Zhоu Shаojin suddenlу undеrstооd аnd said, "So Unclе Сhi gave уou the nаmе 'Jiуing'?"
Jiуing rеmаined silent.
Whiсh meant she tacitly аgrеed.
Тhinking of hеr еаrliеr unhaрру ехprеssion, Zhou Shaоjin guеssed thаt her own introduсtion as аlso being rеlаtеd tо thе Сhеng family bу mаrriagе must hаvе hurt Jiying's рride. Shе thеn said, "Thоsе arе all just irrelevаnt peoрlе. Whу should уou have tо ехplаin уоur bасkgrоund to thеm? If уou mеet sоmeonе on thе rоаd who аsks уоur nаme, would yоu have to tell them thе truth?"
Jiying's exрression sоftenеd slightlу.
Zhou Shаojin felt a sense of relief and smiled, "Why did you come over? Are you here to wish Old Madam Guo a happy birthday? Why don't I see Miss Nanping and Miss Heming?"
According to etiquette, the servants attending to the eldest branch of the family should also come to wish Old Madam Guo a happy birthday.
"Hmm!" Jiying said, "They're chatting with Nanny Shi and others in the side room over there. I didn't feel like waiting around, so I came to see if you were here."
Zhou Shaojin was somewhat surprised that Jiying had come to kowtow to Old Madam Guo.
Jiying said, "The grievances between my father and Cheng Zichuan are their own affair. What has Old Madam Guo ever done to offend me? She is an elder, so of course I should come to kowtow to her on her birthday!"
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly with a smile, feeling much better.
If Jiying thought this way, it showed that the conflict between her father and Uncle Chi wasn't some life-or-death feud!
She said, "I've already wished Old Madam Guo a happy birthday earlier. It should be your turn soon."
Her smile was serene and relaxed, completely different from the polite and reserved demeanor she had shown earlier in the reception room.
Jiying couldn't help but ask, "Did someone bully you? You don't seem very happy."
Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment and replied candidly, "I'm just not used to their way of speaking and behaving."
She recounted the actions of those young ladies one by one to Jiying.
Jiying listened attentively and said, "When I was little, my father once told me a story. He said there was a household with two widows—one surnamed Li and the other surnamed Wang. Both were supported by their clan. The widow surnamed Li, fearing she would have no one to care for her in her old age, eagerly helped out whenever anyone in the clan had a problem. Everyone liked her very much, often sending her food, and she had a good reputation in the clan. The widow surnamed Wang was the complete opposite. Besides the provisions from the clan, she grew vegetables in front of and behind her house and raised chickens. If she wanted to go out for a walk, she would go into the city; if she felt lazy, she would buy a couple of steamed buns from the neighboring village. If others had problems and didn't call for her, she would never step forward. Even if she did, it would depend on the family. In comparison, everyone said the widow surnamed Wang was cold and indifferent, ungrateful and unappreciative, so no one really liked her. Over time, people in the clan even began to distance themselves from her.
"The widow Li asked the widow Wang, 'Since you're so disliked by the clan, aren't you afraid no one will take care of you when you're old and bedridden?'
"The widow Wang replied, 'You want me to spend decades trying to please them, just so they'll look after me in my final years? I don't think it's worth it. I won't do it.'
"The widow Li just shook her head and left.
"Then the widow Li toiled her whole life, her back hunched and her hair white. In her final days, people in the clan took turns caring for her. Everyone went to see her, and within a few days, she passed away. The people in the clan wept bitterly.""Widow Wang lived a carefree life, but on her deathbed, only two people were sent by the clan leader to care for her. No one came to visit, and within a few days, she passed away. The clan soon forgot about her."
Jiying recalled, "I still remember my father asking me: Would you rather live like Widow Wang, carefree all your life but suffer in your final days, or like Widow Li, toiling all your life but enjoying comfort in your last days?" She looked up at Zhou Shaojin. "I said I’d rather be like Widow Li, enduring a few days of hardship at the end to enjoy a lifetime of blessings. Second Miss, if you had to choose, which path would you take?"
Zhou Shaojin was deeply shaken.
No one had ever spoken to her like this.
In all her upbringing, she had been taught to be humble, frugal, courteous, and yielding—to win others’ approval and goodwill. The idea of living her own life and letting others talk... she had never even considered it.
Zhou Shaojin stared at Jiying, unable to speak for a long while.
Jiying, however, smiled and said, "Second Miss, what I meant to tell you is that sometimes, even if you force yourself to endure, others may not consider your feelings or appreciate your forbearance."
Zhou Shaojin pondered this thoughtfully.
The copper kettle on the stove began to whistle with boiling water.
A servant woman hurried in.
"Oh dear! Second Cousin Miss," she said, wiping her forehead. "A little maid from Miss Biyu’s side just spilled the hot water we brought over, so I had to send another pot... I was afraid the water would boil over and douse the stove. Good thing you’re here..."
Jiying nudged Zhou Shaojin and said with a smile, "Let’s go! The banquet is about to begin."
Zhou Shaojin returned to the hall with Jiying, somewhat distracted.
After Jiying and the others offered their birthday greetings and gifts to Old Madam Guo and received their rewards, maids and servants brought in tables. Everyone took their seats according to rank, Old Madam Guo said a few words of thanks, and raised her wine cup.
The birthday banquet officially began.
On the side of the ladies and madams, Madam Yuan went from table to table urging everyone to drink, her cheerful laughter adding to the lively atmosphere. The young ladies, however, mindful of their status, sat upright and ate with refined manners.
Zhou Shaojin kept thinking about the story Jiying had told her. The more she reflected, the more sense it made, and the more she felt that Jiying’s father was no ordinary man.
If given the chance, she would have to ask Jiying more about her family.
After the banquet, everyone followed Old Madam Guo to enjoy the opera.
It was only then that Zhou Shaojin noticed a stage not far from the main quarters.
Old Madam Guo had chosen an excerpt from "The Sixth Son Visits His Mother," starring Gao Huizhu of the Changgao Troupe.
His voice was like the sudden shattering of a silver vase—clear, resonant, and bright—and his appearance was handsome, earning frequent applause from the elderly ladies, madams, and young misses.
Zhou Shaojin, however, found it too noisy.
Seizing a moment when Cheng Jia, Gu Shiqigu, and the others weren’t paying attention, she quietly slipped to the very edge of the stage. Gazing at the lush greenery of Cold Green Mountain House, she let out a long sigh.
Someone was speaking behind her.
Her sharp ears caught the mention of "Fourth Master" and "Eldest Master."
Zhou Shaojin instinctively pricked up her ears to listen.
But the sound of gongs and drums from the stage drowned out the speakers’ voices.
Zhou Shaojin turned around and saw that the speakers were two young girls who had been seated next to her during the banquet, though she couldn’t recall their names.She quietly moved closer and overheard one of them saying to the other, "...I still think Fourth Master is better. Who knows what the outcome will be after going through the provincial and metropolitan exams? Otherwise, why would Master Liu's sister try to curry favor with Old Madam Guo?"
The other scoffed, "If it were me, I'd rather accompany Young Master Xu through the exams than live in a cold, lonely mansion—just now, when Fourth Master glanced over, I shivered. I always feel there must be something wrong with him being unmarried at such an age. Otherwise, why would Old Madam Guo make such arrangements?"
Zhou Shaojin was quite surprised.
She never imagined Uncle Chi would appear this way in others' eyes?
She wanted to hear more of what the two young girls would say, but just then, a burst of loud applause came from the stage—"The Sixth Son Visits His Mother" had finished.
Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief and returned to sit under the veranda, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the delicate and gentle Miss Liu sitting beside Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo and several other elderly ladies seemed somewhat displeased, as Miss Liu was holding the opera program and announcing the names of the selected scenes.
The two young ladies of the Guo family sat on the other side of Old Madam Guo—one about eighteen or nineteen, the other around sixteen or seventeen, both dignified and elegant.
Old Madam Guo seemed somewhat indecisive, turning to speak a few words to the two Guo sisters. The younger one remained silent, while the older one replied with a smile, her expression very respectful. Old Madam Guo then handed the opera program to the elderly lady of the Guo family sitting beside her.
The elderly lady of the Guo family said a few words and passed the program to Old Madam Tang of the second branch...
Miss Liu, the nineteenth daughter of the Liu family sitting beside Zhou Shaojin, grew impatient and muttered under her breath, "This is just wasting time. Why didn't they decide on all the operas beforehand?"
Zhou Shaojin smiled faintly.
A maidservant approached with a smile and said, "Old Madam, Fourth Master has arrived."
Everyone was taken aback.
Old Madam Guo, however, remained unruffled and said, "There are no outsiders here. Though he is young, he is still an elder. Let him come in!"
Several young ladies who had intended to withdraw blushed and sat back down.
Shortly after, Cheng Chi entered.
He appeared lighthearted and at ease, calmly paying his respects to Old Madam Guo under everyone's gaze.
Zhou Shaojin was quite impressed.
If it were her, she would probably have been trembling with nerves by now.
Old Madam Guo beckoned Cheng Chi over to speak with her.
As they were some distance away and their voices were soft, Zhou Shaojin couldn't make out what Old Madam Guo said to Cheng Chi. She only noticed that the dignified Miss Guo showed a hint of shyness, while those around her—whether trying to overhear the conversation or simply curious—either craned their necks toward Old Madam Guo or edged closer.
Zhou Shaojin was nearly bumped into.
Feeling somewhat displeased, she simply stepped out of the veranda.
Cheng Jia was still whispering to Gu Shiqigu over there, "...Tsk, tsk, tsk, Uncle Chi has become a piece of coveted meat."
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but chuckle, looking up to see Jiying.
"How did you get here?" she asked, walking over quickly.
The servants from Hill of Clustered Cassia Courtyard had left after paying their respects to Old Madam Guo. Fortunately, Zhou Shaojin and the others were in the resting room at the time. If Miss Liu, the nineteenth daughter, had seen them, idle gossip might have spread.Jiying said, "I came with your Uncle Chi."
Zhou Shaojin asked, "Then why are you standing here?"
Jiying sneered, "I'm just your Uncle Chi's maid, not his bodyguard. Old Madam Guo wants him to watch the opera with her, and he's trying to use me as a shield! If I cover for him now, who will cover for me when Old Madam Guo decides to deal with me? I'm not foolish enough to do that!" She then added, "Why are you here?"
Zhou Shaojin replied, "I've always had trouble sleeping, and the deafening sound of gongs and drums is giving me a headache."
Jiying smiled and said, "Then let's go sit in the tea room for a while. This time, Cheng Zichuan won't be back so soon."
※
Sisters, Uncle Chi's troublesome admirers.
Hahaha...
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