But being indignant wasn’t something you could just talk about.

Zhou Shaojin felt that only by doing better could she fight for herself.

She left Jia Tree Hall with a composed expression, but her heart was churning like turbulent waves.

Old Madam Guan stood by the window lattice, watching Zhou Shaojin’s figure slowly disappear behind the flower wall. Only then did she call Nanny Wang in and say in a low voice: “Find a way to have someone get in touch with Auntie Liang and see how the Old Ancestor of the Second Household’s health really is.”

Nanny Wang was startled.

Old Madam Guan told Nanny Wang everything Zhou Shaojin had just said to her, and finally said with a bitter smile: “I’m afraid we’ll have to choose sides. We can’t help but prepare early!”

Nanny Wang was an old servant in the household and understood the Cheng family’s affairs even better than Cheng Mian. After the change of dynasty, the Cheng family lost the prestige and privileges of an official household and bore the reputation of remnants of the previous dynasty. Officials both high and low dared to come demanding favors. Life had been so difficult that when she came as part of Old Madam Guan’s dowry, they still hadn’t recovered. If not for the Old Ancestor of the Second Household’s natural intelligence in passing the jinshi examination, the Cheng family would have collapsed long ago. One could say that Nine Ru Lane owed its present state entirely to Cheng Xu’s achievements. How Cheng Xu gradually made the Cheng family prosperous—they not only witnessed it but personally experienced it. In the hearts of these old servants, Cheng Xu was no less than a dynasty’s “restoration monarch.” To have them challenge Cheng Xu’s authority… they didn’t dare!

So upon hearing this, Nanny Wang couldn’t help saying anxiously: “Are you, are you certain? Don’t anger the Old Ancestor… Although Old Madam Guo is formidable, she’s ultimately a woman without proper standing… Fourth Master Chi is even less reliable. Those shipping companies and banks are just flowers in a mirror and the moon’s reflection in water—I’m afraid the Old Ancestor could bring down those shipping companies and banks with just one letter…”

“It’s not as simple as you say!” Old Madam Guan said dismissively. “Today is different from the past. The Old Ancestor’s classmates and colleagues have all gradually passed away. His subordinates each have their own agendas. If not for the support of the First Household’s Grand Master, some people might not give the Old Ancestor face. Otherwise, the Old Ancestor wouldn’t be trying to curry favor with the maternal uncle for Ziyi’s sake. I’m not trying to follow the First Household to bring down the Second Household for our own benefit… Do you remember when Fourth Master Chi was doing the banking business and wanted us to invest? I didn’t sleep for three days and three nights then. If we didn’t invest, the household’s income wouldn’t be enough to support Gao and Yi’s future studies. If we did invest, we’d be tied to the same boat as the First Household. What frightened me even more was that Fourth Master Chi was only sixteen years old then! If he grows up safely, who knows what incredible things he’ll do! Now you understand Fourth Master Chi’s intention in establishing the banks, right? If the Second Household endures and doesn’t have a falling out with the First Household, that’s one thing. But if they do fall out, just watch—the Fifth Household will definitely be the first to jump out and take the lead!”

What the Fifth Household lacked was silver.

Silver was their livelihood.

If the Second Household wanted the Fifth Household’s livelihood, the Fifth Household would risk everything to fight the Second Household to mutual destruction.

Nanny Wang fell silent.

Old Madam Guan said quietly: “Now it just depends on the Old Ancestor’s health…”

Nanny Wang understood, nodded, and said “Yes” before withdrawing.

※※※

Zhou Shaojin spent a whole day at home painting images of Guanyin before the frustration in her heart gradually dissipated. Calculating the days, it was time for her to go to Cold Jade Mountain Studio to copy scriptures. Thinking that Cheng Chi was staying at Cold Jade Mountain Studio, and considering that the Spring Festival had just passed, she went to the kitchen to make fragrant crispy cakes to take over for Old Madam Guo, Biyu, and the others to taste.

Old Madam Guo kept nodding and said: “These pastries are quite good.” Then she said curiously, “It seems like five-spice powder was used inside, but it also doesn’t taste quite like it.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled and said: “I added a bit of Sichuan pepper.”

“Oh!” Old Madam Guo took another bite and said, “It seems there’s something else too.”

“You truly have an emperor’s palate.” Zhou Shaojin smiled. “I ground the Sichuan pepper into powder, then stir-fried it with salt and mixed it with five-spice powder to make the crispy layer. The Sichuan pepper’s flavor is slightly different from usual.”

“I knew it. These crispy cakes taste somewhat different from usual.” Old Madam Guo smiled with understanding and instructed Biyu, “Send a few to Fourth Lang to taste as well.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled and said: “I also made a box for Uncle Chi.”

Old Madam Guo couldn’t help raising her eyebrows.

Zhou Shaojin smiled: “Since I made them for you, naturally I couldn’t leave out Uncle Chi.”

Old Madam Guo chuckled and said: “It seems Fourth Lang benefited from my good fortune. Alright then, I won’t worry about it. Take these few pieces to Nanny Lü instead.” The last sentence was directed at Biyu.

Biyu smiled and agreed.

Zhou Shaojin then took her leave and went to the Buddha hall.

Not having copied scriptures for several days, that faint scent of ink made her feel very familiar and comfortable.

She took a deep breath and began grinding ink.

Meanwhile, when Cheng Chi received the fragrant crispy cakes sent over by Biyu, he examined them for quite a while, then pushed the box away and handed it to Huai Shan, saying: “You’re from the north, you should like eating these. Take them back and eat them!”

Huai Shan accepted the box.

Cheng Chi continued discussing matters with him: “…Since Xiao Zhenhai could find his way to Jinling, others can find their way here too. It’s inconvenient for me to show my face in Jinling city, so the Cheng family should tell outsiders I’m ill from now on! This way it can also explain why I’m no longer entering official service. After a couple of years when I die of illness, the Cheng family will be safe.”

Huai Shan gave an “mm” of acknowledgment, then saw Ji Ying walk into the courtyard and spend a long time talking quietly with an unfamiliar young maid. The young maid took out a box identical to the one Cheng Chi had just handed him and gave it to Ji Ying. Ji Ying accepted the box, rewarded the young maid with a few copper coins, and walked back cheerfully.

“Fourth Master!” he couldn’t help saying, “It seems Second Young Miss Zhou also sent food to Ji Ying.”

“Oh!” Cheng Chi said indifferently. “She probably made a lot and is giving some to everyone—courtesy costs nothing! She’s copying scriptures at Cold Jade Mountain Studio, so getting on good terms with these servant women will make things much more convenient for her.”

Huai Shan agreed and went back carrying the box.

Ji Ying ran over to Zhou Shaojin’s location, smiling broadly: “Second Young Miss, the fragrant crispy cakes you made are truly delicious! Thank you so much! You even thought of me.”

Zhou Shaojin giggled and said: “I made a lot—everyone gets a share. Uncle Chi gets a share too.”

“Really?” Ji Ying looked quite regretful and said: “Your Uncle Chi doesn’t like this kind of dry pastry.”

Zhou Shaojin’s whole mood plummeted. She asked: “Then what does he like?”

Ji Ying thought for a long time and said: “I don’t know either. But I know he doesn’t like eating sweet things, but that’s not right either—he seems to eat orchid crisps… He doesn’t eat things made with glutinous rice. That’s certain, because he doesn’t eat tangyuan or zongzi, but that’s not right either—he eats pork zongzi… Anyway, this person is very strange. I don’t know what he likes to eat either. Who knows when something will suddenly suit his taste!” By the end, she was getting a bit impatient and said: “Anyway, he’s quite particular about food.”

Could it be because what she made wasn’t tasty?

Zhou Shaojin thought about it. The second time, she made jade shumai.

Using pork, glutinous rice, vegetables, and dried shrimp. To make it beautiful, she specifically found a powder enamel dish with intertwining flower patterns.

Supposedly, when Cheng Chi saw it, he only thought the plate was quite nice.

The third time she made non-sweet sesame cake. To make it look good, she specifically cut it into triangles—one layer of white corn flour, one layer of black sesame, distinct black and white, looking very novel.

Cheng Chi rewarded it to Qingfeng and Langyue, but Nanny Lü really liked it. After eating it, she bashfully came to ask her for the recipe.

Zhou Shaojin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Admitting defeat, she decided to only make pastries for those who liked to eat them.

She not only wrote down the sesame cake recipe for Nanny Lü but also made osmanthus glutinous rice cake to give to Nanny Lü.

Nanny Lü was extremely pleased and shared some with Old Madam Guo.

Old Madam Guo smiled and said: “This glutinous rice cake is quite good.”

She ate several pieces.

Zhou Shaojin was terribly alarmed.

Eating too much glutinous rice easily causes indigestion.

Nanny Lü said helplessly: “Do you think the Old Madam is someone we can persuade?”

Zhou Shaojin said: “Even if we can’t persuade her, we must try! Otherwise, if something goes wrong, what will we do?” As she spoke, she pondered for a moment and said, “Then tomorrow I’ll make some radish cakes. They’re equally soft and easy to eat, but they’re made with radish and pork—better than glutinous rice cakes.”

Nanny Lü nodded repeatedly.

The next day, Zhou Shaojin made radish cakes and brought them over.

Old Madam Guo ate four pieces in a row before putting down her chopsticks.

When Zhou Shaojin came to take her leave, she asked: “Are you very good at cooking?”

“Not very good.” Zhou Shaojin said modestly. “Things I like to eat, I’m very good at making. Things I don’t like to eat, I basically can’t make. Like dried fish—I don’t like eating it, so I can’t make it.”

Old Madam Guo laughed and said: “Then what do you like to eat?”

“Squirrel-shaped fish! Osmanthus glutinous rice cake, Longjing shrimp, lotus root and spare rib soup…” Zhou Shaojin counted on her fingers and said, “Anyway, I like eating all delicious things.”

Old Madam Guo laughed heartily and rewarded Zhou Shaojin with a set of nanmu wood pastry molds.

There were peaches, chrysanthemums, lotus flowers, auspicious clouds, and even five bats surrounding longevity—twenty-one types in all. They could be used not only for making pastries but also for making mooncakes—extremely rare. In ordinary households, such a set of molds would typically be used as family heirlooms.

Zhou Shaojin didn’t dare accept them.

Old Madam Guo smiled and said: “I have no daughters, and your cousins like Zheng don’t enjoy cooking. Others give precious swords to heroes—I’m giving molds to a master chef. This is also quite fitting!”

Zhou Shaojin truly did like them and didn’t refuse anymore. She happily accepted them, deciding to make some excellent pastries for Old Madam Guo to taste in the future.

What she hadn’t expected was that when she returned to Jia Tree Hall carrying the molds, Madam Wu was actually talking with Old Madam Guan.

Zhou Shaojin quietly asked Si’er: “Did Madam Wu come alone?”

Si’er nodded and said in a low voice: “She was crying and weeping when she came. She just barely stopped crying. From the look of it, she seems to have come to pour out her grievances to the Old Madam.”

In her previous life, Madam Wu had also often come to cry to Old Madam Guan. But ever since Wu Baozhang gained the favor of Eldest Madam Zheng, whenever Madam Wu had problems, she would cry to Eldest Madam Shi and had barely come to the Fourth Household anymore.

Zhou Shaojin sneered coldly and went in to pay respects to Old Madam Guan.

Madam Wu, whose eyes were still somewhat swollen, showed unprecedented enthusiasm upon seeing her. Smiling broadly, she moved forward to take her hand: “Second Young Miss has returned from Cold Jade Mountain Studio? The wind was a bit strong today—did it bother you? Though it’s only been a few months since we’ve seen each other, Second Young Miss has grown taller and has become more beautiful than before…”