Zhоu Shаоjin nаturally noddеd rеpeаtedly.
Yеt inwаrdlу, shе fеlt sоmewhat flustеred.
Uncle Chi’s depаrturе from thе Chеng fаmilу hаd beеn соnfirmеd.
Вut when еxactlу hаd he lеft?
And had he еver returnеd to visit aftеrwаrd?
Zhоu Shаоjin раced bасk and fоrth in thе сabin, rеgretting whу shе hadn’t pаid сlosеr attention tо the affairs оf thе Сheng fаmily in her pаst lifе.
Shе thought оf hоw Сhеng Сhi, tо amusе Оld Mаdam Guо, patiеntly соаxеd hеr intо рlaying chеss; how he observed hеr exprеssions and, nоticing Оld Мadаm Guo was tired, suggested they sit and rest before she even spoke; how he supported Old Madam Guo on the beach, smiling as he encouraged her to do things she normally wouldn’t dare imagine... Her heart ached faintly.
Could it be that everything she was doing now was in vain?
Would Uncle Chi leave the Cheng family once they returned to Jinling City?!
Then who could she turn to to pass a message to Cheng Jing?
Zhou Shaojin tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep well. The next day, while accompanying Old Madam Guo in the side hall to listen to the abbot’s sermon, she felt rather listless.
Cheng Chi, sitting beside her, whispered, “Didn’t sleep well last night? Bear with it for now. We’ll return to Ningbo first thing tomorrow morning.”
Because the abbot of Fayu Temple insisted on personally delivering a sermon for Old Madam Guo, they had to stay one more night on Putuo Mountain.
Zhou Shaojin nodded listlessly, wanting very much to ask him if he intended to leave the Cheng family. But as the words reached her lips, she swallowed them and instead asked, “Uncle Chi, will you return to Jinling with us?”
“Of course,” Cheng Chi replied with a smile. “Since I brought you all out, I naturally must bring you back safely and smoothly!”
“And after we return?” Zhou Shaojin couldn’t hold back. She gazed at Cheng Chi with clear, spring-like eyes full of hope. “Will you go out again?”
Cheng Chi chuckled and said, “Do you want to go to Baoding to visit your father?”
Zhou Shaojin knew Cheng Chi had misunderstood her, but she would rather he misunderstand than let him know about her unbelievable experiences. So she quickly said, “If you happen to pass through Baoding, could you take me along?”
“I probably won’t be traveling these days,” Cheng Chi replied with a smile. “We’ll wait until after the New Year. If it’s not urgent and both your grandmother and your father agree, I can take you to Baoding along the way.”
Zhou Shaojin nodded with a bright smile.
But Cheng Chi sensed that Zhou Shaojin’s inner feelings were not as joyful as her outward appearance.
What exactly is this little girl trying to do? What is she thinking?
This thought flashed through Cheng Chi’s mind when a nearby worshipper complained, “Stop talking and listen to the master’s sermon... How can there be people so disrespectful to Buddha, chatting during the sermon?”
Cheng Chi and Zhou Shaojin quickly stopped their conversation and focused on listening to the abbot’s sermon.
Today, the abbot spoke about the story of Buddha sacrificing his body to feed an eagle—a tale Zhou Shaojin had heard countless times in both her past and present lives. Yet the abbot of Fayu Temple delivered it with such passion that it was easy to become immersed in the story.
Zhou Shaojin felt she had truly broadened her horizons.
The sermon masters she had encountered before were all gentle and persuasive, speaking softly. She had never seen a sermon master speak with such fervor and eloquence.
It just goes to show that all kinds of people exist in this world; she simply hadn’t encountered them before.
Lost in these thoughts, Zhou Shaojin finally felt less drowsy than before.
After the sermon ended, the abbot personally came over to exchange a few words with Old Madam Guo before departing.They returned to their resting quarters under the envious gazes of the other pilgrims.
After enjoying a hearty vegetarian meal, Cheng Chi was invited by the abbot for tea. Zhou Shaojin and Old Madam Guo took an afternoon nap. By the time they woke up, the luggage had mostly been packed.
Old Madam Guo sipped the tea offered by Nanny Lu and pondered, "I think we should donate more incense money to Fayu Temple to help them build the Mahavira Hall."
Zhou Shaojin broke into a sweat.
Nanny Lu went to fetch Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "Helping them build a Mahavira Hall isn’t difficult, but human greed knows no bounds. If we agree too easily, they might even want to build an Arhat Hall... Don’t worry about this matter. Leave it to me to handle. I’ll make sure your name is engraved first on the merit stele."
"You child," Old Madam Guo chided. "Is it for the merit stele? I want the Bodhisattva to bless you three brothers with peace and prosperity, to ensure Brother Xu and Brother Rang live in tranquility and marry virtuous and sensible wives... and to bless our Shaojin with a perfect husband!"
Zhou Shaojin flushed bright red with embarrassment. She said, "I’ll go see if Chunwan and the others have finished packing," and fled in a hurry.
Old Madam Guo chuckled and reminded Cheng Chi again, "If you meet any fine young men from good families while you’re out, do keep an eye out."
Cheng Chi replied with a smile, "I understand!"
※
At the beginning of the si hour (9 a.m.) the next day, they bid farewell to the abbot, senior monks, and guest prefect of Fayu Temple.
The abbot of Fayu Temple escorted them all the way to the dock, made plans with Cheng Chi to meet again, and watched as Zhou Shaojin and the others boarded the boat. Only after the boat had left the dock did he return to Fayu Temple with the other monks.
Leaning against the boat’s window, Zhou Shaojin gazed at the lush green Mount Putuo, feeling both the melancholy of parting and the joy of returning home.
It had been a long time since she had seen her sister, and being on the journey, she couldn’t even write her a letter.
By lamplight, their boat arrived at the Ningbo dock.
Unlike the painted boats and black-canopied boats moored near the northern Jiang Bridge of Jinling City, the Ningbo dock was mostly filled with sand ships and Fujian ships, many of which were large vessels with four or five masts. As their three-masted sand ship sailed past these larger ships, they had to crane their necks to look up at the masts, giving them a somewhat overwhelming feeling.
Chunwan and the others crowded by the boat window, exclaiming in admiration, which drew Old Madam Guo to stop and look out the window.
As she supported Old Madam Guo, Zhou Shaojin suddenly remembered the day she had looked down from the boat and seen a man and a woman through another cabin’s window... The people on those Fujian ships might also be able to see into their cabin.
She hurriedly ordered Chunwan and the others to close all the cabin windows.
Chunwan and the others went off with giggles.
Wang Xiao, the manager of the Ningbo branch, came aboard with several clerks to pay respects to Cheng Chi. He said, "I’ve reserved a courtyard at the best inn in Ningbo City. If you find the courtyard too noisy, there’s also a resting place behind the branch, usually used to host managers from the main office, though it’s a bit small." He added, "Although Ningbo City can’t compare to Hangzhou, it excels in overseas trade. The imported tinware, snuffboxes, clocks, dolls, and cosmetics all have their unique charm. Since the old madam and the young lady rarely visit, perhaps you’d like to stay in Ningbo for a couple more days to experience the city’s distinctive liveliness."Cheng Chi suddenly thought of Zhou Shaojin pouting, blinking her big eyes, and murmuring to Jiying, "I want to buy things too..." Over the years, his mother had always blamed herself deeply. Although she hadn’t become a lay Buddhist, she lived an ascetic life... He recalled how his mother, who never liked wearing bright colors herself, always preferred her maids to dress beautifully and elegantly... Since he had decided to make his mother happy, he might as well accompany her properly this time, even if these matters seemed somewhat absurd and reckless.
"That’s a great idea," he said with a smile. "Staying at an inn would indeed be too noisy. Let’s stay at the branch instead!"
Wang Xiao was overjoyed and hurriedly stood up, saying, "Yes, sir." He instructed the head clerk to go back and make further arrangements, while he himself stayed to chat with Cheng Chi, waiting for the ladies in the rear cabin to finish packing.
Meanwhile, the rear cabin was already in a frenzy upon receiving the news.
Chunwan held up a green vest trimmed with red piping against herself and anxiously asked Bitao, "How does this look? Should I wear this tomorrow?"
"It looks lovely," Bitao replied dutifully, offering her advice. "Just wear the pair of gold clove earrings that the Second Young Lady rewarded you with last time."
"That’s what I was thinking too," Chunwan said decisively, packing the garment she had been holding into her bundle. She then went to find the pair of gold clove earrings Zhou Shaojin had given her.
Just then, a young maid rushed in and said, "Sister Chunwan, the Young Lady wants to bring the moon-white shoes embroidered with butterflies and studded with pearls. I’ve searched everywhere but can’t find them."
Before the words had fully left her mouth, another young maid hurried over and said, "Sister Chunwan, the Young Lady is asking if everything has been packed yet."
Chunwan could no longer attend to everything. She shoved the bundle of clothes into Bitao’s arms and said, "Please help me pack this. I need to go attend to the Young Lady."
Bitao replied with a smiling "Mm," and was about to start packing when another young maid called out to her, "Sister Bitao, the kitchen is asking what the Second Young Lady’s supper will be tonight. They need to bring the ingredients along so that the branch can prepare adequately and avoid serving anything unpalatable."
Bitao glanced at the bundle in her hands, then at the young maid waiting at the door, and could only smile wryly as she instructed the maid, "This is something Sister Chunwan will take ashore later. Please keep an eye on it here. I’ll be back soon."
The young maid nodded and stood guard at the door.
Bitao hurried off to the kitchen.
All this commotion had nothing to do with Zhou Shaojin. She was accompanying Old Madam Guo, sipping tea. "...Times are different from the early days of the dynasty. Social interactions among court officials have become increasingly elaborate. Yet everyone’s salaries remain the same. Without money, and unwilling to lose face, they have no choice but to find alternative means. That’s why imported goods from Ningbo have become so prized. Their items are cheap, mostly just novel in style and unfamiliar to us. They’re fine to buy as rare gifts, but not really worth collecting for personal enjoyment."
Was Old Madam Guo worried that they might be dazzled and buy recklessly, only to be taken advantage of?
Zhou Shaojin smiled faintly. Once Chunwan had finished packing, she respectfully assisted Old Madam Guo off the boat.
Wang Xiao had already prepared sedan chairs. They boarded and swayed gently all the way to the Ningbo branch of Yutai Bank.
Yutai Bank not only had a spacious frontage but was also situated in an excellent location.The bank faced a bridge, across which stood a three-story restaurant. Diagonally opposite was a pawnshop with five wide bays, and beyond that was a century-old pharmacy. By the time their sedan chair arrived at the bank, it was already 6 p.m., and the bridge was still bustling with people coming and going.
Zhou Shaojin could tell at a glance that the backyard of Yutai Bank must be quite spacious.
When her sedan chair was set down, Shaojin looked up and saw a five-bay main hall, flanked on each side by three-bay wing rooms, each with two additional side chambers. The courtyard was paved with bluestone bricks. As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, the two osmanthus trees planted side by side in the center of the yard were laden with golden blossoms, their fragrance rich and pervasive.
※
Sisters, here’s today’s bonus update.
The evening update will be around nine o’clock.
o(n_n)o~
P.S.: It’s the beginning of the month again, please support with your guaranteed pink votes!
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote to recommend it or cast a monthly vote. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
!!
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