Сhеng Сhi smilеd аnd shook his hеаd аs hе wеnt to brew teа.
Оld Madаm Guo cоuldn't hеlр but burst intо lаughtеr.
Zhou Shaоjin hurriedly followed him, saуing, "Unсle Сhi, let mе dо it!"
"Yоu just sit dоwn," Chеng Сhi rерliеd with a smilе as he pоurеd Zhongling sрring water into thе iron kettlе. "If I don't listen tо hеr аnd brеw а роt of teа fоr yоu, mу mоther will surеly find sоmе way tо mаke things diffiсult for me. It's bettеr if you don't intеrfеrе."
Zhou Shаojin had no сhоiсe but tо sit dоwn bеsidе Оld Мadаm Guо.
Chеng Chi's tеa brewing wаs differеnt frоm Zhоu Shaоjin's—nоt оnlу was it neat, еfficient, and elegаnt, but it also cаrried an indеscribаblе agilitу and deftness.
For a moment, Zhou Shaojin was completely captivated. If Cheng Chi hadn't gestured for her to taste the tea, she would have continued staring at his hands.
Fortunately, the tea she brewed wasn't much different from Uncle Chi's.
Zhou Shaojin let out a long sigh of relief.
Old Madam Guo, however, deliberately nitpicked, saying, "Shaojin's tea is still better. Your tea is too strong."
Cheng Chi laughed heartily, his bright eyes twinkling like stars in the night sky.
But for some reason, Zhou Shaojin felt his laughter was somewhat exaggerated, as if he were hiding something.
Could it be that he wasn't happy staying at Lord Shen's residence?
As Zhou Shaojin pondered this, Biyu entered and reported, "Old Madam, Madam Song requests an audience."
Cheng Chi stood up to take his leave.
Old Madam Guo gently asked him, "Are you still staying at the Shen residence tonight?"
Cheng Chi shook his head and said, "Old Mr. Song will remain here. The Seventh Master of the Wei branch has passed away, and the Wei branch no longer has anyone to manage its business. They might recall the eldest master who oversees the banknotes, which could affect the business at Yutai. I need to hurry back to Jinling."
Though he spoke of grave matters, Old Madam Guo showed no concern. She smiled and reminded her son, "Then come over for dinner tonight? I had someone prepare marinated goose feet—they should be ready to eat."
Cheng Chi smiled and agreed before leaving the cabin.
Zhou Shaojin asked Old Madam Guo in a low, worried voice, "Will Yutai be alright?"
"What could possibly happen?" Old Madam Guo replied with a smile. "It's just a business. At worst, we'll liquidate it and stop operating. That way, your Uncle Chi can spend a couple of years with me properly and do things he enjoys."
Zhou Shaojin hadn't expected Old Madam Guo to be so open-minded. She couldn't help but say, "But what if Uncle Chi ends up like Old Mr. Song?"
"That wouldn't be a problem either," Old Madam Guo said with a smile. "At the very least, he holds the title of a Jinshi. He'll always be able to make a living." She sighed and spoke to her earnestly, "Shaojin, when you reach my age, your body grows old, food loses its flavor, and no clothes can compare to those worn by seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girls. These things no longer hold any appeal for us. If there's anything we can't let go of, it's our children. We hope they are safe and healthy, and we hope they live well and happily. But the hardest thing in this world is the word 'happiness.' When a colleague gets promoted and I don't, I'm unhappy. When a friend's son passes the imperial examination while my son is still burning the midnight oil to become a Juren, I'm unhappy. When others move into a bigger courtyard today while I, with empty pockets, can only live in the same old house I've inhabited for twenty years, I'm unhappy..."
Old Madam Guo's words were absolutely right.
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly.Old Madam Guo smiled and said, "If your Uncle Chi is like Old Mr. Song—not seeking promotions or wealth, nor a virtuous wife or filial sons, feeling content as long as he can repair rivers and build embankments—why should I stop him? I am his mother, and I will die before him. I can manage him for a time, but can I manage him for a lifetime? Why make him unhappy his whole life just because of me?"
"Madam, you are truly wonderful!" Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but exclaim, her gaze full of admiration for Old Madam Guo.
Both Cheng Jing and Cheng Wei enjoyed helping others, and Uncle Chi treated people very well too. They must have been influenced by Old Madam Guo.
Why didn't Cheng Xu resemble his father's or grandfather's generation?
Hopefully, after going to the capital, he could learn some principles of conduct and dealing with people from Uncle Cheng Jing.
Zhou Shaojin shook her head inwardly.
Madam Song, holding Song Sen's hand, followed a young maid into the room.
She had come to bid farewell to Old Madam Guo and Zhou Shaojin.
"Father-in-law says he and Lord Shen still have matters to attend to. We will stay in Zhenjiang for half a month," she said apologetically, "and we've borrowed a residence from Lord Shen's relatives, so we won't be heading north for now."
This Old Mr. Song was truly unpredictable, acting on whims.
Old Madam Guo sympathetically said, "We will set off back to Jinling in a couple of days. It only takes a day and a night by boat from Zhenjiang to Jinling. Why don't you come with me to Jinling City as a guest for a few days?"
Madam Song was extremely tempted, unable to sit still, and stood up to go discuss it with Old Mr. Song.
Old Madam Guo laughed, "Don't rush, don't rush. Let me write you an invitation first. Since you're here, sit down and properly savor the tea our Er Ya brewed. The water is drawn from the Zhongling Spring in the river beside Golden Mountain!"
"Oh, is that really true?" Madam Song exclaimed in amazement. "When I accompanied you to visit Golden Mountain Temple last time, the temple's receptionist mentioned it, but I thought they were just boasting. I never expected I'd see it with my own eyes." As she spoke, she walked over to look at the water in the small pot. "It does seem clearer than other water."
Old Madam Guo smiled and asked Zhou Shaojin to brew another pot of tea.
After drinking it, Madam Song praised it profusely, though she couldn't articulate exactly what was good about it. No one knew if she truly appreciated it. Still, at least she would have something to boast about when she returned to the capital.
As for Song Sen, young as he was, he said, "Sister Zhou's tea tastes light and fragrant, clearer than the pre-Qingming Longjing tea Grandfather brewed the other day."
To discern the character "clear" already showed a refined palate.
Both Old Madam Guo and Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but look at this child with newfound respect.
After drinking tea and chatting with Old Madam Guo for a while, Madam Song took her leave with Song Sen.
Old Madam Guo asked Zhou Shaojin to check on the evening meal in the kitchen: "Your Uncle Chi doesn't eat fish, so tell them not to serve any fish."
Zhou Shaojin smiled and went to the kitchen.
Nanny Lu said, "Shouldn't we tell Second Cousin about the Liao family matter?"
"What's there to say about that?" Old Madam Guo didn't even bat an eyelid. "Madam Fang merely wants the Cheng family to give their elder master some guidance on examination essays when he takes the spring exams. Even if I don't agree, if she pleads with Madam Yuan, Madam Yuan will agree. I'm just going with the flow."
But how could your words compare to Madam Yuan's?These thoughts Nanny Lu could only keep buried in her heart. She became even more respectful toward Zhou Shaojin. When Nanny Zhong came to request an audience with Zhou Shaojin the next day, without waiting for Old Madam Guo’s instructions, she ordered a young maid to go and announce it to Zhou Shaojin.
Seeing this, Nanny Zhong thought for a moment and still handed over the prepared pouch to Nanny Lu, smiling as she said, “Our Madam originally didn’t know that the Zhou family’s Second Miss was also on the boat. Now that we’ve encountered her, it’s only proper to pay a special visit.” As she spoke, she pointed to the food box carried by the maid behind her, “See, Madam had the kitchen prepare some snacks and asked me to bring them over.”
Her words were reasonable, and her actions were thoughtful and thorough.
Nanny Lu smiled and exchanged pleasantries with her until Chunwan, Zhou Shaojin’s maid, came out with a smile to greet them. Only then did she leave.
For her sister’s sake, Zhou Shaojin would not slight this Nanny Zhong.
She served Nanny Zhong Mingqian Longjing tea.
Nanny Zhong was quite surprised and repeatedly praised the tea.
Chunwan, however, deliberately intended to support Zhou Chujin and humble this nanny’s arrogance. She smiled and said, “Yesterday, our Second Miss brewed tea for Old Madam and Fourth Master, and both praised it endlessly. Our Second Miss thought that since Nanny is a respected person in Madam Liao’s household, she originally wanted to invite you to taste it as well. Unfortunately, Madam Song came over to borrow embroidery patterns and took away a large portion. Later, after dinner at Old Madam’s place, when Old Madam and Fourth Master were playing chess, our Second Miss brewed tea again and finished what was left…” Her face was full of regret.
But Nanny Zhong knew this was merely polite talk; the other party was using this matter to reprimand her!
Looking at Zhou Shaojin’s calm expression, she felt that this Second Miss Zhou was not as soft and harmless as she appeared on the surface. She was likely not a simple person either, which made it quite difficult for Nanny Zhong to clearly state her purpose.
Zhou Shaojin’s heart pounded wildly.
The Liao family’s collateral branch had surpassed the main branch, yet they stubbornly refused to separate. In her previous life, although her sister only shared good news and hid her troubles from her, if she was determined to find out, how could her sister keep it from her?
In her previous life, her brother-in-law and sister went through many hardships before they truly understood and supported each other.
If Madam Fang could keep her promise and let her sister live directly in the capital with her brother-in-law after marriage, how much suffering would her sister be spared! Moreover, her sister and brother-in-law were deeply connected in their previous life. If they could receive the blessings of their elders in this life, wouldn’t that be even more perfect?
Before Nanny Zhong finished speaking, Zhou Shaojin had already decided to plead with Old Madam Guo on behalf of her brother-in-law, Liao Shaotang.
In her previous life, her brother-in-law had done so much for her, yet she had never repaid him. If she could do something for him in this life, even if it meant going through fire and water, she would find a way to accomplish it.
But she also knew that her sister’s mother-in-law, Madam Fang, was a formidable person. If she agreed too easily, Madam Fang might think she was too accommodating.
She waited for Nanny Zhong to finish speaking, then imitated Old Madam Guo’s manner, holding the teacup and gently brushing the floating leaves on the surface with the lid for a long time. She took a small sip, set down the teacup, dabbed the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, and finally said unhurriedly, “I understand what you’ve said, Nanny, but this matter is of great importance and not something a young girl like me can decide alone. I’ll have to wait until I return and consult my sister and my father before giving Madam a reply. Is that acceptable?”Nanny Zhong watched Zhou Shaojin's manner of drinking tea and felt increasingly that she was no ordinary young girl. Moreover, Zhou Shaojin's words made her sense that this matter was not something Shaojin couldn't accomplish, but rather depended on whether her family's intentions aligned before deciding whether to proceed. Combined with Nanny Lu's earlier actions, her heart sank, and she felt a sense of trepidation when facing Zhou Shaojin.
She lowered her gaze respectfully, just as she would before Madam Fang, and said softly, "This servant is merely a messenger—how could I possibly accept such words from the young lady! I will relay what you said exactly to our Madam."
Zhou Shaojin felt quite pleased.
In her previous life, she had often been subjected to Nanny Zhong's icy stares.
Now, she remained even more composed and carefree, instructing Chunwan to see the guest out.
※
Sisters, here is today's update.
Tomorrow's additional update will still be around five in the evening.
o(n_n)o~
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to...)
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