Old Madam Guo turned around. Through the glass-inlaid window lattice, she could just see the scene of Zhou Shaojin bidding farewell to Biyu.
Looking at the young girl’s delicate face and gentle smile, she suddenly felt a pang of heartache.
However good Baoding might be, how could it compare to Jinling!
However good family affection might be, making a living under a stepmother’s control was never easy. Moreover, the young girl would turn fourteen after the New Year—the age to discuss marriage. For a woman, marriage was like a second birth. Such a crucial matter was being controlled by someone who had no blood relation with her and not much affection either. The young girl wasn’t stupid—how could she possibly be as calm and peaceful as she appeared?
Old Madam Guo couldn’t help but sigh softly. Only after Zhou Shaojin’s figure had gradually disappeared into the distance did she have a junior maid call Biyu in to ask, “What did Shaojin say to you all?”
“Nothing much!” Old Madam Guo wasn’t the type to micromanage everything, so this sudden question made Biyu a bit nervous. She spoke up in Zhou Shaojin’s defense, “Second Young Miss said that since she’s leaving and doesn’t know when she’ll be able to return, and since we took such good care of her when she was copying scriptures at Cold Jade Mountain House these past days, she had nothing else to thank us with, so she personally made some rice cakes for us to try. She said if we get hungry while on duty, we can just steam them in the tea room and they’ll be ready to eat—very convenient.”
Old Madam Guo nodded and let her withdraw.
Biyu felt somewhat uneasy, worried that she had said something wrong and caused trouble for Zhou Shaojin.
Unexpectedly, in the afternoon, Old Madam Guo had her go invite Old Madam Guan over to talk.
She went to Jiashu Hall with trepidation.
The Zhou sisters were packing things at Wanxiang Residence, so she didn’t encounter them.
Biyu could only keep these thoughts to herself and went with a smile to see Old Madam Guan.
Although Old Madam Guan couldn’t understand what matter Old Madam Guo had that required seeing her, she still quickly dressed properly and, supported by Ni’er, went to Cold Jade Mountain House.
Old Madam Guo personally greeted her at the door. The two sat down according to rank. After the junior maids brought tea and refreshments and closed the door, Old Madam Guo finally said in a low voice, “Your family’s eldest young miss is about to marry soon. As for whether Second Young Miss stays or goes, has your family’s uncle sent any word?”
Old Madam Guan knew about Zhou Shaojin sending the vest to Old Madam Guo and thought Old Madam Guo had something to say to her, using this matter as an opening. She quickly smiled and said, “The household is busy with Chujin and Brother Gao’s matters. Shaojin’s situation hasn’t been decided yet.”
“This child has always been thoughtful,” Old Madam Guo said. “When you were discussing Chujin’s marriage, you should have settled this child’s destination as well.”
Madam Mian of the fourth branch was known to be a proper person. How could she have handled this matter so carelessly?
Hearing the dissatisfaction in Old Madam Guo’s words, Old Madam Guan quickly explained their plans to her defensively, “Usually we treat her like our own granddaughter. We never thought of sending her to Baoding. We were thinking that after we finish arranging Chujin and Brother Gao’s weddings, we’d mention it to her uncle. Make it a double family alliance and betroth Shaojin to Brother Yi…”
Old Madam Guo couldn’t help but be astonished.
Brother Yi?!
The second young master of the fourth branch!
She couldn’t even remember what he looked like. This showed how mediocre the child must be.
How dare the fourth branch set their sights on Zhou Shaojin?
Wasn’t this like a fresh flower being stuck in cow dung?
Old Madam Guo thought of Zhou Shaojin’s reserved and silent appearance when she first met her, and couldn’t help but feel heartbroken.
Then what was the point of having this child help her copy scriptures?
Old Madam Guo said, “So you never thought of sending Shaojin away?”
“That’s right!” Old Madam Guan didn’t know what Old Madam Guo was thinking and said with a smile, “Although she and I have no blood relation, I’ve still raised her. She’s about to discuss marriage—how could I hand her over to someone else!”
But staying with you is just as worrying!
Old Madam Guo thought to herself. After a long internal struggle, she finally showed a regretful expression and said, “I was going to ask what arrangements you had for Shaojin. It seems you’ve long planned to keep her at home. I was thinking that since this child had served me for a time, I should take some interest in her marriage…” As she spoke, Old Madam Guo smiled and said, “But this is good too. Everyone’s familiar and knows each other well. When a woman marries, she’s mostly seeking stability.”
So she wanted to arrange a match for Shaojin!
Old Madam Guan’s heart immediately became conflicted.
If Old Madam Guo stepped forward, it would naturally be either wealthy or noble, with good character—perhaps even both wealthy and noble… She knew her grandson’s temperament all too well. He certainly couldn’t compare to whomever Old Madam Guo would introduce… But if she just gave Shaojin up like this, what about Brother Yi? Shaojin wasn’t just good-looking—her temperament was also good, and she excelled at needlework and cooking. She was a good child for managing a household… Moreover, Old Madam Guo was right—when a woman marries, isn’t she seeking “stability”? She couldn’t guarantee anything else, but she dared guarantee this word “stability”!
At this moment, even the upright Old Madam Guan couldn’t manage to be impartial and selfless.
She cheerfully exchanged pleasantries with Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo felt indescribable disappointment mixed with heartache.
This child Shaojin truly embodied the saying that beautiful women have unfortunate fates!
She listlessly saw off Old Madam Guan. Even when Cheng Chi came for dinner in the evening, her mood was still very low.
Cheng Chi glanced at Biyu who was attending nearby.
Biyu found an opportunity when Old Madam Guo wasn’t paying attention and whispered to Cheng Chi, “Today Second Young Miss came to give Old Madam a vest. After that, Old Madam summoned Old Madam Guan to talk, and she’s been like this ever since!”
Zhou Shaojin!
What had happened to her now!
Cheng Chi’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
He had given instructions some days ago not to let people disturb him casually, and after that, he hadn’t seen Zhou Shaojin again.
Had something happened to her?
Cheng Chi thought of that day when he saw Zhou Shaojin—she had clearly barged into his study carelessly, yet she blushed and made excuses that she had just happened to pass by. Perhaps at that time she had something to ask him but was too embarrassed to speak up, so she had babbled on with nonsense?
He became somewhat restless and asked Old Madam Guo, “Mother, what’s wrong with you today? You look unhappy. Should I go back to Listening to Orioles Pavilion and come back after you’ve calmed down?”
Even though Cheng Chi tried to cheer Old Madam Guo up like this, she didn’t brighten. Instead, she shook her head. After using dinner, she went with Cheng Chi to the resting room to talk and told her son what had happened today, “…I really don’t have a suitable candidate in hand, otherwise I would have spoken up before your fourth aunt. Now it’s awkward—I can’t very well speak up.” She also blamed Cheng Chi, “Didn’t I tell you to help keep an eye on things? You didn’t take it to heart. Now I have to watch helplessly as that child marries like this!”
Cheng Chi couldn’t hide his astonishment. He didn’t even bother to defend himself and said, “How was I to know the fourth branch had settled her marriage so early? Isn’t she only thirteen this year?”
“Yes!” Old Madam Guo said with emotion. “I only wanted to ask about this child’s whereabouts. Who knew your fourth aunt would give me such an answer! I had thought your fourth aunt would at least keep this child until she came of age. But thinking it over carefully, I can understand—this child has no birth mother, and her stepmother comes from a merchant background. If the marriage could be settled early, even if she went to Baoding, her stepmother couldn’t do much to her. It’s a kind intention. It’s just this Brother Yi… do you have any impression of him?”
Cheng Chi shook his head.
In all of Jiuruxiang, he only had impressions of Cheng Shi, Cheng Rang, and Cheng Xu.
Old Madam Guo said, “You see? How can we let Shaojin marry such a person?”
In Cheng Chi’s mind appeared the image of Zhou Shaojin when she was being mischievous—her large eyes blinking, radiating brilliant light like stars, looking as pleased as a little cat that had stolen fish.
Marrying Cheng Yi… would be rather a waste!
He comforted his mother, “Isn’t the engagement not yet settled? Don’t worry yourself into illness. It’s New Year’s—if you’re unwell anywhere, we won’t be able to celebrate either. How about this—after the sixth day of the New Year, you visit various households, and I’ll visit various households too. You can also ask your old friends to keep their eyes open. If a suitable family is found, there’s no need to inform Fourth Aunt or her stepmother—just speak directly to Eldest Brother and have him propose to Zhou Dacheng. If Zhou Dacheng agrees, Fourth Aunt will have no choice but to suppress her thoughts. Then just remind Eldest Brother—if he doesn’t speak of it, you don’t speak of it, I don’t speak of it—who else would know? It won’t count as offending Fourth Aunt.”
“Removing the firewood from under the pot,” Old Madam Guo praised highly. “Your idea is excellent. It’s just that this matter of finding a candidate is a bit difficult. You must look carefully and not push Shaojin into a fire pit.”
Neither mother nor son thought about whether they should first look into Cheng Yi and understand his character and conduct before making a decision!
Cheng Chi said, “No matter how good the family is, she still has to live her own life. I can only find someone with outstanding learning and dignified appearance for her. As for the future, it depends on whether she has that fortune.”
Old Madam Guo nodded.
Biyu, listening from outside the screen, broke out in a cold sweat.
What had gotten into Old Madam Guo and Fourth Master?
As the saying goes, better to demolish a temple than break up a marriage.
The fourth branch’s Second Master Yi certainly couldn’t compare to their first branch’s First Master Xu, but Second Master Yi and Second Young Miss had grown up together since childhood. Old Madam Guan and Madam Mian treated Second Young Miss like their own. Plus, Jiuruxiang was wealthy beyond measure—they would never let Second Master Yi and Second Young Miss go without. As Old Madam Guan said, it guaranteed “stability”—what could be better than that?
If she married someone else, even if he had outstanding learning and dignified appearance, if the family had piles of concubines and mistresses inside and out, even a high court official could anger someone to death. Wouldn’t it be better to marry someone who could honestly and properly live life together?
Old Madam was the same—if she cared so much for Second Young Miss, why not ask what Second Young Miss thought? Perhaps Second Young Miss wanted to marry someone like Second Master Yi!
Biyu was extremely anxious. She falsely claimed she had a stomachache, had Zhenzhu substitute for her on duty, then turned and headed straight for Wanxiang Residence.
Since Zhou Chujin wouldn’t return after leaving the mansion this time, and the residence she had lived in for eighteen years held memories in every single item, with every object she wished she could take with her, there were particularly many things that needed to be packed. The two had been busy all day and had only just finished tidying everything up.