Zhou Shaojin hurriedly stepped forward to pay her respects.

But Old Mistress Guo showed a surprised expression: “Who is this?”

“This is my younger granddaughter Zhou Shaojin,” Old Madam Guan said with a smile. “She doesn’t like to talk much normally, so relatives don’t really know her well. Since we’ve encountered you today, I had her come greet you.”

Old Mistress Guo paused, only then remembering who this so-called “younger granddaughter” was.

She nodded at Zhou Shaojin with a slight smile and praised, “What a beautiful young lady!”

Zhou Shaojin naturally wouldn’t take these polite social pleasantries seriously, but such a peaceful meeting was something she hadn’t expected.

She let out a breath.

“You flatter her too much,” Old Madam Guan said in a modest tone, though her expression couldn’t hide her delight.

Seeing this, Old Mistress Guo pondered for a moment, then removed the ring from her finger: “It’s an old piece—young ladies may not necessarily like it, but fortunately the quality is quite good. If it’s remade into a pendant or something, it would still look presentable.” As she spoke, she handed the ring to Zhou Shaojin. “Consider it a meeting gift.”

Zhou Shaojin was astonished and didn’t dare accept: “The item is too valuable.”

“It’s fine,” Old Mistress Guo said with a smile. “When an elder gives you something, just accept it.”

Zhou Shaojin hesitated briefly, then curtsied gracefully, thanked Old Mistress Guo generously, and accepted the ring.

“That’s right,” Old Mistress Guo said with a smile, her tone very gentle.

Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that she wasn’t as nervous as before.

Old Madam Guan and Old Mistress Guo entered the reception room and sat down on the low couch, one on the left and one on the right.

Si’er led the young maids in bringing tea and refreshments.

Zhou Shaojin stood without moving.

Old Madam Guan gave her a meaningful look.

Only after a while did Zhou Shaojin understand—her grandmother was telling her to be more attentive in front of her elders.

Her face grew hot.

Before marriage, she had wallowed in self-pity and never paid attention to others. After marriage, she had hidden away at the Daxing estate considering herself superior, never interacting with outsiders. Others had always flattered her—when had she ever flattered anyone else?

But now that she had decided to save the Cheng family, she couldn’t be the same as in her previous life.

Zhou Shaojin carefully recalled how Shi Xiang and the others served her tea and water, and learned from their example as she served tea to Old Mistress Guo and Old Madam Guan.

Old Madam Guan was very pleased to see her being obedient and sensible.

Old Mistress Guo didn’t think much of it.

Her sons, daughters-in-law, grandsons, and granddaughters were all filial, and she never lacked people to attend to her. In her view, this was only natural.

However, Zhou Shaojin was gentle and soft, revealing grace and docility in every movement—very comfortable to watch. This made Old Mistress Guo feel favorable toward her. After Zhou Shaojin finished serving tea, she said with a smile as she picked up her teacup, “Those trivial tasks can be handled by the young maids. You may sit down as well.”

This time Zhou Shaojin responded softly and stood behind Old Madam Guan.

Looking at her, Old Mistress Guo was reminded of her third granddaughter Cheng Sheng—if that spoiled girl were here, she would certainly engage in a verbal display of her accomplishments and wouldn’t stop until she received praise… One was too quiet, the other too clamorous. After all, it was because their backgrounds and circumstances were different.

These thoughts passed in a flash.

Old Mistress Guo brought up the actual business: “…I was thinking that we should still attend the dharma assembly on the eighth day—the Old Ancestor’s birthday is the gentlemen’s affair. What could we do even if we stayed home?”

So this was why she had come.

The second branch probably didn’t see it this way!

Zhou Shaojin listened attentively.

The Zhou family women went to Ganquan Temple to offer incense every year during the Buddha Bathing Festival, but this year on the twelfth of the fourth month was the second branch’s Old Ancestor’s birthday banquet. The second branch had long announced they would hold a grand celebration for the Old Ancestor. Logically, since the Buddha Bathing Festival and the twelfth of the fourth month were so close together, all branches of the Cheng family should go to the second branch to help.

But everything waxes and wanes.

In the past, when the second branch’s Old Ancestor Cheng Xu served in the capital as Grand Secretary of the Hall of Military Valor and Minister of Personnel, while the main branch’s Old Ancestor managed household affairs at home, naturally the second branch was most prominent and everything followed the second branch’s lead. But after the second branch’s old master Cheng Li died young and the main branch’s old masters Cheng Xun and Cheng Shao successively passed the imperial examinations, the Cheng family saw a different scene. Now the second branch’s Old Ancestor Cheng Xu had long retired, and the eldest master Cheng Yi was just a schoolteacher, while the main branch had three successful examination graduates and even produced a fifteen-year-old top candidate—the situation had become somewhat different.

But no matter what, the fourth branch had never been in charge and didn’t compete for this prestige, nor could they compete for it.

Old Madam Guan smoothed things over: “I’ll follow your lead.”

The fourth branch, consisting of orphans and widows, hadn’t had it easy to reach where they were today. Having received favors from the main branch and also receiving protection from the second branch, it wouldn’t be good to side with either. It was best not to get involved.

Old Mistress Guo had never feared anyone even when the second branch was at the height of their power, much less now when all three of her sons had passed both levels of the imperial examinations. She said this not to instigate anything between Old Madam Guan and the second branch, but because among the several old sisters-in-law, only Old Madam Guan was generous, reasonable, and principled—quite compatible with her. She wanted to invite Old Madam Guan to attend the dharma assembly together so they would have company on the journey.

“Then it’s settled,” Old Mistress Guo said, very pleased that Old Madam Guan had agreed. “You don’t need to prepare incense or candles or anything—Miss Zheng specially sent me twenty jin of ghalewood incense from the capital. I had Fourth Son exchange it for two hundred taels worth of copper coins for us, all Yongchang Tongbao coins, each one this big and this thick.”

Fourth Son… who was that?

Zhou Shaojin looked at Old Mistress Guo’s gestures with some confusion.

Old Madam Guan instructed Si’er to send one hundred taels in banknotes to Hanbi Mountain Lodge later.

Old Mistress Guo was displeased: “Why are you settling accounts so clearly with me?”

“Before the Bodhisattva, each shows their own sincerity,” Old Madam Guan insisted firmly.

Even blood brothers should settle accounts clearly—this way they stay close. Old Madam Guan never took advantage of such things. This was also why, even though the fourth branch’s old master had died young, the main branch, second branch, and third branch all treated the fourth branch with great respect.

Old Mistress Guo didn’t insist.

Old Madam Guan then pulled her over to look at the Buddhist sutras she had Zhou Shaojin copy: “Originally I was worried they wouldn’t be good enough to offer to the Bodhisattva, but now it seems we need to copy faster.”

But Old Mistress Guo’s gaze suddenly froze.

The vigorous, neat small regular script, though slightly lacking in strength, was smooth and rounded, full and harmonious.

She pointed at the writing desk: “This is?”

“Shaojin copied it,” Old Madam Guan said with a smile. “She’s just a child without much strength, but fortunately she’s sincere, and the characters are fairly neat and beautiful.”

Old Mistress Guo’s breathing caught slightly. Thinking that Old Madam Guan could only read account books, though she felt relieved, she didn’t want to say much. She smiled and said, “This writing is quite good.”

Old Madam Guan modestly said, “It just lacks strength.”

Old Mistress Guo hadn’t intended to say anything, but seeing Old Madam Guan speak so sincerely, she remained silent for a moment before couldn’t help but say, “For a young lady to write like this is already very good. Among those in our family, except for Miss Zheng, not one of them can settle down to practice calligraphy.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Guan’s heart stirred. She said, “This child is usually too quiet. If she catches your eye, and since Miss Sheng and the others aren’t by your side, why don’t I have her copy a few pages of sutras for you as well? We can offer them to the Bodhisattva on the eighth of the fourth month—what do you think?”

Zhou Shaojin was so frightened her face paled.

Looking at Zhou Shaojin with her head lowered, showing only her soft, glossy black hair and fair, delicate neck, Old Mistress Guo suddenly had the feeling of a pearl covered in dust.

She pondered briefly and asked Zhou Shaojin, “Did a teacher instruct you in this?”

Of course not.

In her previous life, she had used it to pass time when she was bored.

But she couldn’t say this, so she could only reply, “I just wrote it randomly myself.”

But Old Mistress Guo didn’t let the topic drop and continued, “How did you think to write it this way?”

It was because in her previous life she had traced the handwriting samples of Liao Zhangying, the late aunt of her brother-in-law Liao Shaotang.

She braced herself and said, “I just felt it looked comfortable written this way.” Her palms were already covered in sweat.

Fortunately, Old Mistress Guo didn’t ask further.

“Then let this young lady copy a few pages of sutras for me!” she said with a smile. “When the sutras are finished, I’ll treat you all to vegetarian food at Huiji Temple.”

“That would be wonderful!” Old Madam Guan said happily, instructing Zhou Shaojin, “You must copy the sutras well for the Old Mistress.” She added jokingly, “Whether we can eat the vegetarian food at Huiji Temple depends entirely on you.”

Zhou Shaojin’s lips trembled, unable to say a word.

Old Mistress Guo was somewhat surprised.

She had thought Zhou Shaojin would be delighted and overjoyed.

After all, given her status, for a young lady about to discuss marriage like Zhou Shaojin to gain her favor—how could she fear not finding a good in-law family?

However, Old Mistress Guo wasn’t someone who looked down on everyone and expected everyone to crowd around her.

Since the young lady was unwilling, then forget it.

Zhenzhu and Feicui by her side both wrote well. Though they couldn’t compare to this young lady, their sutra copying would still be presentable.

If that didn’t work, there was still Young Master Xu.

Though the child was mischievous, he was also filial. These days he had been running wild with someone or other, never to be seen. This would be a good opportunity to have him help copy a few pages of Buddhist sutras and keep him confined at home to settle down for a few days.

Thinking this, Old Mistress Guo’s eyes and brows were wreathed in smiles.

Meanwhile, Zhou Shaojin finally mustered up her courage and said, “I’m just afraid I won’t copy them well…”

No matter how ignorant of worldly matters she was, she knew that Old Mistress Guo could not be offended. She couldn’t be as selfish as in her previous life.

But Old Madam Guan was determined to push Zhou Shaojin toward Old Mistress Guo: “Haven’t we seen your handwriting? If it weren’t good, I wouldn’t have you copy them!”

Zhou Shaojin’s face turned completely red.

Old Mistress Guo laughed.

This young lady, with courage as small as the eye of a needle, yet dared to refuse her and speak her mind—how very interesting.

“It’s fine,” Old Mistress Guo said with a smile. “Just copy slowly. If you can finish by the Buddha Bathing Festival, we’ll offer them then. If not by the Buddha Bathing Festival, we’ll offer them at the Ullambana Festival.”

She had always appreciated young ladies who had their own minds yet weren’t aggressively pushy, and couldn’t help feeling inclined to help her.

Zhou Shaojin nearly fainted.

The Ullambana Festival… did this mean she would have to copy sutras for Old Mistress Guo all the way until the seventh month…

She truly didn’t want to have any connection with the main branch anymore!

But the conversation had reached this point—could she not go?

After seeing Old Mistress Guo off, Old Madam Guan was filled with joy and pulled her into the inner chamber to speak privately: “The Old Mistress is a very proud person. Ordinary people can’t catch her eye, but if you can catch her eye, never mind Jinling City—even among the prominent families in the capital, you won’t need to fear anyone when you come and go. This is your good fortune. Don’t be muddleheaded and treat it as nothing, just copying sutras and then coming back.”

Did this mean that after finishing copying the sutras she couldn’t come back?

Sweat appeared on Zhou Shaojin’s forehead.

She asked her grandmother urgently, “Then when can I come back?”