Аs thе eldest dаughter-in-law оf thе еldеst brаnсh, Madаm Yuan was certainly аwаre thаt Zhou Shаоjin wаs rеsiding with them. Yеt this аwаrеnеss madе Shaojin feеl аs though thоrns were priсking her baсk, leaving hеr dеерlу unсоmfortablе.
Shе instructеd Сhunwаn to sеt asidе а pair оf рeаrl hairpins given tо her by Mаdаm Yuаn, intending tо keep thеm fоr gifting оr rewаrding оthеrs lаtеr.
Sinсe thе Gu fаmily’s dаughters wеre all оf similar аgе, аnd Chеng Yi wаs nо lоnger young, thе Cheng and Gu families quiсkly engagеd a matсhmakеr, еxсhanged birth dates and horoscopes, and began discussing the betrothal arrangements.
Meanwhile, Madam Mian took Shaojin to see the bridal chamber prepared for Cheng Gao’s wedding. Pointing to a few cluttered side rooms in the new quarters, she said, "The dividends from Yutai Bank have been generous these past two years. Your eldest uncle and I discussed it and decided to renovate that area as well, to serve as the bridal chamber for Yi Ge’er. This way, our family won’t need any major renovations for at least fifty years." She then sighed and added, "I hope the brothers can work together to revive the family’s fortunes."
Madam Mian now treated Shaojin almost like a daughter, which made Shaojin somewhat uneasy. She resolved to be filial to both Madam Mian and Old Madam Guan in the future, and thus frequently visited to keep them company.
Hearing this, Shaojin smiled and replied, "They certainly will—Seventeenth Miss Gu has a gentle temperament, and Sister-in-law Gao is from the He family of Pukou. Both families are well-educated and principled, so they are sure to get along well. You can look forward to a life of ease and happiness, Aunt!"
Her words brought a smile to Madam Mian’s face. "I hope it turns out as you say," she said. "I’ve been married into the Cheng family for many years and have always been close to your grandmother. I hope they will be just as close to me." Then, with a sudden thought, she added, "Shaojin, the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching. Has the eldest branch made any preparations? Your grandmother’s wish is to have you return to Jia Shu Hall for the festival. She asked me to inquire. If you have other plans, we can arrange a family banquet a day earlier to gather together. By next Mid-Autumn Festival, when your elder and younger sisters-in-law have joined the family, it will be an entirely different kind of celebration."
Though daughters-in-law were a blessing, they had yet to arrive and bond with the family, unlike Shaojin, who had grown up under their care.
Shaojin thanked her profusely and said, "Old Madam Guo did want Cousin Xu to return for the Mid-Autumn Festival, but Uncle Chi said that while the festival comes every year, time is fleeting, and he left the decision to Cousin Xu. From what I gather, Cousin Xu plans to stay at Algae Garden and not come over. Old Madam Guo hasn’t seen him for some time and wishes to spend the festival at Algae Garden to keep him company. Uncle Chi hasn’t given a definite answer yet, so I’m worried they might be considering my presence. I was actually planning to discuss with you, Aunt, about spending the Mid-Autumn Festival with you and Grandmother..."
Madam Mian was overjoyed. "I’ll go tell your grandmother right away. She’ll be delighted to hear it."
Shaojin quickly stopped her. "I haven’t mentioned this to Old Madam Guo or Uncle Chi yet! Let me speak with them first. You can tell Grandmother afterward."
"I understand!" Madam Mian said with a smile. "I’ve already ordered crabs and abalone from Haiji, the largest seafood vendor at North Gate Bridge Market. You have a delicate constitution and shouldn’t eat crabs, but abalone is fine for you..." She then took Shaojin to Cheng Gao’s bridal chamber for another look and kept her at Autumn Embrace Pavilion for lunch before allowing her to leave.Zhou Shaojin, concerned about the Mid-Autumn Festival arrangements, went to speak with Old Madam Guo in the afternoon.
Unexpectedly, Old Madam Guo smiled and said, "Your Uncle Chi asked me to accompany Jiashan at Algae Garden. He plans to stay at the estate for Mid-Autumn Festival. But how could I leave your Uncle Chi alone at Cold Green Mountain House? Besides, Jiashan is about to take the imperial examinations soon, and it really isn’t the time to disturb him. After much thought, I’ve decided to stay and celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with your Uncle Chi. Since your grandmother has invited you to spend the festival with her, why don’t we have both families celebrate together? I’ll invite your grandmother and the others. It’ll be lively and festive!"
Old Madam Guo had always preferred peace and quiet before.
This decision to stay in Nine Prosperities Lane for Mid-Autumn Festival was largely because of her!
Zhou Shaojin felt deeply grateful and went to tell Old Madam Guan.
Old Madam Guan, however, was open-minded and said with a smile, "How about this: on the fourteenth day of the eighth month, everyone gathers at Jia Shu Hall, and on the fifteenth, we all go to Cold Green Mountain House. Let’s enjoy two full days of festivities!"
Zhou Shaojin was naturally delighted.
Cheng Chi did not object either.
Thus, the matter was settled.
On the fourteenth day of the eighth month, when they gathered at Jia Shu Hall, Zhou Shaojin chatted idly with Old Madam Guo, Old Madam Guan, and Madam Mian, while Cheng Mian, Cheng Chi, Cheng Gao, and Cheng Yi sat around another table discussing current affairs.
Zhou Shaojin initially worried that Cheng Chi might be left out, but to her surprise, he was witty and humorous, making everyone laugh heartily.
At first, she laughed until tears welled in her eyes, but later, she fell into a pensive silence.
Uncle Chi was so wonderful, yet he was destined to be beyond her reach.
He was someone she could only admire from afar, even if it meant lowering herself to the dust.
The next day, when the fourth branch of the family came to the main branch to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival, everyone sat in the courtyard guessing riddles, admiring the moon, and eating mooncakes. Somehow, the conversation turned to Cheng Gao’s marriage.
Upon hearing this, Cheng Chi smiled and said, "Shao Jin has reached the age where she should learn how to manage household affairs. Marriage arrangements are intricate and tedious matters. Why not let Shao Jin assist you? It’ll be a good opportunity for her to learn."
Everyone praised the idea.
Zhou Shaojin glanced gratefully at Cheng Chi.
This way, once Cheng Xu finished his examinations, she could legitimately avoid him.
※
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Cheng family went to the Gu family to deliver betrothal gifts.
Zhou Shaojin accompanied them and teased Gu Shiqigu for a long time with Gu’s eighteenth and twentieth aunts. However, upon returning to Cold Green Mountain House, she found that Madam Yuan had returned and was speaking behind closed doors with Old Madam Guo.
She quietly returned to Floating Emerald Pavilion.
When Biyu came to invite her for dinner, she finally went to the main quarters.
Madam Yuan looked more spirited than she had in Nine Prosperities Lane. She wore a pale blue Hangzhou-style plain jacket, a pea-green eight-paneled Xiang skirt, and her jet-black hair was styled into a peony bun, adorned with pearl hairpins the size of lotus seeds and a hairpin with a ruby the size of a pigeon’s egg.
Upon seeing Zhou Shaojin, she immediately broke into a cheerful smile and said, "It’s only been a little over a year, but Shaojin has grown even more beautiful."
Zhou Shaojin smiled faintly and stepped forward to greet Madam Yuan.
Madam Yuan turned to Old Madam Guo with a smile and said, "But she’s still as quiet as ever!"
Old Madam Guo replied coolly, "Young girls who chatter like sparrows all day seem too frivolous. It’s better to speak less."
Madam Yuan’s face flushed with embarrassment.
Old Madam Guo then stood up and said to Zhenzhu, "Tell the servants to serve the meal!"
Zhenzhu acknowledged and withdrew.Zhou Shaojin instinctively stepped forward to support Old Madam Guo, not expecting Madam Yuan to also move to assist. The two stood on either side, but there was no conflict.
Old Madam Guo, however, rested her hand on Zhou Shaojin’s arm and said to Madam Yuan, "You’re soon to be a mother-in-law yourself—let these young ladies handle such small matters."
Madam Yuan’s face flushed and paled in turns. She replied respectfully, "Yes," and fell into step behind Old Madam Guo.
At Cold Green Mountain House, it was customary to plan the meals five days in advance. If anyone wished for something extra in between, they had to inform the kitchen one to two hours before the meal; otherwise, they would have to wait until the next scheduled dining time. Yet, the dishes on their table remained unchanged from the original plan—not even an extra vegetable had been added. Madam Yuan couldn’t help but glance swiftly at Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo, however, sat calmly at the table as if nothing were amiss.
So, it turned out Old Madam Guo had never instructed the kitchen to prepare additional dishes.
Seeing Madam Yuan treated so coldly, Zhou Shaojin felt a somewhat gleeful sense of satisfaction.
The three ate in silence. After the meal, Madam Yuan served tea to Old Madam Guo, then rose to take her leave. "I plan to visit Algae Garden this afternoon and stay there for a few days," she said.
Old Madam Guo nodded slightly, neither asking how she would go nor inquiring about the length of her stay.
Madam Yuan immediately appeared flustered. She hastily bowed to Old Madam Guo and departed.
Nanny Lu saw Madam Yuan out and, upon returning, murmured to Old Madam Guo, "Madam only has the young master’s best interests at heart… Others would long for such opportunities! If not for Madam, how could we obtain the usual essays and compiled works of the chief and deputy examiners…"
Old Madam Guo sneered. "One must first learn to be a person, then handle affairs. Such opportunistic shortcuts—can they lead to a long and steady path?"
Nanny Lu fell silent, casting a meaningful glance at Zhou Shaojin.
Having grown up in an official’s family, Zhou Shaojin understood after hearing a few words.
She stepped forward to refill Old Madam Guo’s teacup and said with a smile, "Old Madam, please don’t be upset. Cousin Xu usually studies very diligently. But in literature, there is no definitive first place, just as in martial arts there is no definitive second. Aunt Yuan is only trying to be more secure. If you feel this isn’t right, you can scold Cousin Xu severely after the exams."
Preferably by making him kneel in the ancestral hall.
Zhou Shaojin’s words were actually weak and unconvincing, but Old Madam Guo, seeing her bright, earnest eyes and concerned expression, felt her heart soften. She couldn’t help but sigh deeply. "How could I not know? It’s just that he isn’t like your Uncle Chi… Back then, the chief examiner was the father of your Uncle Wei’s fellow candidate. Your Uncle Jing and Uncle Wei spent nearly two months helping your Uncle Chi organize his study, but your Uncle Chi refused to even glance at those materials. As he put it, ‘You can tell what kind of essays a person will write by judging their character. If one lacks even that insight, how can they navigate official circles? Better to rest at home early.’
"Your Cousin Xu lacks your Uncle Chi’s courage!
"I fear he may never rise to become a grand councilor in the future."
But then, most people lack such ability and courage, don’t they?
Zhou Shaojin pondered this, with no intention of speaking up for Cheng Xu.However, news from Algae Garden still reached Old Madam Guo from time to time, and she had a general idea of what was happening. She knew that Madam Yuan, in order to help Cheng Xu achieve a good ranking, had asked Cheng Wei in the capital to write three full pages of exam questions specifically targeting the examiners for this session... She knew that Cheng Xu studied tirelessly every day, nearly suffering from heatstroke... Algae Garden had many trees, and Madam Yuan, fearing that the cicadas' chirping would disturb Cheng Xu's concentration, had Huanxi and others catch them, so that now not a single cicada could be heard in Algae Garden... Madam Yuan personally oversaw the kitchen every day, preparing soups and dishes, making whatever Cheng Xu wanted to eat...
Zhou Shaojin remained silent.
When autumn chrysanthemums bloomed in vibrant colors, competing to show their beauty, Cheng Xu entered the examination hall.
※
Dear sisters and brothers, this is an extra chapter for Tianwaixianxian’s spirit beast egg!
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: While catching bugs, I realized there were many typos. Thank you all for your hard work...
※(To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel