Only then did Madam Song realize with a start that she had already been staying at Jiuruxiang for nearly a month.

She hurriedly instructed her personal nanny to pack their things and went to bid farewell to Old Madam Guo.

Old Madam Guo didn’t try to make her stay. She simply held her hand and repeatedly urged her to be careful on the journey, and if she had leisure time, to bring the children to Jinling City for a visit. Her tone was extremely affectionate.

Madam Song couldn’t help but shed tears like rain.

During these days of spending time with Old Madam Guo, Old Madam Guo had not only told her many interesting anecdotes about official families, but had also taught her many principles for dealing with people and handling affairs, benefiting her greatly.

Madam Song nodded with a choked voice and said to Old Madam Guo, “You must take care of your health. If you come to the capital, you must let me know so I can welcome you properly.”

“Don’t worry,” Old Madam Guo said with a chuckle. “If I go to the capital, I’ll definitely come trouble you.”

When Song Sen learned that he would soon be returning to the capital, he immediately ran to Wanxiang Residence where Zhou Shaojin lived and hugged Zhou Shaojin, refusing to let go. “Sister Zhou, Sister Zhou, come back to the capital with me! After New Year’s, I’ll send you back.”

“That won’t do,” Zhou Shaojin touched his head and smiled. “You want to spend New Year’s with your father, and I want to spend New Year’s with my sister! When my sister has time someday, I’ll go to the capital to see you!”

Song Sen’s eyes lit up. He wanted to pinky promise with Zhou Shaojin, saying, “If we make a pinky promise, it can’t be changed for a hundred years!”

Zhou Shaojin smiled and made the pinky promise with him.

Only then did Song Sen leave with peace of mind.

Zhou Shaojin watched Song Sen’s cheerful figure and smiled, shaking her head.

Huang Yijun, who had come to fetch Madam Song, was summoned by the old ancestor of the second branch for questioning. As for what was said, no one knew, but from Huang Yijun’s apprehensive appearance when he went in and his elated expression when he came out, it was clear that Cheng Xu had probably praised him considerably.

Zhou Shaojin was somewhat worried and went to find Cheng Chi. “What do you think? Is this good?”

Cheng Chi was reviewing account books.

While listening to her speak, he worked his abacus.

The abacus beads clacked noisily. His eyes remained fixed on the account book, and Zhou Shaojin suspected the entire time that Cheng Chi wasn’t listening to her at all.

But the moment she finished speaking, Cheng Chi said, “What’s wrong with it? If I praised you to your face, saying you’re learned and talented, that you’d definitely pass the provincial examination tomorrow if you took it, would you believe me? But is that even possible?”

Zhou Shaojin retorted, “Why wouldn’t it be possible? The reason many people in this world don’t dare to think or dare to act is because they think it’s impossible…”

Cheng Chi looked up and glanced at her coldly before lowering his head to continue looking at his account book. “First, you’re a woman. Second, you’re not even a provincial graduate. How could you possibly participate in the autumn examination… Why do so many people get deceived and swindled? It’s because there are too many people like you who don’t use their brains.”

As he spoke, his other hand continued working the abacus. The abacus beads didn’t miss a single beat.

Zhou Shaojin was exasperated and said, “We’re talking about Young Master Huang, not about me!”

“The principle is the same,” Cheng Chi turned a page of the account book and said indifferently. “So you don’t need to worry about these things at all. If he’s willing to believe it, let him believe. The old ancestor of the second branch isn’t a deity who can turn stones into gold!”

That’s true!

Zhou Shaojin felt embarrassed, realizing she had indeed been making a fuss over nothing.

She said, “I came to see how Miss Nanping’s spring shirt is coming along. Since I happened to run into you, I naturally had to ask. Since you think there’s nothing wrong, I’m relieved.”

Happened to run into him… How coincidental indeed, to happen to run into him in his study…

Cheng Chi’s hand trembled. The sound of the abacus beads became chaotic.

Zhou Shaojin was amazed and opened her eyes wide, exclaiming loudly, “Uncle Chi, your abacus beads got mixed up!”

The room fell silent for a few moments before the crackling sound of the abacus resumed, along with Cheng Chi’s cool but composed voice. “Didn’t you say you happened to run into me? Don’t you have something to do now?”

“Of course not!” Zhou Shaojin’s ears turned red. After thinking for a moment, she still said in a low voice, “Uncle Chi, tell me, how could the heir of Duke Liangguo have formed a marriage alliance with the Liu family? The Liu family’s reputation is quite poor now.”

Cheng Chi remained silent.

Zhou Shaojin felt awkward.

Asking Uncle Chi about such matters was indeed somewhat inappropriate.

She quickly explained, “Uncle Chi, I’m really too curious. But I can’t ask anyone else, and I finally ran into you today, so…”

“So you just casually asked!” Cheng Chi calmly finished her sentence for her.

This excuse was rather weak!

But as long as it could serve as an excuse, that was fine.

Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly.

Cheng Chi said, “Does Duke Liangguo’s mansion have a good reputation?”

What did this mean?

Zhou Shaojin didn’t understand.

But Cheng Chi had already lowered his head to look at the account book.

Zhou Shaojin could only say somewhat awkwardly, “Then I’ll go find Miss Nanping,” and then ran off in a flash.

Cheng Chi looked at the numbers on the abacus, then at the account book in his hand, and closed the account book with a snap, slumping back in the master’s chair.

After calculating for so long, it had all been disrupted by a few words from that little girl…

He called out somewhat irritably and loudly, “Huaishan,” saying, “In the future, when I’m doing accounts, don’t let anyone else come in!”

This “anyone else”… did it refer to Second Young Miss?

A few years ago when checking accounts at the Songjiang branch, even though the head manager of the Songjiang branch wailed from beginning to end beside him, Fourth Master’s accounts hadn’t been off by a single character.

He couldn’t help but quickly glance at Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi was sitting there frowning, his face full of displeasure.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

Given Fourth Master’s temperament, the more unhappy he was, the more casual he appeared.

He respectfully responded, “Yes,” and also felt relieved for Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin, who had been running along, gradually slowed down.

What exactly did Uncle Chi mean by that remark?

Duke Liangguo’s mansion also had a poor reputation… that only spread among the wealthy families in Jinling City after the heir of Duke Liangguo, Zhu Pengju, treated his first wife so coldly. What did it have to do with the Liu family?

Thinking this, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Yes!

With the Zhu family being so cold-hearted, how could any good family marry their daughter to them?

The Liu family of the Mei Mansion on Official Street also had the nickname “Liu the Millionaire,” referring to the Liu family’s million in family wealth. Since that Miss Liu was Old Master Liu’s eldest daughter and was marrying into a family like Duke Liangguo’s mansion, her dowry must certainly be substantial!

Zhou Shaojin became excited and went with Bitao to Ruyi Pavilion where Cheng Jia lived.

The people from the third branch smiled at her with forced smiles.

Zhou Shaojin began to regret coming a bit.

Fortunately, Cheng Jia came running out in her slippers and dragged her toward the inner room. As she walked, she said, “Why didn’t you have the maids tell me in advance that you were coming so I could personally greet you?” She added, “Don’t bother with those people who fawn on the powerful and trample on the weak. If they had any discernment, they would have long since become stewardess nannies. Why would they still be lingering here at such an advanced age?”

Cheng Jia’s words were as harsh as ever.

Zhou Shaojin burst out laughing and quietly told Cheng Jia why Zhu Pengju would marry Miss Liu.

Cheng Jia exclaimed, “Really? Really? You didn’t get it wrong, did you?”

“It’s definitely true!” Zhou Shaojin felt that Cheng Chi certainly wouldn’t have guessed wrong and said with great certainty, “If you don’t believe it, you can ask Ah Zhu to find out.”

Cheng Jia’s eyes darted around, and she really did send someone to inquire.

Miss Liu’s dowry was twenty thousand taels of silver.

After hearing this, Cheng Jia couldn’t speak for a long time. She ran to Wanxiang Residence and kept asking Zhou Shaojin, “How did you know? How did you know?”

How could Zhou Shaojin tell her?

She said disdainfully, “Can’t you use your brain to think about it?”

Cheng Jia laughed sheepishly.

Zhou Shaojin suddenly realized that when Cheng Chi said this to her, he must have felt very satisfied.

Because when she said this to Cheng Jia, she felt very satisfied.

She smiled with pursed lips.

Cheng Jia then wrote a letter to Seventeenth Miss Gu, telling her about this matter.

As a result, on the day Madam Song departed, Seventeenth Miss Gu accompanied Madam Gu to see Madam Song off. While the elders were exchanging pleasantries on the side, she cornered Cheng Jia to question her, “How did you know? How could Ah Zhu tell you these things?”

“You’re so silly!” Cheng Jia laughed. “Of course Ah Zhu wouldn’t tell me these things. But Third Miss Sun, who is now Seventh Madam Liu, would tell me!”

“You clever little thing!” Seventeenth Miss Gu slapped Cheng Jia hard.

Cheng Jia grimaced in pain, but felt very satisfied in her heart.

Zhou Shaojin laughed on the side, also thinking that Cheng Jia was very clever.

After seeing off Madam Song, each branch of the Cheng family began preparing New Year’s gifts.

Cheng Jing, the eldest master of the first branch, sent a letter back saying that he had just entered the cabinet this year and had many social obligations. Since Cheng Xu would be taking the autumn examination next year, he wanted to keep Yuan Shi in the capital to manage household affairs and look after Cheng Xu.

When Old Madam Guo received the letter, she sneered coldly and slapped the letter down on the tea table.

At that time, Zhou Shaojin had made two winter vests for Old Madam Guo to wear underneath and had just brought them over to try on for size. Seeing this, she couldn’t help but be greatly startled.

Old Madam Guo quickly comforted her, “It’s nothing, nothing. It has nothing to do with you. These vests are very well made, and the size is just right. You clearly put thought into them, and I like them very much. They’re perfect for wearing when playing cards with those old ladies in the first month.”

Zhou Shaojin said embarrassedly, “I know you’re not angry with me. It’s just that my courage is too small.”

Old Madam Guo looked at her standing beside the half-opened Eighteen Scholars, her complexion even more delicate than the camellia flowers. Her heart softened and she smiled, “Haven’t you been going to play chess with your Uncle Chi these past few days?”

“No,” Zhou Shaojin said. “I see Uncle Mian busy every day settling accounts with the stewards from the estates and the head managers from the shops. Uncle Chi is in charge of all the household affairs of Jiuruxiang and must also be very busy. So I haven’t gone over.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Guo’s expression became even more genial. She had Nanny Lü bring out two boxes of pastries that Cheng Jing had sent from the capital and said, “They say it’s some kind of imperial tribute from the palace. Take them back and taste them with your sister.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled and thanked her before leaving the main hall.

Old Madam Guo then sighed, “She’s not as sensible as a child. That child, seeing her uncle so busy, knows not to disturb Fourth Son. But she, if she doesn’t want to come back, she just doesn’t come back. I also know that no daughter-in-law likes to leave her husband and children to stay with a lonely widowed mother-in-law, but couldn’t she at least tell me herself? The eldest is also henpecked—he can’t stand three words from his wife. I think even if he enters the cabinet, he’ll just be following behind others, waving flags and shouting. He’ll rarely have a say that counts!”