Old Madam Guan thought for a moment and said, “Gao’er’s wedding is set for the tenth day of the ninth month next year. From what the Liao family has indicated, my son-in-law wants to take the autumn examinations, so they’d like to choose a date between March, April, and May of next year. In a few days they’ll send someone to settle on a specific date. Having two weddings in one year—though having the son marry out before the daughter marries in is a good thing—I think it’s better to wait until after Gao’er’s wedding is finished. By then Shaojin will be a year older, and we can sit down properly with our brother-in-law to discuss matters between Shaojin and Yi’er.”

Madam Mian always respected her mother-in-law’s decisions and said with a smile, “By that time the pressing matters at hand will be mostly finished, and we can devote our attention to it. Your thinking is very thorough.”

Old Madam Guan smiled slightly. She was about to say more when the Zhou sisters had already changed clothes and walked over. She quickly exchanged a glance with her daughter-in-law, and the two smiled and dropped the topic, leading the Zhou sisters to Listening to Rain Pavilion.

The people from the second and third branches had all arrived and were gathered around Madam Song talking.

Zhou Shaojin saw that Jiang Shi appeared composed, showing no regret or anxiety about harming her daughter’s prospects. She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

She didn’t know whether Jiang Shi hadn’t realized the severity of the situation or if Jiang Shi already had a perfect strategy to handle Cheng Jia’s marriage prospects. By contrast, Cheng Jia was like an eggplant beaten by frost, listlessly following at her mother’s side. Even when she smiled, her eyes revealed some sadness. Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but feel sorry for Cheng Jia.

After the banquet began, Zhou Shaojin was seated at the table with Old Madam Guo and Madam Song. Because other elders like Old Madam Tang and Old Madam Li were also attending, Zhou Shaojin barely ate anything, spending all her time looking after them. Even so, watching this made First Branch’s eldest daughter-in-law Zheng Shi feel uncomfortable.

She had thought that with Cheng Sheng gone to the capital, among the younger generation she should be the one to stand out. Who knew Old Madam Guo would elevate Zhou Shaojin? Was Old Madam Guo doing this intentionally or unintentionally?

After the midday meal and tea, Old Madam Guo led Madam Song on a tour of Jiuru Lane.

Zhou Shaojin accompanied them.

The main branch’s classical elegance, the second branch’s refined beauty, the third branch’s magnificent splendor, the fourth branch’s simple plainness, and the fifth branch’s dazzling opulence all drew endless praise from Madam Song, who finally felt the weight of the Cheng family’s substantial foundation.

The evening meal still had Zhou Shaojin attending at the main table.

After dinner, they went to Siyi Tower to watch an evening opera.

Though it was already winter, warm curtains hung everywhere and lanterns were lit. Pink crape myrtles, white cape jasmine, and bright red pomegranate flowers bloomed in competition, making one doubt it was spring.

Madam Song couldn’t help saying, “They say the aristocratic families of Jiangnan are like cooking oil over fierce flames, flowers embroidering brocade. I see it with my own eyes today and finally believe it.”

Old Madam Guo laughed and said, “We’re borrowing your good fortune. If you hadn’t come, even if we wanted to find an excuse to gather like this, we couldn’t manage it.”

“It seems I should visit and move about more often,” Madam Song joked.

Jiang Shi picked up the conversation. “This is winter. When you come in spring there will be spring scenery, when you come in summer there will be summer scenery. We only fear you won’t come.”

“If I have leisure time, I’ll definitely come visit Old Madam,” Madam Song said with a slight smile as everyone sat down in the grand armchairs.

Biyu brought the opera menu and asked Madam Song to select a performance.

After Madam Song declined several times without success, she selected “The Peony Pavilion.” Old Madam Guo chose “Si Lang Visits His Mother.” With these two performances, the opera would likely continue until midnight. Old Madam Tang, Old Madam Li, and the others perceptively did not select any performances.

The opera stage began with clanging gongs and cymbals.

Zhou Shaojin arranged the tea and snacks that the little maids brought up beside Madam Song’s tea table. At first she explained to Madam Song which opera troupe was performing, who the dan and qingyi actors were, what operas they’d performed, and their status in Jinling’s theater circles. But as the opera reached its climax and Madam Song became entranced, she quietly replaced Madam Song’s tea and snacks, then discreetly caught the eye of Cheng Jia, who sat not far away examining her fingernails, and went downstairs.

Shortly after, Cheng Jia also came downstairs.

She asked Zhou Shaojin with a straight face, “What do you want?”

Perhaps still angry about Zhou Shaojin brushing her off that day.

Zhou Shaojin gently pulled her hand.

Her expression softened slightly as she said, “Just say whatever it is. If you want to comfort me, there’s no need. I’m already like this anyway. It can’t get any worse than it is now. I’m not afraid of you laughing at me…” Her tone had mellowed considerably.

Zhou Shaojin smiled.

Cheng Jia always had this sharp tongue but soft heart.

She said gently, “So what are your plans for the future?”

Cheng Jia’s expression darkened. She lowered her head and said, “I don’t know either. Mother says that after some time everyone will forget. But being gossiped about like this, in my heart… it’s very troubling!”

Zhou Shaojin understood.

She gently patted Cheng Jia’s hand and said, “Come to my room tonight! I brought many things back for you.”

Cheng Jia nodded absently and returned upstairs.

But when she saw the gifts Zhou Shaojin had bought for her at Wanxiang Residence, she suddenly came alive. “Shaojin, where did you buy these things? They’re so beautiful! Why didn’t you buy more? And this comb set—it actually depicts The Peony Pavilion… How daring of them!” She pressed Zhou Shaojin, “You must have bought gifts for Ah Zhu and Gu Shiqi too. Quick, show me what patterns you got for them.”

Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to take out the things she’d bought for Ah Zhu and the others to show Cheng Jia.

Cheng Jia examined the glass hairpins for a while, then the combs, and finally asked Zhou Shaojin, “Could you just give them the hairpins and give me all these comb sets?”

“Of course not!” Zhou Shaojin said with a laugh. “I didn’t know you liked combs so much. If I’d known, I should have brought back several more sets. However, I heard from people around Uncle Chi that there’s a shop in our Jinling City called ‘Flower’s Radiance’ that specializes in selling Changzhou combs. We just didn’t know about it. Let’s go browse there sometime.”

Only then did Cheng Jia let go.

However, compared to before, her mental state was much better.

Over the following days, Zhou Shaojin and her sister Zhou Chujin, led by Old Madam Guo, accompanied Madam Song throughout Jinling City’s mountains and waters. Though the Zhou sisters were Jinling natives, strict rules for unmarried ladies meant they’d never had the opportunity to tour like this. This time personally experiencing the scenery they’d only read about in books was actually thanks to Madam Song’s presence.

But touring outside every day was also exhausting. When Madam Song showed signs of fatigue, Old Madam Guo suggested holding a tea gathering at home to introduce Madam Song to the noble ladies of Jinling City. “…You can take this opportunity to meet some people.”

Madam Song felt Old Madam Guo’s arrangements were extremely thoughtful and proper, and repeatedly agreed.

Old Madam Guo then had the Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin sisters help arrange the tea gathering.

Under Madam Mian’s guidance, Zhou Chujin could already independently manage the fourth branch’s household affairs, so these matters were naturally no problem. Compared to the fourth branch’s banquets, the main branch’s banquet was only slightly more elaborate in specifications. But the main branch had plenty of silver, so without constraints, Zhou Chujin had no difficulties.

Zhou Shaojin, however, found an opportunity to visit Listening to Orioles Pavilion.

Neither Cheng Chi nor Ji Ying were there. Nan Ping was rushing to finish spring garments for Cheng Chi.

Zhou Shaojin was quite disappointed.

Nan Ping asked Zhou Shaojin with a smile, “Does Second Miss have some matter?”

Zhou Shaojin said, “Nothing really. I just came to look around. Where did Uncle Chi and Miss Ji Ying go?”

Nan Ping smiled and had a little maid serve tea to Zhou Shaojin, saying, “Someone’s having a birthday celebration, so Fourth Master took Miss Ji Ying to pay respects. Should I send a little maid to Manager Qin to ask whose birthday Fourth Master went to celebrate…”

Zhou Shaojin felt awkward about inquiring and quickly said, “No need, no need. I was just asking casually.”

Nan Ping didn’t become suspicious but instead said with a smile, “Second Miss comes at just the right time. I want to trim Fourth Master’s daoist robe with piping, but I can’t decide what color to use. Second Miss, please help me look.”

Zhou Shaojin readily agreed.

The robe Nan Ping was making for Cheng Chi was in light gray Songjiang three-ply fine cotton. She was considering trimming it with either white or brown piping.

Zhou Shaojin said, “Could you use dark gray?”

“Dark gray?” Nan Ping was astonished. After thinking for quite a while, she couldn’t help but clap her hands, saying with delight, “Second Miss has excellent insight! Why didn’t I think of using the same color? I’ll go find some darker fine cotton right away to match the colors.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled.

This trimming method wouldn’t become popular in Yangzhou until seven or eight years later.

The two compared options for quite a while and finally decided to use dark gray fine gauze for a subtle trim.

“It will definitely look very good,” Nan Ping said with satisfaction. “I think it could also be used on women’s clothing.”

Zhou Shaojin really liked this kind of trim. Hearing this, she said with a smile, “Then I’ll try it too.”

Nan Ping was very interested and said, “When Second Miss’s clothes are made, let me feast my eyes on them too.”

Zhou Shaojin said with a laugh, “This isn’t anything difficult. When the time comes, just go ahead and look.”

As they were talking, there was a slight commotion outside. A little maid ran in saying, “Miss Nan Ping, Second Miss, Fourth Master has returned.”

Zhou Shaojin and Nan Ping went out to greet him.

The weather had turned somewhat cold, but Cheng Chi was still wearing autumn garments. Though a tight cloth belt at his waist outlined his fine physique, he looked rather cold.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help saying, “Why aren’t you wearing more clothes? This morning brought a north wind!”

Cheng Chi was somewhat surprised. “Why did you come over? Don’t you need to accompany Madam Song today?”

Zhou Shaojin said awkwardly, “Old Madam said she wants to hold a tea gathering and asked Sister and me to help organize it together. Sister has always been capable, so I can’t help much. I came over… planning to play a few games of chess with you, Uncle Chi…”

This little girl—what scheme is she plotting now!

As for this so-called chess playing, others might not know but didn’t he understand? Was that really chess? It was just acting for his mother’s benefit. Now that Mother was busy entertaining Madam Song, where would she have time to pay attention to him? Did they really need to play chess together anymore?

Cheng Chi said to Zhou Shaojin, “Come with me!”

He led the way toward the study.

Seeing his stern and cold expression, Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat nervous. She quietly asked Ji Ying, who had returned with him, “He didn’t get upset outside, did he?”

Ji Ying rolled her eyes and said, “I’ve only seen him upset others. I’ve never seen anyone upset him.”

“Oh!” Zhou Shaojin followed Cheng Chi to the study with trepidation.

Cheng Chi settled casually into the grand armchair behind the large writing desk and asked Zhou Shaojin, “Speak! What matter is it this time?”