Uроn hеaring this, Mаdаm Ма Fushаn felt a sudden сhill in hеr heart.
Рreviouslу, shе hаd аlwауs sought instructiоns from the eldest young lаdу for аny mаttеr, whilе thе seсоnd уоung lаdy nеver spokе uр. Now thаt the eldest уoung ladу was abоut tо bе mаrriеd, аnd thе mistress was busу еntertаining sеvеral оld madаms, shе had cоmе to аsk the secоnd young ladу fоr guidаncе. To her surрrisе, thе seсоnd уоung lаdу handlеd mаtters sо deсisively аnd effiсiеntlу. She hаd undеrеstimаted the seсond young lady in thе past.
Immediаtely, Мadаm Мa Fushаn set aside any trace of negligence and said, "I will follow your instructions right away."
Zhou Shaojin nodded.
A stewardess came over and said, "Second Young Lady, earlier the mistress mentioned that the Cheng family might bring seven or eight mamas and over a dozen maidservants. Mama Li arranged for them to stay at the Eternal Fragrance Pavilion, but unexpectedly, today the Cheng family brought over a dozen mamas and more than twenty maidservants. There isn’t enough space..."
Zhou Shaojin had previously sent someone to inquire and was told that aside from Old Madam Guan and Old Madam Guo, none of the other elders from Nine Prosperities Lane would be coming. Unexpectedly, Old Madam Tang and Old Madam Li had also arrived at the last moment, causing the number of accompanying servants to increase significantly. The originally arranged space for hosting their midday meal was now insufficient.
She said, "Then separate the mamas and maidservants. The mamas can still be accommodated at the Eternal Fragrance Pavilion, while the maidservants can be arranged in the Water Pavilion next to it. Fortunately, it’s spring, with flowers in full bloom, and the peach blossoms by the Water Pavilion are just opening. Having a meal there would be quite delightful."
The stewardess sighed in relief, her face breaking into a joyful smile. "Second Young Lady is truly thoughtful. I’ll go right away and have tables set up in the Water Pavilion."
Zhou Shaojin also breathed a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, her elder sister had instructed the household mamas to prepare the banquet tables and chairs in advance. Otherwise, even if they had moved to the Water Pavilion, there would have been no tables or chairs. If the servants from a prestigious family like Nine Prosperities Lane had seen such a situation, they would surely have laughed at the Zhou family’s decline.
But before she could turn away, another young maidservant hurried over and said, "Second Young Lady, Nanny Ma requests your presence in the front hall."
Most likely, her dear uncle was causing trouble again.
Zhou Shaojin felt utterly exhausted, but she had no choice but to go and see.
She whispered a few instructions to Chunwan and followed the young maidservant to the front hall.
In the flower hall, Old Madam Guo had been silently watching Zhou Shaojin for some time.
After a while, Old Madam Guan noticed Old Madam Guo’s unusual behavior.
She smiled and asked, "What are you looking at?"
Old Madam Guo sighed and said, "You are truly blessed! Shaojin is gentle, capable, and diligent. Your good days are still ahead. Unlike me—I raised three granddaughters, but now that I’m old, none of them are by my side."
Old Madam Guan quickly replied with a smile, "This truly reflects the saying, ‘What belongs to others always seems better.’ You envy me for enjoying the company of my grandchildren, while I admire how many of your family members serve as officials outside, upholding the family’s reputation. It seems nothing in this world is ever perfect."
"Exactly!" Old Madam Guo chuckled softly, noticing Old Madam Tang and Old Madam Li putting on airs in front of Madam Li. She lowered her voice and said, "When is Shaojin leaving for Baoding? After all, this child served me once. Before she leaves, I must give her something valuable as a keepsake."Old Madam Guan swiftly glanced around, and seeing no one paying attention, lowered her voice. "I want her to continue living in Nine Prosperities Lane as before. Now that Chujin is married, it will soon be Gao Ge'er's turn to take a wife. By then, Madam He will have more free time and can teach Shaojin how to manage household affairs."
Old Madam Guo nodded but said nothing, a flicker of disapproval crossing her face. It was clear she disagreed with Old Madam Guan's plan but did not wish to meddle.
Old Madam Guan had always admired Old Madam Guo's insight. Seeing her expression, her heart skipped a beat. She carefully reconsidered her own words but could not figure out what was wrong. She couldn't help but ask, "What? Do you think it's inappropriate?"
Old Madam Guo smiled and said, "It could work! After all, she is to marry into your family, so it's good for her to adapt early." Her tone was rather forced.
Old Madam Guan grew even more uneasy and chided, "We've been sisters-in-law for so many years. Why can't you speak plainly?" She insisted on getting to the bottom of it.
Only then did Old Madam Guo explain, "I think that if Madam Mian teaches Shaojin household affairs, it might be fine if Shaojin marries out. But if she stays in your family, I fear the new daughter-in-law might feel hurt when she finds out. Moreover, Yi Ge'er and Shaojin grew up together. Those who know the situation will say it's because Shaojin was raised in the Cheng family since childhood, but those who don't might think Shaojin is a child bride... That would harm Shaojin's reputation!"
Old Madam Guan broke out in a cold sweat.
Sometimes, conflicts between sisters-in-law arise from the smallest of matters.
A rope is strongest when twisted together. She had hoped that the two Cheng Gao brothers and their wives could support each other, so that one day the fourth branch could have a say in Nine Prosperities Lane. If He Fengping and Zhou Shaojin were to develop a rift because of this, wouldn't she be making things worse?
But if Zhou Shaojin were entrusted to Madam Li for upbringing... if anything went wrong, they would still have to clean up the mess.
Most importantly, Zhou Shaojin had grown up under her watch—obedient and gentle, and at an age prone to overthinking. If she stayed too long in Baoding Prefecture, with Madam Li whispering in her ear, who knew if she might grow distant from the Cheng family?
That would be a loss outweighing the gain.
Old Madam Guan sincerely asked Old Madam Guo, "Then what do you think is the best way to handle this?"
"Each situation is different," Old Madam Guo said with a smile. "Who can make such a decision for your family?"
Old Madam Guan remained deeply troubled. Even after leaving Flat Bridge Street and returning to Jia Shu Hall in Nine Prosperities Lane, she continued to ponder the matter.
When Madam Mian came in to attend to her mother-in-law's rest, Old Madam Guan took her daughter-in-law's hand and relayed Old Madam Guo's words.
"Surely not?" Madam Mian hesitated. "Fengping shouldn't be that kind of person!"
"In matters like these, people are less concerned with scarcity than with fairness," Old Madam Guan said, hearing the hesitation in her daughter-in-law's tone and feeling even more convinced that Old Madam Guo was right. Yet, she was also uneasy about letting Zhou Shaojin leave for a few years. She sighed, "If only Madam Li were literate and educated, or if Shaojin had someone capable to guide her."
Madam Mian smiled and said, "If there were such a candidate, Uncle wouldn't have had to send the two young ladies to Nine Prosperities Lane."
"I know that all too well," Old Madam Guan sighed.Madam Mian's eyes lit up as she said, "Mother, what if we entrust Shaojin to Old Madam Guo? I noticed Old Madam Guo is quite fond of her and even took her to Mount Putuo. She would likely agree to this, wouldn’t she?"
Old Madam Guan recalled how Old Madam Guo had kept her gaze fixed on Zhou Shaojin during their time at Flat Bridge Street and felt there might be some merit to the idea.
She replied, "Let me think this over carefully."
Madam Mian dared not press further.
Yet, the more Old Madam Guan pondered, the more reasonable it seemed.
Moreover, it would be beneficial for Zhou Shaojin.
A young lady personally guided by Old Madam Guo, raised with the same refinement as Cheng Zheng in the capital, would undoubtedly be held in higher esteem by others.
Old Madam Guan brought along some Lushan Cloud Mist tea, sent back by her youngest son Cheng Yuan from his post, and went to Cold Green Mountain House.
As she had anticipated, upon learning her purpose, Old Madam Guo politely declined the request: "...I am old now and no longer have the energy to raise another young girl. However, I truly do like Shaojin. If she ever has any questions in the future, she is welcome to come and ask me."
"She is not a seven- or eight-year-old child, and she is clever and sensible. There’s no need for you to oversee every little detail," Old Madam Guan persisted, spending the entire morning persuading Old Madam Guo. Finally, with no other choice, Old Madam Guo relented: "As long as your Uncle is comfortable with it, she may stay here with me."
Overjoyed, Old Madam Guan repeatedly expressed her gratitude to Old Madam Guo.
※
At Flat Bridge Street, as the wedding day drew nearer, the usually calm and composed Zhou Chujin suddenly grew anxious. One moment, she instructed Chixiang to double-check the shoes and socks to be taken to the Liao family for the formal introductions, ensuring nothing was missing. The next, she asked Dongwan to bring her the menu for the banquet. Then, she summoned Madam Ma Fushan and asked, "Have you clearly instructed the maids who will accompany me? When the dowry is displayed, they must keep a close watch on my jewelry boxes. Some of the items inside were bestowed by the old madams and ladies of Nine Prosperities Lane—they are antiques that cannot be bought with money nowadays. If any were to go missing, how could I ever face the old madams and ladies of Nine Prosperities Lane again?"
Madam Ma Fushan smiled and reassured her, "Please set your mind at ease! Even if we weren’t watching closely, the Liao family would surely assign people to keep an eye on things. They could not bear the shame of a bride losing her dowry before even entering their household!"
Though Zhou Chujin nodded, worry still lingered between her brows.
Noticing her unsettled mood, Madam Ma Fushan thought it over and went to see Zhou Shaojin. "The eldest miss is used to managing household affairs. Now that she suddenly has to let go, she may simply be finding it difficult to adjust. With Madam Li handling matters at home, why don’t you, Second Miss, spend some time visiting the eldest miss when you’re free?"
Ever since the day Zhou Shaojin had used her father’s name card to frighten away Uncle Zhuang when adding to the dowry, inexplicably, more and more tasks had fallen upon her. Whether it was someone asking what incense to use or which bowls to serve with, she found it all utterly vexing. Seeing that Madam Li was also swamped with work, and since everything was related to her sister’s wedding, she had no choice but to patiently give instructions to the stewarding matrons.
Now, hearing Madam Ma Fushan’s words, her heart tightened with concern. She set aside the jumble of tasks at hand and hurried to Zhou Chujin’s side.Zhou Chujin's room was filled with clothes scattered across the bed, chairs, and table. She was selecting outfits with Chixiang: "I still think I should wear the bright red robe with the vase and peony pattern for the family introduction ceremony on the second day. The butterfly-through-flowers pattern seems too frivolous. But this butterfly-through-flowers robe is made of kesi silk, which is better than Hangzhou silk..."
Zhou Shaojin had never seen her sister so hesitant and indecisive before.
Even her sister could feel uncertain at times.
She couldn't help but chuckle, stepping forward to pick up the bright red vase-and-peony robe. "Sister, your dowry is clearly listed as twelve thousand taels of silver. Even if you wore simple cotton, the Liao family would only praise you for being unpretentious and diligent in managing the household. There's no need to worry—dignity should come first."
Zhou Chujin suddenly understood.
This was something everyone knew—why hadn't she thought of it herself?
She vaguely felt she had been too anxious lately and decided to keep Zhou Shaojin by her side. The two sisters reminded each other of things, and gradually, her mind settled, restoring her usual sharpness and capability.
※
Dear readers, I didn’t expect to return earlier than planned. Today will still be a double update—this is the first extra chapter, and the regular update will be around midnight tonight.
PS: I only remembered today is Women’s Day after receiving a merchant’s message. I’ve been so busy I lost track.
Wishing all sisters a happy holiday!
o(n_n)o~
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to...)
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