In Hanbi Mountain House, Old Madam Guo was frowning as she asked Qin Shouyue: “You’re saying Youyi is also returning with Jiashan this time?”
Youyi was the courtesy name of the Second Branch’s eldest master, Cheng Shi.
Qin Shouyue said: “It’s said the old ancestor of the Second Branch wrote a letter summoning him back to prepare for next year’s spring examinations.”
Old Madam Guo sneered coldly: “I rather hope the Second Branch can produce a successful examination candidate—then he can taste the same heartbreak I felt back then.”
Qin Shouyue lowered his head slightly, not daring to respond.
Old Madam Guo naturally didn’t expect Qin Shouyue to share her indignation and say anything. She asked: “When will Jiashan arrive home?”
Qin Shouyue raised his head and smiled: “At most four or five days from now.”
Old Madam Guo nodded, a hint of joy appearing in her eyes as she said: “His mother isn’t home, so I’ll have to trouble you to take extra care of matters at Duojia Pavilion.”
Duojia Pavilion was where Cheng Xu lived and had been empty for nearly two years. Now that he was returning from the capital, although the place was regularly cleaned, it lacked a lived-in atmosphere. According to Old Madam Guo’s wishes, besides arranging the furnishings according to current fashions, the serving maids and servant women should move in ahead of time.
Qin Shouyue smiled: “Old Madam, you’re too kind. However, Fourth Master’s intention is to have the eldest young master move into Algae Garden. He says it’s secluded there—just right for the young master’s studies.”
Old Madam Guo was startled, then smiled with understanding: “I didn’t expect him to take charge of such matters. This shows he truly intends to teach Jiashan. All along I’ve wanted him to be closer to Jiashan, but he’s always been cold and distant. Who knew he’d suddenly come around like this? But at least it finally sets my heart at ease.”
Qin Shouyue smiled: “Fourth Master is the type who’s cold on the outside but warm within. It’s not that he doesn’t care about the young master—he just doesn’t like to fuss and inquire the way others do.”
Old Madam Guo nodded with a smile and said: “Having Jiashan move to Algae Garden—was it Zi’an or Ziping who conveyed this message? I won’t concern myself with matters at Algae Garden then. I’ll leave it entirely to you all to handle.”
“Rest assured!” Qin Shouyue said. “It was Ziping who conveyed the message to me. Although the young master will be based at Algae Garden, we can’t just leave him there alone. I’ll be going with him. If there’s anything here at your residence, just have someone send word. Ziping will remain here.”
Old Madam Guo was startled again and smiled: “This is also Fourth Son’s arrangement?”
Qin Shouyue smiled: “Yes! Fourth Master said to take this opportunity to see whether Zi’an or Ziping is more suitable to become the Qin family’s head steward.”
“That child,” Old Madam Guo laughed. “Has he become confused? In the future when Jiashan is master of the house, the Qin family’s head steward must get along well with Jiashan. Since he intends to keep Ziping or Zi’an in the household, he should arrange for them to serve at Algae Garden. Why has he reversed it—sending you to Algae Garden and keeping Ziping here?”
Qin Shouyue smiled: “Fourth Master is probably still concerned about Ziping and Zi’an’s capabilities. He hasn’t thought about whether they’ll get along with the young master.”
“True enough!” Old Madam Guo laughed. “The Qin family has always been utterly loyal to our Main Branch. We needn’t worry about whether Zi’an or Ziping will get along with my Jiashan. While we two old folks are still alive, it’s good to let those two gain some experience.”
Qin Shouyue quickly smiled: “The way you speak, Old Madam—how can this humble one compare to you…”
“Enough, enough. Don’t waste words on such empty talk with me.” Before he could finish, Old Madam Guo interrupted him, smiling: “You’re over sixty yourself. Just delegate tasks to those below you. You must take better care of yourself.”
“Thank you, Old Madam!” After some humble exchanges, Qin Shouyue took his leave from Old Madam Guo to arrange matters at Algae Garden.
When Zhou Shaojin received the news, she couldn’t help but beam with joy.
She knew it—Uncle Chi knew she disliked Cheng Xu and couldn’t possibly make no move at all.
Moreover, moving Cheng Xu to Algae Garden, far away from here… how wonderful!
She set down her paintbrush, propped her chin on her hand, and began to daydream.
When would Uncle Chi return?
What exactly had he gone to do?
Was there any danger?
She had so much to tell him.
Traveling by boat and horse carried risks. When he returned, should she try to persuade him to venture out less often…
As Zhou Shaojin’s thoughts wandered, Old Madam Guo’s voice suddenly came from behind her: “What you’re painting here… is an image of Guanyin. Are you preparing to embroider a Guanyin?”
Caught completely off guard, Zhou Shaojin was badly startled.
She quickly stood up and called out “Old Madam.”
Old Madam Guo chuckled and pressed her shoulder down: “Did I frighten you? I saw you sitting here alone in a daze. I called you twice but you didn’t respond, so I asked… Is something on your mind?”
Zhou Shaojin’s face inexplicably reddened. Her thoughts spun countless times in her mind, but she said: “I’m preparing to embroider a Guanyin image. I don’t know if I’ve drawn it well enough…”
So that was it!
“Well done! Very well done.” Old Madam Guo picked up the tracing paper with a smile and examined it carefully. “The face is round and full, the expression serene and compassionate, the lines flowing… I didn’t know you could paint, and so well at that.”
Zhou Shaojin blushed bashfully and said softly: “Old Madam overpraises me! I, I’m just painting casually.”
“Good is good, and not good is not good,” Old Madam Guo said kindly as she set down the tracing paper. “Sometimes you just lack a bit of confidence in yourself. You should trust my judgment.”
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly, suddenly feeling her posture straighten somewhat.
Old Madam Guo then asked: “I heard that these past few days you’ve been going early each morning to Jiashu Hall to pay respects to your grandmother, then checking the flower house before hurrying back to chant scriptures with me?”
Zhou Shaojin explained: “Grandmother seems to be in low spirits these past days, and several pots of my azaleas are about to bloom…”
Old Madam Guo smiled: “Don’t you have several pomegranate trees in your courtyard? If you like, I’ll have people build you a greenhouse in your courtyard and move all your flowers and plants there.” Without waiting for Zhou Shaojin to speak, she continued: “Why is your grandmother in low spirits? Didn’t Yi recover enough to walk? Could it be she feels her face has been lost because Yi was beaten by your uncle’s maid?”
Hearing this, Zhou Shaojin lost all interest in discussing those few pots of flowers and quickly said: “I noticed Grandmother wasn’t unhappy about that matter. It seems Second Uncle Yuan has encountered some trouble in his official post!”
In her previous life, she hadn’t paid attention at all, so naturally she didn’t know what trouble Cheng Yuan had encountered or how he resolved it. In this life, she had no way to offer advice.
Old Madam Guo smiled: “What kind of trouble is that? I’ll accompany you to Jiashu Hall in a bit and ask how preparations for Gao’s wedding are coming along. Once Gao marries, Yi will probably need to live separately. Should we wait until Yi marries to arrange a new residence? Or take advantage of Gao’s wedding to sort out living arrangements for both brothers? I happen to have nothing pressing, so I’ll go chat with your grandmother.”
Zhou Shaojin was more than willing.
She put away her paintbrush and went with Old Madam Guo to Jiashu Hall.
Old Madam Guan knew the reason for Old Madam Guo’s visit and was very grateful: “It’s not really a major matter. As you know, your nephew Yuan is a jinshi degree holder. This year he got a new superior who values academic credentials highly. Sometimes his words aren’t particularly pleasant to hear. Since Gao is getting married, he specially sent an aide to see if there’s anything at home he could help with. That aide mentioned it casually to your nephew Mian. Mian got a bit anxious and told me about it. I’ve already scolded them. When men work in the outside world, how can everything go smoothly without hearing an occasional unjust word? If he can’t even endure this much, he might as well resign his post and come home.”
Uncle Mian telling Grandmother about this was probably eighty or ninety percent about wanting Grandmother to seek a word from Old Madam Guo, wasn’t it?
Zhou Shaojin speculated as she heard Old Madam Guo smile and say: “It’s no trouble. I’ll have a word with your nephew Jing and find out exactly what sort of person this superior is.”
Old Madam Guan thanked her repeatedly.
The two chatted a while longer. Old Madam Guo was about to ask about Cheng Gao’s new residence when Si’er rushed in. Seeing Old Madam Guo, she quickly lowered her hands and stood aside.
Old Madam Guo smiled and had Zhou Shaojin support her: “Shall we go see where you grow your flowers? I’ve long known you’re good at cultivating flowers—today I’ll broaden my horizons!”
Old Madam Guan’s face turned entirely red: “Elder Sister-in-law, why be so formal with me! Si’er, what happened? Why are you in such a panic?”
Si’er knew she’d made a mistake and was frightened pale, stammering: “Old Madam, I just encountered a servant woman from Fifth Branch’s side. She said Second Branch’s Madam Shi is acting as matchmaker, arranging a match between Fifth Branch’s Master Nuo and the eldest daughter of Magistrate Wu’s family. Wen’s wife has already gone to the Second Branch to discuss Master Nuo’s marriage.”
The eldest daughter of Magistrate Wu’s family… wouldn’t that be Wu Baozhang?
Zhou Shaojin was shocked.
How could this be?
In her previous life, she had married Cheng Lu!
She couldn’t help looking toward the two old ladies.
Both Old Madam Guo and Old Madam Guan looked completely surprised—clearly neither had expected this. It was Nanny Wang, who served at Old Madam Guan’s side, who reacted first, smiling: “Fifth Branch’s eldest master is getting betrothed—this is wonderful news!”
Indeed. It was certainly better than whoever Cheng Wen and Wen’s wife wanted to bring in.
But would Wu Baozhang agree?
She really didn’t like Wu Baozhang. Should she object?
Zhou Shaojin was somewhat troubled.
At Liuting Pavilion where Cheng Shi lived, Yi’s wife, Madam Hong, was also somewhat troubled like Zhou Shaojin. She asked her daughter-in-law, Madam Zheng: “Is this appropriate? That Miss Wu is after all the daughter of a magistrate’s family, while Nuo doesn’t even have any scholarly credentials, and his temperament is lazy and indifferent…”
“Mother, don’t worry.” Madam Shi smiled and took her mother-in-law’s hand, sitting shoulder to shoulder with her on the luohan bed. “I already asked Baozhang about this, and she agreed. Although she’s the magistrate’s eldest daughter, she lost her mother young and hasn’t had an easy time at home. That Madam Wu arranges matches for her with either elderly widowers or dissolute young wastrels who gamble and carouse, and the occasional scholar is invariably an unprincipled sort who values Baozhang’s status and wants to benefit from the Wu family’s influence. Although Nuo isn’t as capable as others, he’s kind-hearted, gentle-natured, filial and sensible, and has the Cheng family’s protection. For Baozhang to marry him—speaking carefully—is actually Baozhang’s good fortune!”