Nаnnу Shаng hаd nо сhoicе but tо соugh lightlу twice, then еntеred with a smilе while cаrrуing tеа, sауing, "In such cоld weather, Fourth Mastеr, hаve а cuр оf tеа to wаrd оff thе сhill."
Сheng Сhi sat down on thе lаrge kаng by the window, whilе Zhou Shaоjin stood tо thе sidе instеаd, аs if hе were thе mаster оf this rеsidеncе.
Nannу Shаng couldn’t hеlр but glanсe at Zhou Shаojin.
Yet Zhou Shаоjin rеmainеd complеtеlу unawаrе, smiling brightlу аs shе аsked Сhеng Chi, "Нavе you hаd dinner уеt? Whеn did yоu аrrivе in Вaoding? Did Huаishan come with yоu? I’ll have somеone fеtch wаtеr for уou to freshen up and instruct the servants to prepare a guest room." She then added apologetically, "Today, everyone has gone out to enjoy the lantern festival, so it might take a little time."
Cheng Chi smiled and pointed to the kang opposite him, saying, "Sit down and talk! I just arrived in Baoding and came to see if you were home. I’ve been riding all day and am a bit tired. I don’t feel like eating much for now. Didn’t you mention something about horse-hoof cakes earlier? Have someone bring a small plate—I’ll have a few. Also, brew a pot of Laojun Mei tea. I’ll rest a bit before having dinner. There’s no need to prepare a guest room. I won’t be staying here this time—I’ll be staying at a friend’s house. We have some business dealings, and after all, this is the prefectural yamen, so coming and going isn’t very convenient. I’ll visit Lord Zhou once I’ve mostly settled my affairs."
Zhou Shaojin only heard him say he was tired and wanted horse-hoof cakes.
She hurriedly called a young maid to fetch them and asked Nanny Shang to brew a fresh pot of tea before sitting down and saying, "Has Xiao Zhenhai been found? Otherwise, why don’t you stay at the yamen?"
"Xiao Zhenhai is no longer in Baoding," Cheng Chi said. "I don’t know when he slipped away. I came this time precisely for this matter. Just listen and don’t mention it to Lord Zhou, so he doesn’t worry unnecessarily." He then added, "Whose clothes are you making?"
The sleeves were tiny, no more than three inches long.
Zhou Shaojin’s eyes and brows instantly softened like water. "They’re for my sister’s unborn baby."
If Shaojin were to become a mother, she would surely be a gentle and loving one!
Cheng Chi smiled faintly and said, "Since you’ve been obedient, staying home instead of going out to enjoy such a lively lantern festival, I’ll give you a little gift."
Zhou Shaojin flushed with embarrassment.
Hadn’t he told her not to go anywhere?
She had listened to him and stayed home, yet he spoke as if she were disobedient.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but pout.
Cheng Chi, however, turned and brought in a lotus-shaped glass lantern the size of a large bowl.
Its silver-gilt pole was carved with ginkgo leaves, and the transparent glass petals shimmered brilliantly under the candlelight, glowing with radiance.
"How beautiful!" Zhou Shaojin exclaimed in admiration, taking the lotus lantern. "Where did you buy it?"
"I had it made," Cheng Chi said with a smile. "Hang it by your bedside."
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly.
This lantern was clearly not one bought from the streets.
She asked curiously, "Uncle Chi, do you know someone who makes lanterns?"
Cheng Chi laughed. "Don’t forget, I’m a merchant."
Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips. "A scholarly merchant."
Cheng Chi chuckled.
Nanny Shang and the young maid brought in the tea and snacks.
Both looked surprised, unable to stop admiring the lantern. The young maid nearly dropped the plate.
Suppressing a smile, Zhou Shaojin personally took the tea from Nanny Shang’s hands and placed it before Cheng Chi.Cheng Chi simply didn't want Zhou Shaojin to worry. After washing his hands, he ate two water chestnut cakes, drank a few sips of tea, then stood up to take his leave. "I still have some matters to attend to. I'll come visit your father in a couple of days."
Zhou Shaojin knew he had important business and naturally didn't dare keep him. She had someone pack up the remaining water chestnut cakes for him to take, saying, "If you get hungry at night, you can have these to tide you over." She added, "Staying at someone else's place is always inconvenient. If you want to eat or drink anything, just send word. I'll have the kitchen prepare it for you."
Cheng Chi gave a slight nod and strode briskly away from Zhou Shaojin's residence.
Zhou Shaojin stood under the corridor until Cheng Chi's figure had long disappeared from sight. Only when she felt somewhat chilled did she return to her room at Nanny Shang's urging.
But back in her room, she had no heart for needlework. She lifted that lantern, looking at it over and over as if a flower were embroidered on it and she needed to count every stitch. It wasn't until Zhou Zhen and Madam Li returned that she finally instructed Nanny Shang to hang the lantern by her bedside and went to greet Zhou Zhen and Madam Li.
Zhou Zhen had bought her a gauze revolving lantern depicting the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, while Madam Li had bought her a rabbit lantern.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and thanked them, feeling that neither was as beautiful as the lotus lantern Cheng Chi had given her.
She told Zhou Zhen about Cheng Chi's visit.
Although Zhou Zhen was somewhat surprised, he wasn't shocked to the point of astonishment.
Hearing that Cheng Chi was staying at a friend's house, he thought for a moment and asked, "Did your Uncle Chi mention what his friend does?"
"No," Zhou Shaojin replied. She knew the people and affairs around Cheng Chi were somewhat complicated, so since he didn't volunteer information, she never asked, fearing she might inquire about something she shouldn't and displease Cheng Chi.
Zhou Zhen didn't press further.
But Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat uneasy and asked, "Father, is there something improper about Uncle Chi's situation?"
"That's hard to say," Zhou Zhen said. "Last year, the weather in Xi'an Prefecture was poor, leading to reduced grain yields. They had to transfer some grain from Huguang to maintain supplies for the nine frontier garrisons. Now it's spring planting season, but Xi'an Prefecture is facing a shortage of seed grain. If your Uncle Chi's friend is involved in grain production, they might be trying to transport some seed grain from here."
Zhou Shaojin asked, "Is Baoding Prefecture's grain yield particularly good?"
"Quite decent," Zhou Zhen replied. "Baoding Prefecture has enjoyed favorable weather these past few years."
Food is the paramount necessity of the people.
When the common folk have enough to eat and wear, her father's official duties also proceed more smoothly.
Zhou Zhen asked, "Then do you know where your Uncle Chi is staying?"
Zhou Shaojin shook her head, somewhat embarrassed. "I forgot to ask."
Zhou Zhen smiled. "That's alright. We can discuss it when he comes to visit me. If he really is involved in this business, I can introduce a few people to him so he doesn't have to run around needlessly."
Father and daughter chatted for a while longer before each went their separate ways.
But when Zhou Shaojin returned to her room, she saw Chunwan and the others gathered around the lotus lantern hanging by her bed, exclaiming in admiration.
Zhou Shaojin smiled radiantly, shooing them off to sleep. Yet curled up under her quilt, she gazed at that lotus lantern, smiling so much she couldn't sleep. She woke Bitao, who was on duty in her room, saying, "Go ask Xiao Que if the two orioles Uncle Chi gave me are doing well."
Xiao Que was the young servant Cheng Chi had originally sent to help her care for the birds. He now also helped tend to the snowball Jiying had given her.
Bitao rubbed her eyes, yawning as she got up. "I just went to check on those birds earlier. Xiao Que is taking extremely good care of them."Yet Zhou Shaojin still felt it would be more reassuring to go and see for herself.
After Bitao helped her dress, she went to check on the two birds, and only then did she settle down to rest with peace of mind.
Cheng Chi was staying at an inn not far from the Baoding Prefectural Office.
Since fifty or sixty percent of officials traveling north or south passed through Baoding Prefecture, this inn, though not large, was simply and elegantly decorated, with most rooms arranged in small courtyards.
Standing beside the steps of the main room, Cheng Chi gazed in the direction of Baoding Prefecture’s city wall and asked solemnly, “Are you certain Xiao Zhenhai is still in Baoding Prefecture?”
“Absolutely certain!” replied a man in his mid-twenties, dressed in a coarse short jacket, with an ordinary appearance but eyes as bright as cold stars. “I personally led men to guard outside the city. Even if a bird flew out of Baoding Prefecture, it wouldn’t escape our notice.”
Cheng Chi chuckled and said, “Then how many birds have flown out of Baoding Prefecture these past few days?”
The man replied earnestly, “Since it’s winter, a total of six hundred and fifty-four birds have flown out of Baoding Prefecture. Due to varying distances, it’s impossible to distinguish what kind of birds they were. Fifty-eight dogs crawled out from under the city wall, but we caught and ate them all…”
Huaishan was speechless.
Cheng Chi laughed heartily and said, “Good. I’ll await your good news.”
The young man bowed respectfully and withdrew.
Huaishan remarked, “Xu Mu of the Golden Sand Gang. His potential is limitless.”
Cheng Chi smiled without responding.
※
The next day, everyone in the prefectural office was discussing the lantern festival from the previous night, and the Zhou household was no exception. The servants who hadn’t been able to attend listened with envy. Fortunately, the lantern festival would continue until the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, so Madam Li simply arranged for the servants to take turns on duty, allowing everyone a chance to go out and enjoy themselves.
The servants of the Zhou household were overjoyed, praising Madam Li for her kindness and generosity.
Mrs. Tan visited Madam Li, bringing homemade yuanxiao (sweet rice dumplings), and asked about Zhou Shaojin, “Why didn’t I see your second young lady at the lantern festival yesterday?”
Whenever anyone inquired about Zhou Shaojin’s whereabouts, Madam Li immediately erected a mental shield. She hurriedly replied, “Our second young lady isn’t fond of crowds. She said that when she was in Jinling City, she often went to admire the lanterns and would always end up exhausted. This time, she wanted to rest at home. Our master agreed, so I couldn’t say anything more.”
Mrs. Tan smiled and said, “Your second young lady truly has a gentle temperament. Not like my two maids, who can’t sit still as soon as they hear there’s fun or food to be had.”
Madam Li knew that Mrs. Tan had two daughters, both still unmarried. When they had met during the lantern festival the previous day, Mrs. Tan had hinted that she wanted her daughters to get closer to Zhou Shaojin.
If not for the matter with Young Master Miao, Madam Li might have asked Zhou Shaojin for her opinion. But now, she pretended not to understand and skillfully changed the subject.
Mrs. Tan couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
After sitting for a while, she rose to take her leave.
Madam Li escorted Mrs. Tan to the doorway of the room.
A young maid came running over, panting heavily, and said, “Madam, Madam! The eldest son-in-law and the eldest young lady have arrived. Their carriage is parked right outside the gate. Please go and see!”
Her tone sounded as if she were shouting, “Something’s wrong!”Madam Li could no longer spare a thought for Mrs. Tan and said in a fluster, "Go quickly and fetch the master back." She then instructed Mama Li, "You hurry and tidy up the guest room. Let the second young lady know..." She hurried out, but after a few steps, as if remembering something, she stopped and turned back to Mama Li, saying, "Also, tell the kitchen to quickly prepare a feast. If there isn’t enough time, order one from outside... Never mind, never mind, the restaurant hasn’t opened yet. You all figure out a way to prepare a feast..."
Mama Li repeatedly agreed.
Madam Li half-ran out of the courtyard.
Mrs. Tan couldn’t help but curl her lip.
The New Year hadn’t even finished yet, and Lord Zhou’s eldest daughter, who had married into Zhenjiang, had returned to her maiden home with her husband. Who knew what had happened?
※
Sisters, here’s today’s extra update.
O(∩_∩)O~
You can read the update tomorrow morning!
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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