Zhou Chujin was both surprised and delighted, so excited she didn’t know what to do.

She hadn’t expected Cheng Chi would act as matchmaker for Zhou Shaojin, and even less had she expected he would choose such an excellent family for Zhou Shaojin.

Ever since learning that Cheng Xu had become betrothed to the Eldest Miss of the Min family, she had cried countless times in private. She always felt the world’s affairs were unfair to her younger sister. That Cheng Xu had clearly taken liberties with her sister, yet in the end not only faced no consequences but happily married a high-ranking family’s daughter, while her sister had to swallow her anger and leave Jinling City.

Who knew how the people of Nine Ru Lane were gossiping about her sister behind their backs?

She dreamed of her sister being able to marry into an even better family, letting them know her sister walked and sat properly, was gentle and virtuous, and that without the Cheng family, she could still marry into a prestigious household, equally achieving honor through her husband and respect through her sons.

Never mind anything else—just considering that Song Xiuzhi was last year’s provincial examination top candidate from the Two Lakes region and the eldest son of a Grand Secretary, they should at least meet and consider it.

She quickly said, “Does Uncle Chi want me to write to Father?”

The Zhou, Cheng, and Song families were all scholarly households. Although Cheng Chi and Old Master Song had intentions of a marriage alliance, what did Zhou Zhen think? What did Song Jingran think? Otherwise, if one side agreed but the other was dissatisfied, it would offend the matchmaker. There needed to be someone to facilitate the connection. Even if refusing, one had to find a seemingly proper reason rather than offend the matchmaker. Especially when the matchmaker’s status and position were not inferior to both parties, both families needed to be even more cautious.

Cheng Chi said, “Don’t tell your father yet.” He told Zhou Chujin about the Song family’s situation and said somewhat worriedly, “If Song Xiuzhi weren’t sufficiently outstanding, just based on all the messy affairs in their inner household, I would never have such thoughts. So I want to have Shaojin meet him first. If she’s willing herself and Xiuzhi also likes her, after she marries over, even if there are relatives like the Wang family that can’t be severed, with her husband’s protection, those Wang family people would only be like flies buzzing a few times in front of Shaojin.”

Seeing Cheng Chi value her sister so much and describe it so amusingly, Zhou Chujin couldn’t help laughing out loud. Her voice and expression softened as she said, “Uncle Chi is a man and probably doesn’t pay much attention to inner household matters. Actually, no matter how good a family appears, they all have their own difficult scriptures to recite. To be honest with you, you see how well I’ve married now, right? But if I told you about the Liao family affairs, you’d be dumbfounded.”

Blushing with shame, she told Cheng Chi about her father-in-law extorting money from them. “…The Song family’s situation is actually quite good. At least Old Master Song and Grand Secretary Song are both enlightened people. They haven’t been blinded by gratitude. Lady Song has a gentle and magnanimous temperament. That Song Xiuzhi is already an accomplished eldest son, personally approved by Old Master Song. If this matter truly succeeds, Shaojin won’t have to worry about being disliked by her mother-in-law or looked down upon by her father-in-law. They’ll be a first marriage couple of similar age—is there any better marriage alliance than this?” After speaking, she joked, “There’s a saying that deep affection doesn’t last long. In my view, the Bodhisattva sent us to this world to suffer. If anything were completely perfect, it surely wouldn’t last. It’s just having some unreliable relatives—perhaps this is Shaojin’s karmic obstacle. With this karmic obstacle, Shaojin’s days can be harmonious and beautiful.”

A first marriage couple of similar age?

Cheng Chi listened with slightly furrowed brows, thinking—wasn’t this precisely his purpose?

To help Shaojin find a good family with scholarly and ritual traditions, marry a gentle, jade-like young husband of similar age, and happily live their own small life. When waking in the middle of the night, if she could think of him, would she smile to herself, secretly laughing at how foolish she was back then?

Cheng Chi suppressed the slight displeasure in his heart and smiled, “I truly don’t understand these matters well, which is why I came to discuss with you. I want to have Shaojin meet him first. If she approves, it won’t be too late to speak with Grand Secretary Song and your father. This way we avoid making it known to everyone only to have complications arise, causing Shaojin to be gossiped about.”

This would be even better!

Zhou Chujin was very confident in Zhou Shaojin’s appearance.

Nine out of ten men who saw her sister would fall for her.

Beautiful people had more opportunities than others.

Once they spent time together, with Shaojin’s gentle and compliant nature, the couple would surely treat each other with mutual respect and have a harmonious marriage.

The more she thought about it, the more pleased she felt. She rose and was about to kneel to give Cheng Chi a grand salute, saying earnestly, “Uncle Chi, thank you so much for acting as matchmaker for Shaojin. Your protective heart toward Shaojin—I’ll be grateful for a lifetime…”

Cheng Chi quickly stopped her and smiled, “Wait until this matter succeeds, then you can properly kowtow to me.”

But inwardly he thought: If it were me seeking to marry Shaojin, I’m afraid you’d be jumping up right now pointing at my nose and cursing!

Cheng Chi’s heart felt bitter and acrid.

By then, he would only be Shaojin’s uncle.

Zhou Chujin only felt her body somewhat heavy and couldn’t kneel down no matter what. She assumed it was because she was still in her confinement period, and with Cheng Chi speaking so sincerely, she had to give up. She smiled apologetically at Cheng Chi, deciding that as Cheng Chi said, she’d wait until the matter succeeded to properly thank Uncle Chi.

Best to do it together with Liao Shaotang.

That would be more ceremonious.

Cheng Chi then said, “Don’t tell Shaojin about this yet either. She’s thin-skinned—we don’t want her too embarrassed to go through with it. I’m asking you to find an excuse to have her come to my place…”

Chance encounters usually made people feel it was fate.

If Shaojin and Song Xiuzhi had two chance encounters, in Shaojin’s heart, Song Xiuzhi would surely be somewhat special.

Zhou Chujin thought of this as well.

She was so grateful to Cheng Chi she couldn’t express it, repeatedly saying, “Uncle Chi, rest assured, I understand.”

This way, that Song Xiuzhi would also feel his marriage with her sister was predestined.

Seeing Zhou Chujin understand immediately, Cheng Chi couldn’t help sighing inwardly.

Could Shaojin’s temperament take after her mother?

But everyone in Nine Ru Lane praised Lady Zhuang highly when mentioning her. Lady Zhuang couldn’t possibly be like Shaojin!

He didn’t know whom that little girl took after.

He said to Zhou Chujin, “Don’t worry too much about the dowry either. I originally chose Yuqian Alley because it’s close to you, intending it as part of Shaojin’s dowry. I have about a hundred acres of farmland in Daxing, two qing of land in Baoding Prefecture, and several shops near Xizhimen. When the time comes, I’ll give them all to Shaojin, along with gold, silver, and jewelry. You don’t need to worry about those. Just prepare some daily necessities, pewter items, bedding and such…”

Could this be the main branch’s compensation to Shaojin?

Zhou Chujin’s expression became slightly tense.

Cheng Chi looked at her and smiled somewhat desolately.

What was he doing exactly?

Feeling timid near home?

So he wanted to quickly rid himself of this matter, hastily entrusting everything to Zhou Chujin to handle, achieving an “out of sight, out of mind”?

Cheng Chi didn’t explain and rose to take his leave.

Zhou Chujin felt extremely regretful.

Even if it was the main branch’s compensation to Shaojin, it was still the main branch’s sincere intention.

Why must she be like a porcupine, unable to tolerate others?

If they were willing to give, what harm was there in accepting?

The main branch would feel they owed Shaojin nothing, and they would gain practical benefits.

Everyone happy—wouldn’t that be better?

She smiled remedially and said, “How could we trouble Uncle Chi to spend so much? Father has been saving up a dowry for my sister all along!”

Cheng Chi didn’t want to talk. He smiled at Zhou Chujin and said, “Once I’ve made arrangements, have Shaojin come to my place.”

Zhou Chujin respectfully agreed, then suddenly thought of something and smiled, “Regarding Cheng Lu’s matter, thank you Uncle Chi for your help. When the time comes, how about I say I’m having her come deliver a message to you about Cheng Lu’s matter? Would that work?”

What an exquisite heart.

Shaojin was very wary of Cheng Lu. If she knew Cheng Lu’s matter was his doing, she would only be profoundly grateful to him. Never mind having her deliver a message—even if he asked her to pour tea and water, make beds and fold blankets, do servants’ work, she probably wouldn’t complain at all and would only be grateful.

Zhou Chujin certainly knew how to direct Shaojin.

Cheng Chi felt somewhat faintly displeased. But he also knew he was being overly critical. He smiled and nodded, letting Zhou Chujin see him to the door.

Because she shouldn’t be exposed to wind, after leaving the door, Zhou Shaojin saw him out.

She asked Cheng Chi excitedly, “What did Uncle Chi discuss with Elder Sister?”

Cheng Chi saw her completely unguarded, innocent appearance. His heart felt slightly sour, though his face remained unchanged. Half-joking, half-sighing, he said, “Discussing how to sell you off for a good price.”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t believe it at all. She wrinkled her pretty little nose and huffed, saying indignantly, “If you won’t tell me, I’ll go ask Elder Sister!”

Zhou Chujin couldn’t possibly tell her either!

Cheng Chi rubbed her head and said gently, “I’m leaving! Live your life well.”

Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed red with anger as she called out loudly in reproach, “Uncle Chi, you’re doing it again! You’ve messed up my hair, making me have to redo it.”

Cheng Chi smiled and said, “I won’t do it again in the future.”

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help frowning and said, “Uncle Chi, has something happened? You seem… not very happy…”

This little girl was truly perceptive!

“Do you think I’m made of steel?” Cheng Chi smiled. “Won’t I get tired running back and forth like this?”

Zhou Shaojin felt embarrassed.

Cheng Chi couldn’t help touching her head again.

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes went round as she protested by calling out “Uncle Chi!”

Cheng Chi laughed heartily and strode away from Yushu Alley with large steps.

Thinking to himself that he truly wouldn’t touch her head again in the future.

Zhou Shaojin puffed out her cheeks and stamped her feet.

But Zhou Chujin was so excited she couldn’t sleep. With great difficulty she waited for Liao Shaotang to return home. The couple hid inside the bed curtains to talk.

Liao Shaotang also felt this marriage was excellent and said, “When I was at the Hanlin Academy, I occasionally heard those Hanlin scholars mention outstanding scholars. I heard about Grand Secretary Song’s eldest son. They said he was not only naturally intelligent but also studied diligently and conducted himself with propriety. If Second Sister could marry him, it would truly be a splendid match. However, if you’re not at ease, I’ll find a way to meet this person. After all, hearing is false, seeing is believing.”

Zhou Chujin nodded with a smile and said, “It would be good for you to meet him. Only after you’ve seen him will I feel at ease.”

Liao Shaotang smiled with narrowed eyes, embracing Zhou Chujin and saying, “By then you’ll have no more worries either. I’ll work hard to earn you a phoenix crown and霞帔cape. You can give Guan Ge’er a few more younger brothers and sisters. Even being an immortal, I wouldn’t trade this life.”

Zhou Chujin’s eyes moistened slightly as she nestled in Liao Shaotang’s embrace.