Тhе Zhоu sistеrs, Shаojin and Сhujin, nаturаllу hаd no idea whаt hаd transpirеd in the main hоusе. Тhеу rеturned to Frаgrant Garden Residencе in high sрirits.
Zhou Сhujin rummagеd thrоugh сhеsts and саbinеts tо find сlothing аnd accеssоries fоr her youngеr sister.
Zhou Shаojin didn’t think it neсеssаrу аnd sаid, “It’s just mеeting a guеst, sistеr. You dоn’t nееd to аct аs if wе’re faсing а formidаble enemу, do you?”
“Му sistеr is so bеautiful; how cаn wе nоt dress hеr uр рrореrly?” Zhоu Сhujin remаined еnthusiastic.
In Zhоu Shaоjin’s еуes, hеr sistеr, with “аutumn wаter as her сharm and plum blossoms аs her bones,” wаs the truly bеautiful оnе. Hеr cheeks flushed, and she nudged her sister, saying, “Sister should also tidy up properly.”
“Tidy up?” Zhou Chujin was puzzled.
“Tidy up” was a northern dialect expression.
“Oh, it means to dress up,” Zhou Shaojin realized she had misspoken and tried to cover it up by casually picking up a hairpin. She quickly smiled and asked, “Is this hairpin pretty?”
Zhou Chujin saw that the gold hairpin was about three inches long, with three stacked lilac flowers at the head, each pistil inlaid with a ruby the size of a grain of rice. Though not particularly valuable, it was exquisitely crafted and quite lovely.
“Who gave this to you?” she asked curiously. “How come I’ve never seen it before?”
Zhou Shaojin was taken aback. She lowered her head for a closer look and broke out in a cold sweat.
If she remembered correctly, this gold hairpin was given to her by Cheng Lu last year on her birthday. Of all things, why had she picked up this hairpin?
Her expression immediately turned awkward.
Zhou Chujin gave her a meaningful glance and said, “You’re still young; it’s a bit early for you to wear this gold hairpin. It would be better to choose another piece of jewelry.”
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly, like a chick pecking at rice. “I’ll listen to you, sister.” She then immediately called Shi Xiang in and said, “Put this gold hairpin away separately. Remember to bring it out for me when we need to give a gift for social occasions.”
Shi Xiang didn’t understand why but obediently nodded and said, “Yes,” taking the gold hairpin and withdrawing.
Zhou Chujin’s expression brightened, and she smiled as she picked out a pair of ivory-carved jasmine hair clasps, a robe with a hidden pattern of begonia red, hibiscus, camellia, and gardenia, and a Xiang-style skirt with a bamboo-green base and dark green honeysuckle embroidery along the hem.
Chunwan took the clothes away to iron them, while Shi Xiang put away the jewelry.
Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin chatted for a while before returning to their rooms to rest.
Early the next morning, Zhou Shaojin styled her hair into a three-bun updo and put on the clothes and accessories her sister had chosen for her.
Shi Xiang gazed at Zhou Shaojin’s clear eyes and rosy cheeks in the mirror and couldn’t help but praise, “The eldest young lady has excellent taste! With this outfit, the second young lady not only looks beautiful but also spirited. Old Madam Guan will surely be delighted.”
Zhou Shaojin thought to herself that in the past, she wasn’t unaware that elderly people preferred festive colors, but she always felt that bright reds and greens were too vulgar. She would rather pretend not to know and stubbornly wore only light willow green, white, or lake-green clothes. Several times, when she had to meet guests, her grandmother had scolded her for it. Feeling her face grow warm, she stood up and said, “I’ll go see how my sister is getting ready.”
Fragrant Garden Residence was originally the study of the fourth branch’s elderly master. Because it was adjacent to Jia Shu Hall, and as Cheng Gao and the others grew older, the Zhou sisters needed to maintain propriety with their male cousins. Old Madam Guan had arranged for the sisters to stay here. The small courtyard was typical of Jiangnan architecture, with small bridges over flowing water, winding paths leading to secluded spots, lush greenery, and clusters of blooming flowers. Zhou Chujin gave the three best-positioned southern side rooms to Zhou Shaojin, while she chose the three eastern side rooms for herself.Passing through a grove of ginkgo trees, one could see two tea plants as tall as the eaves—that was the east wing where Zhou Chujin lived.
Zhou Shaojin walked in with light steps.
Zhou Chujin was having breakfast and smiled at her, saying, "You're here so early? Have you eaten yet? Would you like to have something here?" Then she instructed Dongwan, "Have the kitchen prepare a few extra dishes for Second Miss!"
Due to her illness, Zhou Shaojin was exempted from morning and evening greetings, so Zhou Chujin hadn’t had breakfast with her younger sister these past few days.
Dongwan left the hall with a smile, but Zhou Shaojin noticed that there was only a bowl of plain rice porridge and ordinary side dishes on the table. Thinking of the freshly available water celery and flowering stalks that had appeared on her own table, she fell silent for a moment.
The family’s circumstances had always been good, and their father doted on the two sisters. Aside from their daily expenses, he would privately give them two to three hundred taels of silver each year for cosmetics and other personal needs. She had never paid attention to such things... Even after she later encountered misfortune and her father no longer cared for her, it was her brother-in-law who helped arrange a marriage for her, securing the engagement with the Lin family.
When her elder sister married, she had a lavish dowry brought in by her birth mother, along with additional gifts from their maternal grandmother, eldest aunt, and others. In contrast, she had nothing. After her sister and brother-in-law married, her sister shared half of her dowry with her. Although her brother-in-law was the eldest son of the Liao family, the family’s finances were managed collectively, and he lived on a modest monthly allowance and salary, with little personal savings. He even borrowed a thousand taels from a colleague to make up three thousand taels, all of which he gave to her as a dowry... Although Lin Shisheng later involved her brother-in-law in a business deal that made up for the money, she still owed her sister and brother-in-law an immense debt of gratitude...
Her eyes grew moist, and she called out to Dongwan, "No need. Just bring me half a bowl of porridge."
Dongwan was caught in a dilemma.
Zhou Chujin had always known her younger sister was sensitive and realized she was overthinking again. She couldn’t help but smile and ask Zhou Shaojin, "What are you thinking about now? I’m avoiding such fresh dishes because our grandmother’s table doesn’t have them yet. But you’re different—you’re ill and have no appetite. Eating some fresh vegetables to nourish your body is perfectly fine!"
Zhou Shaojin no longer believed this.
She widened her eyes and looked at her sister with a very serious expression, saying, "My illness is already cured. I’ll eat whatever you eat!"
Zhou Chujin wanted to persuade her further, but then she thought that her younger sister would soon be of marriageable age in a couple of years. At home, no one would criticize her, but after marriage, paying attention to such small details would prevent others from finding fault, which would be better. She hesitated but couldn’t help instructing Dongwan, "Have the kitchen prepare a bowl of assorted tofu soup for Second Miss."
Dongwan left the hall with a smile.
Zhou Shaojin thanked her sister cheerfully and sat down at the round table.
After breakfast, once Zhou Chujin had freshened up and dressed, she took Zhou Shaojin’s hand as usual, ready to go together to Old Madam Guan’s place.
Zhou Shaojin felt a bit strange inside.
She was accustomed to the dignified and elegant Zhou Chujin, but looking at her sister’s face, still only eighteen years old and slightly youthful, she found it hard to feel reverence or deference.
Zhou Shaojin took a deep breath before reaching out to hold her sister’s hand, walking side by side with Zhou Chujin to Jia Shu Hall.
As long as the weather was fine, Old Madam Guan would take a few steps in the courtyard after waking up in the morning.When they arrived, Old Madam Guan had just returned from her morning walk and was bathing and changing clothes. Si'er was in the main hall with several young maidservants setting out the breakfast.
Zhou Chujin stepped forward to help.
Zhou Shaojin hesitated for a moment.
It seemed she had never set out chopsticks for anyone before... The thought flashed through her mind, but she obediently followed and imitated her sister in helping her grandmother arrange the bowls and dishes.
The old madam emerged from the inner chamber and was delighted to see the sisters. She asked the same question Zhou Shaojin had earlier: "Why have you come so early? Have you had breakfast yet?" Then she asked Zhou Shaojin, "Judging by your complexion, you must be much better from your illness?"
"Thank you for your concern, Grandmother," Zhou Shaojin replied with a smile, stepping forward to support her grandmother lightly. "I'm almost fully recovered, so I thought I'd come to pay my respects. My sister and I arrived a bit early and have already had breakfast."
Old Madam Guan nodded with a smile and entered the side room that had been arranged as a small Buddhist shrine.
Zhou Shaojin skillfully stepped forward to help her grandmother prepare the incense.
Old Madam Guan was quite surprised and said with a laugh, "I never knew our Shaojin could do such things!"
Zhou Shaojin was also somewhat lost in thought.
In her memory, she too would offer three sticks of incense to the Buddha every morning upon waking... Those habits seemed ingrained in her bones, always surfacing unconsciously.
Just as seeing Cheng Yi reminded her of his melancholic appearance in adulthood, and seeing her sister always brought to mind her dignified demeanor in middle age...
She shook her head, pushing these thoughts aside. After Old Madam Guan finished her kowtows, Zhou Shaojin helped her up and inserted the incense sticks for her.
Old Madam Guan led Zhou Shaojin out of the small shrine.
Breakfast was already laid out, and Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin accompanied Old Madam Guan in eating a piece of rice cake.
Everyone moved to the sitting room and took their seats.
Old Madam Guan said to Zhou Shaojin, "The Bathing Buddha Festival is coming up in a few days. Why don't you help me copy a few pages of scriptures to offer to the Bodhisattva?"
Although the old lady came from an official family, she was born in Jingzhou Prefecture north of the Yangtze River and was not highly literate. She could manage household account books well enough, but other tasks were more challenging. Although Madam Mian was skilled in calligraphy and painting, she was in charge of managing the household affairs, which kept her busy with numerous trivial matters and caring for the children, leaving her no time for such tasks. Copying scriptures usually fell to Zhou Chujin. However, this was the first time Old Madam Guan had asked Zhou Shaojin to help with copying scriptures.
Both Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin were quite surprised.
Old Madam Guan smiled and said, "There's much to do at home, Chujin. You should help your aunt more with the responsibilities. As for copying the scriptures, let Shaojin handle it."
Zhou Shaojin suddenly understood.
After the Bathing Buddha Festival on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, it would be the birthday of the Second Branch's patriarch, Cheng Xu, followed by preparations for the Dragon Boat Festival gifts. Zhou Chujin was a young lady awaiting marriage, making this an excellent opportunity to learn household management, so naturally she had no free time.
Zhou Chujin also understood.
Her face flushed, and she lowered her eyelids.
Zhou Shaojin giggled and responded loudly, "Alright!"
The servants in the room all looked at Zhou Chujin with kind smiles.
Madam Mian arrived. She spoke with Old Madam Guan about entertaining Madam Wu. After just a few words, Cheng Gao and Cheng Yi came to pay their respects to the old madam.
Old Madam Guan thought for a moment and said to the Zhou sisters with a smile, "You two wait for me in the inner chamber."
Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin assumed Old Madam Guan had something to discuss privately with Madam Mian and her sons, so they smiled and went into the inner chamber.Soon, faint laughter could be heard from the resting chamber, along with indistinct mentions of "cousin" and "elder cousin."
Zhou Chujin smiled and reminded Zhou Shaojin, "Cousin Gao has asked about you several times. If you happen to meet him, remember to thank him."
Zhou Shaojin agreed.
About a quarter of an hour later, Old Madam Guan returned to the inner chamber, accompanied by Si'er and others.
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Some readers have asked about the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate branches in the Cheng family. I will explain it here.
After several generations of lineage expansion, all five branches of the Cheng family are now legitimate. However, several generations ago, the first, second, and third branches shared the same father, with the third branch being illegitimate. The fourth and fifth branches shared another father, with the fifth branch being illegitimate.
These distinctions will be relevant in the upcoming plot, so I have specifically noted them in the "Character List" to avoid any misunderstandings.
Additionally, the first branch should be further divided into the elder first branch and the younger first branch, meaning the brothers Cheng Xun and Cheng Shao should be separated. However, as this book features a large cast of characters, to prevent confusion, I have grouped the first branch together in the ordering.
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