Cheng Xu changed into a dark red brocade-patterned straight robe, tied a matching silk sash around his waist, then examined himself before the mirror stand. After a moment’s consideration, he replaced the peachwood hairpin on his head with a jade one, then said to Huanxi with a smile, “Alright, let’s go meet Fourth Uncle.”

Huanxi cheerfully acknowledged and went with Cheng Xu toward Oriole Hall.

Fourth Uncle was stern and unsmiling. He had been somewhat afraid of this uncle since childhood.

Having rushed back so impetuously, he had initially worried that Fourth Uncle would scold him, but unexpectedly, after Fourth Uncle called him to the study, he only carefully inquired about his studies and didn’t mention a word about his early return.

He didn’t know whether Fourth Uncle thought this was unimportant, or whether all those stewards who had helped conceal his whereabouts would suffer for it.

He was somewhat uncertain.

However, Zhou Shaojin had stayed behind and had actually been entrusted by the Fourth Branch’s grand aunt to Old Madam for upbringing. For this, he would accept any rebuke or censure.

Now that Zhou Chujin was married, the Cheng family only had Zhou Shaojin as a temporarily residing cousin miss. Given Old Madam’s forceful personality, she would certainly bring her along to Listening to Rain Pavilion’s family banquet.

Then he would be able to see her.

After that he could study at Algae Garden with peace of mind.

However, he hadn’t expected Fourth Uncle to send him to Algae Garden. Wasn’t Algae Garden supposedly Fourth Uncle’s forbidden territory that family members generally couldn’t enter?

Could Fourth Uncle actually be cold on the outside but warm on the inside?

Did he still hope he could succeed in the examinations?

That must be it!

By his generation in the First Branch, the male heirs were somewhat lacking.

Why didn’t Fourth Uncle marry? Could it be like those servant women in Apricot Grove Lane privately gossiped—that Fourth Uncle had a preference for the cut sleeve? But even if that were true, Fourth Uncle should have a confidant, yet he had never seen Fourth Uncle particularly close to anyone.

Or perhaps Fourth Uncle kept someone outside?

But Old Madam said Fourth Uncle had always been alone. Presumably neither Old Madam nor Father could control Fourth Uncle.

Putting aside everything else, just for this point alone, Cheng Xu greatly admired Cheng Chi.

Lost in these rambling thoughts, he stepped through the main gate of Oriole Hall.

Cheng Chi wore a very plain indigo fine cloth straight robe with a silk sash tied at his waist, from which hung a pouch and seal. He looked steady, restrained, low-key, and precious.

Cheng Xu immediately felt some regret.

He should have hung a few ornaments at his waist like Fourth Uncle.

He respectfully stepped forward and performed his greeting, but after straightening up, he smiled cheerfully and said, “Fourth Uncle, can I just study at Abundant Harvest Pavilion? The place is already prepared. Moving again would be so troublesome! Besides, I still need to pay morning and evening respects to Old Madam every day…”

He was the legitimate eldest grandson of the First Branch, the future clan head of the Cheng family. Although he felt somewhat intimidated by Cheng Chi in his heart, he also had a nonchalant side—after all, this was his own uncle. When not in the study, surely he could joke around and haggle a bit! Even if there was something improper about it, at most he would just get scolded. Surely Fourth Uncle wouldn’t punish him over such a small matter?

Cheng Chi glanced at him sideways with an expressionless face, and Cheng Xu knew this matter was settled.

He couldn’t help but groan.

Cheng Chi was already walking toward the door with his upright posture.

Cheng Xu hurriedly followed, but still wouldn’t give up. “Fourth Uncle, I promise to pass the autumn provincial examination. Just let me live at home! I haven’t seen Old Madam for two years and miss her terribly. Please let me fulfill my filial duties by her side! Besides, studying also requires a balance between work and rest. You can’t just shut me away in Algae Garden with my eyes open seeing nothing but examination essays and my eyes closed also seeing examination essays. How can this kind of working behind closed doors produce good results? Father also said that before the autumn provincial examination, I should socialize more with my fellow students and inquire about the preferences of this year’s chief examiners to prescribe the right remedy…”

Cheng Chi didn’t even glance at him and walked straight ahead as if he hadn’t heard what he was saying. Only when Cheng Xu chattered incessantly and ran in front of him, blocking his path, did his steps pause slightly. He said indifferently, “What you say also has merit. How about this—you continue living at Abundant Harvest Pavilion, then when you have time, go out and socialize with your fellow students, inquire about the chief examiners’ preferences to prescribe the right remedy. I happen to have business that requires me to go out. I’ll probably return after the Mid-Autumn Festival. What do you think?”

This meant washing his hands of the matter completely!

Father had once said that among the chief examiners, although they didn’t know who was the chief and who was the deputy, they could be certain that one was Fourth Uncle’s fellow graduate.

It wasn’t that he lacked confidence in passing, but if he wanted to become the provincial examination top graduate, he really couldn’t do it without prescribing the right remedy!

Could Fourth Uncle really be thinking this way?

If Fourth Uncle really withdrew his support because he wouldn’t follow instructions, first of all Father wouldn’t accept it… and his marriage prospects with Zhou Shaojin wouldn’t even be worth discussing!

Cheng Xu looked at Cheng Chi’s solemn face, somewhat dumbfounded.

Cheng Chi walked around Cheng Xu and continued forward.

Cheng Xu no longer dared say anything and obediently followed behind Cheng Chi toward Listening to Rain Pavilion, feeling extremely depressed.

Huanxi and the others trailed far behind, not even daring to breathe loudly.

After leaving the First Branch, passing through the Auspicious Gate, and walking along the corridor of Four Seasons Brocade Hall, only then did Cheng Xu feel something was wrong.

Listening to Rain Pavilion was just ahead, but he couldn’t see any sign of Old Madam or Zhou Shaojin!

He hurriedly stepped forward several paces to walk beside Cheng Chi and said in a low voice, “Fourth Uncle, why don’t I see Old Madam?”

Cheng Xu didn’t dare ask about Zhou Shaojin, fearing Cheng Chi would ask how he knew Zhou Shaojin had moved to Cold Jade Mountain House.

Cheng Chi said lightly, “Your Old Madam doesn’t wish to attend the Second Branch’s Old Ancestress’s banquet, so she’s not coming.”

Ah!

Cheng Xu became greatly anxious, wiping the sweat on his forehead. “Why? Everyone else is coming, why isn’t Old Madam coming!”

Cheng Chi stopped and looked at the anxious Cheng Xu. Thinking of what Zhou Shaojin had said to him, his thoughts turned and turned. He said seriously, “In other families, it’s the First Branch that manages the genealogy and handles clan affairs. But your great-grandfather was younger than the Second Branch’s Old Ancestress, so the Second Branch’s Old Ancestress managed the genealogy and handled clan affairs.

“By your grandfather’s generation, the Second Branch’s Old Ancestress felt that an official’s salary was a drop in the bucket, completely insufficient to support the household’s expenses. But managing clan affairs allowed access to both families’ finances, so officials wouldn’t need to be corrupt or beholden to others, and could go further in their official careers. He wanted his own son Cheng Li to manage the庶 affairs.

“Who knew Cheng Li’s luck was bad. He was killed by people from the Transport Gang while doing business outside.

“At that time, the Second Branch’s Old Ancestress was burdened with duties, had neither the energy to manage the庶 affairs of Nine Wishes Lane nor anyone of sufficient standing to help manage them, so he had no choice but to hand the household’s庶 affairs back to the First Branch. At that time your grandfather had passed away, and your father and second uncle had just entered officialdom. After completing their mourning period, they needed the Second Branch’s Old Ancestress’s help to resume their positions, so it was agreed that I would manage the household’s庶 affairs in the future.

“So although I passed the metropolitan examination, I cannot enter officialdom. Your Old Madam hates him for being profit-seeking and kicking someone when they’re down, which is why she hasn’t looked favorably upon him all these years.

“Do you still want your Old Madam to attend the family banquet hosted by the Second Branch’s Old Ancestress?”

Cheng Xu stood there with a blank expression, his lips opening and closing. For a long while he couldn’t say a single word.

Cheng Chi sneered and headed toward Listening to Rain Pavilion.

He had said everything that needed to be said. If Cheng Jiashan still got taken in, then his eldest brother and second brother really did need to have a good discussion about who should ultimately sit as the clan head of Nine Wishes Lane.

※※※

Zhou Shaojin was taking Old Madam Guo’s measurements. Biyu and the others either stood to the side holding measuring tapes or sat nearby with brushes in hand.

“One two… two one… two five… This should be taken in by two inches.” She looked at the soft measuring tape in her hand. “I think if the garment is made this way, it will fit better.”

Old Madam Guo chuckled several times and said, “I’m getting old and prefer to wear looser clothing.”

“That’s why I’m only planning to take in two inches!” Zhou Shaojin said with a smile, blinking her big eyes. “Autumn clothes are different from summer ones. When the autumn wind rises and brings a chill, clothes that fit better are also warmer.”

Old Madam Guo was still somewhat hesitant.

Zhou Shaojin promised, “Just rest assured! If it feels uncomfortable, I’ll alter it back for you then.”

“You’re just humoring me!” Old Madam Guo said with a laugh upon hearing this. “I’ve only heard of clothes being altered from large to small. I’ve never heard of anyone altering them from small to large.”

Zhou Shaojin giggled dismissively, her expression revealing confidence in her tailoring skills.

Old Madam Guo smiled and said, “Then let’s take in two inches. If it’s uncomfortable to wear, you’ll just have to make me another one anyway.”

“Yes!” Zhou Shaojin said with a smile.

Zhenzhu, who was sitting at the table responsible for recording the measurements, couldn’t help but smile. “Then I’ll write it down as two inches less!”

“No need, no need,” Zhou Shaojin said hurriedly. “Everything I’m calling out is the exact measurement. Just write down what I say. I’ll adjust the fitting when I sew.”

Old Madam Guo laughed. “So you’re practicing ‘when the general is abroad, the sovereign’s commands need not be obeyed.’ You’re planning to act first and report later, preparing to make my autumn clothes according to the measurements you think are good!”

Zhou Shaojin was indeed thinking exactly that.

She didn’t like clothes that hung loosely on the body.

It wasn’t as if there was a shortage of fabric.

Fabric left too long would rot. Colors left too long would also go out of style.

Of course it was better to wear something that fit well.

Seeing that although Old Madam Guo said this, there was no anger in her expression, Zhou Shaojin knew she was joking with her and just pursed her lips and smiled.

The several servants in the room couldn’t help but laugh together.

Zhou Shaojin then pulled Old Madam Guo to select fabrics: “…We can make a rattan yellow inner garment with a brown outer vest embroidered with dark red treasure flower patterns. It will look dignified and bright.”

Old Madam Guo nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, praising her good choice of colors.

Biyu quickly selected several bolts of fabric in the colors Zhou Shaojin mentioned and set them aside.

Zhou Shaojin also selected several bolts of camlet and brocade for Old Madam Guo.

Old Madam Guo approved of them all.

But when Zhou Shaojin looked at the white Songjiang triangular fine cloth set aside, she couldn’t help but say, “Actually, the way Uncle Chi dresses is best—fine cloth is breathable and warm, good to wear in spring, summer, autumn, and winter alike. It’s just not as smooth as silk.”

Seeing Zhou Shaojin praise Cheng Chi, Old Madam Guo showed an expression of shared pride, though she said, “He’s just unconventional. From childhood he was different from his two older brothers—mischievous beyond belief. At the time I thought, how wonderful it would be if I hadn’t given birth to this youngest son! But now, the one staying by my side is this youngest son. This shows that children are all given by the Bodhisattva—this is my later-life blessing.”

Zhou Shaojin fell silent.

If Old Madam Guo knew Uncle Chi was preparing to leave the Cheng family, how heartbroken would she be!

In the previous life, if Uncle Chi had stayed with the Cheng family, would Old Madam Guo’s lifespan have been longer?