Zhоu Shаоjin соuldn't hеlp but eхсhаngе а glance with Сhеng Chi.
Chеng Chi askеd, "Whаt еlsе did уоu find out?"
Fan Qi аlways felt somewhat nеrvоus when fаcing Сhеng Сhi. Нe tооk а dееp brеath beforе rеplуing, "I inquired about him. Нe clаims to be а sсhоlаr whо fаilеd the impеriаl eхаminаtion, with nо monеу to return hоmе, seеking a positiоn as a tutor оr асcоuntant. Coinсidеntаlly, thаt hоusеhоld nееded аn аcсountаnt. Somehоw, he mаnаgеd to реrsuаdе them, and without аny guarantor or рersonal rеcommеndatiоn, hе beсame their accountant."
Cheng Chi raised an eyebrow and called Huaishan in, saying, "Go draft a deed of sale. Have Fan Qi lead the way and make a trip to Wanping. Tell them that Cheng Lu is a runaway servant who embezzled our family's property. First, report him to the authorities and have him locked up in the prefectural office."
So ruthless!
Fan Qi glanced at Cheng Chi, then at Zhou Shaojin, and finally at Huaishan. Seeing all three of them looking completely unfazed, he couldn't help but shudder and hurriedly followed Huaishan out.
Cheng Chi knew Zhou Shaojin wouldn't argue with him, but he was still a little worried she might be too soft-hearted. He said, "Since we've already decided to deal with him, we mustn't show any mercy..."
Before he could finish, Zhou Shaojin nodded and said, "I know! That man is too malicious. If we let him go, it would be like releasing a tiger back into the mountains. Who knows when he might turn around and bite us. A moment of kindness on our part wouldn't bring peace; it might even land us in trouble."
Cheng Chi was very pleased and smiled as he kissed Zhou Shaojin's cheek. "I didn't expect my little girl to be so clever!"
Zhou Shaojin blushed.
Lately, Cheng Chi had been like this—sometimes kissing her face, sometimes her hand—tender and warm, making her not only enjoy it but also long for it.
But things didn't go smoothly.
That evening, Huaishan returned with a grim expression, saying, "We couldn't find Cheng Lu. He probably noticed Fan Qi following him. He disappeared early this morning. Aside from warm clothes and the silver he'd saved, he didn't take anything—not even his writing tools or a few pairs of old shoes and socks. When we told the household, they didn't believe us at first. It wasn't until he hadn't returned by the afternoon that they started searching through his things. They reportedly discovered that one or two dozen taels of loose silver were missing."
Fan Qi was filled with shame, his head nearly hanging to his chest.
Zhou Shaojin comforted him, saying, "It's alright, it's alright. At least he knows he can't stay in the capital anymore. As long as he stays far away from us and doesn't cause trouble, that's enough!"
Considering Fan Qi was part of Zhou Shaojin's dowry entourage and was just an ordinary person, Cheng Chi didn't hold it against him. Instead, he nodded with a gentle expression and said to Fan Qi, "Just be more careful in the future. Go with Huaishan to sketch a portrait of Cheng Lu. I'll have my people keep an eye out."
Fan Qi was overjoyed and withdrew with Huaishan, filled with a sense of guilt and a desire to make amends.
Cheng Chi then reminded her, "It's easy to dodge an open attack, but hard to guard against a hidden arrow. You must be careful when going out from now on. It's best to bring Nanny Shang along."
Having witnessed Nanny Shang's skills, Zhou Shaojin naturally agreed without hesitation.
Someone from Xinglin Hutong came to deliver an invitation. It said Cheng Xu was getting married and asked Zhou Shaojin to come help. However, the messenger also added, "The Madam said that everything must please the Old Lady first. If the Old Lady has matters to attend to, the Fourth Madam should prioritize handling the Old Lady's affairs."In the end, it all came down to this: not inviting Zhou Shaojin would make others say the sisters-in-law were not close, but inviting her over was something they truly did not want to do.
Zhou Shaojin felt displeased.
Madam Yuan did not want her to go. And she herself was just worrying about not having an excuse to avoid it!
"Go back and tell Madam that I thank her for her consideration," she said gently to the messenger woman. "But I really cannot leave Old Madam's side, so I won’t be going over to help. When the bride comes to pay respects to Old Madam, I will give her the greeting gift together with Old Madam."
Didn’t she want her not to go?
Then she simply wouldn’t go.
Upon hearing this, the woman dared not even lift her head, feeling how unlucky she was to be assigned such a difficult task—Madam had asked the Fourth Madam to stay here and serve Old Madam, and now the Fourth Madam said she wouldn’t attend the bride’s family recognition either. If the bride came to kowtow and acknowledge Old Madam, she would give the greeting gift; otherwise, there was no need for this recognition at all!
Who would have thought that the Fourth Madam, who appeared gentle and delicate, was not someone to be pushed around.
The most pitiful one was herself. The First Madam’s words were conveyed orally, and the Fourth Madam’s words were also conveyed orally. When the Fourth Madam did not attend the wedding over there, relatives and family friends were sure to ask. The First Madam might push her forward, but she could neither repeat the First Madam’s words nor the Fourth Madam’s words. Wouldn’t she end up being seen as two-faced?
The woman timidly agreed and retreated in fear.
Chunwan, who had been listening nearby, was furious. As soon as the woman stepped out of the room, she said, "What does Madam Yuan mean by this? What will we say if others ask?"
Zhou Shaojin took a leisurely sip of tea and said, "What’s so hard to say? No one can deny that Old Madam is here with us, and no one can fault me for serving Old Madam here. Even if there is a fault, it’s her son’s wedding. If she isn’t afraid of losing face, why should I be!"
Chunwan thought it made sense and couldn’t help but chuckle.
Zhou Shaojin shot her a glance and smiled, saying, "Alright, alright, let’s go to Old Madam. We must inform her about this, or she might think I didn’t want to help!"
Thinking she still held a grudge against Cheng Xu.
Chunwan cheerfully agreed, helped Zhou Shaojin freshen up and dress, and they went to Old Madam Guo’s place.
Cheng Wei had moved, Cheng Xu was about to marry, and Cheng Rang would soon be engaged. Old Madam Guo felt life was blooming like a tapestry, full of hope.
When Zhou Shaojin arrived, Old Madam Guo was trying on clothes. Seeing her, she smiled and waved her over, saying, "What do you think of me wearing this on the day of the family recognition?"
It was a dark green Hangzhou silk robe with a double-happiness and treasure-vase pattern.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and praised it, saying, "It would be even better paired with some festive jewelry."
Old Madam Guo smiled and asked Zhenzhu to bring over her jewelry box, saying, "You’ve hit the nail on the head—I originally thought of wearing that set of emeralds, but I felt the color was a bit too dark."
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "That set of mutton-fat jade would be perfect."
Old Madam Guo laughed, "I’d forgotten about that set." She told Zhenzhu to take the key and open the storeroom, adding, "I remember I also have a set of pink agate jewelry from my younger days. Bring it out for Shaojin."Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "I'm not here to ask you for jewelry. Fourth Master usually buys me jewelry too."
Old Madam Guo laughed, "I'm giving this to you so you can pass it down to your sons, daughters, and daughters-in-law later, letting them know it was left by their grandmother."
Zhou Shaojin immediately flushed bright red.
Si Lang truly liked her very much.
Last night when she took the initiative, Si Lang was delighted.
She refused to believe she couldn't succeed.
Seeing her expression, Old Madam Guo chuckled heartily, extremely satisfied.
Noticing the old lady's happiness, Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment. She swallowed back what Madam Yuan had said, only mentioning that in a couple of days she would accompany Madam Qiu to meet the Xie family's young lady.
Old Madam Guo understood even better than her, saying, "If I'm not mistaken, it should be either the Xie family's third or fourth young lady. I've inquired too. Although Magistrate Xie's family is not wealthy, they uphold proper family values. The two daughters already married out have good reputations in their husbands' families. When taking a wife, virtue matters more than dowry. If her character is good, don't focus on worldly possessions. People are the foundation of a family."
Zhou Shaojin respectfully agreed.
On the appointed day, she went to Daxiangguo Temple with Cheng Jia and Cheng Sheng.
Just as Old Madam Guo had said, the one meeting Cheng Rang was the Xie family's third young lady. She was of medium height with fair, delicate skin. Her face was still somewhat round, with a hint of baby fat, but her eyes were large, clear, and bright. Her movements carried a youthful liveliness and lightness, clearly a child raised in a loving family with a kind mother and caring brothers.
Zhou Shaojin liked her at first sight.
Madam Qiu and Cheng Sheng also liked her. Cheng Sheng even teased Zhou Shaojin, "See, she's only two months younger than you."
The Xie family's third young lady's given name was "Jue," and she had her hair-pinning ceremony on the fourth day of the month.
Having been teased by Cheng Sheng often, Zhou Shaojin had grown thicker-skinned. She quickly coughed lightly, pretending seriousness, and said, "Whether she's two months younger or six years older than me, she'd still have to call me 'Aunt.'" As she spoke, she glanced at Cheng Sheng.
Cheng Sheng was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing, reaching to pinch Zhou Shaojin's cheek, and complained to Madam Qiu, "Mother, Aunt is bullying me!"
Zhou Shaojin giggled and dodged.
Cheng Sheng was six years older than her.
Watching from the side, Madam Qiu laughed continuously, paying them no mind, and said to the third daughter-in-law of Wu Zaoxiu, Madam Wu the Third, who had been invited to help with the matchmaking, "When would be convenient for the Xie family? Let's have the two children's birth characters matched!"
This meant they had taken a liking to her.
Madam Wu the Third beamed with joy, saying, "I'll go tell the Xie family right away!" But her eyes couldn't help drifting toward Zhou Shaojin, and she said somewhat enviously to Madam Qiu, "You sisters-in-law are really close."
Madam Qiu glanced at Zhou Shaojin, who was being tickled by her daughter but dared not resist much due to her daughter's pregnancy, then looked at Cheng Jia, who stood watching the fun with her hands on her hips and her belly protruding, and laughed, "She's still young! I treat her like a daughter."
Hearing this, Madam Wu the Third smiled and said, "I wonder what good fortune the Xie family's third young lady cultivated in past lives to marry into your family."
Madam Qiu smiled with pursed lips.
Since Madam Wu the Third still needed to relay the message to the Xie family, Madam Qiu took Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Sheng to have vegetarian food at Daxiangguo Temple before returning.
Zhou Shaojin went straight to Tingxiang Courtyard and told Old Madam Guo about the meeting's outcome, admiringly saying, "You are truly remarkable, Old Madam! If only you had been there!"
In the future, when she needed to find wives for sons or marry off daughters, she would definitely seek the old madam's opinion.
Seeing her dependent manner, Old Madam Guo couldn't help but laugh, though she felt very pleased inside.The Cheng and Xie families began discussing the betrothal arrangements.
Zhou Shaojin visited Cheng Wei’s home a few times, but spent the rest of her time accompanying Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo had also noticed something unusual.
She quietly asked Nanny Lu, “Why hasn’t Shaojin gone to Xinglin Alley to help?”
Zhou Shaojin had not deliberately concealed anything, so Madam Yuan’s words naturally could not escape the notice of experienced elders like Nanny Lu at Chaoyang Gate.
Nanny Lu tactfully explained the situation to Old Madam Guo.
After hearing it, Old Madam Guo remained silent for a long while before finally saying, “Then let Shaojin stay by my side. I do need someone to attend to me here.” Her expression was calm, and her tone gentle, but Nanny Lu, who had served her for decades, inwardly sighed for Madam Yuan.
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