After Pan Qing left, Zhou Shaojin went to see Cheng Jia.

The pozi guarding the gate of Ruyi Pavilion was very conflicted.

Zhou Shaojin wasn’t the kind of person who didn’t know better. She negotiated with the pozi: “Aunt Lu only instructed you not to let Cousin Jia come out and not to let us go in to play with her. When you eat someone’s rice, you follow their rules. I’m not asking you to go against your lady’s wishes. I just want you to go in and announce me. I’ll just stand at the door and say a few words to Cousin Jia. I guarantee Cousin Jia won’t step across the threshold, and I won’t go in either… Surely that should be acceptable?”

The pozi felt relieved and thanked Zhou Shaojin joyfully: “Miss Cousin is so kindhearted! I’ll go announce you right away.” After speaking, she even called for a little maid to bring out several stools and place them under the large tree by the entrance, and to brew some tea. “Miss Cousin, please sit here for a while, cool off, and have some water—don’t let yourself get overheated.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled and thanked her, not standing on ceremony, and sat down under the tree.

Shi Xiang and the others helped Zhou Shaojin by fanning her and serving her tea.

Cheng Jia rushed out from the courtyard like a gust of wind.

Zhou Shaojin quickly said: “You can’t step across this threshold—I promised that pozi, you can’t make me break my word!”

Cheng Jia giggled with laughter and stood still at the doorway, saying: “Your idea is great! From now on we can talk here like this every day.”

“I don’t have that kind of leisure time.” Zhou Shaojin smiled. The pozis quickly brought small stools to the doorway and helped Cheng Jia sit down inside the entrance, serving tea and snacks before retreating to a distance in the courtyard.

Cheng Jia said: “I know Pan Qing left… Did you go see her off? What did she look like? Was she still arrogant? I bet she must have been dejected. Didn’t she always think she was so wonderful, as if everyone would like her…”

Zhou Shaojin had come specifically to tell her about this.

She wanted to make Cheng Jia happy.

But since Cheng Jia already knew, there was no need for her to say anything more.

“I didn’t go see Pan Qing off,” Zhou Shaojin said with a smile. “I didn’t have time…”

She recounted what had happened.

Cheng Jia didn’t believe her at all.

She thought Zhou Shaojin had done it deliberately. She laughed heartily, extremely pleased, which also considerably improved Zhou Shaojin’s mood.

The two chatted about this and that for quite a while. During this time, a pozi kept peeking from a distance. Zhou Shaojin guessed she was probably one of Jiang Shi’s attendants, but she pretended not to notice and continued talking with Cheng Jia for a while longer before taking her leave.

Cheng Jia was reluctant to part: “When will you come see me again?”

“I’m rushing to make winter clothes for my father these days,” Zhou Shaojin said with a smile. “I’ll come see you when I have time.”

Upon hearing this, Cheng Jia’s eyes lit up as she said: “Like what Sister Chujin has? Make me one too! Those clothes are so beautiful.”

I knew this would happen!

Zhou Shaojin felt as if sweat was breaking out on her forehead.

Whenever Cheng Jia took a fancy to something of hers, she would ask for it directly without hesitation.

In her previous life, she had suffered many such silent losses.

But in this life, she decided to refuse her clearly and explicitly.

At worst, the two of them would have another argument!

“No. I don’t have time!”

“How can you be like this? Aren’t we the best sisters? I’m just asking you to make me an outfit…”

“Isn’t making clothes tiring? I’m not a professional embroiderer. Why should I have to make clothes for you just because you need them? If we’re the best sisters, shouldn’t we be considerate of each other? Look at my sister—she thinks needlework is bad for the eyes, so she doesn’t let me make clothes for her.”

Cheng Jia was at a loss for words.

Zhou Shaojin gently instructed the pozi at the gate to put away the stools and teacups, and returned to Wanxiang Residence.

But on the way back to Wanxiang Residence, when passing by Jiashu Hall, she encountered Lady Mian’s wife.

Lady Mian’s wife saw her wearing a moon-white plain Hangzhou silk jacket with a row of jasmine flowers in her maiden’s bun, looking fresh and graceful in a way that drew the eye. Her heart stirred, and she said: “Take a day off from Old Lady Guo tomorrow. I’ll take you and your sister to eat at a relative’s celebration!”

“Ah!” Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened.

This hadn’t happened in her previous life.

Her clear eyes were like spring water, reflecting Lady Mian’s wife’s image.

Lady Mian’s wife smiled and said: “Miss Sixteen of the Gu family on Plum Blossom Lane is getting engaged tomorrow. They sent an invitation to Yunzhen Hall. Your grandmother thinks that when your Second Uncle Yuan achieved success in the examinations, the Gu family sent congratulatory gifts, so now that the Gu family’s Miss Sixteen is getting engaged, we should also go join in the celebration.”

Going to the Gu family!

The Gu family of Gu Qinghong on Plum Blossom Lane… Grandfather had once lived at the Gu household for some time and even wanted to marry Mother into the Gu family… Who knows if anyone in the Gu family still knows about what happened back then… Maybe she could even find out something… Even if she couldn’t learn anything, the Gu family was the leading scholarly family in Jinling, and being able to visit the Gu household would be an extremely rare opportunity…

Just thinking about it made Zhou Shaojin very excited. She immediately agreed and said: “What should my sister and I wear tomorrow? Should we prepare some small congratulatory gifts? I have several handkerchiefs, pouches, and fan cases with quite novel embroidery—how about I bring them to Hanqiu Hall later for you to see which ones are suitable?”

Her enthusiasm and initiative pleased Lady Mian’s wife, who said with a smile: “We’ll discuss it tonight.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled and agreed, then returned to her own courtyard.

Zhou Chujin was talking with Chi Xiang. Seeing Zhou Shaojin, she smiled and said: “You’re back just in time. Tomorrow is Plum Blossom Lane…”

“I know!” Zhou Shaojin smiled and interrupted her sister, saying: “Aunt told me she’s taking us to the Gu family for the celebration!”

Earlier, Aunt hadn’t mentioned taking Zhou Shaojin along. Whether it was Grandmother’s idea or Aunt’s spur-of-the-moment decision?

Regardless of which it was, Zhou Chujin had no intention of making her sister feel bad. She smiled and said: “Since you already know, I won’t say more.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly and told Zhou Chujin that Lady Mian’s wife had asked them to come to Hanqiu Hall that evening.

Perhaps she’s worried that little sister might make a mistake?

After all, this would be little sister’s first time accompanying Aunt on a social visit.

The Gu family was also a household that had been passing down ritual and literary traditions for generations, reportedly with many strict rules. It would be troublesome if she failed in propriety and became a laughing stock.

Zhou Chujin pondered this inwardly and smiled in agreement.

Zhou Shaojin then asked her sister: “I heard Aunt say that the Gu family sent congratulatory gifts when Second Uncle Yuan passed the examination. Haven’t the Gus had any weddings or funerals in recent years?”

Social relationships involved reciprocity.

The Fourth Branch had few members and no joyous occasions—that was understandable. But the Gu family had young ladies numbered all the way to sixteen, so they must have a thriving household. It was impossible they hadn’t hosted any events in recent years.

In her previous life, in her memory, the Fourth Branch had no dealings with the Gu family.

Zhou Chujin said: “The Gu family is a marriage relation on Old Lady Guo’s side and maintains closer ties with the First Branch. When Second Uncle Yuan achieved success on the golden list, it went through the First Branch’s connections. The Gu family conveniently sent a congratulatory gift. They didn’t take the matter to heart, so when the Gus had events, they didn’t send invitations to our side. This time, Madam Yuan had business with Aunt. When Aunt saw the Gu family’s invitation, she thought that since they had given face to the First Branch by sending congratulatory gifts, we should also support the First Branch by going to the Gu family with monetary gifts.”

No wonder!

Zhou Shaojin understood.

Zhou Chujin smiled and said: “Actually, this matter also concerns you.”

“Me?” Zhou Shaojin was quite surprised.

“Yes!” Zhou Chujin smiled. “Madam Yuan asked Aunt over because she wants you to help design some patterns.” Her tone paused slightly before continuing: “The embroidery work will be done by others—you only need to provide the pattern designs.”

If it weren’t for this, her sister probably wouldn’t have told her, would she?

Zhou Shaojin smiled and said: “I’ll do as my sister says.”

Zhou Chujin patted her head and said: “Apparently Cousin Xiao is about to give birth. Madam Yuan wants to embroider a swaddling cloth with playing children patterns for Cousin Xiao’s little one. The people in the needlework room are just craftsmen after all. Madam Yuan wasn’t satisfied with any of the samples they produced. Seeing the skirt you made for me last time, she wanted you to design one—Cousin Xiao married into her maternal family, the Yuan clan of Tongxiang. I thought this matter would also benefit you, so I agreed on your behalf.”

This wasn’t difficult for Zhou Shaojin at all.

She agreed with a smile.

When Old Lady Guan learned that Lady Mian’s wife was also taking Zhou Shaojin to Plum Blossom Lane, she held her hand and gave her lengthy instructions. When they arrived at Qiuhan Hall, Lady Mian’s wife selected two pairs of pouches from Zhou Shaojin’s embroidered items, then took out gold ingots from her own savings and placed them in the pouches: “Use these as congratulatory gifts.”

“How can we do that!” Zhou Chujin repeatedly refused. “We should provide the gift money ourselves.”

Lady Mian’s wife smiled and said: “Since you’re going out with me, you naturally must follow my arrangements. If you want to show such filial devotion, when you marry your ideal husbands and Aunt is old, remember to write letters to greet Aunt during festivals and holidays—Aunt will be completely satisfied.”

To say more would create distance.

Zhou Chujin pulled Zhou Shaojin to thank Lady Mian’s wife.

Lady Mian’s wife smiled as she saw the two sisters out.

The next day, Zhou Shaojin wore a lake-green plain lake silk jacket, Zhou Chujin wore a lotus-root-colored plain lake silk jacket, and they boarded sedan chairs with Lady Mian’s wife.

The sedan chairs stopped at the side gate.

Zhou Shaojin didn’t understand why and lifted the curtain to look outside.

Yuan Shi’s sedan chair was approaching.

So they were waiting for Yuan Shi.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help sighing.

How could she have been so foolish?

Since the Fourth Branch was going to the Gu family to give gifts because of the First Branch, they would naturally go together with people from the First Branch.

Would Cheng Xu also be coming along?

Please don’t let her run into Cheng Xu.

Lady Mian’s wife had already invited the Zhou sisters to descend from their sedan chairs and pay respects to Yuan Shi.

Zhou Shaojin followed her sister in greeting Yuan Shi.

Yuan Shi smiled and nodded, speaking to Zhou Shaojin with unprecedented warmth: “…That pearl flower you’re wearing today is very pretty. Which silver shop made it?”

This is because she’s asking me to design playing children patterns for her daughter, isn’t it?

Zhou Shaojin grumbled inwardly but smiled politely and said: “I don’t know—it’s been in my jewelry box since I was little.”

Perhaps it was one of Zhuang Shi’s possessions?

Yuan Shi pondered this but couldn’t very well ask further. She exchanged a few pleasantries with Lady Mian’s wife before they each boarded their sedan chairs.

Plum Blossom Lane was in eastern Jinling, very close to Old Lady Guo’s maiden family’s Stone Alley, and only a stone’s throw from the Zhou family’s ancestral home.

When they arrived, the lane was already filled with sedan chairs.

Someone came over to inquire, opened the side gate, and let them enter directly into the inner courtyard.