Suсh а signifiсant mattеr nаturаllу hаd to be mentiоnеd to Old Мadam Guо.
Аftеr роndеring for a mоment, Old Madam Guo аskеd Chеng Chi, "Dо уоu think nоw is a gооd timе tо buу land аnd fields? Should we wаit а few mоre yeаrs?"
Baсk when the fаmilу dividеd thеir аssеts, Сheng Chi hаd оnly rесеived thе mansiоn аt Chaоуang Gаte.
Understanding Оld Madam Guо’s mеаning, Chеng Chi smiled and sаid, "I wаnt tо orgаnizе thе fаmilу’s сollесtion оf cаlligraphу, pаintings, аntiquеs, and thе likе. Fоr оne, Yun Ge’er is grоwing up and should see mоre of the wоrks of pаst mastеrs tо broаden his knowledge. For another, some of the more common pieces in the collection could be sold off or used as gifts for relatives and friends... Buying a manor first seems quite reasonable."
Old Madam Guo listened and nodded slowly, smiling as she replied, "Since you’ve already made up your mind, go ahead and do as you’ve planned."
Cheng Chi agreed with a smile and arranged with Old Madam Guo to begin sorting through the family’s stored treasures in a couple of days.
Zhou Shaojin, of course, knew that the family wasn’t short on money, but selling off the collection... She couldn’t help feeling it was like selling off the family’s assets, which didn’t sit right with her. However, since Old Madam Guo had already agreed, she couldn’t say anything in front of her. But on the way back, she couldn’t hold back and brought it up with Cheng Chi: "The collection represents the hard work of several generations. Why don’t we just sell the manors under my name? All together, they could fetch over ten thousand taels of silver, and then we could exchange them for a larger manor." Remembering that Cheng Chi wasn’t the type to use his wife’s dowry, she quickly added, "We can keep it under my name. After all, it will be passed down to Yun Ge’er eventually."
Cheng Chi patiently explained to her, "Some things are collected because we personally like them, while others are collected because everyone else considers them valuable. The things we personally cherish will definitely be kept, but if we forever keep the things others value locked away in storage, they’ll remain just paintings. Only by selling or trading them do these items gain value. Otherwise, why is it said that in prosperous times, people collect treasures, while in troubled times, they hoard gold? These things only become valuable when they’re bought and sold."
Zhou Shaojin began to understand, though only vaguely.
Cheng Chi invited her to help him sort through the collection.
Zhou Shaojin went eagerly, but Old Madam Guo shooed her away: "All the calligraphy and paintings in the storage room have been treated with insect-repelling powder. Shaojin is with child—how can she be allowed in here?" She scolded Biyu and told her to take Zhou Shaojin for a stroll in the garden. "The wisteria, roses, cherry blossoms, and pomegranates are all in bloom now. Accompany the mistress to enjoy the flowers."
Biyu hurriedly went to support Zhou Shaojin.
With no other choice, Zhou Shaojin went to the garden to admire the flowers.
Cheng Chi saw her off and whispered, "I’ll save the beautiful ones for you."
Zhou Shaojin nodded, smiling with her lips pressed together.
A few days later, rumors spread in the capital that Cheng Chi was pawning and selling ancestral treasures to make ends meet.
Upon hearing Madam Fan Liu’s report, Zhou Shaojin was stunned. It took her a moment to react, and she said unhappily, "Who’s spreading such nonsense? No matter how down on our luck our family might be, we wouldn’t resort to pawning ancestral treasures to get by!" She added, "Aside from this, are there any other rumors?"
Madam Fan Liu was even more worried than Zhou Shaojin and replied, "I haven’t heard any other rumors, but such talk isn’t good for the Fourth Master’s reputation... The mistress should think of a way to clear things up."
But how could such a matter be clarified?
They couldn’t just go around telling everyone!Zhou Shaojin recalled how in her previous life, when she accompanied Lin Shisheng into the palace to offer New Year’s greetings to the Empress Dowager and the Empress, everyone would chat about domestic affairs. She had picked up much gossip in such settings.
If only there were such an occasion now!
But if she wanted to use such an occasion to clear Cheng Chi’s name, she would first have to immerse herself in that environment.
Thinking this, Zhou Shaojin unconsciously clenched her fist.
In the past, she had been too timid, always feeling uneasy in crowds. Now, she was Cheng Chi’s rightful wife, and Cheng Chi had her back. What did she have to fear?
Having made up her mind, she wrote an invitation to Lady Pengcheng, suggesting they watch the dragon boat races together on the fifteenth day of the fifth lunar month.
Although the fifteenth of the fifth month was still far off, Lady Pengcheng was delighted to receive the invitation.
Cheng Chi was increasingly favored by the Imperial Grandson, who often consulted him on many matters. While Cheng Chi would not necessarily say anything in front of the Imperial Grandson, befriending him was still a welcome addition.
Lady Pengcheng readily agreed.
However, Zhou Shaojin had not expected the rumors to spread so quickly that even Madam Qiu was alarmed.
Madam Qiu came to pay her respects to Old Madam Guo.
Afterward, she quietly went to the courtyard where Zhou Shaojin lived and pulled her under the grape trellis to talk: “When the family divided the property, it seemed the three brothers received equal shares. But Uncle Chi’s money was tied up in this mansion, leaving little cash on hand. Nowadays, prices keep rising, and maintaining such a large estate is no easy task. Although we’re not living lavishly either, our expenses are smaller, and we still manage to save something each year. If you don’t mind, I have savings of over ten thousand taels of silver. You can use it to buy a small estate beforehand, ensuring a steady annual income.”
Zhou Shaojin was deeply grateful and repeatedly declined, saying, “There’s no need.”
But Madam Qiu insisted, “Don’t stand on ceremony with us. Your second uncle also said that since Mother is living with you, you’ve been dutifully attending to her morning and evening, which is hard work. If there’s anything we can help with, you must speak up.”
“Really, there’s no need.” Zhou Shaojin loved the warm, familial atmosphere and replied with a smile, “If we were truly in difficulty, Si Lang would have already spoken to Second Uncle. The reason we’re selling those calligraphy and paintings is simply that we have too many, and Si Lang isn’t particularly fond of them. He says it’s like ‘presenting a sword to a hero’—letting them find their true value.”
Madam Qiu suddenly understood and couldn’t help but laugh. “It seems I misunderstood! Hearing the rumors, I thought you really had to pawn things to make ends meet!”
“We’re certainly not at that point.” Zhou Shaojin patiently explained to Madam Qiu, never imagining the situation would escalate further. Not only did Yuan Weichang and Gu Jiuniao come to ask Cheng Chi what was going on, but the Imperial Grandson even bestowed a small estate with forty to fifty acres of land in the suburbs of Wanping County. He also sent a eunuch to relay a message to Cheng Chi, telling him to focus on teaching with peace of mind, adding, “In books, there are beauties like jade; in books, there are houses of gold; in books, there are stores of grain.” If one studies well, success will naturally follow.
Cheng Chi found the situation both amusing and exasperating, showing the land deed to Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin grew anxious and said, “Could the Imperial Grandson have misunderstood that we’re short of money? What if he finds out we have the means to buy an estate? Would he think you’re deceiving the sovereign?”"He probably would!" Cheng Chi laughed. "When he gave me the land deed, his face was full of sympathy. There were other court officials present at the time, and he seemed very afraid I would refuse, which would have embarrassed him, so I had no choice but to accept it. In that case, let's hold off on buying any farmland for our family for now. We can reconsider in a few years."
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly.
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "The Imperial Grandson not only gave us the estate but also granted us the estate manager. However, those accustomed to imperial provisions may not be willing to manage the estate diligently for us. I'm thinking of sending Fan Qi over to take a look. If he proves capable, we'll entrust the estate to him."
This would also be good training for Fan Qi.
Zhou Shaojin agreed on his behalf.
When Madam Fan Liu found out, she kowtowed to Zhou Shaojin several times, patting her chest and promising to manage the estate well.
This was the first property Cheng Chi and Zhou Shaojin had acquired since their marriage.
Naturally, Zhou Shaojin trusted Madam Fan Liu's loyalty.
Two days later, Qin Ziji took Fan Qi to the estate.
That evening, Fan Qi returned and reported, "The estate isn't very large, but its location is excellent. It's not far from the Yongding River. In years with favorable weather, the harvest from one year could sustain us for two."
Zhou Shaojin was delighted and gave him some instructions before letting him go bid farewell to Madam Fan Liu.
A young maid serving Cheng Gao came to inform her that Cheng Zheng had been officially appointed as the Deputy Magistrate of Mo County. Cheng Shi was hosting a farewell banquet for Cheng Zheng and had sent an invitation for Cheng Gao to join them for drinks. "...Master Gao didn't agree," the maid said cheerfully. "He said there's a competition at the Imperial College in a couple of days."
Seeing that Cheng Gao had his priorities straight, Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief. She told the maid to go to the kitchen: "Today we made millet cakes—they're easy to digest and filling. Take some to Master Gao for his late-night snack."
The maid left happily.
Zhou Shaojin put the matter aside and took some high-quality tonic herbs to visit Jiying, bringing Yun Ge'er along.
Jiying's belly still showed no sign of pregnancy. When she saw Yun Ge'er, she even wanted to hold him.
Zhou Shaojin was startled and quickly stopped Jiying, widening her eyes as she said, "You're not still acting like before, are you?"
"I don't feel anything different," Jiying murmured, touching her belly. "Sometimes I even wonder if there's been a mistake... If the diagnosis is wrong, it would be a huge joke." As she spoke, she glanced at the number of servants, which had increased by two-thirds compared to before.
"Nonsense," Zhou Shaojin comforted her. "If one made a mistake, could two or three all make the same mistake?"
When Qin Ziping first heard Jiying was pregnant, he didn't believe it and invited four or five physicians in a row to examine her.
Jiying smiled sheepishly and led Yun Ge'er to her backyard.
Under a camphor tree stood a low plum blossom stake.
Jiying smiled and said, "Yun Ge'er, I'll have someone teach you how to walk the plum blossom stakes."
Yun Ge'er was very interested, but Zhou Shaojin wouldn't let them play on it.
Seeing Yun Ge'er eager to try, Jiying couldn't bear to refuse him and called a maid over to teach Yun Ge'er how to walk the stakes.
Yun Ge'er immediately stepped onto the low plum blossom stakes, his eyes sparkling as he watched the maid demonstrate how to walk them.
The maid blushed and showed Yun Ge'er how to walk the plum blossom stakes.
Zhou Shaojin and Jiying sat on the beauty couch under the corridor, drinking tea and watching Yun Ge'er practice on the stakes.
"This maid even knows things like this! Where did you find her?" Zhou Shaojin asked Jiying.
Jiying laughed and said, "She was one of the leftovers from when we were selecting maids for you. I thought she looked good, so I took her."Zhou Shaojin was surprised and asked, "Are Da Ya and Er Ya highly skilled in martial arts?"
"Of course," Jiying replied with a smile. "Not only must they be skilled, but they must also be loyal..."
As the two were chatting animatedly, a young maid from the direction of Chaoyang Gate hurried in and said, "Fourth Madam, the eldest young mistress has gone into labor. The Dowager asks you to go over quickly."
Zhou Shaojin apologized to Jiying and rushed out, taking two steps at a time. On the way, she asked, "When did the labor start? Who was present at the time? Are the midwife and wet nurse ready? What is Second Sister-in-law doing now? Has Madam Xie's natal family been informed?"
Although it was somewhat unconventional for a mother from the natal family to assist during childbirth, rules are not without exceptions. Madam Qiu regarded Madam Xie as her own daughter, so naturally, she did not stand on ceremony with her.
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Dear readers, here is today's update.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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