The embankment was damp.
The elderly scholar surnamed Song, his excitement uncontainable, waved to Huang Yijun and said, “Come, let’s go to Xiaoshan’s Tide-Watching Tower.”
Huang Yijun said with difficulty, “Sister…”
The elderly scholar surnamed Song paused, then sighed softly with disappointment, “Then let’s return to Hangzhou City.”
Hearing this, the young woman’s eyes reddened. She said, “Yijun, you accompany Father-in-law to Xiaoshan. I’ll be escorted back to Hangzhou City by the servant women.”
The elderly scholar surnamed Song seemed somewhat moved by this.
Huang Yijun, however, was hesitant and indecisive.
The woman bit her lip, then suddenly bowed to Old Madam Guo and said, “Old Madam, could I possibly follow you? When my father-in-law and younger brother return from Xiaoshan, they can come fetch me.”
Cheng Chi said nothing.
But Zhou Shaojin could sense his displeasure.
She couldn’t help but look toward Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo had already smiled and said, “Helping others is helping oneself. Young madam, no need for such formality. If the elder sir doesn’t mind, you’re welcome to come with us.” As she spoke, she pointed in the direction of the Zong family villa and said, “We’re staying as guests at the home of Old Master Zong, Jiangnan’s wealthiest man.”
Upon hearing this, the elderly scholar surnamed Song became somewhat embarrassed and said, “Why don’t you all come with us to Xiaoshan to watch the tide instead? I hear the tidal bore there is somewhat different from here…”
Zhou Shaojin noticed what seemed like a trace of annoyance in Cheng Chi’s eyes.
She said quietly to Old Madam Guo, “There will definitely be many people there, otherwise Elder Song wouldn’t have hesitated about whether to bring this madam along. We should go back. Even if we go to Xiaoshan to watch the tide, it would just be watching from afar on the Tide-Watching Tower. How could it compare to this? Those waves seemed to fly right over our heads. If I hadn’t come to the Qiantang River and seen it with my own eyes, I would surely think what’s written in books is all exaggeration.”
Zhou Shaojin’s words made Old Madam Guo laugh.
She said, “Good. We’ll listen to you. Let’s return to the villa.”
Zhou Shaojin smiled sweetly, though from the corner of her eye she glanced toward Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi’s expression remained warm and gentle. But somehow she felt his mood had improved considerably.
The elderly scholar surnamed Song and Huang Yijun ultimately felt uneasy. They personally escorted the woman to the Zong family villa where they were temporarily staying. They also produced a calling card and handed it to Cheng Chi, saying, “I’ll trouble you with this daughter-in-law of mine. Just find a side room to settle her in.”
Cheng Chi calmly accepted the large crimson gold-dusted calling card that only jinshi graduates who passed both examinations could possess. Looking at it, he too couldn’t help but be greatly surprised.
The calling card the elderly scholar surnamed Song presented was actually that of Minister of Revenue, Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion, and Hanlin Academy Expositor Song Xu—Song Jingran.
Cheng Chi smiled and had someone fetch one of Cheng Jing’s calling cards to give to the elderly scholar surnamed Song.
The elderly scholar surnamed Song laughed heartily and said, “So these are Minister Cheng’s family members. This is truly a case of the great flood washing away the Dragon King’s temple—family not recognizing family!”
Cheng Chi smiled and exchanged pleasantries with the elderly scholar surnamed Song for a while. Only then did he learn that this elderly scholar was Song Jingran’s father, Song Min; Huang Yijun was Song Jingran’s brother-in-law; the young woman was Song Jingran’s second wife, Madam Huang; and the child was Song Jingran’s fifth son, Song Sen.
With this connection established, Song Min set his mind at ease and became completely unconstrained.
The two families exchanged greetings. Song Min entrusted Madam Huang to Cheng Chi’s care. He had the carriage driver unhitch the horses from the carriage, gently stroked the horse’s neck, and except for the carriage driver, left all the accompanying servant women behind. He and Huang Yijun mounted horses and headed toward Xiaoshan with Song Sen.
Cheng Chi’s gaze flickered slightly.
It was said that Song Jingran came from a merchant background, which was why he was skilled in calculations.
With a father from the Two Lakes region who was skilled at horseback riding, it was clear the Song family wasn’t just ordinary merchants dealing in goods from south to north.
Over there, Old Madam Guo and Madam Huang had struck up a conversation.
It turned out that Song’s mother had passed away over ten years ago. Song’s father had never remarried and had been living alone in their old home in Changsha. This past February, Song’s father had caught a cold and had been bedridden for over a month before recovering. Song Jingran was very worried and had specially asked his brother-in-law to accompany his wife and son to bring Song’s father to the capital to enjoy his remaining years in comfort. But Song’s father loved to travel, so he had brought them along touring all the way until they reached Hangzhou… which led to today’s meeting.
“This truly is fate!” Old Madam Guo had been paying attention to Song Jingran ever since Cheng Chi mentioned him. Now that she had actually encountered Song Jingran’s wife, she was naturally very enthusiastic. She said, “Madam, please feel at ease waiting here for Elder Song and Master Huang to return. Though I’m staying as a guest at Old Master Zong’s villa, I’ve brought my own people to serve me. Whatever Madam needs, please just ask.”