On the day of the Laba Festival, the weather changed abruptly, and a bone-chilling wind suddenly began to blow.
Cheng Jia came over wearing a gray squirrel fur jacket, her face rosy red. Instead of entering the house, she stood in the covered corridor, laughing heartily at the pomegranate tree’s withered branches swaying wildly in the wind. She asked Zhou Shaojin, who had come out to greet her: “Do you think it will snow this year?”
Zhou Shaojin’s memories were still lingering on the brilliant white snow of Beijing’s winters. Hearing this, she couldn’t help but pause in confusion.
Cheng Jia sighed: “It didn’t snow last year. I hope it snows today. Then we could build a snowman!”
At her age, still thinking about such things.
Zhou Shaojin quickly invited her inside: “…It’s too cold outside.”
“Cold is good,” Cheng Jia said with a smile. “When it’s cold, it’s perfect for drinking porridge.” She asked again, “What ingredients did you use to cook your porridge?”
“Lotus seeds, peanuts, red beans, dried longan, Job’s tears…” Zhou Shaojin said as she entered the house with Cheng Jia. “What’s the matter?”
Two braziers were burning inside the room, and the wave of heat hit them in the face, making Cheng Jia’s breath catch.
She exclaimed: “Why did you light so many braziers?”
“It’s too cold,” Zhou Shaojin said. “I have to huddle under the blankets for ages before there’s any warmth.”
Cheng Jia’s eyes widened: “Don’t you use a hot water bottle?”
“The hot water bottle doesn’t help either,” Zhou Shaojin said. “I just feel too cold.”
It wasn’t like in the capital, where the heated floor passages kept everything warm—wherever your hand touched was always hot.
Cheng Jia was somewhat speechless: “When is Ji Ying coming? When I left, Sister-in-law Shi was just delivering Laba porridge. She said it was made with glutinous rice, millet, fragrant red rice, black rice… eight types of rice in total, making it more refreshing than ordinary Laba porridge. I wanted to taste it before coming, but I was afraid you’d be waiting, so I rushed over without even getting a glance. If I’d known Ji Ying hadn’t arrived yet, I should have come later.”
Zhou Shaojin was exasperated.
Zhou Chujin walked in, untying her apron, and said with a smile: “I’ve already put the porridge to simmer on the tea room stove. When Ji Ying arrives, we can eat.”
Zhou Shaojin nodded.
Cheng Jia jumped up: “Didn’t you say you cooked the Laba porridge yourself? How is it that Sister Chujin was the one in the kitchen?”
“Do you know how to make Laba porridge or not?” Zhou Shaojin shot Cheng Jia a look. “Things like lotus seeds, red beans, Job’s tears—they need to be soaked the day before… I got up at the fifth hour this morning (note: 6 AM) and kept stirring the porridge with a spoon to keep it from sticking together. If I’d known you’d react this way, I should have worn an apron to greet you!”
Cheng Jia giggled and tugged at Zhou Shaojin’s sleeve, saying in a low voice: “At worst, I’ll treat you to horseshoe cakes from Qifang Pastry Shop.”
Zhou Chujin couldn’t help but laugh.
While the room was bustling with activity, Shi Xiang came in to announce: “Miss Ji Ying has arrived.”
“Please invite her in quickly,” Zhou Shaojin said. The door curtain lifted, and Ji Ying walked in by herself.
She wore a rose-purple embroidered vest over a willow-yellow Hangzhou silk jacket. Her jet-black hair was casually twisted into a bun, she wore a pair of pearl earrings, and she carried a gift box, looking as if she were going to pay New Year’s respects at someone’s house.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but laugh with a “pfft” sound.
Ji Ying looked at Zhou Shaojin in confusion.
Worried that Ji Ying might think she was mocking her, Zhou Shaojin quickly said: “You look like you’re visiting neighbors in the neighborhood. New Year’s hasn’t even arrived yet! Even if it were New Year’s, sisters living in the same alley wouldn’t need to be so formal, would they?”
Only then did Ji Ying understand.
She immediately ground her teeth together: “Qin Ziping, just you wait—when I get back, I’m going to teach you a proper lesson!”
Zhou Shaojin asked curiously: “What does this have to do with Steward Qin?”
“This is what he prepared for me!” Ji Ying pointed at the gift box. “Eight assorted pastries from Qifang Shop. I said it wasn’t necessary, but he insisted on making me take it, saying this was the custom here!”
Everyone burst into laughter.
Zhou Chujin gently told her: “Courtesy costs nothing. However, today is just a small gathering among sisters, so there’s no need to be so formal. If you really want to bring something in the future, just bring whatever you like to eat or things that look nice to show them—that’s all.”
Ji Ying thanked her repeatedly.
Now Zhou Chujin had a clear picture.
Despite Ji Ying’s cold and striking beauty, she was like Zhou Shaojin—someone who didn’t overthink things.
She instructed Shi Xiang to bring in the porridge, and the group seated themselves around the round table in the hall.
Shi Xiang brought in the porridge and was saying auspicious words when Cheng Yi arrived.
“It smells wonderful!” He sniffed the air. “You’re all hiding here drinking porridge without calling me.” As he spoke, his gaze fell on Ji Ying, transforming from amazement to a fixed stare.
Ji Ying frowned.
Zhou Shaojin quickly coughed: “Cousin Yi, is there something you need from me?”
“Can’t I look for you without a reason?” Cheng Yi’s eyes seemed nailed to Ji Ying as he said absentmindedly, “You must have cooked more than just this bit of porridge, right? Give me a bowl to taste too! Let me see how it’s different from what my mother cooks.”
Cheng Jia couldn’t take it anymore and simply kicked Cheng Yi’s leg.
Cheng Yi clutched his shin, his brow furrowing. He was about to say something to Cheng Jia when his peripheral vision caught something, and he forcibly swallowed the words at the tip of his tongue. He then let go of his shin and casually brushed off the corner of his robe: “A good man doesn’t quarrel with women. I won’t stoop to your level.”
Cheng Jia’s expression changed.
Zhou Shaojin felt very awkward.
She had experienced this kind of thing herself before, so she naturally understood Ji Ying’s irritation. But the person doing this was her cousin with whom she’d played since childhood. Even if she drove him out, he would probably shamelessly refuse to leave, wouldn’t he?
Zhou Shaojin gave Shi Xiang a meaningful look and said in a low voice: “In a moment, tell him that grandmother is looking for him and get rid of him.”
Shi Xiang understood. She set out the bowls and chopsticks, lingered outside for a moment, then returned: “Second Master, the old lady is asking for you!”