Zhou Shaojin returned alone to Jiashu Hall.

A half-grown boy wearing a parrot-green Luzhou silk robe was standing on the steps at the entrance, directing several servants to move trunks and boxes.

Taking a closer look, Zhou Shaojin was shocked to discover that the half-grown boy was actually Sanbao, who attended Cheng Yi.

Zhou Shaojin was greatly surprised and said, “Sanbao, why are you here? Where’s Cousin Yi? Weren’t you supposed to return tomorrow?”

“Second Young Miss!” Sanbao quickly stepped forward to greet her. Straightening up, he said with a grin, “The He family wasn’t at ease letting Second Master return to Jinling City alone, so they specially sent their head steward who delivers New Year’s gifts to accompany him. But Second Master was thinking about Old Madam, Master, Madam, Young Master, and the two young misses, so he hired a carriage and rushed back. Look, we just arrived. He’s gone to pay his respects to Old Madam.”

Zhou Shaojin was stunned. “You, you ran back secretly?”

“No, no.” Sanbao waved his hands repeatedly. “How could we do such a thing! We left a note for Madam He.”

Zhou Shaojin broke out in an anxious sweat and hurried toward the main hall.

Just as she stepped up onto the platform, she heard Madam Mian’s scolding voice, “You scoundrel! What kind of books have you been reading? To just run back like this! What will Madam He think? And you still have the face to say…”

Zhou Shaojin quickly lifted the curtain.

Madam Mian was chasing Cheng Yi with a feather duster, trying to hit him!

When Cheng Yi saw Zhou Shaojin, it was as if he’d seen a lifeline. In a flash, he ran behind Zhou Shaojin to hide, saying aggrievedly to Madam Mian, “Isn’t it because I haven’t seen you and Grandmother for so long and missed you so much? How can you be so heavy-handed? Look, you’ve already turned my arm red.”

As he spoke, he was about to roll up his sleeve.

Zhou Shaojin moved to step aside.

But Cheng Yi grabbed her and said, “How can you be so disloyal! Back when Cheng Ju and the others were making fun of you, I helped you beat them up!”

“You were even getting into fights!” Madam Mian was already dizzy with anger. But she couldn’t beat her son in front of Zhou Shaojin—if Zhou Shaojin and her son’s marriage came to pass, what face would her son have in front of Zhou Shaojin in the future? She pointed the feather duster at Cheng Yi but said to Zhou Shaojin, “Shaojin, quickly step aside. If I don’t beat him thoroughly enough to remember today, he won’t know where he went wrong!”

But Cheng Yi pushed Zhou Shaojin in front of his mother and cried out, “Mother, hit me then! Just beat me to death! I rushed back overnight to see you, and this is how you treat me? Am I your biological child or not? Why don’t you just throw me out on the street? Then I won’t have to see you so heartbroken!”

Madam Mian didn’t even know what to say.

She kept saying, “Shaojin, quickly step aside! Quickly step aside!”

Zhou Shaojin was caught in the middle between the mother and son, being pushed back and forth until her head was spinning.

Old Madam Guan’s authoritative voice rang out from inside the room, “What are you all doing? Can’t even have peace during the New Year.”

Madam Mian quickly put down the feather duster and respectfully called out, “Mother.”

Cheng Yi ran over and hugged Old Madam Guan’s arm. “Grandmother, Grandmother, I missed you so much! Have you been well these days? I heard that some days ago you went to Ganquan Temple to offer incense and even lit an eternal lamp for me. Thank you, Grandmother! I knew it—you’re the person in this household who loves me most.”

“What nonsense!” Old Madam Guan frowned and glared at Cheng Yi. But the anger on her face had subsided considerably.

Cheng Yi said with a cheeky smile, “Grandmother, I’m speaking from the heart! I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have run back alone, but I’m already back. And New Year’s is coming. Please talk to Mother and tell her not to scold me anymore. I promise I’ll reform in the future. Please?”

But Old Madam Guan said, “So you do know you were wrong! I won’t say much more. I’ve already sent a steward to Pukou to see if we can get the message there before the He family turns the world upside down looking for you. As for you, go kneel in the ancestral hall immediately.”

“Grandmother!” Cheng Yi held Old Madam Guan’s hand and wouldn’t let go.

Old Madam Guan said, “You don’t have to go now if you don’t want to—but when your father comes back, it won’t be as simple as kneeling in the ancestral hall!”

Cheng Yi shivered at the thought and quickly said, “I’ll go, I’ll go!”

But even as he spoke, he kept making eyes at Zhou Shaojin, signaling her to plead for him.

Zhou Shaojin pretended not to see.

If no one disciplined Cheng Yi after he did something wrong, he wouldn’t take it to heart and might make the same mistake again in the future.

“Then, then let me change my clothes…” Having no other choice, Cheng Yi had to compromise.

Old Madam Guan nodded and had Si’er accompany Cheng Yi to change clothes.

Madam Mian began to sob quietly, saying, “How did I raise such a worrisome creature!”

Old Madam Guan said, “Good thing there’s one chili pepper that’s spicy, otherwise your crying would be useless.”

The old lady was referring to Cheng Gao being excellent and not requiring Madam Mian’s worry.

Only then did Madam Mian feel somewhat better.

At lamp-lighting time, Cheng Mian, who had received the news, severely reprimanded Cheng Yi. Seeing that New Year’s was approaching and that Cheng Yi was already kneeling in the ancestral hall, he couldn’t say much more. He instructed the household’s maids and servants, “No one is allowed to bring him anything to eat. Let him go hungry like this. When he knows better, then he can get up.”

Everyone fell silent as cicadas.

The next day, news of Cheng Yi’s return spread throughout Jiuruxiang.

Cheng Ju and Cheng Nuo came to visit Cheng Yi, only to discover he was confined. Cheng Ju then incited Cheng Nuo to ask Zhou Shaojin for help. Zhou Shaojin couldn’t be bothered with them. When Cheng Yi was finally released from the ancestral hall, Cheng Ju complained about Zhou Shaojin in front of him, “Isn’t she supposed to be your cousin? You treat her so well, but she doesn’t care about you at all. I asked her to go see you and she refused.”

Cheng Yi was so angry his lungs nearly burst, but in front of Cheng Ju and the others, he suppressed his temper and spoke up for Zhou Shaojin. “It was my father’s and grandmother’s orders. They said if anyone brought me food or drink, or came to see me, they’d make me kneel until the Lantern Festival.”

“That harsh!” Cheng Nuo clicked his tongue and spoke of recent anecdotes from Jinling City. “Have you heard? The heir of Duke Liangguo and Miss Liu’s wedding date has been set for the fifteenth of May next year. I heard that Miss Liu isn’t easy to deal with either. When she punishes maids, she kills without spilling blood. She doesn’t beat you or scold you—she just makes you kneel. Kneel stiffly for a few days, and a perfectly healthy person becomes crippled…”

“Really, really!” This was the first time Cheng Yi had heard about the heir of Duke Liangguo and Miss Liu’s engagement. He was very curious and said, “Didn’t their eldest aunt divorce their eldest uncle? Their family must have this kind of tradition! If this is true, who would dare marry their daughters in the future!”

Several sixteen or seventeen-year-old boys gathered together to gossip about the young ladies of Jinling City.

Cheng Ju sat to the side with his eyes darting around, but couldn’t find an opportunity to enter the fourth branch’s inner courtyard.

But as soon as Cheng Yi saw off Cheng Ju and the others, he rushed straight to Wanxiang Residence.

Zhou Shaojin was doing needlework.

After eating the reunion dinner at Jiashu Hall, she would return to Pingqiao Street with her sister. Then she would stay there until her sister married.

Even if she could return, it would be mid-spring.

She had only just selected the fabric for the vest Old Madam Guo would wear in spring.

Zhou Shaojin wanted to finish making the vest while she had these few free days.

When spring arrived, Old Madam Guo could wear it.

But unexpectedly, the door was suddenly pushed open with a bang. Cheng Yi stormed in angrily, saying, “When I was kneeling in the ancestral hall, why didn’t you come see me! If I’d been crippled from kneeling, what good would that do you?”

Zhou Shaojin put down her needlework and coldly questioned him, “Didn’t you say we would have nothing to do with each other until death? What’s this? You haven’t even reached the age of knowing heaven’s mandate yet—how have you already forgotten what you said?”

Cheng Yi’s face flushed bright red. He said with forced composure, “I, I’ve been away for almost a year. How can you be so petty and still remember that…”

Zhou Shaojin said, “Don’t worry. I’ll remember it for the rest of my life. Don’t expect me to help you in the future.”

“You, you really are like a needle on a wasp’s tail. I’ll never talk to you again.” Saying this, Cheng Yi left angrily.

Zhou Shaojin smiled faintly.

They were cousins. She naturally wouldn’t be angry with him. But others might not be so forgiving. She needed to let him know that such words couldn’t be spoken carelessly.

A few days later, the vest for Old Madam Guo was finished.

Zhou Shaojin also made some rice cakes and sent them all together to Cold Jade Mountain House.

The rice cakes were for Biyu and the others.

Since only Cheng Chi would be accompanying Old Madam Guo for New Year’s, the first branch’s New Year would be rather quiet. Fortunately, the first branch had many servants and generous rewards, so the servants all wore smiles and came and went, creating some liveliness.

While helping Old Madam Guo try on the vest, Zhou Shaojin reminded her, “I heard from the flower house steward that it will snow during New Year’s this year. Except for the old ancestor of the second branch, you have the highest seniority. You shouldn’t go out. Let Uncle Chi accompany you at home to play cards or chess. Those with good intentions will naturally come to wish you a happy New Year; those without—just ignore them. Others can’t say anything. Does only your shoulder hurt when the weather changes? Do your legs hurt? If your legs hurt, let me make you two knee pads. It’ll be quick. At most two or three days and they’ll be done.”

Old Madam Guo chuckled and said, “My legs are fine. It’s just that sometimes my shoulders can’t bear the wind and cold.” Then she took a red envelope from a small box beside her and handed it to Zhou Shaojin. “Tomorrow you’ll return home after having the reunion dinner at Jiashu Hall, right? This is my New Year’s money for you. Take it.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “Give it to me when I come to wish you a happy New Year.”

Old Madam Guo smiled. “Isn’t this year special? Next year, when you come to wish me a happy New Year, I’ll give you the New Year’s money then.”

Yes!

This year was special. She didn’t even know if she’d be able to return to Jiuruxiang.

She thanked her and silently accepted the heavy red envelope.

Old Madam Guo then asked her softly, “Don’t you want to go to Baoding with your father?”

Zhou Shaojin shook her head, then nodded.

Her feelings at this moment were very complicated!

She wanted to live with her father, put aside all the grievances from her previous life, and start her life anew. But she hadn’t yet told Cheng Jing about the Cheng family matters, and she had no way to leave as if nothing had happened.

Old Madam Guo shook her head secretly and comforted her, “Don’t be afraid! Baoding is actually quite a nice place. If you can’t get used to it, you can still come back.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled, then took her leave from Old Madam Guo.