Zhou Shaojin’s impression of her father still remained from their last meeting.

By that time, Father no longer cared about her. Yet every time there was a major court review, she paid particular attention to the government gazette. One year, when she heard that Father would come to the capital to report on his duties, she waited four days in Tongzhou before finally seeing him. She hid in a carriage and watched as Father was escorted onto his carriage by attendants. Father, who had just reached the age of forty, wore a beard, had a thin frame, looked exhausted, and carried a hint of melancholy between his brows. Though surrounded by people, he appeared extremely lonely and isolated.

Only then did she learn about stepmother Li Shi divorcing and keeping the son, about Father falling out with Li Shi, and that her half-brother by a different mother was named Zhou Jiajin…

But seeing him again now, Father had become refined and elegant, a young man who looked only a few years older than Cheng Shi.

The contrast was too great!

Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat uncertain.

Yet that man had already looked toward her and Zhou Chujin.

“Chujin, Shaojin.” He called the sisters by their given names, and a smile couldn’t help but overflow from his eyes.

It was Father!

Only Father would smile from the depths of his heart upon seeing them.

But Zhou Shaojin… still felt somewhat embarrassed.

Zhou Chujin’s tears immediately fell.

She choked out a single word: “Father.”

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but hesitate.

Should she say something too?

Before her thought had fully formed, Zhou Zhen had already stepped forward several paces, lifted his robe, bent his knees, and knelt down before Old Madam Guan.

“What are you doing?” Cheng Mian hurried forward to help Zhou Zhen up. “Get up quickly, get up quickly!”

Zhou Zhen knelt on the ground and wouldn’t rise. “Chujin and Shaojin are who they are today entirely because of mother-in-law’s, brother-in-law’s, and sister-in-law’s devoted care. I have no way to repay this. I want to kowtow to mother-in-law!”

“That won’t do, that won’t do.” Upon hearing this, Old Madam Guan quickly stepped aside. “A man’s knees bear gold. I appreciate your sentiment. Why don’t you help Uncle up quickly!” This last sentence was directed at Cheng Mian.

Zhou Zhen insisted on kowtowing to Old Madam Guan. “A man’s knees bear gold, but one also kneels to heaven, earth, parents, and teachers. Mother-in-law, to me you are like a parent who gave me new life.” Having said this, disregarding the dust on the ground, he kowtowed three times loudly on the bluestone-paved pathway to Old Madam Guan—thump, thump, thump.

“Oh my!” Old Madam Guan’s eyes reddened.

The old lady had worked so hard. Though she sought no reward, who wouldn’t be pleased to receive such sincere gratitude?

Old Madam Guan personally stepped forward to help Zhou Zhen up. Seeing his forehead reddened and stained with dust, his snow-white knee pants also soiled, she immediately instructed Madam Mian, “Why don’t you have the maids fetch water for Uncle to change his clothes?”

Zhou Zhen’s humble attitude made Madam Mian’s favorable impression of him rise steadily. Before Old Madam Guan had even finished speaking, she had already ordered the maids to fetch water, and thoughtfully instructed one maid, “Bring the new knee pants Master just had made a few days ago as well.”

The maid cheerfully acknowledged and left.

Zhou Zhen turned aside and beckoned toward the doorway.

A woman in the full bloom of youth, accompanied by a matron, walked over.

She was tall, appearing only a few inches shorter than Zhou Zhen. She wore a white lake silk stand-collar shirt with a silver-red plain jute vest over it, adorned with South Sea pearl jewelry. Her features were refined and her expression modest and gentle.

The matron appeared to be in her forties, somewhat plump, with a smiling face. She wore a lilac-colored tussah silk jacket and gilded jewelry, looking amiable and very tidy.

Zhou Zhen gestured toward the woman and said to Old Madam Guan, “This is my wife, Li Shi.”

The matron then supported Li Shi in kowtowing to Old Madam Guan.

Old Madam Guan immediately saw that she was pregnant. With quick eyes and hands, she stepped forward to support Li Shi and scolded Zhou Zhen affectionately, “Since we’re all family, why so many formalities? You’ve had difficulty with heirs—every time I think of it, my heart aches. Looking at Madam’s condition, she should only be three or four months along. How could you rush back with Madam in such haste?” Then she said to Li Shi, “Enough with all these formalities! After such a long journey, you must be tired. Come back to the room with me to rest. If you expect these men to feel sorry for you, you’ll only suffer in silence.”

The old lady’s gaze was loving, her tone sincere and kind, causing Li Shi’s anxious heart to finally settle.

She smiled. “Our Master often speaks of your kindness and eldest brother-in-law’s grace. Meeting you for the first time, I must at least perform this courtesy to feel at ease.”

At Old Madam Guan’s age, she preferred simplicity. She smiled. “In that case, just perform a blessing ceremony for me. That way you won’t feel uncomfortable either.”

Li Shi was naturally very pleased.

She knew her husband respected his first wife’s family, and even more so the mother-in-law who had raised his two daughters for him. Getting along well with her husband’s first wife’s family would make her husband value her more.

Li Shi earnestly performed the ceremony for Old Madam Guan.

When it came to Madam Mian’s turn, Madam Mian smiled. “You can skip mine. When you give birth to the little young master in your belly and bring him back to perform ancestral rites, it won’t be too late for us to exchange courtesies. For now, let’s put this on account.”

Li Shi was overjoyed and felt extremely favorable toward Madam Mian.

Her husband already had two daughters. What he hoped for now was a son. She prayed to gods and buddhas, even vowing to gild a bodhisattva statue—all to obtain a son.

She affectionately stepped forward and took Madam Mian’s arm, smiling. “Thank you, Madam. I accept this debt. When the child is born, I’ll definitely bring him to kowtow properly to you.”

Her tone was light and carried a hint of teasing, making the atmosphere more relaxed.

Old Madam Guan then beckoned the Zhou sisters. “You should also kowtow to your father and stepmother.”

Quick-handed matrons had already placed two cushions before Zhou Zhen.

Zhou Zhen and Li Shi stood and received the courtesies from Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin.

Li Shi’s greeting gifts were two boxes.

Naturally, they couldn’t be opened in front of everyone.

The two bent their knees in courtesy and thanked Li Shi.

Li Shi smiled and said a few polite words.

Zhou Zhen reached out wanting to pat his daughters’ heads, only then realizing both daughters had grown into young ladies—it wasn’t quite appropriate to pat their heads anymore.

He awkwardly withdrew his hand and smiled while studying his two daughters intently.

The eldest daughter wore her hair in double coiled buns, decorated with gold hairpins and kingfisher feather flower ornaments. The younger daughter wore her hair in a hanging style, adorned only with pearl hairpins. One wore willow-green clothing, the other pink clothing, standing shoulder to shoulder like spring flowers and autumn moon… Yet the younger daughter steadily surpassed the elder by a measure.

Zhou Zhen couldn’t help but sigh deeply in his heart.

Shaojin looked more and more like Lady Zhuang.

He couldn’t resist putting his arm around Zhou Shaojin’s shoulder and asked Zhou Chujin, “You sisters haven’t been mischievous and made Old Madam and eldest aunt angry, have you?”

This was the first time in Zhou Shaojin’s life that a man had put his arm around her shoulder like this.

Her body couldn’t help but stiffen slightly. Seeing her sister smile with pressed lips, she said, “We’re not children anymore. How would we be mischievous and anger Grandmother and eldest aunt?”

Old Madam Guan also laughed. “Perhaps in earlier years, but these past few years, both children have been so sensible and considerate. In the future, when both children marry out, my days… I don’t know how difficult they’ll be to bear.” By the end of these words, she was already sighing with reddened eyes.

“Look at you, old lady!” Madam Mian handed Old Madam Guan a handkerchief while scolding affectionately. “Things were fine, yet you bring this up again, needlessly making Uncle sad too. Stop talking about it. Uncle has finally returned—it’s a happy occasion. You should be joyful.”

“It’s my fault, it’s my fault.” Old Madam Guan accepted the handkerchief and smiled. She said to Zhou Zhen and Li Shi, “Let’s go inside to talk.”

Everyone agreed in unison. Zhou Zhen entered Jiashu Hall’s reception room with his arm still around Zhou Shaojin.

Li Shi exchanged a glance with the matron she had brought.

Her husband not only observed three years of mourning for Lady Zhuang, but had always kept Lady Zhuang’s portrait hanging in his study. Needless to say, the one her husband loved most was Lady Zhuang. But to show such favoritism toward the daughter Lady Zhuang left behind still surprised Li Shi somewhat.

She had thought that at her husband’s age, he should be hoping she could bear him a son.

It seemed she needed to treat Zhou Shaojin better.

Li Shi calmly followed everyone into the reception room and sat according to rank.

Then she noticed Zhou Shaojin standing beside her husband, while Zhou Chujin stood beside Old Madam Guan.

To others, Zhou Chujin was older and couldn’t be as affectionate with Father. But to Li Shi, it was clear her husband simply favored the younger daughter more.

The maids served tea and refreshments. The maid fetching water and the one bringing knee pants arrived. Cheng Mian personally accompanied Zhou Zhen to Hanqiu Pavilion to change clothes, while Li Shi and the others stayed in Jiashu Hall to chat with Old Madam Guan.

Li Shi introduced the matron who had come with her to Old Madam Guan: “…she used to serve my mother, then followed me to the Zhou family. Her husband’s surname is also Li.”

Nanny Li kowtowed to Old Madam Guan and the others.

Old Madam Guan and the others all gave rewards. Old Madam Guan asked her to serve in the room: “…your Madam is pregnant. You serve her closely and know your Madam’s preferences better.”

Nanny Li respectfully agreed and stood behind Li Shi with lowered brows and downcast eyes.

Everyone wasn’t familiar with each other—this was their first meeting. The conversation revolved around local customs and daily life. When Zhou Zhen returned after changing clothes, it was time for lunch. The meal was served in the reception room with separate tables for men and women, without a screen divider. Since they still needed to pay respects to Old Ancestor of the Second Branch afterward, Zhou Zhen and his party didn’t drink alcohol. Even so, with small dishes, cold plates, hot dishes, soup, desserts… the entire meal took nearly an hour. Then it was time to pay respects to Old Ancestor of the Second Branch.

After hastily drinking some tea, Cheng Mian accompanied Zhou Zhen to the Second Branch.

Madam Mian arranged for Li Shi to rest at Hanqiu Pavilion, saying, “The local gifts have already been sent to each branch. You can take this opportunity to lie down for a while. After Uncle finishes meeting with Old Ancestor, I’ll accompany you to meet the Old Madams, Madams, and young mistresses of each branch.”

Li Shi smiled. “I’m not actually tired. I just don’t want to disturb Old Madam’s afternoon rest.” As she spoke, she looked at the Zhou sisters with a smile and said gently, “Why don’t we go to Hanqiu Pavilion to chat?”

This was Li Shi’s goodwill, wanting to interact more with Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin. Old Madam Guan and Madam Mian were naturally happy to see this happen.

The Zhou sisters followed Madam Mian and Li Shi to Hanqiu Pavilion.