Zhоu Shаоjin fеlt Nanping wаs bеing tоо рolite.
She smilеd аnd said, "It's quite аlright. Miss Jiying оnlу аskеd mе tо show her hоw to make socks. It wasn't rеаlly а bothеr."
Nаnрing sеemеd tо rеlах upоn hearing this and rерlied, "Sinсe you'vе alreаdy deаlt with Jiуing, Sесоnd Мiss, уou must know shе's gоod in еvеrу waу eхсept fоr hеr ovеrly straightforwаrd temper—shе саn't beаr the slightest grievаnсе. But hоw саn еvеrуthing go smооthly in this wоrld? Thаt's why I had hеr helр Fоurth Мastеr with sоmе nеedlework, tо keep her oсcupied аnd prevеnt her frоm running аround—Fоurth Master went to Huaian and hasn't returned yet!"
Zhou Shaojin believed Nanping's words; otherwise, she wouldn't have only asked Jiying to make four pairs of socks for Cheng Chi.
For someone who doesn't know needlework, making four pairs of socks is difficult, but for someone skilled, it's just a day's work.
Zhou Shaojin didn't know what discord existed between Nanping and Jiying, but hearing that Cheng Chi hadn't returned yet, she was also a little worried the two might clash. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Why not let Jiying follow me and learn needlework for a few days? It won't be too late for you to teach her after Uncle Chi returns."
Knowing she couldn't order Jiying around, Nanping thought it over and gratefully thanked Zhou Shaojin, saying, "Then I'll trouble you, Second Miss, for these few days. Fourth Master will be back in at most three days."
Zhou Shaojin smiled and nodded, seeing Nanping off.
Returning to the room, she found Jiying practicing with needle and thread.
Zhou Shaojin was pleased to see this, thinking that although Jiying was proud, she took matters seriously.
Jiying asked her, "Has Nanping left?"
"Yes!" Zhou Shaojin sat down and continued sewing socks. "She said you learning needlework here was bothering me and came specifically to thank me."
Jiying snorted coldly, put down her needle and thread, and said, "I just can't stand her attitude. It's as if only she is loyal to your Uncle Chi, and everyone else has ulterior motives."
Zhou Shaojin thought it over carefully and realized that, indeed, Nanping and Jiying were two very different people—perhaps this was the main reason for the conflict between them.
She finished sewing one sock and noticed Jiying still sitting there in a daze. She couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong? Is something not going smoothly?"
"Oh!" Jiying snapped back to attention and said, "Nothing's wrong, I'm just not used to it." With that, she picked up her needle and thread and, following what Zhou Shaojin had just taught her, slowly began sewing two pieces of leftover fabric.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and soon finished sewing the other sock.
She picked it up and examined it carefully, smiling with satisfaction.
Jiying leaned over and said, "I really can't tell—just this small change makes the socks look much better." She added, "You really enjoy needlework, don't you? My father says you can only do something well if you truly like it."
Zhou Shaojin was somewhat surprised and smiled, "Your father is quite insightful."
"Of course!" Jiying straightened her back with a touch of pride. "My father traveled to many places when he was young and even went to sea in search of Penglai Immortal Island. But he never found it..." As she spoke, she smiled faintly, looking as playful as a young girl, with none of her usual aloofness.
Zhou Shaojin also laughed, growing even more curious about Jiying's background.
She set the socks aside and said, "Keep practicing for now. When you're almost ready, I'll show you how to do the cross-stitch."Jiying said, "I haven't even mastered the most basic plain stitch yet!"
Zhou Shaojin smiled. "Things that seem simplest are often the hardest to do well. Why do you think we chose the cross stitch for Uncle Chi's socks? Because even if the stitches are a bit uneven or tangled, it's not very noticeable—perfect for someone like you."
"Really?" Jiying sounded skeptical but didn't argue, lowering her head to continue practicing her sewing.
Zhou Shaojin took out an unfinished forehead band to embroider.
Jiying asked her, "Is this for Old Madam Guo? It looks like a treasure flower pattern... but others use bright reds, greens, and sapphire blues. Why are you using lilac, yellow vine, and raven black?"
"Colors should suit a person's age," Zhou Shaojin explained with a smile. "Look at Old Madam Guo—do you think she'd like a forehead band embroidered in bright reds and greens?"
Jiying laughed, her expression softening, losing some of its usual cool elegance.
Zhou Shaojin then asked, "Why haven't I seen Miss Minghe lately?" She mentioned running into Minghe at the sewing room last time and added, "I've been to Hill of Clustered Cassia Courtyard two or three times but haven't met her."
Jiying said, "She's about to become a bride, so she's been hiding in her room doing needlework these days!"
Zhou Shaojin was very surprised. "Minghe is getting married? Why haven't I heard anyone in Cold Green Mountain House mention it? Who is she marrying? Where does he work?"
"She's a maid in Hill of Clustered Cassia Courtyard. If she's to marry, it's up to your Uncle Chi to decide. Why would they announce it to everyone?" Jiying said. "Your Uncle Chi has betrothed her to a constable surnamed Shen from Huzhou. The Shens have been constables for generations and have some family assets. It should be fine, I suppose? I haven't met him." She then complained, "If even Minghe weren't busy, I wouldn't be in such a sorry state!"
Zhou Shaojin broke into a sweat.
Why would Jiying need to meet Minghe's husband?
The more she interacted with Jiying, the more she felt there was something odd about the way Jiying spoke and acted.
But for Uncle Chi to marry Minghe off to a constable... that was strange too!
The two chatted about various household matters. Sometimes Zhou Shaojin would ask just one question, and Jiying would ramble on at length. Other times, Zhou Shaojin would ask many questions, only for Jiying to dismiss her with a single sentence. Regardless of who spoke more or less, after several exchanges, Zhou Shaojin found it easy to get along with Jiying and her impression of her grew increasingly favorable.
Jiying's temper, however, grew worse. She tossed aside the scrap fabric in her hands and said, "I need a break!"
Zhou Shaojin smiled faintly and asked Shi Xiang to brew a fresh cup of tea for her, saying gently, "Then have some tea."
Jiying responded with a cold "Hmm."
Zhou Shaojin continued embroidering her forehead band.
Jiying said, "Show me a few more stitches."
Zhou Shaojin set down the forehead band and picked up the cut fabric. She quickly sewed the sole of the sock; all that remained was to attach the leg portion. After a brief hesitation, she sewed that on as well and handed it to Jiying, asking, "Did you see clearly?"
"I did!" Jiying said, picking up the fabric for the other sock and preparing to start sewing.
Zhou Shaojin quickly stopped her. "Start over with a new one—even if the technique is the same, the tension while sewing can differ. As for the other one... I'll finish it."Jiying nodded. Without standing on ceremony, she picked up another sock and began sewing.
Zhou Shaojin finished sewing the other sock.
Jiying had only just started, and her stitches were crooked and quite unsightly, but the order of her needlework was correct.
Zhou Shaojin encouraged her: "Not bad! Keep at it, and in a few days you’ll be able to make a pair to count on."
Jiying looked at the needle and thread in her hand, nodded with satisfaction, and said confidently, "I think so too."
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but smile.
Jiying stood up: "It’s getting late. You still have to go to Cold Green Mountain House this afternoon to copy scriptures. I’ll leave first and come bother you again tomorrow." As she spoke, she waved the sock in her hand. "I’ll take this back with me and practice properly tonight. I’ll try to get the hang of it quickly."
Zhou Shaojin smiled and nodded, seeing Jiying out.
At noon, while she and her sister were having lunch with Old Madam Guan, news came from the second branch that Madam Zheng of the Shi family had given birth to a son, weighing six jin and six liang, with both mother and child safe and sound.
Wasn’t it during crab season in the previous life? Why has it happened a few days earlier this time?
Zhou Shaojin wondered to herself.
Old Madam Guan, however, was overjoyed. She kept saying "good" and instructed Madam Mian to visit Madam Shi after lunch: "...Our Cheng family has always had few descendants. In your generation, only you and Madam Hong have had two sons each. Now Madam Shi has made a good start. Surely the Cheng family will flourish from now on."
Madam Mian smiled and agreed, offering to take the Zhou sisters to see the newborn.
Zhou Shaojin felt that both the second and third branches were hypocritical and didn’t want to interact with them more than necessary. She politely declined and went to Cold Green Mountain House.
Zhou Chujin, however, was eager to go and accompanied Madam Mian to the second branch.
Along the way, Zhou Shaojin encountered several maidservants who were overjoyed. Two of them whispered about what rewards the second branch would give them for the second young master’s full-month celebration. Their happiness was palpable even from a distance. However, it had been so long that she couldn’t recall what the second branch had given the servants when Madam Zheng had her first child. But when she arrived at Cold Green Mountain House, the courtyard was quiet. No one was discussing Madam Zheng’s childbirth. Everyone remained calm, going about their tasks as usual. When they encountered Zhou Shaojin, they simply nodded and smiled as they always did, as if unaware of the news.
Who would have thought the relationship between the first and second branches had become so strained that they weren’t even willing to maintain appearances?
But perhaps this was for the best. Uncle Chi wouldn’t fall for the second branch’s old tricks anymore.
Zhou Shaojin smiled as she entered the prayer hall, washed her hands, and began copying scriptures.
But she hadn’t copied more than two pages when Xiao Tan rushed in excitedly, saying, "Second Miss, Miss Xiao—oh, I mean Second Aunt—has given birth to a son! The Yuan family has come to announce the happy news. The messenger is still speaking with Madam Yuan, but someone has already run over to inform the Old Madam."
What?!
Both families had received joyful news on the same day.
Before Zhou Shaojin could say anything, footsteps echoed from outside.
Xiao Tan hurried out and quickly returned, saying, "Second Miss, Madam is here."
Zhou Shaojin smiled at her.No matter whose family had a son, it had little to do with her. At most, she could offer congratulations when bidding farewell to Old Madam Guo later, and when the main branch sent someone to deliver the full-month gifts for Cousin Xiao’s son, she could take out a set of children’s clothes stored at the bottom of her trunk as a congratulatory gift...
She dipped her brush in ink and continued copying the scriptures.
But before she could bid farewell to Old Madam Guo, the main branch became lively.
Madam Yuan rewarded all the prominent stewards and matrons in the main branch with five taels of silver each. Maids with ranks received rewards ranging from three to one tael, while ordinary maids, servants, and elderly women each received five hundred copper coins. Servants from other branches who came to offer congratulations were each given four hundred copper coins.
Not long after, news came from the second branch that their rewards would follow the same standard as the main branch.
※
Sisters, my Weibo account was hacked this afternoon, and a lot of spam advertisements were posted. I’m so angry...(>_<) I still have to deal with these spam ads later, so the extra chapter for cadyss’s spirit beast egg will be a bit late. Everyone can check back tomorrow morning!
PS: Please vote with pink tickets!
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote with recommendation tickets or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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