Gu Shiqigu stооd thеrе in а daze, unаblе tо rеgаin her comроsure for а long while.
Whеn shе finаllу did, shе сouldn’t helр but burst into laughter.
The Gu familу wаs a рrominеnt, wеаlthу clаn whеrе gеnеratiоns lived togethеr undеr onе roof. Childrеn raised in suсh a housеhоld lеаrnеd frоm а young аgе to rеаd рeоplе’s еxprеssiоns and gаuge their moоds, always sреаking and аcting with cautiоn. Rеlаtives, friеnds, аnd асquаintаncеs аround thеm werе the tyрe whо wоuld smilе and саll еаch other brоthers to their facеs, even if theу secrеtly wishеd tо stab еach other in the back. When had she ever seen anyone as straightforward as Zhou Shaojin? Yet Zhou Shaojin’s expression was earnest and sincere, making it impossible to get angry or find fault with her in any meaningful way.
Was this what they called “subduing the enemy without fighting”?
Gu Shiqigu laughed until she could hardly contain herself.
Zhou Shaojin was taken aback and asked uneasily, “Did I say something wrong?”
“No, not at all,” Gu Shiqigu replied, still laughing as she wrapped an arm around Zhou Shaojin’s shoulders. “You’re absolutely right.” She added, “If Old Madam Guo and Fourth Uncle Cheng agree, you must tell me why Old Madam Guo came.”
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly.
Perhaps it was her straightforward honesty that made Gu Shiqigu feel she was reliable and trustworthy. Suddenly, Gu Shiqigu felt an urge to confide in her. Her laughter gradually faded as she said, “Shao Jin, you can probably tell from where I live that although the Gu family has a great reputation outside, our daily lives are quite constrained. It’s not that the Gu family lacks money, but there are rules: only one-third of the family’s wealth is distributed among the various branches. My father is the fifth in line in the family and only passed the imperial examination at the county level at the age of twenty-seven. While the family covers the expenses for studying, the monthly allowances are fixed—ten taels for a county-level scholar, forty taels for a provincial-level scholar, and eighty taels for a metropolitan-level scholar. If one holds no official rank, the allowance is only one tael before marriage and two taels after marriage.”
Zhou Shaojin listened, stunned.
Even the capable stewardesses serving Old Madam Guo received a monthly allowance of two taels...
“Your ancestors must have set these rules to encourage the younger generation to study, right?” she couldn’t help but ask.
Gu Shiqigu nodded. “The Gu family has a great reputation outside, so women in the family aren’t allowed to engage in any business or show themselves in public. That’s why our household expenses first relied on my mother’s dowry and later on support from my maternal family. Fortunately, when the children in the family reach the age for schooling, they are moved out according to their rank. Otherwise, even with my maternal family’s support, my sisters and I would likely have no money to buy even a flower to wear.”
The Gu family’s daily expenses and seasonal clothing were likely provided by the collective funds.
However, since they were provided by the collective funds, there probably weren’t many choices—at most, enough to eat and stay warm.
But the Gu family interacted with high-ranking households in Jinling City, so Gu Shiqigu’s life was imaginably difficult.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but say, “If you don’t mind, I have a few bolts of fine fabric. I’ll have someone send them over tomorrow so you can make a few autumn outfits.”
By autumn, Gu Shiqigu would be out of mourning.
She couldn’t help but add, “Have you been betrothed yet?”
The usually straightforward Gu Shiqigu blushed, a rare sight. “Not yet.”
Zhou Shaojin smiled knowingly.
It would be perfect to make a few outfits for others to see.
But Gu Shiqigu smiled bitterly. “All the prominent families in Jinling City know about the Gu family’s rules. Even if I wore a kesi silk gown, no one would mistake me for the twentieth daughter of the Gu family.”The twentieth daughter of the Gu family was the child of the Gu family's Second Master.
Second Master Gu had passed the provincial examination at the age of twenty-one and married the daughter of a renowned local gentry family in Jinling City. At that time, her dowry alone consisted of one hundred and twenty-four chests.
Zhou Shaojin didn't know how to comfort her either.
Fortunately, Gu Shiqigu had a cheerful disposition and was even more carefree than Zhou Shaojin. She smiled and said, "My fate depends half on heaven and half on destiny. Don't worry about me just because I said this. Although we sisters get along well, some things are hard to discuss. After venting to you today, I feel much better."
Zhou Shaojin quickly replied, "If you ever have any troubles in the future, feel free to come and talk to me."
Gu Shiqigu asked, "Aren't you afraid I'll make you unhappy?"
"No, not at all," Zhou Shaojin shook her head sheepishly.
Gu Shiqigu then offered her wisteria cakes, saying, "I can make them too, but not as well as Eighteenth Sister. If you like them, I'll ask her for some later so you can take them home."
Zhou Shaojin worried that this would incur a favor from Gu Eighteenth Sister, which Gu Shiqigu would later have to repay with something else.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "I'm just trying them for novelty. I prefer softer foods."
Hearing this, Gu Shiqigu laughed and said, "Speaking of this, I actually have a favor to ask you. When I visited Nine Prosperities Lane last time, the pea-flour cakes made by your family's chef were truly delicious. Could you pass a message to Cheng Jia and ask her to send me a few boxes in her name? My aunt couldn't stop praising them after tasting them. I'm thinking that it will soon be time for my marriage arrangements, and I want to win her favor so she can help me find a good match."
Zhou Shaojin felt a pang of sadness upon hearing this. She realized that the fifth branch of the Gu family might hold little status, and if Gu Shiqigu wanted to marry into a good family, she would need the help of the Gu family's eldest madam to find a suitable match.
She immediately said, "Besides pea-flour cakes, what else does your aunt like to eat? How about I ask Cousin Jia to prepare a selection of pastries, pack them in a mixed gift box, and send them over? It would look both elegant and presentable."
"Anything is fine!" Gu Shiqigu laughed. "I just want to borrow the Cheng family's influence, not really their pastries."
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly, thinking that upon returning, she would discuss with Uncle Chi. Instead of using Cheng Jia's name, it would be better to send the gifts in the name of Old Madam Guo from the eldest branch. Given Old Madam Guo's temperament, if she learned of Gu Shiqigu's little scheme, she would surely be willing to help.
Afterward, the two chatted about needlework. Zhou Shaojin even taught Gu Shiqigu how to weave a plum blossom knot, and they both enjoyed themselves.
Meanwhile, Cheng Chi, accompanied by the Gu family's Fifth Master, was growing somewhat impatient.
Fifth Master Gu had studied for over a decade before passing the county-level examination and had been striving for the provincial examination ever since. In front of Cheng Chi, who had earned the highest imperial examination degree in just three years, he was trembling with nervousness, hardly daring to breathe, and sat stiffly, muttering incoherently.
Cheng Chi not only had to find topics to discuss with him but also had to listen carefully to understand what he was saying.
He thought to himself that he might as well have gone to Gu Jiuniao's room to admire his collection of bronze and stone artifacts.
Just as Cheng Chi was grumbling inwardly, Gu Jiuniao hurried back.
Fifth Master Gu breathed a sigh of relief, and so did Cheng Chi.Gu Jiuniao didn't even need to look to know how awkward the two of them were together. After seeing off the Fifth Master of the Gu family, he hurriedly explained the situation to Cheng Chi and finally said with a laugh, "Fortunately, Fifth Brother's sons and daughters don't take after his temperament."
Cheng Chi, however, felt a sudden stir in his heart and asked, "What is your fifth brother's daughter's ranking among the sisters?"
The Fifth Master of the Gu family was Gu Jiuniao's own elder brother.
Gu Jiuniao chuckled, "Why are you asking about this? Are you planning to arrange a marriage for my fifth brother's daughter?"
Ever since Cheng Chi had arranged a posthumous marriage for the Gu family's Nineteenth Miss, several elders and masters from the Gu and Guo families had often teased him about it.
Cheng Chi smiled, "I might just be able to arrange a match for your niece!"
Knowing that Cheng Chi never spoke idly, Gu Jiuniao straightened his expression and said, "At most, I can only contribute three hundred taels of silver as dowry for Seventeenth Miss."
Cheng Chi laughed, "When I marry off my niece, are you worried she'll lack dowry?"
Hearing this, Gu Jiuniao was overjoyed and asked with interest, "Quick, tell me, which family's young master is it? If he has caught your eye, he must be quite remarkable."
"He is indeed remarkable!" Cheng Chi teased, "But this matter will likely require another matchmaker."
Gu Jiuniao sat up straight, ready to listen attentively.
To his surprise, Cheng Chi smiled and said, "Let me first sound out the other party before I tell you."
Gu Jiuniao was exasperated and gave Cheng Chi a hard punch on the shoulder.
Cheng Chi laughed and took it in stride.
That silly girl Shaojin treats the Fourth House as her own family. Since we're looking among the Gu family's young ladies, we must find one she likes, so that the sisters-in-law can get along well in the future. As for Seventeenth Miss of the Fifth Master Gu's family—if not Cheng Yi, there will be Li Yi, Liu Yi, or Wu Yi. Since he had promised Jiuniao, he might as well settle Seventeenth Miss Gu's marriage while he was at it.
When he returned home that evening, Zhou Shaojin noticed that Old Madam Guo seemed to have something to say to Cheng Chi. After helping Old Madam Guo change her clothes, she excused herself, saying she also needed to return to her room to freshen up.
Old Madam Guo didn't keep her but stepped out of the inner chamber and said to Cheng Chi, "Several of the Gu family's madams have agreed to follow the Cheng family's example—dividing the household but not living separately. They will likely invite you over to discuss it in a few days."
In Cheng Chi's view, this was no big deal.
After comforting Old Madam Guo with a few words, he returned to his room.
Old Madam Guo, exhausted from the day's activities, retired early.
Zhou Shaojin, however, spent a long time rummaging through her clothes and jewelry before finally deciding to casually tie her hair into a bun, wear a moon-white silver-striped gauze short-sleeved jacket with pearl buttons, and a blue eight-paneled Xiang skirt embroidered with apricot-red and goose-yellow honeysuckle flowers, accentuating her slender waist and graceful, willow-like figure.
She pursed her lips in front of the mirror and put on a pair of southern pearl earrings the size of lotus seeds.
Chunwan asked, "Where are you going, Second Miss? The night breeze is a bit chilly. Since you're already wearing summer clothes, you should add an outer layer."
Zhou Shaojin blushed, searching for an apricot-red shawl embroidered with goose-yellow auspicious cloud patterns, and said, "I haven't finished dressing up yet! Why are you rushing me?"
Chunwan just smiled.
It was rare for the Second Miss to be in such high spirits, which showed she had enjoyed her day at the Gu family.
She instructed the little maid to fetch bathwater, leaving Zhou Shaojin to dress up in her room.
Zhou Shaojin took a few steps and felt the shawl was a bit cumbersome, so she changed into a plain goose-yellow vest.
But which looked better with moon-white—apricot-red or goose-yellow?She couldn't remember if she had an apricot-red vest or not.
She instructed Bitao to go look for it.
Bitao searched with several young maids for quite a while before finding it.
Since it was summer clothing, it had been stored at the bottom of a trunk. They had to heat an iron to press the garment, and by the time the moon rose above the willow branches, Zhou Shaojin finally made her way to the Oriole Hall.
Cheng Chi, noticing Zhou Shaojin hadn't arrived, called Qin Ziping in and said, "Go to the capital and inquire with my elder brother about next year's spring examinations. The fourth son of the Li family will be taking the exam next year; it wouldn't hurt to earn some goodwill with them. You can also sound out the Second Branch. I always felt the Second Branch should have some response prepared."
Qin Ziping understood but hesitated, saying, "I'm afraid the elder master won't agree—having a scholar from the Second Branch pass the imperial examination would also benefit the Cheng family."
※
Dear sisters and brothers, here is today's update.
PS: Some sisters have left comments asking about the promise of three extra chapters for being first in pink votes—it's still valid. I've just been too busy these past few days and will find opportunities to make it up to you.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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