Zhou Shaojin suddenly understood and said, “So Uncle Chi gave you the name Ji Ying?”
Ji Ying remained silent.
Which was tantamount to acknowledgment.
Zhou Shaojin thought of how unhappy she had looked just now and guessed that introducing her as related by marriage to the Cheng family must have hurt her self-esteem. She thus said, “Those are all just unrelated people. Why should you have to explain your background to them? When you meet someone on the street and they ask your name, must you tell them the truth?”
Ji Ying’s expression softened slightly.
Zhou Shaojin’s heart lightened and she smiled, saying, “Why did you come over? Are you here to offer birthday greetings to Old Madam Guo? How come I don’t see Miss Nan Ping or Miss He Ming and the others?”
According to propriety, the servant women who served the main branch should also offer birthday greetings to Old Madam Guo.
“Yes!” Ji Ying said. “They’re in that side room talking with Nanny Shi and the others. I was too lazy to wait around, so I came to see if you were here.”
Zhou Shaojin was somewhat surprised that Ji Ying would come to kowtow to Old Madam Guo.
Ji Ying said, “The grievance between my father and Cheng Zichuan is their business. Old Madam Guo hasn’t offended me, has she? She’s an elder, and for her birthday I naturally should come kowtow to the old lady!”
Zhou Shaojin smiled broadly and nodded repeatedly, feeling her mood improve greatly.
That Ji Ying thought this way showed that the conflict between her father and Uncle Chi wasn’t some life-and-death feud!
She said, “I already offered birthday greetings to Old Madam Guo just now. It should be your turn soon.”
Her smile was serene and relaxed, completely different from the polite and courteous manner she had displayed in the rest room earlier.
Ji Ying couldn’t help but say, “Did someone bully you? You don’t seem very happy.”
Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment and said frankly, “I’m just not used to the way they speak and conduct themselves.”
She told Ji Ying about all those young ladies’ behavior in detail.
Ji Ying listened very attentively and said, “When I was little, my father once told me a story.
“He said there was a household with two widows. One widow was surnamed Li, and one widow was surnamed Wang. Both relied on support from their clan. The widow surnamed Li was afraid of having no one to care for her in her old age, so whenever anyone in the clan had any matter, she was very enthusiastic about helping. Everyone liked her very much. They often gave her food, and her reputation in the clan was very good.
“The widow surnamed Wang was quite the opposite. Apart from the clan’s provisions, she planted vegetables in front of and behind her house and raised chickens. When she wanted to go out, she went into the city. When she wanted to be lazy, she went to the neighboring village to buy a couple of steamed buns. If people didn’t call on her when they had matters, she would absolutely not appear. Even when she did appear, she would first see what kind of family it was.
“In comparison, everyone said that this widow surnamed Wang was indifferent and didn’t know how to show gratitude. Everyone didn’t much like this Widow Wang, and over time, the clan members even began to distance themselves from her.
“Widow Li advised Widow Wang: ‘If you don’t try to please the clan members like this, aren’t you afraid that when you’re old and lying sick in bed, no one will take care of you?’
“Widow Wang replied: ‘You want me to spend decades currying favor with them just so they’ll look after me in those final few years? I don’t think it’s worth it. I won’t do it.’
“Widow Li just shook her head and left.
“Then Widow Li toiled her entire life. Her back became hunched, her hair turned white, and before her death, the clan members took turns caring for her. Everyone went to see her. Within a few days, she died.
“Widow Wang, however, lived freely her entire life. On her deathbed, only two people, on the clan leader’s orders, brought her tea and water. Not many people came to visit her. Within a few days, she also died.”
Ji Ying recalled, “I still remember—at the time, my father asked me whether I would learn from Widow Wang and live freely my whole life only to suffer those last few days, or learn from Widow Li and toil my whole life to enjoy those last few days of blessing.” She looked up at Zhou Shaojin. “I said I would rather be like Widow Li—endure those last few days of hardship to enjoy a lifetime of happiness. Miss Er, if you had to choose, which path would you take?”
Zhou Shaojin was extremely shocked.
No one had ever spoken to her like this before.
In all the teachings she had received, she was told how to be modest, frugal, courteous, and yielding in order to win others’ approval and gain their favor. To live her own life and let others talk… she had never even considered it.
Zhou Shaojin looked at Ji Ying, unable to speak for a long while.
But Ji Ying smiled and said, “Miss Er, what I want to tell you is that for some matters, even if you force yourself, others may not necessarily consider your feelings or appreciate your forbearance.”
Zhou Shaojin was lost in thought.
The copper kettle on the stove made gurgling sounds.
A pozi burst in.
“Oh my! Second Cousin Miss,” she said, wiping her forehead. “A little maid from Miss Biyu’s side spilled the hot water that had just been brought over. I had to send another kettle… I was afraid the water would boil over and extinguish the stove. Good thing you’re here…”
Ji Ying pushed Zhou Shaojin and smiled, “Let’s go! The banquet is about to start.”
Zhou Shaojin walked back to the hall with Ji Ying somewhat distractedly.
After Ji Ying and the others had offered birthday greetings to Old Madam Guo, presented birthday gifts, and received rewards, maids and pozis brought in tables. Everyone sat down according to hierarchical order. Old Madam Guo said a few words of thanks and raised her wine cup.
The birthday banquet officially began.
On the madams and mistresses’ side, Madam Yuan went from table to table urging drinks with warm smiles—quite lively. On the young ladies’ side, however, each one maintained her dignity, sitting properly and eating elegantly.
Zhou Shaojin thought about the story Ji Ying had told her. The more she thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that Ji Ying’s father was no ordinary person.
If there was an opportunity, she really should ask Ji Ying carefully about her family background.
After the birthday banquet, everyone followed Old Madam Guo to watch the opera.
Only then did Zhou Shaojin discover that there was an opera stage not far from the main hall.
Old Madam Guo had selected a scene from “The Sixth Son Visits His Mother,” starring Gao Huizhu from the Changgao Troupe.
His voice was like a silver vase suddenly breaking—high-pitched and clear. His appearance was handsome, drawing continuous applause from the old madams, madams, mistresses, and young ladies.
Zhou Shaojin found it too noisy.
When Cheng Jia, Gu Shiqi, and the others weren’t paying attention, she quietly squeezed to the very edge of the opera viewing area and gazed at the lush green scenery of the Hanbei Mountain Lodge, letting out a long breath.
Someone was talking behind her.