At this moment, Zhou Shaojin at Elm Tree Alley couldn’t sleep peacefully during her afternoon nap either.
She asked Nanny Shang, “Will Fourth Master really not return to Jining until next March?”
While tucking in the corner of her quilt, Nanny Shang smiled and said, “That’s what Fourth Master said, so it shouldn’t be wrong.”
Zhou Shaojin said “Oh,” and obediently closed her eyes.
But her mind was full of Cheng Chi’s every word and smile.
She’d heard that Jining Prefecture was quite harsh—she wondered if Uncle Chi had gotten sunburned or lost weight.
She really wanted to go see Uncle Chi.
But Uncle Chi had also said that since maternal grandmother and the others were staying at Elm Money Alley, it wasn’t convenient for him to come see her. He told her to eat and sleep well, and in her leisure time have the maids help with needlework, just waiting for him to come fetch her.
Zhou Shaojin smiled, then couldn’t help laughing softly, even less able to sleep.
Footsteps sounded outside, mixed with Cheng Jia’s voice: “…Her heart is really so at ease, how can she even sleep? When I left home to marry, I didn’t close my eyes for several days. I don’t know how she grew up this way—she’d probably count money for someone who sold her!”
What had Cheng Jia encountered now?
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but laugh, and simply called for Ji Xiang, who was on duty in the room, to help her dress.
She’d just put on her clothes when Cheng Jia burst in, saying, “Shaojin, Seventeenth Aunt Gu and I have arranged to go offer incense at Hongluo Temple tomorrow. Do you want to secretly come with us?”
Cheng Jia had inquired and learned that Hongluo Temple was truly very efficacious for seeking children.
But Zhou Shaojin wouldn’t go crazy with them, smiling and saying, “You two go ahead. I’ll stay home and keep maternal grandmother company.”
Cheng Jia felt somewhat bored, saying, “Good thing Seventeenth Aunt is accompanying me, otherwise I’d be bored to death!”
Zhou Shaojin pretended to be angry and said, “Did you come to have fun or to see me off to marriage? How come you have no sincerity at all?”
Just as she was speaking, Seventeenth Aunt Gu came in carrying a basket containing seven or eight pairs of shoes.
These were ordered by Zhou Chujin from the capital’s most famous needlework shop, to be used for acknowledging relatives during Zhou Shaojin’s double morning celebration.
She smiled and teased Cheng Jia to Zhou Shaojin: “You still don’t know her temperament—as long as there’s something fun, she doesn’t care about anything else!”
Zhou Shaojin quickly asked, “The shoes and socks are all finished?”
“All finished!” Seventeenth Aunt Gu said. Ji Xiang quickly stepped forward to take the basket from Seventeenth Aunt Gu’s hands, softly apologizing.
Seventeenth Aunt Gu smiled and said, “It’s just a small favor. You needn’t be so polite.”
Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Jia then examined the shoes and socks made by the needlework shop.
The women’s had bean-green uppers embroidered with square-victory patterns in gold thread; the men’s had blue-gray uppers embroidered with calamus patterns in silver thread. Not only was the embroidery exquisite, but the colors were both novel and dignified.
Cheng Jia couldn’t help saying, “Which shop’s handiwork is this? It’s really well done. When I have time I’ll have them make me a few pairs too.”
Seventeenth Aunt Gu smiled and said, “I don’t know about that. Why don’t you go ask Big Aunt?”
Cheng Jia sent Cui Huan to inquire.
Ji Xiang then carried the basket to the storehouse in the back courtyard where the dowry and other items were kept.
Zhou Shaojin brought up the matter of offering incense: “Are just the two of you going? Why not wait until after I’m married and then you can go? I heard the vegetarian dishes at Hongluo Temple are very delicious. Going in such a rush like this, can you really enjoy yourselves?”
“Third Aunt is also coming.” Seventeenth Aunt Gu smiled and said, “We’re mainly going to offer incense and will return in the afternoon.”
But Cheng Jia smiled and said, “If we don’t go now, when will we? In a few days you’ll have your coming-of-age ceremony, then immediately after comes leaving home to marry, and I still have to go to Chaoyangmen to drink the celebratory wine… I calculated—aside from these two days, I really don’t have any free time!”
Zhou Shaojin said in surprise, “You’re going to Chaoyangmen to drink the celebratory wine?”
Could it be that someone from the third branch was coming to the celebration?
When had Yuan Shi reconciled with the third branch?
How had she not heard anyone mention it?
Cheng Jia said with displeasure, “I was supposed to stay at Elm Money Alley for the celebratory wine. But Li Jing said that I’m surnamed Cheng and he’s the Cheng family’s son-in-law. There’s no reason for Uncle Cheng to marry while we drink celebratory wine at your place. He wants me to play at your place for a few days then go with him to the Cheng family to deliver congratulatory gifts…”
But Seventeenth Aunt Gu had an exquisite heart. Hearing this, she understood Li Jing’s intention.
She felt that Cheng Jia going to Chaoyangmen to drink wine would be more useful than staying at Elm Money Alley.
Before Cheng Jia could complain, she already smiled and said, “This is actually good. Taking a wife is livelier than marrying off a daughter. On the Elm Money Alley side there’s mother and me. But at Chaoyangmen there’s only Big Aunt and a few others, and Big Aunt is separated by age after all. It’s not convenient to ask her to do things. If you go, you can properly keep Shaojin company.”
Hearing this, Cheng Jia became happy and discussed going to Hongluo Temple to offer incense with Seventeenth Aunt Gu.
Zhou Shaojin thought about it and also understood Li Jing’s intention.
She couldn’t help but smile as she looked at Cheng Jia.
With Li Jing by Cheng Jia’s side, even if something went wrong, Cheng Jia wouldn’t end up heartbroken and desperate like in the previous life!
Her rebirth was indeed a good thing.
The next day, Zhou Shaojin cheerfully saw the two off.
That evening when Seventeenth Aunt Gu and Cheng Jia returned, they laughingly talked about how enjoyable Hongluo Temple was.
Old Madam Guan thought that Seventeenth Aunt Gu hadn’t been this lively in quite some time. With a wave of her hand, she said, “Then let’s stay in the capital a few more days and return after the New Year.”
Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin were naturally delighted beyond expectation.
On the fourth day of the eleventh month, Zhou Shaojin had her coming-of-age ceremony.
The hairpin was sent by Old Madam Guo.
A red gold hairpin inlaid with rubies, embedded with one or two paired pomegranate flowers, symbolizing many sons and much blessing.
The one who pinned the hairpin for her was Zhou Chujin.
The woman who had been both mother and sister to her in both lives.
The one who spoke the congratulatory words for her was Cheng Jia, her good friend.
Although there was no grand banquet, these were all her relatives.
Zhou Shaojin’s tears couldn’t help but fall.
At this time in her previous life, she was still struggling in purgatory.
Today, fortunately she’d met Uncle Chi.
Fortunately she’d decided to properly repay the Cheng family.
Zhou Chujin also began crying.
As of today, she’d finally lived up to stepmother Zhuang Shi’s entrustment, properly raising her younger sister until it was time for her to marry.
Madam Mian thought of when Zhou Shaojin first came to the Cheng family—a child as frail as a kitten in a bright red swaddling cloth. She’d worried the child wouldn’t grow up. Now she stood graceful and elegant, having become a young lady. Her eyes also moistened.
Cheng Jia paid no heed and simply hugged Zhou Shaojin and started crying, saying, “You shouldn’t marry Uncle Chi after all. Didn’t we agree before to marry into the same place? You should come back to Luoyang with me! Luoyang is an ancient capital with many prestigious families that have been passed down for hundreds of years…”
Seventeenth Aunt Gu immediately pulled Cheng Jia away and scolded, “Talking nonsense again! Be careful or Uncle Chi will never let you through the Cheng family’s gates again.” As she spoke, she took out a handkerchief to wipe Zhou Shaojin’s tears, saying, “You’ve come of age—this is a happy occasion. Stop crying quickly. Grandmother is still waiting for you to pay your respects to her!”
Cheng Jia pouted.
Everyone laughed.
With this commotion, everyone’s mood improved, and they happily went to Old Madam Guan’s quarters.
Old Madam Guan pulled Zhou Shaojin to sit beside her, holding her hand and sighing, “In the blink of an eye, Shaojin has grown up. From now on you can’t be timid and retreating like when you were little, hiding from everything. After marriage, you’re an adult. You must be filial to elders, care for your husband, educate children, and maintain harmonious relations with relatives and neighbors. You must have your own opinions when handling matters…”
She spoke at length about the principles of being a wife and daughter-in-law. Zhou Shaojin listened, constantly nodding. Besides giving Zhou Shaojin a jade pendant as a birthday gift, she also gave a set of red coral hairpins and pearl flowers.
Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened in surprise.
Wasn’t this what Uncle Chi bought for her last time when they returned from Mount Putuo and passed by Fuyuan Street, which she then gave to maternal grandmother and Aunt Mian?
Old Madam Guan laughed cheerfully and said, “We know you’re filial. It’s just that your aunt and I are getting on in years—it’s not the time for us to wear these things. Now that it’s your birthday, we’re using borrowed flowers to present to Buddha, giving them to you!”
As soon as her words fell, Zhou Shaojin felt a coolness on her hand. Looking up, she saw it was that string of eighteen red coral prayer beads.
Without her noticing, elder sister had already taken it out and put it on her.
“At the time, I could tell from your expression that you liked these prayer beads.” Zhou Chujin smiled and said, “I kept them to give to you. Perfect timing—now the whole set is complete.”
Zhou Shaojin hugged her sister’s arm, not knowing what to say.
Old Madam Guan smiled with satisfaction and said, “All right, all right, let’s take our seats! Next year on Shaojin’s birthday, she’ll be a member of the Cheng family!”
Everyone laughed heartily.
Zhou Shaojin’s face turned completely red with embarrassment.
That evening after she saw Cheng Jia off and carefully removed the red coral jewelry set to place in a box, Madam Mian came over.
She dismissed the maids and servants attending Zhou Shaojin, smiling as she brought out a book and said to her in a low voice, “You’re about to leave home to marry. Originally I planned to tell you tomorrow evening, but you and your sister and I have to go to Chaoyangmen tomorrow to send off your dowry. As for matters of the wedding night, I’ll tell you about them today. This way you won’t be flustered and at a loss when the time comes…”
As she spoke, she tucked the book into Zhou Shaojin’s embrace, saying, “Open it and take a look!”
Zhou Shaojin still had memories from her previous life, so naturally knew what this was.
She was so frightened she shuddered, and the book fell to the ground, revealing entangled figures.
Madam Mian was startled, then laughed.
But Zhou Shaojin’s face had turned somewhat pale.
She’d only been thinking about quickly marrying Uncle Chi—how had she forgotten about this part?
After becoming husband and wife, naturally there wasn’t just gentle embraces and passionate kisses, but also… marital intimacy…
She felt all the bones in her body begin to ache.
Madam Mian naturally didn’t know about her experiences and thought she was just frightened. She gently pulled her into her embrace, laughing softly and saying, “Don’t be afraid—every young lady has to go through this… Just remember to be compliant with your husband… Don’t make a big fuss and call in the attending servants, embarrassing your husband…”
At Cheng Chi’s age, and having traveled for business for years, he should have experience.
Madam Mian pondered this as she picked up the illustrated book, flipping through it while speaking privately with her.
Zhou Shaojin forcibly restrained herself from pushing Madam Mian away.
But by the time Madam Mian finished speaking, she was drenched in sweat, as if she’d been pulled from ice water.
Madam Mian felt suspicious.
Other families’ young ladies were all too shy to lift their heads, but how was Shaojin… seemingly terrified beyond measure!