Li Shi naturally agreed wholeheartedly. Not only did she give her over a dozen silver ingots to reward the people around Cheng Chi, she also took two fir wood boxes and gave them to Zhou Shaojin, saying, “Inside these boxes are two century-old ginseng roots. When you go over later, bring them to your Uncle Chi. I know that your Uncle Chi helping my elder brother wasn’t for this—these small items aren’t enough to express the Li family’s gratitude to your Uncle Chi. But this is a token of the Li family’s appreciation. I’m just borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha, so your Uncle Chi must accept them no matter what.”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t know why Cheng Chi would help Li Shi’s brother.

Whatever the Li family sent would naturally be disposed of by Uncle Chi.

She was just helping to bring them over, that was all.

Zhou Shaojin agreed. Taking Nanny Shang, she rode in a sedan chair to Chaoyangmen.

Cheng Chi also hadn’t seen Zhou Shaojin for several days. Hearing she was coming over, he declined a social engagement and waited for her at home.

Zhou Shaojin felt shy in her heart. She didn’t dare say that she had been thinking about the person before her terribly, that all this talk of giving thanks was just an excuse—she merely wanted to come see him. Therefore, when she encountered Cheng Chi, she felt somewhat flustered. Taking the fir wood boxes that Li Shi had entrusted her to bring, she stuffed them into Cheng Chi’s hands and said, “This is what Madam asked me to bring over. She said to thank you for introducing Liu Yong to Uncle Li from the Li family!”

Seeing her bashful and timid, her lovely face like a flower, her pair of clear and bright large eyes half-lowered looking at her feet, Cheng Chi couldn’t help but curl the corners of his mouth. A playful impulse arose in his heart. He slowly bent down, blowing hot breath toward her ear and said, “What does Elder Master Li have to do with me? I merely wanted to earn a kind word from my Shaojin… Who knew that when we met face to face, she didn’t have a single word of greeting, just stiffly stuffed two boxes at me… I waited at home in vain for so long…”

That familiar scent, that unfamiliar tingling sensation, made Zhou Shaojin’s face turn completely red. Her lips moved but she didn’t know what to say. After a long while, she raised her eyelids, only to see the laughter in Cheng Chi’s eyes.

Zhou Shaojin was so annoyed that she pushed him away.

Cheng Chi smiled gently, though his heart felt somewhat lost.

His little girl finally knew to push him away. But would she show him attitude in the future whenever things weren’t to her liking?

However, compared to momentary pleasure, it was better to let Zhou Shaojin be able to express herself smoothly—in the future, the two of them would have a long time together. He couldn’t always be guessing her thoughts, and she couldn’t always wait for him to come rescue her. Appropriate rejection, appropriate affirmation—these would make their relationship more lasting.

He took advantage of the momentum to step back two paces and pulled Zhou Shaojin’s hand, saying, “You’ve come at just the right time. A few days ago I painted a golden pheasant picture. I want to give it to little Guan for his hundred-day celebration. Help me see how it is?”

Zhou Shaojin was led by him to the large writing desk.

On the small rice paper were painted two blooming peony flowers. A golden pheasant stretched its head out from beneath the peony flowers, raising its head to gaze at a pair of fluttering colorful butterflies in the upper right corner. Its posture was charmingly amusing, lively and adorable.

Zhou Shaojin hadn’t expected that Cheng Chi painted so well too.

She stood dazed for a moment before coming back to her senses and saying, “Uncle Chi, I’ve heard people say that those who are skilled in martial arts usually have to spend a lot of effort practicing. How do you still have time to read books, paint, and even passed the imperial examination…”

Zhou Shaojin blinked her eyes as she looked at Cheng Chi.

This was even more moving than directly praising his painting.

Cheng Chi laughed heartily and said, “If you want to do something, you can always find time to squeeze it out.”

But if one wasn’t clever, even if they squeezed out the time, they wouldn’t be as formidable as Uncle Chi, would they?

Zhou Shaojin’s gaze at Cheng Chi was nakedly full of admiration.

Cheng Chi’s mood improved even more. He said, “Then when the time comes, I’ll send this painting over.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled and nodded. Seeing that beside the large writing desk were arranged brushes, paste, and other items, she couldn’t help hesitating and saying, “Uncle Chi, are you planning to… mount the painting yourself?”

As the saying goes, “Three parts painting, seven parts mounting.” What kind of painting matched what kind of scroll, whether to mount on silk or paper—these were all profound skills. Usually, top-tier mounting masters were worth their weight in gold and hard to find. Sometimes one would wait most of a year before it was your painting’s turn.

Cheng Chi smiled and said, “Since I painted it myself, there’s no need to be so troublesome. I’ll just mount it myself!”

But without real skill, one wouldn’t dare take it on, would they?

Otherwise, if it wasn’t mounted properly, a painting done this year would be ruined tomorrow—what would be the point of that!

Thinking of this, Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but eagerly say, “Uncle Chi, let me help you mount it!”

Cheng Chi was somewhat surprised, but looking at Zhou Shaojin’s small face that had become bright with happiness, he suddenly felt this wasn’t bad either—in the future, after he painted, he could mount them together with her. Moreover, he really liked ancient inscriptions and seals. Shaojin was meticulous—if she was interested in mounting, they could also restore ancient rare texts together.

Thinking of these things, Cheng Chi also became enthusiastic.

The two of them selected materials together, applied paste, trimmed edges, mounted the painting… Cheng Chi explained the points to pay attention to while instructing her to use the knife to press the paper. During this, he even encircled Zhou Shaojin in his arms, holding her hands to teach her how to practice mounting paper using discarded scraps.

Zhou Shaojin’s face was burning hot, but the breath against her back was so clean, the body warmth so comforting, making her feel as if she had drunk a cup of aged pear blossom white wine. Her head felt slightly intoxicated, heat rushing directly to her face.

And Cheng Chi, looking at Zhou Shaojin’s lowered eyelids and her particularly docile and tranquil small face, wanted nothing more than to pick her up and kiss her thoroughly, to fiercely press her into his body.

How could there be such an obedient and understanding little girl?

He forcefully restrained himself from kissing Zhou Shaojin. Instead, smiling, he released her and walked to the side to continue mounting the golden pheasant painting he had done, letting Zhou Shaojin practice mounting paintings on her own.

Outside the room, green bamboo swayed, the thick shade tranquil, giving one a feeling of time standing still and peaceful years.

Zhou Shaojin quietly raised her head to glance at Cheng Chi.

He was earnestly mounting the painting.

His moon-white Songjiang fine cotton robe sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing his clean and solid arms, making his slender fingers appear even more steady and powerful.

Zhou Shaojin’s eyelids reddened, her mood somewhat subtle.

Uncle Chi always found excuses to “bully” her—why was he being… so quiet today?

Did he have matters to attend to today? Or had her pushing him away made him feel somewhat embarrassed?

Zhou Shaojin was very conflicted.

She both wanted Cheng Chi to treat her as he had before, yet also felt that it would be good if in the future she could always keep Uncle Chi company quietly like this… Distracted, she wrinkled the paper while mounting it.

Zhou Shaojin was extremely embarrassed and didn’t dare raise her eyelids to look at Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi came over intimately, held her and kissed her pink cheek, saying warmly, “Not bad, not bad. At least you got the paper mounted on—much better than I imagined!” As he spoke, he casually cut a piece of rice paper for her and said, “Practice a bit more. I’m still counting on you to mount paintings for me in the future to save some silver!”

Uncle Chi was spouting nonsense to her again.

Zhou Shaojin pouted and said, “Does Uncle Chi really lack that bit of silver? You’re just trying to rope me in as free labor!”

Cheng Chi teased her, “Not bad! Finally learned to keep accounts. You know I’m roping you in as labor now!”

Zhou Shaojin bantered with him, “When could I not keep accounts? Before, I was just giving way to you so relatives wouldn’t ruin their relationship!”

“Now you’re not afraid of ruining the relationship?” Cheng Chi smiled and said, “It’s evident that Sage Confucius spoke truly: Only women and petty people are difficult to nurture. Draw them near and they become disrespectful; keep them distant and they resent you.”

Making her sound as if she were pampered and domineering.

Zhou Shaojin quietly hid the paper-cutting knife beneath that pile of rice paper.

Cheng Chi acted as if he hadn’t seen it. After a while, he looked around, “Where did my paper-cutting knife go?”

Zhou Shaojin lowered her head, pressing her lips together as she smiled.

Cheng Chi then instructed her, “Shaojin, go to the small study in the inner quarters and get me another paper-cutting knife.”

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened.

Cheng Chi said with a straight face, “Hurry! I’m waiting to use it! It seems to be on the curio shelf in the small study in the inner quarters. If it’s not there, look in the desk drawer. If worst comes to worst, it’s by the bedside in the inner chamber. I think I used it last night…”

Zhou Shaojin secretly glared at Cheng Chi and huffily left the study.

Cheng Chi couldn’t help but laugh silently.

Zhou Shaojin walked out of the bamboo grove.

The early summer sun shining on her body already made one break out in a light sweat.

Qingfeng and Langyue were standing at the entrance talking about something.

Both of them had shot up in height. Qingfeng was a head taller than Langyue, with distinct features and a serious expression. Langyue had a round face and smiled before speaking, looking amiable and approachable.

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes rolled around. Smiling, she called out “Qingfeng” and said, “Uncle Chi doesn’t know where he put the paper-cutting knife. Go help find one!”

Qingfeng responded “Yes” and turned to leave the courtyard.

Langyue smiled warmly, calling out “Second Cousin Miss” as he came forward to greet her.

She sat down at the stone table in the bamboo grove.

But before she could sit down, Langyue suddenly called out, “Second Cousin Miss, the stone bench is cold. Let me get you a cushion.”

Best to let Cheng Chi wait there in vain!

Zhou Shaojin giggled and said, “Also help me brew a cup of tea. I’ll wait until Qingfeng brings the paper-cutting knife before going back in.”

Langyue suspected nothing. Not only did he bring a cushion, he also brought a cup of tea as she instructed and chatted with Zhou Shaojin about some household matters.

Cheng Chi wasn’t really having Zhou Shaojin go find the paper-cutting knife. As soon as she left the study, he prepared to pretend to accidentally find it. Who knew that when he looked up, Zhou Shaojin had already turned out of the bamboo grove. When he walked over, he saw Zhou Shaojin smiling sweetly as she had Qingfeng go help her find the paper-cutting knife.

He looked at Zhou Shaojin’s cheerful smile and smiled along with her, secretly shaking his head. Letting her have her fun, he turned and went back to the study.

Before long, Zhou Shaojin returned, calling out “It’s really hot” while handing the paper-cutting knife to Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi laughed helplessly, reaching out to touch her forehead, saying, “Where is it hot? Let me wipe the sweat for you!”

Zhou Shaojin knew she had given herself away. Smiling, she ran to the side.

Cheng Chi then found that paper-cutting knife from the pile of rice paper and smiled, “Oh my, how is there another paper-cutting knife in this room!”

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t stop laughing.

Cheng Chi smiled and caught her, kissing her thoroughly before pressing her down onto the grand master’s chair in front of the large writing desk, saying, “Quickly learn how to mount paintings, or else there’ll be no dinner tonight!”

Zhou Shaojin’s lips were a gorgeous color as she glared at him coquettishly.

Like a flower in a meticulous painting, once dyed with color, it suddenly became vivid and alive.

Cheng Chi’s heart pounded.

Perhaps all that testing and cherishing was so that she could bloom like this moment?

He smiled slightly.