Тhе shорkеерer eаgеrlу intrоduсed the fabriсs in thе store tо Old Mаdаm Guо, but Zhоu Shаоjin wasn’t verу interested.
She had plеntу of сlothing mаtеriаls, mоst of whiсh wеrе finе gоods hеr father, Zhou Zhеn, hаd cоllected frоm various рlacеs, rеsеrvеd аs dоwriеs for her аnd hеr sister. Неr аttentiоn was drаwn tо the cаmеllia in thе courtyаrd. While Old Mаdаm Guо was еxamining the fаbriсs, shе walkеd оvеr tо tаkе a сlоser lоok.
It sеemed tо be а роt of thе "Еightееn Scholars" сamellia.
But she wаsn’t entirely surе.
She lowеred hеr hеad tо scrutinize the potted plant closely.
Meanwhile, Old Madam Guo had selected a cherry-red fabric with butterfly and floral brocade patterns, intending to have a winter cotton vest made for Zhou Shaojin. When she turned around and saw Shaojin squatting there, examining the camellia, Old Madam Guo couldn’t help but smile and called out, "Shao Jin, come take a look at this fabric!"
Zhou Shaojin responded in a sweet, soft voice, "Yes," and stood up.
The shopkeeper quickly smiled and said, "I didn’t expect the young lady to be an expert—this is indeed a pot of 'Eighteen Scholars.' I bought it from a flower farmer in Tianmu Mountain, hoping to keep it until the New Year for good fortune. I never thought the young lady would recognize it."
Zhou Shaojin smiled faintly and said, "I thought it looked like it just now, and it turns out it really is. Where is that flower farmer you mentioned? Besides camellias, do they have any other rare varieties? 'Eighteen Scholars' is not easy to cultivate. If they can grow such a fine pot, they should also be able to cultivate bicolor peonies..."
Old Madam Guo exclaimed in delight, "I never knew you enjoyed flower cultivation!"
Zhou Shaojin replied modestly, "I just grow them for fun. Unlike the person who cultivated this 'Eighteen Scholars,' they are the true flower cultivator."
Old Madam Guo nodded slightly upon hearing this. She turned to the shopkeeper and asked, "What other flowers does that flower farmer have?"
The shopkeeper smiled and said, "I never thought I’d meet two flower enthusiasts today. That flower farmer is quite well-known in our Hangzhou area. His surname is Miao, and since he’s the fifth in his family, we all call him Master Miao Wu. His family has not only cultivated bicolor peonies but also black chrysanthemums. Now is the season when chrysanthemums are in full bloom. If you and the young lady are interested, I’ll send someone over right away to see if Master Miao Wu has any fine varieties left. You can appreciate them, and it would also add some scenery for the Mid-Autumn Festival."
Old Madam Guo smiled and said, "Then send someone to check. If there are good varieties, just deliver them to Yutai Bank on Upper Street."
The shopkeeper quickly replied, "I know, I know. Madam Wang of your esteemed bank is a regular customer here."
Madam Wang dared not boast of her wealth in front of Old Madam Guo and hurriedly smiled, "If you serve our Old Madam and the young lady well, that’s when you’ll have truly important customers! Hurry and send someone to inquire about those flowers." Her tone carried a hint of teasing by the end, showing she was quite familiar with this shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper immediately called a servant and gave instructions.
Old Madam Guo then held the fabric against Zhou Shaojin to gauge its appearance. She said, "This color looks lovely in winter. Bring several bolts of this cherry red, jade green, brocade red, and lotus purple."
Not knowing who the fabrics were for, Zhou Shaojin didn’t say much. She let Old Madam Guo select a large pile of fabrics, which the shopkeeper tallied and arranged to be delivered to Yutai Bank. They then continued empty-handed to the next shop.Old Madam Guo noticed a vendor across the street selling rice cakes, surrounded by a crowd waiting for the steaming treats. She smiled at Feicui and said, "Go buy a few for the young mistress to try."
Zhou Shaojin felt embarrassed.
Old Madam Guo was treating her like a child.
She quickly replied, "No need. I'm already grown up—how could I compete with children for snacks?"
"Seems you still want them," Old Madam Guo chuckled. "You're just too shy now that you're older. It's fine. When you're with me, eat and drink as you please—don't worry about such things." With that, she motioned for Feicui to hurry and buy the rice cakes.
Feicui went to buy them with a complicated expression.
Old Madam Guo then led Zhou Shaojin into a nearby silk flower shop.
Madam Wang paused briefly and walked alongside Zhenzhu, who was following behind Old Madam Guo. Casually, she remarked, "I heard the second young mistress is a relative from the fourth branch. I never expected she'd catch the old madam's eye—being treated like a daughter."
Zhenzhu disliked this implication that Zhou Shaojin's favor was merely due to pleasing the old madam. Unhappy, she retorted, "That's because the second young mistress writes beautifully. The old madam specifically invited her to copy scriptures at Cold Green Mountain House, which is why the fourth branch's elderly madam agreed to let her accompany us to Putuo Mountain."
It was only after Cheng Chi returned from Putuo Mountain and began staying at various branch offices that they learned the old madam had brought a young mistress along. They had inquired repeatedly but only caught vague hints about her background. Initially, they assumed she was sent by the fourth branch to serve and flatter the old madam. Yet over the past few days, the old madam had shown her immense affection, treating her not as a servant but with great importance, doting on her wherever they went.
Rarely did they have a chance to curry favor with the old madam. Since this young mistress had won her affection, they naturally couldn't ignore her. The old madam was worldly-wise, perceptive, and shrewd. When she managed the Cheng family's affairs in her earlier years, she tolerated no dishonesty—something the older stewards and shopkeepers still remembered. If they could speak to the old madam through this young mistress, it would be ideal.
Madam Wang grew even more enthusiastic toward Zhou Shaojin.
However, Zhou Shaojin had never been one for bustling social scenes. Moreover, she understood clearly that others' attentiveness was solely due to Old Madam Guo and Cheng Chi. Reciprocating respect in kind, by the end of the day, Madam Wang found no opportunity to speak with Zhou Shaojin alone.
She couldn't help feeling discouraged.
Meanwhile, Zhou Shaojin looked forward to viewing the moon at West Lake. That evening, she rummaged through her belongings and decided to wear a blue-green brocade vest and pin a few glass bead flowers she had bought earlier for the occasion.
Jiying laughed, "You've finally sorted out your priorities—what's so special about temple fairs? It's the seasonal scenery that matters. Will you ever have another chance to visit Hangzhou? Even if you return, will you get to see the moon over West Lake again? And even if you do, will it be with the same people?" As she spoke, she held up a gold filigree jeweled flower to her hair and asked, "What do you think—should I wear this?""Not very good," Zhou Shaojin said. "You should still wear that kingfisher feather hairpiece! This flower is too bright and flashy; wearing it on you feels a bit tacky instead. The kingfisher feather hairpiece has a cooler, more elegant tone, and it looks much better on you."
On this point, Jiying trusted Zhou Shaojin's eye—Zhou Shaojin herself was very skilled at dressing up.
She followed Zhou Shaojin's advice and changed into a black brocade robe, styled her hair in a "fallen horse" bun, and put on the large kingfisher feather hairpiece and pearl earrings. Together, they went to the courtyard to wait for Old Madam Guo.
Since it was the Mid-Autumn Festival today, Cheng Chi had come early to pay his respects to Old Madam Guo. As he was leaving, he happened to run into Zhou Shaojin.
Seeing her dressed more brightly than usual, he couldn't help but take a few extra glances.
Zhou Shaojin noticed that Cheng Chi had changed into a lotus-purple Hangzhou silk robe, with a jade belt around his waist and small seals and pouches hanging from it. Dressed so formally, she knew he was going out. After stepping forward to greet him, she couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Chi, will you be joining us to tour West Lake tonight?"
"Of course," Cheng Chi replied with a smile. "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival! If I didn't have business to attend to, I would have accompanied you to Lingyin Temple today."
Zhou Shaojin smiled softly and said, "Then Uncle Chi must come back early. We'll be waiting for you to eat mooncakes."
Cheng Chi nodded. After a moment's thought, he added, "These glass hairpins look fine during the day, but at night, they aren't as beautiful as gemstones."
Zhou Shaojin's face flushed like morning clouds, and she softly replied, "Mm."
Cheng Chi smiled and stepped out of the courtyard.
Jiying snorted and said, "He sure has a lot to say." She tried to pull Zhou Shaojin to the tea room to chat.
But Zhou Shaojin felt that what Cheng Chi said made sense.
She had originally chosen to wear this two-toned gold vest because she thought the West Lake tour at night might be brightly lit. Wearing something brighter would not only look festive but also make her appear more spirited.
"You go ahead and sit in the tea room," Zhou Shaojin said. "I'm going back to change these hairpins."
Jiying widened her eyes. "You're not actually taking his offhand comment to heart, are you?"
"But I think he's right!" Zhou Shaojin said. "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Doesn't everyone want to be happy and joyful?"
"Alright then," Jiying said, her eyes still wide with disbelief, though she sounded a bit dejected. "Go change your hair accessories. I don't really understand these things anyway. Maybe Fourth Master really is right."
Zhou Shaojin cheerfully saw Jiying off to the tea room before returning to her room to change her hair accessories.
Chunwan asked, "What should we change to? These glass hairpins are exquisitely made, each only the size of a thumb, which is why we styled your hair in a hanging bun to wear them... Should we change your hairstyle instead? Even if we use the coral hairpins Fourth Master gave you, I'm sure they'd look beautiful."
"No!" Zhou Shaojin said. "Those coral hairpins are meant as an addition to my sister's trousseau. The temple fair today will surely be crowded, and if they were taken or lost, I'd regret it terribly. Besides, there isn't enough time to redo my hairstyle now..." Suddenly, she thought of the southern pearl hair set Cheng Chi had given her and said, "How about using the hairpins from that set—pearls are the brightest and most beautiful under lamplight."
Gemstones depend on the craftsman's skill, but pearls rely solely on their own quality.
The pearls Cheng Chi had given her were genuine South Sea pearls. Even the slightest bit of light was enough to make them glow with a soft, moon-like radiance.
Chunwan smiled and agreed, helping Zhou Shaojin change into the southern pearl hairpins and hairpins before they went to Old Madam Guo's quarters.Elderly people generally prefer younger generations to dress in bright, festive colors. However, since Zhou Shaojin had a quiet and gentle disposition, she also looked pleasing in more understated, elegant attire. Now, dressed up with special care, she radiated a dazzling yet refined beauty. Old Madam Guo was also quite fond of her appearance, especially the southern pearl hairpin in her hair, which emitted a soft, hazy glow—clearly no ordinary piece.
She nodded with a smile and stood up, saying, "Let us go to Lingyin Temple."
※
Lingyin Temple was packed with people, and the sedan chair could go no further once it reached the foot of the mountain.
Madam Wang, her face covered in sweat, said, "Please wait a moment, Old Madam. I will find a way to have someone from the temple come and escort you."
Old Madam Guo hadn’t seen such a grand gathering in many years and replied with a smile, "Then we shall wait here for you."
Madam Wang wiped the sweat from her forehead and turned to find help.
Zhou Shaojin waited inside the sedan chair.
As time passed, she couldn’t help but feel a bit bored.
Quietly, she lifted a corner of the sedan curtain to peek outside.
※
Dear sisters, there are only two updates today. This is today’s update.
Tomorrow’s extra update will still be around five in the afternoon.
⊙﹏⊙b sweat… I’ll try my best to adjust the schedule as soon as possible.
PS: Regarding the confusion between Slender West Lake and West Lake, that was my mistake and has now been corrected.
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
!!
OpenNovel