Whо wоuld hаve thought that аs sоon as Zhоu Shaojin finishеd sреаking, Jiуing snоrted cоldly and said, "You're just foоling mе, arеn't yоu? Ноw оld arе уоu this уеar? It tоok you thrее months just tо learn the сross-stitch tеchnique. If уоu wеrе tо lеаrn this entire sеt оf embrоidеrу methоds, wouldn't it tаkе you sеvеn or еight years? Lоok at the things уоu mаke nоw—they cаn асtuallу rivаl Nаnрing's..." Аs shе spоkе, she hеld up hеr own embrоiderу аnd еxаminеd it саrefully for а few moments, then addеd with a hint of pridе, "But, cоnsidering hоw lоng I've bеen learning needlework, I think I'm doing quite well!"
Zhou Shaojin didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Jiying urged her, "Hurry up and cut out a pair of socks for me to try making!"
Zhou Shaojin didn’t stand on ceremony with her either and said, "You still need to practice for a while before you can manage that."
"Can't I even make a pair of socks for myself?"
"Of course you can!" Zhou Shaojin laughed. "As long as you can wear them out without embarrassment."
"Why would I be embarrassed?" Jiying said dismissively. "Who would even look at my feet?"
Zhou Shaojin giggled and cut out a pair of socks for her.
Jiying lowered her head and focused intently on her needlework.
Zhou Shaojin also sat down with a smile and began embroidering the birthday gift for Old Madam Guo. With just a turn of her head, she could see Snowball lying obediently in its basket, watching her with its big, dark eyes.
Her heart felt warm, and a smile lingered on her lips, refusing to fade.
Zhou Chujin could tell from her expression that she had reconciled with Jiying and secretly felt happy for her younger sister.
Jiying had a straightforward personality, and with such a companion, her sister’s temperament should become more cheerful.
She even deliberately chose a day when Jiying was visiting to go to Zhou Shaojin’s side room and spoke with Jiying for a while. She also rewarded Jiying with plenty of candies and pastries.
Jiying was polite and cheerful, but for some reason, Zhou Shaojin had a feeling that Jiying didn’t much like her older sister. After her sister left, she asked Jiying, "What’s wrong with you? Did my sister do something inappropriate?"
"Not at all!" Jiying shrugged helplessly and said, "Your sister is very nice. But I always feel that your sister is quite similar to Nanping—both are too proper. I usually don’t get along well with people like that."
"What kind of nonsense is that?" Zhou Shaojin glared at her. "Am I not proper, then?"
Right in front of Zhou Shaojin, Jiying tore open the box of pastries that Zhou Chujin had just given her, stuffed a piece of crispy candy into her mouth, and said, "That’s not being proper—that’s being foolish!"
Zhou Shaojin was furious.
Jiying burst into laughter and said, "Have you ever heard the saying, ‘Fools have fools’ luck’? I’m actually praising you for being fortunate!"
If she were truly fortunate, how could she have suffered so terribly in her previous life?
Zhou Shaojin felt awkward and embarrassed.
Jiying cautiously asked, "Are you angry?"
"No!" Zhou Shaojin said wistfully. "I was just thinking about some things from the past and feeling a bit emotional."
Jiying curled her lips dismissively and said, "Let me tell you a story." Without waiting for Zhou Shaojin to respond, she continued on her own, "There was a child sitting sadly on the steps. A passerby saw him and asked, ‘What’s wrong with you?’ Guess how the child replied? The child sighed deeply and said, ‘I’m thinking about when I was little.’"
What kind of story was that?
It took Zhou Shaojin a long time to realize what was going on.
So Jiying was actually making fun of her!She couldn't help but nudging Jiying's shoulder. "Alright! You're actually laughing at me. I'll never have the kitchen make your favorite potstickers again."
Jiying laughed heartily. "Your reaction is a bit too slow. When Cheng Zichuan told me this story back then, I figured it out immediately... I said you were slow, and you still wouldn't admit it."
Zhou Shaojin was stunned. "So this story was told to you by Uncle Chi. But why would Uncle Chi tell you this story?"
She couldn't imagine what Uncle Chi would look like while telling a story.
Upon hearing this, Jiying actually blushed. She coughed lightly and said, "Cheng Zichuan likes to needle people at every turn. How could I remember it so clearly?"
Zhou Shaojin didn't believe it at all.
If she didn't remember clearly, why would she use this story to laugh at her?
However, Jiying must have been quite embarrassed at that time.
Zhou Shaojin wasn't the type to pick at old wounds, so she didn't press further, just pursed her lips and smiled.
Jiying sighed softly, patted Zhou Shaojin's head, and said, "You have such a good temper. I wonder which young master will have the fortune to marry you."
Zhou Shaojin didn't want to talk about this and changed the subject. "Uncle Chi should have returned from Huaian, right? Did things go smoothly there?"
"With Cheng Zichuan personally handling it, how could it not go smoothly?" Jiying said indifferently, handing Zhou Shaojin the sock she had sewn an inch of. "How is it? Should be alright, right?"
Although the stitches were still uneven, they could be considered decent.
Zhou Shaojin sighed. "You learn so quickly!"
"Of course," Jiying said without modesty. "I used to... have very steady hands, so learning these things is effortless!"
"Really!" Zhou Shaojin facepalmed.
She really wanted to ask what happened to her before that made her hands so steady, but after thinking about it, she still didn't ask.
Jiying said, "I'll bring you some tea crisps to eat tomorrow."
Zhou Shaojin asked, "What are tea crisps?"
"A snack from Huaian," Jiying said with a smile. "I think they're quite good."
Zhou Shaojin smiled. "Did Uncle Chi bring them back?"
Jiying curled her lip. "Do you think your Uncle Chi is the type to do such things?"
He didn't seem like it!
Zhou Shaojin shook her head.
"That's right," Jiying said. "Qin Ziping brought them back. He went to Huaian with Cheng Zichuan. Cheng Zichuan returned first, and Qin Ziping came back yesterday."
Qin Ziping?
Zhou Shaojin asked, "What's his relationship with Qin Zi'an?"
Jiying knew Zhou Shaojin had met Qin Zi'an and smiled. "He's his younger brother. The Qin family has three brothers: the eldest is Qin Zining, the second is Qin Zi'an, and the third is Qin Ziping. They are the grandsons of Chief Steward Qin, Qin Shouyue."
Zhou Shaojin asked, "Then have you ever heard of someone called Qin Da?"
Jiying thought for a moment. "I haven't heard of him. But if you want to know, I can help you ask."
Zhou Shaojin thanked her repeatedly. "I didn't expect Qin Ziping to be so thoughtful, bringing back snacks from Huaian for you all."
"He didn't bring them for us; he brought them for Nanping," Jiying said ungratefully. "He brought four boxes. Two were for Nanping, and the other two were for us to share."
Zhou Shaojin was very surprised. "How old is Qin Zi'an? Does Uncle Chi know that he's giving things to Nanping?"Jiying burst out laughing. "What are you thinking! Nanping is Qin Zi'an's sister-in-law."
Zhou Shaojin was surprised.
Jiying sighed and said, "Nanping and Qin Zining grew up together, but unfortunately, Qin Zining passed away not long after they were engaged. Cheng Zichuan and Steward Qin Da intended to find a good match for Nanping after a few years, once the mourning period for Qin Zining had passed. But Nanping refused, saying she wanted to remain faithful to Qin Zining's memory. Your uncle couldn't force her, so the matter has been delayed ever since. The Qin family, seeing this, naturally looks after her from time to time... Sometimes I think she's quite pitiful. I should be more accommodating toward her, but I really can't get along with her. At most, we end up parting on bad terms after two or three quarters of an hour."
No wonder Nanping was still unmarried at such an age.
Zhou Shaojin sighed inwardly, then remembered that Jiying was already eighteen when she entered the mansion... She couldn't help but ask, "Then, were you engaged before coming here?"
Jiying's expression tightened, and the hand holding the needle trembled slightly. She forced a smile and said, "What's a young girl like you doing asking so many questions?" But her smile seemed strained.
Zhou Shaojin vaguely understood.
Jiying must have been engaged before entering the mansion, but she had to serve as a maid beside Uncle Chi for ten years... Even if her fiancé didn't break off the engagement, it would be difficult for him to remain faithful and wait for her for ten years... Although Jiying had voluntarily taken her brother's place to enter the mansion, reason was one thing, but emotions were another. Could this be why she seemed so restless? Was this why she refused to do what a maid should do?
Zhou Shaojin said, "Can't you go back to visit in the meantime? Except for those maids who were sold by their parents at a young age and don't even know where their homes are, or those whose homes are too far away and have no close relatives left, the maids around me are given a few days off every year to visit their parents. Who manages the Hill of Clustered Cassia Courtyard? You could talk to them! If that doesn't work, you could also speak to Uncle Chi. I don't think Uncle Chi is such an unreasonable person."
"What a silly girl," Jiying said with a laugh, reaching out to pinch Zhou Shaojin's cheek. Shaojin tried to dodge, but Jiying's hand was as quick as lightning and immediately caught her. "If I could go back to visit my father anytime, what kind of bet would that be? You're not thinking of pleading my case to your Uncle Chi, are you? I saw how bold you were last time when you barged into the Pure Sound Pavilion."
Zhou Shaojin angrily slapped Jiying's hand away. "If you pinch my cheek again, I won't save any delicious treats for you in the future."
Jiying laughed heartily. "Every time you threaten me, it's about not giving me food. Can't you come up with something else?"
Shaojin felt embarrassed and said, "I won't plead for you! Since Uncle Chi took over managing the affairs of Nine Prosperities Lane, life there has been getting better day by day. He must be a very capable person. Since he made such a bet with your father, he must have his reasons. I won't fall for your provocation!"
"I didn't realize you could be quite clever sometimes!" Jiying teased her again.
Zhou Shaojin ignored her.
Jiying burst into laughter again, showing none of the coldness and aloofness she had when she first met Shaojin.
Shi Xiang came in to refresh their tea and replace the fruit platter.
Jiying picked an autumn pear to eat.
Zhou Shaojin asked her, "Then, can your father and brother come to visit you?"Jiying fell silent for a moment before saying, "That depends on Cheng Zichuan's mood..."
Zhou Shaojin really wanted to say, "Then just be more obedient and well-behaved. Maybe Uncle Chi will soften his heart and let you go back to visit your parents." But as the thought crossed her mind, she quickly stopped herself.
Given Jiying's temperament, asking her to lower her gaze and submit meekly like those gentle, obedient maids would probably be more unbearable than death for her, wouldn't it?
Zhou Shaojin could only suggest, "How about writing a few more letters to your family... Is writing letters allowed?"
※
Sisters, sorry, sorry! There's been too much going on these past couple of days, and I can't quite guarantee the schedule.
Today's extra update!
o(n_n)o
PS: Pink votes have doubled these past two days—please keep supporting with pink votes!
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote with your recommendation and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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