Cheng Chi couldn’t help but scrutinize the young girl before him, trying to determine exactly how Zhou Shaojin had changed.
Her eyes were bright, her complexion rosy, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, her demeanor gentle yet serene, radiating a brightness like spring sunshine.
If he had to say what was different from usual… Ever since he had kissed her, she had seemed somewhat panicked when facing him—like a weak woman before a much more powerful man who could decide her life or death, showing that kind of vulnerability. But now, she seemed to have returned to how she was before he kissed her, appearing quite at ease in his presence, as if nothing had happened between them. He was still that doting uncle, and she was still that trusting, dependent niece.
Was this change good or bad?
Cheng Chi frowned secretly.
If the little girl had taken his words to heart and believed that his behavior toward her that day was merely a momentary “inability to control his emotions,” and that it would be best for them both to forget it, this situation could arise.
That would be somewhat troublesome.
He and she might return to square one.
But was it possible that the little girl had suddenly become enlightened?
Yesterday when he had wiped her body, first it was because his heart ached that she had suddenly fallen ill, second because he didn’t feel comfortable entrusting her care to others, and third, he wanted to take advantage of Zhou Dacheng and Zhou Chujin both being away from Zhou Shaojin’s side to test the reactions of the servants around her, letting them gradually adapt to his attitude toward Shaojin, building bridges and paving the way for their future.
The servants around her still hadn’t shown any unusual behavior, yet the little girl seemed to have suddenly become a different person.
Even with Cheng Chi’s vast wisdom, he couldn’t quite figure out what change had occurred.
It seemed he could only take things one step at a time!
For the first time in his life, Cheng Chi felt that things were somewhat slipping beyond his control and direction, giving him an unfamiliar sense of helplessness.
But his character quickly pushed these doubts to the back of his mind—rather than guessing and wondering here, he might as well immediately seek verification.
He smiled and shared with Zhou Shaojin a meal that was late for breakfast but too early for lunch. Rising, he patted Zhou Shaojin’s head and said: “Go change your clothes. We’re going to the temple fair!”
“Ah?!” Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened.
Clear black and white, pure and limpid.
What beautiful eyes indeed!
Cheng Chi smiled: “Today is the Bathing Buddha Festival. Don’t you want to go out?”
How had she forgotten such a day?
Zhou Shaojin blushed and said: “Shouldn’t we go early in the morning? The masters at the temple have probably already finished their sutra lectures…”
The implication being that it was already too late, they’d missed the most important part—what was the point of going?
Cheng Chi smiled: “Are you going to the Bathing Buddha Festival to listen to those masters lecture on sutras? I thought you were going for the temple fair! In the past, when Sister Zheng and Sister Sheng heard the masters were about to lecture, they’d each find an excuse to slip away and play…” He saw Zhou Shaojin’s eyes growing wider and wider, like a good child who never arrived late or left early suddenly discovering that some people skipped class and the adults knew but didn’t punish them. He suddenly felt he shouldn’t let Cheng Zheng and Cheng Sheng influence his little girl. He simply embraced Zhou Shaojin and said softly by her ear: “My Shaojin is still the best behaved. I’ll take you to the temple fair!”
My Shaojin…
That cherishing tone made Zhou Shaojin’s face flush so red it seemed blood could drip from it, yet her heart felt as sweet as if she’d eaten honey, though also somewhat flustered.
Cheng Chi had already stepped back, smiling: “Hurry and change clothes, then tell Madam as well. Bring Third Young Miss—we’ll all go to Daxiangguo Temple together. In the evening, we’ll go to Fuchunjiang Restaurant for squirrel fish—their owner is from Songjiang, and the chef makes excellent Hangzhou cuisine.”
Zhou Shaojin was still immersed in her earlier shock. Her habitual obedience to Cheng Chi made her respond with a dazed “Oh” and obediently walk outside.
After taking a few steps, she came back to her senses.
Why did Uncle Chi embrace her again!
Was this also being unable to help himself?
If only he hadn’t embraced her.
Just talking to her like that… she liked it so much in her heart.
But if it wasn’t being unable to help himself, Uncle Chi surely wouldn’t have said such things to her.
It seemed that nothing in this world was perfect… Hadn’t she also shamelessly lingered there to share a meal with Uncle Chi?
Thinking this, Zhou Shaojin’s heart couldn’t help but feel sweet. Her face flushed even redder and her steps quickened, soon leaving Ji Xiang far behind.
“Second Young Miss, Second Young Miss!” Ji Xiang ran after her breathlessly, saying: “Slow down…”
Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips, feeling joy bubbling up in her heart, almost impossible to contain and ready to fly out.
“Hurry up!” she said, heading to Li Shi’s quarters.
When Li Shi heard that at this hour Cheng Chi still planned to take them out to the temple fair, and that they would eat dinner at a restaurant, she was surprised but also eager to try it.
The Li family had planned early on to marry this daughter into a good family, so they had been very strict with her at her parents’ home. After marriage, having married a magistrate more than ten years her senior, her words and actions became even more proper and rigorous. Even when going out to play, it was mostly for social obligations—she had never had an outing like this before.
After only a moment’s thought, she made her decision: “Wonderful! Let’s all go to the temple fair together, and bring Youjin too.”
Zhou Shaojin smiled with curved eyes.
She loved when the whole family went out to play together.
How warm and close!
Soon, Zhou Shaojin and Li Shi were both ready. The carriages and horses in the outer courtyard were also prepared. They boarded the carriage and headed toward Daxiangguo Temple.
Along the way, they encountered either leisurely strolling tourists or people returning from Buddhist worship. Shops along the street set up stalls at their doorways—hawking vendors, young wives bargaining, old women seeking bargains, friends who had grown tired from walking and bought tea in groups of three to five at roadside tea pavilions, and children selling magnolia and peony flowers. The street was packed so tightly one couldn’t pass through, yet it was lively and bustling.
Zhou Shaojin had worried the carriage wouldn’t be able to get through.
But then Nanny Shang climbed in, holding several cups of lemon water and a small basket of various fruits.
Bright yellow water floated with several pieces of crystal-clear ice—just looking at it made one feel cool.
Li Shi exclaimed: “What’s this?”
Zhou Shaojin had seen it in her previous life.
It was a popular drink in the capital, made from lemon fruit, sweet and sour, more refreshing and better tasting than the southern plum juice.
Very expensive.
Sixty wen for just such a small cup.
But at this moment, she couldn’t explain well.
Then she heard Nanny Shang smile and say: “When I was in Guangdong before, I saw wealthy families serve guests this way. However, people in Jinling don’t eat it much—in the capital, there are people who buy it. Fourth Master had me buy some for Madam and the two young misses to try. It also prevents getting anxious stuck in the carriage and upsetting Third Young Miss.”
Zhou Youjin was still a small child, lacking patience and prone to crying and fussing.
Li Shi’s eyes showed gratitude. She thanked Nanny Shang and carefully received the lemon water to taste.
Her eyes immediately brightened. “Delicious!” Then she urged Zhou Shaojin: “You try it too! After drinking it, one feels refreshed.” She also fed Zhou Youjin a sip.
Zhou Youjin had been looking quite unhappy. After drinking a sip of the fruit water, she seemed to like it very much and wanted to hold the cup herself to drink. Li Shi coaxed her for quite a while before settling her down and handing her to the wet nurse. She stuffed a fruit into Zhou Chujin’s hand, then said to Zhou Chujin, who was delicately sipping the lemon water: “Fourth Master is truly thoughtful! Had I known, we should have brought some snacks out too, to avoid having Fourth Master spend so much.”
Just as Nanny Shang was about to get off the carriage, she heard this and smiled: “Fourth Master specifically instructed that since we’re going out, we should eat the special local delicacies available on the streets. Walking around and playing everywhere is what makes it interesting. If the food and entertainment are still the same as at home, what’s the point of going out?”
“Well said!” No one had ever said such things to Li Shi before. She kept praising Cheng Chi, finally smiling: “Such a wonderful person—who will be fortunate enough to marry him!”
Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed red.
Li Shi thought it was just because it was too hot and didn’t think much of it. She passed over the small basket of fruit, saying: “Try some quickly. There are also freshly washed mulberries.” She added: “The capital truly deserves to be at the Emperor’s feet—it has all sorts of rare things. Aren’t those lemon fruits from Guangdong? My elder brother travels for business year-round—I’ll have him try to bring us some, and we can make lemon water at home too.”
Zhou Shaojin smiled and replied “Good,” holding a handkerchief as she slowly ate mulberries, wishing this road would never end.
※※※
Thanks to Cheng Chi having people send over cold drinks and fruit, the stopping and starting of the carriage didn’t affect the good mood of Zhou Shaojin and the others. When they arrived at Daxiangguo Temple and saw the large and small stalls arranged in rows on both sides of the temple entrance and the throngs of worshippers, everyone got quite a fright, but their spirits also became excited. Young Zhou Youjin didn’t know how to hide it and twisted in her wet nurse’s arms, wanting to get down.
Cheng Chi walked over.
He wore a sapphire blue Hangzhou silk robe with a sash tied at his waist, from which hung a pouch and a small seal. Standing there tall and elegant, he was like a dragon among men, a crane among chickens. Zhou Shaojin spotted him at once.
Cheng Chi said: “Zhang San, you follow Madam. Li Si, you follow Second Young Miss. Wang Wu, you follow Third Young Miss. Chen Liu, stay here and guard the carriage. If anyone gets separated, don’t look for each other—since we came out to play, we should play to our hearts’ content. Don’t waste time searching for people. Just wait at the tea pavilion under that big locust tree in front of Daxiangguo Temple.” He pointed eastward as he spoke. “I’ve already reserved a private room. We’ll head to Fuchunjiang around the beginning of the you hour (around five o’clock in the afternoon). Everyone must remember to be at the big locust tree before the beginning of you hour. We need to spend at least an hour at Fuchunjiang. If it’s any later, we’ll run into curfew.”
Everyone replied in unison.
Li Shi was also very satisfied with these arrangements.
Everyone began browsing the street.
At first, they could all stay together, but finally Zhou Shaojin stopped at a stall selling Miao embroidery while Li Shi wanted to go see a nearby stall selling peachwood combs and hairpins. The two greeted each other, saying they’d meet up later. When Zhou Shaojin had happily bought several Miao embroidery patterns and went to find Li Shi, Li Shi was no longer at the peachwood comb stall.
Zhou Shaojin stood on tiptoe looking around.
But someone grabbed her hand.
She was scared out of her wits. Looking up, she saw Cheng Chi’s smiling face.
“You scared me to death!” Zhou Shaojin patted her chest.
She had thought that with Nanny Shang and a guard right beside her, how could a stranger grab her hand?
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but look up and around.
Nanny Shang and that guard called Li Si had long since disappeared to who knew where.
Cheng Chi smiled and took her hand, saying: “I’ll accompany you around the temple fair.”