Аftеr Раn Qing lеft, Zhоu Shaojin wеnt tо sее Сheng Jia.
Thе wоman guarding thе gate оf Ruуi Раviliоn wаs quite troublеd.
Zhou Shaojin was not the kind оf рersоn who didn't knоw whаt wаs gоod fоr hеr. Shе disсussеd with the wоman: "Aunt Lu onlу instruсted уou not to lеt Cousin Jiа comе оut аnd nоt tо lеt us gо plaу with hеr. When уоu еat sоmeоnе's rice, уоu follоw their rules. I'm not аsking you to disоbеу yоur mistress's orders. I just wаnt уоu to gо in аnd аnnоunсе my visit. I'll stаnd аt the dоor аnd say а few wоrds tо Сousin Jiа. I рrоmisе Cousin Jia wоn't step over this threshоld, and I won't go in еither... Thаt should bе аcсeptable, right?"
The woman felt as if a great burden had been lifted and thanked Zhou Shaojin joyfully: "You are truly kind-hearted, Miss. I'll go announce your visit right away." After saying this, she even called a young maid to bring out several stools and place them under the large tree by the door, then went to brew a pot of tea. "Please sit here for a while, Miss, enjoy the shade, have a cup of tea, and don't let yourself get too hot."
Zhou Shaojin smiled and thanked her, not standing on ceremony, and sat down under the large tree.
Shi Xiang and the others fanned Zhou Shaojin and served her tea.
Cheng Jia rushed out from inside the courtyard like a gust of wind.
Zhou Shaojin quickly said: "You mustn't step over this threshold—I promised that woman, so you can't make me break my word!"
Cheng Jia giggled, stopping at the doorway, and said: "This is a great idea! From now on, we can talk like this here every day."
"I don't have that much free time," Zhou Shaojin said with a smile. The women hurriedly brought small stools to the doorway and helped Cheng Jia sit down inside, serving tea and snacks, then stood guard in the courtyard at a distance.
Cheng Jia said: "I know Pan Qing has left... Did you see her off? What was her expression like? Still arrogant and haughty? I bet she must have been downcast. Didn't she always think she was so great? As if everyone would like her..."
Zhou Shaojin had come precisely to tell her about this.
She wanted to cheer Cheng Jia up.
But since Cheng Jia already knew, there was no need for her to say anything more.
"I didn't see Pan Qing off," Zhou Shaojin said with a smile. "I didn't have time..."
She recounted what had happened.
Cheng Jia didn't believe it at all.
She thought Zhou Shaojin had done it on purpose and laughed heartily, feeling very happy. This lifted Zhou Shaojin's spirits as well.
The two chatted about this and that for a long time. At one point, a woman peeked from a distance, and Zhou Shaojin guessed it might be someone serving Madam Jiang. But she pretended not to notice and continued talking with Zhou Shaojin for a while longer before getting up to say goodbye.
Cheng Jia was reluctant to part: "When will you come see me again?"
"I've been busy lately making winter clothes for my father," Zhou Shaojin said with a smile. "I'll come see you when I have time."
Hearing this, Cheng Jia's eyes lit up and she said: "Like Sister Chujin? Make one for me too! Those clothes are so beautiful."
I knew it would be like this!
Zhou Shaojin felt as if sweat was beading on her forehead.
Whenever Cheng Jia took a liking to something of hers, she would ask for it outright without hesitation.
In her past life, she had suffered many such silent losses.
But in this life, she decided to refuse her clearly and explicitly.
At worst, they could just have another argument!
"No. I don't have time!"
"How can you be like this? Aren't we the closest sisters? I'm just asking you to make me a piece of clothing...""Isn't making clothes tiring? I'm not an embroiderer, why should I have to make clothes just because you need them? Since we're best sisters, shouldn't we be considerate of each other? Look at my sister—she thinks needlework harms the eyes, so she doesn't let me make clothes for her."
Cheng Jia fell silent.
Zhou Shaojin gently instructed the gatekeeper woman to tidy up the stools and teacups, then returned to Fragrant Garden Residence.
But on her way back to Fragrant Garden Residence, as she passed by Jia Shu Hall, she encountered Madam Mian.
Seeing her wearing a moon-white plain Hangzhou silk robe with a row of jasmine flowers pinned in her hair bun, looking fresh and elegant—so captivating it was hard to look away—Madam Mian had a sudden thought and said, "Why don't you ask Old Madam Guo for leave tomorrow? I'll take you and your sister to a relative's house for a banquet!"
"Ah!" Zhou Shaojin widened her eyes.
In her past life, there had been no such event.
Her clear eyes, like spring water, reflected Madam Mian's figure.
Madam Mian laughed and said, "The sixteenth young lady of the Gu family in Plum Blossom Lane is getting engaged tomorrow, and they've sent an invitation to Accumulated Truth Hall. Your grandmother thinks that since the Gu family sent congratulatory gifts when your second uncle Yuan passed the imperial examination, now that the Gu family's sixteenth young lady is getting engaged, we should go and join in the festivities."
To the Gu family!
The Gu family of Plum Blossom Lane, Gu Qinghong's family... Grandfather once stayed with the Gu family for some time and even wanted to marry Mother into the Gu family... I wonder if anyone in the Gu family knows about what happened back then... Perhaps I might even be able to find out something because of this... Even if I can't find out anything, the Gu family is the leading scholarly family in Jinling City. Being able to visit the Gu family is a rare opportunity...
Just thinking about it made Zhou Shaojin feel very excited. She immediately agreed and said, "What should my sister and I wear tomorrow? Should we prepare some small congratulatory gifts? I still have a few handkerchiefs, pouches, and fan bags with rather novel embroidery. Should I bring them to Autumn Embrace Pavilion later for you to see what might be suitable?"
Her proactive attitude pleased Madam Mian. Madam Mian smiled and said, "We'll discuss it tonight."
Zhou Shaojin cheerfully agreed and returned to her own courtyard.
Zhou Chujin was talking with Chixiang when she saw Zhou Shaojin and said with a smile, "You're back just in time. Tomorrow is Plum Blossom Lane..."
"I know!" Zhou Shaojin interrupted her sister with a smile. "Aunt said she's taking us to the Gu family for the celebration banquet!"
Earlier, Aunt hadn't mentioned taking Zhou Shaojin along. Was it Grandmother's idea or Aunt's sudden decision?
Whether it was the former or the latter, Zhou Chujin had no intention of upsetting her sister. She smiled and said, "Since you already know, I won't say more."
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly and told Zhou Chujin about Madam Mian asking them to go to Autumn Embrace Pavilion that evening.
Probably to prevent her sister from making mistakes?
After all, this was her sister's first time accompanying Aunt to visit relatives.
Moreover, the Gu family was known for their etiquette and literary heritage, with many rules. It would be troublesome if they lost decorum and became a laughingstock.
Zhou Chujin pondered this inwardly and agreed with a smile.
Zhou Shaojin then asked her sister, "I heard from Aunt that the Gu family only sent congratulatory gifts when Second Uncle Yuan passed the examination. Have there been no weddings or funerals in the Gu family these past few years?"
Social interactions involve give and take.The Fourth House had few members, so it was understandable that there were no celebratory events. However, the Gu family alone had daughters ranked up to the sixteenth, indicating a prosperous lineage. It was impossible that they hadn’t hosted any gatherings in recent years.
In her previous life, as far as she could remember, the Fourth House and the Gu family had no interactions.
Zhou Chujin explained, "The Gu family are relatives of Old Madam Guo and are close to the Eldest House. Last time, when Second Uncle Yuan achieved success in the imperial examinations, it was through the Eldest House’s connections. The Gu family merely sent a congratulatory gift as a courtesy and didn’t take the matter to heart. When the Gu family had events, they didn’t send us invitations. This time, Madam Yuan had something to discuss with Eldest Aunt. When Eldest Aunt saw the Gu family’s invitation, she thought that since they had shown respect to the Eldest House by sending a gift, we should also show our support for the Eldest House by attending the Gu family’s event and presenting a gift."
No wonder!
Zhou Shaojin suddenly understood.
Zhou Chujin smiled and said, "Actually, this matter is related to you."
"Me?" Zhou Shaojin was quite surprised.
"Yes!" Zhou Chujin replied with a smile. "Madam Yuan asked Eldest Aunt to come over because she wanted you to help design a few embroidery patterns." She paused briefly before adding, "The embroidery work will be done by others. You only need to provide the patterns."
If it weren’t for this, her sister probably wouldn’t have mentioned it to her.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "I’ll listen to you, Sister."
Zhou Chujin patted her head and said, "It’s said that Cousin Xiao is about to give birth. Madam Yuan wants to embroider a swaddling cloth with a playful infant pattern for Cousin Xiao’s baby. The needlework artisans are merely craftsmen, and the patterns they provided didn’t satisfy Madam Yuan. When she saw the skirt you made for me last time, she thought of asking you to design one—Cousin Xiao married into her maternal family, the Yuan family of Tongxiang. I thought this would be beneficial for you, so I agreed on your behalf."
This wasn’t a difficult task for Zhou Shaojin.
She agreed with a smile.
When Old Madam Guan learned that Madam Mian was also taking Zhou Shaojin to Plum Blossom Lane, she held her hand and gave her lengthy instructions. When they arrived at Qiuhan Hall, Madam Mian selected two pairs of pouches from Zhou Shaojin’s embroidery and filled them with her own gold ingots: "Use these as the congratulatory gift."
"How can we accept this!" Zhou Chujin repeatedly declined. "We should provide the gold for the gift ourselves."
Madam Mian smiled and said, "Since you’re going out with me, you must listen to me. If you truly wish to show your filial piety, remember to send me a letter to greet me during festivals after you marry a wonderful husband. When I grow old, that will be enough to make me content."
To say more would only create distance.
Zhou Chujin took Zhou Shaojin’s hand and thanked Madam Mian.
Madam Mian smiled warmly as she saw the two sisters off.
The next day, Zhou Shaojin wore a plain lake-green silk robe, while Zhou Chujin wore a plain lotus-purple silk robe. They boarded the sedan chair with Madam Mian.
The sedan chair stopped at the side gate.
Zhou Shaojin, unsure of the reason, lifted the curtain to look outside.
Madam Yuan’s sedan chair gradually approached.
So they were waiting for Madam Yuan.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but sigh deeply.
How foolish she had been.
Since the Fourth House was attending the Gu family’s event because of the Eldest House, they were naturally going together with the Eldest House’s members.
She wondered if Cheng Xu would also be coming.
She hoped she wouldn’t run into Cheng Xu.
Madam Mian had already called for the Zhou sisters to step out of the sedan chair and greet Madam Yuan.
Zhou Shaojin followed her sister and paid her respects to Madam Yuan.Madam Yuan nodded with a beaming smile, speaking to Zhou Shaojin with unprecedented warmth, "The pearl flower you're wearing today is very beautiful. Which silver shop made it?"
Is this because she wants me to paint a picture of her daughter playing with infants?
Zhou Shaojin silently grumbled to herself, replying politely with a smile, "I don't know—it's been in my dressing case since I was little."
Or perhaps it's Madam Zhuang's keepsake?
Madam Yuan pondered this but felt it inappropriate to inquire further. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Madam Mian, they each boarded their sedan chairs.
Plum Blossom Lane was located in the eastern part of Jinling City, close to Old Madam Guo's maternal home, Stone Lane, and only a short distance from the Zhou family's ancestral residence.
When they arrived, Plum Blossom Lane was already filled with sedan chairs.
Someone ran over to ask a question, then opened the side gate, allowing them to enter the inner courtyard directly.
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Sisters, here's today's update.
PS: I feel like the pink votes are like carrots dangling in front of me—just when I think I've finished them, more appear... Tomorrow, I'll continue with extra updates... hehe...
※ (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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