discussed this, they couldn't help but feel indignant: "...Shouldn't it be at least twenty-one days? Isn't this too hasty? Could it be that none of Madam Zhu's maternal family spoke up?"
Zhou Shaojin, against her conscience, comforted Cheng Jia, "Perhaps it's because the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching. Moreover, after the festival, the Liangguo Duke and his son are to enter the capital, so they likely have no mood to handle the funeral arrangements."
Cheng Jia still felt it was unfair and muttered, "Even so, isn't there the Chief Steward? Do they really need the father and son to personally break the mourning bowl and carry the spirit tablet?"
Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to change the subject, saying, "I heard that a lot of festival gifts were sent from Luoyang for Mid-Autumn Festival. Is that true?"
Cheng Jia nodded disinterestedly and said, "Cousin Li Jing sent them, saying it was to thank us for the hospitality last time. He also mentioned he would visit again in a few days."
Zhou Shaojin smiled inwardly.
Li Jing must have taken a liking to Cheng Jia, just as he had in her previous life.
It was good that Cheng Jia had someone who liked her. No matter what happened in the future, at least she would have someone to rely on.
Although this thought was somewhat selfish, Cheng Jia was a childhood playmate, while Li Jing was a stranger she had only met once... May the Bodhisattva forgive her for favoring one over the other!
Zhou Shaojin encouraged her sister to make mooncakes: "...Sending a little to each household would be a gesture of our goodwill."
In her previous life, Zhou Chujin's cooking and needlework were not as good as Zhou Shaojin's, but she excelled at making pastries, especially seasonal treats like zongzi, mooncakes, and spring rolls.
Zhou Chujin couldn't help but feel tempted.
In a couple of years, she would be married. If she could teach Zhou Shaojin how to make these things, her sister would be able to prepare and send them herself during festivals in the future. This would earn her some favor from the elders and make her life a little easier.
The two sisters instructed Madam Ma Fushan to purchase ingredients and made a whole basket of mooncakes with various fillings: five-nut and rock sugar, red bean paste and lotus seed, preserved vegetable and sesame, rose and brown sugar... Zhou Shaojin then drew a "Fragrant Osmanthus Tree" pattern for Madam Ma Fushan to print on the paper boxes. They sent a box to each household, as well as to A Zhu at the Liangguo Duke's residence and the Hill of Clustered Cassia Courtyard.
Cheng Jia found them delicious after tasting them and sent Cui Huan over to ask for the preserved vegetable and sesame mooncakes.
Zhou Shaojin had Chunwan pack a box for Cheng Jia.
Old Madam Guan sent Si'er to invite Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin to Jia Shu Hall for a talk.
"Do you know what it's about?" Zhou Shaojin whispered to Si'er.
Si'er smiled and said, "The Liao family from Zhenjiang came to deliver festival gifts. They said they would also like to pay their respects to the eldest young lady."
Her sister's future husband's family?
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but frown.
In her previous life, the people from the Liao family in Zhenjiang who delivered festival gifts had never come to pay respects to her sister. Could something have happened there?I really hope it's not because of my rebirth. Otherwise, I'd regret it to death.
Zhou Shaojin anxiously went to Jia Shu Hall and waited in the side room for a while before Zhou Chujin arrived with Madam Mian.
Zhou Chujin had clearly freshened up and dressed at Madam Mian's place. She wore a silver-red silk vest and a white satin skirt with delicate embroidery, with southern pearl earrings dangling from her ears. Her face was lightly powdered and rouged, adding a touch of radiance to her already lotus-like beauty, making her even more dazzling.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but smile.
Good thing I was clear-headed and didn't dress up—perfect to complement my sister.
Zhou Chujin's face flushed bright red. She gently pinched her sister's cheek and said, "What are you laughing at?"
Zhou Shaojin playfully blinked at her sister. "Sister, be careful. The person sitting inside might be a respectable matron from the Liao family, but who knows if there are also some rough servant women from the Liao family sitting in the tea room?"
Zhou Chujin's face turned even redder. "Such a sharp tongue! Let's see who would dare to marry you in the future!"
Zhou Shaojin giggled and, arm in arm with Madam Mian who was laughing nonstop, entered the main hall.
Zhou Chujin had no choice but to follow them in.
Zhou Shaojin heard voices from the resting room and quickly let go of Madam Mian, standing behind her sister.
Madam Mian nodded subtly and led the two sisters into the resting room.
Old Madam Guan was sitting on the luohan bed, with a woman wearing a parrot-green vest sitting respectfully below her.
Hearing the commotion, the woman turned her head.
Zhou Shaojin was startled.
It was actually Nanny Zhong, the most trusted confidante of her sister's future mother-in-law.
When Nanny Zhong saw the two sisters, her eyes lit up, and she quickly stood up.
Zhou Chujin guessed this was someone from the Liao family and couldn't help but take a glance.
The woman was in her fifties, with a plump, round face, fair and plump. She smiled before speaking, appearing very amiable.
Zhou Chujin felt relieved. She and her sister bowed to Old Madam Guan.
Old Madam Guan pointed to Nanny Zhong and said, "This is someone from the Liao family, married into the Zhong family."
"Please, no need for formalities," Nanny Zhong said repeatedly, curtsying to the Zhou sisters.
Zhou Chujin inclined her body slightly and nodded to Nanny Zhong, completing the courtesy.
The Zhou sisters then sat beside Old Madam Guan. Nanny Zhong exchanged a few warm words with Zhou Chujin before rising to take her leave.
Zhou Shaojin gave Shi Xiang a meaningful glance.
Shi Xiang understood and followed her out. After the fourth branch of the family gave their rewards, she approached and slipped the two ingots of snowflake silver prepared by Zhou Shaojin into Nanny Zhong's hand, smiling as she said, "You've worked hard, Nanny. This is from our eldest young lady for you to buy some wine."
Nanny Zhong didn't decline and thanked her with a smile before leaving Jia Shu Hall with two other matrons.
Zhou Shaojin asked, "Why did the Liao family send someone? Why did they leave just like that?"
Old Madam Guan chuckled and said, "They just came to see Chujin."
"Why did they come to see Sister?" Zhou Shaojin was somewhat puzzled.
"Silly girl!" Madam Mian tapped Zhou Shaojin's forehead. "The Liao family is taking a daughter-in-law—they naturally have to send someone to take a look, right?"
In my previous life, they didn't send anyone to look!
Zhou Shaojin muttered, "Didn't they see her when the betrothal was settled?"
"How old was your sister back then?" Madam Mian laughed. "And how old is she now?""You, now! Stop teasing the children," Old Madam Guan said with a smile, her eyes on Zhou Chujin but addressing Zhou Shaojin. "It's because the Gu family said your sister not only has a good temperament but is also dignified and graceful, and very beautiful. The Liao family grew curious and couldn't help sending someone over to take a look."
"Then this should be a good thing, right?" Zhou Shaojin sought confirmation.
"Of course it's a good thing!" Old Madam Guan laughed. "Having a good reputation before even marrying in makes it easier to establish oneself in the husband's family later on."
That's good!
Zhou Shaojin smiled with narrowed eyes.
Feeling that after her rebirth, she finally had something worth being happy about!
※
Sisters, today's extra update!
o(n_n)o~
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
!!
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