Zhou Shaojin was worrying about how to strike up a conversation with Cheng Chi when Cheng Chi came to Hanbi Mountain Lodge to visit Old Madam Guo. Zhou Shaojin’s heart filled with delight.

Wouldn’t this mean she would have opportunities to encounter Uncle Chi at Hanbi Mountain Lodge in the future?

Out of habit, Zhou Shaojin stood up, preparing to withdraw. But just as she rose, she felt something was amiss. If she avoided him every time Uncle Chi came, how could she ever get a chance to speak with him? Yet if she didn’t withdraw, it seemed somewhat improper.

She hesitated for a moment.

Old Madam Guo, however, didn’t think so much about it. She quickly instructed Feicui, “Go invite Fourth Master in at once!”

Feicui smiled and replied “Yes,” then left the retiring room.

Old Madam Guo let out a long sigh of relief before noticing that Zhou Shaojin was still standing beside her.

She had originally intended to have Zhou Shaojin withdraw, but seeing Zhou Shaojin’s somewhat bewildered expression, she decided to let her stay—after all, she was only a twelve-year-old child. When an elder suddenly visited and she herself hadn’t given clear instructions, it was natural for the girl not to know what to do. As for the matter of propriety between men and women, since they were separated by generational rank and age difference, and were relatives besides, there was no need to be so formal.

“Sit down and talk!” Old Madam Guo beckoned to Zhou Shaojin, smiling. “It’s not a stranger coming, it’s your Uncle Chi. The Fourth Master from the main branch.”

Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief, smiled, and sat down obediently.

If Old Madam Guo had told her to withdraw… she really wouldn’t have had any good way to stay.

Before long, Feicui lifted the curtain and Cheng Chi walked in.

Today he wore a pale moon-white fine kudzu cloth dao robe, a green bamboo hairpin, stone-blue fine cloth shoes, with a string of one hundred and eight rosewood prayer beads hanging from his hand. The faint elegant fragrance of “Thus Have I Heard” incense wafted over from him, its presence subtle yet distinct, carrying an air of nobility within his refined bearing. His demeanor was dignified and graceful.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but stand up.

Cheng Chi smiled at her, then stepped forward to pay his respects to Old Madam Guo.

Before he could bow, Old Madam Guo came forward and took his arm, saying warmly, “These past few days have grown increasingly hot. Are you eating well? Sleeping soundly?”

Cheng Chi didn’t insist on the formality and stood up naturally, smiling. “My place has thick shade from green trees and is near Clear Stream Lake, so it’s quite cool. It’s you, Mother, who should walk by the lotus pond morning and evening—first to escape the heat, and second to strengthen your health.” As he spoke, he thought for a moment and said, “Why not come stay at Zao Garden for a few days? The lake and mountain scenery there is even better.”

“No need.” Old Madam Guo chuckled and sat down at the round table with Cheng Chi, one on each side. “Going out is too much trouble. I’m used to living here—whatever I need from any nook or corner, I can find it readily. But there I would have to make do. I’m better off staying at Hanbi Mountain Lodge. However, as you say, I should indeed walk by the lotus pond morning and evening.”

A young maid brought tea and refreshments.

Zhou Shaojin cleverly helped arrange the snacks.

Cheng Chi smiled and glanced at her again.

Seeing this, Old Madam Guo remembered and said with a smile, “When one gets old, the memory gets worse and worse. This is Second Miss from the fourth branch’s Zhou family. I’ve invited her over to copy scriptures for me.”

Zhou Shaojin acted as if she didn’t know him and performed a curtsy.

Cheng Chi smiled and nodded, saying, “A guest is a guest. Since Mother and I need to talk here, you needn’t serve us.”

Ah!

Like a bolt from the blue.

Zhou Shaojin stood there speechless.

She had thought that the obstacle to speaking with Cheng Chi would come from Old Madam Guo or from conventional propriety, but she never imagined that Cheng Chi himself would avoid her.

How could she possibly get a chance to speak with Cheng Chi now?

Zhou Shaojin was stunned for quite a while.

Cheng Chi watched her dazed and foolish expression, like an abandoned puppy staring with dark, moist, wide eyes. The corners of his mouth couldn’t help but curve upward.

The first time, he had let her pretend to be a maid and pour tea for him as a way to help her save face. The second time, seeing her scurrying around anxiously like a little mouse, he had jokingly asked her to pour tea as he did at their first meeting… He hadn’t expected this little girl to take it seriously and actually act like a proper little maid whenever she saw him.

He smiled, his tone becoming even gentler. “You may go! The maids here can serve us. Go quickly and copy your scriptures!”

Zhou Shaojin’s face turned bright red.

To be dismissed like this… how could she have the face to continue staying here!

Zhou Shaojin hurriedly performed a curtsy, left Madam Guo’s retiring room, but couldn’t stop her eyes from moistening.

Just like Cheng Jia often nagged—it was truly too embarrassing!

Feicui hadn’t noticed at first, but seeing her come out, quickly came over and asked in a low voice, “What are Old Madam and Fourth Master doing? Do we need to go in to add tea or water? Or do they have any other instructions?”

“No.” Zhou Shaojin blinked, trying hard to restore the clarity to her vision. “Old Madam and Fourth Master have things to discuss… That’s why I came out!”

“That’s good then.” Feicui smiled, but couldn’t help feeling suspicious.

Second Miss’s eyes were moist, as if she was about to cry—could she have been scolded by Old Madam Guo or Fourth Master?

She wasn’t as close to Zhou Shaojin as Biyu was, so she pretended not to notice and continued standing outside the curtain with her ears perked, attentively listening for any movements inside.

Zhou Shaojin went to the Buddhist hall.

Shi Xiang was grinding ink while Xiao Tan was lighting mugwort incense.

After copying a page, Zhou Shaojin’s mood gradually calmed down.

Uncle Chi’s behavior just now was perfectly normal. It was just that she had never been in a position of asking others for favors before, so being suddenly rejected was hard to accept… If it were peacetime, smooth sailing all the way, this would be nothing—at worst, she simply wouldn’t bother with Uncle Chi anymore. But ten years from now, the Cheng family would be exterminated, and when she was reborn, she had vowed to change her previous life’s fate. She couldn’t be like before, unable to bear even the slightest grievance. Thinking of her sister—such an outstanding person—when she first married into the Liao family, things hadn’t gone smoothly either. But later, as her brother-in-law gradually came to understand what kind of person her sister was, he became very respectful toward her, and she was accepted by the Liao family and integrated into it. She should learn from her sister, not just think about her own feelings when encountering matters, but also consider what she truly wanted.

Didn’t books also say that when heaven is about to confer a great responsibility on someone, it must first make their sinews and bones toil, their heart and will suffer… She should consider this as heaven testing her—otherwise, why would heaven allow her to be reborn?

Thinking this way, Zhou Shaojin’s mood improved again. She felt that the future might not be as bleak as she had imagined.

She called Xiao Tan over and quietly instructed her, “Go help me see if Uncle Chi has left yet. What did he come to see Old Madam about?”

Xiao Tan looked stunned and hesitated, showing an expression of not daring to go inquire.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but sigh.

After all, she was someone from Hanbi Mountain Lodge—asking her to do this was indeed rather difficult. But besides Xiao Tan, it would be even less appropriate for others to go inquire.

She smiled and said, “I’m just curious. You don’t necessarily have to find out everything. Just casually ask around. I originally thought I would only stay at Hanbi Mountain Lodge for three or four months at most, but Old Madam says these scriptures are to be offered at Mount Putuo, and she might take me along. I want to copy a volume of the Amitabha Sutra myself to offer to the Bodhisattva. I want to discuss this with Old Madam, so I need to know what’s happening in the main rooms so I can find an opportunity to bring it up with her.”

Zhou Shaojin had entered Hanbi Mountain Lodge under the pretext of copying scriptures for Old Madam Guo after all.

Moreover, when people arrive at an unfamiliar place, they always like to find out about their surroundings clearly—not necessarily to gossip or judge, but more to put their minds at ease.

Xiao Tan understood Zhou Shaojin’s meaning, smiled, agreed, and went to the main rooms.

Shi Xiang said curiously, “Miss, since it’s for your own use, you can copy it after you go back! When autumn comes and the weather turns cool, going back and forth like this every day will be very cold.”

Zhou Shaojin smiled. “Since the book is to be offered to Buddha, appearances are also very important—Hanbi Mountain Lodge uses red-veined bamboo-pattern paper. I asked about it, and this paper is from ten years ago. Nowadays you can’t find paper with exactly the same pattern anymore. Wouldn’t it be better if Old Madam Guo agreed to let me use this paper to copy a scripture? At that time, I’ll just give Old Madam Guo more paper in return.”

Shi Xiang felt Zhou Shaojin’s reasoning was somewhat far-fetched, but seeing Zhou Shaojin’s determined expression, she could only swallow her words of persuasion.

After about the time it takes to burn two incense sticks, Xiao Tan returned with her report: “Old Madam called Fourth Master over originally wanting to ask about the Gu family’s ghost marriage matter, but unexpectedly you already knew about it, Miss. So Old Madam and Fourth Master talked about family matters for a while, then started playing chess. The chess game still hasn’t ended! Old Madam has asked Fourth Master to stay for dinner.”

Playing chess again…

Zhou Shaojin no longer found it strange.

Perhaps that’s just how mother and son spent time together—playing chess.

Just like how Grandmother and Uncle Mian would always discuss household affairs every time they met…

She smiled and thanked Xiao Tan, then settled down to copy scriptures with peace of mind.

Shi Xiang and Xiao Tan sat at the entrance of the Buddhist hall, using the light from outside to begin separating thread.

In the evening when she returned home, Zhou Shaojin still had needlework to do.

As the sun set and clouds blazed red in the western sky, normally at this time they would already be on their way home, but today Zhou Shaojin still hadn’t stopped writing.

Shi Xiang’s eyes were already straining, so she could only quietly pack away the thread first.

Feicui came to relay the message: “Old Madam says to have Second Miss dine here before returning home.”

In the past, Zhou Shaojin would have felt uncomfortable and would return to the fourth branch for dinner.

Shi Xiang was just about to politely decline on Zhou Shaojin’s behalf when Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “All right,” then asked Feicui, “Are there any particular customs for dinner here?”

Feicui clearly hadn’t expected Zhou Shaojin to agree. She was stunned for a moment before smiling. “Nothing particular, except Old Madam doesn’t eat meat and Fourth Master doesn’t eat fish.”

One doesn’t eat meat, one doesn’t eat fish… this wasn’t considered particular?

Zhou Shaojin gave a small laugh and asked Feicui to send someone to inform the fourth branch so they wouldn’t wait for her for dinner.

Feicui smiled and left the Buddhist hall.

Shi Xiang said quietly, “Is it all right for us to stay at Hanbi Mountain Lodge for dinner like this?”

Previously, Zhou Shaojin had been the one saying it wasn’t quite proper.

“It wouldn’t be good to stay for dinner often.” Zhou Shaojin said calmly and naturally. “Once in a while is fine.” She added, “Always refusing Old Madam wouldn’t be good either.”

Shi Xiang thought about it and agreed.

She helped Zhou Shaojin put away the writing materials, served her while she washed her hands and face, simply tidied her hair and clothes, then followed her to the main rooms.