Both Cheng Chi and Old Madam Guo maintained composed expressions. Only Zhou Shaojin privately remarked to Chun Wan with a sigh, “I imagine the Hangzhou branch office heard that Old Madam Guo praised those two osmanthus trees at the Ningbo branch office, so they deliberately transplanted these here. At this season, I wonder if these two osmanthus trees will survive.”
Chun Wan’s eyes widened as she asked, “What if they don’t survive?”
Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment and replied, “They’ll probably transplant two similar ones to replace them. After all, we wouldn’t recognize the difference anyway.”
Chun Wan was left speechless.
A maid came to invite Zhou Shaojin to the main hall for the evening meal.
Zhou Shaojin changed into a pink plain vest with grass-green piping, arranged her hair in a double flat bun, wore a South Sea pearl circlet, and went to the main hall.
Old Madam Guo had already changed her clothes. Her graying hair was neatly coiled into a round bun with a pair of red gold羊脂玉双桃 hairpins inserted, wearing an autumn-fragrant colored vest with cranes carrying lingzhi mushrooms in lake silk. Her complexion was rosy and she looked quite spirited, conversing with a woman in her forties wearing a parrot-green silk vest.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin, Old Madam Guo beckoned her over with a smile and pointed to the woman, saying, “This is Madam Wang, wife of the second manager at the Hangzhou branch office. I’m afraid we’ll have to trouble Madam Wang with our food, clothing, and accommodations these next few days.”
Since they were temporarily staying here as strangers to the area, the Hangzhou branch office would, like the Ningbo branch office, send someone familiar with the local affairs to attend to them. Zhou Shaojin hadn’t expected the Hangzhou branch office to send the second manager’s wife.
She smiled and curtsied to Madam Wang, respectfully addressing her as “Madam Wang.”
Madam Wang quickly turned sideways, repeatedly saying “I wouldn’t dare,” while a flash of amazement and curiosity passed through her eyes as she looked at Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin pretended not to notice. After greeting Old Madam Guo, she stood properly behind her.
Madam Wang smiled and asked, “The evening meal is already prepared. Would you like it served now, or shall we wait until Fourth Master returns?”
Old Madam Guo turned to Zhou Shaojin, “Are you hungry?”
Zhou Shaojin smiled and shook her head, saying, “I ate many snacks this afternoon, so I’m still quite full!”
Old Madam Guo smiled and said, “Very well then. We’ll wait for Si Lang to return before having the meal served—as soon as he arrived, several managers who rushed over upon hearing the news surrounded him. Who knows when they’ll finish talking!”
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “Business matters are important! Why don’t I accompany you for a walk around the courtyard? When I came in, I noticed there seemed to be an artificial mountain and pond behind the courtyard. We could go take a look there.”
Old Madam Guo had napped all afternoon on the boat and was in good spirits. Hearing this, she smiled at Madam Wang and said, “Madam Wang, shall we all go for a walk together?”
Madam Wang naturally was delighted to accompany them.
The group went to the back of the courtyard.
Taihu stones had been piled into an artificial mountain. At the summit stood a red-lacquered hexagonal pavilion. Beside the mountain was a pond with several lotus plants. A pair of mandarin ducks swam leisurely in the lake.
Zhou Shaojin stared intently at the mandarin ducks.
Old Madam Guo laughed and said, “No wonder you’re curious. Our mansion keeps two cranes, but none of the households raise mandarin ducks. This is your first time seeing them, isn’t it?”
There were cranes at Jiuru Lane?
This was the first Zhou Shaojin had heard of it.
She nodded bashfully and said, “I’ve heard people say that if one mandarin duck dies, the other absolutely will not live alone. I wonder if that’s true or false?”
“It’s true!” Madam Wang said with a smile. “Previously this pond had two pairs of mandarin ducks. Later one died, and its mate refused food and died as well. Now only this pair remains.”
As they were talking, a school of koi fish swam over.
Madam Wang broke off a branch to tease the koi.
Perhaps because people often played with them this way, the koi weren’t shy at all, opening their mouths to nibble at the branch playfully.
Madam Wang instructed a young maid to break off a branch for Zhou Shaojin as well.
Zhou Shaojin felt this was something young maids should do and handed the branch to Chun Wan.
Chun Wan was quite clever and imitated Madam Wang’s manner of teasing the koi.
Zhou Shaojin and Old Madam Guo simply watched from the side.
Cheng Chi returned.
He asked with a smile, “What are you all gathered here for? I was wondering why there was no one in the hall!”
Zhou Shaojin stepped forward to greet Cheng Chi.
Old Madam Guo smiled and said, “We’ve been waiting for you to have the evening meal!”
Cheng Chi replied, “I never keep regular hours. Why wait for me? Are you afraid I’ll go hungry!” After speaking, he nodded at Madam Wang and said courteously, “We’ll trouble Madam Wang these next few days.”
Madam Wang apparently hadn’t expected Cheng Chi to treat her with such courtesy. Excited, she could barely speak properly, “Fourth Master flatters me. This, this is what I should be doing. I dare not accept Fourth Master’s word ‘trouble.'” She quickly asked, “Should the meal be served now?”
Cheng Chi looked toward Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo glanced at Zhou Shaojin and said, “Let’s have the meal served. We only had some snacks on the boat this afternoon.”
Cheng Chi smiled and nodded, asking Madam Wang to serve the meal.
Madam Wang hurried off to make arrangements.
After Cheng Chi and the others began their meal, she went to the tea room to instruct the maids in preparing tea. Looking up, she saw a young girl dressed as a maid but adorned with gold and silver jewelry. The girl had an unfamiliar face, with eyes that sparkled with rippling light, naturally conveying a certain charm.
Someone of such quality was most likely a senior maid serving Old Madam Guo.
She quickly approached with a smile and asked, “Miss, is there something you need?”
“Nothing much,” Zhenzhu said with a smile. “Old Madam has been on the boat these past days. Second Young Miss is concerned that Old Madam might feel unwell, so these days she’s having Old Madam use Laojun Mei tea. She specifically sent me with the tea leaves to inform the sisters in the tea room.”
Madam Wang quickly said, “Rest assured, we’ve made note of it.”
Zhenzhu smiled her thanks and returned to the hall.