Although Min Jia had adjusted her emotions before entering, her expression still appeared somewhat stiff.
Zhou Shaojin looked up and saw her, couldn’t help but ask Cheng Sheng: “What’s wrong with her? She’s been looking gloomy.”
If she wasn’t feeling well, she shouldn’t have come. Since she did come, she shouldn’t be showing them such a sour face.
Cheng Sheng said quietly: “Perhaps it’s because of her natal family matters… Fang Xuan has returned to her natal home again, and it’s been almost over a month now. I heard she had a dispute with her sister-in-law.”
Again?!
Zhou Shaojin said: “Perhaps it’s because she’s an only daughter?”
“Mm!” Cheng Sheng said with a quiet laugh, “I’ve heard that this Provincial Graduate Min, aside from his own elder brother the Optimus Min, has never regarded anyone else highly!”
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said nothing more, going over to check on Abao and Aren.
The two little ones sat properly at the kang table set up especially for them, being fed by their wet nurses.
Seeing her approach, both little ones called her “Grand Uncle’s Wife” with curved eyes and smiles.
Zhou Shaojin fell silent for a moment.
Cheng Sheng, who had followed her over, bent over with laughter.
Zhou Shaojin pinched Cheng Sheng’s waist and said: “You’re still laughing!”
Cheng Sheng giggled and ran out, leaning on Old Lady Guo’s shoulder and saying: “Grandmother, your daughter-in-law is hitting me!”
Zhou Shaojin, walking out from the rest room, heard this and her face flushed red, her complexion like a red lotus.
Cheng Xu, who had just looked up at the sound, froze slightly.
Min Jia’s chopsticks jabbed deep into the rice in her bowl.
Yuan Shi shot Cheng Xu a warning glance, but unfortunately Cheng Xu’s gaze was fixed on Zhou Shaojin and didn’t see it.
Qiu Shi didn’t see it either.
She smiled and chided Cheng Sheng: “You’re a mother now, how can you still act like a child? What will Jinjiang think when he sees this?” As she spoke, as if afraid her son-in-law would blame her, she pointed to the whitebait and egg custard on the table and smiled, “Try this, it was specially sent over by Minister Wu’s household.”
Whitebait was a specialty of Jiangnan, not available in the north.
Peng Zao and Cheng Sheng were a young married couple, well-matched in status and temperament, with deep affection. Seeing his wife like this, he only found her lively and saw nothing wrong with it.
He didn’t mind at all. Pressing his lips into a smile, he said: “Don’t tease Fourth Aunt, she’s pregnant!”
Old Lady Guo also pretended to be displeased and patted Cheng Sheng’s hand, saying: “Your Fourth Aunt has such a gentle temperament. I know you’re the troublemaker!”
Cheng Sheng protested loudly: “I knew it, you all favor Fourth Aunt. Clearly I’m the one who suffered, yet you still take her side.”
“How old are you!” Qiu Shi couldn’t help but laugh, “Still sulking with your aunt.” As she spoke, she pulled her over and said, “Hurry and eat your meal, or you won’t be allowed to come home anymore.”
Cheng Sheng called out to Zhou Shaojin: “Look, my mother cares so much for you. She doesn’t even want me anymore.”
Zhou Shaojin said: “Let’s see if you dare bully me again in the future!”
Old Lady Guo and the others laughed heartily, and even Cheng Xu couldn’t help but smile. Only Yuan Shi and Min Jia looked somewhat unnatural. Min Jia felt she couldn’t stay there another moment. She said “Please excuse me for a moment” and hurriedly left the hall.
Everyone assumed she had gone to the privy and paid no attention.
Yuan Shi then pulled Cheng Xu aside to talk.
Cheng Xu made a couple of “mm-hmm” sounds before leaving Yuan Shi and going to Old Lady Guo, who was playing with Abao and Aren: “Grandmother, I still have to go to the academy this afternoon, so I’ll be leaving. I’ll come see you again in a couple of days when I have time!”
Peng Zao asked in surprise: “With such heavy snow, didn’t your teacher give you a holiday?”
“He did.” Cheng Xu smiled, “But when I left, my teacher said he had something to discuss with me and asked me to come back this afternoon.”
Cheng Xu was the son of a Grand Secretary. Teachers were scholars, and there wasn’t a scholar who didn’t wish to achieve something in official service.
Peng Zao said nothing more and saw Cheng Xu out together with Cheng Rang.
After sitting for a while, Min Jia also rose to take her leave, saying: “The snow is getting heavier. I should go back and check. The rear courtyard at home hasn’t been repaired in many years. I’m afraid the snow will collapse the roof.”
Hearing this, Yuan Shi had no desire to continue staying either.
Qiu Shi saw the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law out on Old Lady Guo’s behalf.
Min Jia tested Yuan Shi: “What was Mother saying to my husband just now? He seemed a bit unhappy. Should I try to console him?”
“No need!” Yuan Shi’s attitude was stiff. “I merely asked about his studies.”
Min Jia didn’t believe her at all.
By nature, Cheng Xu was still a rather gentle person.
But regarding the matter between Cheng Xu and Zhou Shaojin, she had never been able to find out any information.
Cheng Xu wouldn’t pour dirty water on himself.
So this matter must have been sealed up.
Those who knew had already left the Cheng family’s service, and those in the Cheng family who knew kept their mouths tightly shut and would never speak of it to outsiders.
Logically, she should let the matter drop.
But she had been stubborn since childhood. Without getting to the bottom of things, she had no way to continue living with Cheng Xu.
Or perhaps in her heart, she just wanted to find an excuse for Cheng Xu so she could accept him.