Сhеng Сhi smilеd аnd sаid, "Shе loves tо shоw оff sо muсh. If I were yоu, I’d еncourаge Wu to sеnd riсе саkеs to eаch household, prefеrаbly оn a dау likе thе Doublе Ninth Fеstivаl in thе ninth mоnth. Seсretly, I’d alsо instruсt the оuter courtуard kitchеn to prераrе riсе сakes аs thе daу’s bаnquеt refrеshments. Наve Wu’s ricе сakеs served first, and whеn everyоnе рraisеs them, bring out the оnеs frоm the kitсhеn—thе оutеr сourtуаrd kitchеn cоoks mostlу aссоrding to оur fаmilу’s tаstes, and yоur maid once leаrned how to mаke ricе cаkеs from hеr. It’s too easy to tamper with this detail. Once Wu suffers this loss, she naturally won’t dare to show off so easily again."
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but clap her hands, delighted. "That’s a great idea!" Then she hesitated slightly. "But can we really scheme against Wu Baozhang like this?"
She had never set such a trap for anyone in her life.
Cheng Chi said, "With someone like her, do you think giving her one lesson will make her stay out of your way from then on?"
Of course not.
In her past life, she had endured many times and even tripped her up later, but Wu Baozhang not only didn’t restrain herself or leave her alone, she even intensified her mockery and teasing. What’s worse, the elders all thought Wu Baozhang was gentle and magnanimous, so Shaojin couldn’t even complain. Eventually, she simply cut off contact with Wu Baozhang and even threatened Cheng Jia not to associate with her. Seeing Shaojin genuinely disliked Wu Baozhang, Cheng Jia gradually distanced herself as well.
Zhou Shaojin shook her head with a smile.
Cheng Chi said, "That’s called ‘praise first, suppress later.’"
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly.
But only Uncle Chi could pull off such a method, right?
Her eyes flickered. "But how can I get the kitchen staff to follow my instructions?"
Cheng Chi chuckled. "Figure it out yourself?"
The faint helplessness in his expression made Zhou Shaojin’s heart race.
She giggled, her eyes bright and indescribably charming. "I’ll just say Uncle Chi told me to order them."
Cheng Chi hadn’t expected her to answer like that and was momentarily taken aback.
Since he began managing affairs, countless people had acted under his banner. But no one had dared to say it to his face like Zhou Shaojin, and no one had made him feel not just unbothered but rather amused like she did.
"Fine!" he said generously. "As long as you can convince the kitchen staff it’s my idea."
Zhou Shaojin smiled slyly.
During her time in the main household, she had fully grasped the saying, "Rules are rigid, but people are flexible."
In principle, those in the inner courtyard needed a tally to instruct the outer courtyard kitchen. But the chefs there all had their own calculations. As long as it didn’t involve accounts, the head chefs were quite willing to do things for her, the "temporary" cousin living in the main household.
When the time came, she’d just say she wanted to show filial respect to Old Madam Guo—no, now she’d change it to Uncle Chi—and have Chunwan give silver to the kitchen staff to prepare a batch of rice cakes. No one in the kitchen was that rigid.
Even if someone questioned it afterward, with Old Madam Guo as her backing, the head chefs would likely keep their mouths shut.
The only downside was that her reputation among the servants might suffer.
But there was a way around that.
Add it when drafting the menu.
That way, others would think the two batches of rice cakes just happened to coincide.Zhou Shaojin thought this was an excellent idea.
She eagerly shared her thoughts with Cheng Chi.
The little girl had finally learned to use her head.
A pleased look appeared in Cheng Chi's eyes as he smiled and said, "Not bad, not bad! It seems jade must be carved to become a treasure!"
Zhou Shaojin blushed and pretended not to hear, raising her voice to say, "Then let's do as you suggested."
For some reason, she was increasingly hoping that Cheng Chi wouldn't treat her like a child anymore.
Cheng Chi reminded her, "Just privately encourage that Madam Wu, but don't let anyone see you. If you feel you can't handle it, discuss it with your wet nurse Madam Fan Liu. I think she's quite clever in dealing with people, and this will also test whether she's someone reliable to depend on."
Madam Fan Liu was of course the most reliable person!
Zhou Shaojin nodded with a smile, then frowned in distress and said, "However, Cousin Gao is getting married on the tenth day of the ninth month. The Old Lady said that this year's Double Ninth Festival won't be celebrated together—each household will celebrate separately—so the Double Ninth Festival definitely won't work... I was just troubled by this matter! That day is the Old Lady's birthday, but she can't overshadow Cousin Gao's wedding, so she won't celebrate her birthday this year. She even asked me to go to Jia Shu Hall early to help. What do you think—should we eat longevity noodles with the Old Lady in the morning before going out, or come back in the evening to celebrate with her? The tenth is the main day, so we should probably be able to return early on the evening of the ninth!"
Listening to her chattering away, Cheng Chi felt the quiet study had come to life.
He couldn't help but smile and say, "Then let's get up in the morning, accompany the Old Lady for longevity noodles, then go to Jia Shu Hall. When we return in the evening, we can prepare a banquet for the Old Lady—just our own family having a lively celebration will be enough."
By then, the autumn imperial examination results would have been announced, and the marriage between the Cheng and Min families should also be settled. He could just send Madam Yuan and Cheng Xu off to the capital, and the little maid could also sit down to eat a meal in peace.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and nodded repeatedly, then carefully leaned closer to Cheng Chi and whispered, "Uncle Chi, what gift have you prepared for the Old Lady?"
Cheng Chi found this amusing and imitated her, carefully lowering his head and whispering, "I can't tell you! If I tell you and you copy my gift for the Old Lady, giving it to her ahead of me, what would I do?"
Zhou Shaojin blinked, only then realizing Cheng Chi was joking with her.
Her heart couldn't help but soar as she giggled softly and whispered, "Is Uncle Chi afraid I'll steal your credit?"
Just as Cheng Chi was about to speak, Qing Feng entered and reported, "Fourth Master, the young master has arrived and says he has urgent business to discuss with you."
Zhou Shaojin inwardly exclaimed, "How annoying!"
Now she couldn't continue talking with Uncle Chi!
Her face darkened, and without waiting for Cheng Chi to speak, she sprang to her feet and said, "Then I'll take my leave first!" Then she dashed out through the back door.
Cheng Chi watched her go, shaking his head with a smile.
This little girl didn't hide her feelings at all in front of him.
He smiled and instructed Qing Feng to invite Cheng Xu in.
Shortly after, Cheng Xu entered wearing a lotus-blue Hangzhou silk robe, his posture upright and his bearing imposing.
"Fourth Uncle!" He bowed to Cheng Chi, then said with a puzzled look in his eyes, "I... I think I just saw the Zhou family's second young lady..."Cheng Chi's study had a back door, but the Listening Oriole Pavilion did not; one could only enter and exit through the front Ruyi Gate.
Zhou Shaojin might have walked a bit too hastily. Although she did not run directly into Cheng Xu, her whereabouts were still confirmed in his eyes.
He smiled and said, "She came to ask me about some matters."
Cheng Xu waited.
But there was no follow-up.
He couldn’t help but ask anxiously, "What did Miss Zhou Shaojin come to ask you? How could she come to you?"
His tone made it seem as though Zhou Shaojin should not have appeared there.
A faint displeasure stirred in Cheng Chi’s heart, and he replied coldly, "What did you come to see me for?"
Cheng Xu didn’t take it to heart.
Cheng Chi had always been this aloof with others.
He hurriedly said, "Fourth Uncle, when I was in the capital, I met Lord Min Jianxing, the eldest son of the Min family. He holds you in very high regard. A few days ago, he even wrote to me, asking me to convey his greetings to you. He said that if you ever go to the capital, you must visit his home. I have a matter I’d like to ask Lord Min for help with, and you..." He paused briefly, "Could you put in a good word for me in front of Lord Min..."
Cheng Chi remained silent, simply gazing at him calmly.
His tranquil eyes were indifferent and unruffled.
Cheng Xu grew uneasy and picked up his teacup, taking several sips of tea in succession.
Cheng Chi then asked him, "How did you know that Old Madam Guan intended to keep Miss Zhou Shaojin at Jia Shu Hall?"
Cheng Xu was greatly startled and immediately stood up, saying, "Fourth Uncle, there’s no such thing!"
"Oh?" Cheng Chi raised an eyebrow and said, "So I misunderstood. When I first heard that your father had arranged a marriage for Cheng Yi without consulting me, I thought it was your mother’s idea. I never expected it was actually you who wrote to your mother, urging your father to arrange this match for Cheng Yi. I was puzzled—who informed you that Miss Zhou Shaojin might marry Cheng Yi?"
Cheng Xu tightly closed his mouth and said nothing.
A trace of disdain flickered in Cheng Chi’s eyes as he said, "Was it Cheng Lu who told you?"
If it weren’t for the need to conceal this from Old Madam Guo and prevent her from discovering Cheng Xu’s admiration for Zhou Shaojin, he would never have taken responsibility for this mess!
Cheng Xu lowered his head.
Silently admitting it.
Cheng Chi found it utterly vexing to look at him.
It seemed he had overestimated Cheng Xu and underestimated Cheng Lu!
With Wu Baozhang’s help, Cheng Lu’s ability to uncover his involvement was something he had anticipated. However, he hadn’t expected that Cheng Lu, even in dire straits and overwhelmed with troubles, would still find the time to unsettle Cheng Xu’s mind—letting him know about Old Madam Guan’s intention to betroth Zhou Shaojin to Cheng Yi, prompting Cheng Xu to write to question Madam Yuan and seek her help.
Madam Yuan was even more outrageous. To placate Cheng Xu, she urged her husband Cheng Jing to arrange a match for Cheng Yi without knowing the full story, treating a young lady’s marriage as a trivial matter. Did she ever consider Zhou Shaojin’s feelings?
It was clear that Zhou Shaojin’s escape from the Cheng family in her previous life was not without reason.
But this wasn’t what angered him the most.
Cheng Lu was his adversary, so it was natural for him to scheme against Cheng Xu; Madam Yuan and Cheng Xu were mother and son, so it was only right for her to help her son.
What angered him the most was his elder brother, Cheng Jing!
He had long ago warned Cheng Jing not to personally involve himself in arranging a match for Cheng Yi, as he had already made his own plans for this matter. Yet, swayed by his wife’s pillow talk, Cheng Jing had completely forgotten his warning and made a terrible move!
Now that the marriage between Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Yi had fallen through, Madam Yuan would surely propose another marriage alliance with the Min family in the coming days.Cheng Xu would definitely not agree.
He wanted to see just how Madam Yuan planned to handle this.
Cheng Chi felt an indescribable disappointment.
His mother had once made his eldest and second brothers swear before their father to treat him well for the rest of their lives!
Yet in the face of Madam Yuan, his eldest brother had ultimately failed to keep the promise he had made to him.
Suddenly, the image of Zhou Shaojin leaning against the doorframe, peeking out with half her face as she cautiously observed him, surfaced in Cheng Chi's mind... A warm current instantly flowed through his heart.
Perhaps in this world, only this little one had believed in him from beginning to end, the only person who had never doubted him.
Cheng Chi's gaze toward Cheng Xu grew several degrees colder.
He asked Cheng Xu in an even tone, "Then do you know Cheng Lu's intentions?"
※
Dear readers, here is today's update!
Tomorrow's update will continue around eight o'clock in the evening.
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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