The Cheng sisters were all quite surprised.

Cheng Zheng hurriedly smiled and expressed her thanks.

Cheng Xiao glanced at Cheng Sheng and said: “How can we feel comfortable letting you give us gifts—we’re the elder sisters. By rights, we should be the ones giving to you.”

This was Zhou Shaojin’s first time engaging in such social niceties. Emboldened, she said: “They’re nothing special, just a token of my sincere feelings.”

Cheng Sheng smiled with pursed lips and said: “Shaojin, you’ve really grown up! You even know to give us gifts now.”

Zhou Shaojin’s face grew slightly warm.

Previously, she truly hadn’t understood these things. She had felt that Cheng Sheng was already heaven’s pampered daughter, with everyone in Jiuru Lane competing to curry favor with her. If she herself also pushed forward, it would only make people look down on her. So during those years when she and Cheng Sheng were classmates, not only had she never given Cheng Sheng anything, but sometimes when Cheng Sheng received things sent by her parents from the capital and shared them with her, she had refused quite directly.

Who would bother coaxing someone completely unrelated to themselves?

Gradually, Cheng Sheng had also interacted with her less.

Zhou Shaojin thought of Cheng Chi again.

If Uncle Chi hadn’t coaxed her along, even if she had been reborn, her heart would probably still be full of resentment, and she would still be an unlikeable person.

Her heart suddenly felt as sweet as honey.

When would Uncle Chi be able to return?

She didn’t want to go out anymore.

She wanted to make a few more pairs of shoes for Uncle Chi before he returned.

She also wanted to embroider a few prettier pouches for Uncle Chi to hold small items… They must be embroidered beautifully, eye-catching at first glance.

Uncle Chi appeared not to care about anything, but actually he was very particular.

The embroidered items must be ones he would like.

Zhou Shaojin went to Double Elm Lane with the corners of her mouth turned up.

Because Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Zheng had gone out, Li Shi had taken Zhou Youjin to visit Double Elm Lane. Hearing that Zhou Shaojin had returned, they all went to the hanging flower gate to greet her.

Zhou Shaojin presented several pots of clivia to Zhou Chujin as if offering treasures.

Zhou Chujin was extremely happy to receive the flowers.

Her younger sister was becoming more and more sensible. In the future, she wouldn’t have to worry about her being looked down upon by her mother-in-law after marriage due to not understanding social conventions.

Zhou Shaojin then, as if performing a magic trick, produced from the carriage a palm-sized glass bowl containing one red and one black goldfish.

“This is for Youjin!” She bent down and handed the glass bowl to Zhou Youjin. “Do you like it?”

“Mm!” Zhou Youjin blinked her large eyes, staring at the glass bowl and nodding continuously, not daring to take it.

Li Shi was overjoyed.

Though the item wasn’t expensive, it showed that she regarded Youjin as her own younger sister.

She hurriedly took the glass bowl on behalf of her daughter and smiled at Zhou Youjin: “Quickly thank Second Sister!”

Zhou Youjin called out “Second Sister” in her childish voice, stammering: “Th-thank you!”

Zhou Shaojin smiled and said: “I saw Cousin Zheng specially taking her family’s Dalang and Erlang to buy goldfish, so I also bought two to bring back for Youjin.”

“You’ve taken such trouble.” Li Shi’s eyes were full of smiles.

Zhou Chujin quickly invited Zhou Shaojin inside, saying: “Whatever you have to say, sit down and talk. Standing here isn’t proper.” Then she said to Zhou Shaojin: “I was just discussing with Madam, wondering whether you’d come back for dinner.” She then instructed Chi Xiang: “Have the kitchen add a few dishes that Second Miss likes to eat.” She added, “You and Madam should have dinner here before going back.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded with a beaming smile. She took Zhou Youjin’s hand to go see Guan Ge’er, and didn’t come out until the servants had set out the meal.

When she returned to Elm Money Lane, as Fan Liushi came in to attend to Zhou Shaojin’s rest, Zhou Shaojin asked Fan Liushi, who was making her bed: “Was I also very late to start talking when I was small?”

“Who said that?” Fan Liushi smiled and patted the pillow, placing it squarely at the head of the bed. She smiled and said, “Second Miss was so clever when she was little. At nine months you could already call for people, and at one year you could already walk. The first words you spoke were ‘Father.’ The Master was so delighted—he held you all day long and didn’t want to let go, always saying he’d never seen such a beautiful, clever child. If Madam were still alive, who knows how happy she would be…”

Her voice lowered, and moisture glistened at the corners of her eyes.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart also ached somewhat.

If her birth mother were still alive, everything would be different… but then she also wouldn’t have met Uncle Chi…

Clearly, fate played tricks on people!

She sighed softly, saying with some concern: “I see that Youjin is already this old, yet her speech isn’t as quick as other children…”

Fan Liushi smiled and said: “This is because the Zhou family is wealthy—the young masters and misses have never lacked for attendants. They’ve had adults accompanying them since they were in swaddling clothes, so they speak and walk early. You should go look in our countryside—whose adults don’t have to work in the fields? Children are tied with ropes and secured under trees to be raised. Some don’t start speaking until they’re three or five years old. But have any of them turned out worse than others?”

Zhou Shaojin laughed and said: “Perhaps I was overthinking it!” Then she joked with Fan Liushi: “You just said I was clever, but it turns out those were just polite words! It was because I had adults playing with me from childhood that I spoke and walked so early!”

Fan Liushi smiled and said: “Second Miss, you’re really finding fault where there is none—even among wealthy families, there are few who call for people and walk as early as Second Miss did.”

Zhou Shaojin laughed heartily.

Fan Liushi was also pleased, and privately said to Nanny Shang: “It seems Second Miss quite enjoyed going out to play with the eldest young mistress of the Cheng family and the others. Today she even joked with me!”

Nanny Shang smiled without speaking, thinking to herself that Fourth Master was truly formidable—he even brought out Eldest Young Mistress Zheng.

In the future, Elm Money Lane would probably become livelier and livelier!

Sure enough, the next day Cheng Sheng came to visit her, saying: “The swaddling blanket you embroidered for Rong’er’s third-day ceremony at Second Sister’s house really brought glory to the Cheng family. My mother-in-law’s birthday is coming up in a few days. Could you help me design a pattern too? I’ll treat you to crystal duck at Fuchun River.” She spoke very sincerely.

Zhou Shaojin hadn’t expected that one day Cheng Sheng would ask her for help.

She couldn’t help but smile until her eyes curved into crescents, saying: “This is nothing! What kind of design does your mother-in-law like?”

The two spent an entire afternoon in the sitting room, and Cheng Sheng left satisfied.

However, a maid came from Double Elm Lane to report: “Our Grand Madam will arrive the day after tomorrow first thing in the morning. The servant who came ahead to report has already arrived at Double Elm Lane.”

Zhou Shaojin went to Li Shi’s place for dinner and discussed with her the arrangements for receiving Grand Mrs. Liao.

Supervising the maids and servants to clean the residence, purchasing chickens, ducks, fish, and meat, rearranging the household furnishings… Zhou Shaojin and Li Shi were busy for a day, and unexpectedly gradually came to know each other’s preferences.

This could be considered an unexpected gain!

Zhou Shaojin found it quite interesting and decided to tell Cheng Chi about it when he returned.

The next day after breakfast, she and Li Shi took Zhou Youjin to Elm Money Lane.

Liao Shaotang had already taken the steward and servants to the West Straight Gate to meet the arriving party. They chatted with Zhou Chujin while waiting for Grand Mrs. Liao.

Nearly at noon, Liao Shaotang finally returned.

Zhou Shaojin and the others went to the hanging flower gate to welcome her.

Grand Mrs. Liao, travel-worn and dusty, descended from the carriage with a face full of fatigue.

Zhou Shaojin was greatly shocked at the sight.

Grand Mrs. Liao looked much thinner than when she had been in Zhenjiang. Perhaps because of long-term frowning, a deep crease had newly appeared between her brows. Though her face was powdered and her lips rouged, not only did she not appear more spirited, but instead she seemed even more aged.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but look toward Zhou Chujin.

Zhou Chujin was obviously also very surprised. She hurriedly stepped forward to support Grand Mrs. Liao.

Grand Mrs. Liao gently patted Zhou Chujin’s hand and allowed her to help her through the hanging flower gate.

Li Shi and Zhou Shaojin came forward to pay their respects to her.

Mrs. Liao responded with a few smiling pleasantries. Li Shi then stood up with Zhou Shaojin to take their leave: “Knowing that you’ve arrived safely, we’re relieved! Tomorrow at noon I’ll host a welcome banquet for you at home!”

Seeing that Li Shi and Zhou Shaojin weren’t living at Elm Tree Lane, Grand Mrs. Liao couldn’t hide her surprise.

Liao Shaotang was also happy to praise his wife. He smiled and said: “Originally, Mother-in-law and my two sisters-in-law all lived here to take care of Chujin. Later, when you said you were coming, Mother-in-law and my two sisters-in-law felt that you were accustomed to managing a large household in Zhenjiang and worried you might not be comfortable when first arriving in the capital. So they moved to a residence under Shaojin’s name, right next door in Elm Money Lane. It’s only a quarter-hour away from here. Today, hearing that you were coming, Mother-in-law and my two sisters-in-law came early this morning to welcome you!”

A residence under Shaojin’s name… but this Shaojin hasn’t even married yet?

Wasn’t this spoiling her too much?

But this was ultimately the Zhou family’s business. Grand Mrs. Liao had always been someone who kept her thoughts to herself. Her face showed nothing as she spoke with Li Shi: “You’ve helped me care for our Chujin—whenever I think of it, my heart fills with gratitude. How can you go live in Elm Money Lane? It’s not as if there aren’t side rooms here. You should move back. Then I’d have someone to talk with too!”

Li Shi politely declined, saying she had arranged tomorrow’s welcome banquet for Grand Mrs. Liao at home.

Grand Mrs. Liao readily agreed.

But as soon as Li Shi had just walked out of the lane entrance, she immediately instructed Liao Shaotang to close the main gate. Her smile also collapsed as she summoned her son and daughter-in-law to the sitting room, saying: “Your father is beyond saving!”

Liao Shaotang was greatly embarrassed and glanced at Zhou Chujin.

Zhou Chujin hurriedly said: “Mother, I’ll go make you a cup of tea.”

Grand Mrs. Liao, seeing her son’s expression, nodded somewhat distractedly.

Zhou Chujin then stayed in the tea room for more than half an hour, figuring that the mother and son should have finished whatever they needed to discuss, before finally carrying in the tea tray.

Liao Shaotang sat there with his head hung low, looking very dejected. Grand Mrs. Liao’s eyes were red-rimmed, as if she had been crying.

Seeing Zhou Chujin enter, both mother and son rallied their spirits.

Liao Shaotang said: “You should settle down and stay here for now. You can take the opportunity to guide Shaojin on how to care for Guan Ge’er. As for what comes later—we’ll deal with soldiers when they come and block floods with earth. There will always be a solution. You just need to live peacefully and contentedly.”

Grand Mrs. Liao smiled bitterly and said: “I never imagined that after being strong-willed my entire life, I would ultimately be defeated by your father.”

Zhou Chujin didn’t know what to say. After Grand Mrs. Liao drank her tea, she attended to Grand Mrs. Liao’s washing and grooming. Only after she was clean and refreshed did she accompany Grand Mrs. Liao to the east wing to see Guan Ge’er.

“This child is truly wonderful!” At first sight, Grand Mrs. Liao couldn’t look away. She kept praising the child and thanking Zhou Chujin for giving her such a sturdy, healthy grandson. She had the attending nanny bring in a box, saying: “This is a complete set of ruby jewelry. It’s for you!”

Such a valuable item—Zhou Chujin adamantly refused it.

Grand Mrs. Liao smiled and said: “You silly child, when elders bestow gifts, one cannot refuse. Just accept it.”

Liao Shaotang also urged her to accept it.

Unable to refuse out of courtesy, Zhou Chujin accepted the box.

Grand Mrs. Liao then smiled and said: “That’s right! In a few days when Jiashan gets married, you can wear it to the wedding banquet!”