Cheng Chi asked curiously, “It’s so late—what does Second Young Miss want with Ji Ying?”

Huai Shan said, “I’ll have Pozi Shang go eavesdrop.”

Cheng Chi didn’t object.

A faint smile appeared in Huai Shan’s eyes as he left the side chamber.

Cheng Chi thought about yesterday morning’s meeting with Xiao Zhenhai and Jiang Qin.

Others might not know about Ji Ying’s return to his side seeking his protection, but those within the Canal Gang certainly knew. Yet when Jiang Qin encountered him, he acted as if nothing had happened, even hinting that the Jiao family wanted to dominate the Canal Gang alone, that the Gang’s members had long been dissatisfied, and that now with their only son’s arm broken, the Gang members were rather gloating. He also said that although the three families were as close as one family, they couldn’t violate martial world principles for private interests. If the Jiao family went too far, Jiang Qin couldn’t speak for the other family, but the Jiang family would certainly stand on his side. Even if the Jiang family couldn’t openly break with the Jiao family, secretly causing them trouble wouldn’t be a problem.

The so-called three heads of the Canal Gang were originally three people who had founded the Gang together. But that was already decades ago. By now, the three great families, for the sake of profit and reputation, had long lost their former closeness. That Jiang Qin could say such things showed the rift between the three families ran deep—an open break was only a matter of time.

The question was whether he could use this situation to drag the Xiao family down?

Merely making the Xiao family spend money wouldn’t be enough to shake their foundation. The best approach would be to wait until Xiao Zhenhai had consumed vast amounts of the Xiao family’s silver, then have someone from the Xiao family step forward to question Xiao Zhenhai’s competence…

He was calculating in his mind when Huai Shan walked in, reporting with a smile, “Second Young Miss wants Miss Ji Ying to find a way to help her bring back a few bricks from Leifeng Pagoda!”

Cheng Chi was stunned. “What’s that about?”

Huai Shan told Cheng Chi what he had heard from Pozi Shang about the legend that Leifeng Pagoda could grant children.

Cheng Chi was even more surprised. “What does Second Young Miss want with that?”

She was only thirteen this year. Marriage was still far off, let alone bearing children.

Huai Shan couldn’t figure it out either and said with a smile, “Perhaps she wants to bring it for some relative.”

Cheng Chi thought of Zhou Zhen, who still had no son.

He said, “This is a small matter. Did Ji Ying refuse?”

“Yes,” Huai Shan said. “With Jiang Qin here, who knows how many eyes in the martial world are watching Hangzhou Prefecture. Miss Ji Ying doesn’t want to create complications.” Then he smiled. “Miss Ji Ying has become much more sensible these days. She diligently practices her martial arts morning and evening.”

Cheng Chi nodded somewhat dismissively and instructed Huai Shan, “Then you figure out a way to get a few bricks for Second Young Miss. However, will the bricks work if they’re not brought back by the person herself?”

“I don’t know,” Huai Shan said with a smile. “I’ll tell Pozi Shang to go ask. If the person must go herself, I think it would be better to have Second Young Miss write a letter to Lord Zhou.”

Cheng Chi agreed wholeheartedly. “While you’re at it, also tell Pozi Shang that tomorrow we’re going to watch the tidal bore. Tell her that besides paying attention to Old Madam Guo, she should also keep an eye on Second Young Miss. Don’t let the tidal waters sweep anyone away. With her delicate lilac-like appearance, if she got swept into the river, finding her would probably be quite difficult…”

Huai Shan went to Pozi Shang’s quarters with a smile.

Pozi Shang was shocked. “When did Fourth Master start concerning himself with such matters?”

Huai Shan said, “Fourth Master has always been thorough in whatever he does—look at how he manages the household affairs at Jiuru Lane. Has anyone done it better than him?”

“That’s true enough,” Pozi Shang said with a smile. “Since Fourth Master has tacitly allowed Old Madam to bring Second Young Miss along, naturally he must take good care of Second Young Miss too.” She added, “I’ll go ask Second Young Miss right away. We can’t have Fourth Master doing a good deed without getting credit for it.”

Huai Shan couldn’t help but laugh. “Fourth Master doesn’t care about such credit.”

Pozi Shang chattered on, “You big men are all like this—this doesn’t matter, that’s not important, and what’s the result? Last time, if I hadn’t said a few extra words in front of the Ji family, how would Master Ji have figured out what the Jiao family was scheming? And how could Fourth Master have won over the Ji family so easily? Sometimes you need to speak up a bit more…”

“Fine, fine, fine,” Huai Shan surrendered. “If you want to speak, go speak then.”

Pozi Shang went to Zhou Shaojin’s quarters with a chuckle.

Zhou Shaojin, having been refused by Ji Ying and with no one else to turn to, was feeling quite low when she heard that Nanny Shang from Cheng Chi’s side was requesting an audience. She couldn’t help but widen her eyes. “What does she want?”

Bitao shook her head. “It doesn’t seem like there’s any urgent matter.”

“Invite her to the rest room for tea.” Thinking she was someone serving Cheng Chi, Zhou Shaojin treated her with considerable courtesy. “I’ll change clothes and come right over.”

Bitao withdrew.

Zhou Shaojin simply pinned up her hair and put on a semi-worn peach-red vest to meet Pozi Shang.

Seeing that such a garish color not only didn’t diminish Zhou Shaojin’s bearing but actually added a touch of charm, Pozi Shang couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

This Second Miss Zhou was indeed beautiful. No wonder Master Xu couldn’t forget her—just a few days ago he had written asking someone to inquire about Zhou Shaojin’s situation.

She greeted Zhou Shaojin with a smile and said, “Miss Ji Ying mentioned that you wanted to bring back a brick from Leifeng Pagoda. Fourth Master sent me to ask whether you need to fetch it yourself or if anyone can retrieve it?”

Zhou Shaojin hadn’t thought carefully about this question.

However, that Cheng Chi had agreed to let her bring back a brick from Leifeng Pagoda already filled her with unexpected joy. She quickly had Chun Wan serve tea to Pozi Shang while she went to Madam Wang’s quarters.

Madam Wang had already retired for the night. Upon learning Zhou Shaojin’s purpose, she said drowsily, “We’re going to Qiantang River tomorrow… Has Old Madam agreed to send someone to Leifeng Pagoda?”

“It’s not Old Madam,” Zhou Shaojin said somewhat embarrassed. “It’s Fourth Master who agreed.” She then told Madam Wang of Pozi Shang’s concern.

Madam Wang broke out in a cold sweat, losing all trace of sleepiness. She quickly said with a smile, “Whether you fetch it yourself or entrust someone else to get it, the sincerity is the same. The Bodhisattva will know and will bestow blessings.”

In other words, it didn’t matter who went to fetch them!

Zhou Shaojin happily went to report back to Pozi Shang.

Pozi Shang said her farewells with a smile.

Zhou Shaojin was filled with joy and tossed and turned in bed for a long time before falling asleep.

The next day when she opened her eyes, she saw the two bricks Pozi Shang had delivered before dawn.

The blue-gray bricks, weathered by wind and rain, had become somewhat worn, yet still conveyed a square solidity.

Zhou Shaojin instructed Chun Wan to wrap them in two pieces of silk and place them in a trunk before going to pay her respects to Old Madam Guo.

After a day’s rest, Old Madam Guo was in high spirits. She invited Zhou Shaojin to have breakfast together. “This morning the kitchen has millet chicken broth sea cucumber congee. I thought it sounded interesting, so I had them bring some. If you’re not used to eating it, you can have something else… Let me think, they should also have plain congee, lily congee, and vegetable congee.”

“I’ll have the same as you,” Zhou Shaojin said, sitting down and tasting the congee.

It was delicious, but she wasn’t quite accustomed to having sea cucumber in congee.

Madam Wang, serving at the side, said with a smile, “This millet chicken broth sea cucumber congee is most nourishing for qi and the spleen. It’s best for elderly people and men in their prime. Second Young Miss needn’t force herself.”

Zhou Shaojin immediately realized this congee was specially made for Old Madam Guo and Cheng Chi.

She smiled awkwardly but still forced herself to finish the congee.

Someone from Cheng Chi’s side came to ask if they could depart.

Everything had been packed yesterday. Zhou Shaojin helped Old Madam Guo into the sedan chair.

Today they would be staying at the Qiantang villa of Jiangnan’s wealthiest man, Master Zong.

The warm, refreshing sunshine of an autumn morning bathed them. Zhou Shaojin occasionally lifted the curtain to look outside.

Wisps of cooking smoke, shepherd boys on water buffalo backs, and the hearty laughter of women beating clothes by the river all gave her a feeling of peaceful warmth.

Near noon, their sedan chairs stopped at the Zong family villa.

The villa was only three courtyards deep, yet with its whitewashed walls and black tiles, flower-filled gardens, and chrysanthemums of various colors appropriately placed along both sides of the covered walkways, the scene was very pleasant.

Cheng Chi said with a smile, “This was originally the courtyard where Master Zong’s great-grandfather recuperated in his later years. The Qiantang River is only two arrow-shots away. When he heard you were coming, he insisted I bring you to stay for a couple days. I thought we wouldn’t be departing for Jinling for a few more days, and this place is quite peaceful, so I agreed.”

“This place is very nice,” Old Madam Guo said with a smile, looking around. “Master Zong went to such trouble. Please thank him for me.”

Cheng Chi agreed with a smile. Zhou Shaojin was arranged in the side chamber west of Old Madam Guo’s quarters.

After lunch and a brief rest, Cheng Chi took Zhou Shaojin and Old Madam Guo to see the back courtyard. “…There’s a small pavilion there. Standing there you can also see the Qiantang River’s tidal bore, though it’s not as magnificent as watching from the riverbank. I was thinking on the first day we could watch from the pavilion, and if you’re interested, we’ll go to the riverbank to watch the bore the next day. We have plenty of time.”

But before they could leave, the Zong family’s head steward came with a calling card, saying that early tomorrow morning the Zong family’s old matriarch wanted to bring several daughters-in-law and granddaughters to call on Old Madam Guo.

Old Madam Guo looked at Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi said with a smile, “Tomorrow is the eighteenth of the eighth month. I think we should wait until after tomorrow!”

Qin Ziping went to reply.

Their party went to the pavilion in the back courtyard.

Although tomorrow would be the best day for watching the tide, the waves already crashed against the shore, wave after wave. The magnificence of the Qiantang River’s tidal bore was already beginning to show.

Old Madam Guo said with a smile, “Tomorrow we’ll go to the riverbank to watch the tide. Standing here is like scratching an itch through a boot—how can we truly feel the Qiantang River’s grandeur?”

Cheng Chi agreed with a smile and instructed Qin Ziping to prepare for the outing.

They sat in the pavilion listening to the sound of the waves and chatting idly until the sun set, then returned to their chambers.

Old Madam Guo went to change clothes.

Zhou Shaojin took the opportunity to say to Cheng Chi, “Uncle Chi, thank you. I’ve already received the bricks from Leifeng Pagoda.”

When she returned to Jinling, she would definitely find a way to repay Uncle Chi.

Cheng Chi nodded slightly and said seriously, “I just hope Leifeng Pagoda doesn’t collapse because of this! Otherwise that would be my sin!”

Zhou Shaojin was stunned for quite a while before she understood what Cheng Chi had said.

Her face flushed slightly. Not knowing what to say, Old Madam Guo emerged and said with a smile, “I see the moonlight is very beautiful tonight. After we have dinner, shall we take a walk in the courtyard?”

Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Chi readily agreed.

But Qin Ziping hurried over.