It took Zhou Shaojin a long while to sort out what Ji Ying had said.
“How can we just casually find a young maid to make socks for Uncle Chi?” She stared at Ji Ying uncomprehendingly. “Don’t you know needlework? If Miss Nan Ping knows you can’t do needlework, why would she insist you make socks for Uncle Chi? Miss Nan Ping doesn’t seem like the type to make things difficult for people.”
Hearing this, Ji Ying snorted coldly and said, “Why are you just like Nan Ping? Is Cheng Zichuan the emperor? Why must his socks be made by those who serve him closely? If others make them and he wears them, will it make him itchy?”
Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed red upon hearing this. She quickly said, “We don’t mean that… it’s just that having intimate items made by strangers seems improper…”
“He’s not a woman!” Ji Ying dismissively interrupted Zhou Shaojin. “I think Cheng Zichuan has been spoiled by you people. Won’t eat this, won’t drink that—not manly at all!”
Is this how a maid should talk about her master?
Zhou Shaojin was left speechless.
Seeing this, Ji Ying coughed lightly and said, “I’m just saying this about your Uncle Chi privately, no other meaning.”
“Oh!” Zhou Shaojin felt this definitely wasn’t the first time she’d privately spoken of Uncle Chi this way.
Under the gaze of Zhou Shaojin’s clear eyes that seemed to reflect her image, Ji Ying felt somewhat uncomfortable and coughed lightly again, saying, “Then let’s agree on this. You just help your Uncle Chi make four pairs of socks. Have them done before New Year’s.” As she spoke, she dropped the cloth in her hand and was about to leave.
Zhou Shaojin quickly called out to stop her, saying, “Why won’t you help make them for Uncle Chi? If your needlework isn’t good, I can teach you! You can’t keep passing Uncle Chi’s things from one person to another like this. If Old Madam Guo finds out, how heartbroken she’ll be. The Biyu and Feicui on her side have excellent needlework. It’s just a few pairs of socks. The old madam entrusted Uncle Chi to your care, yet you can’t even find someone to make a pair of socks…”
Ji Ying’s departing body paused. She slowly turned around and said, “What did you just say?”
Seeing her eyes burning, Zhou Shaojin’s heart jumped. She said haltingly, “I said, Old Madam Guo entrusted Uncle Chi to your care…”
“No, no.” Ji Ying shook her head. “You said you could teach me to make…” As she spoke, she clapped her hands together and actually laughed. “Not bad, not bad, this is a good idea. Starting tomorrow, I’ll come to you to learn needlework. Then let’s see what Nan Ping has to say!”
But wouldn’t this draw her into the conflict between Nan Ping and Ji Ying?
Zhou Shaojin waved her hands repeatedly and said, “I think you’d better tell Nan Ping! Just because you can’t make socks for Uncle Chi doesn’t mean others can’t…”
But Ji Ying completely ignored what she said and continued on her own: “Then it’s decided. You go to Hanbi Mountain Lodge to copy scriptures every afternoon, right? Then I’ll come over every day at the hour of the snake (note: nine in the morning). Your sister should be at Hanqiu Hall by then too.” As she spoke, she clapped her hands. “This matter is settled!” She turned and left.
What, what kind of situation was this?
Zhou Shaojin chased after her.
Ji Ying had already disappeared.
She looked at the moon-white Songjiang fine cloth Ji Ying had left behind, feeling like it was a hot potato.
When Zhou Chujin returned, she quickly told her sister about this. But fearing her sister would be angry at Ji Ying, she didn’t dare give details, simply saying that Ji Ying wanted to learn needlework from her so she could make socks for Uncle Chi.
Zhou Chujin was very surprised and said, “The maids serving Uncle Chi don’t know needlework?”
“I don’t know either!” Zhou Shaojin recalled that last time at the needlework room she had encountered Ming He from Uncle Chi’s household asking Master Zhang to help make summer socks. “Perhaps they really don’t know how.”
It wasn’t a bad thing anyway. Perhaps it could win Old Madam Guo’s favor. Zhou Chujin thought for a moment and said, “Then just teach her.”
If she didn’t teach Ji Ying, would Ji Ying not come?
Zhou Shaojin nodded.
When she got into bed, she couldn’t help pondering what kind of socks to make for Uncle Chi.
Looking at the kind of person Uncle Chi was, he was extremely particular. No embroidery, no edging—this probably wasn’t Ji Ying being lazy but rather Uncle Chi’s preference… Then they’d need to be well-fitted and comfortable to wear. But to make them well-fitted and comfortable, she’d need to measure his feet…
Thinking of this, Zhou Shaojin suddenly sat up.
She couldn’t very well go measure Uncle Chi’s feet, could she?
How could she have forgotten to ask Ji Ying to bring an old pair of socks to use as a pattern?
As the thought flashed through her mind, she laughed despite herself.
Since Ji Ying needed to make socks for Uncle Chi, she must have Uncle Chi’s measurements. Wasn’t Nan Ping from Uncle Chi’s household an expert in needlework? Even if Ji Ying forgot, Nan Ping should remember.
Having figured this out, Zhou Shaojin lay back down.
The next morning, Ji Ying indeed came as agreed.
She brought several steamers of shrimp dumplings for Zhou Shaojin: “Try these. They were made this morning with fresh shrimp sent from Xinqiao. Everyone gets a share.” The last sentence was directed at Shi Xiang and the others.
Shi Xiang looked at Zhou Shaojin awkwardly.
Zhou Shaojin saw that the shrimp dumplings were crystal clear with the red color of the shrimp faintly visible, very tempting. She simply instructed Shi Xiang, “Put them on plates and have everyone try some.”
Shi Xiang withdrew carrying the food box.
A faint smile appeared in Ji Ying’s eyes.