Zhou Shаоjin hurriеd fоrwаrd tо рay hеr rеsресts. Old Madаm Guо, howevеr, lookеd surрrisеd. "Аnd whо is this?"
"Тhis is my little grаnddaughter, Zhou Shaojin," Old Маdam Guаn said with а smilе. "Shе's usuаlly quiеt, sо nоt mаnу relаtives recоgnizе her. Sinсe we haрpenеd to meеt tоdау, I hаd hеr сome раy hеr rеsрeсts to уоu."
Old Mаdаm Guo рaused for а moment befоrе rеcаlling who this so-cаllеd "littlе granddаughtеr" wаs.
Shе nоddеd at Zhоu Shаojin with а smile аnd praisеd, "What а lоvеly уоung lаdу!"
Zhou Shaojin nаturally wouldn't take suсh polite fоrmalities sеriouslу, but suсh a рeaceful meeting was something she hadn't expected.
She let out a quiet breath.
"You honor her with your kindness," Old Madam Guan said humbly, though her expression couldn't hide her delight.
Seeing this, Old Madam Guo thought for a moment, then removed a ring from her finger. "It's an old piece—young girls might not care for it, but the quality is good. It could be remade into a pendant or something, still presentable enough." As she spoke, she handed the ring to Zhou Shaojin. "Consider it a meeting gift."
Zhou Shaojin was taken aback and dared not accept it. "It's too valuable."
"No matter," Old Madam Guo said with a smile. "When an elder gives you something, you should accept it."
After a brief hesitation, Zhou Shaojin curtsied, thanked Old Madam Guo graciously, and took the ring. "That's more like it," Old Madam Guo said kindly.
Zhou Shaojin relaxed, feeling less tense than before.
Old Madam Guan and Old Madam Guo entered the sitting room and sat on the low couch, one on each side.
Si'er brought in tea and snacks with a young maid.
Zhou Shaojin remained standing without moving.
Old Madam Guan gave her a meaningful look.
It took Zhou Shaojin a moment to understand—her grandmother was hinting that she should be more attentive in front of her elders.
Her face grew warm.
Before her marriage, she had been too wrapped up in self-pity to notice others; after marrying, she secluded herself in the estate at Daxing, acting as her own mistress and avoiding outsiders. Others had flattered her—when had she ever flattered anyone else?
But now that she had resolved to save the Cheng family, she couldn't behave as she had in her past life.
Zhou Shaojin carefully recalled how Shi Xiang and the others had served her tea and water, then imitated their manner as she offered tea to Old Madam Guo and Old Madam Guan.
Old Madam Guan was pleased to see her so well-behaved and sensible.
Old Madam Guo didn't pay much attention to such gestures.
With filial sons, daughters-in-law, grandsons, and granddaughters, and never lacking attendants around her, she considered such service only natural.
Still, Zhou Shaojin's gentle demeanor, her graceful and obedient movements, were pleasing to the eye, and Old Madam Guo felt a growing fondness for her. After Zhou Shaojin finished serving the tea, Old Madam Guo smiled and picked up her teacup. "Such trivial matters are for the maids. You may sit down now." This time, Zhou Shaojin softly acknowledged and stood behind Old Madam Guan.
Looking at her, Old Madam Guo was reminded of her own third granddaughter, Cheng Sheng—if that spoiled girl were here, she would surely argue her way through, only stopping after receiving praise... One too quiet, the other too boisterous. In the end, it all came down to differences in background and circumstances.
These thoughts passed quickly.
Old Madam Guo turned to the matter at hand: "...I was thinking we really ought to attend the dharma assembly on the eighth—the ancestral birthday celebrations are the men's affair. What could we possibly do staying at home?"So that's why she came.
The Second Branch probably doesn't see it that way!
Zhou Shaojin listened intently.
The women of the Zhou family always went to Sweet Spring Temple to offer incense during the annual Bathing Buddha Festival. But this year, the twelfth day of the fourth month was the birthday banquet of the Second Branch's matriarch, and the Second Branch had long announced they would host a grand celebration. Logically, since the Bathing Buddha Festival and the twelfth were so close, all branches of the Cheng family should go help the Second Branch.
But everything has its ups and downs.
In the past, when the Second Branch's matriarch Cheng Xu served as Heroic Hall Grand Academician and Minister of Personnel in the capital, while the First Branch's matriarch managed household affairs at home, naturally the Second Branch was most prominent, and everyone followed their lead. But after the Second Branch's master Cheng Li died young, and the First Branch's masters Cheng Xun and Cheng Shao brothers successively achieved top honors in the imperial examinations, the Cheng family's situation changed again. Now the Second Branch's matriarch Cheng Xu had long retired, and the eldest master Cheng Yi was merely a teacher, while the First Branch had produced three jinshi scholars, including a fifteen-year-old top candidate in the prefectural examination—the circumstances were somewhat different again.
But no matter what, the Fourth Branch had never held authority in the family. They couldn't contend for prestige, nor were they in a position to do so.
Old Madam Guan smoothed things over: "I'll follow your lead."
The Fourth Branch, with its widows and orphans, had not come this far easily. Having received favors from both the First Branch and protection from the Second Branch, it was awkward to take sides—best not to get involved.
Even when the Second Branch was at its peak, Old Madam Guo had never feared anyone, let alone now when all three of her sons were jinshi scholars. By saying this, she wasn't trying to stir trouble between Old Madam Guan and the Second Branch. Rather, among the old sisters-in-law, only Old Madam Guan was generous, reasonable, and principled, making her more compatible. Old Madam Guo wanted to invite Old Madam Guan to the Dharma assembly so they could keep each other company on the journey.
"Then it's settled," said Old Madam Guo, pleased that Old Madam Guan had agreed. "You don't need to prepare incense or candles—Zheng Jie'er specially brought me twenty catties of agarwood from the capital. I had Si Lang exchange it for two hundred taels of copper coins, all Yongchang Tongbao coins, each this big and this thick."
Si Lang... who was that?
Zhou Shaojin looked blankly at Old Madam Guo's gestures.
Old Madam Guan instructed Si'er to later deliver one hundred taels in silver notes to Cold Green Mountain House.
Old Madam Guo was displeased. "Why are you settling accounts so clearly with me?"
"Before the Bodhisattva, each offers their own devotion," Old Madam Guan insisted.
Even among close brothers, clear accounts keep relationships warm. Old Madam Guan never took advantage of such things, which was why, even though the Fourth Branch's master had died young, the First, Second, and Third Branches all treated the Fourth Branch with respect.
Old Madam Guo didn't press further.
Old Madam Guan then led her to see the Buddhist scriptures she had asked Zhou Shaojin to copy: "I was originally afraid they wouldn't be worthy of offering to the Bodhisattva, but now it seems I must hurry her to finish copying."
Old Madam Guo's gaze sharpened.
The small regular script was vigorous and neat. Though the brushstrokes were somewhat delicate, they flowed smoothly and gracefully, full and harmonious.
She pointed at the desk and asked, "Whose work is this?"
"It's Shaojin's copy," Old Madam Guan said with a smile. "She's just a child, not very strong, but her heart is sincere, and the handwriting is quite neat and pretty."
Old Madam Guo's breath caught slightly. Remembering that Old Madam Guan could only read account books, she felt relieved but didn't want to say more, simply remarking, "The calligraphy is quite good."
Old Madam Guan modestly replied, "It just lacks strength."Old Madam Guo had not intended to say anything, but seeing Old Madam Guan speak with such sincerity, she fell silent for a moment before finally remarking, "For a young girl, being able to write like this is quite impressive. Among the girls in our family, aside from Zheng Jie'er, none have the patience to practice calligraphy."
Old Madam Guan’s heart stirred at these words. "This child is usually too quiet," she said. "If you take a liking to her, and since Sheng Jie'er and the others are not by your side, why not have her copy a few pages of scriptures for you? We could offer them to the Bodhisattva on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month. What do you think?"
Zhou Shaojin was so frightened her face paled.
Old Madam Guo gazed at Zhou Shaojin, who kept her head bowed, revealing only her soft, dark, lustrous hair and her fair, delicate neck. Suddenly, she felt as though a hidden pearl had been uncovered.
After a moment’s thought, she asked Zhou Shaojin, "Was this taught by a master?"
Of course not.
It was something she had practiced to pass the time in her past life.
But she couldn’t say that, so she replied, "I just wrote it haphazardly on my own."
Old Madam Guo, however, did not let the topic drop. "What made you think to write this way?" she pressed.
It was because in her past life, she had traced the calligraphy of Liao Zhangying, the aunt of her brother-in-law Liao Shaotang, who had returned to her maiden home.
Summoning her courage, Zhou Shaojin said, "I just thought it looked pleasing this way." Her palms were already damp with sweat.
Fortunately, Old Madam Guo did not press further.
"Then let this young girl copy a few pages of scriptures for me!" she said with a smile. "Once the scriptures are finished, I’ll host a meal and invite you all to Huiji Temple for vegetarian dishes."
"That would be wonderful!" Old Madam Guan exclaimed happily, turning to Zhou Shaojin. "You must copy the scriptures carefully for the old madam." She added jokingly, "Whether we get to eat at Huiji Temple depends entirely on you."
Zhou Shaojin’s lips trembled, but no words came out.
Old Madam Guo was somewhat surprised.
She had expected Zhou Shaojin to be overjoyed.
After all, given her status, a young girl like Zhou Shaojin, who was about to be betrothed, would surely find a good match if she gained her favor.
However, Old Madam Guo was not so arrogant as to think everyone should flock to her side.
Since the young girl seemed unwilling, she decided to let it go.
Her attendants, Zhenzhu and Feicui, both wrote decently. Though not as well as this young girl, their handwriting was presentable enough for copying scriptures.
If not them, there was also Xu Ge’er.
That child, though mischievous, was filial. Lately, he had been running off with who-knows-whom and was rarely seen at home. This might be a good opportunity to have him copy a few pages of Buddhist scriptures and keep him at home quietly for a few days.
As Old Madam Guo thought this, a smile touched the corners of her eyes and brows.
Meanwhile, Zhou Shaojin finally mustered the courage to say, "I’m just afraid I won’t copy them well..."
Even if she were the most unworldly person, she knew Old Madam Guo was not someone to offend. She couldn’t be as selfish as she had been in her past life.
But Old Madam Guan was determined to push Zhou Shaojin toward Old Madam Guo. "Haven’t we seen your handwriting? If it weren’t good, we wouldn’t ask you to copy!"
Zhou Shaojin flushed crimson.
Old Madam Guo laughed.
This young girl, with a courage as small as a needle’s eye, dared to refuse her and speak her mind. How amusing.
"It’s fine," Old Madam Guo said with a smile. "Just take your time copying. If it’s ready by the Bathing the Buddha Festival, we’ll offer it then. If not, we’ll offer it during the Ullambana Festival."
She had always admired young girls who had their own ideas without being overbearing, and she couldn’t help but feel inclined to accommodate her.
Zhou Shaojin nearly fainted.The Ghost Festival... Does that mean she'll have to keep copying sutras for Old Madam Guo until July...
She truly didn't want to have any further connections with the main branch of the family!
But with things having come to this point, could she refuse?
After seeing Old Madam Guo off, Old Madam Guan was filled with delight. She pulled Shaojin into the inner chamber and whispered, "Old Madam is an exceptionally strong-willed person. Ordinary people can hardly catch her eye, but if you manage to gain her favor, not to mention Jinling City, even the noble households in the capital won't intimidate you when you come and go. This is your great fortune. Don't take it lightly and think you can just return after copying the sutras."
Could it be that she wouldn't be able to return even after finishing copying the sutras?
Zhou Shaojin broke out in a cold sweat.
She anxiously asked her grandmother, "Then when can I come back?"
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