Вut whеrе shоuld shе plaсе hеr рiеce?
Zhou Shаоjin stared intеntly at thе bоаrd.
Nо mаttеr where shе placed her stonе, shе cоuldn’t cарturе аny оf Сhеng Сhi’s рieсes.
Shaojin glаnсed blаnkly at Chеng Chi, at а loss.
Chеng Сhi bаrеlу rеsistеd the urge tо rub his fоrehеаd.
Whеn leаrning Go, оnе usually stаrts with сaрturing stones, so bеginners often рlау reсklessly, foсusing sоlеly оn сарturing рiеcеs.
Fоr somеonе of Chеng Chi’s skill lеvеl tо plау аgаinst such a pеrson was like a strong mаn arm-wrestling an infаnt—there wаs simplу nо cоntest.
Could he really teach this little girl how to play Go?
Cheng Chi scoffed inwardly.
Even when his second brother had repeatedly asked him to tutor his son, Rangge, in his studies, he had found it troublesome, let alone teaching a little girl with no foundation at all how to play Go!
But he had never been one to corner others—if he ever did, it would be a fight to the death.
Thus, Cheng Chi smiled and said, “Alright, let’s stop here for today…”
Had she already lost?
Zhou Shaojin knew her Go skills were no match for Cheng Chi’s, but as she looked at the large empty area in the lower right corner of the board, she couldn’t understand how she had lost!
Still, Uncle Chi must have his reasons for saying so.
She let out an “oh” and obediently began clearing the pieces.
Cheng Chi glanced at Zhou Shaojin.
Was she really planning to play another game with him?
Given the gap between their skills, what difference did it make whether they played one game or ten? Unless he gave her a twenty-stone handicap. No, even with a twenty-stone handicap, she still might not win.
Cheng Chi smiled and said, “After just over ten days of learning Go from Madam Shen, you already know how to capture stones—you’re quite talented. I think you should continue learning from Madam Shen for a while longer, and then we can play another game. I’ll be able to see how much you’ve improved…” But before he could finish, Old Madam Guo emerged from the inner room.
The elderly lady was dressed in a simple, homely lilac-colored silk vest, her graying hair neatly coiled into a round bun at the back of her head, adorned with gold and emerald earrings. She looked spirited and asked with great interest, “Well? Who won?”
Zhou Shaojin hurriedly stood up to greet Old Madam Guo, but Cheng Chi smiled and said, “We were just playing for fun. What’s the point of keeping score?”
“Looks like you won!” Old Madam Guo laughed upon hearing this. “You’re her uncle—couldn’t you have given Shaojin a few stones? Aren’t you ashamed of winning against a junior like that?”
“I am ashamed,” Cheng Chi replied with a smile. “As the saying goes, talent knows no age. Gan Luo became a prime minister at twelve. How was I to know how skilled my niece Zhou is? You’re asking me to give her a handicap right from the start—seems like you just want to see me lose so you can laugh at me!”
Old Madam Guo burst into laughter.
This was the first time Zhou Shaojin had seen Old Madam Guo so delighted. Her laughter came from the heart, infectious in its joy.
What else could she say?
She could only glance toward Cheng Chi.
But Cheng Chi didn’t even look at her. As he collected the pieces, he said to Old Madam Guo, “…Don’t put the little girl in a difficult position. She still has to copy sutras for you!”
Shaojin understood the hint and quickly stood up to take her leave.Old Madam Guo beckoned to her and instructed Zhenzhu, "Go fetch the 'Joy on the Eyebrows' jade pendant from my dressing table. A young lady shouldn't leave empty-handed after losing a game of chess. Take this pendant to wear." The last sentence was directed at Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed bright red. She hurriedly said, "No need, no need. I... I was just casually playing a few moves with Uncle Chi..."
She knew Old Madam Guo had misunderstood her. But Uncle Chi had been trying to cheer up Old Madam Guo, and if she revealed the truth, Uncle Chi would surely be angry with her.
Zhou Shaojin looked toward Cheng Chi with a pleading expression.
Cheng Chi didn’t think much of it.
Money was meant to be spent. If happiness could be bought with silver, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
He said, "When an elder gives a gift, it should not be refused. If it’s given to you, just accept it."
"Exactly," Old Madam Guo said in high spirits. In addition to the jade pendant, she also rewarded her with a pair of coral hairpins on the spot. Not to mention the flawless jade pendant, with two magpies frolicking on a plum branch so vividly that they seemed about to break free from the pendant and fly away. As for the coral hairpins, they were made of red coral petals with yellow amber centers, crafted in the style of pomegranate flowers, about the size of a wine cup.
Due to the limitations of coral material, even a pearl-sized bead was considered precious, let alone petals the size of fingernails.
Zhou Shaojin felt the weight of it.
If she had truly played a game of chess with Uncle Chi, it would have been fine, but she had merely gone through the motions. How could she accept such a valuable gift from Old Madam Guo?
"Old Madam!" Zhou Shaojin took a deep breath and decided to tell Old Madam Guo the truth. Even if it made Cheng Chi unhappy, it was better than deceiving Old Madam Guo like this—there were no walls that wind couldn’t pass through. It was better to tell Old Madam Guo herself than for her to hear it from someone else.
But as soon as she opened her mouth, Cheng Chi interrupted her, "Mother, she’s still a child. Giving her such valuable things will only make her feel uneasy. Next time she plays chess with me, should she win or lose? If you truly wish to reward her, it would be better to give her some food, toys, calligraphy models, or even writing materials instead."
Zhou Shaojin nodded gratefully.
"Look at me!" Old Madam Guo patted her forehead and said, "I’ve been socializing with so many ladies and madams that I forgot Shaojin is still a young girl. This time, let it be. Mainly because these two items suit this little girl so well. Next time, if you manage to beat your Uncle Chi, on the sixth day of the sixth month, I’ll take you to Jiming Temple to see the sutra airing. How about that?"
She was destined not to go to Jiming Temple!
Zhou Shaojin’s heart wept with tears, but she had to put on a joyful expression and agree with a "Yes."
Old Madam Guo chuckled and nodded, instructing Biyu to accompany her to the Buddhist hall to copy sutras, while she herself chatted with Cheng Chi about family matters.
For the entire afternoon, Zhou Shaojin only managed to copy two pages.
That evening, when she returned, she went to Madam Shen for intensive tutoring.
Madam Shen said, "You’ve just started learning. Greed for too much won’t lead to mastery. Laying a solid foundation is the most important thing."
Zhou Shaojin pestered Madam Shen, "Isn’t there a saying, ‘Build high and aim far’? The more I know, the better I’ll play."Madam Shen had taught three students in the Cheng household. Cheng Sheng was outstanding in every aspect, but she had been taught by Old Madam Guo and only showed superficial respect to her as a teacher. Cheng Jia was clever but too mischievous. Madam Jiang did not have high expectations for her daughter, so Madam Shen naturally did not seek trouble. Zhou Shaojin had talent in everything she did but lacked dedication. Moreover, due to her awkward status, Madam Shen did not know whom to approach among the elders to advise Zhou Shaojin. Over time, she became lenient with her students.
This time was no different.
Although she felt it was too early for Zhou Shaojin to learn chess set patterns, and that complex patterns might even dampen her enthusiasm for learning chess, after brief consideration, she still took out a chess manual. She explained various chess strategies to her.
Zhou Shaojin had not even grasped the basics of capturing pieces, much like a child learning the classics listening to the Spring and Autumn Annals—the more she listened, the more confused and unclear she became.
She frequently interrupted Madam Shen’s explanations, asking many questions about things she did not understand.
After half a month of this, she even felt a bit impressed by her own audacity in daring to play chess with Cheng Chi back then... As for Cheng Chi, whether he was busy or simply felt that playing chess with her was a waste of time, he had not mentioned chess for quite some days. Naturally, she had not encountered him again.
Zhou Shaojin could not help but ask Jiying about it.
Jiying had also heard about Zhou Shaojin playing chess with Cheng Chi. She said, "Why are you asking about him? Do you still want to play another game with him? I advise you to quit while you’re ahead. Back then, he must have had a momentary lapse, letting you last three moves against him. Don’t think you can play chess with him every time!"
Lasting three moves against Uncle Chi?
Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed with embarrassment. "Are you mistaken? I just played a few random moves with Uncle Chi... I’m nowhere near skilled enough to play chess with him!"
"Oh?" Jiying asked curiously. "Didn’t everyone say you almost beat Uncle Chi in chess, which is why Old Madam Guo rewarded you with so many things?"
Zhou Shaojin was startled and hurriedly replied, "Who said that? I only played a few moves with Uncle Chi before he soundly defeated me. How could anyone say I almost beat him? What would Uncle Chi think if he heard this?"
He might even think she had been the one boasting about it!
Jiying clearly realized the seriousness of the situation. She pulled Zhou Shaojin toward the main room of Liyin Hall. "You need to explain this to Fourth Master. He’s a bit narrow-minded. If he thinks you’re using his reputation to elevate yourself, that would be terrible!"
Hearing this, Zhou Shaojin grew even more anxious. Without caring that Jiying was dragging her along unsteadily, she followed her to the main room.
Cheng Chi was speaking with Huaishan when he heard that Zhou Shaojin and Jiying requested an audience. He had a young maid bring them in.
Standing in the study lined with bookshelves and looking at Cheng Chi seated in the armchair behind the large desk, Zhou Shaojin suddenly realized how impulsive she had been.
She had rushed over merely based on what Jiying said, without investigating the matter in detail. If Uncle Chi asked her about it and she could only shake her head in response, he would likely think she was impulsive and easily swayed by rumors, and thus would not take her words seriously.
Zhou Shaojin grew very nervous, her hands unconsciously clasping together.
And quite naturally and elegantly, she crossed her hands and let them rest at her abdomen.
A hint of amusement flickered in Cheng Chi’s eyes.He asked gently, "What brings you here?"
Zhou Shaojin could only look toward Jiying.
Since returning from Cangzhou, Jiying had become much more subdued. Yet old habits die hard. Seeing Cheng Chi's amiable expression, her courage swelled again, and she rattled off all the rumors she had heard to Cheng Chi, adding, "Fourth Master, you must believe Second Cousin—she isn’t the kind of person who would take advantage of others..."
"I understand," Cheng Chi interrupted her calmly. "Rumors stop with the wise. Just ignore them. In a few days, they’ll naturally fade away."
That was it!
Jiying’s unfinished words stuck in her throat.
Zhou Shaojin, however, let out a long sigh of relief.
As long as Uncle Chi didn’t believe it!
The two of them then pushed and shoved their way out.
Jiying found Qin Ziping and asked, "Do you think Fourth Master would resort to underhanded tactics?"
Qin Ziping glanced at the delicate, flower-like Zhou Shaojin and said, "With someone like her, would Fourth Master even need to resort to underhanded tactics?"
Jiying chuckled slyly.
Zhou Shaojin was quite displeased.
Someone like her!
What’s wrong with someone like her?
Uncle Chi isn’t at all the kind of person they’re making him out to be! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please vote to recommend it or cast a monthly vote. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
PS: Sisters, here’s today’s update!
I braved the wind and snow to write this in the forum—give me some rewards... (>_<) Please give me pink votes!!
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