Hearing this, Cheng Jing couldn’t help but frown.

Before he could speak, Cheng Chi was already smiling: “Elder Brother, you and sister-in-law came to fetch Mother, didn’t you? The court will seal its offices soon, so you must be very busy these days. I won’t delay you—I just returned yesterday and originally wanted to visit you today, but feared you’d be busy. I was planning to see you when I send Mother to Xinglin Alley in a few days, but I didn’t expect you to come first? Today I need to go to Grand Secretary Song’s… Let me accompany you to see Mother first, shall we?”

Cheng Jing didn’t refuse.

The group headed toward Tingxiang Courtyard.

On the way, Cheng Jing asked Cheng Chi: “What time did Grand Secretary Song invite you? It wouldn’t be good to arrive late. After seeing Mother, you should go ahead. We can talk in detail at New Year’s Eve dinner.”

Cheng Chi nodded.

Cheng Jing continued: “Do you know what Grand Secretary Song wants to see you about?”

“It should be about Lord Yang’s matter.” Cheng Chi speculated. “The reason for this civil unrest was because the Grand Canal Administrator’s office withheld the laborers’ food allowance, causing people to freeze to death. Some suspect Lord Yang of corruption.”

Cheng Jing sneered: “If it weren’t corruption, how would it reach the point of people dying? Zichuan, though we’re officials, we must have a conscience. At this time, don’t muddle-headedly vouch for that Yang Shoushan just because of his relationship with Song Jingran.”

“I know!” Cheng Chi smiled self-deprecatingly. “I’m just a seventh-rank censor now. Even if I wanted to vouch for Yang Shoushan, I wouldn’t have the qualifications!”

Cheng Jing also laughed: “You’ve been clever since childhood. Handle things as you see fit. Don’t blame me for nagging—I’m doing this for your good. I fear that having just entered officialdom, you haven’t seen the situation clearly and might be used as someone’s pawn.”

As the brothers talked, they arrived at Tingxiang Courtyard in no time.

The servants at Tingxiang Courtyard had already received word. Nanny Lü was waiting at the entrance.

Cheng Jing called out “Nanny,” greeting Nanny Lü.

Nanny Lü was extremely excited and trotted over to lift the curtain for Cheng Jing.

Cheng Jing entered the room, led by Zhenzhu to the sitting room.

Old Madam Guo sat on the large heated platform by the window, waiting for them.

Cheng Jing and Yuan Shi respectfully performed full courtesies.

Cheng Chi helped Cheng Jing up.

Zhou Shaojin hesitated for a moment, then went to assist Yuan Shi.

The two stood before Old Madam Guo one in front of the other. Only then did Cheng Jing speak, saying that New Year’s was approaching and Cheng Chi had returned. He invited Old Madam Guo to return to Xinglin Alley for New Year’s, and also invited Cheng Chi and Zhou Shaojin to come for reunion dinner at noon on New Year’s Eve.

Old Madam Guo had already prepared to go to Xinglin Alley when Cheng Chi returned. Since her eldest son had come to invite her, she didn’t stand on ceremony and decided to have lunch at Chaoyangmen the next day before going.

Cheng Jing persuaded her for a long while before Old Madam Guo changed her mind and agreed to depart after breakfast the next day.

His expression relaxed, and his speech became more casual: “Mother, we’ve already cleaned out the main chamber in the rear courtyard for you to stay in. Second Brother was afraid you wouldn’t be used to it, so he brought back a Pekingese dog, snow white, just like the one you raised when we were children.”

Old Madam Guo was somewhat surprised to hear this.

When she married into the Cheng family, she was still a grandson’s wife. After coming to the capital, she lived in the main chamber of the rear courtyard. Later, though Cheng Xun went from being a young master to a master to an old master, she was too lazy to move and continued living in the main chamber of the rear courtyard.

Old Madam Guo’s expression couldn’t help but soften. She smiled: “You’ve cleaned out the main chamber of the rear courtyard—where will Second Son’s family live?”

Cheng Jing smiled: “They’ve already found a residence. During this big New Year’s celebration, they can’t very well move now, can they? They’ll squeeze into the east wing for a few days first. After New Year’s, they’ll pick an auspicious day and move to Fourth Alley on this side.”

Having just divided the clan this year, there were bound to be oversights.

Old Madam Guo said nothing more. Seeing it was getting late, Cheng Chi rose to take his leave, leaving Zhou Shaojin to entertain the Cheng Jing couple.

Cheng Jing had taken the day off and stayed with Old Madam Guo the whole time, talking about the brothers’ childhood and how Old Madam Guo had guided him in his youth. By lunchtime, Zhou Shaojin noticed that Old Madam Guo was already genial and affectionate toward the Cheng Jing couple.

Perhaps it was because a mother could never truly stay angry with her son?

Zhou Shaojin smiled and instructed the maids to set lunch in the sitting room so that Old Madam Guo and her son could continue talking after the meal.

Yuan Shi came over to help.

Zhou Shaojin smiled her thanks but didn’t stop her.

Yuan Shi was stunned.

She was more than twenty years older than Zhou Shaojin—old enough to be her mother by age. When she said she’d help, it was just a polite phrase. She hadn’t expected Zhou Shaojin to be completely unceremonious and actually let her help.

Zhou Shaojin acted as if she hadn’t noticed.

In her previous life, she had resented Yuan Shi for being two-faced, saying one thing and doing another. In this life, she didn’t want to suffer that loss again. If Yuan Shi wanted to help, then let her help. Why should she be polite with Yuan Shi!

Let her say polite words while also playing the good person.

She made an excuse to go to the kitchen, leaving Yuan Shi alone in the sitting room.

After staying in the kitchen for a while, figuring that Old Madam Guo and Cheng Jing should already be at the table, she went to the main chamber.

Yuan Shi was talking to Old Madam Guo and Cheng Jing seated at the table: “…Third Sister-in-law is still young, so naturally there are things she hasn’t thought of.”

Acting as if she had done Zhou Shaojin a great favor.

Zhou Shaojin didn’t argue. She smiled and placed the cold cucumber dish she’d brought from the kitchen on the table, smiling: “Mother, try this—it’s just come to market. The kitchen servant waited at the warehouse since early morning to grab it.”

In the dead of winter, being able to eat crisp cucumbers, who would carefully ponder what Yuan Shi had said?

Cheng Jing picked up a piece with his chopsticks for Old Madam Guo, praising Zhou Shaojin: “Sister-in-law, thank you!”

Zhou Shaojin smiled without speaking.

Cheng Jing instructed Yuan Shi: “Buy some for our house during New Year’s too. Besides letting Mother try something fresh, on the second day Azheng and Axiao will also return—we can add a dish for the two sons-in-law as well.”

Yuan Shi agreed, but felt somewhat unhappy inside.

These cucumbers were probably more expensive than gold.

Cheng Chi had always been good at making money, and this Zhou Shaojin was generous when spending Cheng Chi’s money—even willing to buy such things.

But this kind of matter that pleased both Cheng Jing and Old Madam Guo—she had no grounds to complain about it.

She awkwardly agreed “yes” and lowered her head to eat.

Cheng Jing praised Zhou Shaojin’s multi-flavored pigeon, Longjing shrimp, and squirrel fish as well-made: “Authentic Hangzhou cuisine.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled: “If First Uncle likes it, I’ll have them pack several yellow croakers in a bucket for sister-in-law to take back.”

Xinglin Alley wasn’t short a few fish.

Yuan Shi quickly said: “No need…”

But Cheng Jing said: “Then thank you very much…”

The couple spoke in unison, yet said completely different things.

Cheng Jing frowned.

Though Xinglin Alley wasn’t short these few fish, Fourth Sister-in-law meant well. Why should they reject her kindness?

He glanced at Yuan Shi and overrode her: “We just fear it’s too much trouble.”

Women understand women’s matters.

Yuan Shi probably felt this was “food given in contempt.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled: “No trouble at all. My husband doesn’t eat fish, and with Mother gone, leaving the fish here would be wasteful. Better to let elder brother and sister-in-law take it back as a dish.”

Cheng Jing smiled: “Then thank you very much!”

Zhou Shaojin smiled and instructed someone to pack the fish.

Old Madam Guo and Cheng Jing moved to the heated platform to drink tea and continue chatting about family matters.

Yuan Shi listened from the side, serving tea and water.

Soon an afternoon had passed. Cheng Chi hadn’t returned.

Old Madam Guo said: “He’s probably been delayed at Grand Secretary Song’s. We don’t need to wait for him—let’s have dinner first. Have Shaojin save him some dishes. You rarely get a day off, and you still have to attend court early tomorrow morning. Eat early and go back to rest early.”

Cheng Jing respectfully agreed.

Zhou Shaojin was worried about Cheng Chi and somewhat distracted.

Even if something had come up, with guests at home today, he should have found a way to return early.

After seeing off the Cheng Jing couple, Zhou Shaojin began helping Old Madam Guo pack.

“Don’t take that vase.” Old Madam Guo sat on the heated platform by the window, watching Zhou Shaojin direct the servants in packing trunks. “When I return, spring will have already begun. At that time it will be perfect for arranging winter jasmine. If I take it there, I’ll just have to bring it back—better to leave it here.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled and agreed “yes.” A young maid came in to report: “Madam Nuo has arrived. She says she’s made some New Year’s dishes and brought them for Old Madam to taste, as their filial respect as juniors.”

Having received Cheng Chi’s instructions, Cheng Wen was enthusiastically preparing to open a tea shop and had quickly moved with Cheng Nuo and Wu Baozhang to a small rented courtyard near Xizhimen. Originally Wu Baozhang had planned to help Cheng Wen settle the residence and then return with Cheng Nuo, but unexpectedly Cheng Wen, seeing that labor was expensive in the capital, simply kept Cheng Nuo and Wu Baozhang to help—one as a shop assistant to mind the store, the other managing the household, leading four or five maids and servants to handle the inner residence affairs.

Cheng Chi had left in a hurry and hadn’t gone to look.

But Cheng Wen had been keeping an eye on Cheng Chi.

Seeing activity at Chaoyangmen, she quickly sent Wu Baozhang over, instructing her: “You must invite Old Madam and Zichuan and his wife to visit on the fourth. I have important matters to discuss with him.”

Only then did Wu Baozhang steel herself to come pay respects to Old Madam Guo.

Old Madam Guo thanked Cheng Wen for her kind intentions, saying: “This matter still needs to wait for your Uncle Chi to return and discuss with him. If there are no other arrangements that day, we’ll come trouble you.”

“Old Madam, what are you saying! If you come, it would bring light to our humble dwelling!” Wu Baozhang exchanged a few polite remarks and rose to take her leave.

Zhou Shaojin saw her out.

In the twilight glow, Wu Baozhang noticed the lustrous South Sea pearls hanging from her ears and couldn’t help smiling: “Shaojin, I never expected you would end up marrying Uncle Chi. Do you still remember Pan Qing? We all thought you would marry Cheng Xu!”

Zhou Shaojin smiled: “I also didn’t expect you would marry Cheng Nuo. I thought you would marry Cheng Lu!”

Wu Baozhang’s expression changed slightly.

Zhou Shaojin smiled: “Speaking of Cheng Lu, he’s quite pitiful too! Lost his official position, lost his family, and now who knows where he’s wandered to. When he returns someday, he’ll probably have to rely on us relatives for support!”

Wu Baozhang thought of Cheng Lu’s nature—at a critical moment of life and death, he could abandon even his own mother. The few taels of silver she’d lent him probably meant nothing in his heart.

Her smile became strained as she said: “Look what you’re saying. Cheng Lu is someone with ambition—how would he need us relatives to support him!”

“One shouldn’t speak too absolutely about anything.” Zhou Shaojin continued needling her. “Let’s just wait and see!”