Cheng Chi couldn’t help but laugh imagining that scene.

He said softly, “What did Second Miss come here for?”

Nanny Shang said with a smile, “She said that since you were helping at the Gu family, she was afraid Old Madam would be bored at home alone, so she came to keep Old Madam company and chat.”

Cheng Chi nodded and went to Tingli Pavilion to change his clothes. He discussed Xiao Zhenhai’s affairs with Huai Shan: “…How is the construction of his wharf going? Has he acquired the land?”

“He has.” Huai Shan had been keeping close watch on that matter and said, “Jiang Qin went to Tianjin Wei a couple days ago. Xiao Zhenhai accompanied him for a walk around Beitang, and then news spread that the Canal Gang was very interested in the Beitang wharf.”

Cheng Chi pondered, “So there’s been no movement from the Thirteen Hongs?”

Huai Shan shook his head.

Langyue came over and said, “Fourth Master, Second Miss is leaving.”

Cheng Chi said, “Go tell Zi’an to have him send two people to escort Second Miss back to the mansion.” Then he asked Huai Shan, “How are things on Zheng Si’s end?”

Last August, Fang Xintong had no choice. After failing to suppress Zheng Si through his official connections, he could only sell the order to Zheng Si at a low price.

Huai Shan said, “Zheng Si’s order should be completed in the next couple of days. As for Fang Xintong’s side, it seems there are still problems with a few outstanding orders, and I’m afraid they won’t be delivered on time.”

Cheng Chi sneered and said, “No matter. Fang Xintong won’t dare not deliver. When the time comes, he’ll have no choice but to lower the price again and again and sell the order to Zheng Si. However, after this battle, I’m afraid he won’t involve himself in the cloth and silk business again.”

Huai Shan hesitated and said, “Should we send someone to keep an eye on him?”

“No need!” Cheng Chi said. “I’m only teaching him a lesson, letting him know what’s what. If we press him without letting up, it will only force him to fight us to mutual destruction, which benefits us not at all.”

Huai Shan nodded.

Langyue rushed off like the wind to relay the message.

When Zhou Shaojin learned that Cheng Chi had specially sent two people to escort her home, her smile couldn’t help but flow from her eyes. Even after entering the gate and arriving home to see Zhou Chujin, joy radiated from her brow.

Zhou Chujin said with a smile, “What has made you so happy?”

Zhou Shaojin told her sister about keeping Old Madam Guo company playing leaf cards.

Zhou Chujin couldn’t help but laugh heartily imagining that scene and said, “How did you come up with such a mischievous game?”

Zhou Shaojin said with a smile, “While playing cards, I happened to see Manao wearing a red camellia in her hair and knew the camellias in the flower house had all bloomed. Thinking that Old Madam’s room had no color at all, I came up with this idea. I never expected Old Madam would actually agree.”

“With so many flowers, didn’t you ruin them all?” Zhou Chujin chided.

Zhou Shaojin giggled and said, “Not entirely. After we played cards, Old Madam had people find several glass bowls and arranged the flowers in them. I must say, a whole bowl full of camellias looked just like a flower ball—absolutely beautiful. Old Madam even had me bring two flowers back for you.”

As she spoke, Chun Wan who had accompanied the sedan chair came in. Zhou Shaojin had her bring over the two flowers Old Madam had bestowed.

Zhou Chujin saw that the flowers were white, as large as rice bowls, with petals gleaming like jade. Yet there was a faint trace of red through the middle, revealing a touch of liveliness. She praised, “These flowers are truly beautiful! What variety are they?”

Zhou Shaojin blinked and said, “Guess?”

Zhou Chujin said with a smile, “You know perfectly well I don’t understand flowers very much.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips and said, “They’re Eighteen Scholars!”

“What?” Zhou Chujin nearly jumped up. “How can there be white Eighteen Scholars?”

“Otherwise, why would they be called rare treasures?” Zhou Shaojin said with a smile. “There are also half-white, half-red ones, ones that bloom in several colors, bright red ones… The one the Hangzhou branch sent me before was bright red. I previously… well, saw half-white, half-red ones, but I never expected that the first household’s flower house not only has bright red and half-white, half-red ones, but also pure white ones. This variety is the most precious. Old Madam Guo knows I love flowers and plants, so she even gave me a pot of clivia. Sister, would you like to see it?”

Zhou Chujin was very interested.

The two went to the flower house.

The Zhou family’s flower house was now quite impressive. Besides what Madam Zhuang had left behind, there were also those Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin had raised, and those sent by the Hangzhou branch—including both common hostas and jasmine, as well as orchids and dark chrysanthemums.

Zhou Shaojin pointed to one of the small potted plants that resembled a holly tree and said, “Sister, look. I’m thinking of giving this pot of flowers to Old Madam Guo.”

It was a pot of tea orchid (note: actually sweet osmanthus/Milan), which would bloom with tiny yellow flowers scattered like stars, with a captivating fragrance.

Zhou Chujin thought of the courtyard full of greenery at Hanbi Mountain House and felt it was very suitable. She said with a smile, “Should you change the pot? I think a sweet white-glazed flowerpot might look better.”

Zhou Shaojin praised this highly, and the sisters took advantage of having nothing else to do to help repot the tea orchid.

At Hanbi Mountain House.

After finishing his tasks, Cheng Chi went to Old Madam Guo’s main room.

Seeing a glass bowl filled with various colored camellias on the tea table by Old Madam Guo’s arhat couch, he smiled and glanced at it before stepping forward to pay respects to his mother.

Old Madam Guo asked him, “How are things going at the Gu family?”

Cheng Chi said, “Now that Ninth Brother has returned, I can rest. I’ll go over tomorrow to check, and if there’s nothing urgent, I’ll go again for the first seventh-day ceremony.”

Old Madam Guo sighed.

Cheng Chi said with a smile, “I heard Shaojin came by?”

Old Madam Guo’s face lit up with a smile as she said, “That child is thoughtful. Afraid I’d be lonely at home alone, she came to keep me company playing leaf cards for a while.”

Cheng Chi’s gaze swept over the camellias in the glass bowl as he said, “Regarding Shaojin’s marriage, I have an idea…”

Old Madam Guo glanced at Biyu, who was bending over to arrange fruit plates for them, and said, “Biyu, you may go. I have something to discuss with Fourth Master.”

Biyu’s hands trembled with guilt.

Last time it was she who had gone to report to Second Miss.

This time Old Madam Guo wanted to avoid her when discussing Second Miss’s marriage.

Had Old Madam Guo discovered something?

She didn’t even dare raise her head as she hurriedly withdrew.

Old Madam Guo actually hadn’t discovered anything. She just instinctively felt that interfering with someone’s marriage prospects wasn’t a good thing, so it was better to avoid suspicion.

Seeing that there was no one else in the room, Old Madam Guo leaned slightly to one side and said quietly, “What idea do you have?”

Cheng Chi said, “Marriage is a lifelong matter. It’s a bit difficult for us to find a good match for Shaojin in such a short time. Why not remove the firewood from under the pot? We’ll introduce Yi Ge’er to a match that the fourth household can’t refuse, forcing Fourth Aunt to break off the engagement herself. This way, not only will we resolve Shaojin’s predicament, but the fourth household will feel guilty toward Shaojin from now on. Forget about blaming Shaojin—they’ll feel they’ve wronged her just thinking about it, and they’ll continue to support her.”

Old Madam Guo’s eyes lit up. She said eagerly, “Do you already have someone in mind? Quick, tell me. Which young lady have you set your sights on?”

Cheng Chi said, “What do you think about finding someone from among the Gu family’s young ladies?”

“The Gu family?” Old Madam Guo was very surprised.

Precisely because their relationship with the Gu family was so good, she had never thought of forming a marriage alliance with them. Old Madam Gu had once suggested betrothing one of the Gu family’s young ladies to Cheng Chi when she was alive, but she had refused on the grounds of the generation gap. Now to marry a Gu family young lady into the household…

Cheng Chi understood his mother’s concerns and said, “If there’s no suitable match in the Gu family, the Shen family would work too! If that doesn’t work out, there are also young ladies from the Fang family of Shucheng.”

In short, find a prominent, prestigious family for Cheng Yi—one that would benefit him whether in his studies or future career. After all, the Cheng family’s weakness lay in having few descendants and shallow foundations.

Old Madam Guo was very satisfied with Cheng Chi’s proposal. She decided, “Then let’s do as you say! But neither you nor your brothers can act as matchmaker. Your Fourth Aunt has already hinted to me. If we serve as matchmakers for Yi Ge’er, even if your scheme doesn’t come to light, it will still arouse the fourth household’s suspicions.”

“I still understand such basic social graces!” Cheng Chi said with a smile. “I’ve already thought of the matchmaker—we’ll ask Fang Daxian to come forward.”

Old Madam Guo couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows.

Cheng Chi said with a smile, “This matter truly requires Fang Daxian! What he values most is character and reputation. Think about it—Fourth Aunt has remained a widow for so many years, painstakingly raising two sons, one a recommended scholar and one an advanced scholar. She also helped her late daughter raise one biological granddaughter and one granddaughter with no blood relation whatsoever. In Fang Daxian’s eyes, this is more impressive than any prestigious family background or generations of officials. As long as I mention that Yi Ge’er’s marriage is difficult to arrange, he’ll definitely take the initiative to arrange a match for Yi Ge’er!”

“You, child.” Having heard her son’s words, Old Madam Guo had no doubt that Fang Daxian would fall into Cheng Chi’s trap. She said with a smile, “Don’t scheme against Master Fang again in the future. He’s quite upright and incorruptible—such people are becoming increasingly rare.”

Cheng Chi disagreed but couldn’t refute his mother’s words. He simply smiled and agreed, “Alright,” then discussed several possible candidates with his mother.

Biyu, waiting outside the door, was extremely anxious.

Fourth Master was very capable. If he said he had a solution, it would definitely work.

What kind of plan would Fourth Master suggest to Old Madam?

She didn’t dare report to Zhou Shaojin again, yet she couldn’t help but pay attention to this matter.

Subsequently, she discovered that Old Madam Guo had begun having people inquire about Cheng Yi’s situation.

Although Old Madam Guo had decided to arrange a match for Cheng Yi to help Zhou Shaojin escape, those young ladies were also their parents’ precious treasures. A good match required finding someone suitable.

As it turned out, aside from being somewhat mischievous and having committed many mistakes that boys his age all commit, Cheng Yi had no fundamental character flaws.

Old Madam Guo couldn’t help but praise Old Madam Guan and Grand Madam Mian for teaching their children well, and said to Cheng Chi, “He’s very kind-hearted and good-looking, but I’m afraid he won’t have any great accomplishments in the future.”

Cheng Chi said, “As a husband for Shaojin, not having great accomplishments is actually the best thing. Look at all those grudges between Madam Zhuang and Cheng Bai back then? You’re fortunate to have acted as if nothing happened.”

Old Madam Guo laughed despite herself and said, “But Cheng Bai was just a collateral branch of our family. The fourth household is different—they’re the main line!”

“If someday we split the ancestral line, won’t the fourth household still become a collateral branch?” Cheng Chi said dismissively.

Old Madam Guo fell silent.

But Cheng Chi said leisurely, “I think this point can also be used—if we split from the second household, the fourth household will definitely prefer to marry a wife whose maternal family is populous and powerful for self-protection, won’t they?”