Zhou Shaojin and Wu Baozhang naturally parted on bad terms.
However, Zhou Shaojin quickly put the matter out of her mind, while Wu Baozhang became somewhat anxious. She decided to stay in the capital for New Year’s and, after the festivities, find a way to get her father-in-law Cheng Wen to agree to let her return to Jinling. She could no longer endure spending every day in that rented little residence dealing with firewood, rice, oil, salt, sugar, vinegar, and tea. After all, her father was a fourth-rank prefect—she hadn’t married into the Cheng family to engage in mercantile affairs.
Zhou Shaojin, meanwhile, helped Old Madam Guo pack while worrying about why Cheng Chi still hadn’t returned.
Finally, around the second night watch, Cheng Chi returned covered in snow.
Zhou Shaojin hurried to meet him, helping him remove his cloak while studying his expression: “Have you had dinner? Did things go smoothly at Grand Secretary Song’s?”
Cheng Chi’s expression seemed somewhat stern. Hearing this, his face cleared slightly, though he couldn’t be called cheerful. He let out a long breath and, without changing clothes, embraced Zhou Shaojin briefly, saying: “I’m fine! Has Mother retired for the night?”
If she hadn’t, propriety demanded he go pay his respects.
Zhou Shaojin said: “When I left, Mother was reclining on the large heated platform by the window playing chess. She’s probably waiting for you.”
Cheng Chi nodded: “I’ll go see her!”
Zhou Shaojin agreed, helped Cheng Chi change clothes, and accompanied him to pay respects to Old Madam Guo.
Seeing Cheng Chi, Old Madam Guo smiled, her eyes showing unmistakable affection as she asked with a smile: “Why are you only returning now? Your elder brother and his wife waited for you quite a while. Shaojin has been looking forward to your return too, sending someone to check at the gate every little while…”
Zhou Shaojin hadn’t realized her actions had been observed so clearly by Old Madam Guo. She blushed and didn’t dare raise her head.
But Cheng Chi’s gaze on her was gentle.
“Some matters delayed me,” he smiled. “I might be rather busy these next few days. If I return late in the future, eat first—don’t wait for me.”
Zhou Shaojin didn’t know if he was speaking to her or to Old Madam Guo and didn’t dare make a sound. But Old Madam Guo chuckled and said: “You two go rest now! I’m moving to Xinglin Alley tomorrow.”
“Then we’ll see you there tomorrow!” Cheng Chi smiled and chatted with his mother for a few more sentences before leading Zhou Shaojin out of Tingxiang Courtyard.
Zhou Shaojin watched his tall, jade-like figure walking ahead and inexplicably felt proud and honored, as if she shared in his glory. Her steps unconsciously slowed.
Who knew that Cheng Chi would walk faster and faster, quickly opening up a distance between them?
Zhou Shaojin was stunned.
In the past, when she followed behind Cheng Chi, this had never happened.
What was wrong?
Zhou Shaojin jogged to catch up with Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi turned his head, as if only then realizing he had left Zhou Shaojin behind.
He sighed and took Zhou Shaojin’s hand.
Zhou Shaojin still had to jog to keep up with his pace.
She couldn’t help saying: “Fourth Brother, don’t be angry! Do you want me to accompany you for a walk in the garden?”
Although a few snowflakes still occasionally drifted from the sky and the garden was quite desolate, for an angry person, perhaps the cold air would help calm his mood.
In her previous life, when she encountered troubles she couldn’t resolve, she would walk by the fields on cold nights accompanied by maids and servants. Sometimes her mood would improve.
Cheng Chi suddenly stopped and smiled: “You can tell I’m in a bad mood?”
When he said this, he raised his eyebrows with a somewhat disbelieving look!
Zhou Shaojin said curiously: “Isn’t it obvious? When you’re angry, your movements become larger than usual. When you’re happy, your movements are gentler than at other times. When you’re very angry, you smile in a very warm way, but your eyes are ice cold…”
Before she finished speaking, Cheng Chi was already laughing heartily.
He embraced Zhou Shaojin and kissed her temple, saying: “How can you be so adorable!”
Cheng Chi thought he had achieved the state of not showing his emotions on his face. It turned out that to someone who wholeheartedly kept him in their heart, his every move was as clear as daylight.
Zhou Shaojin looked bewildered, not knowing where Cheng Chi’s words came from.
Cheng Chi laughed even more freely. Even the servants following behind them couldn’t help raising their heads to steal glances at the couple.
※※※
Returning to the inner chamber, Zhou Shaojin drew water for Cheng Chi to wash his feet.
Cheng Chi pointed to the brocade stool beside him for her to sit, and while soaking his feet, he said: “I went to Lord Yang’s house today… in Chongyi Ward in the north of the city, half a courtyard, with nothing—bare walls, lunch was porridge with two small dishes of pickled vegetables they made themselves…”
Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened.
Chongyi Ward in the north of the city was notoriously poor.
Yang Shoushan—he was a two-time examination graduate, a Grand Canal Administrator!
Cheng Chi nodded: “He came from a poor background, grew up eating from a hundred households, and married his childhood sweetheart from the same village. His salary was never enough to begin with, and he still took half back to help the poor in his village. Two daughters are already married, and he has one son and one daughter still at home… When Madam Yang came out to receive guests, she wore a half-worn sapphire blue Hangzhou silk jacket with only a peachwood hairpin.”
Zhou Shaojin added some hot water to the foot basin, saying: “Why don’t you help them out a bit!”
Cheng Chi smiled bitterly: “Only after much persuasion did Madam Yang accept fifty taels of silver, and that was only considering that Lord Yang is imprisoned in the Imperial Prison and needs silver for bribes.”
But this shouldn’t make Cheng Chi angry!
Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment and said: “Is there something else wrong?”
Cheng Chi glanced at Zhou Shaojin, was silent for a moment, then said: “Actually, I’ve always felt that Lord Yang is rigid, harsh, and obstinate—very unlikeable. Regarding the dredging of the Yellow River, both Old Master Song and I felt it wasn’t the best time, but he insisted on going his own way. At the time, Old Master Song angrily told me he only wanted political achievements without caring about the people’s suffering. I agreed completely, which is why I found excuses to stay in the capital and not go. After his incident, I had someone investigate the accounts from the canal administration…” His tone paused slightly. “I discovered the canal accounts were full of holes… many places couldn’t withstand verification… I immediately suspected him of corruption. I went to the Yang household also wanting to see if I could discover anything… and then be frank with Grand Secretary Song, to test whether this matter had anything to do with him, whether he knew the canal accounts had problems…”
But upon visiting the Yang household, it was such a scene.
Zhou Shaojin naturally believed Cheng Chi.