In her previous life, Shi Xiang had never returned after leaving the residence.
She had a young maid bring Shi Xiang in.
Shi Xiang had all her hair done up and wore the Hangzhou silk padded jacket that Zhou Shaojin had previously given her. Her face was bright red from the cold, and she had the typical appearance of a young married woman. She came forward to pay her respects.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and asked about her life after marriage. She learned that the family Shi Xiang married into was surnamed Lu, that she was the eldest daughter-in-law, her mother-in-law was respectful, and her husband was considerate. She was doing very well. This visit wasn’t because she had encountered any difficulties, but simply because she’d heard that Zhou Shaojin had returned from Mount Putuo and that Zhou Chujin’s wedding date had been set, so she came to kowtow to them and observe the proper etiquette of a former servant.
She had also brought some pickled vegetables made by her mother-in-law, saying, “…Everyone who’s tried them says they’re good. I brought them for the two young misses to taste. It’s a token of our appreciation.”
Zhou Shaojin accepted the items. After chatting with Shi Xiang for a while, she rewarded her husband with a pot of wine, gave a package of candy for his parents, several bolts of cloth, and two taels of silver. She let the couple stay the night and didn’t let them leave until after lunch the next day.
That evening, Ma Fushan told the sisters, “Cheng Lu has returned!”
The Zhou sisters couldn’t help but frown. “Do you know how he did this year at Yuelu Academy?”
Ma Fushan said, “I heard he received an ‘excellent’ rating this year. Among all those sent from Jiuru Alley to Yuelu Academy, he had the best results.”
All the more reason not to keep him!
Zhou Chujin said, “Has Father’s letter not arrived yet?”
Ma Fushan smiled. “He should have the secretary bring it with him!”
Since Zhou Chujin was getting married, Zhou Zhen couldn’t return. But besides having Li Shi return to preside over Zhou Chujin’s wedding, he also sent his adviser Master Li and his attendant Li Changgui back together.
The two sisters could only wait patiently.
After the Lantern Festival, Li Shi rushed back from Baoding Prefecture.
She didn’t bring Zhou Youjin.
Sometimes in the inner quarters, it was a matter of one wind overpowering another.
Zhou Chujin had fully demonstrated her capabilities. Li Shi couldn’t help feeling somewhat apprehensive. She was afraid her disobedient daughter who liked to cry and make trouble would upset Zhou Chujin, so she simply didn’t bring her. She just said that with traveling day and night, Zhou Youjin was too young and might not be able to endure it.
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly. “The weather really is terrible. When Youjin is older and you have time, you can bring her to the capital to visit Sister. Baoding Prefecture is very close to the capital.”
Zhou Zhen had already received word and knew that Madam Fang had used her own private funds to buy Zhou Chujin and the others a residence. He was very pleased with his mother-in-law.
Li Shi hurriedly said with a beaming smile, “This is the eldest young miss’s good fortune. Our Youjin benefits from it too and will be able to visit the capital in the future.”
Zhou Chujin had no desire to see Zhou Youjin. Li Shi not bringing her suited her perfectly.
She smiled and exchanged pleasantries with Li Shi for a bit, then said, “Madam should still stay in the study quarters where you stayed before, right? Previously when there was no one home, I was afraid thieves might visit, so I locked everything Mother left behind in the main room…”
Li Shi didn’t dare quibble with her at all and smiled. “The eldest young miss has touched on exactly what I was thinking. With the eldest young miss’s wedding having a thousand and one details, if I stay in the study quarters, it’s convenient for giving instructions to those steward servants. The eldest young miss can also prepare for her wedding with peace of mind.”
According to propriety, after a young lady married and made her first visit home, she should make a pair of shoes for everyone in her husband’s family. Of course, some weren’t so particular and only made them for their parents-in-law or blood-related uncles. It all depended on the bride’s family’s financial means.
Zhou Chujin of course wouldn’t make them herself. She had obtained the shoe sizes of everyone in the Liao family and was having skilled seamstresses come to the house to make the shoes.
But no one would speak this truth aloud.
Zhou Chujin thanked her graciously and had Ma Fushan’s wife accompany Li Shi to rest.
Nanny Li, who served Li Shi, had learned that both Lanting and Xinlan had fallen into Zhou Chujin’s hands. She didn’t dare even give Zhou Chujin an extra glance and virtually supported Li Shi as they went to the study quarters.
Chi Xiang came in and said, “Eldest Young Miss, Steward Ma says Master Li wishes to pay his respects to the eldest young miss and requests that she come to the flower hall.”
Zhou Chujin wasn’t surprised at all. She smiled at Zhou Shaojin. “Come with me!”
Zhou Shaojin didn’t think much of it, assuming her sister wanted her for company. But unexpectedly, when they arrived at the flower hall and sat down behind the gauze screen, after dismissing the servants in the hall, Master Li—who had ordinary features and kept a goatee—said, “The master sent me back primarily to deal with that Cheng Lu. However, this matter concerns the family’s prosperity and we’re afraid we must first notify the Cheng family! His Lordship’s meaning is that it would be best if we could ask the eldest maternal uncle to inform the main branch. I wonder what the eldest young miss… and the second young miss think?”
Zhou Zhen had asked him to seek Zhou Chujin’s help in making introductions to people in the Cheng family, but when he heard that the second young miss had also come with the eldest young miss, he hastily added “second young miss.”