Аlthоugh Мin Jiа hаd сompоsеd hеrsеlf bеfore entеring, hеr exрression still арреаrеd somewhаt stiff.
Zhou Shaojin looked uр аnd saw hеr, then соuldn't hеlр but ask Сhеng Shеng, "Whаt's wrоng with her? Shе's been loоking sullеn sincе earlier."
If shе's unwell, she shоuldn't have соmе. Sinсе shе did сome, shе shоuldn't be shоwing suсh а faсe tо еveryоnе.
Chеng Sheng whisperеd, "Perhaрs it's bесausе of matters with hеr nаtаl familу... Fаng Хuаn hаs rеturned tо hеr pаrents' hоme agаin, and it's bееn аlmost оvеr а mоnth now. I heard shе had a dispute with her еlder sister-in-law."
Аgain?!
Zhou Shаojin sаid, "Рerhаps it's because she's an only child?"
"Hmm!" Cheng Sheng chuckled softly. "They say that Min Juren, aside from her own elder brother Min Zhuangyuan, has never held anyone else in high regard!"
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said no more, going over to see A Bao and A Ren.
The two little ones were sitting properly at the small kang table set up especially for them, being fed by their wet nurses.
Seeing her approach, the two little ones beamed and called out "Grandaunt" to her.
Zhou Shaojin fell silent for a moment.
Cheng Sheng, who had followed her over, doubled over with laughter.
Zhou Shaojin pinched Cheng Sheng's waist and said, "You're still laughing!"
Cheng Sheng giggled and ran out, leaning on Old Madam Guo's shoulder as she said, "Grandmother, your daughter-in-law hit me!"
Zhou Shaojin, who had just walked out of the resting room, flushed crimson upon hearing this, her face like a red lotus.
Cheng Xu, who heard the commotion, happened to look up and was momentarily stunned.
Min Jia's chopsticks plunged deeply into the rice in her bowl.
Madam Yuan shot Cheng Xu a warning glance, but unfortunately, Cheng Xu's gaze was fixed on Zhou Shaojin and he didn't notice.
Madam Qiu didn't notice either.
She chided Cheng Sheng with a smile, "You're already a mother, yet you still act like a child. What will Jinjiang think if he sees you like this?" As she spoke, as if afraid her son-in-law would blame her, she pointed to the silverfish egg custard on the table and said with a smile, "Try this, it was specially sent by the Wu family."
Silverfish are a specialty of the Jiangnan region and are not found in the north.
Peng Zao and Cheng Sheng were a young couple from well-matched families, sharing similar interests and tastes. Their relationship was very good, and he found his wife's behavior lively rather than inappropriate.
He didn't mind, smiling as he said, "Don't tease Auntie, Auntie is still with child!"
Old Madam Guo also pretended to be displeased and patted Cheng Sheng's hand, saying, "Your auntie has such a gentle temperament, I knew it must be you causing trouble!"
Cheng Sheng complained unhappily, "I knew it, you all take Auntie's side. Clearly, I'm the one who was wronged, yet you still side with her."
"How old are you!" Madam Qiu couldn't help but laugh. "Still quarreling with your auntie." As she spoke, she pulled her and said, "Hurry up and eat your meal. Otherwise, you won't be allowed to come back to your natal home in the future."
Cheng Sheng then called out to Zhou Shaojin, "See how much my mother dotes on you. She doesn't even want me anymore."
Zhou Shaojin replied, "See if you dare bully me again in the future!"
Old Madam Guo and the others burst into laughter. Even Cheng Xu couldn't help but smile. Only Madam Yuan and Min Jia looked uncomfortable. Min Jia, in particular, felt she couldn't stay there a moment longer. She said, "Excuse me for a moment," and hurried out of the hall.
Everyone thought she had gone to the washroom and didn't pay it any mind.
Madam Yuan then pulled Cheng Xu aside to speak with him.
Cheng Xu gave a couple of vague responses before leaving Madam Yuan and heading toward Old Madam Guo, who was playing with A Bao and A Ren. "Grandmother, I have to go to the academy this afternoon, so I'll take my leave now. I'll come see you again when I have some free time in a couple of days."Peng Zao asked in surprise, "With such heavy snow, didn't your teacher give you a break?"
"We did get a break," Cheng Xu replied with a smile. "But when I left, the teacher said he had something to discuss with me and asked me to come back in the afternoon."
Cheng Xu was the son of a Grand Secretary. The teacher was a scholar, and no scholar was without ambitions for an official career.
Peng Zao said nothing more and saw Cheng Xu off together with Cheng Rang.
Min Jia sat for a while longer before rising to take her leave. "The snow is getting heavier. I'd better go back and check on things. The rear courtyard at home hasn't been repaired for many years, and I'm afraid the roof might collapse under the snow."
Madam Yuan also had no intention of staying longer.
Madam Qiu saw the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law off on behalf of Old Madam Guo.
Min Jia probed Madam Yuan, "Mother, what did you say to my husband earlier? I noticed he seemed somewhat displeased. Should I try to console him?"
"No need!" Madam Yuan replied stiffly. "I merely asked about his studies."
Min Jia did not believe this at all.
At his core, Cheng Xu was quite a gentle person.
Yet regarding the matter between Cheng Xu and Zhou Shaojin, she had been unable to uncover any information.
Cheng Xu would not willingly tarnish his own reputation.
That meant the matter had been suppressed.
Those who knew were no longer serving in the Cheng household, and those within the Cheng family who were aware kept their mouths shut, never speaking of it to outsiders.
Logically, she should let the matter rest.
But she had always been stubborn since childhood. Without understanding the situation clearly, she could not continue living with Cheng Xu.
Or perhaps, deep down, she was merely seeking an excuse to accept Cheng Xu.
Thinking of this, Min Jia felt a pang of sorrow.
Meanwhile, at Chaoyang Gate, the departure of Cheng Xu's family did not dampen the atmosphere. Instead, with Peng Zao sincerely seeking Old Madam Guo's scholarly advice, Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Sheng playing with A Bao and A Ren, the place remained lively. Even Cheng Rang, shedding his usual shyness, excitedly shared stories from the academy with his mother, Madam Qiu, appearing very happy.
Madam Qiu was deeply grateful to Old Madam Guo.
If not for Old Madam Guo, she would likely have sent her son to Shuanglu Academy, where Cheng Xu and Peng Zao studied. Her son was not exceptionally gifted, and there he would surely be overshadowed by many clever students like Cheng Xu, growing increasingly insecure and losing confidence.
Sanming Academy was just right.
They could afford it, and Cheng Rang could take his time with his studies.
Thinking of this, Madam Qiu remembered Xie Jue, who was soon to become her daughter-in-law.
If her son did not excel, she would have to treat her daughter-in-law well.
She consulted Zhou Shaojin, "What do you think about me giving my dowry estate to the third Miss Xie?"
Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment and said, "It might be better to give it gradually. If you give it all at once, what will you have left to offer her if she faces difficulties later?"
"That's true," Madam Qiu nodded with a smile and brought up another matter. "Uncle sent me two thousand taels in silver notes the other day, saying it was for A Bao and A Ren's expenses. How could I accept it? But that Secretary Wu insisted I take it, so I had no choice but to accept... Now I don't know what to do."
Zhou Shaojin advised her, "Uncle must be very grateful to you, sister-in-law, and considering the burden of raising two children, he sent the money. I think you should accept it. It will ease Uncle's mind."The two of them chattered away, talking about nothing but everyday matters. Yet Zhou Shaojin was immensely pleased, feeling that this was what it truly meant to be a member of the Cheng family.
※
Meanwhile, Wu Baozhang over at Xizhimen was having a rather difficult time.
With the New Year fast approaching, Cheng Lu had already taken three hundred taels of silver from her, and now he was demanding another five hundred. He assured her that this would be the last time he would ever ask her for money and that he would never trouble her again.
Of course, she didn’t believe him.
But Cheng Lu had come to her repeatedly, each time pressing her more urgently. On one occasion, even knowing that Cheng Nuo was about to return, he stubbornly refused to leave, acting as though he was ready to bring everything crashing down. Terrified by his behavior, she not only handed over the remaining two hundred taels of her private savings but also pawned some of her jewelry. Secretly, she even had Cheng Nuo’s attendant borrow three hundred taels from the silk shop next to the Cheng family’s tea store in Cheng Nuo’s name. Only then did she manage to send Cheng Lu away.
The end of the year was a time when silver was needed everywhere.
She had no money left at all.
If Cheng Lu came asking for more, she would have no choice but to cut ties with him completely.
Wu Baozhang was filled with anxiety and resentment, bracing herself for a confrontation with Cheng Lu.
But to her surprise, even after the Laba Festival had passed and the Laba porridge had been eaten, Cheng Lu still hadn’t shown up.
It was like waiting for the other shoe to drop—you knew it was going to fall, but you didn’t know when, so you had to wait in constant fear and anticipation.
Growing increasingly anxious, she thought it over and finally sent her personal maid to look for Cheng Lu.
That afternoon, the maid returned in the pouring rain and reported to Wu Baozhang, “Master Cheng moved out of there long ago. No one knows where he went!”
Wu Baozhang recalled Cheng Lu’s earlier mention of finding a way to change his identity and re-enter the imperial examinations.
If only Cheng Lu could regain his scholarly honors.
Then he would surely be too ashamed to keep pestering her.
Perhaps she could finally have a peaceful New Year after all?
Wu Baozhang breathed a sigh of relief.
But then, someone from the neighboring silk shop came to collect the debt.
Though the words were phrased politely, the underlying message was clear: she had to repay the money before the Minor New Year, or else they would take the matter to Cheng Wen.
Wu Baozhang scrambled to gather funds, even using her maid’s twenty taels of private savings, and finally managed to repay the debt. She thought to herself that come spring, she could borrow another four or five hundred taels from the silk shop. As long as she repaid it on time, there would be no interest—she could essentially borrow hundreds of taels for free to cover her expenses.
And so, after the Spring Festival, she borrowed another three hundred taels from the silk shop, repaid it in February, and borrowed again in March.
But others were not fools. They quickly caught on and went straight to Cheng Nuo.
Cheng Nuo was initially shocked, but once he understood what had happened, his face flushed red with embarrassment. He repeatedly apologized to the creditor.
The creditor didn’t say much, only explaining that business had been slow lately and they needed the money to keep things running. They added that they likely wouldn’t be able to lend him any more money in the future.
Cheng Nuo nodded meekly, feeling utterly humiliated by Wu Baozhang’s actions. As soon as he returned home, he had a fierce argument with her.
Wu Baozhang, in turn, blamed Cheng Nuo for not earning enough money, forcing her to use her own savings to cover the household expenses.Cheng Nuo knew Wu Baozhang didn’t have much dowry, and he wasn’t the type to use his wife’s dowry either. Considering that both the tea shop and teahouse businesses were struggling, he hadn’t given Wu Baozhang much household allowance lately. After exchanging a few words, he found the whole situation utterly dull and went out alone to drink.
Wu Baozhang sneered and decided to ask someone to search for Cheng Lu in the various academies of the capital—she wouldn’t rest easy until she found him. Who knew when he might pop up again and cause her more trouble?
Her persistence paid off. The person she had asked finally found Cheng Lu at the Imperial College.
Wu Baozhang was astonished.
But the messenger who came to report the news smiled and told her, “Madam, you’re in luck! Your long-lost cousin is now the esteemed son-in-law of Minister Chen!”
※
Dear readers, here’s today’s bonus update.
The regular update will still be around 10 p.m.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel