When Cheng Chi returned to his home at Chaoyang Gate, there were guests visiting Old Lady Guo. Nanny Lu explained with an apologetic smile, “It’s the eldest madam from the Fang family. She’ll be returning to Shucheng the day after tomorrow, so she came specially to bid farewell to Old Madam.”
He would have to wait before paying his respects to his mother then.
Cheng Chi nodded and returned to his own quarters.
Old Lady Guo heard the commotion and asked, “Who came by?”
Nanny Lu replied respectfully, “Fourth Master returned. When he heard you had guests, he went back to his quarters!”
He must have come back from Yuqian Alley.
Old Lady Guo pondered this while Eldest Madam Fang said with a laugh, “Fourth Uncle Chi? I haven’t seen him in several years. How is he these days?”
“Well, well, very well!” Old Lady Guo’s smile deepened at the thought of this son born in her old age.
Eldest Madam Fang smiled and asked, “Which family’s daughter did Fourth Uncle Chi marry? How come you didn’t send us an invitation when he got married?”
Even though they lived far away, they would have at least sent someone with a gift.
Old Lady Guo felt somewhat embarrassed bringing up this matter and said, “He hasn’t married yet…”
At such an advanced age, and already having achieved scholarly honors yet still unmarried—there must be some unspeakable reason behind this. Eldest Madam Fang naturally didn’t probe further and said, “Good things take time. Don’t worry too much about it.” She then changed the subject. “Well, I should be going now! If you need anything, just write to me in Shucheng.”
Old Lady Guo expressed her thanks and instructed Second Madam Wei to help see the guest out.
After some polite exchanges, Eldest Madam Fang was led out of the main courtyard by Second Madam Wei.
She couldn’t help but say, “How is it that Fourth Uncle Chi still hasn’t married?”
Second Madam Wei couldn’t very well gossip about her brother-in-law’s affairs, so she replied vaguely, “Fourth Uncle is excellent in character, learning, and ability, but when it comes to marriage, he and Old Madam have been at odds—those Old Madam finds suitable, Fourth Uncle finds unsuitable; those Fourth Uncle finds suitable, Old Madam finds unsuitable. Back and forth like this, the marriage has been delayed.”
Eldest Madam Fang listened thoughtfully.
A few days later, Eldest Madam Liao came to visit Old Lady Guo and mentioned Fang Xuan pointedly: “…Her parents are afraid she’ll suffer grievances, so they want to find someone steady and dependable. If he’s a bit older, and if the elders in his family are reasonable people, that would be even better. They’ve asked me about this several times. As you know, I’m in a small place like Zhenjiang—how would I know anyone suitable? A few days ago when my sister-in-law returned to Shucheng, she brought this matter up again and asked me to keep an eye out. I thought and thought, and Old Madam, you lived in the capital for over ten years and know more people than I’ve eaten grains of salt, so I took advantage of today’s nice weather to come specially and ask for your help. If you know anyone suitable, please help keep Xuan in mind.”
The hint was so obvious that if Old Lady Guo still didn’t understand, it would be a waste of her shrewd competence.
She just hadn’t expected Eldest Madam Fang to have her eye on Cheng Chi.
That Fang Xuan was more than ten years younger than Cheng Chi.
Though… Zhou Shaojin was also more than ten years younger than Cheng Chi…
Old Lady Guo couldn’t help but sigh helplessly in her heart.
The day they’d seen off Madam Fang, Cheng Chi had come to pay his respects and mentioned having Zhou Shaojin come keep her company.
Before she could speak, that foolish girl Cheng Sheng had clapped her hands in approval, saying, “…Shaojin has the gentlest disposition. Now that we three sisters are all married and can’t accompany Grandmother like before, it would be perfect to bring Shaojin over to keep Grandmother company.” Then she’d added with a giggle, “If she could embroider me a ‘Children at Play’ picture or something similar, that would be even better.”
That girl’s heart was too honest—she’d actually really started preparing to embroider a “Children at Play” picture for Cheng Sheng.
Thinking of this, Old Lady Guo asked Zhenzhu, who was serving beside her, “What is Second Miss doing? Hasn’t she finished copying the sutras yet? Since Eldest Madam Liao is here, have her come pay her respects to Eldest Madam Liao!”
Eldest Madam Liao was rather surprised and said, “I didn’t expect Second Miss would be here today too!”
She’d heard from Zhou Chujin that Zhou Shaojin had been frequently coming to Chaoyang Gate these days to keep Old Lady Guo company. She’d thought it was just to chat and provide companionship, but hadn’t expected she was also copying sutras.
Old Lady Guo said, “She once accompanied me to Mount Putuo to worship Buddha and is well-versed in Buddhist teachings. I often have her help me copy some Buddhist scriptures.”
Eldest Madam Liao smiled and said, “I didn’t know Second Miss was skilled at copying sutras.”
Old Lady Guo smiled and said, “Her calligraphy is also excellent—dignified and graceful, with natural brushwork and quite solid foundations.”
Hearing Old Lady Guo’s tone, which suggested she was quite fond of Zhou Shaojin, Eldest Madam Liao offered flattering words: “Anyone who can catch Old Madam’s eye must surely be a remarkable person.” She brought up Fang Xuan again: “…Her calligraphy is also excellent. Why not have her come keep Shaojin company?”
Old Lady Guo politely declined: “I’m afraid Second Madam Fang would feel sorry for her daughter and wouldn’t bear to have her suffer such hardship.”
Fang Xuan’s father was the second son in the Fang family.
But Eldest Madam Liao was determined to make this match happen.
Others might not know, but the Fang family knew—when the first and second branches split the clan, they’d paid out one million two hundred thousand taels of silver.
That silver had all been earned by Cheng Chi.
Such a capable man, and a successful scholar who’d passed both palace examinations—looking across the entire court and country, apart from Prime Minister Song Jingran, you probably couldn’t find a second person like him.
She quickly smiled and said, “The Fang family is quite strict in their household management. For unmarried young ladies, not to mention copying sutras for elders, even making shoes and socks often means sleeping at the third watch and rising at the fifth!”
Old Lady Guo still politely declined: “…Shaojin has nearly finished copying the sutras for the Ghost Festival. It wouldn’t do to offer two different sutras to the Bodhisattva. Let’s talk about it another time when there’s an opportunity!”
Eldest Madam Liao could only temporarily withdraw and went to the Fang family after leaving the Cheng residence.
When Second Madam Fang heard about it, she said, “If that’s the case, then let this matter drop. Xuan was raised in the palm of my hand—how could I bear to have her suffer such grievances? If it weren’t for Eldest Madam personally bringing this up, I wouldn’t have agreed to it. The age difference between them is also too great.”
“You’re truly confused!” Eldest Madam Liao had been close friends with Second Madam Fang since they were unmarried girls, so she spoke more directly: “Every family’s daughter is a precious treasure to her parents, but how many can remain precious treasures before their in-laws? You feel sorry for Xuan now, worrying about her having to read others’ expressions, indulging and spoiling her like this—what will happen when she marries? There will be times when your heart aches even more! Think this through carefully. If you look down even on a family like the Chengs, if you’re dissatisfied even with an in-law like Old Lady Guo, I’d like to see what kind of family you could possibly find? Don’t come crying with regret later!”
Second Madam Fang wavered in her decision.
Though Eldest Madam Liao’s words weren’t pleasant to hear, they made good sense.
Old Lady Guo had always treated her daughters-in-law generously. She came from a century-old family of prominence in Jiangnan, a household where propriety and literature had been passed down through generations. The several families Second Madam Fang had considered for Fang Xuan were all far inferior to the Cheng family, and she couldn’t guarantee that her daughter wouldn’t suffer mistreatment from her mother-in-law or competitive strife between sisters-in-law after marriage.
That Cheng Chi was also the youngest son. Given Cheng Jing’s age, he could already have children as old as this. Yuan Shi, as the eldest daughter-in-law, naturally wouldn’t quarrel with a young girl even younger than her own daughter… Thinking it through carefully, apart from the age difference, if this could work out, it would actually be an excellent match. With Eldest Madam Liao urging from the side, “After all, it’s just visiting Chaoyang Gate to socialize. Whether it works out or not still depends on Xuan’s fate,” she finally agreed in the end.
The next day, she sent someone to deliver an invitation card to Chaoyang Gate.
Old Lady Guo held the card and just smiled. It happened that Zhou Shaojin came by. Seeing that Zhou Shaojin had changed from the nervousness of their previous meetings to now having a faint trace of a smile at the corners of her mouth, Old Lady Guo couldn’t help but wonder if Cheng Chi had said something to her again.
Before she could ask, Zhou Shaojin said proactively, “My father sent a letter saying for me to stay in the capital and keep you company more.”
Old Lady Guo fell silent for a moment.
After what happened with Cheng Xu, Zhou Zhen was still willing to let his daughter keep her company… This showed that this man Zhou Da Cheng had decent character. Whether he would make a good in-law could be set aside for now, but at least he wouldn’t cause trouble or bring problems to the Cheng family.
She then asked, “When has your mother decided to return?”
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “Mother is leaving tomorrow—she won’t make it back for Father’s birthday, so Mother said it would be better to return early and give Father a belated birthday celebration!”
Old Lady Guo nodded with a slight smile and handed the Fang family’s invitation card to Zhou Shaojin, saying, “Your Second Aunt’s health isn’t good. Having her occasionally pour tea and chat on the side is fine, but having her entertain guests won’t do. I’m getting on in years and my energy isn’t what it was. Help your Second Aunt handle this matter properly.”
Zhou Shaojin’s first instinct was to decline, but then remembering that she’d already resolved to properly win Old Lady Guo’s favor, she respectfully agreed.
Old Lady Guo nodded with satisfaction and called Second Madam Wei in to give her some instructions.
Second Madam Wei had been suffering these past days. If it weren’t for Cheng Sheng taking pity on her and finding excuses to stay at Chaoyang Gate for a few extra days, she probably wouldn’t have been able to hold on. Hearing that Zhou Shaojin would help her manage the household’s domestic affairs these days, she was overjoyed. As soon as she left Old Lady Guo’s room, she took Zhou Shaojin’s hand and said, “Actually, managing the household is quite simple. Everything in the mansion has its rules—just follow the rules.”
Zhou Shaojin hadn’t been exposed to this before and still felt somewhat nervous in her heart.
When the day came for Second Madam Fang and Eldest Madam Liao to bring Fang Xuan for their visit, she gathered her courage and went with Second Madam Wei to the inner gate to receive the three visitors.
All three were startled to see Zhou Shaojin.
Second Madam Wei smiled and explained, “My health isn’t good, so Old Madam had Shaojin help me from the side.”
Second Madam Fang and the others smiled and stepped forward to exchange greetings with Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin returned the courtesies neither humbly nor arrogantly, and together with Second Madam Wei, welcomed the guests to the reception room.
Second Madam Fang, however, took Zhou Shaojin’s hand and wouldn’t let go, saying to Old Lady Guo with a smile, “Look at Second Miss—so sensible and proper. Not like our Xuan, who only knows how to play. If our Xuan could receive Old Madam’s guidance and become as composed as Second Miss, I would have peace of mind!”
Comparing her own daughter to Zhou Shaojin…
Fang Xuan hugged Second Madam Fang’s arm and wheedled, “Mother, why are you disparaging me like this?”
Everyone in the room laughed.
Second Madam Fang took the opportunity to say, “Last time when our Xuan returned, she kept telling me about how good Old Madam was to her. If she could receive your guidance and grow up to marry into a good family, her father and I would ask for nothing more in this life.”