Zhou Shaojin discovered that apart from Cheng Jia, Miss Gu Shiqi, and Zhuzhu, she actually didn’t know who else to invite.

Fan Liushi helped her brainstorm: “Since you’re inviting Miss Seventeen from the Gu family, you should also send an invitation to Miss Eighteen who lives with Miss Seventeen from the Gu family. And for the several young ladies from the Guo family, it’s best to find someone to inquire which ones are close to your age. Then there’s Great-Aunt Mian’s side—we don’t know whom Old Madam Guo will invite. If Madam Guan is invited, Great-Aunt Mian will definitely be attending on the side. If you don’t send her an invitation, Great-Aunt Mian might feel a bit hurt. But if you send Great-Aunt Mian an invitation and don’t say anything to Cousin Jia’s mother Great-Aunt Lu, that also seems a bit improper…”

Zhou Shaojin’s head spun from all these relationships. She simply took the list to find Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi was sitting at his large writing desk talking with that refined man Zhou Shaojin had seen in Cheng Chi’s study before. Seeing Zhou Shaojin burst in, he introduced the man to her: “This is Huo Dongting. You can call him Second Master Huo.”

Zhou Shaojin hadn’t known there was someone else in Cheng Chi’s room. Her face flushed bright red as she hurriedly curtseyed in greeting.

Huo Dongting was stunned for a moment before reacting, lowering his eyes and stepping back a few paces to return the courtesy with a bow.

Cheng Chi then said to Huo Dongting, “Let’s continue our discussion later. Go to the tea room for a cup of tea and also consult with Qin Zi’an.”

Huo Dongting was extremely shocked.

He couldn’t help glancing at Zhou Shaojin before respectfully responding “Yes” and withdrawing.

Even a fool could see that her intrusion had interrupted Cheng Chi’s business.

Zhou Shaojin was too embarrassed to raise her head, caught in a dilemma.

She wanted to suggest keeping this person called Huo Dongting to continue talking with Cheng Chi. But Huo Dongting was an outside man, and she didn’t know what relationship he had with Cheng Chi. She didn’t know whether she should speak up or not, afraid of saying the wrong thing. Yet if she didn’t keep this person called Huo Dongting, she had disrupted Cheng Chi’s important business, which also made her uneasy.

But in the instant she hesitated, Huo Dongting had already closed the door for them.

Zhou Shaojin’s face burned fiercely. She lowered her head and said, “Uncle Chi, I didn’t know you had someone in your room… I’ll never dare do this again!”

Seeing her head lowered almost to her chest, Cheng Chi sighed helplessly and said, “This matter isn’t your fault. It’s Qingfeng and Langyue’s mistake.”

“No, no!” Zhou Shaojin was terrified, afraid Cheng Chi would punish Qingfeng or Langyue. She quickly raised her head and urgently explained, “I didn’t listen to Qingfeng and Langyue and just barged in…”

Watching her so anxious she was nearly in tears, Cheng Chi found it both amusing and exasperating. He said, “Then tell me, where was the mistake?”

Ah?!

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened.

Her originally clear large eyes were now misty with moisture, looking bewildered and confused, like a small beast that had fallen into a trap, desperately calling for rescue.

Cheng Chi’s heart immediately turned soft as cotton.

Yet he still steeled himself and said, “You often move about my courtyard. Those duty nannies and servants naturally won’t stop you. Just now, it was Qingfeng on duty at the door. I sent him to fetch something for Dongting, so he was temporarily away. The study door was also half-open. You must have seen my silhouette sitting by the writing desk through the half-open door. Without thinking much, you pushed the door and came in, isn’t that right?”

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes grew even wider.

Uncle Chi is so amazing!

Just like he saw it with his own eyes.

She couldn’t help leaning toward the writing desk, staring directly at Cheng Chi.

Though Cheng Chi maintained his composure, he was still an unmarried man. Being stared at so directly by her, his ears couldn’t help reddening.

He coughed lightly and said, “What are you looking at?”

Zhou Shaojin said, “How is Uncle Chi like having three eyes? Knowing everything?”

“What nonsense are you talking?” Cheng Chi couldn’t help laughing as he scolded her. “Am I that Erlang Shen?”

Erlang Shen also had a dog following him around.

She should give him Snowball.

Thinking of Snowball coquettishly circling around Cheng Chi’s feet, Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help bursting into laughter and said, “Erlang Shen is a handsome man!”

Cheng Chi was greatly embarrassed.

Was this little girl praising him for being good-looking?

Zhou Shaojin wished she could seal her mouth with paper.

How did she lose all sense when talking to Uncle Chi?

How could she discuss his appearance to his face?

Though, Uncle Chi looked better than Erlang Shen.

Erlang Shen had a celestial eye on his forehead, making him look rather fierce. Uncle Chi was refined and gentle, warm toward people—just looking at him made one feel favorably disposed.

Zhou Shaojin bashfully lowered her head.

For a moment, both seemed stunned by this remark and didn’t speak.

The room was utterly quiet, only the rustling sound of wind blowing through tree branches outside could be heard.

An indescribable awkwardness and… subtlety permeated the air.

Just like last time when he had inadvertently felt Zhou Shaojin’s soft body.

Cheng Chi somewhat frantically suppressed all these emotions deep in his heart and quickly said, “What did you come to see me about?”

Zhou Shaojin said “Oh” and hurriedly replied, “I, I came to ask Uncle Chi whom I should invite for Dragon Boat Festival?” She also urgently pushed those stray thoughts deep into her heart and said with difficulty, “I discovered that inviting guests is really complicated!”

“What’s so complicated about it?” Cheng Chi smiled. “Bring the list over and let me see!”

This was just asking her to invite some guests—if she were to manage the household affairs of Jiuru Lane, wouldn’t it become utterly chaotic?

Zhou Shaojin handed over the list with three names written on it to Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi glanced at it and said, “Is there anything wrong?”

This little girl stayed in her room year-round, either reciting or copying scriptures or embroidering and sewing. Being able to invite three people was already quite good.

Zhou Shaojin murmured, “Nanny Fan said I should also invite Great-Aunt Mian. Great-Aunt Mian is an elder, and if the old madam invites Grandmother, Great-Aunt Mian will definitely accompany her… Then if I invite Great-Aunt Mian, it’s awkward not to invite Great-Aunt Lu…”

Cheng Chi understood and said, “You’re afraid that inviting elders would make you all uncomfortable, but also afraid that if you don’t invite the elders and they receive my mother’s invitation, they’ll think you don’t respect them enough. Is that what you mean?”

Zhou Shaojin felt very ashamed.

She couldn’t even speak clearly in front of Uncle Chi and had to make Uncle Chi figure it out himself.

It was fortunate that Uncle Chi understood what she was saying!

Her fingers involuntarily twisted together.

Cheng Chi said, “Don’t twist your fingers together, let go!”

Zhou Shaojin said “Oh” and immediately clasped her hands together instead.

Seeing her obediently comply, Cheng Chi nodded with satisfaction, his mood improving. He said, “Do you want me to help you find out whom Mother has invited?”

“No, no.” How could she make Uncle Chi do such a thing? Zhou Shaojin shook her head and said, “I just don’t know what to do? And for the Guo family, I also don’t know whom to invite?”

Her voice grew softer and softer.

If it were Elder Sister, she definitely wouldn’t trouble Uncle Chi like this.

Cheng Chi smiled and said, “I reserved the private rooms at Qingyan Tower originally so you could have a good time. I was just worried you wouldn’t enjoy yourself alone, which is why I let you invite a few people. If you invite all people you don’t know or don’t like, what would be the point? Just send out these three invitations according to your own wishes. If they have close friends they want to bring along, they’ll naturally send a nanny over to ask you, and you can agree then. This way actually shows your sincerity better—if everyone received invitations, who would treasure them?”

This works too?

Zhou Shaojin was once again shocked.

In the past, when Elder Sister helped Great-Aunt Mian manage the household, she would deliberate for days over New Year’s gifts, afraid of missing anyone and offending them or losing propriety.

Cheng Chi was amused by her wide-eyed stare and said, “Don’t worry! My words won’t be wrong!”

Only when one reached a certain height could one act with such freedom.

Even if he explained this principle to the little girl, she might not understand. Better to let her remain blissfully unaware.

Besides, with the Hanbiling Mountain Manor’s reputation backing her, even if others were dissatisfied, they could only keep it to themselves.

Zhou Shaojin thought about it and agreed.

If Uncle Chi said it would work, then it definitely would work.

Perhaps others already had arrangements and were just letting her manage her own part.

She immediately became cheerful again.

Smiling brightly, she thanked Cheng Chi and happily left.

Cheng Chi laughed heartily.

How could this little girl be so silly!

Whatever he said was what it was—she didn’t even question it.

But his heart was like a sail caught by the wind, full and taut, as if filled with inexhaustible energy.

He called Huo Dongting back in and said, “Cangzhou has always had fierce folk customs. The Northern Martial Forest is their banner. As we head north, countless eyes are watching us. If they don’t fall, those people won’t submit. Rather than arguing with them pointlessly, better to let fists do the talking. This time, you and Qin Zi’an will go together. Challenge the largest martial arts school. If anyone refuses to submit, beat them until they do. Then tell them we’re not trying to steal their livelihood—we just want to borrow a path. If they pretend not to know, we’ll pretend we were never there. But if anyone talks outside, we’ll have to make an example of someone. See who wants to be that chicken? We don’t care either way, but the situation in Cangzhou Prefecture will probably have to be stirred up a bit.”

Huo Dongting responded “Yes,” but felt extremely puzzled inside.

Just earlier, they had discussed not attracting the authorities’ attention and trying courtesy before force. How had a few words with this Second Young Miss changed Fourth Master’s stance to “submit to me and prosper, oppose me and perish”?

It seemed he needed to thoroughly investigate this Second Young Miss’s background.

“If Master has no other instructions, I’ll go find Zi’an now.” Huo Dongting cupped his hands in salute.

Cheng Chi quietly hummed in acknowledgment.

Huo Dongting withdrew.

But just as he had one leg over the study threshold and was about to lift the other, Cheng Chi’s ethereal voice came from behind: “Dongting, do your own job well. Don’t look left and right.”

Huo Dongting’s body stiffened. He turned and solemnly responded “Yes” before leaving.

Cheng Chi sat alone for a while.

He didn’t want to drag Shaojin into this dark and bloody world of his.

She should be like a flower, blooming freely in the sunlight.

Cheng Chi gently closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.

He must gather all personnel by the end of this year. Next spring, when Cheng Jiashan’s wedding date could be confirmed and Cheng Lu’s official status was stripped, he could maneuver freely in the capital with peace of mind.

How could the Cheng family face annihilation?

A thousand-mile dike collapses from an ant hole.

Though it was something over a decade away, he believed the Cheng family’s collapse was definitely not a matter of a day or two.