The maids and servants either went to fetch thick cushions, or went to the lakeside to prepare boats, or carried incense burners, felt blankets, and writing materials to the waterside pavilion. The usually quiet Chaoyangmen was like New Year’s—everyone sprang into action.
Old Madam Guo watched and couldn’t help but feel emotional. She said to Nanny Lü, “Originally I was afraid this girl Shaojin was too childish. Now it seems that being childish has its benefits—look how lively the household is!”
Nanny Lü smiled and said, “It’s so good when the house is lively! Hanbi Mountain Villa used to be too quiet.”
Old Madam Guo was in an excellent mood and joked with Nanny Lü, “So this is all my fault? I wanted to be lively, but how can one person make things lively!”
Nanny Lü pleased Old Madam Guo by saying, “Once Fourth Young Madam gives you a big fat grandson, the household will be even livelier.”
Old Madam Guo nodded continuously.
The next day, after hosting a banquet for Old Madam Guan, the following day they saw Old Madam Guan off as she left the capital. Upon returning to Chaoyangmen, Min Jia, who had completed her return visit, sent a nanny to deliver some local specialties from Fujian. Old Madam Guo handed everything to Zhou Shaojin, letting her handle it as she saw fit. Zhou Shaojin passed it to Nanny Shang, having her take care of it. She herself continued to wake up early to see Cheng Chi off, then take another nap, and in the afternoon go to Tingxiang Courtyard to practice calligraphy and painting.
When the wind felt warm against one’s face, Cheng Jia came to bid them farewell—she was returning to Luoyang.
Zhou Shaojin also asked her to take many things to Zhou Zhen, Li Shi, and Zhu Zhu in Baoding.
On the day Cheng Jia left, Cheng Zheng, Cheng Xiao, and Cheng Sheng all came to see her off.
Zhou Shaojin, however, was in an irritable mood.
Her monthly cycle had come again.
This time, no matter how Cheng Chi tried to comfort her, she couldn’t cheer up.
She began spending her spare time embroidering the image of Guanyin Bodhisattva with the pure vase and willow branch that Cheng Chi had drawn for her.
This was what she planned to send to Mount Putuo to pray for her and Cheng Chi to have a child.
Seeing her gloomy appearance, Cheng Chi began to reflect on whether he had gone too far.
Although he did it for her own good, what was the point if this good made her listless and unhappy?
Cheng Chi pondered whether he should take Zhou Shaojin out for a walk.
But Qiu Shi came to invite Zhou Shaojin to visit, saying that the marriage between Cheng Rang and the third young lady of the Xie family had been settled. On the sixteenth of the third month, they would have the minor betrothal ceremony and wanted to invite Zhou Shaojin to accompany the fortunate woman to insert the hairpin for the bride.
Zhou Shaojin naturally agreed gladly. She took her to pay respects to Old Madam Guo and invited her to stay for lunch.
Qiu Shi didn’t stand on ceremony either and spoke about the hairpin insertion: “I originally wanted to invite eldest sister-in-law, but the sixth young lady of the Fang family is getting married and she has to help out. I thought about it and decided to invite you—you’re Rang’s aunt, after all.”
Zhou Shaojin nodded with a smile, remembering the year she went with Cheng Chi to insert the hairpin for He Fengping at Cheng Gao’s house. She quickly asked, “Who have you invited as matchmaker? Who is the fortunate woman? Who else is going?”
“We’ve invited two of Second Master’s colleagues as matchmakers, Madam Wu the Third as the fortunate woman. Ah Sheng is pregnant, and I don’t know if they have any taboos about that, so I’ve invited you, Ah Zheng, and Ah Xiao.”
“When the time comes, I’ll definitely dress up beautifully and not embarrass Rang!” Zhou Shaojin said with curved eyes and brows.
Old Madam Guo and Qiu Shi both laughed.
Zhou Shaojin then pulled Old Madam Guo to tell her how to insert the hairpin for the newlyweds, what auspicious words to say, and what taboos there were.
These were all matters of social propriety.
Old Madam Guo taught earnestly, and Zhou Shaojin studied seriously.
When that day arrived, Zhou Shaojin got up early, styled her hair in a falling-horse bun, inserted a large kingfisher-feather flower, and put on a sky-blue jacket, preparing to go out.
Cheng Chi smiled and said, “Didn’t you say you were going to dress up beautifully?”
Zhou Shaojin laughed and said, “That was just talk—no matter how beautiful, I can’t outshine the bride!”
But even like this, she would probably still outshine the bride.
Cheng Chi felt that even if his wife had five sons and three daughters in the future, she probably wouldn’t qualify as that “fortunate woman.”
The couple left together.
Cheng Chi went to the Censorate office, and Zhou Shaojin went to Cheng Wei’s place.
Unexpectedly, when she entered, she saw Min Jia.
She was also going to the third young lady of the Xie family’s minor betrothal ceremony.