Сheng Wei wаs sоmеwhаt surрrised.
Grandfathеrs fаvor the еldest grandsоn, раrеnts dоtе on the уoungest son.
He was thе middlе child, gеntle in tеmреrаment, аnd his hаrd-wоn sоn wаs not аn excерtionаlly outstanding сhild. Madаm Yuan was соmреtitivе bу nаture, so hе hаd few dеmаnds оf his son.
Вut pаrеnts worry thеir whоle livеs, hoping onlу that their childrеn саn live wеll without their cаrе.
Тo rесеivе his mоthеr's guidanсе would surеly grеatly bеnefit his sоn in dеаling with pеорlе and handling affаirs.
Cheng Wei quickly аgreed.
Chеng Chi said nоthing morе.
Сheng Jing hаd always believed that for a family to prosper, each generation must support the next.
If Cheng Rang had this fortune, with both brothers joining forces, outsiders would also regard the Cheng family more highly.
He greatly approved of Cheng Chi's proposal.
The three brothers then went to the outer courtyard study to accompany Cheng Shao for tea.
Inside the room, Cheng Zheng asked about the clan division.
After all, as a married daughter, she was caught between her husband's family and her natal family—both were dear to her.
Old Madam Guo smiled and said, "Don't concern yourself with this matter. If the Gu family asks, just say you don't know."
Cheng Zheng felt bitter in her heart.
Regardless of whether the division succeeded or not, the blame for dividing the clan would likely fall on her mother, Madam Yuan.
But she also understood it was too late to say anything now.
Cheng Zheng took Old Madam Guo's hand and began to sob: "I know my mother's temperament. Not even I, nor even you, can easily persuade her... But she is still my mother, I cannot stand by and watch her suffer. I dare not ask for much else, only beg you, Grandmother, for the sake of Jiashan being your eldest grandson—please save him!"
Old Madam Guo remained silent for a long while.
Back when Madam Yuan entered the family and gave birth to her eldest daughter Cheng Zheng, she showed no signs of pregnancy for several years afterward. She prayed to gods and Buddhas, only to give birth to another daughter. Naturally, she grew extremely anxious. Besides seeking medical advice, she frequented various temples, with no mood or time to care for her two daughters. Seeing this, Old Madam Guo took Cheng Zheng and Cheng Xiao into her own quarters to raise and educate them. By the time Madam Yuan gave birth to Cheng Xu, Cheng Zheng was already a twelve-year-old girl. Even Cheng Xiao had grown sensible by then, feeling closer to Old Madam Guo than to Madam Yuan. In the first few years, Madam Yuan was busy caring for her only son Cheng Xu and didn't notice. By the time she realized, Cheng Zheng had already married, and Cheng Xiao was about to be betrothed.
This was also why Cheng Xiao married her own cousin Yuan Ming.
Thus, when it came to Cheng Xu, she guarded against Old Madam Guo as if against a thief. Not only did she prevent Old Madam Guo from having any say in her son's food, clothing, or expenses, but even when it came to his early education and studies, she refused to let Old Madam Guo intervene.
Old Madam Guo had initially advised her a few times, urging her not only to care about the child's studies but also to ensure he could stand tall and take responsibility when stepping into the world.
Madam Yuan agreed verbally but continued as before.
Yet Cheng Xu excelled in his studies; others spoke of him with high praise, even Cheng Jing. Caught between the two, he also wore a troubled expression.
It was Old Madam Guan from the fourth branch who privately advised Old Madam Guo, "Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes; too much interference breeds resentment." At that time, Old Madam Guo was overwhelmed with worries about Cheng Chi and could only helplessly wave it off, though she did begin to visit Old Madam Guan more often.Now that Cheng Zheng was asking her to discipline Cheng Xu, it was likely she had calculated that with Madam Yuan making such a fuss, it would ultimately reflect poorly on her virtue as a wife. If she then took over the responsibility of guiding Cheng Xu, neither Madam Yuan nor Cheng Jing would dare to refuse at this point.
But Old Madam Guo had already grown disheartened and did not wish to take on the task.
Just considering Cheng Zheng and Cheng Xiao, whom she had raised with her own hands—though they were filial to her—if she truly had a conflict with Madam Yuan, they would likely side more with Madam Yuan. It wasn’t that these children were at fault; it was simply human nature, something no one could avoid.
It wasn’t as if she had no sons of her own.
When the Eldest Young Master had her stay here, neither the Second Young Master nor Si Lang had uttered a word!
It was clear that blood ties ran deepest. Otherwise, why had the debate between "the kindness of birth" and "the kindness of upbringing" persisted since ancient times?
With Cheng Zheng’s intelligence and understanding of Old Madam Guo, she could naturally guess four or five parts of the old madam’s thoughts.
Without waiting for Old Madam Guo to speak, she said, "Grandmother, I know this matter puts you in a difficult position. I don’t dare hope that Jiashan can excel in every way like Father, Second Uncle, and Fourth Uncle. I only wish for him to strive and prove himself. If you see there’s still hope for him, please offer him some guidance."
Old Madam Guo thought of that face, once as radiant as midsummer but now as silent as snow, and her heart softened with pity. She couldn’t help but sigh deeply and said, "Let’s wait until Jiashan arrives in the capital to discuss this further."
Seeing that Old Madam Guo’s tone had softened, Cheng Zheng was overjoyed. She took the old madam’s hand and thanked her repeatedly.
Old Madam Guo looked at her and smiled as well, sighing, "Silly child, it’s just that this puts you in a difficult position."
"As long as the family can live together in harmony, how can it be considered difficult?" Cheng Zheng replied with a smile. "Besides, Grandmother is an extraordinary woman, no less remarkable than any man. With your guidance, he might even surpass Father..."
She coaxed Old Madam Guo so skillfully that even Madam Wei, who had just changed her clothes and entered the room, couldn’t help but laugh.
The three of them chatted about family matters until a young maid came to announce that Gu Xu had arrived. The conversation then dispersed, and the maid was instructed to bring Gu Xu and his two sons in to pay their respects to Old Madam Guo.
※
Meanwhile, at Yuqian Lane, Zhou Shaojin was feeling restless.
Cheng Chi had business to attend to today and couldn’t accompany her, while Madam Li had set the date for the first day of the sixth month to return to Baoding, saying she couldn’t miss Zhou Zhen’s birthday.
Madam Li’s elder brother had finally managed to speak with a young eunuch serving Liu Yong, asking him to pass on a message to Liu Yong about wanting to become a royal merchant.
The current emperor disliked eunuchs and kept those around him under tight control. Even Liu Yong, the grand eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, dared not act recklessly.
He had previously served in the Wine and Vinegar Bureau, and after more than a decade, his influence there was complete. He asked the Li family if they had any wine or vinegar business. If they did, he could put in a word for them.
As it happened, the Li family owned a winery, and a rather large one at that. Their wine was not only well-known in Jiujiang but also had some reputation throughout Jiangxi.
Elder Brother Li was a businessman. Not long after Guan Ge’s hundred-day celebration, he had already negotiated the details of supplying wine with the Wine and Vinegar Bureau.
Otherwise, Madam Li wouldn’t have delayed her departure until the sixth month!
Elder Brother Li wanted to travel with them and then visit Zhou Zhen in Baoding to inform him of Cheng Chi’s kindness—he understood perfectly well that without the Zhou family, the Cheng family wouldn’t have given him a second glance.Zhou Shaojin couldn't settle down even while doing needlework, so she simply put aside her embroidery. Leaning against the large cushion by the window, she gazed blankly at the newly planted crabapple tree before the steps.
Just what exactly had Uncle Chi gone off to do?
He had always been elusive, disappearing for days at a time to close a business deal...
She somewhat regretted not questioning the maid who brought the news more thoroughly.
At least then she would have known when Uncle Chi would return!
Zhou Shaojin then recalled how Cheng Chi had embraced her from behind while telling her about the mounting work.
Her face instantly flushed hot, and she inwardly cursed Cheng Chi, thinking, That man always likes to get handsy with me, so why am I hoping for his return? If he doesn't come back, I’ll have a few days of peace to properly review what he taught me.
She understood this logically, yet she couldn’t stop thinking about him!
This must be what it means to be deeply in love!
As she thought this, her face grew even redder.
A small pebble clattered against the glazed window lattice.
Zhou Shaojin didn’t notice it at first.
But the pebble kept hitting the glazed window lattice at intervals, as if some mischievous child was amusing themselves this way.
Frowning, Zhou Shaojin told Jixiang to go out and check.
Jixiang looked around but found nothing.
The clattering sound also stopped.
As soon as Jixiang came back inside, the clattering started again.
Zhou Shaojin was about to order Jixiang to call the guards when a beautiful face suddenly appeared outside the window lattice, wearing a resentful expression. "Shaoji, how old are you really? You don’t act like a young girl at all! I threw so many pebbles, and you didn’t even show a bit of curiosity. Not only did you not come out to check, but you even sent your maid to fetch the guards..."
"Jiying!" Zhou Shaojin exclaimed, both startled and delighted. She pushed open the already slightly ajar window lattice and said urgently, "When did you arrive in the capital? Uncle Chi mentioned you’d be back soon, but you never showed up! Have you returned home yet? How are your father, brother, and sister-in-law treating you?"
Her words came out in a rapid, machine-gun-like stream.
Jiying smiled faintly, waiting for her to finish before answering evasively, "Do you already know about my situation?"
Zhou Shaojin was confused. "Know about what?"
A blush spread across Jiying’s cheeks. Standing outside the window lattice, she began speaking with Zhou Shaojin: "...My family wants me to marry Qin Ziping, but I refuse... That scoundrel Qin Ziping agreed. He had promised me he’d reject this marriage, but then he turned around and ran off. Our families have already discussed the betrothal gifts, and I was confined to the embroidery tower. I barely managed to escape.
"I came here this time to settle accounts with Qin Ziping.
"I want to ask him why he went back on his word.
"But your Uncle Chi isn’t home.
"Shaoji, have you heard any news about Qin Ziping?"
Zhou Shaojin shook her head. "I can ask Uncle Chi for you!" Then she advised, "I think Qin Ziping is quite nice. Do you really dislike him that much?"
Jiying blushed and remained silent, only saying, "Then please help me ask about Qin Ziping’s whereabouts."Seeing Zhou Shaojin nod, she continued complaining, "Actually, this whole matter is all Uncle Chi's fault. Why did he have to play matchmaker for me?" She added, "You might not know this, but the Qin family aren't servants of the Cheng family. They're commoners with proper household registrations—they've just been working for the Cheng family all along. Now, not only can I not find Qin Ziping or Qin Zi'an, but I haven't seen any other members of the Qin family either. The last time I saw Qin Ziping, he said their family might split into separate branches. Their branch and Second Great-Uncle's branch might return to their ancestral home in Sichuan to farm, while his Third Great-Uncle's branch might stay on to serve the Cheng family. Do you think he might have secretly gone back to Sichuan? If they expect me to marry that far away, not even the Jade Emperor himself could make me agree!"
It was all contradictory talk.
Clearly, this marriage proposal wasn't as full of resentment as Jiying made it sound.
Zhou Shaojin smiled at Jiying and said, "It's so awkward talking like this across the window lattice! Why don't you come in for a cup of tea?"
Jiying stepped inside.
Zhou Shaojin instructed the little maid to serve tea.
The little maid stared wide-eyed at Jiying, who had suddenly appeared in her room.
※
Dear readers, an extra update for the Dragon Boat Festival!
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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