Zhou Shаоjin wаtсhеd helplesslу аs Cheng Сhi quietly lеft with Нuаishаn аnd thе others. Shе couldn't shout out loud, and tо mаke mаtters wоrsе, Оld Мadаm Guо wаs lеаding Mаdam Song and thе оthers in еxchanging grеetings. She triеd severаl timеs tо саtсh Оld Madаm Guо's eуе, but thе old lаdy didn't nоtiсe. Anхiоus and flustеred, she turned tо chase аftеr thеm but was stоpped bу Сhеng Jia, whо sаid sаdlу, "Yоu'rе finallу bаck! Yоu havе no ideа what I'vе bееn through thеsе раst few months while уou were awaу..."
Cheng Jia wаs the kind of girl whо would сhаtter еndlessly if peach blossoms were still in her vase when the pear trees bloomed. Although she seemed deeply upset, Zhou Shaojin wasn't overly concerned and replied dismissively, "Come to my room later, and we'll talk properly. Right now, I have something to do..." But when she turned back, Cheng Chi and the others were already nowhere to be seen.
Zhou Shaojin grew even more frantic, but Cheng Jia, still holding her hand, suddenly began weeping silently.
Cheng Jia was known to fly into rages, stomp around in anger, or sneer sarcastically, but she had never shed her pride and dignity to cry in public.
Zhou Shaojin was utterly shocked.
She quickly pulled Cheng Jia aside and whispered, "What happened?"
Cheng Jia wiped her tears, dabbed her reddened eyes with a handkerchief, and murmured, "It's nothing. I was just feeling emotional for a moment." Without waiting for Zhou Shaojin to respond, she turned and returned to Madam Jiang's side, assuming a gentle and obedient demeanor as she lightly supported her mother while the elders chatted cheerfully with Madam Song.
Madam Jiang glanced at her daughter with satisfaction and pushed Cheng Jia forward toward Madam Song. "This is our girl. The Cheng family's fifth branch only has four daughters, not even one per household. She's been a bit spoiled, but fortunately, she's obedient and hasn't been ruined by it. She's skilled in needlework and can read account books and contracts." Then she instructed Cheng Jia, "Go ahead and greet Madam Song properly."
Cheng Jia obediently stepped forward and bowed.
Madam Song took a pouch from the matron beside her, intending to give it as a gift.
Madam Jiang politely declined several times.
Cheng Jia simply stood there with her head bowed, appearing shy.
It was Old Madam Guo who finally smiled and said, "This isn't the place for conversation. Shall we go sit in the Listening to Rain Pavilion?"
Only then did everyone laugh and agree, "Yes," as they escorted Madam Song into the flower hall.
Zhou Shaojin was deeply astonished.
Cheng Jia's demeanor clearly showed she had given up hope.
What had happened while she was away from home?
Could it be that Cheng Jia had seen her as a lifeline, and she had carelessly pushed her away without a second thought...
Zhou Shaojin tugged at her sister's sleeve and whispered, "Has something happened to Cousin Jia?"
Zhou Chujin glanced around discreetly and replied softly, "Let's talk about it when we get back."
Zhou Shaojin nodded, enduring the socializing in the flower hall as if sitting on pins and needles. Finally, Old Madam Guo announced that Madam Song had been traveling by boat for days and must be tired, so the welcoming banquet would be postponed until tomorrow, allowing Madam Song to rest well tonight. The day after, they would take Madam Song around Jinling City.
With that, the various branches of the family dispersed.
Perhaps because Cheng Chi's abrupt departure left Zhou Shaojin feeling unsettled, even the joy of returning home felt significantly diminished.Returning to Jia Shu Hall, she did not, as she had imagined, joyfully open her trunks to distribute the gifts she had brought back from her travels. Instead, after Old Madam Guan and Madam Mian held her hands and asked a few questions about what she had seen and heard on the road, she appeared weary and felt exhausted.
Old Madam Guan and Madam Mian immediately allowed her to return to Fragrant Garden Residence to rest, saying, "We can talk more tomorrow. For today, get a good night's sleep."
Zhou Shaojin did not stand on ceremony and, taking her sister's arm, returned to Fragrant Garden Residence.
Even after several months apart, Snowball still remembered her.
Before she had even entered the gate, Snowball came barking and bounding toward her.
Zhou Shaojin picked up Snowball.
Zhou Chujin hurriedly said, "Put him down, put him down! He's just been running around on the ground."
The little maid in charge of Snowball said with grievance, "I was originally holding him and waiting inside, but he suddenly jumped out of my arms and ran outside desperately. I couldn't catch up..."
"It's fine, it's fine," Zhou Shaojin said, looking at this unfamiliar little maid and realizing that Shi Xiang must have already married. She couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. She handed Snowball to the little maid and asked, "What's your name?"
The little maid replied respectfully, "This servant is called Snow Peach. My parents both work on the Zhou family's estate. Steward Ma sent me here."
In other words, she was a hereditary servant of the Zhou family.
Zhou Shaojin smiled at her, instructed her to take good care of Snowball, and rewarded her with two silver ingots before entering the house with her sister.
Zhou Chujin had only asked the kitchen to prepare plain congee and a few side dishes for her, saying, "I've heard that traveling by boat for a long time can cause chest tightness and shortness of breath. Worried you might feel unwell, I specifically asked for these light dishes. Tomorrow, I'll have the kitchen prepare your favorites."
Zhou Shaojin nodded with a smile. While Chixiang was setting the table, she asked about Shi Xiang.
"Don't worry!" Zhou Chujin said with a laugh. "She wasn't treated unfairly. Besides the usual gifts from the household, you and I rewarded her, and Father, Grandmother, even Old Madam Guo all gave her gifts. On her wedding day, Madam Ma Fushan personally went to see her off. Her husband's family was already a bit intimidated then, so they certainly won't mistreat her in the future. She also said that after you returned, she would bring her husband to kowtow to you."
In her previous life, after Shi Xiang married, she never returned.
"That's good," Zhou Shaojin felt relieved and had dinner with her sister.
Perhaps because it was the familiar taste of home, she found even plain congee more delicious than anything she had eaten outside. Zhou Chujin only ate half a bowl of congee, spending the rest of the time watching her sister eat, occasionally helping her pick up dishes, which warmed Zhou Shaojin's heart.
After dinner, the sisters went to the inner room to drink tea.
Leaning against the large pillow on the daybed, Zhou Shaojin asked about Cheng Jia.Zhou Chujin sighed and said, "Not long after you left, the Duke of Liang and his heir returned from the capital. The heir personally entrusted Minister Shen Qingyun to come and propose marriage. Although Aunt Lu didn’t agree, she spread the news to raise Cousin Jia’s value. You might not know this, but when we went to Pukou recently to deliver the betrothal gifts for Cousin Gao, Mrs. He—Cousin Gao’s mother-in-law—had intended to match Cousin Jia with her own nephew. Once this news got out, Mrs. He was furious, saying that the third branch, having been in business for so long, had adopted the ways of merchant families. No wonder they couldn’t produce scholars beyond the provincial level for generations—it seems they only seek shortcuts in everything, even trading their reputation for gain. Marrying into such a family would be worse than marrying an illiterate farmer, who at least is honest and upright, unlike Aunt Lu, who shamelessly steps on others to climb higher without even realizing her own faults... In short, the words were extremely harsh! Many prominent families in Jinling have heard about it. Not only has no one proposed to Cousin Jia, but she hasn’t even received invitations to several flower-viewing parties and crab-tasting gatherings held in the mansions. Even some major merchants in Jiangnan sent acquaintances to sound out Uncle Lu, hoping to marry Cousin Jia as their eldest son’s wife. This infuriated Uncle Lu so much that he berated the messenger and even reprimanded Aunt Lu harshly in front of the servants, threatening to send her to the family temple for some time to reflect. If it weren’t for Cousin Jia pleading and Old Madam Li interceding on Aunt Lu’s behalf, you’d have to visit the family temple to see Aunt Lu when you returned."
Zhou Shaojin had guessed something like this might happen, but she hadn’t expected the He family’s reaction to be so intense, escalating to this extent.
However, judging by Madam Jiang’s demeanor this year, she didn’t seem to have been scolded.
She worriedly said, "Then wouldn’t the third branch resent our branch as well? And the Duke of Liang’s household likely won’t let this go easily!"
"Exactly," Zhou Chujin said bitterly. "We never expected Mrs. He to be so angry and speak so bluntly without any regard for face. Her temperament is too strong! I wonder if Cousin Gao’s wife will take after her mother."
That might not be a bad thing!
In her past life, Cousin Gao deeply respected his mother-in-law because, after the fourth branch fell into decline, Mrs. He not only didn’t look down on him but even urged her daughter to use her private savings to support the household, saying, "With people, there is wealth. Without people, what use is all the money in the world?" She did everything she could to help the fourth branch.
Zhou Shaojin quickly asked, "Does Grandmother think the same about Cousin Gao’s wife?"
"Although she hasn’t said it, I think she must be somewhat concerned," Zhou Chujin replied.
In her past life, this incident hadn’t occurred, and He Fengping’s marriage had proceeded smoothly without any issues.
She couldn’t let He Fengping leave a bad impression on Grandmother.
Zhou Shaojin said, "I’ll speak to Grandmother about it tomorrow when I go to pay my respects."
"That’s a good idea," Zhou Chujin agreed. "Harmony in the family leads to prosperity in all things. We mustn’t let the third branch’s affairs disrupt the peace in our own branch."
Zhou Shaojin then said, "So, Cousin Jia’s marriage has now become a difficult matter, hasn’t it?""Not just a difficult matter," Zhou Chujin said, "but it has become a laughingstock. Who in Jinling City isn't saying that Aunt Lu wants to sell her daughter?"
If it were herself, she would probably be even more sorrowful than Cheng Jia.
Zhou Shaojin said somewhat guiltily, "If I had known it would be like this, I should have listened to what Cousin Jia wanted to tell me at the time!"
"Now that you're back," Zhou Chujin advised her, "you can go to Ruyi Pavilion anytime, there's no rush. The third branch now believes that Cousin Jia's situation is entirely caused by Mrs. He..."
Was her sister afraid she would be bullied by the third branch?
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "I brought back many good things for you all. I can use the excuse of delivering gifts to her and have the maids pass a message—they might dislike me going over to their third branch, but surely it's fine if she comes here, right?" At this point, she remembered the pair of red coral hairpins and hair ornaments. She jumped off the daybed and said to Zhou Chujin, "Wait a moment!" Then she personally went to open the chest, took out all the red coral jewelry, and laid it out on the daybed, smiling as she asked her sister, "Aren't they beautiful? These are for you, Grandmother, and Aunt. You pick one, and I'll take the rest to Grandmother and Aunt."
※
Sisters, today's update.
Thank you to Tianwaixianxian, Cadyss, Zixiao12, and Yayadianna for the spirit beast eggs. I haven't been online these past few days and only discovered today that there are more spirit beast eggs. It seems I'll have to continue adding extra updates, and I also ask for pink votes...
o(n_n)o~
PS: Tomorrow's extra update and regular update will still be at the usual time.
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to...)
!!
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