A loyal servant surnamed Qin—could this be the ancestor of Steward Qin?

Zhou Shaojin pondered this, feeling very distressed in her heart.

Because of her own experiences, she was very fond of children and couldn’t bear to hear such things.

Zhou Zhen said: “Cheng Lie was young and had only recently married when his wife became pregnant. When he went to the capital to study, his wife remained in their hometown. The following year, she gave birth to their son Cheng Xu. Because she stayed in their hometown all along, she escaped the calamity.”

“When Cheng Lie died, Cheng Xu was only three years old.”

Cheng Xu—the Cheng family’s founding ancestor.

Zhou Shaojin was stunned and asked: “How old was Cheng Bei then?”

Zhou Zhen smiled bitterly: “Not even two years old.”

The second branch’s child was older than the senior branch’s…

Zhou Shaojin asked: “Then who raised them?”

“It was Cheng Xu’s mother, the second branch’s old matriarch.”

After Cheng Xu was promoted to First Rank, he petitioned for his mother to be granted a First Rank title, so the family respectfully called her “Old Matriarch.”

Zhou Shaojin asked curiously: “Shouldn’t the third branch have raised them? Why was it the second branch’s old matriarch?”

Zhou Zhen hesitated for a long while before saying: “These matters shouldn’t really be told to you, but since you’re now living at the Cheng family’s home, it’s good for you to know some things so you can act accordingly.” He said carefully: “Speaking of it, this matter is quite peculiar, but the Cheng family doesn’t speak of it, so others can’t make assumptions either.

“The senior branch’s third son, Cheng Ze, was only three months younger than the second son, Cheng Lie. When Cheng Lie went to the capital, Cheng Fu had already passed away, and the household affairs were left to Cheng Ze to manage. Not long after Qin Da returned to Jinling carrying Cheng Bei, both Cheng Zhi and Cheng Lie died. Cheng Ze then became head of the Cheng family.

“During this time, Qin Da had disputes with Cheng Ze and nearly got driven out of the Cheng family. In the end, it was Cheng Bi who intervened to calm the storm. Everyone guessed that perhaps Cheng Ze had been stingy with the senior branch regarding money. But what puzzled everyone was that when Cheng Bei and Cheng Xu came of age, Cheng Ze not only returned the sacrificial fields to the senior branch’s Cheng Bei, but also divided the family property equally according to clan rules.”

Zhou Shaojin thought about the delicate relationship between the senior branch, second branch, and third branch, and felt that something else must have happened that outsiders didn’t know about.

She belatedly said: “Then doesn’t the Cheng family have very high prestige and standing among the scholarly circles in Jiangnan?”

“Of course.” Zhou Zhen smiled and said: “Otherwise, with Jiangnan’s abundance of talented people and distinguished scholars, with families of poetry, books, and ritual propriety as numerous as oxen, how would it fall to the Cheng family of Jiuru Lane in Jinling to lead them all? The Cheng family relies on their ancestors’ reputation for loyal integrity!”

Zhou Shaojin smiled sheepishly.

Zhou Zhen said: “The Cheng family not only has an illustrious reputation, but your Uncle Jing also likes to help people. That’s why I left you sisters at the Cheng family’s home. Otherwise, how would your sister have secured such a good marriage? That Liao Shaotang—I met him personally. Not only is he well-educated, but his character and appearance are both quite outstanding. Matched with your sister, they’re quite well-suited.”

Zhou Shaojin thought of her sister’s face red as morning clouds.

Had Father spoken so directly to her about her brother-in-law as he was doing with her now?

“I’ve also carefully considered your situation,” Zhou Zhen said. “I was previously worried about leaving you alone at the Cheng family after your sister married out. But now that your brother-in-law must observe mourning and your sister’s wedding has been postponed to the year after next, by then you’ll be close to reaching hairpin age. Having gained the favor of the senior branch’s Old Madam Guo and copying scriptures at Hanbi Mountain Hall, this is a perfect opportunity to ask Old Madam Guo and Madam Yuan to arrange a good match for you. By the time your sister marries, you should also be setting a date…”

In other words, Father had never considered bringing her to his post at all!

Zhou Shaojin was very shocked and called out: “Father!”

Zhou Zhen hadn’t expected his younger daughter to discuss her own marriage without blushing or her heart racing—unlike his elder daughter, who had been too shy to speak a single word. But he also felt it was quite natural.

His younger daughter, having deduced the grievances between the Cheng and Zhuang families from just Cheng Lu’s scattered words, must be bold and meticulous. Marriage was a major matter concerning her future happiness—it fit her character that she would actively plan for herself.

“Shaojin,” Zhou Zhen grew even more lenient and indulgent with his daughter, saying thoughtfully: “Do you perhaps feel that our family has houses and land, I’m a Fourth Rank official, and you’re a proper legitimate young miss of the Zhou family, whereas at the Cheng family you’re a dependent cousin? That rather than reading people’s expressions, you’d be better off staying at home?”

Zhou Shaojin did indeed think this way.

Zhou Zhen said: “I wonder if you’ve noticed the senior branch’s Madam Yuan’s background?”

“I know,” Zhou Shaojin said. “She’s a daughter of the Yuan family of Tongxiang. Her father was once a Grand Secretary. Many of her brothers also hold official positions.”

Zhou Zhen nodded and said: “Not only that, Madam Yuan’s mother was a daughter of the Fang family of Shucheng, and her maternal aunt was a daughter of the Li family of Lujiang.

“The Fang family of Shucheng not only produced loyal martyrs and virtuous widows in the previous dynasty, but in this dynasty has produced talented descendants in every generation. Every few years someone passes the imperial examinations. They’re quite a renowned great clan even in the north.

“The Li family of Lujiang only rose to prominence in this dynasty, but their momentum is strong. The Grand Secretary of Baohe Hall and Minister of Works is the elder brother of Madam Yuan’s maternal aunt.

“Although the second branch’s Madam Hong’s maternal family only produced Hong Xiu, their mother was a daughter of the Huang family of Saiyang. The Huang family of Saiyang alone has produced two Directors of the Imperial Academy in this dynasty and enjoys great prestige among officials from Jiangxi. And Jiangxi is one of the provinces with the most officials.”

Having said this, Zhou Zhen looked at Zhou Shaojin meaningfully.

Zhou Shaojin understood.

Going back several generations in their Zhou family, since they had genealogical records, they had only produced Grandfather and Father as jinshi degree holders. Grandfather had achieved Fourth Rank prefect, and Father was currently only a Fourth Rank official… If things went the same as in her previous life, he would reach his limit at Third Rank.

Compared to these families, the Zhou family was from humble origins!

But why was Father saying all this?

She shifted uneasily.

Zhou Zhen found it somewhat amusing.

Clearly very clever, yet she liked to hide it.

This younger daughter looked like Zhuang Shi but had none of her temperament. Conversely, the elder daughter looked like Cheng Shi but had Zhuang Shi’s disposition.

He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly and said: “For young ladies, if they don’t have a good family background, they must have a good reputation to marry into a good family. If your birth mother were still alive, why would I have left you sisters at the Cheng family? With just your mother and me, we could still find you suitable husbands. But your mother died early… Old Madam Guan has maintained her widowhood for many years. If she were from a merchant family, she would have long ago petitioned the court for official recognition. But the Cheng family are proper scholars and disdain using such reputation to add glory to the family name. With you sisters following her, I could serve as an official outside with peace of mind.”

Zhou Shaojin fell silent.

The Cheng family had a reputation for loyal righteousness, and Grandmother was a virtuous widow. Having grown up in such a household, no one would doubt the sisters’ character. And with few daughters in the Cheng family, although elder sister was the Cheng family’s granddaughter whose birth mother had died early, because she grew up under Grandmother’s care with Cheng Jing making the arrangements, she could marry into a family like the Liao family of Zhenjiang to become the primary wife.

And Father’s intentions were already quite clear.

Zhou Zhen saw her looking like a frost-bitten eggplant and couldn’t help but stand up and pat her head, saying gently: “What? You still want to go with Father to his post?”

“Yes!” Zhou Shaojin nodded eagerly and said: “I’m not like elder sister… If I married into a family like the Liao’s, I couldn’t manage it!”

How could she know without trying? Why say she couldn’t do it before even starting?

Zhou Zhen saw his daughter’s clear eyes filled with melancholy. The words on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down.

Everyone was different. Perhaps Shaojin truly didn’t have Chujin’s disposition and was better suited to marrying into an ordinary family.

Heroes don’t ask about origins.

Not every aristocratic son ultimately becomes a minister or enters the cabinet, and not all sons from humble families are unfit to become Grand Secretaries.

Perhaps finding a scholar from humble origins with a simple family would suit his younger daughter better!

Zhou Zhen’s heart softened. He said warmly: “Isn’t there still two years? If you still want to go with me to my post, after your sister marries out, I’ll send someone to bring you over.”

Zhou Shaojin was overjoyed.

Seeing this, Zhou Zhen couldn’t help but feel happy too.

Zhou Shaojin wanted to pinky promise with her father: “Then it’s settled!”

“Good!” Zhou Zhen made a pinky promise with his younger daughter. “Then it’s settled.”

Zhou Shaojin left the study in high spirits.

Zhou Chujin asked her: “What did Father say to you?”

“I’m not telling you,” Zhou Shaojin said with rare liveliness and mischief. “You wouldn’t tell me either.”

“You little imp!” Zhou Chujin tried to pinch Zhou Shaojin’s nose.

Zhou Shaojin giggled and dodged, saying: “If you tell me what Father said to you, I’ll tell you what Father said to me.”

“In your dreams!” Zhou Chujin refused and continued trying to pinch Zhou Shaojin’s nose. “Even if you don’t tell me, I have ways to make Father tell me.”

“Then go ask Father!” Zhou Shaojin wasn’t afraid at all and ran off laughing.

Zhou Chujin stamped her foot in annoyance.

Zhou Shaojin’s laughter fell across the courtyard like silver bells.

Li Shi, doing needlework in the study, looked thoughtful.

The next day, when Zhou Zhen accepted his old classmates’ invitation to go to the Qinhuai River, Li Shi brought children’s garments to find Zhou Shaojin.

“After hearing Second Miss speak yesterday, I knew you were an expert at needlework.” She showed Zhou Shaojin a design pattern. “What do you think of me adding this kind of decorative edging to the sleeves and hem?”

Zhou Shaojin thought it looked quite nice and smiled: “Madam might as well try it.”

Li Shi nodded with a smile and brought up Lanting: “…When she heard we were returning to Jinling, she was extremely happy. Who would have thought the master would leave her behind to follow our luggage trunks to Baoding? Otherwise, she could have seen First Miss and Second Miss and kowtowed at Sister Zhuang’s grave!”

If not for the events of her previous life, Zhou Shaojin certainly wouldn’t think much of it. But having experienced those events, Li Shi’s words made her overthink.

She grew wary and smiled: “After Madam gives birth to younger brother, she can bring her back to pay respects to the ancestors. She’ll still be able to see us then.”

“That’s what I thought too.” Li Shi smiled and said: “I’m just afraid Lanting will feel uncomfortable. She often tells the master about how Sister Zhuang treated her back then. I think, with Sister Zhuang gone, she must have felt very distressed all these years. I want to ask the master if, after we reach Baoding, he could have someone escort her back once to sweep Sister Zhuang’s grave—that would fulfill her filial devotion. I wonder if Second Miss thinks this is appropriate?”

In other words, Lanting was using Mother’s name to compete for Li Shi’s favor, and because Lanting was someone Mother had left for Father, Li Shi couldn’t deal with her herself, so she wanted to borrow my hand to handle Lanting?

Zhou Shaojin smiled: “I don’t manage any household matters at all. You’d have to ask my elder sister about this.”