Сhеng Chi couldn't hеlр but rub his forehеad.
Shouldn't hе hаvе tаkеn thе opрortunity to scold that littlе girl аnd makе her bеhаvе рroреrlу in thе futurе? Hоw did he end up fоllоwing her lеad and telling hеr how to givе rewards instеаd?
Zhоu Shаоjin, hоwеver, fled аs if еscарing а cаlamitу, rushing strаight to the sidе rоom whеre Zhou Chujin wаs.
Uncle Chi is trulу tеrrifуing when hе loses his temреr!
Nо wondеr Jiуing аnd thе оthеrs arе аll afrаid of him—it turns оut she had nеver sееn Unсle Сhi аngrу bеfore.
If Unclе Chi gets angry agаin in the future, she’d bеtter staу far аwаy frоm him.
Zhou Shaojin patted her chest, steadied her breathing, and then entered the side room with a smile. She told her sister about the people from Yutai Hangzhou Branch sending her flowers and added, "Uncle Chi knows about it too, and he told me to reward Madam Wang like an ordinary servant."
Zhou Chujin said, "Isn’t that a bit inappropriate? Shouldn’t we give double the reward?"
"What’s inappropriate about it!" Zhou Shaojin replied dismissively. "That’s what Uncle Chi said. Anyway, they’re only sending me flowers to curry favor with Uncle Chi. My attitude doesn’t matter to them at all. I’ll just do as Uncle Chi says."
She didn’t dare tell her sister about Cheng Chi’s anger, fearing her sister would scold her and forbid her from visiting Uncle Chi again.
Zhou Chujin had never encountered such a situation before and was momentarily unsure. She asked, "Do you want me to accompany you to meet Madam Wang?"
After thinking for a moment, Zhou Shaojin said, "I’d better go alone! Madam Wang is mainly here to gauge Uncle Chi’s intentions. If she sees you, she might start scheming about you, and Uncle Chi might misunderstand us as using his influence."
Just look at the newly planted osmanthus tree in the courtyard of the Hangzhou branch to see how shrewd these people are.
Zhou Chujin nodded.
Zhou Shaojin returned to Fragrant Garden Residence. She changed her clothes, redid her hair, and Nanny Lu personally accompanied Madam Wang over.
Madam Wang noticed that Zhou Shaojin’s jet-black hair was simply tied up in a bun. She wore a slightly worn rose-purple double-gold vest, with only a pair of southern pearl earrings the size of lotus seeds dangling from her ears. She appeared casual and elegant, yet dignified and luxurious—quite different from the refined restraint she displayed on the boat, as if she now seemed more at ease.
Perhaps it was because this was the place where she had grown up!
Madam Wang speculated inwardly, smiling as she curtsied to Zhou Shaojin.
A maid served tea and snacks.
Zhou Shaojin said politely, "Please convey my thanks to your branch’s manager on my behalf. The gift may be small, but the sentiment is great. This gift is far too precious. Just considering the thousands of miles it traveled, I am deeply grateful for the gesture."
If it weren’t to make you appreciate this gesture, why would they bother sending flowers all the way from Hangzhou? Wouldn’t it have been easier to just deliver the plants to her boat back then?
Madam Wang thought to herself, but her face was all smiles as she said, "Second Young Miss is too polite. We should have sent the flowers for you to take earlier, but Miao Wu cultivated another pot of 'Eighteen Scholars,' and we waited for it, which caused the delay. Fortunately, Master Miao Wu’s skills are superb. The flowers have already formed buds on the journey. To ensure this pot of 'Eighteen Scholars' blooms during the Spring Festival, our manager even invited Master Miao Wu’s top disciple to accompany and care for the flowers. Later, I’ll need to give a few instructions to the steward of your family’s flower nursery."
Another pot of 'Eighteen Scholars'!Zhou Shaojin inwardly marveled. She felt great admiration for the manager of the Hangzhou branch and smiled as she thanked Madam Wang, instructing a young maid to summon the head gardener.
Madam Wang seized the opportunity to say, "Our manager heard that the young master will be taking the imperial examinations next year and wondered if we should order a few more pots of 'Eighteen Scholars' from Master Miao Wu in advance. When visitors come to offer New Year greetings, seeing them would be considered an auspicious sight!"
This manager truly considered everything meticulously!
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "This matter must be discussed with Uncle Chi, as it is your idea after all."
Upon hearing this, Madam Wang was overjoyed.
All their efforts were aimed at leaving a favorable impression on Cheng Chi. They had decided to approach Zhou Shaojin as an entry point precisely because she was young and would likely seek advice from elders on such matters. This way, they could both gauge Cheng Chi's attitude—leaving room to advance or retreat—and find someone to speak well on their behalf.
Madam Wang thanked Zhou Shaojin repeatedly and then mentioned several other potted plants: "...Although the black chrysanthemums have passed their blooming season, we brought seedlings. By next spring, when they sprout, we can divide them into several pots to give as gifts. One pot of 'Great First Grade' and one pot of 'Six-Cornered Bright Red' are already budding. Considering the New Year is approaching, we also brought various narcissus and orchids. We guarantee the second young mistress’s room will be filled with vibrant blooms, looking absolutely beautiful." After speaking, she revealed a troubled expression.
She was waiting for me to respond, wasn’t she?
Zhou Shaojin pretended not to notice and smiled as she offered her tea: "This is our local Yuhua tea. Please taste it and see how you like it."
Madam Wang had no choice but to take a sip and praised it effusively.
Chunwan entered and reported, "Master Miao Wu’s chief disciple has explained everything to the head gardener. The head gardener is now personally directing the servants to move the flowers."
Zhou Shaojin nodded and said cheerfully to Chunwan, "You already know Madam Wang. I still have duties to attend to at the Listening Rain Pavilion. Since she rarely visits, why don’t you accompany Madam Wang around Jinling City? Just arrange for a carriage or sedan chair as needed."
Chunwan stepped forward with a smile, bowed to Madam Wang, and respectfully replied, "Yes."
Madam Wang grew anxious and, disregarding propriety, hurriedly said, "Second Young Mistress, since we are here, it would be improper not to pay our respects to the Old Madam. We also brought a few pots of narcissus and orchids specifically for her."
Zhou Shaojin chided gently, "Why didn’t you mention this earlier! Point out which pots are for the Old Madam, and I’ll have the servants separate them to be sent over later."
Madam Wang then asked, "What about the Old Madam’s side…"
Zhou Shaojin feigned surprise and said, "Didn’t you encounter Nanny Lu earlier? What? Haven’t you visited the Old Madam yet?"
"I heard that Grand Secretary Song’s wife is visiting the estate, so…" Madam Wang hesitated, leaving her words unfinished.
Zhou Shaojin pondered and said, "Matters concerning the Old Madam have always been decided by Nanny Lu. In that case, I cannot make a decision for you!"
Madam Wang looked at Zhou Shaojin with hopeful eyes.
Zhou Shaojin sighed inwardly.
Uncle Chi and Old Madam Guo’s attitudes were already quite clear. Not only did she lack the authority to change anything, but even if she did, she would not go against Uncle Chi and Old Madam Guo’s wishes.
She only asked which pots of flowers were intended for Old Madam Guo.
Madam Wang could not conceal her disappointment.
Bitao hurried in and whispered into Zhou Shaojin’s ear, "Miss Jia has arrived!"For Cheng Jia, Fragrant Garden Residence was like the gate to a vegetable garden—she could come and go as she pleased. When had she ever needed to send such a secretive announcement before?
Zhou Shaojin’s heart skipped a beat, though she showed no sign of it on her face. Smiling, she instructed Chunwan to “be a good hostess” and then went to the study with Bitao.
Cheng Jia was sitting alone in the study’s armchair, tears streaming down her face.
When she saw Zhou Shaojin enter, she immediately stood up and said indignantly, “Isn’t it ridiculous! No matter how down-and-out I, Cheng Jia, may be, I would never stoop to marrying a merchant. That cousin from the Li family, Li Jing, actually offered twenty thousand taels of silver as a betrothal gift, saying he wants to marry me… Am I only worth twenty thousand taels? He really underestimates our Cheng family of Nine Prosperities Lane! Does he think our Cheng family would sell their daughter?”
Yes!
Zhou Shaojin remained silent.
The Cheng family would indeed sell you for money!
She noticed that Bitao had tactfully and hastily retreated, even carefully closing the study door behind her. Zhou Shaojin personally poured a cup of tea and handed it to Cheng Jia.
The events of her past life were repeating themselves.
Only, in her past life, Li Jing had offered fifty thousand taels of silver, while in this life, it was only twenty thousand.
In her past life, Cheng Jia had no way out, but in this life, the Cheng family had not yet reached the point of abandoning her.
Li Jing had no chance of succeeding.
Zhou Shaojin asked her, “Are you angry because Li Jing offered twenty thousand taels to marry you, or are you angry because Li Jing wants to marry you?”
Cheng Jia was puzzled. “What’s the difference?”
“Of course there’s a difference!” Zhou Shaojin said calmly. “If you’re only angry about Li Jing offering twenty thousand taels as a betrothal gift, it means you don’t mind marrying Li Jing at all. You’re just angry that he doesn’t respect you enough and is trying to throw money at you. If you’re angry because Li Jing wants to marry you, then you probably mind his status and position, so you don’t want to marry him…”
Cheng Jia fell into deep thought.
Although Zhou Shaojin hoped Li Jing could protect Cheng Jia as he had in her past life, in that life, Cheng Jia had been forced to marry him. What she truly felt was what mattered most. So, in this life, Zhou Shaojin would not take the initiative to interfere in this matter.
“I… I don’t know either.” Cheng Jia, who was usually straightforward, was uncharacteristically hesitant. After thinking for a long time, she murmured, “Anyway, I don’t want to marry Li Jing.”
Zhou Shaojin smiled and asked again, “Is it because Li Jing is a merchant?”
“Not exactly,” Cheng Jia said. “If it weren’t for our family’s connections with the eldest and second branches, wouldn’t we also be looked down upon? If I really married Li Jing, I’d be marrying beneath my station—who in his family would dare to disrespect me? If I married into a scholarly family, the more dowry I brought, the more I might be looked down upon. In the end, they’d use my dowry and still scorn me for my lowly origins! Anyway, I don’t want to get married!”
Then it depended on whether Li Jing could win Cheng Jia over.
Zhou Shaojin pursed her lips into a smile and spent a long time persuading Cheng Jia: “…Twenty thousand taels of silver! Look across all of Jinling City—which girl has ever received a betrothal gift of twenty thousand taels? Your worth has definitely increased now! You should be content!”
Cheng Jia burst out laughing. “If you’re so envious, why don’t you marry him? If you keep saying things like that, I’ll get angry.”
Zhou Shaojin squinted her eyes, smiling, and finally managed to persuade Cheng Jia to leave.
However, news of Li Jing’s twenty-thousand-tael betrothal gift soon spread throughout Jinling City.Zhou Shaojin had previously been somewhat worried that this storm would intensify and harm Cheng Jia. Who would have thought that the heir of the Duke of Liangguo would actually remarry into the official Mei family—the husband’s family of the third daughter of the Sun family—the eldest daughter of the Liu family, who had borrowed two thousand taels of silver from the Sun family and refused to repay it, even taking the matter to court because they found the third daughter of the Sun family’s dowry insufficient.
The eyes of everyone in Jinling City fell to the ground.
For a time, the matter was discussed in every street and alley, and Li Jing’s twenty thousand taels of silver dissipated with the wind, quickly drowned out by the chatter of the crowd.
Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief.
Huang Yijun, following Old Mr. Song’s orders, came to fetch Madam Song: “…If we don’t set off for the capital soon, we won’t make it in time for the New Year.”
※
Sisters, an extra update for cadyss’s spirit beast egg.
o(n_n)o~
※(To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to)
!!
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