Cheng Chi quickly assured her, “If something happened with Elder Sister-in-law, how could I hide it from you? I’d still be counting on you to help me clean up the mess!”

Old Madam Guo smiled with satisfaction.

Cheng Chi quickly took the opportunity to take his leave, saying, “I have an appointment with the second master of the Thirteen Hongs. Tomorrow I plan to join forces with them to conduct some maritime trade. There’s a private kiln in Jingdezhen that has produced a new type of porcelain and plans to fire several kilns to sell to the West.”

This was legitimate business.

Old Madam Guo quickly said, “Go on, go on. Don’t delay.”

“What delay could there be?” Cheng Chi smiled dismissively. “If they’re unwilling to wait, there are plenty of others who want to. Are you worried my business will fall through?”

Old Madam Guo laughed heartily and said, “I know you’re capable!”

Mother and son chatted casually for a bit before Cheng Chi rose and left the main hall.

But as soon as he walked out of the main hall, he wiped at the nonexistent sweat on his forehead.

Talking with his mother required him to summon twelve times his normal concentration. It was more mentally exhausting than dealing with people like Shen Minzhi or Wan Tong… It was still better talking with Zhou Shaojin. Whatever he said, she believed. He didn’t need to expend much thought.

However, since that little slip of a girl had dared to complain about him to his mother, he absolutely had to teach her a lesson.

Cheng Chi rubbed his chin and headed toward Tingli Pavilion.

Huai Shan said, “Fourth Master, didn’t you say you were going to meet with the second master of the Thirteen Hongs?”

“I just said that—why did you believe it?” Cheng Chi said irritably. “The Thirteen Hongs are currently getting along famously with my second grand-uncle. What would I go there for? To make my second grand-uncle look good?”

Huai Shan said, “Then, then where are we going? If we return to Tingli Pavilion and the Old Madam asks later, how should we answer?”

“The Old Madam has guests,” Cheng Chi said impatiently. “She has no time to concern herself with me.”

Huai Shan said, “Oh.”

Cheng Chi was puzzled. Huai Shan had followed him for over ten years now. Why couldn’t he tell whether what he said was true or false, whether he was being perfunctory or acting out of necessity? Yet that little slip of a girl was accurate every single time.

Each time she managed to run away when he was angry…

Cheng Chi returned to Tingli Pavilion with a stern expression.

Zhou Shaojin, however, felt as if she had walked through a dragon’s lair and tiger’s den. As soon as she left Hanbi Mountain Lodge, she let out a great sigh of relief.

If Uncle Chi knew that Chun Wan had gone to find her at Old Madam Guo’s place at her instigation, he would definitely be angry.

Before her older sister’s wedding, she’d better not come to Hanbi Mountain Lodge.

By the time her sister married, perhaps Uncle Chi’s anger would have subsided.

Though she thought this way, Zhou Shaojin vaguely felt that Uncle Chi was rarely schemed against by others like this. He would most likely remember this incident for a long time. Even after her sister married, Uncle Chi might not forget about it.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but sigh softly.

Upon returning to Pingqiao Street, the First Madam from the Mian family had already left. Madam Li was discussing arrangements for Zhou Chujin’s wedding with Steward Ma, while the bride herself, Zhou Chujin, the principal party, had nothing particular to do and sat in her room waiting for her.

“What happened to you?” Seeing her younger sister with reddened eyes, Zhou Chujin was greatly startled and quickly pulled her over for a closer look.

Zhou Shaojin felt it would be better to coordinate her story with Cheng Chi’s, saying, “Old Madam Guo had guests, so I played a game of chess with Uncle Chi and ended up losing…”

Zhou Chujin’s mouth fell open. “You lost to Uncle Chi—isn’t that perfectly natural? How could you cry until your eyes turned red! Didn’t Uncle Chi scold you? Being so delicate in front of an elder!”

Zhou Shaojin immediately felt her face burning hot.

She had cried and made a fuss and even hit and kicked Uncle Chi, acting like a shrew. She didn’t even know if she had hurt him.

Speaking of which, Uncle Chi treated her so well. He had never truly held anything against her.

It was just this matter of complaining to Old Madam Guo that would be difficult to resolve.

Had she known Uncle Chi had such a broad mind, was unafraid of ghosts and spirits, and would quickly accept her circumstances once he verified she wasn’t lying, why would she have left those words with Chun Wan before departing?

Now look—Uncle Chi had treated her with sincerity, yet she had dug a pit for herself and jumped right in.

Zhou Shaojin felt deeply regretful.

Seeing this, Zhou Chujin’s heart ached and she stopped saying anything more.

Her younger sister had always been timid and cautious, reading others’ expressions. It was rare that Uncle Chi was so gentle and amiable with her, so naturally her sister would be a bit more delicate when facing Uncle Chi.

Her tone involuntarily softened as she said, “What did Old Madam Guo call you for?”

“She said that in a few days she’ll come with Grandmother to add to your trousseau,” Zhou Shaojin said. “She asked what you had prepared.” As she spoke, she showed her sister the jewelry Old Madam Guo had given her. “Isn’t it beautiful? Old Madam Guo gave it to me! You should take it with you too. In all my years, this is the first time I’ve seen such an exquisite hairpin. Though this hairpin is probably only suitable for admiring—it’s too heavy to wear on one’s head. It would be perfect for displaying in your trousseau!”

After a bride’s trousseau was carried to the groom’s family, it would be displayed in the courtyard for the congratulatory guests to view.

This was precisely when the bride could gain face or, of course, lose face.

Zhou Chujin smiled. “What would I do with this? You keep it for yourself to enjoy! Besides, my trousseau list was sent to the Liao family long ago. It wouldn’t be good if something suddenly appeared out of nowhere.”

Wedding items were particular about coming in pairs.

Zhou Shaojin giggled.

Zhou Chujin picked up the hairpin and admired it for a while.

Zhou Shaojin said, “Then I’ll keep it and use it for my niece’s hairpin ceremony in the future.”

Zhou Chujin’s face flushed red as she spat at her playfully, her lips slightly parted as if to scold Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin quickly pulled a purse from her bosom and said, “Sister, this is from Uncle Chi. He says it’s his contribution to your trousseau.”

Zhou Chujin felt the purse looked somehow familiar, but Zhou Shaojin pulled out a banknote that dazzled her eyes, so she didn’t have time to examine the purse carefully.

“A two-hundred-tael banknote!” she said. “Why so much?”

Zhou Shaojin quickly stuffed the purse into her sleeve, saying on one hand, “Uncle Chi said it was for you, so I accepted it. I didn’t know it was a two-hundred-tael banknote,” while inwardly criticizing Cheng Chi for having no sincerity at all, making her find a way to put it in a purse. Otherwise, what would people think seeing a bare banknote? Just now her sister’s gaze had lingered on the purse for a moment. If her sister figured it out, she would have to settle accounts with Uncle Chi.

Thinking of this, she secretly felt pleased.

She wondered if she could use this matter to turn the tables on Uncle Chi. Perhaps if Uncle Chi felt guilty, he wouldn’t pursue the matter of her complaining.

Only making Uncle Chi feel guilty seemed a bit difficult…

Zhou Shaojin’s mind wandered. Zhou Chujin called her twice before she came back to herself.

Zhou Chujin smiled. “What are you thinking about? You’re so distracted.”

Zhou Shaojin said embarrassedly, “I, I was wondering what Old Madam Guo and Grandmother might give you to add to your trousseau!”

“Whatever the elders give out of kindness, I’ll be happy with,” Zhou Chujin said. As she spoke, Nanny Li arrived.

The sisters rose to let Nanny Li in.

Nanny Li curtsied and smiled. “Madam asked me to tell the Eldest Miss that the Liao family just sent word that they’ll arrive tomorrow afternoon. Madam asks the Eldest Miss to prepare, as there may be pozi who will come to pay their respects to you.”

Zhou Chujin responded with a flushed face.

Zhou Shaojin noticed that Nanny Li seemed to have more to say to her sister. She greeted Nanny Li and found an excuse to go to the flower room.

Snowball was running back and forth in the flower beds that had just sprouted tender shoots. The wives and pozi changing pots and grafting plants dared neither scold nor strike him. Like dealing with a thoughtless child, they patiently tried to persuade him, but Snowball ran even more energetically, occasionally darting between the women’s feet, drawing complaints from everyone.

Zhou Shaojin was both annoyed and amused.

Everyone had spoiled Snowball. His courage was growing by the day. A few days ago, he had even dragged off one of her embroidered shoes and run around with it everywhere.

She gave a loud shout: “Snowball!”

Very perceptive, Snowball immediately ran over obediently and rubbed against her feet while whimpering.

The servant women all came forward to greet Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin crouched down and patted Snowball’s head.

Snowball ingratiatingly barked at Zhou Shaojin a few times.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but laugh.

A servant woman asked attentively with a smile, “Second Miss, the camellia you brought back is about to bloom. Should we move it to your room?”

Zhou Shaojin asked her, “What other flowers are about to bloom?”

The servant woman smiled. “Lilacs, crabapple blossoms, and peonies can all bloom now.”

Zhou Shaojin said, “These days the household has many guests and will use many flowers. I’ll trouble you all to take extra care.”

Everyone quickly said they “wouldn’t dare.”

But their words also reminded Zhou Shaojin.

When Grandmother and Old Madam Guo came to add to her sister’s trousseau, the household should be decorated to look more vibrant and full of life.

Over the next few days, she stayed in the flower room helping to force the flowers to bloom.

By the time the female relatives from Jiuru Lane arrived, red camellias, purple lilacs, white crabapple blossoms, and pink peonies adorned the Zhou household like a tapestry of flowers, bursting with vitality.

The Second Branch’s Old Madam Tang glanced at Old Madam Guo, who was said to dislike flowers and plants, and praised everything effusively.

Old Madam Guo’s expression remained calm, as if nothing had happened.

Old Madam Guan quickly came out to smooth things over, inviting everyone in her capacity as half-hostess to sit in the flower hall.

Zhou Shaojin quickly directed the young maids to serve tea and refreshments.

Jiang Shi looked at Zhou Shaojin with her rosy complexion, more charming than the flowers, and thought of Zhou Chujin who was about to marry. Her heart felt quite uncomfortable.

After the new year, Cheng Jia had grown another year older, yet her marriage prospects had no resolution. Zhou Chujin was marrying the heir of the Liao family from the town. Not only did the Liao family not disdain Zhou Chujin for being a motherless eldest daughter, Zhou Chujin’s mother-in-law had even used her private funds to buy a residence in the capital as a gift for them.

Jiang Shi glanced at Old Madam Guo.

If she had made more effort to curry favor with Old Madam Guo back then, would Cheng Jia’s marriage prospects not have become so difficult?

She glanced at Old Madam Tang again.

Old Madam Tang was currently talking with Madam Li.

Zhou Shaojin was pulled aside by Cheng Jia, who said in a low voice, “Find a way to let me stay overnight at your house! I have something to tell you.”

She whispered, “I’ll try my best!”

Cheng Jia nodded helplessly.

Ma Fushan’s wife quietly asked Zhou Shaojin for instructions: “The maternal uncle from the Zhuang family has arrived. What do you think?”

“Have a steward arrange good food and drink for him,” Zhou Shaojin said. “After the old madams leave, ask him what he’s here for. If he’s come to send congratulatory gifts, respectfully invite him to come drink at the wedding banquet. If he’s come to take advantage, tie him up directly and use Father’s calling card to find Magistrate Wu.”