Uncle Chi said nothing would change!

He had Cheng Xu move into Algae Garden for her sake!

Zhou Shaojin’s heart felt like it held a little bird, and she felt even her footsteps had become lighter.

The tree branches extending over the garden path swept across her skirt hem, startling her back to awareness.

Why was she running away?

Huai Shan and Qin Ziping were looking for him on important business, so she could very well go find Ji Ying to play!

Ji Ying had returned now too, and she also wanted to hear if Ji Ying had encountered anything interesting while out…

Zhou Shaojin felt quite annoyed. She couldn’t help but stop in her tracks and rather irritably broke off that protruding branch in her hand, plucking off its leaves.

“Shaojin, Shaojin.” Someone was quietly calling her name.

Zhou Shaojin looked around in all directions and only after a long moment discovered Cheng Jia’s shadow behind a row of holly bushes.

“What are you doing crouching here?” Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened in surprise.

Cheng Jia said awkwardly, “Isn’t this Cold Jade Mountain House? I was afraid of running into Old Madam Guo!”

“Not to that extent, surely!” Zhou Shaojin took a long time to react before saying, “Old Madam Guo is very kind.” She went to pull Cheng Jia up. “Stand up quickly! Look at yourself—what kind of appearance is this? You’re the eldest young lady of the Third Branch!”

Cheng Jia gave an embarrassed smile and stood up following the pull of Zhou Shaojin’s hand.

Zhou Shaojin asked, “How did you end up here?” As she spoke, she looked around. “And alone?”

“Oh!” Cheng Jia’s expression showed some displeasure. “Don’t ask! I just came to your place to hide.”

Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment and guessed, “Did you quarrel with Uncle Lu’s wife?”

Cheng Jia said somewhat evasively, “I wouldn’t really call it a quarrel. We just argued again—the Dragon Boat Festival is coming soon, right? Cousin Jing sent someone to deliver festival gifts to the family. Mother said he was ‘like a weasel paying New Year’s respects to a chicken—up to no good.’ I casually said, ‘How can you call yourself a chicken?’ Mother flew into a rage and grabbed the feather duster to hit me. Fortunately I ran away in time, otherwise by now I’d probably already have been caught and made to kneel in the ancestral hall.” After finishing, she complained again, “Cousin Jing is really something too. He’s never sent gifts for the festivals in previous years, but this year he hurriedly sends them over. Of course Mother would dislike it! He even told me to trust him. How can I trust him!”

Zhou Shaojin heard her complaining more than resenting, and knew she just needed someone to talk to. Without responding, she led her to Floating Jade Pavilion and instructed Bitao to serve Cheng Jia while she freshened up and redid her hair, then accompanied her to pay respects to Old Madam Guo.

Young girls and elderly people not only differed in age, but also in interests and hobbies.

Zhou Shaojin had played well with Cheng Jia since childhood, and Old Madam Guo was happy to see her continue associating with Cheng Jia.

The old lady cheerfully gave Cheng Jia a pair of gold bracelets and told her to “come play whenever you have time.”

Cheng Jia was overwhelmed by this favor. As soon as they left the main quarters, she took Zhou Shaojin’s arm and said, “You’re truly blessed to have won Old Madam Guo’s favor. My legs tremble when I see her. You must treat me to something for this.”

Though her words were somewhat disjointed, Zhou Shaojin understood.

When her sister married, her brother-in-law had given her a generous red envelope.

She now had money on hand.

“What do you want to eat?” Zhou Shaojin said expansively. “If the kitchen doesn’t have it, I’ll send someone to buy it.”

“I want to eat roasted meat.” Cheng Jia was extremely happy and said without hesitation, “Like the people from beyond the pass do it, roasted over charcoal fire.”

That would indeed require sending someone out to buy it.

Zhou Shaojin gave the orders.

Fan Qi ran across half the city, and by lunchtime they were eating roasted meat.

Cheng Jia ate to her heart’s content.

Cheng Chi looked at the dining table missing Zhou Shaojin with some surprise and said, “Is Shaojin having her meal in her own quarters today? Is she feeling unwell somewhere?”

Old Madam Guo smiled as Biyu helped her to sit at the table. She said, “That Jia girl from the Third Branch came over, saying she wanted to eat some roasted meat. Shaojin sent someone to buy it. Right now they’re probably eating quite happily!”

“In this kind of weather, eating roasted meat!” Cheng Chi said dismissively. “Be careful of getting internal heat!”

“It was most likely Jia girl’s idea,” Old Madam Guo said with a smile. “Shaojin has always been obedient and well-behaved. Sometimes at night she wants a bowl of white fungus and lotus seed soup but is too embarrassed to trouble the kitchen staff. How would she make a fuss about eating something that requires sending someone outside to buy?” She added, “They’re about the same age, and neither has many siblings. It’s good that they can play together. Even after they marry, they’ll have someone to visit.”

Cheng Chi said nothing. After having lunch in the main quarters, he returned to his own quarters.

Cheng Jia and Zhou Shaojin were hiding on the bed confiding in each other. “I really don’t know what my mother is thinking? She’s like a firecracker—the slightest spark sets her off. I don’t even know how to talk to her anymore! You have it better. Your stepmother is far away in Baoding Prefecture where she can’t control you. Old Madam Guan likes you so much. Because Cousin Gao is getting married and they need to renovate the residence, worried they might not be able to look after you properly, she specially entrusted you to Old Madam Guo. Old Madam Guo treats you well too. Just because of you, she even rewarded me with a pair of gold bracelets…”

But Zhou Shaojin was listening absentmindedly.

Since Cheng Jia had run out like this, she naturally couldn’t let Uncle Lu’s wife worry. Before lunch she had already sent someone to inform Uncle Lu’s wife. She didn’t know if Uncle Lu’s wife would come to fetch Cheng Jia in the afternoon.

If Cheng Jia returned to the Third Branch in the afternoon, should she go to Oriole Hall to find Ji Ying to play? Or should she stay home and embroider the Guanyin image?

The weather was so nice, and Oriole Hall was very shady. Lying on the arhat bed in Ji Ying’s room listening to Ji Ying talk about things from outside would definitely be more interesting than embroidering Guanyin at home.

Thinking of this, her heart began to stir restlessly. She interrupted Cheng Jia who was still rambling on and said, “Your mother must be troubled about your marriage prospects. Don’t quibble with her over these things. Just listen obediently to whatever she says. The more you talk back, the more annoyed she’ll probably feel.”

Cheng Jia said, “You don’t know—even when I don’t say anything, she can still find fault…”

Before she could finish, Zhou Shaojin said again, “Then just avoid her.”

Cheng Jia sat up and said, “How can I avoid her? Apart from the morning and evening greetings, she comes every day to see what I’m doing, as if I encouraged Cousin Jing to send things to the family.”

It was all a muddled mess anyway!

Zhou Shaojin closed her eyes and said vaguely, “I’m very sleepy now. I’ll help you think of something after I wake up.”

Cheng Jia refused and pushed her.

She pretended to be asleep.

Cheng Jia sighed and had no choice but to lie back down.

Zhou Shaojin actually did fall asleep.

But in her drowsy state, she heard a commotion outside.

Before Zhou Shaojin had fully awakened, Cheng Jia was already saying, “What’s happened?” as if she had never fallen asleep.

Chun Wan ran in with a face full of smiles, saying happily, “Second Miss, Miss Jia, Master Xu has returned!”

Cheng Xu?!

Zhou Shaojin was so startled that all sleepiness vanished. She sat bolt upright and said, “Where has Master Xu arrived? Has he already entered the mansion?”

Chun Wan nodded with a smile and said, “Not only has he entered the mansion, he’s already at Old Madam’s main quarters. He said he wanted to give Old Madam a surprise, so he stopped the steward from telling Old Madam and Fourth Master in advance… Right now he’s talking with Old Madam in the main quarters!”

Cheng Jia slipped on her shoes and was about to have Chun Wan call a young maid in to do her hair, saying, “I’ll go see Cousin Xu.”

But Zhou Shaojin’s brows were tightly furrowed. She asked Chun Wan, “What about Uncle Chi?”

Chun Wan quickly called a young maid in to help them freshen up and said, “Fourth Master is at Oriole Hall. When he heard Master Xu had returned, he had Master Huai Shan come over with a message saying that after he’s paid his respects to Old Madam, he should go to the study. Probably has something to say to Master Xu!”

With Cheng Jing away, Cheng Chi was Cheng Xu’s closest male elder. When he returned, besides paying respects to Cheng Chi, he would also have to receive instruction from him.

Hopefully Uncle Chi would give Cheng Xu a thorough scolding!

Zhou Shaojin thought spitefully to herself, then said to Cheng Jia who was eagerly preparing to go to the upper courtyard to see Cheng Xu, “You go to the main quarters by yourself! Old Madam hasn’t seen Cousin Xu for such a long time—she must have much to say to him. I won’t go. When Old Madam holds the welcome banquet for Cousin Xu tonight, it won’t be too late to pay my respects to Cousin Xu then.”

At that time she could find an excuse not to attend the banquet.

She believed Uncle Chi would certainly have a way to keep her from running into Cheng Xu.

Hearing Zhou Shaojin say this, Cheng Jia suddenly felt she was being somewhat rash and said dejectedly, “Forget it! I won’t go either. Last time when he went to Hangzhou Prefecture, he brought me lots of plum wine.”

Zhou Shaojin said, “You’re not just going to see what Cousin Xu brought you, are you?”

Cheng Jia gave an embarrassed laugh.

A young maid came in to report, “Second Cousin Miss, Cui Huan has come.”

Zhou Shaojin glanced at Cheng Jia.

Cheng Jia sighed helplessly and had someone bring Cui Huan in.

Cui Huan greeted both of them and said, “Second Cousin Miss, Miss, both Master Shi and Master Xu have returned. Madam says you should return quickly. Tonight the Old Ancestress of the Second Branch is holding a family banquet at Four Seasons Brocade Hall to welcome Masters Shi and Xu home.”

Cheng Jia wailed, “I hate these family banquets the most. Big Brother and the others listen to Old Ancestress’s lecture outside while we just wait there for the food to get cold.”

Zhou Shaojin’s heart jumped with alarm.

Surely they wouldn’t call her over too?

After seeing off Cheng Jia, Zhou Shaojin had Chun Wan make a trip to Oriole Hall: “Ask Uncle Chi about the family banquet at Four Seasons Brocade Hall!”

Before Chun Wan could acknowledge the order, Xiao Tan ran in and said, “Second Cousin Miss, Fourth Master says that since there will be a family banquet at Four Seasons Brocade Hall tonight and Old Madam is advanced in years, she won’t be going. He wants you to stay home to keep Old Madam company for the meal. He and Master Xu will go to Four Seasons Brocade Hall.”

“Wonderful!” Zhou Shaojin smiled so broadly her eyes curved into crescents.

She knew it—Uncle Chi wouldn’t put her in a difficult position.

But Old Madam Guo said to Cheng Chi somewhat hesitantly, “Is this really alright? Perhaps I should have Shaojin go with us?”

Cheng Chi sneered, “Is that kind of banquet interesting?”

Old Madam Guo looked at Cheng Chi, and her gaze suddenly filled with fighting spirit. She said, “Since you’ve said so, then I’ll stay. If that person asks, you just tell him I didn’t want to attend the family banquet—don’t make any excuses, just say it like that.”

Cheng Chi smiled, the ice and snow on his face melting away, his voice unusually gentle: “Mother, you need to trust your son.”

Old Madam Guo nodded with a gratified smile.