In the follоwing days, Zhоu Shаоjin wеnt tо thе residenсe near Chaoуаng Gatе evеrу dау to lеаrn mоunting tесhniques frоm Cheng Chi.
Unlikе thе innoсent plaуfulness from bеfore whеn thеу wеrе unаwаre of еаch оthеr's fеelings, аnd differеnt frоm the timid shynеss whеn affеction first blossоmed betweеn thеm, shе now fеlt much more nаturаl in his рresеnсе. Shе wоuld mаke hаrmlеss jokеs and gаze at him with tеnder аffесtion, bесоming mоre opеn and cheerful, like а young flowеr bud graduallу unfurling its bright pеtаls, revеaling vibrant colors and graceful charm.
Cheng Chi couldn't help but secretly rejoice.
Fortunately, he had met Shaojin early. If a few more years had passed, trying to shelter her under his wing would likely have faced far greater difficulties.
Of course, Cheng Chi had no way of knowing that in her previous life, Zhou Shaojin—who never met him—had withered away far too soon.
He cherished Zhou Shaojin as delicately as he would a fragile flower, his heart brimming with tender affection.
Meanwhile, Zhou Shaojin gradually developed a genuine interest in mounting.
If her initial fondness for the craft stemmed from being able to spend time with Cheng Chi, she now found it truly fascinating.
Large paintings required hanging scrolls, while smaller ones needed inset mounting; those with inscriptions required borders, while those without had to be trimmed. There were axes made of agarwood, sandalwood, or cedar; brocades like chubo, tower-pattern, or purple camel-flower; labels made of ivory, rhinoceros horn, or ox horn... The scroll rods had their intricacies, the backing had its techniques, even the labels for the scrolls had their specifics—and then there were the cases for storing scrolls, divided into cedar cases and sassafras cases... Just like her embroidery and dressmaking, there were endless combinations and countless details to consider. Zhou Shaojin felt as if she had fallen into a kaleidoscope, finding it all immensely interesting.
She even brought seven or eight ox-horn buttons to Madam Li, saying, "...Uncle Chi polished these himself in his spare time, saying they were leftover from making labels." Nowadays, she didn't even need to mention seeing Cheng Chi—just thinking of him made her heart feel warm. She couldn't help but praise, "I had no idea Uncle Chi could do such things. And I remember when Uncle Chi lived in the Hill of Clustered Cassia Courtyard, he even made a qin himself..." At this thought, she realized she hadn't yet asked Cheng Chi how that qin had turned out. She smiled sheepishly and continued, "Uncle Chi has so many wonderful things. These past few days, he's been carving a seal, saying he plans to give it to Father when you return to Baoding Prefecture. It's made from a fine piece of chicken-blood stone he obtained years ago, and the carp design on it was also carved by Uncle Chi himself. Every part was done by his own hands, with no help from anyone else."
It was actually on the day when Uncle Chi taught her how to recognize different materials for labels, mentioning that some scroll rods were inlaid with gemstones, and the conversation shifted to various types of stones. By chance, she learned that her father had once personally carved a chicken-blood stone seal for her engraved with the characters "Xiyan." That was when Uncle Chi decided to carve a seal for her father with the inscription "The highest good is like water."
The carp symbolized the legend of the carp leaping over the dragon gate, wishing her father a smooth official career and further advancement. Meanwhile, the phrase "The highest good is like water," taken from the Daodejing, encompassed principles of self-cultivation and conduct, subtly reminding him not to forget his foundational values even after becoming an official.Madam Li was not well-read. She did not understand the meaning of "the highest virtue is like water," but she knew the significance of "a carp leaping over the dragon gate." Moreover, while it was common for scholars to exchange seals as gifts, the seal knobs were either left uncarved in their original state or previously commissioned from master carvers. For someone like Cheng Chi to personally handle everything, even the work of artisans, was quite rare and spoke volumes about his carving skills. Additionally, since Madam Li's arrival in the capital, Cheng Chi had shown her constant care and consideration. Her impression of him was exceedingly favorable, and unconsciously, she found herself praising him. This matter was certainly worth praising, and she couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration, "That’s wonderful! Remember to thank Fourth Master Chi on behalf of the master." She couldn’t help but sigh with emotion, "No wonder Fourth Master Chi passed the imperial examination at such a young age—he truly is talented! There’s nothing he can’t do!"
Passing the imperial examination and carving had no direct connection whatsoever.
But both speakers were biased in favor of Cheng Chi, so they didn’t find their words inappropriate in the slightest.
Zhou Shaojin laughed and said, "Uncle Chi has so many interesting things! There’s an old jade-carved floral and peach-shaped water vessel—one peach is large, the other small. When water is poured into the large peach, it drips 'tick-tock' into the small peach. Once it finishes dripping, exactly a quarter of an hour has passed. Uncle Chi said he used it as a child. A quarter of an hour to write one large character—once the water finished dripping, the character had to be completed. If you pour water into the small peach, it drips into the large peach, but it takes three quarters of an hour—once the water finishes dripping, a page of small characters must be written... There’s also a pair of paperweights, made of some unknown material. They appear pitch black all over, but on cloudy days, they turn ink-green, with faint patterns visible inside, like rolling dark clouds. Uncle Chi said they were ancestral items, given to him by the old master, and he has been using them ever since. He also told me that if these paperweights encounter water, the entire basin will look as if ink has been dripped into it. I tried it myself and found that when the paperweights were placed in the water basin, the water turned pitch black. But when taken out, the clear water remained clear, and the paperweights were still the paperweights..."
"Such a thing exists?" Madam Li exclaimed in astonishment, unable to help but sigh, "Fourth Master truly lives up to being a scion of a noble family. Others might spend their entire lives without obtaining even one such item, yet he can casually produce one."
Zhou Shaojin nodded, looking as if she had entered a treasure trove.
She would be coming of age by the end of the year. Seeing her suddenly shine like a jewel out of its case, growing more beautiful by the day and possessing a graceful, willow-like elegance, Madam Li felt an inexplicable, faint worry. She wondered if she should advise Zhou Shaojin to visit Chaoyang Gate less often in the future. But seeing her face glowing with joy now, she felt she might be overthinking things... In this moment of hesitation, Zhou Shaojin had already taken out a peachwood plaque, two fingers wide, and handed it to her, saying, "I got this from Uncle Chi—'peace year after year.' Give it to Youjin to wear! Qing Feng said it was blessed by a master when Uncle Chi visited Mount Wutai that year, to ensure Youjin’s safety and smooth fortune!"
Madam Li saw that the plaque was carved with a treasure vase, inside which a willow branch was inserted. A drop of sweet dew hung from the tip of the willow, seemingly about to drip but not quite, carved so vividly that one couldn’t help but fear the drop would fall and want to catch it with their hand. It was clearly no ordinary object.
"How can this be!" she hurriedly pushed it back toward Zhou Shaojin.Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips and said, "Uncle Chi knows about it too. He even said I chose well. He mentioned that Youjin is still young, and wearing gold or silver would be too conspicuous, making her an easy target for petty thieves when she goes out. It’s better to wear this peachwood peace pendant—ordinary people won’t know its value, and those who do understand its worth would think twice before treating her with disrespect..."
These words truly resonated with Madam Li.
As the daughter of a merchant family, she had always felt somewhat insecure after marrying Zhou Zhen, who came from a scholarly background. She often worried about being looked down upon by the wives of Zhou Zhen’s colleagues and fellow scholars, and despite having a substantial dowry, she dared not spend it recklessly. Now, with this peace pendant, her daughter could walk with her head held high.
Madam Li no longer declined and accepted the peace pendant, unable to hold back her words: "Fourth Master Chi is such a fine man. I wonder which family’s daughter will be fortunate enough to marry him!"
Zhou Shaojin barely managed to stifle her laughter.
In the past, Madam Li had also said something similar, though it was phrased as, "Fourth Master Chi is such a fine man, how is it that he hasn’t married yet..."
Thinking of this, Zhou Shaojin’s cheeks flushed slightly.
Uncle Chi... had embraced her from behind, kissed her neck, and whispered in her ear... saying something like, "I must properly curry favor with my future father-in-law, mother-in-law, and sisters-in-law, so I can marry the beauty sooner..." She felt a tingling sensation, nearly melting into his arms...
How utterly infuriating!
One moment he was serious, the next he was acting foolishly—where was the steady composure he once had? And yet everyone still praised him so highly!
She silently grumbled to herself, yet her heart felt as if it were overflowing with sweetness, so much so that even the corners of her eyes and brows softened, brimming with tenderness.
Madam Li watched with growing concern.
Although she was married, she had never experienced such emotions herself. While she found it curious and felt uneasy, she didn’t know how to address it.
Amid her doubts, Elder Brother Li requested an audience.
She had no choice but to let Zhou Shaojin return to her room and went to the flower hall to meet Elder Brother Li.
Elder Brother Li paced back and forth in the flower hall, rubbing his hands together, unable to conceal his excitement.
Seeing his sister enter, he hurried forward and said, "I wrote to Father and told him about Fourth Master Cheng’s recommendation. Father suggested doubling the gifts for the hundred-day celebration of Eldest Sister’s son, Guan Ge... It’s not that I’m unwilling to spend the money, but I’m afraid of causing trouble by overshadowing the gifts from the Cheng family uncles. That’s why I came to ask you—what do you think is the best way to handle this?"
Madam Li wasn’t sure either.
She showed Elder Brother Li the peachwood peace pendant Zhou Shaojin had given her and explained the situation.
Elder Brother Li smiled wryly and said, "Where would I find something like this?"
Madam Li replied, "Then let’s just follow the original gift list for the hundred-day celebration. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future for you to repay the Cheng family, Elder Brother."
Elder Brother Li thought it over and readily agreed. He examined the peace pendant for a long time, praising it repeatedly, and then spoke of his future plans: "...I’ll also buy a residence here, so when you come to the capital for a short stay or when your elder nephews come to study in the capital, there will be someone to look after them."
Madam Li knew that her nephews had all been sent by their father to study, but she wasn’t sure whether they would receive support from the Zhou or Cheng families.
Still, buying a residence here was a good idea—it certainly wouldn’t be a loss.She gave a vague response. On the day of Guan Ge's hundred-day celebration, she dressed up carefully and went to Shuangyu Hutong with Zhou Shaojin, Zhou Youjin, and Uncle Li.
Among the in-laws—the Liao family of Zhen, the Fang family of Shucheng, and the Cheng family of Nine Prosperities Lane—Uncle Li appeared rather insignificant. Fortunately, Cheng Chi greeted him, which subtly shifted the way others looked at him.
Uncle Li felt disheartened but was even more grateful to Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi, however, was pulled aside by the Liao family's second elder in the capital, who whispered, "I heard Nine Prosperities Lane is planning to split the clan—is it true?"
Though such matters were hard to keep secret, Cheng Chi replied, "You’d have to ask my elder brother about that; I don’t involve myself much in these affairs."
The Liao family’s second elder quickly stated his position: "I don’t think splitting the clan is necessarily bad, but it’s best not to cause any embarrassment. If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know."
Cheng Chi smiled and agreed, though he didn’t take the words to heart.
The Liao family wasn’t in a position to make such remarks.
※
Sisters, here’s an extra update for the Dragon Boat Festival.
The update will be around five in the afternoon!
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel