Such an important matter naturally had to be mentioned to Old Madam Guo.

Old Madam Guo pondered for a moment and asked Cheng Chi, “Do you think it’s a good time to buy fields and land now? Should we wait a few more years?”

When the family was divided, Cheng Chi had only received this residence at Chaoyangmen.

Cheng Chi understood Old Madam Guo’s meaning and smiled. “I want to organize all the calligraphy, paintings, antiques, and such items in the house. First, Yun Ge’er is getting older and should see more objects from our predecessors to broaden his knowledge. Second, some of the ordinary collectibles can be sold off and can also serve as gifts between relatives and friends… Buying an estate first would be quite reasonable.”

Old Madam Guo listened and nodded slowly, smiling. “Since you’ve already made up your mind, just do as you’ve said.”

Cheng Chi smiled in acknowledgment and agreed with Old Madam Guo to begin sorting through the household’s stored collections in a couple of days.

Zhou Shaojin naturally knew the family didn’t lack silver, but selling collectibles… she always felt it was like selling off family assets, which didn’t seem right. But Old Madam Guo had already agreed, so she couldn’t say anything in front of her. However, on the way back, she couldn’t help bringing it up with Cheng Chi: “The stored collections are the life’s work of several generations. Why don’t we just sell a few of the estates under my name? Between one thing and another, we could gather over ten thousand taels of silver. Then we could exchange them for a larger estate.” Thinking that Cheng Chi wasn’t the type to use his wife’s dowry, she quickly added, “Just put it under my name. After all, it will eventually go to Yun Ge’er anyway.”

Cheng Chi patiently explained to her, “Many things are collected because we personally like them, while some things are collected because everyone else thinks they’re good. The things we personally like, we’ll definitely keep. But for things that everyone else thinks are good, if we keep them locked away in storage forever, they’ll forever remain just a painting. Only by taking them out to buy and sell do these things have value. Otherwise, why would there be the saying ‘collect art in prosperous times, gold in troubled times’? These things only become valuable when they’re bought and sold.”

Zhou Shaojin vaguely understood.

Cheng Chi had her help him organize the stored collections.

Zhou Shaojin went enthusiastically, but was chased out by Old Madam Guo: “All these paintings and calligraphy in the storeroom have insect-repelling powder on them. Shaojin is carrying twins—how can she come in here?” She ordered Biyu to take her to stroll in the garden. “The wisteria, roses, cherry blossoms, and pomegranates are all blooming at this time. You accompany Madam to admire the flowers.”

Biyu quickly went to support Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to go admire flowers in the garden.

Cheng Chi saw her out the door and whispered, “I’ll set aside anything attractive for you.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded and smiled with pursed lips.

Within a few days, rumors spread throughout the capital that Cheng Chi was pawning his ancestors’ collectibles to make ends meet.

Hearing this from Fan Liu Shi, Zhou Shaojin was dumbstruck. After a long while, she reacted with displeasure: “Who is spreading such nonsense? No matter how destitute our family becomes, we wouldn’t need to pawn our ancestors’ collectibles to get by, would we?” She added, “Besides this, are there any other rumors?”

Fan Liu Shi was even more worried than Zhou Shaojin. “I haven’t heard of other rumors. But having such talk spread is never good for Fourth Master… Madam should think of a way to clarify things.”

But how could such a matter be clarified?

She couldn’t just tell everyone she met!

Zhou Shaojin recalled that in her previous life, when she had accompanied Lin Shisheng to the palace to pay respects to the Emperor and Empress Dowager, everyone would discuss family matters and gossip—she had heard much of it that way.

If only there were such an occasion now!

But if she wanted to use such an occasion to clarify things for Cheng Chi, she would first need to enter such an environment.

As Zhou Shaojin thought about this, she couldn’t help clenching her fists.

In the past, she had been too timid, always feeling uncomfortable standing among crowds. But now she was Cheng Chi’s legitimate wife, and with Cheng Chi backing her up, what did she have to fear?

Having made up her mind, she wrote an invitation to Lady Pengcheng, asking her to watch the dragon boat races together on the fifteenth day of the fifth month.

Though the fifteenth of the fifth month was still early, Lady Pengcheng was very pleased to receive the invitation.

Cheng Chi was increasingly valued by the Imperial Grand Grandson, who would seek him out to ask about many matters. Though he wouldn’t necessarily say anything in front of the Imperial Grand Grandson, being on good terms with Cheng Chi was still like adding flowers to brocade.

Lady Pengcheng readily agreed.

However, Zhou Shaojin hadn’t expected the news to spread so quickly that even Qiu Shi was alarmed.

She came to pay respects to Old Madam Guo.

Afterward, she quietly went to Zhou Shaojin’s courtyard and pulled her to sit under the grape arbor to talk: “When the family was divided, it looked like the three brothers received the same. But Uncle Chi’s money was all tied up in this residence, leaving little cash on hand. Nowadays things get more expensive by the day, and maintaining such a large residence isn’t easy. Though we’re not living extravagantly either, our expenses are smaller, yet we still have savings every year. If you don’t mind, I have over ten thousand taels of silver in savings here. You can take it first to buy a small estate or something—it will provide a steady income every year.”

Zhou Shaojin was very grateful and repeatedly said “No need.”

But Qiu Shi said, “You needn’t be polite with us. Your Second Uncle also said that Mother lives with you, and you attend to her morning and evening—it’s hard work. If there’s anything we can help with, you must speak up.”

“We really don’t need it.” The family was warm and close, and Zhou Shaojin loved this atmosphere. She smiled and said, “If there were truly difficulties, Fourth Son would have told Second Uncle long ago. The reason for selling those paintings and calligraphy is that there are too many in the house, and Fourth Son doesn’t particularly like them. He says he wants to ‘give fine swords to heroes’ and let them go to those who truly value them.”

Qiu Shi suddenly understood and couldn’t help laughing. “I was overthinking it. I heard the wind and thought it was rain, thinking you really needed to pawn things to get by!”

“We’d never reach that point.” Zhou Shaojin carefully explained to Qiu Shi, never imagining that matters would escalate even further. Not only did Yuan Weichang, Gu Jiuxie, and others come to ask Cheng Chi what was going on, but the Imperial Grand Grandson simply granted him a small estate with forty to fifty acres of land located in the suburbs of Wanping County. He even had an inner attendant bring word to Cheng Chi to teach with peace of mind, saying things like “In books there are beauties like jade, in books there are houses of gold, in books there are thousands of bushels of grain”—that if he studied books well, his day would come.

Cheng Chi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as he showed Zhou Shaojin the land deed.

Zhou Shaojin was very nervous. “The Imperial Grand Grandson won’t misunderstand that you have no money, will he? If he learns we have money to buy an estate, won’t he think you’re deceiving the sovereign?”

“Probably!” Cheng Chi smiled. “When he gave me the land deed, his face was full of sympathy. There were other court officials present at the time, and he seemed afraid I would refuse and embarrass him, so I had no choice but to accept it—so let’s hold off on buying our estate for now. We can discuss it again in a few years.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly.

Cheng Chi smiled. “Not only did the Imperial Grand Grandson give us the estate, but he also granted us the estate manager. They’re accustomed to eating imperial rations and may not be willing to properly manage the estate for us. I’m thinking of sending Fan Qi over to take a look. If he can handle it, we’ll put him in charge of the estate.”

This would also be good training for Fan Qi.

Zhou Shaojin agreed on his behalf.

When Fan Liu Shi learned of this, she kowtowed to Zhou Shaojin several times, patting her chest and guaranteeing she would manage the estate well.

This was the first property acquired by Cheng Chi and Zhou Shaojin after their marriage.

Zhou Shaojin naturally trusted Fan Liu Shi’s loyalty.

Two days later, Qin Ziji took Fan Qi to the estate.

That evening, Fan Qi returned and reported, “The estate there isn’t large, but the location is excellent. The Yongding River is nearby. In years of favorable weather, one year’s grain harvest can last two years.”

Zhou Shaojin was very pleased and gave him some instructions before allowing him to bid farewell to Fan Liu Shi.

A little maid serving Cheng Gao came to report that Cheng Zheng had been formally appointed County Magistrate of Jimo County. Cheng Shi was seeing Cheng Zheng off and had sent an invitation asking Cheng Gao to join them for drinks: “…Master Gao didn’t agree.” The little maid said in a light voice, “He said there’s a competition at the Imperial Academy in a couple of days.”

Seeing that Cheng Gao had things under control, Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief and told the maid to go to the kitchen: “Today we made chestnut rice cakes. They’re easy to digest and filling—take some to Master Gao for a late-night snack.”

The little maid left happily.

Zhou Shaojin put the matter out of her mind and took some excellent tonics along with Yun Ge’er to visit Ji Ying.

Ji Ying’s belly still showed no signs, and when she saw Yun Ge’er, she still wanted to hold him.

Zhou Shaojin was greatly startled and quickly stopped Ji Ying, widening her eyes. “You’re not still acting like before, are you?”

“I don’t feel anything different.” Ji Ying touched her belly and muttered quietly, “Sometimes I even doubt whether they made a mistake… If it’s a misdiagnosis, it would be a huge joke.” As she spoke, she glanced at the servants who had increased by two-thirds compared to before.

“Don’t talk nonsense.” Zhou Shaojin comforted her. “If one made a mistake, could two or three all be wrong?”

When he first heard Ji Ying was pregnant, Qin Ziping didn’t believe it and invited four or five doctors in succession to examine Ji Ying’s pulse.

Ji Ying smiled bashfully and led Yun Ge’er to her back courtyard.

Under the camphor tree stood a low plum blossom stake formation.

Ji Ying smiled. “Yun Ge’er, I’ll have someone teach you to walk the plum blossom stakes.”

Yun Ge’er was very interested, but Zhou Shaojin wouldn’t let them play with this.

Seeing Yun Ge’er eager to try, Ji Ying couldn’t bear to refuse him and called over a maid to teach Yun Ge’er to walk the stakes.

Yun Ge’er immediately stepped onto the low plum blossom stakes, his eyes bright and shining as he watched the little maid teach him how to walk them.

The little maid blushed and taught Yun Ge’er to walk the plum blossom stakes.

Zhou Shaojin and Ji Ying reclined on a beauty couch in the covered corridor, drinking tea while watching Yun Ge’er practice on the plum blossom stakes.

“This maid even knows these things! Where did you find her?” Zhou Shaojin asked Ji Ying.

Ji Ying smiled. “She’s one of the leftovers after selecting servants for you. I thought she was good, so I took her.”

Zhou Shaojin was surprised. “Da Ya and Er Ya’s martial skills are very good?”

“Of course.” Ji Ying smiled. “Not only must they have good skills, but they must also be loyal…”

The two were chatting happily when a little maid from Chaoyangmen came running in, saying, “Fourth Madam, Elder Young Mistress has gone into labor. Grand Madam asks you to come quickly.”

Zhou Shaojin apologized to Ji Ying and hurried out with quick steps, asking along the way, “When did she go into labor? Who was present at the time? Are the midwife and wet nurse all prepared? What is Second Sister-in-law doing now? Has her maiden family been notified?”

Although having one’s mother from the maiden family come to care for childbirth was somewhat improper, the law couldn’t override human feelings. Since Qiu Shi treated Xie Shi like a daughter, naturally she wouldn’t be particular about such things with her.