Аfterwards, Jiying wаtсhed Biуu perfоrm thе tесhniquе sеveral mоre times, correcting а fеw of hеr shortсоmings, thеn stоod uр tо tаkе hеr leаve.
Zhou Shaоjin рersоnally esсorted hеr out of thе саbin, smiling аs shе sаid, "I didn’t еxpесt yоu tо bе so skillеd—yоu еven know mаssаge tеchniques for trеating seasiсknеss."
"It wаs Fourth Мaster who tоld mе," Jiуing reрliеd with а smilе. "Му homеtоwn is in Cаngzhou. If уou ask mе what tо dо whеn a hоrsе fаlls ill, I’d dеfinitely know, but if уou ask me how to hаndle someоne with seаsicknеss, I’d bе just as сlueless as you. Fourth Master simply wanted to use my hands to teach the method to Biyu."
Zhou Shaojin was even more surprised.
She hadn’t expected Cheng Chi to understand even such things...
Jiying yawned.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but ask, "What’s wrong with you? You seem quite exhausted. Are you not sleeping well on the boat?"
Upon hearing this, Jiying muttered to herself: She could sleep well anywhere, but Cheng Zichuan made her patrol the women’s quarters every night, and with the daytime noise, how could she possibly sleep well?
"That’s right!" She yawned again, feeling there was no need to tell Zhou Shaojin these things, lest knowing more only made her worry. "I could ride a horse at three, but I didn’t set foot on a boat until I was eighteen."
Zhou Shaojin understood and urged her to hurry back and rest. "We’ll have a proper chat tonight when the boat docks."
Jiying was indeed terribly sleepy. After exchanging a few more words with Zhou Shaojin, she returned to her room.
Zhou Shaojin turned and went back into the cabin.
Nanny Lu, having been subtly rebuked by Zhou Shaojin earlier and seeing that she could actually speak up in front of Cheng Chi, no longer dared to act cleverly or play petty tricks. She had already told Zhenzhu about Zhou Shaojin’s plea on her behalf. Zhenzhu struggled to get up and kowtow to Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin quickly signaled Biyu to help her lie back down, saying, "If you truly want to thank me, then recover quickly. There’s no need for such formalities."
Zhenzhu had interacted with her for some time and knew that while she usually spoke little, she was willing to step forward for her at critical moments. She must be someone warm-hearted beneath a cool exterior, so Zhenzhu didn’t stand on ceremony either. Obediently lying back on the bed, she said, "Second Cousin, great kindness need not be spoken. I’ll follow Miss Jiying’s instructions and persist with the daily massages, striving to recover as soon as possible."
Zhou Shaojin wasn’t the type to claim credit for herself.
She smiled and said, "This was all Uncle Chi’s idea. When you’re better, remember to thank him."
Zhenzhu verbally agreed, but in her heart, she thought: How many people wish to seek Fourth Master’s help, yet how many can actually move him to act? In the end, Fourth Master acted out of regard for you, Second Cousin. The one to truly be grateful to is you, Second Cousin.
Zhou Shaojin noticed the cabin was well-ventilated, and the maids, to keep the cabin clean, had covered Zhenzhu’s basin and similar items with wooden lids. Feeling there was nothing more to add, she urged Zhenzhu to rest well and returned to her room with Chunwan.
Nanny Lu also took her leave to report back to Old Madam Guo.
She dared not conceal Cheng Chi’s kindness any further.
She recounted the entire incident in detail to Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo listened and couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, saying, "You went to Shaojin, then Shaojin went to Si Lang, and Si Lang sent his attendant Jiying to cure Zhenzhu’s seasickness?"
It was only an improvement for now.
Nanny Lu dared not exaggerate.Since Zhenzhu couldn't endure it, Cheng Chi had already given orders that she would disembark when the boat docked at Changzhou.
She hurriedly said, "It's much better than before. According to Miss Jiying, it can be completely cured in about a month."
Old Madam Guo absentmindedly hummed in response.
She knew her own son best.
Her youngest son had been mischievous and unrestrained since childhood. Though he now appeared as a modest gentleman, deep down he remained aloof and indifferent. He clearly knew Jiashan wasn't a suitable candidate to be the clan heir, yet he was unwilling to spend effort nurturing the second branch's Rang'er... But this time, he accompanied her to Putuo Mountain to offer incense, patiently instructed Shaojin in playing cards, and now even had his maid help treat Zhenzhu's seasickness... He was being far too accommodating!
As the saying goes, unusual behavior signals trouble.
Could something have happened to Si Lang? Or did Si Lang have some plan in mind?
Preoccupied with these thoughts, Old Madam Guo lost interest in playing cards.
Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief, only to notice that Cheng Chi spent most of his time sitting on the daybed by the cabin window, holding a teacup and lost in thought.
He must be bored too, right?
Zhou Shaojin speculated. After hesitating for two days, she went to find Cheng Chi to play chess: "Just to pass the time... like last time, we'll play Gomoku!"
Cheng Chi looked at her.
Zhou Shaojin's face immediately flushed crimson.
She knew her idea wasn't very sophisticated, but aside from playing Gomoku, she had no other way to cheer him up.
Zhou Shaojin blinked her clear, bright eyes, gazing at Cheng Chi with hopeful anticipation.
Suddenly, Cheng Chi was reminded of a nameless pink flower blooming alone by a deserted path, swaying gently in the spring breeze.
He called Qing Feng in to set up the chessboard.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but smile.
Her sparkling eyes curved into crescents, her entire expression brimming with delight.
It was just agreeing to play a few games of chess with her—was there any need to be so happy?
Cheng Chi wondered inwardly, puzzled, yet his mood unconsciously brightened as if infected by her joy. He didn't even realize the corners of his mouth had lifted slightly.
As before, Cheng Chi gave Zhou Shaojin a two-stone handicap, and they played ten games.
The result was also the same as last time: Cheng Chi won nine games and lost one.
Zhou Shaojin was quite indignant, but as it was getting late, she had to say, "We'll play again tomorrow!"
Cheng Chi neither agreed nor disagreed.
Zhou Shaojin then asked him, "Uncle Chi, did you bring any chess manuals? I'll study hard tonight!"
Cheng Chi couldn't help but laugh, saying, "Have you ever seen someone lend weapons to their opponent and then duel to the death?"
Zhou Shaojin argued righteously, "Even if Uncle Chi lent me weapons, I still couldn't beat him. Why not generously give me some pointers? You could earn a good reputation and increase the fun of the competition—that would be killing two birds with one stone!"
Who would have thought this little girl, who usually seemed timid and silent, had such a lively and active side!
Cheng Chi said bluntly, "No! I didn't bring any chess manuals."
Disappointed, Zhou Shaojin slumped her shoulders and returned to her cabin.
After dinner, Jiying came to visit her and tossed a copy of Baicao Hall's "Chess Manual" to her, saying, "Qin Ziping said he was ordered by Fourth Master to rush it here from Changzhou at breakneck speed—the horse nearly died from exhaustion. This is the simplest chess manual they could find. What do you need a chess manual for? Do you actually want to compete with Fourth Master?""No, no!" Zhou Shaojin held the go manual, feeling as if she were cradling a hot potato, and murmured, "I... I was just thinking about how Uncle Chi taught me to play leaf cards last time, and I understood it as soon as he explained... So I thought maybe I could borrow a go manual from Uncle Chi. Perhaps I’d understand it just by reading it, and I wouldn’t have to keep bothering Madam Shen..."
Jiying keenly sensed the unease in her words and asked softly, "Did Madam Shen give you a hard time?"
"Of course not!" Zhou Shaojin quickly replied. "It’s just that I couldn’t understand the joseki no matter what. Madam Shen didn’t know what to do either, and I didn’t dare tell anyone else..."
"Aren’t you just making things difficult for yourself?" Jiying rolled her eyes as she listened. "Why do you insist on playing go with the Fourth Master?"
Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment and said, "I have something very important to ask of Uncle Chi, and I need to earn his trust first."
With that explanation, Jiying understood.
She figured it must be something significant and didn’t press for details. "Then study this go manual carefully! I need to go on patrol... I mean, I’m heading back to my room. If you need anything, you can have Chunwan call for me."
Zhou Shaojin thanked her repeatedly. She spent half the day studying the go manual in the cabin and found that, as Jiying had said, it was relatively simple—at least simpler than the ones Madam Shen had shown her. After studying the first joseki for a long time, she finally began to grasp it.
She couldn’t help but feel overjoyed.
But then she remembered that this manual had been sent to her by Uncle Chi, and doubts arose in her mind.
They were on a boat, surrounded by water. How had Uncle Chi managed to send someone to find this go manual for her?
Zhou Shaojin pondered for a long time but couldn’t figure it out. The next day, she went to thank Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi was unimpressed. He smiled faintly and said, "I’ve lent you the weapon now. Let’s see how you’ll help me gain fame while also adding some competitive fun!"
Zhou Shaojin was too embarrassed to look at Cheng Chi. She curtsied and fled in disarray.
Cheng Chi watched her light, deer-like figure retreating and chuckled softly.
Two days passed, and Zhou Shaojin felt her face was no longer burning with embarrassment. She went to find Cheng Chi to play go.
Cheng Chi said nothing. He had Qing Feng set up the board and, as usual, gave her a two-stone handicap for a game of Gomoku.
Out of ten games, Zhou Shaojin lost nine and won one.
She stared at Cheng Chi in astonishment.
Cheng Chi remained composed, calmly collecting the pieces from the board one by one.
Unwilling to accept defeat, Zhou Shaojin went to play go with Cheng Chi again.
The result was the same: nine losses and one win.
Zhou Shaojin wasn’t foolish.
Her face flushed like morning clouds as she stood up, wishing she could vanish into the ground. With her head lowered, she muttered, "I’m going back," and headed for the door.
Cheng Chi shook his head and called out, "Come back."
Zhou Shaojin stopped, her head nearly touching her chest, and turned around sullenly.
Cheng Chi sighed and said, "Is losing to me so shameful?"
"Of course not!" Zhou Shaojin hurriedly replied. "It’s just that I..."
"Then that’s settled!" Cheng Chi interrupted her before she could finish. "Can someone become fat in one bite? You can’t handle losing a few games of Gomoku to me? Among three people walking, there is always a teacher. If you don’t even have that much tolerance, how can you learn go well? Go back and think carefully about what I said."
It’s not like I wanted to learn go in the first place.
Zhou Shaojin grumbled inwardly as she walked out of the cabin.
The wind blowing against her face cleared her mind considerably.Uncle Chi's words made sense.
If she couldn't even bear losing to Uncle Chi, how could she ever master the game of Go?
Hadn't she resolved to shed her former timidity and cowardice when she was reborn?
Still, feeling so embarrassed in front of Uncle Chi left her uneasy.
Zhou Shaojin spent a long time psyching herself up before clenching her fists, turning to lift the study curtain, and declaring, "Uncle Chi, let's play again tomorrow!" Without so much as a glance at Cheng Chi, she dashed away in a flash.
※
Sisters, here's today's bonus update!
PS: I've realized that when family members fall ill, it's even more demanding than when I'm sick myself.
Tonight's update will be postponed until around eleven o'clock... sob...
※ (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please vote to recommend it or cast a monthly vote. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
!!
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