Zhоu Shаоjin had an almоst instinсtive sensе about Сhеng Сhi's аffаirs.
Сheng Chi wаs not surprised but smiled, saying, "Yоu nоticеd!"
Thе рrеssurе from thе hаnd knеаding his shоulder grеw stronger.
"I thought уоu would dо this," Zhou Shaojin whisрered. "I'm аfraid it will offеnd mаnу реорle, won't it?"
"Yеs," Сheng Сhi sighеd. "Sо befоre dоing it, I wаnted to knоw if it's thе right thing to dо?"
"Is it really аbout right or wrong?" Zhоu Shаоjin said with а clever smilе. "Isn't it mоrе abоut rеsting bеfоrе thе storm hits?"
If hе wеre tо avоid doing somеthing merеlу оut of fеаr оf оffending others, hе wouldn't be so troubled.
Сheng Chi laughеd heartilу, toоk Zhоu Shaоjin's hand, and said nothing.
After that, Cheng Chi left early and returned late. On New Year's Eve, however, he did not go out and instead went with Zhou Shaojin to Apricot Grove Lane early in the morning.
Madam Yuan was inspecting the dishes for the ancestral offerings. Cheng Shao had already arrived and was sitting in the main hall chatting with Old Madam Guo.
Cheng Chi whispered to Zhou Shaojin with a smile, "Come with me to see Second Uncle!"
After a moment of thought, Zhou Shaojin said, "After I go with you to see Second Uncle, I’ll go help Sister-in-law, okay? It’s New Year’s Eve, and I’m a daughter-in-law too."
Cheng Chi nodded with a smile and said, "Our Shaojin has grown up!"
Zhou Shaojin glanced sideways at him and said, "As if I didn’t even understand such things."
Cheng Chi chuckled softly.
The couple entered the hall one after the other.
After paying respects to Cheng Xun and Old Madam Guo, Zhou Shaojin went to the kitchen.
Cheng Shao smiled and said, "Though Si Lang’s wife is young, she is very sensible."
Old Madam Guo smiled contentedly and modestly replied, "She’s quite obedient."
Cheng Shao nodded with a smile and spoke to Cheng Chi about Yang Shoushan: "...I heard his family is impoverished. If possible, let’s offer some relief? After all, we were colleagues once."
Cheng Chi smiled and agreed, then gave Cheng Shao a meaningful glance.
Cheng Shao understood. When it was about time, he excused himself to check on the study, accompanied by Cheng Chi as they left the hall.
The two walked slowly along the covered corridor, talking.
Suddenly, they encountered Cheng Wen and Cheng Nuo, along with their wives.
Cheng Shao was taken aback.
Cheng Chi had already guessed and said with a smile, "It seems Elder Brother and Sister-in-law invited Cousin Wen’s family to celebrate the New Year."
The New Year should be lively and bustling. After all, Cheng Jing and Cheng Wen were cousins, and now Cheng Wen was in the capital with his son and daughter-in-law. It was only proper to invite them for the New Year celebrations.
Cheng Shao nodded indifferently.
Cheng Wen hurried over in quick strides.
"Elder Brother and Sister-in-law saw us alone and invited us to celebrate the New Year together," he said cheerfully, bowing to the two. "How are you, Second Uncle? It’s been a while since I last saw you!" He added, "Zi Chuan, thank you for introducing me to those trading firms. Not only are their prices fair, but they are also good people—I managed to stock up before the New Year. The first day was a great success, earning over ten taels of silver. If things continue like this, my business has great potential! No wonder even the Grand Secretary’s family is thinking about starting a couple of good businesses!"
This was just the beginning, with everyone showing support to help out. It would be hard to say how things would fare in the long run. Success still depends on one’s own management skills!
Cheng Shao and Cheng Chi exchanged a glance. Cheng Chi smiled and said, "We’re family, no need for formalities. I hope your business prospers. Mother probably doesn’t know you’ve arrived yet, does she? Second Uncle and I are taking a stroll outside. Cousin Wen, why don’t you go greet Mother? She’s probably waiting for you!"Cheng Wen chuckled merrily as he led Cheng Nuo and Wu Baozhang to the main hall.
Cheng Chi and Cheng Shao, meanwhile, headed to the study.
Wu Baozhang was also a daughter-in-law of the family. Since she had come for the New Year's Eve dinner, she felt it inappropriate to remain seated in the main hall chatting with Cheng Wen and Old Madam Guo. After sitting for a while, she seized an opportunity to go help in the kitchen.
A young maid from the Cheng household led the way.
As soon as she entered the kitchen, Wu Baozhang saw Zhou Shaojin sitting on a small stool by the door, eating freshly steamed assorted New Year cakes. Her own maids surrounded her like stars around the moon. Another young maid stood nearby holding a soup bowl, while a matron fawned over her: "...I've long heard that the Chaoyang Gate residence hired a chef from Jiangnan. I wonder if these pastries suit your taste? Please try them! If there's anything unsatisfactory, just tell us directly. We'll adjust it right away. Old Madam will be staying with us for over a month yet! Although she never fusses over the quality of pastries, we kitchen workers would lose face if the dishes we prepare don't please the masters." She then took the soup bowl from the maid and presented it to Zhou Shaojin, saying, "This is red bean and jujube paste osmanthus soup. Made with authentic Shandong jujubes—sweet but not cloying. Fourth Madam, please taste it too and see if we should add more sugar."
Zhou Shaojin set her chopsticks aside and smiled. "The New Year cakes are very well made, but there are too many grapes, making them a bit sour. Old Madam is getting on in years and can't handle sourness well." She then picked up the sweet soup and took a sip. "There's a bit too much jujube, making it rough on the palate. It would be better with less."
The kitchen matron bowed and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Yes, yes."
Wu Baozhang watched with a cold sneer in her heart.
Zhou Shaojin truly had no sense of self-preservation, daring to critique the skills of the Cheng family's kitchen matrons?
She glanced around but saw neither Madam Yuan nor Madam Qiu.
After a moment's thought, Wu Baozhang decided to step forward and greet Zhou Shaojin.
At once, Zhou Shaojin understood that Madam Yuan had also invited Cheng Wen and his family to celebrate the New Year here. She did not rise, continuing to sit and eat her pastries while sipping her sweet soup, merely nodding slightly at Wu Baozhang.
Wu Baozhang felt displeased but suppressed her irritation, forcing a smile as she asked, "Why don't I see Aunt Jing or Aunt Wei?"
Zhou Shaojin replied, "Second Sister-in-law is cleaning the ancestral hall, and Eldest Sister-in-law has gone to check on her."
She neither asked when Wu Baozhang had arrived nor invited her to sit down for a cup of tea.
Wu Baozhang had no choice but to continue enduring it. She smiled at the kitchen matron and said, "What kind of sweet soup is this? It smells wonderfully fragrant and sweet!"
The kitchen matron smiled back. "It's red bean and jujube paste osmanthus soup," she said, quickly instructing the kitchen staff to bring over a bowl.
Zhou Shaojin paid her no mind, elegantly eating her sweet soup.
The matron then obsequiously brought over a small jihong-glazed bowl containing a chicken leg and whispered to Zhou Shaojin, "Fourth Madam, we made beggar's chicken. Would you like to try it and see if it's good?"
Zhou Shaojin glanced at it and laughed. "If you give me this chicken leg, won't the beggar's chicken be missing a leg when it's served at the table?"
The matron chuckled. "Oh, you flatter me! We don't make beggar's chicken often, and we were afraid it might turn out poorly and look unappealing on the table. We also worried there might be unexpected guests without enough dishes, so we made a few extra. Please, go ahead and eat. If you find it delicious, I'll tear off another chicken leg for you."At home during breakfast, Cheng Chi had insisted she eat two extra soup dumplings, worried she might get hungry if lunch was delayed. Having half a rice cake and a small bowl of sweet soup was fine, but eating a chicken leg was a bit much. Yet the old woman servant eagerly approached. With everyone in the kitchen watching, Zhou Shaojin felt too embarrassed to refuse her, so she smiled and accepted the bowl, tearing off two strips to taste. The flavor was truly excellent. She praised with a smile, "No wonder you’re in charge of the kitchen. Even if nothing else, your skill with this beggar’s chicken alone makes you stand out."
The old woman was so delighted she couldn’t stop grinning. She went to tear off another chicken leg for Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help laughing, saying, "Are you trying to make me skip lunch?"
The old woman chuckled and said, "Old Madam didn’t have breakfast until mid-morning, and the kitchen is busy preparing dishes for the ancestral rites. Lunch probably won’t be served until early afternoon. Have a little something now so you won’t go hungry later!" Only then did she remember Wu Baozhang was also there. After a moment’s thought, she instructed a young kitchen maid, "Go, slice some breast meat from that chicken for Eldest Grandson’s Wife!"
Wu Baozhang trembled with anger.
She wasn’t some poor family who’d never tasted chicken—how dare they offer her breast meat? And from what Zhou Shaojin had left behind...
"No need!" she said with a displeased expression. "I’m not a child, coming to the kitchen to scrounge for food. No need!"
Zhou Shaojin had no intention of paying her any attention. She handed the small crimson-glazed porcelain bowl to Chunwan, saying, "This beggar’s chicken is really delicious. You all should try some too."
Chunwan accepted it with a smile.
The old woman glanced at Wu Baozhang, then beamed at Chunwan, showing all her teeth. "There’s plenty more! If you like it, I’ll go carve another plate. How could we let you young ladies go without?"
Chunwan and the others thanked her cheerfully, but feeling it was somewhat improper, each took just one bite before setting down their chopsticks.
Amid the commotion, Madam Yuan arrived.
Zhou Shaojin called out, "Eldest Sister-in-law," while Wu Baozhang hurried forward to pay her respects.
With many tasks at hand today, Madam Yuan hadn’t noticed the kitchen situation. She nodded to Wu Baozhang, saying, "Nuo’s wife is here," then turned to Zhou Shaojin. "Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law is quite busy over there. Could you go lend a hand?"
Zhou Shaojin smiled and agreed, "Of course," rising to head toward the ancestral hall.
Wu Baozhang quickly said, "Eldest Aunt, perhaps I could help as well?"
"No need," Madam Yuan replied. "Those are for the ancestral rites. Shaojin can handle it. The kitchen is also chaotic. If you have nothing else to do, why not keep Old Madam company for a chat?"
Wu Baozhang smiled and agreed, "Yes," though her expression was somewhat awkward.
With the family branches separated, they were no longer one household.
Zhou Shaojin, as a daughter-in-law of the main branch, could assist in tidying the ancestral hall, while Wu Baozhang, as a guest, could only chat with Old Madam.
She went to the main hall.
Old Madam Guo was quizzing Cheng Nuo on his studies.
Cheng Nuo was sweating profusely under the questioning.
Old Madam Guo sighed and said, "Nuo, my child, even though your father plans to go into business, there are different levels in business as well. Being educated makes a great difference compared to lacking education. You must still devote some effort to your studies. If you truly dislike it, remember to encourage your children to study in the future. Our Cheng family has produced scholars generation after generation."
Cheng Nuo wiped his sweat and murmured his assent.
Wu Baozhang’s face burned with shame, feeling she had been utterly humiliated in front of everyone.
She turned and walked out without looking back.After walking a distance, she realized she had run all the way to the east courtyard.
The doors of the Cheng family ancestral hall were wide open. Zhou Shaojin was arranging the altar table while chatting with Madam Qiu.
Madam Qiu sat on a small stool, polishing the ritual vessels to be used in the ceremony later, and responded to Zhou Shaojin with a smile.
Wu Baozhang felt a lump of anger stuck in her chest.
Wasn’t Zhou Shaojin the newly married daughter-in-law?
Shouldn’t she be the one polishing the ritual vessels while Madam Qiu arranged the altar table?
Why was everything reversed when it came to Zhou Shaojin?
Her eyes couldn’t help but dart around.
Where had Cheng Xu gone?
The items for ancestral worship must not be handled by outsiders. As the eldest grandson of the main branch, Cheng Xu should also be here polishing the ritual vessels…
※
Dear readers, this is an extra chapter for TINALI.
Today’s update will be around ten o’clock in the evening.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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