Over the following days, Zhou Shaojin ran to the residence at Chaoyangmen every day to learn mounting from Cheng Chi.

Different from the innocent playfulness of before when they didn’t know each other’s feelings, and different from the anxious shyness when they first developed mutual affection, she had become much more natural in front of him. She would make harmless jokes and gaze at him affectionately. She had also become more cheerful and generous, like a green flower bud slightly opening its bright petals, gaining vivid colors and charming postures.

Cheng Chi couldn’t help but feel secretly glad.

Fortunately, he had encountered Shaojin early on. Otherwise, in a few more years, if he wanted to gather her under his wing, the difficulties before him would be even greater.

Cheng Chi naturally didn’t know that in her previous life, Zhou Shaojin, who had never met him, had withered away early.

He cherished Zhou Shaojin like protecting a delicate flower, carefully and tenderly, his heart full of loving sweetness.

Zhou Shaojin, however, gradually became truly interested in mounting.

If previously she liked mounting because she could be together with Cheng Chi, now she genuinely found it interesting.

Large paintings required vertical scrolls, small paintings needed inset mounting. Those with inscriptions needed borders added, those without inscriptions needed to be trimmed. There were scrolls made of agarwood, sandalwood, and fir wood. There were brocades of various patterns—ailanthus thin brocade, pavilion brocade, purple camel flower brocade silk. There were markers made of ivory horn, rhinoceros horn, and ox horn… The painting scrolls had their particulars, the mounting had its particulars, the markers used for the scroll had their particulars. Even the boxes for storing painting scrolls were divided into fir wood boxes, parasol wood boxes… Just like when she embroidered or made clothes, there were all sorts of combinations and all kinds of particulars. Zhou Shaojin felt like she had fallen into a kaleidoscope and found it extremely interesting.

She even brought seven or eight ox horn buttons to Li Shi, saying, “…These were polished by Uncle Chi himself when he had nothing to do. He said they were left over from polishing markers.” Now she no longer needed to mention seeing Cheng Chi—just thinking of him made her feel warm inside. She couldn’t help but praise, “I didn’t even know Uncle Chi could do these things. And I remember when Uncle Chi lived in Small Mountain Osmanthus Courtyard, he even made a zither by hand…” Thinking of this, she realized she hadn’t had time to ask Cheng Chi how that zither turned out. She smiled shyly and said, “Uncle Chi has so many good things there. These past days he’s been carving a seal, saying he’s preparing it for you to take back to Baoding Prefecture to give to Father. It’s from a piece of top-quality bloodstone he obtained in his early years. The carp on it was also carved by Uncle Chi himself. Everything was done by his own hands. Not a single part was borrowed from others.”

It was that day when Uncle Chi was teaching her how to recognize markers made of various materials. When he mentioned that some painting scrolls used gemstones to inlay the scrolls, the conversation turned to various types of stones. She inadvertently learned that Father had once personally carved for her a bloodstone seal engraved with the two characters “Xi Yan.” Uncle Chi then decided to personally carve a seal with “Highest Good Like Water” for Father.

The carp had the allegory of a carp leaping through the dragon gate, wishing Father smooth career advancement and further promotion. The four characters “Highest Good Like Water” taken from the Tao Te Ching embodied principles for self-cultivation and conduct, with some meaning of not forgetting one’s fundamental principles after becoming an official.

Li Shi hadn’t read much and didn’t know the deeper meaning of “Highest Good Like Water,” but she understood the meaning of “Carp Leaping Through the Gate.” Moreover, although exchanging seals among scholars was common, the seal knobs were either left uncarved in their original state or previously commissioned from those great carving masters. For someone like Cheng Chi to do everything personally, even craftsmen’s work—this was very rare and also showed his exceptional carving skills. Furthermore, since Li Shi came to the capital, Cheng Chi had taken care of her in every way. Her impression of Cheng Chi was excellent, and unconsciously she started praising him a bit. Besides, this matter was indeed praiseworthy. She couldn’t help but exclaim in wonder, “That’s wonderful! You must remember to thank Fourth Master Chi on behalf of the master.” She also couldn’t help but sigh with emotion, “No wonder Fourth Master Chi passed the imperial examination at such a young age—he’s truly capable! He can do everything!”

Passing the imperial examination and carving had absolutely no direct relationship.

But both people speaking were partial to Cheng Chi, so they didn’t feel there was anything improper about their words at all.

Zhou Shaojin just smiled and said, “Uncle Chi has so many interesting things there! There’s an antique jade-carved floral peach water dropper. One peach is large, one peach is small. When you pour water into the large peach, it drips ‘pitter-patter’ into the small peach. When it finishes dripping, exactly a quarter-hour has passed.

“Uncle Chi said this was what he used when he was young. One quarter-hour to write one large character—when the water finished dripping, the character had to be written well.

“If you pour water into the small peach, it drips into the large peach, but it takes three quarter-hours—when the water finishes dripping, you must have finished writing a page of small characters…

“There’s also a pair of paperweights. I don’t know what material they’re made of. They look entirely black, but on overcast days, they turn dark green, and you can faintly see patterns inside, like rolling dark clouds.

“Uncle Chi said those were ancestral items, given to him by the old master, and he’s been using them ever since. He also told me that when these paperweights encounter water, the entire water basin looks as if ink had been dropped into it.

“I specifically tried it, and indeed found that when the paperweight was placed in the water basin, the water turned pitch black. When you take it out, the clear water is still clear water, the paperweight is still a paperweight…”

“There’s such a thing?” Li Shi also exclaimed in amazement and couldn’t help sighing, “Fourth Master is indeed a son of an aristocratic family. What others couldn’t obtain in their entire lifetime, he can casually produce.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded, looking like someone who had entered a treasure mountain.

She would reach the hairpin ceremony age by year’s end. Li Shi saw that she had suddenly become like pearls emerging from a box—not only becoming more and more beautiful, but also gaining graceful charm like flowers swaying in the breeze. Her heart inexplicably felt somewhat worried. She wondered whether she should advise Zhou Shaojin to visit Chaoyangmen less often in the future. But at this moment, seeing her small face glowing with delight and full of joy, she felt she was overthinking things… In this moment of hesitation, Zhou Shaojin had already taken out a two-finger-wide peach wood pendant and handed it to her, saying, “This is something I obtained from Uncle Chi’s collection—’Peace Year After Year.’ Let young Jin wear it! Qingfeng said that year Uncle Chi went to Mount Wutai and had an eminent master bless it. It will protect young Jin’s peace and smooth fortune!”

Li Shi saw that carved on the pendant was a precious vase with a willow branch inserted in it. A drop of sweet dew hung on the willow tip, about to drop but not dropping, carved so lifelike that one couldn’t help but fear the sweet dew would fall and wanted to catch it with one’s hand. At a glance, this was clearly no ordinary object.

“This won’t do!” She hurriedly pushed it back to Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips and said, “Uncle Chi knows about it too. He even said I chose well. He said young Jin is small, and wearing gold and silver would be too conspicuous. Walking outside, she’d easily attract the attention of thieves. Better to wear this peach wood peace pendant. Those who don’t know the details won’t know, but those who know quality would have to carefully think before daring to slight her…”

These words truly struck a chord in Li Shi’s heart.

Because she came from a merchant family and had married Zhou Zhen, who came from a scholarly family, she always felt somewhat insecure. Usually, she most feared being looked down upon by the wives of Zhou Zhen’s colleagues and fellow examination graduates. Though she had a substantial dowry, she didn’t dare use it carelessly. Now with this peace pendant, when her daughter went out, she could hold her head high.

Li Shi didn’t decline further. She accepted the peace pendant and couldn’t help saying, “Fourth Master Chi is such a good person. I wonder which family’s daughter will be fortunate enough to marry him!”

Zhou Shaojin barely managed not to laugh out loud.

Previously, Li Shi had also said such things. But what she said was “Fourth Master Chi is such a good person, how has he not married yet”…

Thinking of this matter, Zhou Shaojin’s cheeks flushed slightly.

Uncle Chi… had embraced her from behind, kissing her neck and whispering in her ear… saying something like, I must properly curry favor with my father-in-law, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law, so I can bring home my beauty sooner… She felt all tingly and numb, nearly collapsing in his arms…

So annoying!

One moment serious, the next moment wild. Where was that steady composure from before? Yet everyone still praised him!

She grumbled silently. But her heart felt like honey was bubbling up, sweet and syrupy. Even the corners of her eyes became tender as water, about to overflow.

Li Shi watched, feeling alarmed.

Although she was a married woman, she had never experienced such emotions. Though she felt inwardly amazed and uneasy, she didn’t know how to resolve it.

While she was confused, Elder Uncle Li sought an audience.

She had no choice but to send Zhou Shaojin back to her room and went to the flower hall to see Elder Uncle Li.

Elder Uncle Li was rubbing his hands together, pacing back and forth in the flower hall, unable to hide his excitement.

Seeing his sister walk in, he hurriedly stepped forward and said, “I wrote to Father and told him about Fourth Master Cheng introducing me. Father’s intention is that for Elder Miss’s household’s little Guan’s hundred-day celebration, we should double the gifts… It’s not that I’m unwilling to spend the silver, I’m just afraid of doing a bad thing with good intentions and overshadowing the gifts from the Cheng family uncles. So I came specially to ask you—how should we handle this matter?”

Li Shi also didn’t know what would be best.

She showed her brother the peach wood peace pendant Zhou Shaojin had given her and told him what had happened.

Elder Uncle Li smiled bitterly and said, “Where would I find such things?”

Li Shi then said, “Then let’s just send the hundred-day celebration gifts according to the previous gift list. The future is long. If elder brother has the heart to repay the Cheng family, there will be opportunities.”

Elder Uncle Li thought about it and agreed readily. He looked at the peace pendant for quite a while, praising it extensively, and talked about future plans: “…I’ll also buy a residence here. In the future, when you come to the capital for a short stay or when your nephews come to the capital to study, there will be a place to stay.”

Li Shi knew that Father had driven several nephews in the family to study, but she had no confidence whether the nephews could receive support from the Zhou family or the Cheng family.

However, buying a residence here would also be good—at least it wouldn’t be a loss.

She responded vaguely. When the day of little Guan’s hundred-day celebration came, she dressed and groomed herself well, and together with Zhou Shaojin, Zhou Youjin, and Elder Uncle Li, went to Double Elm Lane.

The Liao family from Zhen, the Fang family from Shucheng, the Cheng family from Jiuru Lane… Elder Uncle Li standing among these relatives by marriage was unremarkable. Fortunately, Cheng Chi had greeted him, so everyone’s gaze toward him had a subtle difference.

Elder Uncle Li felt dejected and was even more grateful to Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi, however, had been pulled aside by the second old master of the Liao family in the capital, who said in a low voice, “I heard Jiuru Lane is dividing the clan. Is it true?”

This matter couldn’t be concealed even if one wanted to, but Cheng Chi still said, “You’d have to ask my eldest brother. I don’t really manage these matters.”

The second old master of the Liao family hurriedly stated his position: “I think dividing the clan isn’t necessarily bad, as long as no embarrassing incidents occur. If there’s anything you need my help with, just say the word.”

Cheng Chi smiled and agreed but didn’t take his words to heart at all.

The Liao family wasn’t qualified enough to say such things.