Сhеng Хu wаndеred aimlеsslу аlоng thе tree-shadеd рath. Huаnxi cоuldn't hеlр аsking, "Yоung Мaster, whеre are we going?"
Aftеr а momеnt's thought, Сhеng Хu rеpliеd wistfullу, "Lеt's rеturn tо Duo Jiа Hall. I'll prасticе some cаlligraphу and latеr аsk Fоurth Unсlе fоr his guidаnce."
Сhеng Chi's саlligrаphу was quitе rеnowned аmоng the sсholars of Jinling Сity.
This would аlsо рrovidе another оррortunitу tо visit Fоurth Unсlе.
Нuanхi brеathеd a sigh оf relief.
If thе yоung mаstеr didn't study diligеntlу, thе mаdam would surelу think he had encourаged him to plаy insteаd.
Eаgеrly, hе suggested, "I've heard cherries and plums are now in season. Shall I buy some for you to taste?"
Huanxi's words reminded Cheng Xu.
He loved cherries, so his family always kept them in mind. The servants would find ways to purchase them from outside to offer him, his mother would specifically instruct Chief Steward Qin to procure the freshest ones from fruit growers, and even his grandmother would specially buy them for him when cherries came into season.
To please someone, one must cater to their preferences.
"Huanxi," Cheng Xu pondered aloud, "if I help her deal with the person she dislikes most, do you think she might stop being angry with me and view me differently?"
It took Huanxi a moment to realize that "she" referred to Zhou Shaojin. He smiled and said, "Of course. Doesn't the saying go, 'Offering fuel in snowy weather is harder than adding flowers to brocade'? What you're doing is like offering fuel in snowy weather!"
These words cheered Cheng Xu up. He patted Huanxi's shoulder and said, "Weren't you eyeing that pair of gold bracelets at Yong Fu Sheng last time? Later, go to Biyu and withdraw twenty taels of silver—consider it my reward."
"Really!" Huanxi was overjoyed and repeatedly expressed his gratitude.
Atop the small hill formed by Taihu rocks in the Hill of Clustered Cassia Courtyard, Huaishan, lean as withered bamboo, stood by the red-lacquered railing known as the Beauty's Rest. He watched Cheng Xu and Huanxi's figures gradually disappear into the green foliage before turning and entering the flower hall inscribed with the plaque "Pure Sound Pavilion." In a low voice, he reported, "Master, Young Master Xu has left."
The three-bay-wide flower hall had hexagonal plum-blossom-patterned window panes fitted with transparent glass, making it spacious and bright. Sunlight streamed directly inside, falling upon the man in an indigo-blue fine-cloth Daoist robe standing before the large writing desk. His fair skin resembled the finest flawless jade, lustrous and radiant, exuding an air of dignified nobility yet also a sense of aloof detachment.
"Is that so?" He set down his brush, examining the rice paper spread on the desk, and said lightly, "Didn't they say Wen De Pavilion produced a batch of fine ink this time? Have their shopkeeper send a few ingots for me to see." Huaishan acknowledged with a "Yes," hesitating as if wanting to say more.
Cheng Chi stood quietly before the writing desk, lifting his wrist to wield the brush.
In Pure Sound Pavilion, only the rustling of the brush on paper and the rustle of wind through leaves could be heard.
Huaishan stood silently for a while before quietly withdrawing.
In Jia Shu Hall, Zhou Chujin was speaking with Old Madam Guan about the matter at Three Branches Pavilion: "...Fortunately, we encountered Uncle Chi from the eldest branch, otherwise the situation might have been difficult to resolve.""That Eldest Young Master, I never expected him to be so reckless." Old Madam Guan found it somewhat hard to believe, frowning slightly as she said, "However, Fourth Master from the main branch, though cold and aloof, is very reliable in his actions—if he doesn’t intervene, he doesn’t, but once he does, there’s nothing he can’t accomplish. Especially in recent years, managing the family’s affairs, he has become increasingly capable. Since he has stepped in, you can rest assured—he would never speak of it. As for expressing gratitude, if you happen to meet him, you can test the waters with a word. If he shows no intention of discussing it further, don’t bring it up again. If you don’t encounter him, there’s no need to go out of your way to thank him. This man, to put it nicely, is above worldly concerns, with the refined air of the Jin and Wei dynasties; to put it bluntly, he’s eccentric and unruly, hardly sparing a glance for ordinary people. If he exchanges a few words with you, it’s because he thinks highly of you. If he doesn’t take a liking to you, even if you fawn over him, he won’t pay you any mind. Yet, he’s in charge of the family’s affairs, so ignoring him isn’t an option. Just look at Master Wen from the fifth branch. Everyone in the family keeps a respectful distance from him. You’ve never dealt with him before, but once you do, you’ll understand."
This was the first time her grandmother had ever evaluated someone in such a way.
Zhou Chujin was somewhat surprised, but she had always trusted her grandmother’s judgment. She smiled and replied, "Yes," then asked curiously, "Didn’t the main branch, the second branch, and the third branch divide the family? Even if one has to deal with Uncle Chi, that’s a matter for the main branch. What does it have to do with the fifth branch?"
Old Madam Guan laughed. "You don’t know this. Fourth Master Chi is also a god of wealth. After the main branch, second branch, and third branch divided the family, the third branch became independent, but the main branch and second branch remained together. Initially, Old Master Li from the second branch managed the affairs of both branches. Later, when Master Li of the second branch passed away from illness and your Uncle Yi was still young, the affairs of these two branches were taken over by Old Master Xun from the main branch. But Old Master Xun was an official in the capital—how could he manage such affairs? So, he pushed them back to the second branch. The patriarch of the second branch was at the peak of his career at the time and had no desire to take them on. The affairs of the two branches were passed back and forth until, in the end, there was no choice but to let Old Madam Guo manage them for a few years.
"Though Old Madam Guo was a woman of remarkable ability, she was still limited by her gender in certain matters. Within just three to five years, the third branch grew dominant, while the main branch and second branch barely managed to preserve the ancestral estate. It wasn’t until Fourth Master Chi took over that the fortunes of the main branch and second branch turned around, flourishing like a roaring fire. Not only did they add several acres of ancestral land, but they also started a banking business with people from Anhui. As the saying goes, ‘In the north, there is Li Wei; in the south, there is Yu Tai.’ ‘Li Wei’ refers to the ‘Wei’ banking house of the Li family in She County, while ‘Yu Tai’ refers to our Cheng family’s ‘Yu Tai’ banking house.
"Since the ‘Wei’ banking house was a partnership among several brothers of the Li family in She County, Fourth Master Chi suggested that our families also form a partnership. The Cheng family school can focus solely on scholarship without worrying about worldly matters, several masters can steadily advance in their official careers, and our branches can live increasingly prosperous lives—all thanks to the dividends from the ‘Yu Tai’ banking house. Even if Fourth Master Chi’s temper is as eccentric as ever, who would dare not endure it?" At the end of her words, Old Madam Guan laughed heartily.
Zhou Chujin had never heard of these matters before and couldn’t help but look surprised."These are all internal matters of our Cheng family," Old Madam Guan said with a smile. "You are the younger generation. Who would normally discuss such things with you when nothing is happening?"
Thus, the authority to speak fell to the eldest branch of the Cheng family.
Zhou Chujin, thinking of the awkwardness within the third branch over the past few years, asked doubtfully, "Did the third branch also join the partnership?"
"Who would turn down money?" Old Madam Guan replied with a laugh. "Originally, the eldest and second branches held the majority shares, while the third branch, our branch, and the fifth branch held smaller shares. But the third branch said that since they were relatives, going into business together might create unnecessary friction, so they chose not to join." As she spoke, her smile gradually faded, and she sighed with emotion. "At that time, your Uncle Mian was still focused on pursuing his scholarly career, and I was hoping he would bring glory to our family. Your Uncle Yuan was a reckless young man who understood nothing, so all the family affairs fell on my shoulders. I thought about your Uncle Mian needing to go to the capital for the imperial examinations and your Uncle Yuan needing to seek out a renowned teacher. It was a matter of life and death, and this was the only chance. So, I took out money to claim the third branch’s share. Who would have thought the fourth branch would prosper like this... Later, the third branch regretted it and shamelessly went to beg Old Madam Yuan. When Master Wen of the fifth branch caused trouble and tried to convert the bank’s shares into silver, the third branch finally had the opportunity to buy in. Even then, the eldest branch only allowed them to purchase half a share."
Zhou Chujin hadn’t expected Cheng Chi to be so capable.
No one in the Cheng family took pride in him, perhaps because he was engaged in merchant affairs?
Zhou Chujin felt somewhat sorry for him and said, "If Uncle Chi had pursued an official career, he would surely have become a Chief Minister of Revenue!"
Among civil officials, those skilled in mathematics were rare. Anyone with such talent would be treasured by the Ministry of Revenue. Even if nothing else, he could have at least risen to the rank of Vice Minister.
Old Madam Guan smiled and said, "Who says otherwise! But Fourth Master Chi said that since the Ministry of Revenue already had a Song Jingran, he wouldn’t go and add to the crowd. It was better to return home and manage his own family’s accounts."
Song Jingran, Song Xu, Minister of Revenue, Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion, Reader-in-Waiting of the Hanlin Academy, the renowned Chief Minister of Revenue of the realm.
Zhou Chujin clicked her tongue in amazement and said, "His tone is truly bold!"
Old Madam Guan chuckled twice and said, "Young people with talent—how could their tone not be bold..."
Before the old lady could finish her sentence, a young maid announced that Nanny Wang had returned. The topic shifted from Cheng Chi to Cold Green Mountain House: "...Young Master Xu knelt for the duration of an entire breakfast. When he came out, his legs were barely steady. Madam Yuan stood by without daring to utter a word and even excused Young Master Xu from the evening greetings."
Old Madam Guan couldn’t help but heave a long sigh and said, "After all, he has experience dealing with the outside world, so he acts decisively. Chujin, quietly tell Shaojin about this matter and reassure her not to worry. Old Madam Guo sees everything clearly, and Young Master Xu wouldn’t dare act recklessly. Also... regarding Young Master Xu’s affairs... she handled it very well... As for Madam Yuan, she likely has long had plans for Young Master Xu’s marriage. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have remained silent about it until now. Young Master Xu is already seventeen this year... As for her own marriage, don’t worry. I will carefully help her look into it!"
Zhou Chujin understood her grandmother’s meaning and took the opportunity to mention the matter of Cheng Lu as well.
Old Madam Guan was so furious she nearly fainted. With a livid face, she ordered Nanny Wang to summon Cheng Mian: "...It turns out we’ve raised an ungrateful wolf in our family. If we don’t take advantage of discovering this early to send him away, we’ll only be waiting to be bitten in return!"
Nanny Wang also felt the matter was of great importance and hurried to the outer courtyard.Who would have thought that Cheng Mian had been called away by the Second Branch's Old Ancestor to accompany guests at Wenmuxiang.
Old Madam Guan had no choice but to set the matter aside for the time being. She said to Zhou Chujin, "In any case, I won't let you sisters suffer any losses."
Zhou Chujin, of course, understood and thanked Old Madam Guan. After Zhou Shaojin arrived to pay her respects to Old Madam Guan, Zhou Chujin escorted Zhou Shaojin to school.
Along the way, she quietly relayed Old Madam Guan's instructions to Zhou Shaojin.
Only then did the heavy stone in Zhou Shaojin's heart finally settle.
Now that everything was out in the open, no one would believe any more tricks Cheng Lu might play, right?
Speaking of this, she had to thank Cheng Xu.
If it weren't for Cheng Xu telling her, she would likely have remained in the dark.
One good turn deserves another.
Since the events of her past life hadn't yet occurred, she and Cheng Xu could be considered even, with no debts between them!
Zhou Shaojin smiled brightly and parted ways with her sister at the entrance of Jing'an Studio.
But as she turned around, Cheng Jia wrapped an arm around her shoulder: "Why are you so late? What did you say to Pan Qing yesterday? Why did Pan Qing rush to Grandmother first thing this morning, saying something about how we sisters hadn't seen each other in a long time and wanted to attend classes together at Jing'an Studio like we did when we were little..."
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As for the issue of maternal and paternal uncles, I'll ask the older generation.
⊙﹏⊙b sweat
This could even spark a whole discussion thread...
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