Ma Fushan’s wife felt a chill in her heart upon hearing this.
Previously, whenever she had matters to attend to, she would always ask the Eldest Miss for instructions. The Second Miss never spoke up. Now that the Eldest Miss was about to marry and Madam was busy entertaining several old madams, she had come to ask the Second Miss instead. She hadn’t expected the Second Miss to act so decisively and efficiently. She had truly underestimated the Second Miss before.
Ma Fushan’s wife immediately put away her vague hint of negligence and said, “I’ll do as you say right away.”
Zhou Shaojin nodded.
A steward nanny came over and said, “Second Miss, earlier Madam said the Cheng family might send seven or eight nannies and a dozen or so maids, so Nanny Li arranged for them to stay at Liufang Pavilion. But unexpectedly, today the Cheng family brought over a dozen nannies and more than twenty maids. There isn’t enough space…”
Zhou Shaojin had previously sent someone to inquire, and Jiuru Lane had said that aside from Old Madam Guan and Old Madam Guo, no other elders would come. But unexpectedly, when it came down to it, both Old Madam Tang and Old Madam Li had arrived. This suddenly increased the number of attendants by quite a lot, and the place originally arranged to serve them lunch was no longer large enough.
She said, “Then separate the nannies and maids. The nannies will still be arranged at Liufang Pavilion, and the maids can be arranged at the waterside pavilion next to Liufang Pavilion. Fortunately, it’s warm spring weather with flowers blooming. The peach blossoms by the waterside pavilion are in full bloom right now—dining there will have its own special charm.”
The nanny looked relieved and showed a happy smile, saying, “The Second Miss is still the most thoughtful. I’ll go immediately to arrange for tables to be set up at the waterside pavilion.”
Zhou Shaojin also breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, her sister had instructed the household nannies to clean out all the banquet tables and chairs in advance. Otherwise, even if they opened the waterside pavilion today, there would be no tables or chairs. If the servant women from a distinguished household like Jiuru Lane saw that, they would surely mock the Zhou family for being in decline.
But before she could turn around, another young maid ran over and said, “Second Miss, Nanny Ma asks you to come to the front hall to speak.”
Most likely her good maternal uncle had started causing trouble.
Zhou Shaojin felt mentally exhausted but could only go take a look.
She quietly instructed Chun Wan a few words and followed the young maid to the front hall.
Sitting in the flower hall, Old Madam Guo had been silently watching Zhou Shaojin the entire time.
After a while, Old Madam Guan also noticed Old Madam Guo’s unusual behavior.
She smiled and said, “What are you looking at?”
Old Madam Guo sighed and said, “You truly are blessed! Shaojin has such a gentle temperament and is so capable. Your good days are still ahead. Not like me—I raised three granddaughters, but now that I’m old, not one is by my side.”
Old Madam Guan quickly smiled and said, “This truly confirms the saying ‘everyone else’s grass is greener.’ You see me enjoying my grandchildren and think it’s wonderful, but I envy how your branch has so many serving as officials outside, bringing honor to the family. As you can see, nothing in this world is perfect.”
“Indeed!” Old Madam Guo smiled. Seeing Old Madam Tang and Old Madam Li putting on airs in front of Madam Li, she said in a low voice, “When will Shaojin go to Baoding? This child has served me once, after all. When she leaves, I should at least reward her with something nice so she’ll have a keepsake.”
Old Madam Guan’s gaze quickly swept around, and seeing no one was paying attention, she lowered her voice and said, “I want her to continue living in Jiuru Lane as before. After Chujin marries, it will be time for Gao to take a wife. By then Madam He will also have free time and can properly teach Shaojin how to manage household affairs.”
Old Madam Guo nodded without speaking, though a flash of disapproval crossed her face. She clearly disagreed with Old Madam Guan doing this but didn’t want to meddle and say anything.
Old Madam Guan had always admired Old Madam Guo’s judgment. Seeing this, her heart couldn’t help but skip a beat. She carefully reviewed what she had just said, truly unable to figure out what she had said wrong. She couldn’t help but ask, “Why? Do you think it’s improper?”
Old Madam Guo smiled and said, “It’s fine! After all, she’s going to marry into your family. It’s good to adapt early.” Her tone was very reluctant.
Old Madam Guan felt even more uneasy and said reproachfully, “We’ve been sisters-in-law for so many years—what can’t you say directly?” She had to get to the bottom of this.
Only then did Old Madam Guo say, “I just think that if Niece-in-law Mian teaches Shaojin about household affairs, it would be fine if she marries out. But if she stays in your family, I’m afraid when the new daughter-in-law finds out later, she’ll feel a bit hurt. Moreover, Yi and Shaojin grew up together. Those who know will say it’s because Shaojin was raised in the Cheng family from childhood. Those who don’t know might think Shaojin is a child bride… It’s not good for Shaojin’s reputation!”
Old Madam Guan broke out in a cold sweat.
Sometimes conflicts between sisters-in-law arise from very small matters.
A rope must be twisted into a single strand to have strength. She had originally hoped that the two brothers Cheng Gao and his sibling, and the two sisters-in-law, could help each other so that the fourth branch might one day have a say in Jiuru Lane. If He Fengping and Zhou Shaojin developed a rift because of this, wouldn’t she be defeating her own purpose?
But entrusting Zhou Shaojin to Madam Li’s care… if anything went wrong, wouldn’t they still have to clean up the mess?
Most importantly, Zhou Shaojin had grown up under her watch—obedient and gentle, and at an age of many thoughts and worries. If she lived in Baoding Prefecture for a long time with Madam Li whispering in her ear, who knew if she might become distant from the Cheng family?
That would be a real loss.
Old Madam Guan sincerely asked Old Madam Guo, “Then what do you think should be done about this matter?”
“Everyone’s situation is different,” Old Madam Guo smiled. “How can anyone make such decisions for your family?”
Old Madam Guan couldn’t help but be weighed down with concerns. Even after leaving Pingqiao Street and returning to Jiatang Hall in Jiuru Lane, she kept pondering this matter.
The First Madam from the Mian family came in to attend to her mother-in-law’s rest. Only then did Old Madam Guan take her daughter-in-law’s hand and tell her what Old Madam Guo had said.
“Really?” The First Madam from the Mian family said hesitantly, “Fengping shouldn’t be that kind of person!”
“In such matters, people don’t worry about having little but about unfairness.” Hearing the hesitation in her daughter-in-law’s tone, Old Madam Guan increasingly felt that Old Madam Guo was right. But letting Zhou Shaojin go away for a few years, Old Madam Guan felt somewhat uneasy. She sighed, “If only that Madam Li were literate and educated, or if Shaojin had a capable person to supervise her.”
The First Madam from the Mian family smiled, “If there were such a candidate, why would Uncle have sent both young misses to Jiuru Lane?”
“Don’t I know that,” Old Madam Guan sighed.
But the First Madam from the Mian family’s eyes lit up as she said, “Mother, what do you think about entrusting Shaojin to Old Madam Guo? I see that Old Madam Guo likes her very much—she even took her to Mount Putuo. Old Madam Guo should agree to this, shouldn’t she?”
Old Madam Guan recalled how Old Madam Guo had kept watching Zhou Shaojin at Pingqiao Street and felt this matter had some merit.
She said, “Let me think this over carefully.”
The First Madam from the Mian family dared not say more.
But Old Madam Guan thought about it more and more and felt it made sense.
Moreover, this would be good for Zhou Shaojin.
A young lady personally tutored by Old Madam Guo, with the same upbringing as Cheng Zheng in the capital—others would view her worth as higher.
Old Madam Guan brought some Lushan Cloud Mist tea that her younger son Cheng Yuan had sent back from his posting and went to Hanbi Mountain Lodge.
Old Madam Guo responded just as she had anticipated. After learning of her intentions, she tactfully declined Old Madam Guan’s request: “…I’m getting old and no longer have the energy to raise another young lady! However, I do truly like this child Shaojin. In the future, if she has anything she doesn’t understand, just let her come ask me.”
“She’s not a seven or eight-year-old little girl, and she’s clever and bright—why would she need you to manage everything for her?” Old Madam Guan pressed Old Madam Guo all morning. Old Madam Guo really had no other choice and finally said, “As long as your family’s uncle is at ease with it, if she’s to be raised here, then let her be raised here!”
Old Madam Guan was overjoyed and repeatedly thanked Old Madam Guo.
※※※
On Pingqiao Street, as the wedding day drew near, Zhou Chujin, who had always been calm and composed, suddenly became nervous. One moment she wanted Chi Xiang to count the shoes and socks being brought to the Liao family for the family introduction ceremony again to see if anything was missing. The next moment she instructed Dong Wan to bring her the guest banquet menu to look at. Then she called Ma Fushan’s wife in to ask, “Have you made everything clear to the pozi who are going over? When displaying the trousseau, they must absolutely watch my jewelry boxes carefully. Some of the items inside were rewards from the old madams and old ladies at Jiuru Lane—they’re all antique pieces that can’t be bought even with money now. If they’re stolen, what face will I have to return to Jiuru Lane to kowtow to the old madams and old ladies in the future?”
Ma Fushan’s wife smiled, “Please rest assured! Even if we don’t watch closely, the Liao family will send people to watch—if a bride-to-be loses her trousseau before even entering the door, the Liao family can’t afford to lose that much face!”
Although Zhou Chujin nodded, her brow remained troubled.
Ma Fushan’s wife saw that her emotions were off. After thinking it over, she went to see Zhou Shaojin: “The Eldest Miss is used to managing the household. Now that she’s suddenly letting go, she’s probably not accustomed to it for the moment. Since Madam is handling things at home, when the Second Miss has free time, you might as well visit the Eldest Miss more often.”
Ever since the day of adding to the trousseau when Zhou Shaojin had Ma Fushan use her father’s calling card to frighten away the maternal uncle from the Zhuang family, Zhou Shaojin’s responsibilities had inexplicably multiplied. One person would ask what incense to burn, another would ask what bowls to use. She was utterly annoyed. Seeing that Madam Li was also frantically busy, and since everything concerned her sister’s wedding, she could only patiently give instructions to those steward nannies.
Now hearing what Ma Fushan’s wife said, her heartstrings immediately tightened. She dropped the messy affairs in hand and went to Zhou Chujin’s room.
Zhou Chujin’s room had clothes everywhere—on the bed, chairs, and table. She was selecting clothes with Chi Xiang: “I still think for the family introduction ceremony on the second day, I should wear that bright red vest with treasure vase and peony pattern. Butterflies among flowers is too frivolous. But this butterfly among flowers piece is kesi silk tapestry, which is better than Hangzhou silk…”
This kind of anxious hesitation was something Zhou Shaojin was seeing for the first time.
Even her sister had moments of being at a loss.
She couldn’t help but giggle, stepped forward to pick up the bright red treasure vase and peony vest, and said, “Sister has twelve thousand taels of silver as dowry, clearly written on the trousseau list. Even if you wear plain cotton cloth, the Liao family will only praise you for being simple and managing the household frugally. Sister needn’t worry—being dignified is most important.”
Zhou Chujin suddenly understood.
This was originally a truth everyone knew—how had she not thought of it?
She vaguely felt she had been too anxious these past days, so she simply kept Zhou Shaojin to accompany her. The sisters reminded each other of various matters, and her mood gradually calmed down, returning to her original shrewdness and capability.