Cheng Chi smiled and said: “She’s so fond of showing off. If I were you, I’d encourage Wu Shi to send rice cakes to each branch, ideally on a day like the ninth day of the ninth month for the Double Ninth Festival. Privately, I’d order the outer courtyard kitchen to also make rice cakes as refreshments for that day’s banquet. Have Wu Shi’s rice cakes served at the table first. After everyone has eaten them and said they’re good, then bring out the kitchen’s rice cakes—the outer courtyard kitchen prepares food according to our family’s tastes, and your maid has already learned to make rice cakes from her, so it would be too easy to manipulate this point. After Wu Shi suffers this setback, naturally she won’t dare to show off so easily in the future.”

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help clapping her hands, saying delightedly: “That’s a wonderful idea!” But then she hesitated slightly: “Would it be alright for us to scheme against Wu Baozhang like this?”

She’d grown this old and had never dug such a pit for anyone before.

Cheng Chi said: “This type of person—if you teach her one lesson, will she thereafter maintain a policy of non-interference with you?”

Of course not.

In her previous life, she had yielded many times, and later had also tried to trip her up. But Wu Baozhang not only didn’t restrain herself or let her go, but intensified her mockery and torment. Yet the elders all thought Wu Baozhang was gentle and magnanimous. She couldn’t even lodge a complaint. Later she simply cut off contact with Wu Baozhang and threatened Cheng Jia not to associate with Wu Baozhang. Seeing that she genuinely disliked Wu Baozhang, Cheng Jia gradually distanced herself from her as well.

Zhou Shaojin smiled and shook her head.

Cheng Chi then said: “This is called first raising up, then bringing down.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly.

But this method could probably only be accomplished by Uncle Chi, couldn’t it?

Her eyes flickered as she said: “But how can I make the kitchen staff listen to me?”

Cheng Chi smiled wryly: “Figure it out yourself?”

The faint helplessness revealed between his brows made Zhou Shaojin’s heart pound chaotically.

She giggled, her eyes bright, looking indescribably charming as she said: “I’ll just say that Uncle Chi told me to instruct them.”

Cheng Chi hadn’t expected her to answer him this way and was slightly stunned.

Since he’d begun managing affairs, countless people had acted under his banner. But no one had dared to say so to his face like Zhou Shaojin, and moreover, no one like Zhou Shaojin made him feel not only not disgusted but actually quite amused.

“Fine!” He said in a very magnanimous manner: “As long as you can make the kitchen staff believe it’s my intention.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled craftily.

During these days at the first branch, she had fully experienced the famous saying “rules are dead, but people are alive.”

By rights, for inner courtyard people to order the outer courtyard kitchen to do something required a matching token. But each of those master chefs in the outer courtyard kitchen had their own accounting in their hearts. As long as it didn’t involve matters of accounts, those master chefs were quite willing to do things for her, this young miss who was “living as a dependent” at the first branch.

When the time came, she need only say she wished to show filial respect to Old Madam Guo—no, now she should say to show respect to Uncle Chi. Have Chun Wan take silver to give the kitchen staff for a portion of rice cakes, and there wouldn’t be anyone in the kitchen so rigid.

Even if someone asked about it afterward, with Old Madam Guo as her backing, those master chefs would most likely keep their mouths shut.

Only this way, her reputation among the servants might not be so good.

But there were ways around that too.

Just add it when preparing the menu.

This way others would think the two portions of rice cakes just happened to coincide unintentionally.

Zhou Shaojin thought this idea was excellent.

She couldn’t wait to tell Cheng Chi about this thought.

The little girl had finally learned to use her brain.

Cheng Chi’s eyes showed gratification as he smiled: “Not bad, not bad! This shows that jade cannot become a vessel without polishing!”

Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed red. Pretending she hadn’t heard, she said loudly: “Then we’ll do as you suggest.”

She didn’t know why, but lately she increasingly hoped that Cheng Chi wouldn’t treat her like a child.

Cheng Chi reminded her: “You can privately encourage that Wu Shi. Just don’t let anyone see you. If you feel you can’t do it, discuss it with your wet nurse Fan Liushi. I see she handles people and matters quite astutely—this would also be a good test to see if she’s someone you can rely on.”

Fan Liushi was of course the most reliable person!

Zhou Shaojin nodded with a smile, then frowned in distress: “However, Cousin Gao is getting married on the tenth day of the ninth month. Old Madam said that this year for the Double Ninth Festival, everyone won’t gather together—each branch will celebrate separately. The Double Ninth Festival definitely won’t work… I’m actually worried about something else. That day is Old Madam’s birthday. Old Madam can’t overshadow Cousin Gao’s occasion, so she’s not celebrating her birthday this year. She even told me to go to Jiashu Hall early to help. What do you think—should we eat longevity noodles with Old Madam in the morning before leaving? Or should we return in the evening to celebrate with Old Madam? The tenth is the official day, so on the evening of the ninth we should be able to return early!”

Listening to her chattering away, Cheng Chi felt even the quiet study had come to life.

He couldn’t help smiling: “Then we’ll get up in the morning to eat longevity noodles with Old Madam before going to Jiashu Hall, and when we return in the evening, we’ll set a banquet table for Old Madam. Just our own family making merry will be fine.”

By that time, the autumn examination results would be out, the Cheng and Min families’ marriage arrangement should also be settled, and he could dispatch Yuan Shi and Cheng Xu to the capital. The little girl could also sit down peacefully for a meal.

Zhou Shaojin smiled and nodded repeatedly, carefully moving closer to Cheng Chi’s presence and saying in a low voice: “Uncle Chi, what gift have you prepared for Old Madam?”

Finding this amusing, Cheng Chi also imitated her by carefully lowering his head and saying quietly: “I can’t tell you! If I told you and you bought the same gift as me for Old Madam and gave it to her in advance, what would I do?”

Zhou Shaojin blinked, only then realizing that Cheng Chi was joking with her.

Her heart couldn’t help but soar. She laughed coquettishly in a low voice: “Is Uncle Chi actually afraid I’ll steal your credit?”

Just as Cheng Chi was about to speak, Qingfeng came in to report: “Fourth Master, the eldest young master has arrived, saying he has urgent business to see you.”

Zhou Shaojin inwardly cursed “annoying.”

Now she couldn’t continue talking with Uncle Chi!

Her face fell. Without waiting for Cheng Chi to speak, she jumped up and said: “Then I’ll leave first!” Then she ran out through the back door in a flash.

Cheng Chi watched and smiled, shaking his head.

This little girl didn’t hide anything at all in front of him.

He smiled and ordered Qingfeng to invite Cheng Xu in.

Shortly after, Cheng Xu walked in wearing a lotus-blue Hangzhou silk robe, his posture upright and bearing imposing.

“Fourth Uncle!” He saluted Cheng Chi, his eyes revealing confusion: “I, I think I just saw Second Young Miss Zhou…”

Cheng Chi’s study had a back door, but Tingli Pavilion had no back door—coming and going, one could only pass through the front auspicious gate.

Zhou Shaojin had probably left in too much of a rush. Although she hadn’t run into Cheng Xu face-to-face, her whereabouts had still fallen under Cheng Xu’s notice.

He smiled: “She came to ask me about some matters.”

Cheng Xu waited.

But there was no continuation.

He couldn’t help but ask urgently: “What did Second Young Miss Zhou want to ask you about? Why would she come looking for you?”

That manner—as if Zhou Shaojin shouldn’t appear here at all.

A faint displeasure rose in Cheng Chi’s heart. He said coldly: “What business do you have with me?”

Cheng Xu didn’t take it to heart.

Cheng Chi had always been this aloof with people.

He said hastily: “Fourth Uncle, when I was in the capital, I met the eldest master of the Min family, Minister Min Jianxing. He spoke very highly of you. A few days ago he even wrote to me, asking me to convey his regards to you on his behalf, saying that if you go to the capital, you must visit his home. I have a matter I’d like to ask Minister Min about. You…” His tone paused slightly: “Could you… could you put in a good word for me with Minister Min…”

Cheng Chi made no sound, only gazed at him quietly.

His calm eyes were indifferent and waveless.

Cheng Xu uneasily picked up the tea cup and drank several mouthfuls of tea.

Cheng Chi then asked him: “How did you know about Old Madam Guan’s intention to keep Second Young Miss Zhou at Jiashu Hall?”

Cheng Xu was greatly alarmed and stood up abruptly: “Fourth Uncle, there’s no such thing!”

“Oh!” Cheng Chi raised his eyebrows and said: “So I misunderstood. When I first heard that your father arranged a marriage for Cheng Yi without consulting me, I thought it was your mother’s idea. I didn’t expect it was actually you who wrote to your mother, urging your father to act as matchmaker for Cheng Yi. I was puzzled—who knew about the possibility of Second Young Miss Zhou marrying Cheng Yi and informed you?”

Cheng Xu pressed his lips tightly together and made no sound.

A trace of disdain appeared in Cheng Chi’s eyes: “Was it Cheng Lu who told you?”

If not for concealing things from Old Madam Guo, to prevent Old Madam Guo from discovering Cheng Xu’s admiration for Zhou Shaojin, would he have taken responsibility for this mess?

Cheng Xu lowered his head.

Silently admitting it.

Cheng Chi looked at him and only felt annoyed.

It seemed he had still overestimated Cheng Xu and underestimated Cheng Lu!

With Wu Baozhang’s help, he had long anticipated that Cheng Lu would be able to investigate him. He just hadn’t expected that even when Cheng Lu was at his wit’s end and overwhelmed, he still had the mind to disturb Cheng Xu’s thoughts, letting Cheng Xu know about Old Madam Guan’s intention to betroth Zhou Shaojin to Cheng Yi, thus prompting him to write questioning Yuan Shi and seeking her help.

Yuan Shi was even more outrageous—to appease Cheng Xu, without knowing anything, she urged eldest brother Cheng Jing to step forward and act as matchmaker for Cheng Yi, treating a young lady’s marriage as child’s play. Had she considered Zhou Shaojin’s feelings at all?

It was clear that in her previous life, Zhou Shaojin’s escape from the Cheng family wasn’t without reason.

But that wasn’t what angered him most.

Cheng Lu was his adversary, so naturally he would find ways to scheme against Cheng Xu. Yuan Shi and Cheng Xu were mother and son—helping her son was as it should be.

What angered him most was eldest brother Cheng Jing!

He had instructed Cheng Jing early on not to personally act as matchmaker for Cheng Yi, that he had already made arrangements for this matter. But with one whisper of pillow talk from his wife, Cheng Jing threw his instructions to the back of his mind and made a terrible move!

Now that the marriage between Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Yi had fallen through, Yuan Shi would certainly raise the matter of a marriage alliance with the Min family again in the coming days.

Cheng Xu certainly wouldn’t agree.

He’d like to see what Yuan Shi planned to do.

Cheng Chi felt an indescribable disappointment in his heart.

Mother had made eldest brother and second brother swear before Father that they would treat him well all their lives!

But in front of Yuan Shi, eldest brother ultimately failed to keep his promise.

Suddenly, the image of Zhou Shaojin leaning against the door panel, extending half her face to cautiously observe him, floated into Cheng Chi’s mind… A warm current immediately flowed through his heart.

Perhaps in this world, only this little person believed in him from beginning to end, was the only one who had never doubted him.

Cheng Chi’s gaze toward Cheng Xu grew several degrees colder.

He asked Cheng Xu in a measured voice: “Then do you know Cheng Lu’s true intentions?”