The Liao clan of Zhenjiang was not only prominent in Zhenjiang but was counted among the renowned families of Jiangnan. However, with the changing of dynasties, the Liao family had become considerably less illustrious compared to the Cheng family of Nine Happiness Lane in Jinling and the Gu family of Haining County in Hangzhou Prefecture. Nevertheless, when Old Madam Guo received the Liao family’s invitation, she still very solemnly received Madam Fang, the First Madam of the Liao family.
Madam Fang was a daughter of the Fang family from Shucheng. She and Madam Yuan were paternal cousins. When they were young unmarried women, they had only heard of each other. After marriage, one lived in Zhenjiang and the other in Jinling; one’s husband had advanced no further than the provincial examination, while the other’s husband enjoyed a prosperous official career. Naturally, their relationship had gradually grown closer. Madam Fang had even asked Cheng Jing to arrange a match for her eldest son Liao Shaotang, which led to the marriage alliance between the Zhou and Liao families.
Accompanying Madam Fang was Nanny Zhong.
She followed respectfully behind Madam Fang. When she caught sight of Zhou Shaojin from the corner of her eye, she couldn’t conceal the astonishment that appeared on her face.
Madam Fang should be about forty years old this year. She had a slender figure, fair skin, refined features, and an elegant bearing. She looked no more than thirty or so—very well-preserved.
Seeing Nanny Zhong show surprise, Madam Fang gave her a cold glance, quickly looked Zhou Shaojin over, then smiled as she stepped forward to pay her respects to Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo had Nanny Lü help her up, then instructed Biyu to bring a seat. After Madam Fang thanked her and sat down, and the maids had brought tea and refreshments, she pointed to Zhou Shaojin and said, “This is Second Young Miss from our household. Speaking of which, she’s also related to you—she’s your eldest daughter-in-law’s younger sister.”
Madam Fang was extremely surprised. Only then did she understand why the capable and experienced Nanny Zhong had shown such emotion.
She was not satisfied with the marriage match that Cheng Jing had arranged for her eldest son.
She had originally wanted to seek a marriage for her eldest son with Cheng Sheng, the daughter of Second Master from the primary branch.
Who would have known that Cheng Jing hadn’t thought in that direction at all and had directly presented Miss Zhou to her?
At the time she had wanted to refuse, but her brother-in-law had just been promoted to Vice Director of Rites in the Ministry of Rites, and her husband had foolishly trusted a friend and spent a considerable sum to buy a counterfeit painting. Had she not promptly found a way to cover it up, her husband would have long since become a laughingstock of the Liao family and Zhenjiang—a scholarly gentleman from an established family actually being deceived because he couldn’t authenticate art. What kind of gentleman from an established family would that be? What kind of scholar?
She desperately needed something to make an impression on the Liao family.
Cheng Chi arranging a match for her eldest son became a lifeline she could grasp at the time. Though she had many reservations, her husband had agreed wholeheartedly, and she truly had no alternative but to engage a matchmaker to propose the marriage.
However, as her eldest son performed increasingly well, her dissatisfaction with this daughter-in-law grew stronger and stronger. She had even breathed a sigh of relief when her mother-in-law’s death caused her eldest son’s wedding to be postponed.
This was also why she paid particular attention to Zhou Chujin.
She needed a reason to convince herself that her choice at the time had not been wrong.
Now, seeing Zhou Shaojin standing beside Old Madam Guo, her heart suddenly calmed.
She had heard that Miss Zhou was more favored by the Cheng family than Second Miss Zhou. Yet Old Madam Guo had brought Second Miss Zhou when she went to Mount Putuo to offer incense, which showed Miss Zhou’s position in the Cheng family.
When Zhou Shaojin stepped forward to pay her respects, Madam Fang’s smile involuntarily became more genuine. She removed a gold hairpin with dangling ornaments from her hair bun and gave it to Zhou Shaojin as a meeting gift. “I didn’t know Second Young Miss was accompanying Old Madam. That’s my fault. Take this for now. It’s just that your aunt came in haste and this is rather modest. When you come visit your aunt’s home, she’ll supplement this meeting gift.”
“Madam is too kind.” Zhou Shaojin said gently and softly. “This junior should properly pay a visit at your home, but I have elders to attend to and cannot move about freely. I had originally thought that in a few days, when Old Madam has some leisure time, I would come to visit you. I didn’t expect you to come first. This junior is truly ashamed. How could I dare accept Madam’s meeting gift? Please wait until the day I formally visit you, Madam, and you can bestow it upon me then.”
For her sister’s sake, she tried her best to display deference.
Seeing that her manner was both generous and properly submissive, Madam Fang was indeed very satisfied. She developed a few more expectations for Zhou Chujin and smiled, saying, “When an elder bestows a gift, one cannot refuse. Just take it. When you make a formal visit, there will naturally be a formal gift.”
Zhou Shaojin smiled her thanks and accepted Madam Fang’s meeting gift.
In reality, both understood that Zhou Shaojin’s talk of visiting Madam Fang was merely polite—there was no precedent for an unmarried daughter-in-law to visit her sister’s mother-in-law. The so-called formal visit would occur after Zhou Chujin married into the Liao family, when Zhou Shaojin went to visit her sister.
After they exchanged a few pleasantries, Madam Fang began chatting with Old Madam Guo.
She spoke mostly of old matters, just like the wife of Zhenjiang’s Assistant Magistrate Chen Shuming who had visited them. Most likely she had a favor to ask.
Zhou Shaojin excused herself and left the cabin.
But she was very concerned about the Liao family’s affairs.
After all, the Liao family was her sister’s husband’s family. If something happened to the Liao family, her sister would suffer along with them.
In her previous life, she didn’t know whether anything had happened to the Liao family. She only knew that her sister had married smoothly into the Liao family, refuting those rumors that suggested the Zhou-Liao marriage would encounter complications.
She pleaded with Biyu, “Please pay attention for me. I hope it’s not bad news.”
Biyu could well understand Zhou Shaojin’s feelings. She blinked at Zhou Shaojin and said, “Don’t worry. Zhenzhu is on duty today. Both of us will pay attention.”
Since using the remedy that Cheng Chi had taught them, not only had Zhenzhu recovered, but she no longer suffered from seasickness. Zhou Shaojin had also learned that method from Biyu.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and thanked her.
Nanny Zhong, who attended Madam Fang, came out of the cabin with a smile.
Though somewhat surprised to see Zhou Shaojin, she greeted her with a warmth that showed some familiarity. “Why is Second Young Miss standing here? The wind on this lake surface is much colder than the wind in the city. Be careful not to catch a chill.”
Zhou Shaojin felt quite emotional.
In her previous life, neither Madam Fang nor Nanny Zhong had been anything but indifferent toward her. When had they ever been so enthusiastic?
She smiled and said, “It’s fine. I just had a few words to say to Biyu.”
Biyu nodded slightly and said courteously to Nanny Zhong, “There’s hot tea in the tea room next door. Would you like to rest a bit and have a cup of tea?”
“Thank you, Miss Biyu.” Nanny Zhong quickly smiled and said, “We only received the news yesterday, and fearing that Old Madam might depart for Jinling in the next day or two, our First Madam put aside all her other affairs and was single-mindedly determined to come pay her respects to Old Madam. Matters at home haven’t been arranged yet, so we probably won’t be able to stay long. If Old Madam agrees to visit our residence tomorrow, our First Madam will have to return to arrange the banquet, which means we’ll stay here even less. I’d better wait here.”
Biyu didn’t press her, merely summoned a junior maid to attend her, while she herself took the water kettle into the inner room to refill tea for Old Madam Guo and Madam Fang.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and exchanged a few words with Nanny Zhong, then rose to return to her room.
Langyue came running over holding a small jar.
“Second Young Miss, Second Young Miss!” He held up the small jar in his hand as if presenting a treasure for Zhou Shaojin to see, saying, “This is spring water from Zhongling Spring. Fourth Master and Minister Shen and the others just drew it from the river water. This is for you.”
Zhou Shaojin was delighted beyond expectation.
Zhongling Spring, also called Nanling Spring, got its name because the spring water was located within the rolling river waters outside Golden Mountain Temple. The river water, blocked by Shipai Mountain and Hushan, flowed in meandering curves, dividing into south, middle, and north curves, with the spring located beneath one of these water curves. Hence the name “Zhongling Spring.” Because Zhongling Spring was on the southwest side of Golden Mountain, it was also called “Nanling Spring.” It was said that the river water was deep with swift currents, making the spring difficult to draw from. To obtain the spring water, one needed to lower a copper jar with a lid into the spring at noon using a rope, then quickly pull open the lid to capture the true spring water.
Zhou Shaojin had read about this in books. When Madam Gao had accompanied them to visit Golden Mountain Temple, she had particularly observed the river water beside the temple. But how could she speak up when Old Madam Guo and the others hadn’t mentioned going out on the river to draw spring water?
What she hadn’t expected was that Cheng Chi had actually drawn Zhongling Spring water.
How precious this water must be!
Zhou Shaojin asked Langyue somewhat incredulously, “This is for me?”
Langyue nodded repeatedly, his face showing pride, speaking as if he shared in the glory. “How could such a thing be difficult for our Fourth Master! Fourth Master and Elder Song drew back a whole large bucket. You take this one—I still need to help Qingfeng carry water!”
Regardless of whose idea it had been, Zhou Shaojin was very grateful.
She quickly accepted the small jar.
Langyue ran off in a flash.
Zhou Shaojin watched his retreating figure and couldn’t help shaking her head with a smile. Because of this, she didn’t see Nanny Zhong’s eyes flicker slightly as she smiled and said, “This young man is… a page boy attending Fourth Master?”
“Yes!” Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “Fourth Master believes in the Dao, so both page boys attending him wear Daoist robes.”
She spoke in Cheng Chi’s defense.
Since the Liao family intended to form a marriage alliance with the Cheng family, they naturally had some understanding of the Cheng family’s circumstances. Nanny Zhong had long heard that the Fourth Master of the primary branch of the Cheng family had an eccentric temperament but was a god of wealth. Not to mention outsiders—even people within the Cheng family couldn’t easily curry favor with him.
She smiled and said, “It seems Second Young Miss has quite a good relationship with the people attending Fourth Master.” Her tone unconsciously carried a probing quality.
Zhou Shaojin had long known that the Liao family was somewhat snobbish. She took no offense and smiled, saying, “Everyone’s on the same boat—how could we not get along?”
“That’s true.” Nanny Zhong smiled, though she didn’t believe a word of it.
What was this business with Zhongling Spring water? Others might not know, but as a Zhenjiang native, she understood it all too well.
Drawing spring water from the river required not only hiring a boat and people, but also a specially made copper jar for drawing the spring water. In all of Zhenjiang, only one person could make them, and he typically charged ten taels of silver for one copper jar. Once out on the river, looking around, all one could see was rolling river water. Without people who understood these matters, even if you threw the copper jar into the river, you couldn’t draw real Zhongling Spring water. In all of Zhenjiang, only three people knew how to draw the water, and hiring them once also cost ten taels of silver. Calculated this way, that small jar of spring water the young Daoist page had given Zhou Shaojin cost twenty taels of silver.
When the young Daoist page spoke to Zhou Shaojin, his manner clearly carried several degrees of respect.
This showed just how favored Second Miss Zhou was in the Cheng family!
As soon as Madam Fang disembarked from the boat, Nanny Zhong told her about this matter.
Madam Fang was silent for a long moment, then said thoughtfully, “You should have asked Second Miss Zhou for some Zhongling Spring water. We could have taken it for the Old Ancestor to taste, so those shallow-minded people in the Liao family would know—don’t assume that because the Zhou sisters are living under the Cheng family’s roof, they’re in some subservient position.”