Zhou Shaojin was quite worried about Ji Ying.

Last time Ji Ying had mentioned that the Jiao family wanted to settle accounts with her, and they were traveling to Hangzhou Prefecture via the Grand Canal—the Grand Canal was the territory of the Transport Gang.

She feared Ji Ying might be discovered.

Chun Wan smiled and said, “Miss Ji Ying is sleeping in her room! She said she didn’t sleep well last night and wants to get a good sleep during the day today.”

Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief.

Ji Ying was probably also afraid of being discovered by people from the Transport Gang!

Being careful and cautious was always a good thing.

That evening, they changed to a small three-masted sand boat.

Calling it small was only in comparison to the five-masted sand boats docked at Zhenjiang wharf.

The sand boat they boarded was over four hundred feet long, with towering main masts and narrow, elongated sails, standing before Zhou Shaojin like a massive monster.

Zhou Shaojin looked up at the sand boat, deeply shaken.

When she boarded and saw the deck polished smooth as a mirror and the cabin more than double the size of yesterday’s pleasure boat, she widened her eyes and was speechless for quite a while.

Chun Wan and the others naturally couldn’t maintain Zhou Shaojin’s composure. The group kept touching the large writing desk made of nanmu wood, then touching the floor screen carved with intertwining grape and pomegranate patterns, continuously exclaiming in admiration.

Fan Liushi couldn’t help sighing, “If Shi Xiang knew about this, she would definitely regret not coming with Second Young Miss to experience this. Being able to make this trip with Second Young Miss, I would have no regrets even in death.”

“Nonsense!” Zhou Shaojin didn’t like Fan Liushi’s tone. In this life, they would definitely live better than in the previous life, and Fan Liushi would be fine too, following her to see more scenery and visit more places.

Fan Liushi said regretfully, “Look at my mouth…”

After Second Young Miss married, she would follow her and naturally would visit even more places.

These words indeed didn’t sound pleasant.

She laughed awkwardly.

From the other side came Bitao’s low exclamation, “Sister Chun Wan, look! These tables and chairs are all fixed to the boat.”

Zhou Shaojin and Fan Liushi turned around to see Chun Wan forcefully pushing the armchair in front of her, “Oh, they really are fixed!”

“Is it to prevent us from falling?” Bitao asked.

Fan Liushi said, “I’ve heard people say that sometimes when traveling at sea you encounter huge waves. Not to mention the things in the cabin—even people get thrown about. This boat must be meant for traveling on the sea.”

“Really? Really?” Bitao excitedly looked here and there, saying, “I wonder if this boat belongs to the Cheng family or if Fourth Master Chi borrowed it.”

“It should belong to the Cheng family, right?” Chun Wan speculated. “I heard the steward outside say that our Cheng family also has a fleet of boats.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled behind pressed lips.

Our Cheng family… When had the maids she brought along already started calling themselves Cheng family people!

She gently pushed the boat window open about half a foot.

All around were boats smaller than theirs. She could easily see through an open window opposite them a young couple leaning shoulder to shoulder against the window, intimately talking to each other.

She blushed and quickly closed the window, instructing Chun Wan, “Hurry and put things away properly. We still need to go pay our respects to Old Madam Guo!”

The trunks had been carried over before they boarded.

Chun Wan and the others laughed and responded “Yes,” nimbly organizing things.

Zhou Shaojin washed up again. After Chun Wan and the others had placed all her commonly used items in their usual positions, she went outside to look around. Seeing no one on the deck, they then escorted Zhou Shaojin to Old Madam Guo’s cabin.

Just like on the pleasure boat, Cheng Chi stayed at the bow, Old Madam Guo in the middle. Zhou Shaojin stayed next to Old Madam Guo, and further back were some of the Cheng family’s servant women.

Who would have known that just as they entered, a matron came in to report, “Madam, the wife of Zhenjiang Assistant Magistrate Chen Shuming has come to pay her respects.”

Old Madam Guo was somewhat surprised.

Zhou Shaojin quickly stood up and said, “Then I’ll go back to my cabin first and come chat with you later!”

But Old Madam Guo waved her hand and said, “No need for such trouble. Just keep me company while I receive her. This Madam Chen actually has some connection with our family—her father was once a colleague of our family’s Old Master. When she was little, I even held her. It’s just that since the Old Master passed away, our two families haven’t really kept in touch. This afternoon when she had someone deliver her card, it was only when Nanny Lü reminded me that I remembered.”

Having not kept in touch—was it because relationships cool when someone dies, or was it because the two families had only been casual acquaintances to begin with?

Zhou Shaojin pondered this as she met Madam Chen together with Old Madam Guo.

Madam Chen appeared to be in her mid-thirties, tall and stately, fair and plump, wearing a lilac-colored burnt cloth vest. Seeing Old Madam Guo, her eyes reddened and she said chokingly, “This humble wife has long wanted to visit Old Madam, but having not seen you for many years, I feared you would no longer remember me, so I didn’t dare go. I never expected Old Madam would still remember me…”

Old Madam Guo smiled and had Nanny Lü help Madam Chen up, saying gently, “You needn’t be so formal. I’m getting old and my memory isn’t good, so I don’t go out to socialize much. I didn’t know you were now in Zhenjiang. A few years ago I heard your father passed away. Is your mother well? Is she at home or with your brother at his post in Dongguan, Guangdong? How many children do you have now? How old is the eldest? A son or daughter?”

Her words were warm and kind, like a gentle breeze and soft rain.

This was a side of her Zhou Shaojin had never seen before.

She couldn’t help listening carefully.

Madam Chen answered each question. The two women spoke of old times. When evening came, Madam Chen had already changed to addressing Old Madam Guo as “Aunt,” saying, “Please don’t leave tomorrow. Let this humble wife properly fulfill her duties as host and accompany you around Zhenjiang. It won’t be too late for you to set out for Hangzhou then.”

“No need!” Old Madam Guo politely declined. “I’m going to Mount Putuo to offer incense. I cannot delay.”

Madam Chen was very disappointed.

The wife of Zhenjiang Prefect Gao Yao came to call on Old Madam Guo.

Madam Chen quickly stood up.

Old Madam Guo, however, didn’t move.

A flash of discomfort crossed Madam Chen’s face. She was about to point at Zhou Shaojin and ask something when Madam Gao walked in.

“Aunt Cheng!” Madam Gao respectfully saluted Old Madam Guo.

Old Madam Guo leaned forward slightly and indicated for Zhou Shaojin to come forward and return the courtesy.

Zhou Shaojin quickly stepped forward and curtsied to Madam Gao.

Madam Gao still remembered her and smiled, “I was wondering why Old Madam had no one attending her on this trip—it turns out Second Young Miss Zhou came along. If I had known, I would have brought our restless one to meet you and let her see what a proper young lady from a distinguished family is like.”

Zhou Shaojin blushed shyly and said, “I wouldn’t dare.”

Only then did Madam Chen glance at Zhou Shaojin.

Old Madam Guo helped Zhou Shaojin out of the awkward situation, “She’s a young girl with thin skin. Don’t tease her. Your husband and Fourth Son are good friends, so I’ll presume upon that to treat you as a junior. I’m departing early tomorrow morning. If you really want me to visit your residence, we can discuss it when I return from Putuo.”

Madam Gao laughed heartily, “Old Madam, you’re truly formidable—you’ve left me with nothing to say. Since you’re treating me as a junior, I won’t be polite with you either. When you return from Mount Putuo, I’ll host a welcome banquet for you.”

Madam Chen smiled from the side, barely managing to find an opportunity to salute Madam Gao.

Madam Gao naturally recognized her. She smiled and said “Madam Chen,” but her eyes turned toward Old Madam Guo.

Old Madam Guo introduced the relationship between the two families.

Madam Gao became somewhat warmer toward Madam Chen.

Madam Chen was overjoyed and fawned over both Old Madam Guo and Madam Gao. When Madam Gao took her leave, Madam Chen even supported her arm as she descended from the boat.

Zhou Shaojin, who was seeing off the guests on behalf of Old Madam Guo, couldn’t help but let out a long breath.

Suddenly Cheng Chi’s voice came from behind her, “What’s wrong? Very tired?”

Zhou Shaojin jumped in fright and quickly turned around. But she stepped on her cloak, and the cloak’s ties choked her neck.

She hastily unfastened the cloak. Only then could she breathe, but the blood had all rushed to her face, making it burn.

Cheng Chi seemed not to notice and said calmly, “It’s getting late. Go rest quickly! Tomorrow will be another fine day. If you can get up early in the morning, you can go to the bow to watch the sunrise. The sky filled with rosy clouds is quite a different scene from watching sunrise on a mountain.”

Zhou Shaojin acknowledged in a low voice.

Cheng Chi returned to his cabin.

Only then did Zhou Shaojin’s breathing become smooth again.

Should she go watch the sunrise tomorrow or not?

Zhou Shaojin thought of Ji Ying criticizing her for going to the temple fair instead of watching the tidal bore at Tang Lake, and decided to invite Ji Ying to watch the sunrise together.

Unexpectedly, Ji Ying said, “I can’t show myself tomorrow. You should go alone!”

Zhou Shaojin was somewhat disappointed but understood completely. She urged Ji Ying to be careful and told Chun Wan to wake her early tomorrow.

Chun Wan agreed.

The next day before dawn, she woke Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin left the cabin. There were several unfamiliar men at the bow—judging by their dress, they appeared to be boatmen.

She didn’t dare go out, but opened her window and stared outside, watching as a white light gradually appeared between the river and sky, then the rosy glow slowly burst forth, gradually dyeing the eastern sky red.

Those literati and poets all took pride in watching the sunrise from atop Mount Tai. If only she could someday also go to Mount Tai to watch the sunrise.

Zhou Shaojin breathed deeply. The cool morning air, moist yet fresh, invigorated her entire being.

***

At the hour of Chen zheng (8 AM), the sand boat weighed anchor.

Zhou Shaojin stood by the boat window, watching Zhenjiang wharf grow smaller and smaller.

That afternoon, Old Madam Guo had Biyu invite her to play leaf cards.

Zhou Shaojin’s head swelled like a bucket, but she couldn’t refuse.

Most people on the boat were servant women—she couldn’t very well let Old Madam Guo always play with those servant women, could she?

Zhou Shaojin steeled herself and played leaf cards all afternoon, losing seven taels of silver.

Perhaps having seen too much of the similar scenery along the banks, after two days, the leaf cards appeared again in Old Madam Guo’s room.

For several days in a row, Zhou Shaojin spent her afternoons at the card table.

During breakfast one morning, she looked pleadingly at Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi seemed not to see, eating with a composed expression.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help feeling discouraged.

That afternoon, halfway through the card game, Cheng Chi walked in.

Old Madam Guo quickly greeted him, “Have you finished all your business?”

“There wasn’t much to be busy with anyway.” As Cheng Chi spoke, he walked leisurely to Zhou Shaojin’s side and suddenly said, “Play the Three of Coins. How could you play the Six of Bamboo with this hand!”

Just like last time, Zhou Shaojin didn’t know why, but still played the Three of Coins without thinking.