Сhеng Jiа shоt Zhоu Shаоjin a cоld glаnсе аnd said, "I'm alreаdу under housе arrest, аnd уоu still ехрect mе to keep talking abоut Li Jing аnd me? Nоt a сhаnсе!"
Zhou Shаоjin tооk Сheng Jiа's hand and said sоftlу, "Deаr sister, pleаse tell mе!"
Cheng Jiа ignоrеd hеr.
Zhоu Shаоjin then said, "Finе, if уou wоn't tеll mе abоut yоu аnd Li Jing, I won't helр уou find him еither!"
"You little brаt!" Cheng Jia blushеd аnd рinchеd Zhou Shaojin's сhееk. "Who tаught уоu this? Yоu'vе lеarnеd tо threаten рeoрle nоw? It sееms yоu dоn't tаkе me seriouslу as your elder sistеr. Just you wait—I'll tiсkle yоu todау!"
"Hеlp! Help!" Zhou Shaojin rolled around on the bed, and the two of them tussled playfully again.
But Cheng Jia wasn't the type to lose all sense of propriety.
Seeing that Zhou Shaojin was laughing uncontrollably, she stopped and lay side by side with her on the bed, speaking cheerfully, "How can you be so silly! If someone likes you, how could you not know? The way they look at you is different, they treat you more intimately than others, they remember every word you say, and they keep track of everything you like... If you pay attention, you'll naturally know."
Is that really how it is?
Zhou Shaojin pondered this in her heart.
Uncle Chi always looked at her with disdain, but after that disdainful glance, he would still take good care of her, fulfilling whatever she wished for. As for what she liked... she thought of the furnishings in Floating Emerald Pavilion... She had never said a word about it, yet everything there was arranged exactly like her usual residence in Fragrant Garden Residence.
As for treating her more intimately than others... she truly couldn't see it!
Uncle Chi didn't seem particularly close to anyone.
Not even Old Madam Guo!
But he was definitely closer to her than to Jiying.
But Jiying was a maid! How could that even compare? If a man became close to a maid, it usually meant he intended to take her as a concubine...
Oh dear!
How annoying!
If only there were someone she could discuss this with.
Her expression grew somewhat despondent.
But Cheng Jia suddenly exclaimed, as if startled, "Shao Jin, tell me the truth—have you fallen for someone?"
Zhou Shaojin's thoughts were abruptly laid bare. She panicked and hurriedly said, "No, no! What nonsense are you talking? How could I possibly have fallen for anyone?"
Cheng Jia widened her eyes and glared at her. "Is falling for someone such a bad thing? It's not stealing or robbing—why shouldn't you be allowed to like someone?"
Thinking of Cheng Jia and Li Jing, Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Cheng Jia must have thought she was looking down on her for liking Li Jing!
She had no choice but to say, "I really haven't fallen for anyone! I wasn't talking about you!"
"You're still lying to me!" Cheng Jia snorted. "Just look at yourself."
As she spoke, she dragged Zhou Shaojin in front of the mirror. "One moment you look lost and despondent, the next you're overjoyed, and you speak hesitantly—this is exactly what happens when you secretly have feelings for someone. Otherwise, why would you come ask me? Hurry up and confess—you haven't fallen for Cheng Yi, have you?"
"Don't go playing matchmaker here!" Zhou Shaojin cried out. "I haven't fallen for Cousin Yi at all! He's like a child. We grew up together—I see him as an older brother. How could I possibly like him?"Grandmother had always wanted to pair them together. If Cheng Jia were to shout it out, she would have no way to escape.
However... Uncle Chi had promised her that he wouldn’t marry her off to Cheng Yi, so she definitely wouldn’t end up marrying Cheng Yi... That being the case, Uncle Chi... must like her a little, right?
She bit her lip, her thoughts drifting again.
“Then who have you fallen for?” Seeing her expression, Cheng Jia didn’t believe her words at all. “I thought about it. Among the ‘Yan’ generation of gentlemen you know, Cousin Shi is already married, Cousin Gao and Cousin Nuo are both engaged, leaving only Cousin Yi... Wait, no, there’s also my brother...” She suddenly jumped up. “Shao Jin, you wouldn’t have fallen for my brother, would you? Is that why you want me to be your matchmaker?”
Cheng Jia’s wild imagination gave Zhou Shaojin quite a fright.
“Have you taken your medicine today?” She couldn’t help but glance sideways at Cheng Jia. “How could I possibly fall for your eldest brother? I’ve barely exchanged two words with him, okay?”
“Oh, right!” Cheng Jia scratched her head sheepishly. “Then who exactly do you like?”
“No one!” Zhou Shaojin insisted firmly. “I was just a little curious, that’s all.”
Cheng Jia still seemed doubtful.
Zhou Shaojin then said, “You want me to help you deliver a message to Li Jing, but you haven’t even told me where Li Jing lives. How will the person I send gain his trust?”
This was the most important matter on Cheng Jia’s mind.
She immediately forgot about Zhou Shaojin’s affairs and hurriedly said, “Wait a moment, I’ll write down an address for you.”
Having suffered from such carelessness in her past life, Zhou Shaojin reminded her, “You should call someone in to write it for you. That way, it won’t fall into the wrong hands and cause unnecessary trouble.”
Cheng Jia was taken aback for a moment, then beamed with joy and hugged Zhou Shaojin, trying to kiss her cheek.
Zhou Shaojin dodged with a hint of distaste.
Unfazed, Cheng Jia giggled and said, “Our Shaojin is still the most thoughtful, treating me like a real sister. Don’t worry, if things work out between me and Li Jing, I’ll have him prepare a big red envelope for you. From then on, I’ll take care of all your and your children’s seasonal clothes.”
Her bold words made Zhou Shaojin blush, partly out of embarrassment and partly out of admiration—being able to openly declare one’s affection for someone was a kind of happiness in itself.
Soon after, Cheng Jia had someone write down the note.
Zhou Shaojin tucked the note into her bosom, only to feel a cold sweat break out all over her body. Her head felt heavy, and even standing still made her see stars.
She silently thought to herself, “Oh no.”
Could it be that Old Madam Guo was right, and her illness was flaring up again?
Zhou Shaojin had Cui Huan brew her a cup of hot brown sugar water. After drinking it, she felt much better and mustered her strength to return to Floating Emerald Pavilion.
But as soon as she returned to Floating Emerald Pavilion, she collapsed.
This time, she forced herself to stay awake until Madam Zhou arrived for the consultation, and before Madam Zhou could even speak, she repeatedly admitted her mistake.
Madam Zhou, who usually dreaded patients who ignored medical advice, saw Zhou Shaojin’s clear, apologetic almond-shaped eyes and felt her earlier dissatisfaction vanish without a trace. She smiled and said, “Since Second Young Miss understands, I won’t say more. I’ll prescribe five more doses of medicine for you. Once you finish them, I’ll come back for a follow-up.”
Zhou Shaojin thanked her again and again, then had Madam Fan Liu accompany Madam Zhou to prepare the prescription.Old Madam Guo overheard and said, "Don't chatter too much in front of Second Young Miss. She sneaked out to play on her own, and now her frail health has failed her—she must be feeling quite guilty inside. Let her think I don't know about it. I’ll pretend to discover it accidentally when I visit her tonight."
Cheng Chi, however, frowned upon learning this.
This little girl cares about every stray cat and dog, worrying even about stepping on an ant, yet when it comes to herself, she shows no regard. Clearly, her body couldn’t handle it, yet she still insisted on going to see Cheng Jia.
Most likely, visiting Cheng Jia was just an excuse; knowing that Cheng Jia had been confined to her quarters because of her, she probably went to comfort her instead.
At the time, he was discussing business matters with Wu Santuan, another leader of the Canal Gang. Wu Santuan had asked him twice in a row, "Is it doable?" Only then did Cheng Chi collect his thoughts and state his true intention: "...When I acted as the mediator to help you and the Pai Gang demarcate territories, I never intended to get involved in waterway business again. What you do is your own affair. But now, I need to regularly transport a batch of tobacco shreds from Jinling to the capital. You just need to ensure my goods are delivered on time to the person I designate."
Wu Santuan breathed a sigh of relief.
Fourth Master Cheng had severed the arm of the Jiao family’s young master and killed Jiang Qin. Now, the only family he hadn’t crossed was the Wu family. Wu Santuan was even hoping that Fourth Master Cheng would stir up more trouble to completely cripple the Jiao and Jiang families. Not to mention delivering tobacco shreds—even if it were smuggling salt, he’d have to do it!
"Look at what you’re saying," he declared with an air of duty, thumping his chest. "Such a small matter, leave it to me. I’ll give you my word right now—if there’s even the slightest mishap, I’ll offer my head."
Cheng Chi replied with a half-smile, "No need for your head. Just make sure that if my tobacco shreds go missing, you don’t try to blame it on the Jiao or Jiang families meddling. Otherwise, your reputation as the leader of the Canal Gang would be rather undeserved, and hardly trustworthy."
Wu Santuan’s heart skipped a beat, and he laughed, "How could that happen! Whatever the Jiao and Jiang families do is a grudge between them and our Wu family. How could it involve you, Fourth Master?"
Cheng Chi nodded in satisfaction.
Wu Santuan exhaled in relief.
After exchanging a few more words, Wu Santuan noticed a hint of weariness on Cheng Chi’s face and took his leave.
Cheng Chi sat for a while in the teahouse’s private room before slowly making his way downstairs.
At the entrance, a group of children was chattering noisily, chasing after the colorful pinwheels on a street vendor’s carrying pole. The vendor, trying to avoid the children, nearly bumped into Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi’s attendant shouted sharply.
The vendor turned pale with fright, repeatedly bowing and apologizing.
But Cheng Chi walked over, pointed at the pinwheels on the pole, and asked, "How much for one of these?" Then he instructed Huaishan, "Buy them all and send them to Floating Emerald Pavilion."
With these things, the little girl should be able to stay quietly at home and recuperate, right?
Huaishan’s mouth twitched, and after a long pause, he finally replied, "Yes."
The vendor was endlessly grateful, but Cheng Chi’s thoughts had already shifted back to the matters discussed earlier with Wu Santuan.
A cunning rabbit has three burrows.
With the imperial courier stations, the beggars of the Beggars’ Gang, and now the Canal Gang’s shipping, messages between the capital and Jinling could be relayed swiftly.
Next would be to subdue a few gangs in the capital for his own use, so they could run errands or act as enforcers when needed.Cheng Chi pondered the several martial arts sects he remembered that were quite powerful.
Meanwhile, Zhou Shaojin was overjoyed upon receiving the pinwheels.
So many pinwheels, how beautiful!
Ignoring Chunwan’s attempts to dissuade her, she insisted on getting out of bed.
Madam Fan Liu, who had just entered carrying medicine, rushed over in a few quick steps and pleaded earnestly, "My dear young mistress, please just rest peacefully in bed. If you need anything, just give the order—if you want to see the pinwheels, I’ll have them bring all the pinwheels over right away."
Upon hearing this, Bitao and the others promptly carried all the pinwheels over.
※
Dear brothers and sisters, thank you to Kinka, Tianwaixianxian, 44 Xixi, Zixiao12, and Qingtian Moyun for the spirit beast eggs. Starting tomorrow, I’ll add extra updates for the spirit beast eggs… O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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