Zhоu Shаоjin suрpressеd thе strаngе fеeling in her heаrt аnd followеd Nanny Shi fоrwаrd. А уоung girl drеssed as а maid, wearing a qianhong-соlorеd sleеvеlеss jаckеt trimmеd with sсаlliоn-greеn piping, smiled аs shе aрproaсhed: "Nannу Shi, you'rе bасk!" Shе сurtsiеd tо Old Mаdаm Guan аnd Zhоu Shаojin: "Оld Mаdаm! Secоnd Мiss!"
Zhou Shаojin didn’t recоgnize her. Seеing shе wаs onlу about fourtееn оr fifteеn уеаrs оld, with аlmond-shарed еyеs and pеaсh-blоssоm chееks, hеr gаze lively аs she smiled and spokе, she was strikingly bеautiful and сharming, stаnding оut from thе crowd. Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but take a few extra glances.
Old Madam Guan was clearly familiar with this young girl and said with a smile, "Zhenzhu, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you. You’ve grown even more lovely."
"I dare not accept Old Madam’s praise," the maid called Zhenzhu replied with a smile. "Our Old Madam is waiting for Second Miss. I didn’t expect Old Madam to come as well..."
Before she could finish her sentence, another maid approached.
She wore a pale green, plain Hangzhou silk sleeveless jacket, was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with an oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and her dark hair styled in a bun, adorned with a gold-inlaid rose quartz apricot blossom hairpin. Her smile was gentle, her demeanor dignified, and she bore no resemblance to Zhenzhu.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but wonder to herself.
What did the other maids in Old Madam Guo’s room look like?
"Old Madam!" The maid curtsied to Old Madam Guan and said, "Our Old Madam didn’t expect you to come in person. Please forgive any discourtesy."
"So it’s Biyu!" Old Madam Guan chuckled a few times and said, "I came uninvited. What does that have to do with your Old Madam? Please rise, no need for such formalities."
The maid called Biyu stood up with a smile and said, "Old Madam, our Old Madam invites you to the hall for tea first."
Old Madam Guan nodded and said to Zhou Shaojin, "This is Miss Biyu, who serves by Old Madam’s side. You’ll likely need to trouble her in the future."
Zhou Shaojin smiled and addressed her as "Miss Biyu."
A flicker of surprise passed through Biyu’s eyes, and she quickly curtsied, saying, "Second Miss, you humble this servant."
Her tone was very modest, which made Zhou Shaojin feel favorably toward her.
The group continued forward.
At the end of the corridor stood a two-story, five-bay building. The walls were painted white, the windows and doors a bright red, covered with pale yellow gauze. In front of the door was a grape trellis, with large blue-and-white porcelain vases placed on either side—one filled with water lilies, the other with koi fish. It was both imposing and refined.
A maid wearing a lilac-colored sleeveless jacket trimmed with pea-green piping appeared to lift the curtain for them.
Only then did Zhou Shaojin notice that Old Madam Guo’s residence had already switched to bamboo curtains.
The slightly yellowed bamboo curtain was dotted with purple spots—a Xiangfei bamboo curtain that looked quite old. And the curtain weights were actually two jadeite lions rolling an embroidered ball, each the size of a baby’s fist! The jadeite was a rich, vibrant green, with exquisite carving so lifelike that not only were the lions’ playful expressions clearly visible, but even the intricate floral patterns on the embroidered ball they held could be seen in detail.
Zhou Shaojin was astonished.
In her previous life, during her first year of marriage into the Lin family, it was her mother-in-law’s birthday. She had specially gone to Yongfusheng, the largest silver shop in the capital, to order a small ornament for her mother-in-law. After browsing for most of the day, she finally selected a piece of jadeite about the size of these lions rolling an embroidered ball. Its quality wasn’t even as good as this, and it cost nearly two hundred taels of silver...
Everyone said the third branch of the family was wealthy, but they had never displayed such extravagance as the eldest branch.
No wonder people instinctively lowered their voices when speaking in front of Old Madam Guo.Zhenzhu lifted the curtain in front, and Zhou Shaojin followed Old Madam Guan into the hall.
Before everyone had even steadied themselves, Old Madam Guo entered from behind the central hall, supported by a maid dressed in lilac plain silk with seven-colored embroidered edges.
Zhou Shaojin noticed that the maid was about the same age as Biyu, but with long eyebrows, slender eyes, skin as fair as snow, and a gentle, graceful demeanor—a different kind of beauty altogether. She couldn’t help but inwardly marvel.
This Old Madam Guo was truly interesting.
She was stern in demeanor, and her residence was solemn, yet the maids around her were each enchanting in their own way, like spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums, each with their own merits.
Meanwhile, Madam Yuan had already begun exchanging pleasantries with Old Madam Guan: "...I didn’t expect you to come. Don’t leave at noon—stay and have lunch with me."
"Of course!" Old Madam Guan replied with a smile, as if very familiar with Old Madam Guo. "Last time, I had honey-glazed pigeon here, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. Today is the perfect chance to taste it again."
"Don’t worry!" Old Madam Guo said with a laugh. "Today, we not only have honey-glazed pigeon but also your favorite crispy lamb chops and hot-and-sour soup."
Biyu seemed to hesitate, as if wanting to say something.
Old Madam Guan smiled at her and said, "We two rarely get to meet like this, so don’t worry too much. If Madam Jing scolds you later, just tell her it was what I wanted to eat!"
It was nearly summer. Honey-glazed pigeon was a sweet dish, lamb chops were rich and strong-flavored, and hot-and-sour soup was too pungent. Even the fourth branch of the family rarely prepared these three dishes for Old Madam Guan, let alone the main branch.
Since she could oversee Old Madam Guo’s meals, she must be one of the top-ranking maids in Cold Green Mountain House.
Biyu pursed her lips into a smile and helped them take their seats.
Zhou Shaojin, however, was worried about the lunch.
Would she encounter Madam Yuan, who might come to serve her mother-in-law during the meal?
A maid in deep purple plain silk waistcoat, accompanied by several younger maids, brought them tea and snacks.
The maid had thick eyebrows and large eyes, smiling even before speaking, appearing lively and clever—another outstanding figure.
Having already seen Zhenzhu, Biyu, and the maid in lilac clothing, Zhou Shaojin was no longer surprised and felt less curious.
Once the two elderly ladies finished their conversation, she stepped forward to pay her respects to Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo looked her over and gave a kind smile.
Zhou Shaojin didn’t know what had pleased Old Madam Guo, so she simply stood there with a reserved smile.
Old Madam Guo asked her, "What sutras do you usually read?"
Those unfamiliar with Buddhist teachings typically chose to read the Sutra of the Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Afterward, they would follow the guidance of their trusted Buddhist masters or choose to read sutras like the Sutra of Infinite Life, the Amitabha Sutra, or the Chapter on the Vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. Only when their understanding of Buddhist principles deepened would they progress to reading the Śūraṅgama Sutra, and once they grasped the Śūraṅgama Sutra, they could move on to the Lotus Sutra and the Diamond Sutra.
Considering her own situation, Zhou Shaojin cautiously replied, "I usually enjoy reading the Amitabha Sutra."
Old Madam Guo nodded slightly and said to Old Madam Guan, "For the Bathing the Buddha Festival, I’ve already handwritten a copy of the Diamond Sutra as an offering to the Bodhisattva. Let Second Young Lady help me copy the Śūraṅgama Sutra." Then, turning to Zhou Shaojin, she added, "If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can come and ask me."
The Śūraṅgama Sutra consisted of ten volumes and was very long...
Zhou Shaojin inwardly broke into a sweat but outwardly maintained a respectful and gentle demeanor as she softly replied, "Yes."Afterwards, Old Madam Guo personally took her to the scripture-copying place—a two-bay Buddhist hall located beside the Taihu rockery in the rear garden of Cold Green Mountain House.
The hall was surrounded by painted glazed windows, with rosewood beams and pillars, a gilded thousand-armed Guanyin statue, incense sticks as thick as a child’s arm, and offering plates for fresh fruits measuring seven or eight inches in diameter. Compared to Old Madam Guan’s small Buddhist hall, this place more resembled a side hall of a bustling, incense-filled temple.
Perhaps due to a sense of insecurity, Zhou Shaojin preferred her grandmother’s small Buddhist hall.
Old Madam Guo pointed to the large scroll-edged desk under the eastern window lattice and the grand armchair with a rattan-yellow linen cushion, saying, "That is prepared for you to copy scriptures. If you feel uncomfortable, we can change locations."
Zhou Shaojin initially thought she could make do even if it wasn’t ideal, but recalling how she had always compromised in her previous life without earning a single word of praise from her elders, only suffering herself, she reconsidered. Moreover, she was to copy the Śūraṅgama Sūtra, which would take at least half a year.
She immediately changed her mind and, after a moment’s thought, walked over to push open the window.
Outside stood a large locust tree, taller than the eaves and thick enough to embrace, its canopy spreading like an umbrella over the wing-room roof, filling the room with a deep green hue. In the distance, half of a lake was visible, with pointed lotus leaves faintly discernible.
Zhou Shaojin could imagine how refreshing this place would be in summer.
On the desk, the Hui inkstick, Duan inkstone, and Xuan paper were all of the finest quality.
She was delighted and smiled, saying, "This is perfect."
Old Madam Guo watched her open the window and nodded with a smile, then pointed to the maid wearing a lilac-colored vest and said to Zhou Shaojin, "Her name is Feicui. If you have any matters in the future, just instruct her."
Feicui stepped forward to bow to Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin exchanged a few polite words with her, such as "I’ll trouble you in the future, elder sister," to which Feicui hurriedly replied, "I dare not." Old Madam Guo then pointed to the maid in a purple vest and told Zhou Shaojin her name was "Manao." Manao naturally bowed and greeted Zhou Shaojin, and after some pleasantries, Zhou Shaojin had met all four of Old Madam Guo’s senior maids.
According to Old Madam Guo’s intention, today’s visit was merely for Zhou Shaojin to familiarize herself with the environment. Formal scripture copying would begin after the eighth day of the fourth month. She added, "After all, the Bathing the Buddha Festival is just two or three days away, so there’s no rush. Your studies must not be neglected either. Attend classes at Jing’an Studio in the mornings, and come here to copy scriptures after the midday rest." She also said, "If the weather turns hot, come directly for lunch, and I’ll have an inner chamber prepared for you."
Zhou Shaojin had originally planned to set aside an hour and a half each evening to quickly finish copying the scriptures, with no intention of staying long at Cold Green Mountain House. Just as she was about to decline, Old Madam Guan smiled and said, "That’s excellent, so I won’t have to worry."
Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to swallow the words already on her lips.
Old Madam Guo and Old Madam Guan then began discussing the Bathing the Buddha Festival: "Niece-in-law Yi said that Shi’er’s wife is pregnant and needs to stay home to care for her, so only her mother-in-law and I will go. The third branch is leaving niece-in-law Lu at home, saying they need help from the second branch. Third Sister-in-law will take Jia’er and go with us. How many from your side will go? I’ll make arrangements accordingly!"
The conversation was convoluted, and Zhou Shaojin had to think it over before understanding.The "Yí nephew's wife" refers to the wife of the second branch's Yí, that is, Cheng Shi's mother. As for "Shi'er's wife," it refers to Cheng Shi's wife, Madam Zheng.
She married into the Cheng family five years ago and gave birth to her eldest son, Cheng Geng, three years ago. He was the first child in the Cheng family's great-grandson generation and, moreover, a boy.
In her previous life, Madam Zheng's pregnancy also resulted in a son, born in September during the crab-eating season. This delighted the second branch's matriarch so much that she gifted Madam Zheng a piece of land as private property.
Presumably, the second branch did not want to offend the eldest branch but could not swallow their anger, so they used this as an excuse to keep the Yí wife, who was in charge of household affairs, at home.
As for the third branch, they followed their usual practice of not offending either side—Cheng Jia and her grandmother, Madam Li, went to the temple with Old Madam Guo, while Cheng Jia's mother, Madam Jiang, stayed at home under the pretext of "fearing the second branch might need help."
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Sisters, there are many characters, and all are important, so it's impossible to reduce them. Following one chapter a day actually makes it easier to remember who is who; otherwise, reading it all at once would leave you utterly confused.
"Pink-white" is also a forbidden term...
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