Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but exchange a glance with Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi said, “What else did you find out?”
Fan Qi always felt somewhat nervous when facing Cheng Chi. He took a deep breath before saying, “I made inquiries—he claims to be a failed scholar who has no money to return home and is seeking positions like a tutor or accountant. It just so happened that this family needed an accountant. Somehow he managed to win them over, and even without a guarantor or anyone to vouch for him, he became their accountant.”
Cheng Chi raised his eyebrows and called Huai Shan in, saying, “Go write up a contract of indenture. Have Fan Qi lead the way and make a trip to Wanping. Tell them that Cheng Lu is a runaway servant who absconded with our family’s assets. First report it to the authorities and have him detained at the prefectural office.”
How ruthless!
Fan Qi glanced at Cheng Chi, then at Zhou Shaojin, then at Huai Shan. Seeing that all three of them remained completely composed, he couldn’t help but shudder and quickly followed Huai Shan out.
Cheng Chi knew that Zhou Shaojin wouldn’t contradict him, but he was still somewhat worried that she might be too softhearted. He said, “Since we’ve already decided to deal with him, we shouldn’t show mercy…”
Before he finished speaking, Zhou Shaojin was already nodding. “I know! This person’s thoughts are too malicious. If we let him go, it would be like releasing a tiger back to the mountain. Who knows when he might turn around and bite us. Our momentary kindness won’t bring us peace—it will probably land us in trouble instead.”
Cheng Chi was quite gratified and smiled as he kissed Zhou Shaojin’s cheek. “I didn’t expect my little girl to be so clever!”
Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed red.
During this time, Cheng Chi kept kissing her face and hands like this, tender and warm, making her not only like it but become attached to it.
However, things didn’t go smoothly.
That evening, Huai Shan returned with a somewhat ashen face. He said, “We couldn’t find Cheng Lu. He may have noticed when Fan Qi was following him. This morning he disappeared. Apart from his winter clothes and the silver he’d saved up, he didn’t take his writing materials or even several pairs of old shoes and socks. When we went to tell that family, they didn’t believe us at first. It wasn’t until he failed to return that afternoon that the family went to search through his belongings. They reportedly discovered that twenty or so taels of loose silver were missing.”
Fan Qi was filled with shame, his head nearly lowered to his chest.
Zhou Shaojin comforted him, “It’s all right, it’s all right. At least he knows he can’t stay in the capital anymore. As long as he stays far away from us and doesn’t cause trouble, that’s fine!”
Considering that he was Zhou Shaojin’s personal servant and that Fan Qi was just an ordinary person, Cheng Chi didn’t hold it against him. Instead, he nodded with a gentle expression and said to Fan Qi, “Just be more careful in the future. Go downstairs with Huai Shan and draw a portrait of Cheng Lu. I’ll have my people keep an eye out.”
Fan Qi was overjoyed and withdrew with Huai Shan, filled with guilt and a desire to make amends.
Cheng Chi then instructed her, “It’s easy to dodge an open spear but hard to guard against a hidden arrow. You need to be more careful when you go out from now on. It’s best if you take Nanny Shang with you.”
Having witnessed Nanny Shang’s skills, Zhou Shaojin naturally agreed immediately.
Someone from Xingling Alley sent over an invitation, saying that Cheng Xu was getting married and asking Zhou Shaojin to come help. However, the messenger also said, “Madam says that everything must still make Old Madam happy. If Old Madam has business, Fourth Young Madam should attend to Old Madam’s matters first!”
In the end, it was just that they were afraid others would criticize them for not being close as sisters-in-law if they didn’t invite Zhou Shaojin, but inviting her over made them genuinely reluctant.
Zhou Shaojin was displeased.
Yuan Shi didn’t want her to go, and she was actually worried about not having an excuse not to go!
“Go back and tell Madam that I thank her for her consideration. I really cannot get away from Old Madam’s side, so I won’t come over to help,” she said gently to the woman delivering the message. “When the new bride comes to pay respects to Old Madam, I’ll give her a greeting gift together with Old Madam.”
Didn’t she not want her to go?
Then she simply wouldn’t go.
The woman didn’t dare raise her head upon hearing this, thinking her luck was terrible to have been assigned such a difficult task—Madam had the Fourth Young Madam stay here to serve Old Madam, and Fourth Young Madam said that she wouldn’t even go when the new bride formally acknowledged the family. If the new bride came to kowtow to Old Madam and acknowledge the relationship, she would give a greeting gift; otherwise, there was no need to acknowledge the relationship at all!
Who would have thought that despite appearing gentle and weak, Fourth Young Madam wasn’t someone who could be pushed around.
The most pitiful one was still herself. Both First Madam’s words and Fourth Young Madam’s words were oral messages. When Fourth Young Madam didn’t attend the wedding, those relatives would surely ask questions. First Madam would probably push her forward as the scapegoat. She could neither reveal what First Madam said nor what Fourth Young Madam said—wouldn’t that make her appear two-faced?
The woman meekly agreed and withdrew nervously.
Chun Wan, who had been listening from the side, was furious. As soon as that pozi’s foot stepped out of the room, she immediately said, “What is Madam Yuan thinking? If others ask, what should we say?”
Zhou Shaojin unhurriedly took a sip of tea and said, “What’s wrong with it? Old Madam is staying with us—no one can deny that. I’m here serving Old Madam—no one can find fault with me. Even if there were something wrong, it’s her son’s wedding. If she’s not afraid of losing face, what do I have to fear!”
Chun Wan thought about it and agreed, couldn’t help but laugh.
Zhou Shaojin shot her a glance and smiled, “All right, all right. Let’s go to Old Madam’s place. I need to tell her about this, or she’ll think I don’t want to help!”
Thinking she still held a grudge against Cheng Xu.
Chun Wan smilingly agreed, helped Zhou Shaojin with her hair and makeup, and went to Old Madam Guo’s quarters.
Cheng Wei had moved out, Cheng Xu was about to marry a wife, and Cheng Rang would soon be discussing marriage arrangements. Old Madam Guo felt that these days were as promising and delightful as a garden of blooming flowers.
When Zhou Shaojin arrived, Old Madam Guo was trying on clothes. Upon seeing her, she smiled and beckoned, asking, “How do you think I should wear this for the acknowledgment ceremony?”
It was a dark green double happiness vase-patterned Hangzhou silk jacket.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and praised it, saying, “It would be even better with some festive jewelry.”
Old Madam Guo smiled and had Zhenzhu bring over her jewelry box, saying, “You’ve spoken to my heart—I originally wanted to wear that emerald set, but felt the color was too dark.”
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “That mutton-fat jade set would be perfect.”
Old Madam Guo smiled and said, “I’d actually forgotten about that set.” She had Zhenzhu get the key to open the storage room, adding, “I think I also have a set of pink agate stones that I wore when I was young. Take that out and give it to Shaojin.”
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “I didn’t come here to ask you for jewelry. Fourth Master usually buys me jewelry too.”
Old Madam Guo smiled and said, “I’m giving this to you so you can leave it to your sons and daughters and daughters-in-law in the future, so they’ll know their grandmother left this for them.”
Zhou Shaojin’s face immediately turned bright red.
Fourth Master really did like her very much.
Last night when she took the initiative, Fourth Master was very pleased.
She refused to believe she couldn’t succeed.
Old Madam Guo watched her appearance and chuckled with satisfaction.
Seeing the old lady so happy, Zhou Shaojin thought about it but still swallowed the words Madam Yuan had said. She only mentioned that she would be going with Qiu Shi in a couple of days to view the young ladies of the Xie family.
Old Madam Guo understood even better than her, saying, “If I’m not mistaken, it should be either the third or fourth young lady of the Xie family. I’ve also made inquiries. Although Lord Xie’s household is modest, their family conduct is proper. The two daughters who have married out also have good reputations in their husband’s families. When marrying a wife, marry virtue. Don’t fixate on dowries and such worldly things. Character is the foundation of establishing a household.”
Zhou Shaojin respectfully agreed.
On that day, she went with Cheng Jia and Cheng Sheng to the Great Xiangguo Temple.
Just as Old Madam Guo had said, the person viewing Cheng Rang was the third young lady of the Xie family. She was of medium height with fair, delicate skin and a slightly round face with baby fat. Her eyes, however, were large, clear, and bright, and her movements carried the liveliness and lightness of a young girl. At first glance, she was clearly a child who grew up in a loving family with kind mother and brotherly affection.
Zhou Shaojin liked her immediately.
Qiu Shi and Cheng Sheng also liked her. Cheng Sheng even teased Zhou Shaojin, “See that? She’s only two months younger than you.”
The third young lady of the Xie family had the given name Jue and would reach her hairpin ceremony on the fourth day of the new year.
Having been teased by Cheng Sheng so much, Zhou Shaojin’s face had grown thicker. She pretended to cough seriously and said, “Never mind two months younger than me—even if she were six years older than me, she’d still have to call me ‘Auntie.'” As she spoke, she glanced at Cheng Sheng.
Cheng Sheng was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing and went to pinch Zhou Shaojin’s face, complaining to Qiu Shi, “Mother, Auntie is bullying me!”
Zhou Shaojin laughingly dodged away.
Cheng Sheng was six years older than her.
Qiu Shi watched from the side, laughing as well, not interfering with them. She said to Madam Wu the Third, who had been invited to help with the matchmaking and was the third daughter-in-law of Wu Zao Xiu, “Please see when it would be convenient for the Xie family to compare the eight characters of the two children!”
This meant she was satisfied with the match.
Madam Wu the Third was beaming with joy, saying, “I’ll go tell the Xie family right away!” Her eyes couldn’t help but glance toward Zhou Shaojin, looking at Qiu Shi with some envy. “Your sisters-in-law are truly close.”
Qiu Shi looked at Zhou Shaojin, who was being tickled by her daughter and, mindful of her pregnancy, didn’t dare to resist too much, then at Cheng Jia, who stood to the side with her protruding belly and hands on her hips watching the excitement, and smiled. “She’s still young! I just treat her like a daughter.”
Madam Wu the Third smiled and said, “Who knows what virtue the third young lady of the Xie family cultivated in her past life to be able to marry into your family.”
Qiu Shi smiled with pursed lips.
Since Madam Wu the Third still needed to give a response to the Xie family, Qiu Shi led Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Sheng to eat vegetarian dishes at the Great Xiangguo Temple before returning home.
Zhou Shaojin went straight to Tingxiang Courtyard to tell Old Madam Guo the results of the viewing, saying admiringly, “You’re truly amazing! If only you had been there!”
In the future, when she married off sons or daughters, she would definitely ask for Old Madam’s opinion.
Old Madam Guo watched her dependent manner and couldn’t help but smile, though she was very pleased in her heart.
The Cheng and Xie families then discussed the betrothal arrangements.
Zhou Shaojin went to Cheng Wei’s house several times, but spent the rest of her time accompanying Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo also noticed something unusual.
She quietly called Nanny Lü and asked, “Why hasn’t Shaojin been going to Xingling Alley to help?”
Zhou Shaojin hadn’t deliberately concealed anything, so naturally, Yuan Shi’s words couldn’t be hidden from the senior servants at Chaoyangmen like Nanny Lü.
Nanny Lü tactfully told Old Madam Guo what had happened.
Old Madam Guo listened for quite a while without speaking, finally saying, “Then let Shaojin stay by my side. I really do need someone to attend to me.” Her expression was very calm and her tone very gentle, but Nanny Lü, who had served her for decades, silently sighed inwardly for Yuan Shi.