Yuan Shi was the eldest daughter-in-law of the first branch. Since Zhou Shaojin was residing in the first branch, Yuan Shi surely knew about it. Yet this knowledge made Zhou Shaojin feel an uncomfortable prickling sensation on her back.

She had Chun Wan put away separately the pair of pearl hairpins Yuan Shi had given her, planning to keep them for rewarding or gifting to others.

Since the Gu family’s daughters were all of similar age, and Cheng Yi was not young either, the Cheng and Gu families quickly engaged matchmakers, exchanged birth dates and horoscopes, and began discussing betrothal arrangements.

Meanwhile, Mian Grand Madam pulled Zhou Shaojin to view the new quarters being prepared for Cheng Gao’s wedding, and pointed to several cluttered small side rooms adjacent to Cheng Gao’s new quarters, saying: “These past two years, the dividends from Yutai Banking House have been generous. Your eldest maternal uncle and I discussed renovating that area as well to make new quarters for Yi. This way our household won’t need major renovations for at least fifty years.” After speaking, she sighed emotionally, “I hope these brothers can work together with one heart to revitalize the family estate.”

She now rather had the bearing of treating Zhou Shaojin as a daughter. Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help feeling somewhat uneasy, thinking that in the future she must properly show filial piety to Mian Grand Madam and Old Madam Guan. Therefore, she came frequently to keep them company.

Hearing this, Zhou Shaojin smiled and said: “It certainly will be—Miss Gu Seventeen has an excellent temperament, and Sister-in-law Gao is a young lady from the He family of Pukou. Both families are cultured and reasonable people; they will surely get along very well. Grand Maternal Aunt need only await your blessings!”

These words brought a smile to Mian Grand Madam’s face as she said: “Let us hope it is as you say. I’ve been married into the Cheng family all these years and have always been close and warm with your maternal grandmother. I hope they too can be close and warm with me.” After speaking, she exclaimed “Oh!” and continued, “Shaojin, the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching. What preparations has the first branch made? Your maternal grandmother’s intention is to invite you back to Jiashu Hall for the Mid-Autumn Festival. The old lady asked me to inquire. If you have other plans, then we’ll set a banquet table a day early. The family can gather properly—by next year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, when your eldest and second cousins’ wives have entered the household, it will be another kind of liveliness entirely.”

Though daughters-in-law were good, they had not yet entered the household or lived together—how could they compare to Zhou Shaojin who had grown up by her side since childhood?

Zhou Shaojin thanked her repeatedly, saying: “Old Madam Guo did want Cousin Xu to return for the Mid-Autumn Festival. But Uncle Chi said that while Mid-Autumn Festivals come regularly, time does not wait, so he left the decision to Cousin Xu. From what Cousin Xu indicated, he plans to stay at Zao Garden during the Mid-Autumn Festival and not come over. Old Madam Guo hasn’t seen Cousin Xu for quite some days and wants to go to Zao Garden for the Mid-Autumn Festival to keep him company. Uncle Chi neither approved nor disapproved. There’s still no definite word. I’m afraid they’re being considerate of me, so I was just thinking of discussing with Grand Maternal Aunt about spending the Mid-Autumn Festival with you and Maternal Grandmother…”

Mian Grand Madam was overjoyed, saying: “I’ll go tell your maternal grandmother right away. She’ll surely be delighted to hear this.”

Zhou Shaojin quickly stopped her: “I haven’t yet informed Old Madam and Uncle Chi about this! After I’ve spoken with Old Madam and Uncle Chi, it won’t be too late for you to tell Maternal Grandmother.”

“I understand!” Mian Grand Madam laughed. “I’ve already had someone order crabs and abalone from the largest Hai establishment at North Gate Bridge Market. Your constitution is delicate—you cannot eat crabs, but you can eat abalone…” Then she pulled her to view Cheng Gao’s new quarters for quite a while, keeping her for lunch at Hanqiu Pavilion before letting her return.

Because Zhou Shaojin was concerned about the Mid-Autumn Festival matter, she went to speak with Old Madam Guo that afternoon.

Who would have known that Old Madam Guo would smile and say: “Your Uncle Chi wants me to go to Zao Garden to accompany Jiashan, while he stays at the residence for the Mid-Autumn Festival. But how could I leave your Uncle Chi alone at Hanbi Mountain Lodge? Moreover, Jiashan is about to enter the examination hall—it’s truly not the time to disturb him. After much thought, I’ve decided to stay and spend the Mid-Autumn Festival together with your Uncle Chi. Since your maternal grandmother is inviting you over for the festival, I think it would be better if our two families celebrate the Mid-Autumn together. I’ll invite your maternal grandmother and the others—everyone together, lively and festive!”

Old Madam Guo had always preferred quiet in the past.

This time staying at Jiuru Alley for the Mid-Autumn Festival was mostly on her account!

Zhou Shaojin felt deeply grateful in her heart and went to tell Old Madam Guan.

Old Madam Guan was quite magnanimous, smiling as she said: “I think we should do it this way—everyone come to Jiashu Hall on the fourteenth day of the eighth month, and on the fifteenth we’ll all go to Hanbi Mountain Lodge. We’ll have a good time for two days!”

Zhou Shaojin was naturally very pleased.

Cheng Chi said nothing against it either.

The matter was thus settled.

When they went to Jiashu Hall on the fourteenth day of the eighth month, Zhou Shaojin accompanied Old Madam Guo, Old Madam Guan, and Mian Grand Madam in idle conversation, while Cheng Mian, Cheng Chi, Cheng Gao, and Cheng Yi sat around another table discussing current affairs.

Zhou Shaojin initially worried that Cheng Chi would create an awkward silence, but unexpectedly Cheng Chi was full of clever remarks, humorous and witty, making everyone laugh heartily.

At first she laughed along until tears came out, but later she felt a silent melancholy.

Uncle Chi was so wonderful, yet destined to have no connection with her.

Yet he was someone she was willing to lower herself to the dust for, only able to watch from afar.

The next day when the fourth branch came to the first branch for the Mid-Autumn Festival, as everyone sat in the courtyard guessing riddles, admiring the moon, and eating mooncakes, somehow the conversation turned to Cheng Gao’s wedding.

Hearing this, Cheng Chi smiled and said: “Shaojin has reached the age to learn how to manage household affairs. These marriage matters are quite intricate with thousands of details—I think it would be good for Shaojin to help you, and it’s a perfect opportunity for her to learn something.”

Everyone praised this idea unanimously.

Zhou Shaojin looked at Cheng Chi with gratitude.

This way, once Cheng Xu finished his examinations, she could legitimately avoid him.

※※※

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Cheng family went to the Gu family to present the betrothal gifts.

Zhou Shaojin went along as well and teased Miss Gu Seventeen at length with the Gu family’s Miss Eighteen and Miss Twenty. But when she returned to Hanbi Mountain Lodge, she discovered that Yuan Shi had come back and was behind closed doors speaking with Old Madam Guo.

She quietly returned to Floating Jade Pavilion.

When Biyu came to invite her for the evening meal, only then did she go to the main residence.

Yuan Shi looked more spirited than when she had been at Jiuru Alley, wearing an egg-blue Hangzhou plain silk jacket, a bean-green eight-panel Hunan skirt, her raven-black hair arranged in a peony bun, adorned with South Sea pearl flowers the size of lotus seeds, and a hairpin swaying with red gemstones the size of pigeon eggs.

Seeing Zhou Shaojin, she immediately revealed a delighted smile, saying: “Though it’s been just over a year, Shaojin has grown even more beautiful.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled faintly and stepped forward to pay her respects to Yuan Shi.

Yuan Shi smiled and turned her head to Old Madam Guo, saying: “But she’s still just as quiet!”

Old Madam Guo said coolly: “For a young lady, chattering away all day like a sparrow is too frivolous. It’s better to say less.”

Yuan Shi’s face burned with embarrassment.

Old Madam Guo then stood up and said to Zhenzhu: “Tell the servants to set out the meal!”

Zhenzhu acknowledged and withdrew.

Zhou Shaojin habitually stepped forward to support Old Madam Guo, but unexpectedly Yuan Shi also went to support her. The two stood on either side without conflict.

However, Old Madam Guo placed her hand on Zhou Shaojin’s arm and said to Yuan Shi: “You’re about to become a mother-in-law yourself—let these young ladies handle such small matters!”

Yuan Shi’s face flushed red and then white. She respectfully replied “Yes” and walked behind Old Madam Guo.

The custom at Hanbi Mountain Lodge had always been to arrange the menu five days in advance. If one wanted something made by the kitchen midway through, one had to inform the kitchen one to two hours before the meal; otherwise one would have to wait until the next mealtime. Yet the dishes on their table were still the originally planned ones—not even a single vegetable dish had been added. She couldn’t help but quickly glance at Old Madam Guo.

But Old Madam Guo sat at the table with complete composure.

So Old Madam Guo had never ordered the kitchen to add any dishes at all.

Seeing Yuan Shi receive such cold treatment, Zhou Shaojin felt rather gleeful.

The three of them finished the meal without a word. After Yuan Shi served Old Madam Guo tea, she rose to take her leave, saying: “I’d like to go to Zao Garden this afternoon and stay there for some days.”

Old Madam Guo nodded. She neither asked how she would go nor how many days she would stay.

Yuan Shi immediately looked somewhat awkward. She hurriedly performed a salute to Old Madam Guo and left.

Nanny Er saw Old Madam Guo to the door. When she returned, she muttered in persuasion: “The madam is also doing this for the young master’s good… Other families couldn’t arrange such things even if they wanted to! If not for the madam, how could we obtain collections of essays and exam questions written by the chief examiner and deputy examiners…”

Old Madam Guo laughed coldly, saying: “First be a person, then do things. Taking such opportunistic shortcuts—can this road be traveled far?”

Nanny Er dared not make a sound and cast meaningful glances at Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin, after all, came from an official family and understood after hearing just a few sentences.

She stepped forward to refill Old Madam Guo’s tea and smiled, saying: “Old Madam, please don’t be angry. Cousin Xu studies very diligently on ordinary days. But there’s no first place in letters and no second in martial arts—Maternal Aunt Jing is doing this to be more certain. If you feel this isn’t proper, after Cousin Xu finishes his examinations, you can severely reprimand him then.”

Best if he could be punished to kneel in the ancestral hall.

Zhou Shaojin’s words were actually rather pale and powerless, but seeing her bright eyes full of concern, Old Madam Guo’s heart softened. She couldn’t help but sigh deeply, saying: “How could I not know this! I just feel he’s not like your Uncle Chi… Back then, the chief examiner was the father of your Second Maternal Uncle Wei’s examination year companion. Your Maternal Uncle Jing and your Second Maternal Uncle Wei spent nearly two months helping your Uncle Chi organize his study materials, yet your Uncle Chi resolutely refused to look at them even once.

“In his words, by observing a person’s character, one knows what kind of essays they would produce. If one doesn’t even have this much discernment, how can one navigate official circles? One might as well stay home and rest early.

“Your Cousin Xu lacks your Uncle Chi’s courage!

“In the future, I fear it will be difficult for him to become a prime minister or enter the cabinet!”

Most people probably lack such ability and courage, don’t they?

Zhou Shaojin pondered this but had no intention of speaking up for Cheng Xu.

However, news from Zao Garden still reached Old Madam Guo’s ears from time to time, and she heard the general outline: that in order for Cheng Xu to achieve good results, Yuan Shi had, while in the capital, specifically asked Cheng Wei to write three full pages of practice examination questions targeting the examiners for this session… that Cheng Xu studied tirelessly every day and nearly suffered heatstroke… that because Zao Garden had many trees and Yuan Shi feared the cicada sounds would disturb Cheng Xu’s concentration, she had Huanxi and others catch cicadas until now not even a cicada’s call could be heard at Zao Garden… that Yuan Shi personally oversaw the kitchen preparing broths and soups every day, making whatever Cheng Xu wanted to eat…

Zhou Shaojin remained silent.

When the autumn chrysanthemums bloomed in brilliant purples and reds, competing in splendor, Cheng Xu entered the examination hall.