Zhou Shaojin had an almost instinctive sense about Cheng Chi’s affairs.

Cheng Chi was not surprised, but smiled and said, “You saw through it!”

The strength of the hands massaging his shoulders increased.

“I thought you would do this,” Zhou Shaojin said quietly. “I’m afraid you’ll offend many people, won’t you?”

“Yes!” Cheng Chi sighed. “That’s why before doing it, I want to know if this is right or wrong.”

“I’m afraid it’s not about right or wrong, is it?” Zhou Shaojin smiled cleverly. “You want to rest a bit before the storm arrives, don’t you?”

If it were merely about fearing to offend people and not doing it, he wouldn’t be this troubled.

Cheng Chi laughed heartily, pulling Zhou Shaojin’s hand without speaking.

After that, Cheng Chi went out early and returned late. On New Year’s Eve, he didn’t go out but went to Xinglín Alley early with Zhou Shaojin.

Yuan Shi was inspecting the dishes for the ancestral ceremony, while Cheng Shao had already arrived and was sitting in the main hall talking with Old Madam Guo.

Cheng Chi said quietly to Zhou Shaojin with a smile, “Come with me to see Second Uncle!”

Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment, then said, “After I meet Second Uncle with you, let me go help Elder Sister-in-law. Today is New Year’s Eve, and I’m also a daughter-in-law now.”

Cheng Chi smiled and nodded, saying, “Our Shaojin has grown up!”

Zhou Shaojin glanced at him sideways and said, “You make it sound like I don’t even understand this much.”

Cheng Chi laughed softly.

The couple entered the main hall one after the other.

After paying respects to Cheng Xun and Old Madam Guo, Zhou Shaojin went to the kitchen.

Cheng Shao smiled and said, “Though Fourth Brother’s wife is young, she’s very sensible.”

Old Madam Guo smiled with satisfaction and said modestly, “She’s quite obedient.”

Cheng Shao nodded with a smile and began discussing Yang Shoushan’s situation with Cheng Chi: “…I heard his family is destitute. If we can help, let’s help. After all, we were colleagues.”

Cheng Chi smiled in agreement and gave Cheng Shao a meaningful look.

Cheng Shao understood. After sitting for a while, he made an excuse to go to the study, accompanied by Cheng Chi out of the hall.

The two walked slowly along the covered corridor, talking.

Coming toward them were Cheng Wen and his wife Cheng Nuo.

Cheng Shao was startled.

Cheng Chi had already guessed and smiled, “Elder Brother and Sister-in-law probably invited Cousin Wen’s family to celebrate the New Year.”

New Year should be lively and festive. Cheng Jing and Cheng Wen were cousins after all, and now that Cheng Wen was in the capital with his son and daughter-in-law, it was only proper to invite them over for the New Year.

Cheng Shao nodded indifferently.

Cheng Wen hurried over in quick steps.

“Elder Brother and Sister-in-law saw we were all alone and called us over to celebrate the New Year together,” he said cheerfully while bowing to the two. “How are you, Second Uncle? I haven’t seen you in some time.” He added, “Zichuan, thank you for introducing me to those trading houses. Not only are their prices fair, but they’re also good people—I rushed to stock up before the New Year, and made a good start on the very first day, earning over ten taels of silver. If things continue like this, my business has great prospects! No wonder even the Grand Secretary’s family wants to find good business opportunities!”

This was just the beginning. People were giving face and showing support, but later on it would be hard to say. Success would still depend on his own business acumen!

Cheng Shao and Cheng Chi exchanged a glance. Cheng Chi smiled and said, “Family doesn’t need to stand on ceremony. I hope your business prospers. Mother probably doesn’t know you’ve arrived yet? Second Uncle and I will walk around outside. Cousin Wen, hurry and go greet Mother! She’s probably waiting for you!”

Cheng Wen grinned and went to the main hall with Cheng Nuo and Wu Baozhang.

Cheng Chi and Cheng Shao went to the study.

Wu Baozhang was also a daughter-in-law. Since she had come for the New Year’s Eve dinner, it wouldn’t be appropriate to sit in the main hall accompanying Cheng Wen and Old Madam Guo in conversation. After sitting for a while, she found an opportunity to go help in the kitchen.

A young maid from the Cheng family led the way.

As soon as she entered the kitchen, she saw Zhou Shaojin sitting on a small stool by the door eating freshly made assorted New Year cake. Her own maids surrounded her like stars around the moon, and a young maid stood beside her holding a soup bowl. A servant woman was fawning over her nearby: “…I’ve long heard that the chef at Chaoyang Gate is from Jiangnan. I wonder if these pastries suit your taste? Please try them! If there’s anything not done well, just tell us directly and we’ll change it right away. Old Madam will be staying with us for over a month! Although she never complains about the quality of pastries, we kitchen workers would lose face if what we make doesn’t please the masters.” She then took the soup bowl from the maid’s hands and presented it to Zhou Shaojin, saying, “This is jujube paste, red bean, and osmanthus soup. Made with authentic Shandong jujubes—sweet but not cloying. Fourth Madam, please help us taste it and see if we should add more sugar.”

Zhou Shaojin set down her chopsticks and smiled, “This New Year cake is very good, but there are too many grapes—it’s a bit sour. Old Madam is elderly and her teeth can’t handle sour things.” Then she picked up the sweet soup, took a sip, and said, “There are too many jujubes—it’s a bit rough on the tongue. Use fewer and it will be better.”

The kitchen woman nodded and bowed repeatedly, saying “Yes.”

Wu Baozhang watched with an internal sneer.

Zhou Shaojin really didn’t know her place, actually critiquing the Cheng family kitchen woman’s cooking skills!

She looked around but saw neither Yuan Shi nor Qiu Shi.

Wu Baozhang thought for a moment and still stepped forward to greet Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin immediately realized that Yuan Shi had also invited Cheng Wen’s family to celebrate the New Year. She didn’t stand up but continued sitting there eating her pastries and drinking her sweet soup, merely nodding at Wu Baozhang.

Wu Baozhang felt displeased but held back her anger and smiled, “Why don’t I see Aunt Jing or Aunt Wei?”

Zhou Shaojin said, “Second Sister-in-law is cleaning the ancestral hall, and Elder Sister-in-law went to check on things.”

She neither asked when Wu Baozhang had arrived nor invited her to sit down for tea.

Wu Baozhang had no choice but to continue enduring, smiling at the kitchen woman, “What kind of sweet soup is this? It smells so fragrant and sweet!”

The kitchen woman smiled and said, “It’s jujube paste, red bean, and osmanthus soup.” She quickly ordered the kitchen staff to bring a bowl.

Zhou Shaojin paid her no attention, elegantly eating her sweet soup.

The woman then obsequiously brought over a small vermilion porcelain bowl containing a chicken leg, saying quietly to Zhou Shaojin, “Fourth Madam, we made beggar’s chicken. Please taste it and see if it’s good.”

Zhou Shaojin looked and smiled, “If you give me this chicken leg, won’t the beggar’s chicken be missing a leg when it’s served at the table?”

The woman smiled and said, “Look at what you’re saying! We don’t often make this beggar’s chicken. We were afraid of ruining it and making the table look bad, and also worried that if guests suddenly arrived there wouldn’t be enough dishes, so we made a few extra. Please eat freely. If you find it delicious, I’ll tear off another leg for you.”

At home during breakfast, Cheng Chi had forced her to eat two more steamed buns, worried she’d go hungry if lunch was delayed. Tasting half a New Year cake and drinking a small bowl of sweet soup was fine, but eating a chicken leg was a bit much. However, the woman was fawning over her with everyone in the kitchen watching. She couldn’t refuse to give the woman face, so she smiled and accepted the bowl, tearing off two strips to taste. The flavor was indeed very good. She smiled in praise, “No wonder you manage the kitchen. Just this beggar’s chicken technique alone shows you can stand on your own.”

The woman was so delighted she couldn’t stop smiling and went to tear off another leg for Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help laughing and said, “Are you trying to make me skip lunch!”

The woman chuckled and said, “Old Madam only had breakfast at the fourth hour this morning. The kitchen has been busy making dishes for the ancestral ceremony, so lunch probably won’t be served until the eighth hour. You should have something to tide you over so you won’t be hungry!” Only then did she remember Wu Baozhang was also there. After thinking, she ordered a kitchen maid, “Go, slice some breast meat from that chicken for Young Madam Nuo!”

Wu Baozhang trembled with anger.

She wasn’t from some poor household that had never eaten chicken. To actually have someone give her chicken breast meat! And from what Zhou Shaojin had left over…

“No need!” she said with an unpleasant expression. “I’m not a child. Why would I come to the kitchen to beg for food? No need!”

Zhou Shaojin had no intention of paying attention to her at all. She handed the vermilion porcelain bowl to Chun Wan, “This beggar’s chicken tastes really good. You all try some too.”

Chun Wan accepted it with a smile.

The woman glanced at Wu Baozhang and said to Chun Wan with a toothy grin, “There’s more, there’s more! If the young ladies find it delicious, I’ll slice a whole plate. How could we shortchange the young ladies!”

Chun Wan and the others thanked her cheerfully with smiles. Finding it inappropriate, they each tasted a bite and then set down their chopsticks.

As everyone was making merry, Yuan Shi arrived.

Zhou Shaojin called out “Elder Sister-in-law,” and Wu Baozhang quickly stepped forward to pay respects.

There was much to do today, and Yuan Shi hadn’t noticed the kitchen situation. She nodded at Wu Baozhang and said, “Niece-in-law Nuo has arrived,” then said to Zhou Shaojin, “Younger Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law is busy over there. Go lend her a hand!”

Zhou Shaojin smiled and agreed, “Alright,” then stood up and headed to the ancestral hall.

Wu Baozhang quickly said, “Elder Aunt, should I also go help?”

“No need!” Yuan Shi said. “Those are all for the ancestral ceremony. Shaojin going is enough. The kitchen is also chaotic here. If you have nothing to do, go keep Old Madam company for a chat!”

Wu Baozhang smiled in agreement, her expression somewhat awkward.

Once the clan was divided, they were no longer one family.

Zhou Shaojin was a daughter-in-law of the main branch, so she could help arrange the ancestral hall. Wu Baozhang was a guest and could only chat with Old Madam.

She went to the main hall.

Old Madam Guo was testing Cheng Nuo on his studies.

Cheng Nuo was being questioned until he was drenched in sweat.

Old Madam Guo sighed and said, “Nuo’er, although your father plans to do business, business also has its hierarchies. Whether you’ve studied or not makes a big difference. You should still put some effort into your studies in the future. If you really don’t like it, you should at least remember to supervise your children’s education. Our Cheng family has had scholars in every generation.”

Cheng Nuo wiped his sweat and meekly agreed.

Wu Baozhang’s face burned with shame, feeling they had brought disgrace all the way to the capital.

She turned and walked out.

After walking for a while, she realized she had wandered into the east courtyard.

The doors of the Cheng family ancestral hall were wide open. Zhou Shaojin was arranging the offering table while talking with Qiu Shi.

Qiu Shi sat on a small stool polishing the ceremonial vessels to be used in the ritual, responding to Zhou Shaojin with a smile.

Wu Baozhang felt a surge of anger catch in her chest.

Wasn’t Zhou Shaojin the newly married daughter-in-law?

Shouldn’t she be the one polishing the ceremonial vessels while Qiu Shi arranged the offering table?

How had everything reversed when it came to Zhou Shaojin?

She couldn’t help rolling her eyes.

Where had Cheng Xu gone?

Items for ancestral worship couldn’t pass through others’ hands. Cheng Xu was the eldest grandson of the main branch—he should also be here polishing the ceremonial vessels…