Аftеr саtсhing hеr brеath, Mаdаm Li grеw inсrеasingly uneаsу about thе matter.
Whеn shе аnd Zhоu Zhеn hаd served in Nаnchang, Jiangnan, they аlsо lived in thе offiсiаl rеsidеncе, nеighbоring thе wivеs of vаrious clerks. Тhоugh their bаckgrounds differеd—some wеre Buddhist, оthеrs Таоist—аnd оccаsiоnallу nuns оr fеmalе Tаоist priests wоuld сomе seeking alms, nоne dared ореnly сlaim exреrtisе in pеdiаtriсs оr gуnеcоlоgy. Wаsn’t Mrs. Нuang being tоo bоld bу sаying sо?
Rесаlling Cheng Chi’s wоrds, Madam Li thought it ovеr carefullу and evеntuallу tоld Zhou Zhеn about it.
Zhou Zhen’s expression shifted slightly. Seeing Madam Li’s eager gaze fixed on him, he thought of her background and understanding, and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. “You did well in this matter,” he said. “Offspring are ultimately determined by fate. If I am destined to have only three daughters, that is the will of the Bodhisattva. We must not act recklessly or cause unnecessary trouble. If doing so were to diminish our blessings, shorten our lives, or ruin the family’s fortunes, it would be putting the cart before the horse.”
In other words, even if Madam Li bore no more children, he would not take a concubine to seek a son.
“Master!” Madam Li was instantly moved, her eyes brimming with tears, and for a long moment, she was speechless.
Zhou Zhen said, “The New Year is approaching, and there’s still much to do at home. If you’re too busy, you can ask Shaojin to help. She grew up in Nine Prosperities Lane and, though she has never managed a household herself, has observed elders handling affairs. This is also a good opportunity for her to learn household management and accounting—skills she’ll need in the future.”
Previously, he had hoped Old Madam Guo would arrange a good marriage for his second daughter, but that was no longer possible. He had to make plans early.
But families like the Miaos or Qians, who had only held minor official posts for a single term, with sons who showed no promise—it would be no surprise if they fell into decline in a few years. They were even inferior to the Zhou family, so how could they protect Shaojin?
The marriage prospects would have to be sought in the capital.
But he had been away from the capital for many years and knew few people there. Even among those he knew, it was unlikely he could arrange a marriage as favorable as the one for his eldest daughter, who had married into the Liao family.
Thinking of this, Zhou Zhen felt a headache coming on.
Seeing Zhou Zhen’s grave expression, Madam Li knew he must be worried about household matters. Feeling ashamed, she dared not say more and excused herself from the inner hall. As she stepped out, she caught sight of Zhou Zhen’s study.
Unable to resist, she entered the study, found a small portrait of Madam Zhuang, and examined it carefully for a long time.
Only after meeting Zhou Shaojin did she realize the portrait was somewhat inaccurate.
It was said that Zhou Shaojin resembled her mother only seven or eight parts out of ten, and Madam Zhuang was even more beautiful than Zhou Shaojin.
The figure in the portrait was lovely, but not even eighty percent as beautiful as Zhou Shaojin.
Yet her gaze was as gentle as water, so vivid it seemed alive. Presumably, she often looked at Zhou Zhen with such eyes. When Zhou Zhen painted her, this gaze must have left the deepest impression…
Madam Li’s heart ached.
She thought Madam Zhuang truly had a tragic fate—beauty fated to die young.
Married to such a good husband as Zhou Zhen, yet she passed away early, leaving behind a motherless daughter…
She wiped the small portrait of Madam Zhuang with a handkerchief and gently placed it back.
All feelings of jealousy she once harbored were now gone.
Upon returning, she invited Zhou Shaojin to help manage the household affairs together.Although she had lived two lifetimes, Zhou Shaojin had never truly managed household affairs—when she first married Lin Shisheng, there was Madam Lin in charge. It wasn't her place, and she was too disheartened to care; later at the estate, with Lin Shaojin handling external matters and Mama Zheng managing internal affairs, she still remained uninvolved. Now, watching the servant women report to Madam Li about how much fish cost per catty and how much it had risen compared to usual; how much meat cost per catty and how many coins more expensive it was; how many catties of fish and meat the household needed to prepare, how many chickens and ducks, and the need to buy pepper, salt, and other supplies—she found it all quite fascinating and listened with keen interest.
Most of these servant women were dowry attendants from the Zhou family, but they were perceptive. Seeing Zhou Shaojin's interest, they explained in even greater detail, down to what pepper was and where the salt consumed in the household came from. Thus, she officially began assisting Madam Li, drafting menus for spring banquets and directing maids and servants in preparing New Year supplies.
By the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhou Zhen had sealed his official seal, and the family gathered for a reunion dinner. Afterward, Zhou Zhen took his two daughters to play in the study.
Though called "play," Zhou Shaojin had always been quiet in both her past and present lives—she could sit there flipping through a casual book all day. In contrast, Zhou Youjin, who rarely had her father's company, clung to Zhou Zhen's embrace every day, refusing anyone else, as her father was tall and being held by him allowed her to see farther.
Zhou Zhen read the Classic of Filial Piety aloud to Zhou Youjin.
But Zhou Youjin clung tightly to Zhou Zhen's blue-and-white porcelain-handled wolf-hair brush.
Zhou Shaojin smiled faintly and said, "Father, you really shouldn't use this kind of brush. Uncle Chi said, well, the handle is too heavy. It's fine for display, but writing with it is too strenuous."
In truth, Cheng Chi had said only fools used such brushes.
Zhou Zhen laughed and replied, "They say it's a new style from Wende Pavilion in recent years, a gift from someone."
Cheng Chi had remarked that Wende Pavilion had nothing better to do—once they started selling fine brushes and ink, they began peddling their reputation.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "Then you should keep it to give as a gift. Why use it yourself?"
As father and daughter chatted and laughed, a young servant entered to announce that Scholar Chang had come seeking an audience.
Zhou Zhen's expression darkened slightly, though his voice remained calm as he instructed the servant, "Tell him I have guests and ask him to return after the New Year."
The servant withdrew.
Zhou Zhen observed Zhou Shaojin, noting the serene expression between her brows as she spoke softly to Zhou Youjin. Only then did he feel reassured.
Such sordid matters need not be known to his daughter.
With a daughter in the family, a hundred suitors come knocking. He had initially not wanted to offend others casually, lest it give his daughter a bad reputation and hinder future marriage prospects. But now, he felt this Scholar Chang must have water in his brain. If he didn't teach him a lesson, the man would likely think himself the only clever person in the world, with everyone else being fools.
※
After ancestral worship on New Year's Eve, Zhou Zhen became busy.
He presided over spring plowing rituals, paid New Year visits to esteemed elders of Baoding's scholarly community, attended spring banquets hosted by literati and poets, and entertained invitations from subordinates and local gentry. By the thirteenth day of the first lunar month, with Scholar Chang funding and organizing, Baoding held a lantern festival.
A nine-story-tall lantern tower stood on Baoding's busiest street, illuminating half the sky.
Madam Li, holding Zhou Youjin, asked Zhou Shaojin once more, "Are you really not going to see the lanterns? In previous years, Baoding's lanterns were never this spectacular. Your father also said we shouldn't give up eating for fear of choking—we can't stop living our lives because of those petty people..."But Zhou Shaojin remained unmoved, smiling gently as she said, "It's too cold outside. I really don't feel like going out."
Madam Li thought for a moment and replied, "Then I'll stay home to keep you company!"
Zhou Shaojin looked at Zhou Youjin, who was gazing at her with wide, clear eyes, and said with a smile, "Little sister has probably never seen such a magnificent lantern festival before, right? You should take her to see the lanterns. I'll stay home and do some needlework before going to bed." As she spoke, she remembered that Madam Fan Liu and the others had come with her to Baoding Prefecture but hadn't really had a chance to go out. She added, "Mama Fan and Chunwan, you should go too. Just leave Nanny Shang here to keep me company."
Naturally, Chunwan and the others were unwilling to leave Zhou Shaojin alone at home.
It took Zhou Shaojin quite some persuasion before Madam Fan Liu and the others finally agreed to go out with Madam Li.
She sat under the lamplight, working on her needlework.
From outside came the occasional bursts of firecrackers, along with loud cheers and clamor, making the quiet and desolate atmosphere of the official residence's rear courtyard even more pronounced.
Nanny Shang brought over a bowl of red date and blood glutinous rice porridge for Zhou Shaojin. Seeing her sitting alone in the room, her shadow elongated by the lamplight, Nanny Shang felt a chill from her fingertips straight to her heart.
She couldn't help but soften her voice and ask, "Second Miss, are you really not going out to see the lanterns? If you're worried about the crowds, I can accompany you."
"Really, there's no need," Zhou Shaojin looked up and smiled at her, her expression gentle and lovely. "I don't like going out."
This face of hers was too much of a liability.
With Uncle Chi not in Baoding, she felt a vague unease in her heart.
Seeing her sincerity, Nanny Shang, though filled with pity, didn't press her further. Since she wasn't skilled at needlework, she simply sat with Zhou Shaojin, chatting idly with her.
Time passed quickly.
Before long, Zhou Shaojin had finished sewing one sleeve.
Noticing that the tea had grown cold, Nanny Shang stood up to brew a fresh pot for her.
Zhou Shaojin quickly threaded her needle and began sewing the other sleeve.
Soft footsteps echoed in the room, gradually drawing closer to her.
At this hour, the only person who would enter her room was Nanny Shang.
Without looking up, Zhou Shaojin continued chatting softly with Nanny Shang, "...I wonder how Uncle Chi is doing? Last year in Jinling Prefecture, they only put out a few lanterns for show. I wonder if they'll hold a lantern festival this year? But even if Jinling Prefecture does hold one, Uncle Chi definitely wouldn't attend. Hmm, the Old Madam probably wouldn't go either." She sighed and looked up, her words abruptly cutting off. Her almond-shaped eyes widened as if struck by lightning.
Cheng Chi, dressed in a stone-blue cloth robe, chuckled softly and said, "What's wrong? Have you forgotten me after just one Spring Festival apart?"
"Uncle Chi!" Zhou Shaojin sprang to her feet, stammering, "How... how are you here?"
Yet inside, her heart fluttered like a little bird, thumping with excitement.
Her face flushed with warmth as she stumbled over her words, "When did you arrive? Why didn't you send a servant ahead to let us know? Have you had dinner yet? The kitchen still has rock sugar bird's nest stewing, and there should be some water chestnut cakes left. Would you like to have a little? Does Father know you're here? I'll send someone to inform him right away..."
Watching the flustered and utterly delighted Zhou Shaojin, Cheng Chi suddenly felt that his decision to leave home before the New Year celebrations had ended was rather a good one.
He surveyed Zhou Shaojin's sitting room.A small cloth tiger, tracing paper with patterns drawn on it, a rosewood frame for embroidery threads—her little things were scattered everywhere.
It was somewhat messy, yet very cozy.
But Zhou Shaojin felt the room was too untidy and was terribly embarrassed. She hurriedly began tidying up the fallen tracing paper, muttering softly as she did so, "I just took these out to use and casually left them here..."
Cheng Chi casually picked up a sheet and asked, "What is this? It looks like an orchid, or perhaps a carnation..."
Hearing this, Zhou Shaojin forgot about tidying the paper and quickly leaned in, asking, "Really? Does it really look like an orchid and a carnation?"
Cheng Chi replied, "I think it somewhat resembles..."
Zhou Shaojin deflated and whispered, "I... I was drawing wisteria..."
Huh?!
Cheng Chi said, "Aren't wisteria flowers clustered together in strings?"
How could it possibly be wisteria?
Zhou Shaojin explained softly, "When they cluster together, they look like strings, but individually they look like this..."
"Really?" Cheng Chi examined the pattern more carefully.
Nanny Shang, who had followed Cheng Chi in carrying tea, couldn't help but mutter to herself.
Shouldn't they be discussing how Fourth Master got in at a time like this? Or at least talk about why Fourth Master came! How did the two of them end up discussing the appearance of wisteria and orchids instead?
※
Dear readers, corrected typos...
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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