Old Madam Guan thought for a moment and said, “Gao’er’s wedding is set for the tenth day of the ninth month next year. From what the Liao family has indicated, my son-in-law wants to take the autumn examinations, so they’d like to choose a date between March, April, and May of next year. In a few days they’ll send someone to settle on a specific date. Having two weddings in one year—though having the son marry out before the daughter marries in is a good thing—I think it’s better to wait until after Gao’er’s wedding is finished. By then Shaojin will be a year older, and we can sit down properly with our brother-in-law to discuss matters between Shaojin and Yi’er.”
Madam Mian always respected her mother-in-law’s decisions and said with a smile, “By that time the pressing matters at hand will be mostly finished, and we can devote our attention to it. Your thinking is very thorough.”
Old Madam Guan smiled slightly. She was about to say more when the Zhou sisters had already changed clothes and walked over. She quickly exchanged a glance with her daughter-in-law, and the two smiled and dropped the topic, leading the Zhou sisters to Listening to Rain Pavilion.
The people from the second and third branches had all arrived and were gathered around Madam Song talking.
Zhou Shaojin saw that Jiang Shi appeared composed, showing no regret or anxiety about harming her daughter’s prospects. She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
She didn’t know whether Jiang Shi hadn’t realized the severity of the situation or if Jiang Shi already had a perfect strategy to handle Cheng Jia’s marriage prospects. By contrast, Cheng Jia was like an eggplant beaten by frost, listlessly following at her mother’s side. Even when she smiled, her eyes revealed some sadness. Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but feel sorry for Cheng Jia.
After the banquet began, Zhou Shaojin was seated at the table with Old Madam Guo and Madam Song. Because other elders like Old Madam Tang and Old Madam Li were also attending, Zhou Shaojin barely ate anything, spending all her time looking after them. Even so, watching this made First Branch’s eldest daughter-in-law Zheng Shi feel uncomfortable.
She had thought that with Cheng Sheng gone to the capital, among the younger generation she should be the one to stand out. Who knew Old Madam Guo would elevate Zhou Shaojin? Was Old Madam Guo doing this intentionally or unintentionally?
After the midday meal and tea, Old Madam Guo led Madam Song on a tour of Jiuru Lane.
Zhou Shaojin accompanied them.
The main branch’s classical elegance, the second branch’s refined beauty, the third branch’s magnificent splendor, the fourth branch’s simple plainness, and the fifth branch’s dazzling opulence all drew endless praise from Madam Song, who finally felt the weight of the Cheng family’s substantial foundation.
The evening meal still had Zhou Shaojin attending at the main table.
After dinner, they went to Siyi Tower to watch an evening opera.
Though it was already winter, warm curtains hung everywhere and lanterns were lit. Pink crape myrtles, white cape jasmine, and bright red pomegranate flowers bloomed in competition, making one doubt it was spring.
Madam Song couldn’t help saying, “They say the aristocratic families of Jiangnan are like cooking oil over fierce flames, flowers embroidering brocade. I see it with my own eyes today and finally believe it.”
Old Madam Guo laughed and said, “We’re borrowing your good fortune. If you hadn’t come, even if we wanted to find an excuse to gather like this, we couldn’t manage it.”
“It seems I should visit and move about more often,” Madam Song joked.
Jiang Shi picked up the conversation. “This is winter. When you come in spring there will be spring scenery, when you come in summer there will be summer scenery. We only fear you won’t come.”
“If I have leisure time, I’ll definitely come visit Old Madam,” Madam Song said with a slight smile as everyone sat down in the grand armchairs.
Biyu brought the opera menu and asked Madam Song to select a performance.
After Madam Song declined several times without success, she selected “The Peony Pavilion.” Old Madam Guo chose “Si Lang Visits His Mother.” With these two performances, the opera would likely continue until midnight. Old Madam Tang, Old Madam Li, and the others perceptively did not select any performances.
The opera stage began with clanging gongs and cymbals.
Zhou Shaojin arranged the tea and snacks that the little maids brought up beside Madam Song’s tea table. At first she explained to Madam Song which opera troupe was performing, who the dan and qingyi actors were, what operas they’d performed, and their status in Jinling’s theater circles. But as the opera reached its climax and Madam Song became entranced, she quietly replaced Madam Song’s tea and snacks, then discreetly caught the eye of Cheng Jia, who sat not far away examining her fingernails, and went downstairs.
Shortly after, Cheng Jia also came downstairs.
She asked Zhou Shaojin with a straight face, “What do you want?”
Perhaps still angry about Zhou Shaojin brushing her off that day.
Zhou Shaojin gently pulled her hand.
Her expression softened slightly as she said, “Just say whatever it is. If you want to comfort me, there’s no need. I’m already like this anyway. It can’t get any worse than it is now. I’m not afraid of you laughing at me…” Her tone had mellowed considerably.
Zhou Shaojin smiled.
Cheng Jia always had this sharp tongue but soft heart.
She said gently, “So what are your plans for the future?”
Cheng Jia’s expression darkened. She lowered her head and said, “I don’t know either. Mother says that after some time everyone will forget. But being gossiped about like this, in my heart… it’s very troubling!”
Zhou Shaojin understood.
She gently patted Cheng Jia’s hand and said, “Come to my room tonight! I brought many things back for you.”
Cheng Jia nodded absently and returned upstairs.
But when she saw the gifts Zhou Shaojin had bought for her at Wanxiang Residence, she suddenly came alive. “Shaojin, where did you buy these things? They’re so beautiful! Why didn’t you buy more? And this comb set—it actually depicts The Peony Pavilion… How daring of them!” She pressed Zhou Shaojin, “You must have bought gifts for Ah Zhu and Gu Shiqi too. Quick, show me what patterns you got for them.”
Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to take out the things she’d bought for Ah Zhu and the others to show Cheng Jia.
Cheng Jia examined the glass hairpins for a while, then the combs, and finally asked Zhou Shaojin, “Could you just give them the hairpins and give me all these comb sets?”
“Of course not!” Zhou Shaojin said with a laugh. “I didn’t know you liked combs so much. If I’d known, I should have brought back several more sets. However, I heard from people around Uncle Chi that there’s a shop in our Jinling City called ‘Flower’s Radiance’ that specializes in selling Changzhou combs. We just didn’t know about it. Let’s go browse there sometime.”
Only then did Cheng Jia let go.
However, compared to before, her mental state was much better.
Over the following days, Zhou Shaojin and her sister Zhou Chujin, led by Old Madam Guo, accompanied Madam Song throughout Jinling City’s mountains and waters. Though the Zhou sisters were Jinling natives, strict rules for unmarried ladies meant they’d never had the opportunity to tour like this. This time personally experiencing the scenery they’d only read about in books was actually thanks to Madam Song’s presence.
But touring outside every day was also exhausting. When Madam Song showed signs of fatigue, Old Madam Guo suggested holding a tea gathering at home to introduce Madam Song to the noble ladies of Jinling City. “…You can take this opportunity to meet some people.”
Madam Song felt Old Madam Guo’s arrangements were extremely thoughtful and proper, and repeatedly agreed.
Old Madam Guo then had the Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin sisters help arrange the tea gathering.
Under Madam Mian’s guidance, Zhou Chujin could already independently manage the fourth branch’s household affairs, so these matters were naturally no problem. Compared to the fourth branch’s banquets, the main branch’s banquet was only slightly more elaborate in specifications. But the main branch had plenty of silver, so without constraints, Zhou Chujin had no difficulties.
Zhou Shaojin, however, found an opportunity to visit Listening to Orioles Pavilion.
Neither Cheng Chi nor Ji Ying were there. Nan Ping was rushing to finish spring garments for Cheng Chi.
Zhou Shaojin was quite disappointed.
Nan Ping asked Zhou Shaojin with a smile, “Does Second Miss have some matter?”