Cheng Zheng watched with fascination, feeling as if Yun Ge’er was looking at her. She smiled and teased him: “I’m your older sister, do you know that? When I come to see you next time, will you still remember me?”
As she spoke, Yun Ge’er blew a bubble expressionlessly, then closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Cheng Zheng couldn’t help but exclaim softly to Zhou Shaojin: “Look, look! He blew a bubble at me and then fell asleep!”
Cheng Sheng came over in surprise and said: “Yun Ge’er can blow bubbles now? Our Rui Ge’er only learned to blow bubbles after his hundredth-day celebration!”
Zhou Shaojin asked anxiously: “Is something wrong?”
Her expression was somewhat panicked.
Perhaps because she had looked forward to this child so much, although Yun Ge’er had his own wet nurse and was attended by experienced and steady-tempered maids and servants, Zhou Shaojin still preferred to do things herself. When the child was hungry, she would nurse him herself; when the child slept, she would place him beside her to sleep; when the weather was hot, she would bathe the child herself. The wet nurse and those maids and servants had instead become mere assistants. But after all, this was her first time being a mother, and she didn’t know what reactions a newborn child should have unless the wet nurse or those experienced servants told her.
Cheng Sheng laughed: “There’s nothing wrong! I just think Yun Ge’er is very clever to be playing by himself at such a young age.”
“Really?” Hearing Cheng Sheng praise Yun Ge’er, Zhou Shaojin’s smile brightened visibly.
She had always felt she was a bit foolish, while Cheng Chi was very smart. She feared the child would turn out like her when born.
Cheng Zheng smiled as she touched the child’s soft black hair and said: “Of course! Didn’t you see the way he looked at me just now? It was as if he was recognizing people.”
Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips.
Biyu invited everyone to take their seats.
Cheng Sheng carried Yun Ge’er to the main hall.
Cheng Zheng and Zhou Shaojin walked side by side. She gently asked how her physical recovery was going, whether she felt uncomfortable anywhere, and consoled her: “Uncle Chi finally got married and finally had Yun Ge’er. He must be thinking about it constantly! If there were any way he could come back, he would surely rush back. Aunt, don’t worry.”
Zhou Shaojin thought of the chaos when she had just given birth to Yun Ge’er and smiled: “It’s good that your Fourth Uncle Chi didn’t come back, otherwise seeing me in this state, he would probably laugh at my clumsiness again!”
Cheng Zheng smiled faintly.
Old Madam Guo had already taken Yun Ge’er from Cheng Sheng’s hands and said with a smile to Cheng Sheng’s mother-in-law, Madam Peng: “Look, doesn’t he look very spirited?”
Madam Peng was a woman in her forties, plump and fair, looking very kind at first glance.
Hearing this, she nodded repeatedly: “This child clearly belongs to the Cheng family. Look at these eyebrows and eyes, don’t they resemble his grandfather very much?”
“Really?” Old Madam Guo examined Yun Ge’er skeptically.
The Madam Peng from the Military Commandant’s office also scrutinized Yun Ge’er carefully and said: “Now that you mention it, I do see some resemblance.”
“Really?” Old Madam Guo’s feelings were complicated.
Before Cheng Chi was designated as the heir to the Seven Stars Hall, their marital relationship had always been loving—more loving, one could say, than many couples. But ever since her husband decided to sacrifice their youngest son in exchange for their two older sons’ futures, although she understood, she could never get past that hurdle in her heart. She always felt that she and her husband had wronged their youngest son. She even began to punish herself, distancing herself from all pleasurable things. Not a single flower could be seen in the Cold Jade Mountain Studio… Naturally, her feelings toward her husband of several decades were also complicated.
Did Yun Ge’er really resemble his grandfather?
Old Madam Guo couldn’t help but examine him carefully.
The child was only a month old. His originally somewhat wrinkled skin had not only filled out but had become crystal clear and flawless as jade. His features had also broadened somewhat, becoming extraordinarily bright and clear. But if anyone claimed he resembled someone, it really couldn’t be discerned yet.
Despite this, Old Madam Guo couldn’t help but raise her arms and press her face against the child’s small face.
Standing to one side, Wu Baozhang sneered coldly.
All small children looked the same; how could anyone tell whom they resembled?
These people would say anything unconscionable just to flatter Old Madam Guo!
But after sending the guests away, Old Madam Guo still couldn’t help but examine Yun Ge’er’s features under the lamplight.
When Zhou Shaojin returned from washing up, she found the child already asleep by her pillow, while Old Madam Guo sat on the large kang by the window in the inner room, fingering the sandalwood Buddhist beads with eighteen seeds in her hand.
“Mother.” She walked over carrying a tea cup. “What’s wrong? Are you missing Fourth Master? I’m planning to write a letter to Fourth Master later. Do you have any messages?”
Zhou Shaojin sat down beside Old Madam Guo and picked up a beauty mallet to pound her shoulders.
Old Madam Guo smiled and said: “You’ve just finished your confinement month. I have Zhenzhu to attend to me. Let’s sit down and talk.”
Zhou Shaojin obediently put down the beauty mallet and sat across from Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo called Zhenzhu’s name.
Zhenzhu brought in a box.
Old Madam Guo pushed the box in front of Zhou Shaojin and said gently: “Shaojin, these are the deeds to the tea plantation in Anxi and the estate in Jingzhou. They were among the first properties your father-in-law and I acquired after our marriage. I’ve already spoken to your Second Uncle about it. Tomorrow he’ll come and register these properties under Yun Ge’er’s name… Consider it my contribution to Yun Ge’er’s education fund.”
“How can this be!” Zhou Shaojin stood up in astonishment and said hurriedly: “These are your personal savings. If you want to leave them to Yun Ge’er, why not wait until he’s older…”
Old Madam Guo smiled and said: “If I tell you to keep them, just keep them. They’re not particularly valuable things. They’re for Yun Ge’er.”
Zhou Shaojin didn’t want to accept.
Old Madam Guo became somewhat displeased and said: “One cannot refuse what an elder bestows. When did you become so stubborn?”
Zhou Shaojin knew Old Madam Guo had made up her mind and couldn’t refuse further. She thought that when Cheng Chi returned, she must tell him about this and have him give more money to the old madam for her personal use.
She took the box and sincerely thanked Old Madam Guo, saying: “In the future, when Yun Ge’er is studying and practicing calligraphy, he’ll think of his grandmother’s earnest hopes for him.”
Old Madam Guo nodded, very gratified by her words.
After chatting for a while longer, Old Madam Guo rose to take her leave.
Zhou Shaojin escorted the old madam to Tingxiang Courtyard before returning, then curiously opened the box.
Inside the box were indeed only two property deeds, but the Anxi tea plantation was described as bordering Jiandou to the east, adjacent to Yongchun to the north, and adjoining Futian to the west… totaling one thousand three hundred and thirty-five acres. The Jingzhou estate was even larger, with three thousand two hundred and eleven acres.
Zhou Shaojin was greatly alarmed, feeling as if she were holding a hot potato.
At this moment, she really wished Cheng Chi would come back quickly!
So when Cheng Shao came the next day, she took the initiative to speak to him for the first time: “I know Mother feels sorry for Yun Ge’er, but if Eldest Uncle and the others find out, they’ll surely be unhappy. I don’t want everyone to feel uncomfortable over this money and property…”
Cheng Shao smiled: “It’s fine. Eldest Sister-in-law is happy. When Jiashan and Rang Ge’er give Eldest Sister-in-law great-grandchildren, she’ll be just as happy and will have things to give them. Since Eldest Sister-in-law told you to accept it, just accept it. What you can think of, Eldest Sister-in-law couldn’t possibly not have thought of.”
Zhou Shaojin thought this made sense, and the heavy stone in her heart fell to the ground.
She gave the deeds to Cheng Xun, who went to the government office to register the two estates under Yun Ge’er’s name, but kept the deeds in Zhou Shaojin’s hands: “The child is still young. From now on, you should collect the income from the two estates for the child.”
Zhou Shaojin repeatedly agreed.
The two went to Old Madam Guo’s place to report on this matter. After chatting for a while, Cheng Shao went to the Qiu family after having lunch at Chaoyang Gate—having taken leave to handle this matter for Old Madam Guo. Since he had nothing to do in the afternoon, he planned to visit Abao and Ashi.
Currently, Old Madam Guo’s greatest daily joy was talking to Yun Ge’er, who knew nothing, saying whatever came to mind. She even mentioned when Cheng Chi wet the bed as a child. Since Yun Ge’er hadn’t yet reached his hundredth day, Old Madam Guo didn’t dare take him out. Although she also wanted to see Abao and Aren, she was more worried about Yun Ge’er, so she had Zhou Shaojin prepare some fruits for Cheng Shao to take over.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and gave the instructions.
Soon Chun Wan brought over a bamboo basket filled with fruits.
Cheng Shao expressed his thanks and was escorted to the door by Ji Zi and Ji Jian.
Zhou Chujin came with Guan Ge’er to see Zhou Shaojin and Yun Ge’er.
The room became lively again.
Guan Ge’er shook a rattle drum to amuse Yun Ge’er.
Whichever direction the sound came from, Yun Ge’er would look in that direction, even displacing the small handkerchief placed under his neck to absorb sweat.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and reached to adjust the handkerchief for him. But as soon as her hand reached over, Yun Ge’er grabbed it, clutching Zhou Shaojin’s finger tightly.
“Mother!” Zhou Shaojin exclaimed with surprised delight. “Yun Ge’er grabbed my hand! Such strength!”
“Let me see, let me see!”
Old Madam Guo and Zhou Chujin both crowded over.
But for some reason, Yun Ge’er began to cry.
Zhou Shaojin immediately picked up Yun Ge’er and began to soothe him softly.
But Yun Ge’er kept crying, and his voice was so loud it could practically lift the roof. No matter how they tried to comfort him, he wouldn’t stop. The wet nurse suggested he might be hungry, Fan Liushi suggested he might have wet himself, and Zhou Chujin suggested the rattle drum might have been too loud. They tried touching Yun Ge’er’s mouth corner with their fingers, opening his swaddling clothes to check his diaper, and gently persuading Guan Ge’er not to disturb his little brother anymore…
In the blink of an eye, it was already July.
Zhou Shaojin received a letter from Cheng Chi saying he would be able to return on the fifth day of the seventh month.
Chaoyang Gate immediately became lively.
Dusting, trimming grass, arranging furnishings… everyone’s footsteps were hurried.
But in the midst of this busy time, Wu Baozhang suddenly came crying to their door.
Old Madam Guo looked at the sleeping Yun Ge’er, her brow furrowed, and said to Zhou Shaojin: “Be careful she doesn’t wake the child. Go ask her what’s the matter. If she won’t say, call your sister-in-law over or have someone send her to Xinglin Alley.”
Zhou Shaojin felt that Wu Baozhang would surely be upset to see her.
She also didn’t want to see Wu Baozhang.
But this was her home, and she wouldn’t swallow her anger.
Zhou Shaojin, surrounded by maids and servants, went to the flower hall.
Wu Baozhang was crying miserably, but when she saw it was Zhou Shaojin who entered, her tear-swollen face still showed astonishment.
Zhou Shaojin had no intention of engaging with her and stated Old Madam Guo’s meaning directly: “…If you don’t feel comfortable talking to me, then talk to Madam Yuan!”