Madam Song reached out to pull Song Sen back.

However, Old Madam Guo laughed and said, “Children speak without restraint. Madam Song needn’t scold him.”

Madam Song could only give up awkwardly.

Old Madam Guo sent Nanny Lu to see what Cheng Chi and Old Master Song were doing, and said with a smile, “Perhaps Brother Sen really guessed correctly!”

Song Sen said with certainty, “Grandfather is definitely doing calculations.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled and patted his head.

Everyone sat down again.

Nanny Lu returned and reported with a smile, “Young Master Song really did guess right. Fourth Master and Old Master Song are gathered around the large writing desk, one at each end doing calculations. According to Old Master Song’s meaning, if the Fuchun River has major flooding next year, the Qiantang River tide surge will definitely not be as spectacular as this year’s… Old Master Song has invited Fourth Master to return to Qianyong tomorrow to observe the tide.”

“Wonderful, wonderful!” Madam Song said happily. “This way our two families can still meet in the future.”

Old Madam Guo nodded with a smile.

By the hour of the Rooster (note: four in the afternoon), if Old Master Song and the others still didn’t return to the city, they would have to stay another day at the Zong family estate. Cheng Chi and Old Master Song finally emerged from the study with reluctance. Old Master Song repeatedly instructed Cheng Chi, “…Don’t forget to get me a pocket watch like yours—it really keeps accurate time!”

Cheng Chi agreed with a smile and said to Old Master Song, “Please carefully consider what I said. The court hasn’t managed the flooding in Jiangnan for ten years, yet Chun’an and other areas suffer frequent floods. In at most two years, the court will certainly reorganize river works. Why doesn’t the Old Master write and publish a book on everything you’ve learned in your lifetime, so future generations will also know how to prevent floods and how to repair river embankments?”

Song Min’s expression grew somewhat dim as he said, “Let’s talk about this matter later!”

After all, their acquaintance was shallow for such deep words. Though Cheng Chi felt it was a pity, he respected Song Min’s decision. He personally saw Old Master Song out of the estate, then turned and went to the study, calculating alone until the second night watch drum sounded before finally resting.

Old Madam Guo instructed everyone not to wake Cheng Chi.

The next morning, before dawn, Cheng Chi woke up. He walked half a circuit along the pond embankment before returning to the estate.

Old Madam Guo asked him, “Have you encountered some difficulty? Should I speak to your elder brother?”

“Then I would need Brother to step in and resolve it!” Cheng Chi said with a laugh as he accompanied Old Madam Guo for breakfast.

Zhou Shaojin helped him arrange the chopsticks and bowls before sitting down.

Cheng Chi glanced at Zhou Shaojin and said with a smile, “The tea and refreshments yesterday—you had them sent over, didn’t you?”

Old Madam Guo asked curiously, “What refreshments?”

Zhou Shaojin said somewhat embarrassedly, “I thought Uncle Chi and Old Master Song sitting on the boat must be very bored, so I had the kitchen prepare some refreshments.”

Old Madam Guo nodded with a smile and said, “Yesterday I was only focused on entertaining the Zong family. Fortunately I have you at my side—you’ve saved me so much worry!”

Zhou Shaojin said bashfully, “It’s I who have learned many things from following you.”

“But you also have to be willing to learn!” Old Madam Guo smiled. “Don’t be so polite with me. In the future, if there’s anything I haven’t thought through thoroughly, just help me remember.”

Aside from matters of eating and drinking, what other abilities did she have to help Old Madam Guo remember things?

Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips.

After breakfast, Old Madam Guo kept Cheng Chi to talk.

Zhou Shaojin guessed that Old Madam Guo must want to ask Cheng Chi what he and Old Master Song had done yesterday. But since Old Madam Guo had no intention of keeping her, it would be inappropriate to stay and listen. She could only stand up and take her leave.

Outside, Qing Feng and Lang Yue were standing in the middle of the courtyard speaking quietly.

Zhou Shaojin walked over with light steps and heard Qing Feng say unhappily, “Old Master Song is Cabinet Minister Song’s father. What a great opportunity! Old Master Song wanted to travel north with us, but our Fourth Master was afraid Second Cousin Miss would be wronged and didn’t agree…”

She was greatly startled and said sternly, “Qing Feng, what is this all about?”

Qing Feng and Lang Yue turned around in alarm and quickly said, “Nothing! Nothing!”

Zhou Shaojin said, “If you don’t tell me, I’ll go ask Uncle Chi myself.”

“Please don’t go,” Qing Feng said urgently. “I’ll tell you. Old Master Song knows geomancy. Fourth Master and Old Master Song had a very pleasant conversation, so Fourth Master invited Old Master Song to travel north together. Old Master Song gladly agreed. But when Fourth Master returned and heard that the Song family’s young master had made a fuss at Old Madam’s place, he changed his mind and had Manager Qin find an excuse to decline Old Master Song. Manager Qin felt it was a pity. He said that Fourth Master initially refused the court’s selection, so if he wants to become an official again, it would be impossible without the recommendation of a provincial governor. And even with a provincial governor’s recommendation, there are different levels…” He said this far and carefully glanced at Zhou Shaojin, saying quietly, “I heard that His Majesty greatly values Cabinet Minister Song…”

Zhou Shaojin knew this.

Not only did the current emperor greatly value Cabinet Minister Song, but future emperors would also greatly value Cabinet Minister Song.

They wanted Cheng Chi to go through Song Jingran’s connections, didn’t they!

Without thinking, Zhou Shaojin said, “No matter whose idea it was, I’ll go tell Fourth Master right now that I won’t hold him back.” After speaking, she returned to the main hall.

Qing Feng and Lang Yue looked at each other in dismay.

Lang Yue blamed Qing Feng, saying, “I told you not to play so many tricks with Second Cousin Miss, didn’t I? She’s gentle-natured, not stupid! See, now you’ve offended Second Cousin Miss!”

Qing Feng still refused to admit defeat and said stubbornly, “How was I to know Second Cousin Miss was so reasonable? We hadn’t even finished saying what Manager Qin taught us to say before Second Cousin Miss decided to go persuade Fourth Master…”

“Anyway, you can’t treat Second Cousin Miss this way anymore,” Lang Yue said. “She’s very kind. You can’t be unrestrained before her just because she’s kind!”

“When was I unrestrained?” Qing Feng retorted. “I just don’t fawn over her as much as you do!”

“What are you saying?”

The two quietly began to quarrel.

Standing in the hall of the main building, Zhou Shaojin could faintly hear Old Madam Guo’s low laughter coming from the eastern sitting room.

She took a deep breath. After thinking it over, she smiled and gestured to the little maid on duty nearby to report to Old Madam Guo.

The little maid soon brought her into the sitting room.

She smiled and asked Cheng Chi, “Uncle Chi, are we still departing at the originally scheduled time? Then where shall we wait for Madam Song and the others? Will they board our boat, or shall we board theirs?”

Old Madam Guo was surprised and said, “What is this about?”

Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “I heard Madam Song mention earlier that they would travel together with us. Just now I heard Qing Feng say we and the Song family would each go our separate ways, so I wanted to ask when to pack the trunks.”

As she spoke, she “humph-ed” disapprovingly in her heart.

If Qing Feng dared to scheme against her, she would scheme against Qing Feng a little too. Who told him to think she was a soft persimmon!

Cheng Chi’s gaze flickered slightly as he said slowly, “Old Master Song did say this. I was afraid Mother would find it troublesome, so I politely declined.”

Old Madam Guo clearly had her own calculations. She smiled and said, “You child, it’s rare to have someone you can talk to. Madam Song is also gentle and kind. Although the Song family’s Fifth Young Master is mischievous, he’s not an unreasonable child. Having them as companions would relieve the loneliness of our journey. Why would you refuse them?” As she spoke, she called Nanny Lu in and said, “Take my visiting card to Madam Song and ask if she’s willing to travel together with us.”

Nanny Lu agreed with a smile.

Cheng Chi smiled and said, “Mother needn’t handle this matter. I’ll go respond to Old Master Song myself.”

“That would be excellent,” Old Madam Guo said with a smile. “An additional friend means an additional path. Sometimes you’re just too aloof.”

Cheng Chi smiled without speaking. As he left, he glanced at Zhou Shaojin, indicating she should follow him out.

Zhou Shaojin had no intention of running before him to be scolded when he was annoyed!

She pretended not to understand and stayed in Old Madam Guo’s room until Old Madam Guo went to rest before returning to her own room. The next day before dawn, she went to Old Madam Guo’s room to serve her.

Cheng Chi held his forehead and laughed heartily.

That afternoon, they set out for Hangzhou Prefecture. That evening, the Song family boarded the Cheng family’s sand boat.

Zhou Shaojin vacated her cabin and moved into Old Madam Guo’s cabin. And because Huang Yijun was on the boat, she didn’t dare walk around the deck freely anymore. Most of the time she sat in the cabin doing needlework, listening to Madam Song and Old Madam Guo talk or playing with Song Sen for a while. Where was the leisurely ease of the journey here?

Especially after arriving at Suzhou Prefecture, Zhou Shaojin had originally wanted very much to go into the city to look around. But Cheng Chi and Old Master Song were in high spirits and had no intention of disembarking. Zhou Shaojin looked at the bustling crowds at the dock and felt it would be too unsafe without Cheng Chi accompanying her, so she simply stayed in the cabin doing needlework.

Even so, she had no regrets.

The longer she was in contact with Cheng Chi, the more formidable she felt he was. She felt that with Cheng Chi’s abilities, if he wanted to enter officialdom, the Cheng family couldn’t stop him at all. The reason he didn’t enter officialdom was mostly due to familial constraints.

If Cheng Chi could work through Song Jingran, it might not be a bad thing.

As long as it was beneficial to Cheng Chi, she would do it.

Otherwise, how could she repay Cheng Chi even a little?

Old Madam Guo had originally come along just to accompany the younger generation on an outing. Since Zhou Shaojin had no interest in sightseeing, the old lady lost even more interest. Madam Song had already toured Suzhou Prefecture before going to Hangzhou Prefecture. Seeing that Zhou Shaojin and Old Madam Guo had no intention of going into the city to browse, she followed the host’s wishes and naturally stayed on the boat as well. This way, Chun Wan and the others also had to stay on the boat.

For a time, everyone’s spirits were somewhat dampened. Especially Chun Wan, who muttered quietly, “It’s not as if Madam Song doesn’t have her own boat. Following us like this makes things inconvenient for everyone.”

Several little maids nodded repeatedly and couldn’t help becoming somewhat cold toward the Song family’s people.

This matter soon reached Zhou Shaojin’s ears. She said to Chun Wan and the others pointedly, “When I was copying scriptures, I never thought Old Madam Guo would bring me to Putuo Mountain to offer incense. When we went to Putuo Mountain, I also never thought Fourth Master would send someone to take us shopping and let us buy things freely. Now that Fourth Master doesn’t have leisure time, I think to myself—people cannot only think of themselves and not of others. When Fourth Master treated us to food and drink, we were all grateful. When Fourth Master has matters to attend to and can’t look after us, we all become dissatisfied and complain. Fourth Master doesn’t owe us anything. Letting us go out to have fun is a favor. Not letting us go out to have fun is our proper station. Why is staying on the boat so unbearable? Looking at it this way, it would be better not to bestow any favors in the future at all, lest giving and giving turns favor into resentment!”