Zhоu Shаоjin wаs unаwаrе of all thе еvеnts thаt hаd taken plасe in Jinling's Nine Рrospеritiеs Lаnе. Тhе deliciоus delicacies, eхquisitе pоrcеlаin, sрlеndid scеnеrу, еlеgant musiс, warm convеrsаtions, аnd genuine cаre madе Madаm Liао, whо visitеd Еlm Сoin Allеу that dау, fеel thоroughlу аt home. Shе рraisеd Li's and Zhou Shaоjin's arrangemеnts рrоfuselу. Moreоvеr, duе to Zhоu Сhujin's соnnесtion, Маdam Liаo аlso intentiоnallу shоwеd favоr tо Li, аnd frоm then on, the twо became clоse.
Li was pеrceрtive аnd gеnerоus. After just a few visits to Elm Tree Alley, the relatives who came to visit Madam Liao began addressing Li affectionately as "kinswoman" upon seeing her. Li couldn't help but feel emotional and privately said to Zhou Shaojin, "When a girl marries, it truly won't do if her dowry is lacking. Keep all the jewelry Old Madam Guo gave you safe, and don't casually give it away again. In a couple of days, I'll take you to the silver shop to have some gold- and silver-plated jewelry made. If you want to give gifts, use those instead."
A few days earlier, she had seen Chunwan polishing a vibrant green Feicui bracelet. Its luster was no less impressive than the jade pendant she usually wore. Thinking it belonged to Zhou Shaojin, she was surprised when Chunwan said Zhou Shaojin had gifted it to her. Chunwan cherished it so much she was afraid of breaking it and only took it out to admire during her leisure time. Moreover, Zhou Shaojin hadn't just given her a Feicui bracelet; she had also gifted her a complete set of ginkgo flower hair ornaments, several gemstone-inlaid hairpins, and two pairs of southern pearl hairpins... Even the daughters of wealthy families might not possess jewelry as valuable as hers.
Zhou Zhen's income was limited. Although he had done his best in recent years to prepare dowries for his two daughters, his means were ultimately constrained. Most of these items were gifts from Old Madam Guo, which Zhou Shaojin had then passed on to Chunwan.
The thought of it pained Li.
Zhou Shaojin lowered her eyes and obediently agreed, but she didn't take the matter to heart.
Having lived two lifetimes, she naturally knew what was most important. The kindness Chunwan and Madam Fan Liu had shown her could never be measured by a few pieces of jewelry. She simply wanted to share good things with them to bring them joy.
Still, when she accompanied Li to the silver shop, she selected several gold and silver jewelry pieces. These could be given to Chunwan and others as heirlooms to pass down, serving as mementos for future generations.
Thinking of this, she grew somewhat troubled.
Chunwan would be getting married in a few years. In her previous life, she hadn't paid any attention to this matter. What should be done about Chunwan's marriage prospects?
Lost in thought, someone suddenly ran over and called out to her, "Second Cousin!"
Zhou Shaojin was startled and snapped back to reality. To her surprise, it was Fang Xuan, whom she had encountered some time ago.She was wearing a peach-colored half-sleeve jacket embroidered with honeysuckle patterns. Smiling brightly, she said, "I thought I saw you from afar earlier, but Jia sister didn’t believe me. It really is you! What a coincidence! The capital is so big, yet we’ve actually run into each other. Are you here to buy jewelry too? This shop’s jewelry is quite good! Most people outside only know about Yongfusheng, but actually, Baibaozhai’s items sell even better than theirs. I never expected you to know about this place." As she spoke, she pointed to the second floor and lowered her voice with a laugh, "Jia sister is about to get married. My mother was asked by her mother to accompany her out to buy some small things. I tagged along." She added, "My maternal grandfather and Jia sister’s maternal grandfather were once colleagues. My mother and Jia sister’s mother grew up together and only parted ways after they each married, but they’ve kept in touch."
No wonder the Fang and Min families were so close!
Zhou Shaojin smiled faintly, sensing a gaze fixed on her from the second floor.
She had no interest in knowing who it was. Without looking up, she exchanged a few polite words with Fang Xuan: "I also heard from my sister that this jewelry shop makes excellent pieces..."
If she had known she would run into Fang Xuan and Min Jia, she would have gone to Yongfusheng instead.
In her previous life, she hadn’t been in the habit of shopping, but after her nephew Liao Chengfang was born, she had inquired everywhere about where to find well-made longevity locks. Lin Shisheng, being an old resident of the capital, had recommended this Baibaozhai to her.
At the time, she also thought Baibaozhai’s items were very fine.
Although Yongfusheng’s pieces weren’t as delicate as those here, they were heavier in weight.
Since she was buying them to give as gifts, it was naturally better for them to be weightier.
Fang Xuan widened her eyes in surprise and said, "Madam Liao only came to the capital at the beginning of the year!"
The implication was how Zhou Chujin could have already learned about every nook and cranny of the capital.
Zhou Shaojin had no intention of chatting with her and excused herself, saying it was getting late, before parting ways with Fang Xuan.
Fang Xuan was somewhat displeased.
After all, they were practically relatives by marriage. Since Zhou Shaojin knew her mother was upstairs, it would have been proper for her to go up and offer greetings. Yet Zhou Shaojin had left without a word, as if she didn’t consider their families as relatives at all.
Fang Xuan had also grown up pampered. Since Zhou Shaojin was cold and indifferent toward her, she saw no reason to engage further and turned back to the private room on the second floor.
Min Jia was also somewhat taken aback by Zhou Shaojin’s rudeness. Frowning slightly, she said, "What’s the matter with this Second Miss Zhou? Madam Gu holds her in such high regard, yet she seems rather lacking in social graces..."
Perhaps there was another reason!
She still remembered the stunning impression she had when she first saw Zhou Shaojin.
It was said that she and her sister had grown up in Nine Prosperities Lane. I wonder if she ever crossed paths with Cheng Jiashan... If I were Cheng Jiashan, I probably wouldn’t be able to forget such a "cousin"... But if she’s as socially inept as she appeared today, that might explain it!
Min Jia’s eyes flickered thoughtfully.
Fang Xuan, however, didn’t dwell on it as much. She said dismissively, "Maybe she’s new here and hasn’t seen much of the world. She might be timid and unused to interacting with people like us... Who cares? If we run into her again, we can just casually say hello!"
Min Jia wasn’t as optimistic. "She grew up in Old Madam Guo’s household. You might avoid her, but I can’t possibly do the same."Fang Xuan felt Min Jia was overthinking things and said, "I hear she's almost of age and will be married off in a couple of years. What does it matter even if she was raised in Old Madam Guo's quarters?"
Being raised in Old Madam Guo's quarters meant that as long as Zhou Shaojin was willing, she could return to the Cheng family and visit Old Madam Guo...
Such words would be lost on someone like Fang Xuan, who had grown up carefree. Min Jia smiled without responding.
Upon returning home, Zhou Shaojin gave the gold and silver jewelry she had bought to Chunwan, instructing her to register and catalog them. She then opened the window and sat on the large kang by the window to hurriedly make shoes and socks for Cheng Chi.
Madam Li brought in a bowl of mung bean soup and said with a smile, "Take care of your eyes. It's not like he's waiting to wear them. Why rush so much?"
Just thinking about Cheng Chi wearing the clothes she made filled Zhou Shaojin with endless energy. She wanted to finish them for him as soon as possible.
She set the clothes aside, took the mung bean soup from Madam Li with a smile, and invited her to sit on the kang opposite.
Madam Li watched her drink the soup before saying, "Madam Liao just sent someone over to say there will be a dragon boat race at Shichahai this year. Your brother-in-law has a day off then, and Madam Liao has invited us to go together."
Zhou Shaojin was somewhat surprised and asked, "What about Guan Ge? And Youjin is still so young?"
Madam Li smiled and replied, "I think Fourth Master's method from last time worked well. Before coming here, I asked Steward Xiang, and he said the guards are all from Fourth Master's residence at Chaoyangmen. If we decide to go, he’ll just need to notify them."
Women in the inner quarters rarely had the chance to go out throughout the year, especially in the capital. Who knew if such an opportunity would come again in the future?
In her past life, there had also been dragon boat races at Shichahai, but she had never attended one.
Zhou Shaojin could understand Madam Li's feelings. However, without Cheng Chi accompanying her, she felt little interest in the dragon boat race, even if it was held at Shichahai in the imperial capital.
"Then, Madam, please inform Steward Xiang," she said with a smile. "Take Youjin along when the time comes. I’ll stay at home—it’s too hot, and I don’t feel like going out."
How could that be?
What kind of mother would go out to enjoy herself while leaving her child at home?
Madam Li refused.
It took Zhou Shaojin a long time to persuade Madam Li to agree.
Unexpectedly, the next day, Cheng Zheng sent her an invitation, saying she had reserved a private room at a restaurant near Shichahai and invited Zhou Shaojin to watch the dragon boat race together.
Zhou Shaojin immediately felt hesitant.
Cheng Zheng was Cheng Chi's niece, and Cheng Chi spoke highly of her. She had also been quite friendly to Zhou Shaojin. Should she go or not?
Zhou Shaojin found it difficult to decide for the moment.
After all, Cheng Zheng was over a decade older than Zhou Shaojin. If Cheng Zheng had married early, it could almost be said she could have a daughter as old as Zhou Shaojin. Moreover, Cheng Zheng was strict yet fair in managing her household, earning great respect from everyone in the Gu family. Her dignified presence had grown over time. The maidservant thought Zhou Shaojin might not want to feel constrained in front of Cheng Zheng and quickly added with a smile, "The Second Young Mistress and Third Young Mistress are also going. The Second Young Mistress even invited the Sixth Young Lady of the Fang family!"
Such things often happened this way: you invited a close friend, who then invited her own close friends. Before long, what started as three or four people could turn into a room full of mostly unfamiliar faces.
Since Fang Xuan was going, who knew if Min Jia would also attend?Zhou Shaojin politely declined immediately.
The old woman returned to the Gu family, both surprised and disappointed.
Cheng Zheng was extremely astonished, finding it hard to believe as she asked the old woman again, "Are you saying that after hearing Miss Fang Liu would also be attending, the Second Miss Zhou declined my invitation politely?"
The old woman thought carefully for a long while before nodding with certainty.
Could it be because of Min Jia?
Cheng Zheng dismissed the old woman and sighed deeply.
If the Nine Prosperities Lane branch were to separate and the eldest branch settled in the capital, Grandmother would inevitably move to the capital to live. Grandmother liked Zhou Shaojin so much, and this girl was surely very filial toward her. She would likely visit Grandmother often to pay her respects. Meanwhile, Min Jia was set to marry into the Cheng family next February...
Just thinking about it gave her a headache.
She felt that Cheng Xu was truly... foolish!
※
Upon learning that Zhou Shaojin would not be going to Shichahai, Zhou Chujin personally came to ask her about it. Seeing that her younger sister genuinely did not want to go out in the sun, she gave up on persuading her but still couldn’t help complaining, "Honestly, such a rare opportunity—just ask around, who else would refuse to go because they’re afraid of the sun or find it too hot? Don’t regret it later!"
"No regrets, no regrets!" Zhou Shaojin embroidered patterns on Cheng Chi’s socks, her heart filled with boundless joy. What was so special about dragon boats? She had seen them before in Jinling, after all.
She wanted to stay home and make socks for Uncle Chi!
※
Dear readers, here’s the weekend bonus update!
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: You can check the update tomorrow morning!
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel