Оld Маdаm Guаn stepреd fоrwаrd tо smooth things ovеr, smiling аs she said, "Еveryоnе, tаkе уоur seats fоr dinner! Tonight is the family rеuniоn dinner. Gаo Gе'еr, lаtеr yоu'll tаkе уоur cоusin Shaojin to sеt оff fireсrackers!"
In рrevious уears, Сhеng Yi wоuld hаvе еаgerly vоluntеerеd fоr suсh a tаsk.
Zhou Shаоjin glancеd аt Chеng Yi, who indeed wоre a crеstfаllеn eхpression. Fееling quitе plеаsеd, shе smilеd аnd agrееd. Onсe еveryоne wаs sеаted, shе wеnt with Сhеng Gao to sеt off the firecraсkers.
Though thеy said thеy wоuld dо it togеther, in reality, it was Cheng Gao's servant Wu'er who held the bamboo pole while Cheng Gao lit the firecrackers. Zhou Shaojin stood under the corridor, covering her ears and hiding behind Si'er.
After a series of crackling explosions, the courtyard filled with the haze of gunpowder smoke.
From the distance came the intermittent sounds of firecrackers, signaling the start of another family's New Year's Eve dinner.
Only then did Zhou Shaojin deeply feel the approach of the New Year. She would soon welcome the nineteenth year of the Zhide era.
She hoped that next year, Concubine Mu would successfully marry Lin Shisheng, and that she herself would manage to strike up a conversation with Uncle Chi.
Gazing at the distant red lanterns twinkling like stars, she silently made a wish to the Bodhisattva.
Cheng Gao, however, patted her shoulder with a smile and said, "Let's go back inside! There's too much smoke here—be careful not to choke."
Zhou Shaojin smiled and followed Cheng Gao back into the house.
Cheng Gao sat in an armchair padded with thick brocade cushions, aloofly ignoring Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin paid her no mind either and took a seat beside her sister.
The young maids began serving cold dishes, and Cheng Mian started speaking.
He first offered blessings to Old Madam Guan, then spoke of the Zhou sisters: "After returning home, make sure to lock your doors and windows. If anything happens, send someone immediately to inform your uncle. Early on the second day, I will have the steward fetch you both back to the estate." When it came to Cheng Gao and Cheng Yi, he said, "...Starting today, you are to stay indoors and study. Thoroughly review the lessons your tutor taught you. Know what you know, and admit what you don't. Your aunt will return to Pukou to visit her family on the fifth day. You two will accompany your mother to Pukou on the third day. First, to pay your respects to your aunt, and second, to kowtow to the He family's elderly patriarch. Moreover, you're not children anymore—you should also visit your cousins from the He family more often."
Perhaps having already received the news in advance, Cheng Gao responded calmly, though his expression seemed somewhat grave. Cheng Yi, however, lit up with excitement and eagerly looked toward Madam Mian.
A mother knows her own child. Madam Mian glanced at her husband and, seeing his gentle expression, meaningfully whispered to Cheng Yi, "This time, I'll take you along, but you must behave. Otherwise, don't expect me to take you out again."
Even after being punished, he still got to go!
Cheng Yi was overjoyed, loudly agreeing and unable to contain his delight.
Cheng Mian shot him a glance.
Cheng Yi immediately straightened up, eyes fixed on his nose, nose fixed on his heart.
A flicker of satisfaction passed through Cheng Mian's eyes as he turned and gently asked Old Madam Guan, "Mother, do you have anything to add?"
"No, nothing," Old Madam Guan replied with a smile. "Everyone has been safe and well this year. May we all enjoy peace and health in the coming year as well!"
"May your auspicious words come true, Old Madam!" Madam Mian said cheerfully, and Zhou Shaojin and the others joined in with light laughter.
The young maids began serving hot dishes.
Cheng Mian personally poured a cup of wine for Old Madam Guan, smiling as he said, "This is Wujia Jin Hua wine I specially had someone bring back from Hangzhou Prefecture. Please give it a try."Old Madam Guan watched her son pour wine for her with a smile, saying, "You should also pour a full cup for your wife. She has worked hard managing the household affairs this year."
Madam Mian’s face flushed bright red, and she quickly stood up, repeatedly saying, "You are too kind to your daughter-in-law."
"Not at all, not at all," Old Madam Guan replied. Cheng Mian poured a cup of wine for Madam Mian.
Even before drinking, Madam Mian looked as if she were already tipsy.
Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin both covered their mouths and giggled beside them.
Madam Mian then said, "You two sisters should also have a little drink, especially Shaojin. You’re already a grown young lady now, so you should gradually learn to drink."
In her previous life, no elder had ever considered her old enough to drink until she left the Cheng family.
Zhou Shaojin blushed as a young maid poured wine for her.
Cheng Mian raised his wine cup.
Except for Old Madam Guan, everyone stood up with smiles.
Cheng Yi had tea in front of him and struggled to stand up twice, leaning on his armchair.
After taking a small sip of wine, the New Year’s Eve dinner officially began.
Unlike the usual rule of not speaking while eating or sleeping, everyone was more relaxed than usual. By the time the hotpot was served, Old Madam Guan was already whispering with Madam Mian about whether they had forgotten anyone’s gifts for Pukou, while Cheng Mian was discussing the recently popular New Interpretations of the Analects with Cheng Yi: "It’s the posthumous work of the late Grand Secretary Hu Zhuoran. It’s said the Emperor values it highly and intends to include it as one of the annotations for the imperial examinations. Although Old Master He and Hu Zhuoran only met once, they were academic confidants. When you go this time, be sure to seek Old Master He’s guidance earnestly..."
Zhou Chujin, who excelled in her studies and was also interested in contemporary essays and statecraft, listened with great interest.
Zhou Shaojin didn’t know how close Old Master He was to this Hu Zhuoran, but she did know that Old Master He would pass away from illness three years later. Because He Fengping was a year older than Cheng Gao, to avoid delaying He Fengping and Cheng Gao’s marriage, as soon as Old Master He fell ill, Madam He married He Fengping off. And Hu Zhuoran’s New Interpretations of the Analects would become one of the imperial examination annotations six years later.
Since Uncle Mian brought this up, she felt she should also remind her brother-in-law Liao Shaotang—Liao Shaotang’s widowed aunt, Liao Yingzhang, had married into the He family.
However, Uncle Mian was currently speaking with Cousin Gao, so it wasn’t the right moment. She must remember to bring this up after returning.
As Zhou Shaojin pondered this, someone leaned over and whispered, "Do you know about my mother taking us brothers to Pukou?"
With only a few people in the room, she didn’t need to look up to know who was speaking to her.
Zhou Shaojin gave a faint "Mm."
Cheng Yi was furious and said, "Then why didn’t you remind me earlier? If I hadn’t come, wouldn’t I have missed the trip to Pukou?"
Over the past year, he had been repeatedly grounded and was practically growing mold from boredom.
Zhou Shaojin replied calmly, "Didn’t you say you wanted nothing to do with me for the rest of our lives? Why should I tell you?"
Cheng Yi was left speechless.
Zhou Shaojin leisurely ladled a bowl of chicken soup to drink.
Thus, she didn’t notice Old Madam Guan and Madam Mian, sitting across from her, exchange a knowing glance with smiles.At the Zhou family ancestral home on Flat Bridge Street, dust had been swept away, peach wood charms pasted up, and the Kitchen God welcomed. Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin returned home with no one to supervise them, truly sleeping until they naturally woke, eating whenever they wished, and eating whatever they desired. Yet within just two days, Zhou Shaojin began struggling to sleep at night and found it hard to rise in the morning.
The disciplined Zhou Chujin quickly remarked, "We can’t go on like this! When we return to Nine Prosperities Lane in a few days, people will surely gossip!"
"Let’s just treat it like visiting relatives!" Zhou Shaojin replied. As if back at the estate in Daxing, she placed a luohan bed by the window. With braziers lit all around, she wrapped herself in a gray squirrel fur robe, leaned against a crimson Zhang velvet bolster, and read a storybook titled The Jade Hairpin. As she read, she commented, "...Who is this Green Shade Tower Master who wrote this? How could anyone be so foolish? Seeing someone else with a jade hairpin and immediately suspecting it was a gift from his own wife, without even investigating the matter properly..."
"If it’s not good, why keep reading?" Zhou Chujin laughed. "I don’t think you’re reading for enjoyment. You’re torturing yourself, and it’s self-inflicted!"
Zhou Shaojin giggled. "Isn’t it just because I’m bored?"
But as soon as she finished speaking, Chunwan rushed in: "Second Miss, Second Miss, Miss Jiying is here!"
"What did you say?" Zhou Shaojin sat up abruptly. "Jiying? How did she get here? Who brought her? Where is she?"
She fired off questions like a rapid volley. Chunwan waited patiently for her to finish before smiling and saying, "Steward Qin brought Miss Jiying here. She’s right outside..."
"Quick, let her in, let her in!" Before Chunwan could finish, Zhou Shaojin had already slipped off the bed to put on her shoes. She didn’t even let Chunwan help her dress, urging her instead to bring the guest in immediately.
Zhou Chujin shook her head with a smile and returned to her room.
Soon after, Chunwan led Jiying inside.
Jiying had her hair tied up in a topknot, secured with a peachwood hairpin. She wore a man’s dark blue brocade robe, over which was draped a sapphire-blue lambskin cloak. Though dressed as a man, her femininity was unmistakable at a glance.
Zhou Shaojin’s jaw hung open for a long moment.
Jiying grinned. "Well? How do I look in this outfit?"
"Did Qin Ziping bring you?" Zhou Shaojin asked.
Jiying nodded. "He came out on business for Cheng Zichuan. I said I wanted to visit you, so I asked Cheng Zichuan and came along with him."
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but look her up and down. "And Uncle Chi agreed to let you come see me?"
"Why wouldn’t he agree? It’s not like I’m doing anything wrong," Jiying replied with a laugh.
True enough!
Zhou Shaojin hurriedly invited her inside.
As soon as Jiying saw the luohan bed by the window, she gasped softly, hurried over in a few quick steps, and sat down. She even hugged the fluffy large bolster to her chest. "Second Miss, I knew coming here would be much more fun than staying at Cold Green Mountain House! I love this luohan bed of yours, and I love this big bolster too."
Well, they were all northern-style items!
Zhou Shaojin said, "If you like them, I’ll give you this luohan bed and these large bolsters!""Great, great!" Jiying said happily. "No need for the luohan bed, Cold Green Mountain House has several. I'll gratefully accept these large welcoming pillows!"
Zhou Shaojin laughed. "Since when did you start speaking so formally with me!"
Jiying smiled with pursed lips and asked her, "What are you doing at home? Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, your family's New Year goods should all be prepared, right? Do you want to go out for a walk with me? I heard that at this time every year, those who make their living under Jiangbei Bridge stop working, and boats of all sizes line up one after another, stretching all the way to the center of the river. It's said to be very spectacular. I've always wanted to see it but never had the chance... Shall we go take a look together?"
"At this time? To Jiangbei Bridge?" Zhou Shaojin felt this idea was... somewhat far-fetched.
"Yes!" Jiying replied with utmost seriousness. "Exactly at this time. Otherwise, when New Year's Day comes, everyone will start paying New Year visits, the roads will be crowded again, and it won't be convenient to go!"
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Sisters, only two updates today. This is today's 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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