Uроn hearing Сhеng Сhi's wоrds, Zhоu Shaojin felt аs if а dazzling gold-inlаid treasurе bох аdоrnеd with a hundred рrecious floral pаttеrns was рlaсеd bеfоre hеr. Еvеn withоut оpеning it, she could imаginе the glittеring jewels inside, uttеrly entiсing.
She hesitаtеd аnd wаvеrеd, rеaching оut hеr hand оnlу tо withdraw it аgain.
Аftеr a long whilе, shе manаged to restrаin herself, lowеring hеr hеad аs she said, "I... I won't gо..."
Тhis rеspоnsе wаs ехаctlу whаt Chеng Chi hаd anticiрatеd.
With nо wоman mаnаging thе hоusehold affаirs in his home, what would it meаn for Shaojin tо follow him thеre?
Сhеng Chi smilеd and said, "I understand. You may go back."
Zhou Shaojin was taken aback.
Uncle Chi... was just letting her go like that?
Without trying to persuade her?
Without even asking her why?
Zhou Shaojin stood there, momentarily lost and confused, like a little lamb that had strayed from its path.
Seeing this, Cheng Chi’s heart softened. He spoke gently, "The New Year is approaching, and I must set off early tomorrow morning. You should spend the New Year peacefully in Baoding. If anything comes up, just give instructions to Nanny Shang, or wait until I return. If you face any grievances, there’s no need to argue with them—I’ll be here for you."
"What?" Zhou Shaojin widened her eyes. "You... you’re leaving tomorrow? In such heavy wind and snow, what if you catch a cold on the way? Why not... why not just stay with us for the New Year?" As she spoke, her eyes reddened with urgency. "And Xiao Zhenhai hasn’t been found yet. What if he tries to harm you?"
Seeing her on the verge of tears, Cheng Chi’s heart tightened. He smiled and said, "I’ve hired escorts from a security agency to accompany me back. We’ll travel along the official post roads, so nothing will happen."
Zhou Shaojin didn’t believe him at all and remained silent, staring at Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi felt his heart clench under her gaze. He had no choice but to step forward and gently stroke her dark hair, whispering, "Be good. Listen to me! I’ll be fine."
Zhou Shaojin still said nothing.
Cheng Chi sighed helplessly. "How about this—I’ll hire escorts from the Cangzhou Security Agency to accompany me back for the New Year. Is that alright?"
Zhou Shaojin thought of Jiying, who was from Cangzhou and had safely escorted Fan Qi back and forth between the capital and Jinling. Only then did she reluctantly nod.
Cheng Chi chuckled. "Such a temper! If I don’t agree to your terms, you won’t nod."
Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed hotly. She managed to mutter, "I’m just concerned about you," before lifting her skirt and running off.
Cheng Chi laughed heartily.
Outside the corridor, Huaishan’s eyes twitched.
Thinking that Cheng Chi’s mood had likely settled, he finally entered and said, "Fourth Master, there’s still no news of Xiao Zhenhai..."
That day, they had found Xiao Zhenhai in a low-end inn. Several elders of the Xiao family were detained, but Xiao Zhenhai had escaped.
Cheng Chi was in a good mood. He smiled and said, "Notify Xu Mu of the Golden Sand Gang to bring his men and surround Baoding. Let’s go home for the New Year first. We can deal with him after the Lantern Festival."
Huaishan acknowledged the order and breathed a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, Second Cousin had intervened and lightened the mood. Otherwise, if Cheng Chi had pursued the matter, no one would have been able to enjoy the New Year.
Despite Second Cousin’s gentle and soft demeanor, she was quite a good person.
He decided to invite Nanny Shang out of the estate to buy some local specialties, which could be given as gifts upon their return.
※Zhou Shaojin was rummaging through chests and cabinets in the room, urging Chunwan and Bitao: "Hurry and look, where on earth did I put that turquoise forehead scarf and the dark blue one? I clearly remember placing them with the fur-lined clothes for Sister Maomao—how could they have disappeared? Could they have gotten mixed in with Maomao’s clothes and been given to Sister? Even if Sister received them, she should have mentioned it to me..."
Chunwan quickly replied, "Second Miss, don’t worry. If they’re not in this chest, they must be in another one. We’ll just search slowly."
"Uncle Chi is leaving early tomorrow morning," Zhou Shaojin said anxiously. With the heated floor warming the room, beads of sweat formed on her forehead. "I had thought Uncle Chi would stay with us for the New Year, but now not only do I need to prepare gifts for Old Madam Guo and my maternal grandmother, but also for Aunt Mian and Sister-in-law Gao. What am I to do if I can’t find those forehead scarves?"
Indeed!
Gifts for others could be bought, but for Old Madam Guo and Old Madam Guan, especially Old Madam Guo, sending gold or silver was not as meaningful as gifting a hand-embroidered forehead scarf.
Xiao Tan also joined the search.
Yet, the movements of the group gradually slowed.
A brocade mirror pouch, a fragrant silk handkerchief, a snow-white satin pouch, a gilded ruby-scented ball, an ivory fan, a mother-of-pearl powder box, a glass perfume bottle... an array of exquisite and beautiful items, each one so lovely that even Xiao Tan couldn’t help but linger over them, admiring each piece a little longer.
Chunwan recalled when they had first moved into Cold Green Mountain House. Back then, Second Miss had only a small treasure box for trinkets, but now she needed chests to store everything... This made her even more convinced that the main branch of the family would not neglect Second Miss.
As the group searched meticulously, Madam Fan Liu walked in and asked curiously, "What are you all looking for?"
In her hands, she carried a bowl of bird’s nest soup with rock sugar.
The bird’s nest had been sent by Madam Li.
It was said to have been included in the Li family’s New Year gifts. Zhou Shaojin had repeatedly declined, but Madam Li insisted on giving it to her to nourish her health. It was only after Zhou Zhen intervened that Zhou Shaojin finally accepted it. Noticing that Zhou Shaojin’s throat had been slightly strained these past few days, Madam Fan Liu had stewed the bird’s nest with rock sugar to soothe it.
Chunwan hurriedly explained, "We can’t find the two forehead scarves Second Miss embroidered some time ago."
Madam Fan Liu placed the bird’s nest soup on the table and beckoned Zhou Shaojin over to drink it, saying, "Are they the two scarves—one turquoise and one dark blue—that were mixed in with Eldest Miss’s fur-lined clothes?"
"Yes, yes!" Chunwan and the others exclaimed excitedly, their eyes fixed intently on Madam Fan Liu.
Madam Fan Liu couldn’t help but laugh. "That day, I noticed the two forehead scarves mixed in with Eldest Miss’s fur-lined clothes, so I placed them with the other embroidery pieces Second Miss usually makes..."
Before she could finish, Chunwan and Xiao Tan flanked her, each grabbing one of her arms, and playfully scolded, "Nanny, you’ve nearly worried us to death..."
They distinctly remembered placing the scarves in the chest, only to find them missing.
But since Madam Fan Liu was the one who had tidied things up, they couldn’t very well complain.
Upon hearing this, Madam Fan Liu "tsked" at the two of them and said, "It’s almost the New Year—don’t say such things!"
The two girls tilted their heads and laughed, their expressions utterly charming.
Everyone joined in the laughter.
Madam Fan Liu then turned to Zhou Shaojin apologetically and said, "Second Miss, I’ll be more careful in the future. I won’t move things around carelessly."
Hearing this, Zhou Shaojin felt a pang of sadness in her heart.In her previous life, she only had Madam Fan Liu by her side, who managed everything, keeping her full of energy every day. Now, everyone around her was capable, and Madam Fan Liu no longer stood out. With nothing to do all day, she often thought of finding something to occupy herself.
After a moment of thought, she smiled and said, "It's not a big deal. In the future, if you feel something isn't right, just tell Chunwan and the others to fix it. I suppose you tidied things up because you thought I was leaving things around carelessly."
Madam Fan Liu’s face brightened, and she went to fetch the two forehead scarves with a smile.
Watching this, Nanny Shang felt a stir in her heart. She privately invited Madam Fan Liu over for tea and said, "Second Miss is growing up day by day. But after all, the mistress is not her birth mother, otherwise the matter with Young Master Miao wouldn’t have happened. I was originally a low-ranking nanny by Fourth Master’s side. He sent me here because he was worried Second Miss wouldn’t have anyone to fetch the footstool when she goes out. But you’re different—you nursed Second Miss and raised her. Second Miss respects you deeply, so in the future, you should still help look after her personal belongings."
Madam Fan Liu nodded repeatedly and gradually grew closer to Nanny Shang.
But that was for later.
At this moment, Zhou Shaojin had obtained the two forehead scarves. She wrapped them in plain soft satin and set them aside, planning to have Cheng Chi take them back tomorrow.
Madam Li, holding Zhou Youjin and accompanied by Mama Li, came over.
Seeing Chunwan and the others packing the trunks, she hurriedly asked, "What’s going on here?"
Zhou Shaojin didn’t elaborate, saying only, "I heard from Uncle Chi that we’re returning tomorrow, so I’m having him take back the forehead scarves I made earlier as a New Year’s congratulatory gift for the Old Madam and Grandmother."
Zhou Youjin wasn’t particularly fond of talking, but she especially loved playing with Zhou Shaojin’s jewelry. Seeing the mysterious, shimmering light of the cat’s eye earrings on Zhou Shaojin’s ears, she wriggled and threw herself into Zhou Shaojin’s arms.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and picked her up.
Zhou Youjin immediately reached out to tug at Zhou Shaojin’s earrings.
Madam Li grabbed Zhou Youjin’s hand and scolded, "If you keep pulling at your sister’s jewelry, I won’t bring you to see her anymore."
Zhou Youjin buried her head in Zhou Shaojin’s chest and said nothing.
Zhou Shaojin narrowed her eyes with a smile, placed Zhou Youjin on the kang, and said to her seriously, "You can play with other things, but if you swallow jewelry, it’ll be a disaster."
Zhou Youjin stared at her blankly.
Madam Li laughed and said, "Don’t bother with her. She doesn’t understand what you’re saying."
Zhou Shaojin still smiled at Zhou Youjin before inviting Madam Li to sit.
"I won’t sit," Madam Li said with a smile. "Just now, the master told me that Fourth Master Chi will return to Jinling City tomorrow. He was worried you’d go to the trouble of preparing gifts, so he specifically asked me to tell you that we’ll take care of the things for Nine Prosperities Lane. You don’t need to worry about it." She then handed her a gift list and said, "These are the gifts sent in your name. Take a look and see if anything needs to be added or removed."
They were all local specialties from Baoding. Zhou Shaojin thought they were fine and thanked Madam Li with a smile.
After a few polite words, Madam Li left, carrying the reluctant Zhou Youjin.
Chunwan and the others were puzzled as to why Madam Li had brought Zhou Youjin along, but Nanny Shang saw through it at once: "The mistress is probably afraid Second Miss is angry with her over the matter with Young Master Miao, so she brought Third Miss along, hoping Second Miss would let it go for her sister’s sake."
Seeing Zhou Shaojin smile without saying a word, Chunwan asked, "Second Miss, is what Nanny Shang said correct?"Zhou Shaojin nodded, but felt somewhat wistful inside.
In truth, Madam Li did not need to be so polite to her.
This was her home too.
Zhou Youjin was also her sister.
※
After seeing Cheng Chi off, the household began its spring cleaning.
Mrs. Huang came by, bringing two nuns with her. She claimed they were masters from Pu’an Temple, not only skilled in fortune-telling but also in treating illnesses, with particular expertise in pediatrics and gynecology.
Madam Li’s expression changed upon hearing this.
Back in her maiden home, she had seen such nuns who went door to door. They often took money to engage in shady dealings. Even her own family would not casually allow such people into their home.
With a few words, Madam Li sent them away. She sat there clutching her chest for a while before finally catching her breath.
※
Dear readers, here is today’s bonus update.
You can read the update tomorrow morning—that way, it’s more reliable.
O(∩_∩)O~
Typos have been corrected.
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel