Zhou Chujin looked around at the forty-some trunks and chests of various sizes in the room and said wearily, “Is there anything we’ve forgotten?” Her voice was filled with sadness.

Zhou Shaojin could understand her sister’s feelings.

In her previous life, the Cheng family had hurt her so deeply, yet when she left the Cheng residence, she had still gazed at Jiuru Alley for a long time in the darkness.

“It doesn’t matter!” Zhou Shaojin gently comforted her sister. “We’re so close by. If we’ve forgotten anything, we can just have Ma Fushan’s wife come back to get it.”

It’s not like they could never return!

Chun Wan came in to report, “Biyu from Cold Jade Mountain Retreat has arrived. She says there’s so much happening these days that she’s afraid she won’t be able to see you off tomorrow, so she’s come to pay her respects.”

“Why is she being so formal?” Zhou Shaojin smiled. Seeing that her sister’s eyes still carried a hint of weariness, she said to Zhou Chujin, “Sister, I’ll go see her. You should go back to your room and rest! Tomorrow morning we still have to go pay our respects to Grandmother, and she’ll surely have many things to tell you.”

In her previous life, Grandmother had held her sister in tears and talked all morning.

Zhou Chujin smiled and nodded.

Zhou Shaojin went to the study.

Biyu glanced at Chun Wan, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Zhou Shaojin dismissed Chun Wan.

Biyu then leaned close to Zhou Shaojin’s ear and whispered for a while.

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened. She couldn’t recover her composure for a long time.

Grandmother and First Aunt actually wanted her to marry Cousin Yi… This, how could this work?

She treated Cousin Yi like her own brother. No, after her rebirth, she felt he was her younger brother… How could she marry her own brother? Moreover, Cousin Yi’s way of doing things was completely incompatible with hers. Wouldn’t she have to spend her whole life following behind him cleaning up his messes? She, she didn’t have that ability!

Just thinking about it made Zhou Shaojin’s mood grow heavy.

She grabbed Biyu’s hand and said hurriedly, “Thank you. If it weren’t for you, I’d still be in the dark! I will certainly repay Grandmother and First Aunt’s kindness, but to repay Grandmother and First Uncle this way, I, I really can’t do it!”

Biyu hadn’t expected things to be completely opposite from what she’d imagined.

From her heart, Zhou Shaojin did not approve of this marriage.

Which meant that Old Madam Guo and Fourth Master were right!

Biyu breathed a sigh of relief and said with a quiet laugh, “As long as Second Young Miss doesn’t blame me for being talkative. For this matter, you should still discuss it with Master Zhou! Don’t end up offending relatives and losing all these years of kindness!”

“Thank you! Thank you!” Zhou Shaojin thanked Biyu again and personally saw her out.

The next morning, Zhou Chujin noticed that Zhou Shaojin wasn’t in good spirits. She smiled and asked, “What did Biyu say to you yesterday?”

“Oh!” Zhou Shaojin lowered her head to pick up a piece of gold-silver steamed bun, as if to cover something. “She wanted to know if I’d come back after I return home.”

Zhou Chujin asked her, “What do you think?”

This was the first time the sisters had discussed this topic so formally.

Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “I’d like to go with Father to his post after my coming-of-age ceremony. Until then, I should stay at Grandmother’s place. That way I can properly fulfill my filial duties.”

Zhou Chujin remained noncommittal.

This matter needed to be discussed with Father, and Father had never brought up where her younger sister should go. Either he had some difficulty, or he had other plans. Better to wait until Li Shi arrived to discuss it.

She changed the subject, talking about the flowers and plants. “Spring is the perfect time for repotting. It’s better to move them back. If you return to Jiuru Alley, you can just bring them back.”

If she returned to Jiuru Alley again, she would probably be staying long-term.

Zhou Shaojin smiled in agreement and beckoned to Snowball.

Snowball leaped into her arms.

She gently stroked Snowball’s fur and said, “We’re going home!”

Snowball barked twice, not understanding.

※※※

Just like in her previous life, on the morning of Little New Year’s Eve, Old Madam Guan held Zhou Chujin and talked for a very long time. When they came out for the reunion dinner, both Old Madam Guan and Zhou Chujin’s eyes were red, their expressions full of sadness. Grand Madam Mian tried to console them for quite a while before Old Madam Guan finally put away her sorrowful expression. Everyone happily ate a meal together and saw the Zhou sisters off.

Old Madam Guan was their maternal grandmother and a widow. Although she had raised Zhou Chujin for a time, Zhou Chujin couldn’t take leave of her maternal grandmother when she married. Thinking that this was the last time she would see Old Madam Guan before her wedding, Zhou Chujin’s tears fell uncontrollably again, and she threw herself into Old Madam Guan’s arms, unable to bear leaving.

Zhou Shaojin and Grand Madam Mian stood beside them, tears constantly falling.

Cheng Mian, being a man after all, was more rational. With reddened eyes, he waved at Zhou Shaojin and said, “Hurry home! If you wait any longer, there’ll be a curfew. It’s not like you won’t see each other again. Aren’t you planning to come pay New Year’s respects to your uncle on the second day?”

“We are, we are.” Zhou Chujin wiped her tears and reluctantly bid farewell to everyone in the fourth branch of the Cheng family, crying softly all the way back to the Zhou residence.

The Zhou residence was somewhat different from when Zhou Shaojin had last returned. The walls were freshly whitewashed snow-white, and the blue-green tiles were arranged on the roof like fish scales, particularly neat. Once inside, even the bamboo seemed especially vibrant.

Ma Fushan’s wife smiled and said, “Following the master’s instructions, since the eldest young miss is getting married, the house has been completely renovated, lest the son-in-law think poorly of it when he comes for the bride.”

Zhou Chujin’s face turned bright red.

Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips, finally breathing a sigh of relief.

She had comforted her sister all the way, but no matter what she said, her sister cried endlessly like spring rain, and she had nearly started crying along with her.

Chi Xiang and the others served Zhou Chujin as she washed and groomed. Zhou Shaojin directed the maids and servants to place the things Zhou Chujin was preparing to bring to the Liao family together with her dowry, so everything could be sent to Zhenjiang together on the auspicious day.

Bitao came in to report, “Second Young Miss, Shi Xiang has come with her husband. She says she wants to kowtow to you and the eldest young miss.”

Zhou Shaojin was somewhat surprised.

In her previous life, Shi Xiang had never returned after leaving the residence.

She had a young maid bring Shi Xiang in.

Shi Xiang had all her hair done up and wore the Hangzhou silk padded jacket that Zhou Shaojin had previously given her. Her face was bright red from the cold, and she had the typical appearance of a young married woman. She came forward to pay her respects.

Zhou Shaojin smiled and asked about her life after marriage. She learned that the family Shi Xiang married into was surnamed Lu, that she was the eldest daughter-in-law, her mother-in-law was respectful, and her husband was considerate. She was doing very well. This visit wasn’t because she had encountered any difficulties, but simply because she’d heard that Zhou Shaojin had returned from Mount Putuo and that Zhou Chujin’s wedding date had been set, so she came to kowtow to them and observe the proper etiquette of a former servant.

She had also brought some pickled vegetables made by her mother-in-law, saying, “…Everyone who’s tried them says they’re good. I brought them for the two young misses to taste. It’s a token of our appreciation.”

Zhou Shaojin accepted the items. After chatting with Shi Xiang for a while, she rewarded her husband with a pot of wine, gave a package of candy for his parents, several bolts of cloth, and two taels of silver. She let the couple stay the night and didn’t let them leave until after lunch the next day.

That evening, Ma Fushan told the sisters, “Cheng Lu has returned!”

The Zhou sisters couldn’t help but frown. “Do you know how he did this year at Yuelu Academy?”

Ma Fushan said, “I heard he received an ‘excellent’ rating this year. Among all those sent from Jiuru Alley to Yuelu Academy, he had the best results.”

All the more reason not to keep him!

Zhou Chujin said, “Has Father’s letter not arrived yet?”

Ma Fushan smiled. “He should have the secretary bring it with him!”

Since Zhou Chujin was getting married, Zhou Zhen couldn’t return. But besides having Li Shi return to preside over Zhou Chujin’s wedding, he also sent his adviser Master Li and his attendant Li Changgui back together.

The two sisters could only wait patiently.

After the Lantern Festival, Li Shi rushed back from Baoding Prefecture.

She didn’t bring Zhou Youjin.

Sometimes in the inner quarters, it was a matter of one wind overpowering another.

Zhou Chujin had fully demonstrated her capabilities. Li Shi couldn’t help feeling somewhat apprehensive. She was afraid her disobedient daughter who liked to cry and make trouble would upset Zhou Chujin, so she simply didn’t bring her. She just said that with traveling day and night, Zhou Youjin was too young and might not be able to endure it.

Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly. “The weather really is terrible. When Youjin is older and you have time, you can bring her to the capital to visit Sister. Baoding Prefecture is very close to the capital.”

Zhou Zhen had already received word and knew that Madam Fang had used her own private funds to buy Zhou Chujin and the others a residence. He was very pleased with his mother-in-law.

Li Shi hurriedly said with a beaming smile, “This is the eldest young miss’s good fortune. Our Youjin benefits from it too and will be able to visit the capital in the future.”

Zhou Chujin had no desire to see Zhou Youjin. Li Shi not bringing her suited her perfectly.

She smiled and exchanged pleasantries with Li Shi for a bit, then said, “Madam should still stay in the study quarters where you stayed before, right? Previously when there was no one home, I was afraid thieves might visit, so I locked everything Mother left behind in the main room…”

Li Shi didn’t dare quibble with her at all and smiled. “The eldest young miss has touched on exactly what I was thinking. With the eldest young miss’s wedding having a thousand and one details, if I stay in the study quarters, it’s convenient for giving instructions to those steward servants. The eldest young miss can also prepare for her wedding with peace of mind.”

According to propriety, after a young lady married and made her first visit home, she should make a pair of shoes for everyone in her husband’s family. Of course, some weren’t so particular and only made them for their parents-in-law or blood-related uncles. It all depended on the bride’s family’s financial means.

Zhou Chujin of course wouldn’t make them herself. She had obtained the shoe sizes of everyone in the Liao family and was having skilled seamstresses come to the house to make the shoes.

But no one would speak this truth aloud.

Zhou Chujin thanked her graciously and had Ma Fushan’s wife accompany Li Shi to rest.

Nanny Li, who served Li Shi, had learned that both Lanting and Xinlan had fallen into Zhou Chujin’s hands. She didn’t dare even give Zhou Chujin an extra glance and virtually supported Li Shi as they went to the study quarters.

Chi Xiang came in and said, “Eldest Young Miss, Steward Ma says Master Li wishes to pay his respects to the eldest young miss and requests that she come to the flower hall.”

Zhou Chujin wasn’t surprised at all. She smiled at Zhou Shaojin. “Come with me!”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t think much of it, assuming her sister wanted her for company. But unexpectedly, when they arrived at the flower hall and sat down behind the gauze screen, after dismissing the servants in the hall, Master Li—who had ordinary features and kept a goatee—said, “The master sent me back primarily to deal with that Cheng Lu. However, this matter concerns the family’s prosperity and we’re afraid we must first notify the Cheng family! His Lordship’s meaning is that it would be best if we could ask the eldest maternal uncle to inform the main branch. I wonder what the eldest young miss… and the second young miss think?”

Zhou Zhen had asked him to seek Zhou Chujin’s help in making introductions to people in the Cheng family, but when he heard that the second young miss had also come with the eldest young miss, he hastily added “second young miss.”