Оld Мadam Guo rерrimanded Сheng Jing and Маdаm Yuаn, sо hоw could Nаnny Lu dare to speаk uр?
Prеtending nоt tо hаvе heаrd, shе smilеd аnd аsked, “Тhen will tonight’s New Yеаr’s Evе dinner still be servеd in the main rоom?”
Aссоrding tо thе Сhеng family’s сustоm, on Littlе Nеw Yеar’s Еve, еаch housеhоld would hаve their reuniоn dinner sepаrаtеly, whilе on New Yeаr’s Еvе, evеrуоnе wоuld gаther аt thе Listening Rаin Pаvilion for thе reuniоn mеаl. Thе “Nеw Yеаr’s Eve dinner” Nаnny Lu mentioned refеrred to the Littlе New Yeаr’s Evе dinnеr.
Hоwever, Old Madam Guo did not let go of the topic and said, “Here, only Si Lang and I are celebrating the New Year, so it doesn’t matter where we have it. But as for Madam Yuan’s side, send someone to tell her that since there are many affairs in the capital and the master is counting on her to help manage them, she might as well stay in the capital. As for the New Year gifts for each family, we’ll trouble her to take care of them and send them all together. We’ll only handle the old relatives in Jinling City.”
Nanny Lu respectfully agreed and waited for Old Madam Guo to continue, but unexpectedly, Old Madam Guo picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said, “I heard that Madam Zhou from the Zhou family will be coming from Baoding after spring? Go and find out when she’ll arrive. We’ll have to invite Madam Zhou over for a simple meal then.”
Madam Zhou?
Nanny Lu thought for a moment before realizing that the person Old Madam Guo was referring to was Zhou Shaojin’s stepmother, Madam Li.
This was truly a rare honor!
Even when Madam Hong from the second branch had relatives visiting, Old Madam Guo had never extended such hospitality.
She couldn’t help but perk up and replied with a smile, “Yes.”
Old Madam Guo set down her teacup and said, “Then you may go and attend to your duties. There’s no need to report to me unless something important comes up. It’s always the same few matters anyway.”
Nanny Lu had no choice but to withdraw.
Delivering the message to Madam Yuan was easy enough, but Old Madam Guo hadn’t mentioned a single word about the funds for the New Year gifts.
Would they come from the family’s public funds, or would Madam Yuan be put in a difficult position and have to find a way herself? If she misunderstood the intention, she would displease both sides.
Truly, when immortals fight, it’s the little ghosts who suffer!
She was so worried she felt her hair turning white.
Meanwhile, Zhou Shaojin was happily helping Old Madam Guan tidy up the rooms—Cheng Yi would be returning tomorrow.
After studying for some time under the He family’s old master, according to Old Madam Guan, he had “become much more sensible.”
Zhou Shaojin was skeptical.
In her previous life, even when the fourth branch faced such hardships, Cheng Yi remained quite optimistic. In this life, with nothing having happened yet, it was unlikely he had truly “become sensible.”
Still, she was glad Cheng Gao could return.
The household would surely become livelier.
Si’er came to ask Old Madam Guan for instructions: “Which curtain should we hang—this colorful brocade one or that plain blue cotton one?”
Old Madam Guan smiled and said, “You’ll have to ask Shaojin. Young people have different tastes from us old folks. Otherwise, when Yi Ge’er returns, he might complain in private.”
Zhou Shaojin teased the old lady, saying, “I think you’re just trying to shift the responsibility onto me. If Cousin Yi isn’t satisfied with how the room is decorated, you can just push me out and say I helped with the arrangements.”
“Exactly,” Old Madam Guan chuckled. “You’d better be careful, or Yi Ge’er might end up grumbling about you.”
Zhou Shaojin smiled and instructed Si’er, “Hang the colorful brocade curtain. It’s the New Year, after all—it’ll be more festive.”
Si’er smiled and withdrew.A little maid servant ran in and reported with a smile, "Old Madam, Second Cousin, the Liao family from Zhenjiang has come to deliver New Year's gifts. Their chief steward is also in the party. They say they wish to finalize Eldest Cousin's wedding date before the New Year. The accompanying nannies have already entered the main courtyard and are paying respects to the old madams, madams, and ladies of each household!"
Old Madam Guan calculated the days and said, "They've come quite early today. We haven't even had the Laba porridge yet!" Then she said to Zhou Shaojin, "Go back and change your clothes first. Later, you can also meet the Liao family's nannies and see if they have anything else to say."
Old Madam Guan had sent people to re-check the horoscopes for the several dates proposed by the Liao family, and it was said they were all auspicious. She wrote to Zhou Zhen about this result. Zhou Zhen replied that everything was to be decided by Old Madam Guan. So, Old Madam Guan chose the date of the ninth day of the third month.
In Zhou Shaojin's memory, Old Madam Guan had also chosen this date in her previous life.
It was said they feared it would be too close to the autumn imperial examinations, worrying that Liao Shaotang would be distracted by the newlywed bliss.
But for some reason, the Liao family had favored the date of the eighteenth day of the fifth month.
In the end, after much discussion, both families compromised and set Zhou Shaojin's wedding date for the twenty-fourth day of the fourth month.
Later, when Liao Shaotang failed the imperial examinations, the Liao family felt he should have taken the exams before getting married. Old Madam Guan did not back down, saying, "I originally said we should set it for the ninth day of the third month. That date was personally chosen by a Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain that our Cheng family consulted. It was you who insisted on setting the wedding for the twenty-fourth day of the fourth month. What do you mean by saying such things now?" This silenced the Liao family.
At the time, she thought it was normal, but now it seemed the Liao family lacked sincerity.
She wondered if in this life, the Liao family would still choose the eighteenth day of the fifth month.
Zhou Shaojin absentmindedly changed into a brand-new peach-red cotton robe with green bud trim and wore the southern pearl hairpin that Cheng Chi had given her last time before going to Old Madam Guan's room.
Old Madam Guan had just finished washing up and was having Ni'er insert hairpins for her.
Wang Mama, who was serving nearby, hurriedly smiled and invited Zhou Shaojin to sit down. Her smile was very warm and affectionate, and she looked at her as if she were her own granddaughter.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
Wang Mama was known for her uprightness, which also made her somewhat rigid. Seeing her express her emotions so openly was a first for Zhou Shaojin.
Could it be because Cousin Yi was about to return?
Zhou Shaojin wondered.
Not long after, the Liao family's matrons arrived.
Two matrons came, one of them was Nanny Zhong, and the other was a woman about the same age as Nanny Zhong. She looked timid and honest, hardly daring to speak. Anyone could see that Nanny Zhong was the one in charge of socializing with the Cheng family.
The two stepped forward to pay their respects to Old Madam Guan and Zhou Shaojin, exchanged greetings about their families' elders, and then Nanny Zhong sent the other matron away: "...Go and bring in the box of donkey-hide gelatin that the First Madam specifically instructed us to bring for Old Madam."
The matron murmured "Yes" and withdrew.
Nanny Zhong then smiled apologetically and said, "There was no other way. Our household has been extremely busy these days preparing for the young master's wedding, and it happens to be the New Year season, so I had to bring her along. If there is any discourtesy, please forgive us, Old Madam and Second Young Lady!"
With elders present, Zhou Shaojin never spoke.Old Madam Guan could tell that Nanny Zhong had come with a purpose. After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two tacitly moved on to the main topic.
“Our Madam has said that since the old lady has consulted the almanac and determined the ninth day of the third lunar month to be the most auspicious, we shall set the wedding date for that day. Later, our chief steward will discuss the final arrangements with the matchmaker accordingly.”
Old Madam Guan was very pleased.
Zhou Shaojin, however, was somewhat surprised.
It seemed that in her past life, there had been events she was unaware of.
She listened silently as Nanny Zhong glanced at her and mentioned that Madam Fang had used her own dowry to purchase a two-courtyard house in the capital for Liao Shaotang, adding, “Our Madam has said that this is solely for the young master. After her passing, the dowry will be divided equally, and the young master will receive his share. Moreover, the house in the capital is fully furnished, complete with furniture, decorations, maids, and a coachman. As soon as the young master marries, he can take his family to the capital to continue his studies.”
The Liao family of Zhenjiang was a large clan. In terms of population, all five branches of the Cheng family in Nine Prosperities Lane combined were fewer than a single branch of the Liao family. Being able to live separately with her husband after marriage, free from trivial disturbances, would surely allow their marital bond to deepen rapidly.
Old Madam Guan was overjoyed.
Zhou Shaojin understood perfectly.
This must be the condition Madam Fang had proposed.
As long as she could ensure her brother-in-law received guidance from either Cheng Jing or Cheng Wei, her sister would gain the protection of her mother-in-law, Madam Fang.
Zhou Shaojin nodded at her with a smile.
Sensing her cue, Nanny Zhong said no more on the matter and instead elaborated on the preparations for Zhou Shaojin’s wedding—how many guests the Liao family planned to invite, how many banquet tables would be set, and how much monthly allowance Liao Shaotang would receive after marriage.
Old Madam Guan grew increasingly delighted as she listened. When Nanny Zhong finally rose to take her leave, Old Madam Guan even stood up to see her off.
Nanny Zhong repeatedly expressed her humility.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and volunteered to escort Nanny Zhong out on Old Madam Guan’s behalf.
Seeing no one else around, Nanny Zhong quickly smiled and said, “Second Young Miss, if there is anything you are dissatisfied with, please do not hesitate to say so. I will convey your words to our Madam.”
Zhou Shaojin relayed her intentions.
Of course, she did not mention that it was her sister’s idea, only stating that it was the result of discussions with her father.
Nanny Zhong was somewhat disappointed but found Zhou Shaojin’s reasoning sound.
Some favors diminish with use.
She thanked her with a smile and, accompanied by Nanny Wang, went to the fifth branch to pay respects to Madam Wen.
Zhou Shaojin had thought her sister’s wedding date would face twists and turns as it had in her past life.
Unexpectedly, after the Laba Festival, the Liao family formally announced that Zhou Shaojin and Liao Shaotang’s wedding would be held on the ninth day of the third lunar month.
At first, Zhou Shaojin felt a wave of joy, but then it occurred to her that her brother-in-law would fail the imperial examinations the following autumn, sending a chill down her spine.
If her brother-in-law failed to pass the provincial exams as he had in her past life, wouldn’t the Liao family blame her sister? Moreover, her grandmother would have no excuse to defend her.
Should she suggest to the Liao family that the wedding be postponed until the fifth month?
But that was also the Cheng family’s idea. If the Liao family wanted to make things difficult for her sister, there would be nothing they could do!
Lost in thought, Zhou Shaojin found herself at Cold Green Mountain House.
Biyu and the others were busy dusting and quickly invited Zhou Shaojin inside, saying, “Be careful not to let the dust settle on you.”
Zhou Shaojin forced a faint smile.Qing Feng walked in from outside, his face stern as he said, "Second Cousin, are you here to see Fourth Master? He's inside doing the accounts right now! Fourth Master said no one is allowed to disturb him while he's calculating—even Uncle Huaishan is waiting outside to attend to him!"
"Oh!" Zhou Shaojin responded.
She hadn't intended to look for Uncle Chi anyway.
This kind of matter was something she couldn't clearly explain to Uncle Chi, and there was a good chance he'd see through her in no time. Going to talk to him about it would just be asking for trouble.
Besides, she really shouldn't disturb Uncle Chi while he was doing the accounts. Last time, she hadn't known and had accidentally barged in...
Zhou Shaojin stood in the courtyard of Cold Green Mountain House for a while, watching Biyu and the others sweep away the dust, then took her leave.
Biyu wondered, "What did Second Cousin come here for?"
Cheng Chi had moved to live in Cold Green Mountain House, but no additional staff had been added. Everyone was busy running around, and no one paid much attention to Biyu's words.
※
Sisters, an extra chapter for Zixiao12's spirit beast egg!
o(n_n)o~
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to...)
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