Zhоu Shaojin felt thаt Сheng Chi wаs like a mоuntаin shrоudеd in mist—sееmingly clеar, yet when you triеd tо loоk clоsеlу, it bеcаmе imроssiblе to sеe.
Meаnwhilе, Zhou Сhujin had recеived two hundrеd taels оf рrivаtе sаvings frоm Мadam Li аnd disсussed with Zhоu Shаоjin how tо reсiрrocаtе: "We сan’t just acсept it for nоthing, саn we? Тhat would makе us sееm pеttу. Gоld аnd silvеr jеwelrу fеel insinсerе, and foоd or dаilу nеcеssitiеs аrе too far аway—they’d likelу spoil befоre arriving..."
Zhоu Shaоjin smilеd and sаid, "Then let’s make a few winter clothes for Father and Stepmother! I noticed Father seemed very pleased with them."
Zhou Chujin thought it over and realized there really was no more suitable option.
However, neither Zhou Chujin nor Zhou Shaojin had much experience making clothes for men. While Madam Li’s clothes posed no issue, they were uncertain about Zhou Zhen’s measurements.
Recalling that the Cheng family had a needlework room and confident in her own sewing skills, Zhou Shaojin suggested, "Why not ask the tailor who often makes clothes for Uncle Mian for some guidance?"
Zhou Chujin nodded in agreement.
Zhou Shaojin then decided to leave Cold Green Mountain House early.
This was the first time she had done so since she began copying scriptures there.
Old Madam Guo couldn’t help but ask curiously, "Is something the matter at home?"
"No, nothing at all," Zhou Shaojin replied with a smile. "It’s just that a few days ago, for my father’s birthday, I made two pieces of clothing for him. He praised me, and my stepmother even sent two hundred taels of silver to my sister and me. So I thought I’d make a couple more winter garments for Father..."
She explained the situation to Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo chuckled and said, "I thought it was something serious! So it’s just about making a few clothes for your father with your own hands? Just ask the needlework room to provide some patterns. Why bother hiring someone from outside? Outsiders can’t compare to the craftsmen we have here."
Zhou Shaojin knew the Cheng family had a needlework room staffed with top-tier tailors and embroiderers from Jiangnan, but they only made clothes for the elders, masters, and mistresses of the Cheng family’s first and second branches. Even Cheng Wen dared not trouble them.
At the very least, the fourth branch had never requested clothes from the Cheng family’s needlework room...
She couldn’t help but feel tempted.
Top-tier tailors and embroiderers from Jiangnan... How would they differ from ordinary ones?
Zhou Shaojin hesitated and asked, "Is... is that appropriate?"
"What’s inappropriate about it?" Old Madam Guo laughed. "If it weren’t for you sisters showing filial piety to your parents, I’d have just asked the needlework room to make the clothes for you." She then called Biyu in. "Accompany Second Miss to the needlework room. See what she needs to ask and make sure they explain everything properly to her."
Biyu smiled and agreed, leading Zhou Shaojin to the needlework room.
On the way, she described the needlework room to Zhou Shaojin: "There’s a Master Hu who oversees the needlework room. He only makes clothes for the ancestors. The clothes for the young masters are made by his apprentices... The head embroiderer is surnamed Zhang, just over twenty years old. She joined the household last year. The crimson Hundred Flowers and Butterflies horse-face skirt Madam wore on her birthday was embroidered by her—the butterflies were so lifelike, they seemed ready to fly off. Even the Old Madam praised it. Recently, on the Old Madam’s orders, she’s been embroidering a Hundred Children at Play swaddling cloth for Second Miss..."
Cheng Xiao’s due date was in September, and the Cheng family would be sending gifts for the third-day bath, the full-month celebration, and the hundred-day celebration. The swaddling cloth was one of the customary gifts from the maternal family for the full-month celebration.
Zhou Shaojin asked, "Has there been any news from Cousin Xiao?"Biyu smiled and said, "The last letter sent back said everything was going smoothly. The midwife and birth attendant have already been invited to the house..."
The two chatted as they arrived at the needlework room.
The Cheng family's needlework room was not large—a small courtyard covering just one or two mu, surrounded by three-bay wing rooms on all sides. In the courtyard stood an old locust tree thick enough to embrace, its crown spreading like an umbrella, providing shade and making the area cool and refreshing. It somewhat resembled the layout of a northern courtyard house.
When they entered, the courtyard was quiet. Seven or eight women sat under the old locust tree, heads bowed as they worked on their needlework. Sewing pouches and small bamboo baskets hung from the knotted trunk of the tree, creating a warm and serene atmosphere.
Seeing someone enter, the women merely glanced up briefly before lowering their heads again to focus on their needlework. No one stepped forward to greet them.
Zhou Shaojin and Biyu were left standing there.
Biyu glanced apologetically at Zhou Shaojin and whispered, "The needlework room has a lot of tasks, and they're quite trivial, so the women here aren't in the best of moods. Second Young Lady, please don't take it to heart." With that, she stepped forward and called out loudly, "Is anyone here? We're from Cold Green Mountain House and have something to ask."
Zhou Shaojin smiled.
Biyu truly had a gentle temperament.
The Cheng family's needlework room probably wasn't just busy—it seemed the women here had rather poor tempers.
Nevertheless, since they had come, they might as well take a look before leaving.
A woman in her thirties, wearing an apron, hurried out from the eastern wing room.
She was neatly dressed, wore an eager smile, and had a thimble on her finger. She greeted Biyu warmly, "So it's you, miss! Does the Old Madam have any instructions?" As she spoke, her eyes flickered toward Zhou Shaojin, unable to conceal her admiration.
Biyu chuckled inwardly, pretending not to notice, and explained their purpose.
"So it's the young lady from the fourth branch," the woman said, looking surprised as she glanced at Zhou Shaojin. She ushered Zhou Shaojin and Biyu into the eastern wing room, served them tea, and said with a smile, "Miss Biyu, you've come to the right person by bringing Second Young Lady to me. I'm currently in charge of making clothes for the masters. May I ask what kind of clothes Second Young Lady would like to make for Lord Zhou? When do you plan for him to wear them? I've never been to Nanchang Prefecture—is the winter there colder or warmer than here..."
In the western part of the three-bay open hall of the eastern wing room, a large worktable stood, surrounded by seven or eight women who sat silently working on their needlework.
Zhou Shaojin sat by the round table in the hall. She smiled and said, "I've never been to Nanchang Prefecture either, so I don't know what the winter weather is like. I imagine my father certainly doesn't lack clothes—this is just a small gesture of filial piety from me. Please recommend a few styles for me."
"Second Young Lady, please wait a moment!" the woman said, turning and disappearing behind a nearby screen.
A young maid called from the doorway, "Is Madam Wang here?"
The woman emerged from behind the screen with a frown and asked, "What is it?"
The young maid smiled ingratiatingly and said, "Madam Wang, don't you remember me? I'm Hongrui, from the household of Second Branch's Eldest Madam Shi. Our Eldest Madam wants to embroider a 'Rising Step by Step' cloak for the Eldest Young Master. The Eldest Madam heard that black jade is needed for the eyes but couldn't find any for the moment, so she sent me to see if you have any here."
"Wait!" the woman, addressed as Madam Wang, said impatiently before turning and disappearing behind the screen again.Hong Rui couldn't help feeling somewhat awkward, but she still smiled and greeted Zhou Shaojin and Biyu: "Which household do you sisters belong to? You look unfamiliar. I'm from the second branch, serving by Madam Shi's side."
That meant she was a maid serving Madam Zheng, wife of Cheng Zheng from the second branch. It was just unclear whether she was a dowry maid brought over from the Zheng family or a longtime servant of the Cheng family.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and nodded at her, while Biyu quietly introduced Zhou Shaojin to her.
Hong Rui clearly knew how to handle situations. She hurried forward to bow to Zhou Shaojin and affectionately called Biyu "sister."
Madam Wang brought out four or five garments and said, "This one is for wearing at home on ordinary days. The sleeves and such are looser... This one is for visiting guests or friends. You should choose stiffer fabrics, and the shoulders and sleeves here should be made more fitted..."
Seeing that she spoke knowledgeably, Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but listen attentively.
Hong Rui was naturally left aside.
She remained composed, quietly following them and listening to Madam Wang speak.
Someone called from outside: "Who's on duty in the room?"
The voice was clear and crisp.
Madam Wang was just at a crucial point in her explanation. Hearing this, she paid no attention and continued speaking with Zhou Shaojin.
But a slight commotion arose outside.
"Miss Minghe, you've come!"
Hearing this, Madam Wang's expression changed. She abandoned Zhou Shaojin and the others and ran out.
Zhou Shaojin and the others didn't understand what was happening.
Already, Madam Wang's fawning voice could be heard from outside: "Miss Minghe, what brings you here? In this hot weather, you could have just sent a little maid to deliver a message. Yet you came personally. Look at you, sweating all over from the walk. Come inside quickly and rest..."
A clear female voice laughed: "It's nothing much. It's just that Sister Nanping said the summer socks you sent over last time were well made. She wanted to have a few more pairs made..."
"What kind of matter is this?" Madam Wang laughed. "Who will wear them? What size? I'll deliver them to you first thing tomorrow morning."
Who was this?
Zhou Shaojin looked toward Biyu.
Biyu smiled and said, "If I'm not mistaken, it should be Minghe, the senior maid from Fourth Master's quarters!"
Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives.
She had previously wanted to inquire about Jiying, and here she unexpectedly encountered someone serving in Cheng Chi's quarters.
Zhou Shaojin was astonished.
The clear female voice laughed: "No need to be in such a hurry. Aren't you rushing to finish the full-month gifts for Second Miss these days? It's fine to make ours after Second Miss's things are done."
"It's just a few pairs of summer socks. How could we not find time for that!" Madam Wang patted her chest and accompanied the visitor toward the eastern wing.
Zhou Shaojin straightened her posture.
Madam Wang ushered in a woman about twenty years old, with fair skin, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, wearing a lake-green Hangzhou silk robe.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin and the others, she paused and said, "Biyu, what are you doing here?"
Biyu smiled and stepped forward to bow to Minghe, saying, "I was ordered by the Old Madam to accompany Second Miss here to look for some clothing patterns..."
The two faced each other.
Madam Wang stood to the side, smiling obsequiously, and said, "Speaking of which, we're all family here. This is Second Miss Zhou, the cousin... This one serves by the side of Madam from the second branch..." She pointed at Hong Rui.
Minghe nodded toward Hong Rui but properly curtsied and bowed to Zhou Shaojin with a respectful greeting.
"Miss Minghe, there's no need for such courtesy," Zhou Shaojin politely exchanged pleasantries with her. "You serve in Uncle Chi's quarters? It seems you rarely visit Cold Green Mountain House?"Minghe laughed and said, "I'm just a rough laborer in the master's quarters—how would I dare show my face at Cold Green Mountain House and embarrass myself?"
Her tone was straightforward, which made Zhou Shaojin feel a sense of goodwill toward her.
Madam Wang brought out several pairs of summer socks and asked, "Miss Minghe, what style would you like?"
Minghe flipped through them, pointed at two pairs, and said, "Could you make a few pairs following these styles?"
Madam Wang agreed repeatedly.
Zhou Shaojin noticed that the summer socks she wanted were in women's styles.
Who was Minghe running errands for?
Zhou Shaojin thought of Jiying, dressed in black and exuding an elegant aura... She couldn't help but ask, "Is there something special about these socks? Why did you pick these two styles, Miss Minghe?"
"There's nothing special about them," Minghe replied, as if finding her question amusing. "I just thought these two styles looked nicer."
Zhou Shaojin felt embarrassed.
※
The evening update will still be at the usual time...
o(n_n)o~
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
!!
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