Zhou Shaojin's impression of her father still lingers on the last time they met.
At that time, her father no longer cared about her. However, she paid special attention to the court reports whenever the court conducted a major investigation. One year, she heard that her father would go to Beijing to report on his work, and waited for four days in Tongzhou before she saw him. She hid in the carriage and watched her father being crowded into the carriage. Her father, who was just in his forties, had a beard, a thin figure, a tired look, and a bit of sadness between his brows. Although he was in the crowd, he looked very lonely and desolate.
Only then did she know that her stepmother, Li, had left her mother and her son behind, that her father and Li had fallen out, and that her half-brother was named Zhou Jiajin...
But when they met again, his father had become a gentleman and a gentleman, a young man who looked only a few years older than Cheng Shi.
The contrast is too great!
Zhou Shaojin was a little unsure.
But the man was already looking towards her and Zhou Chujin.
"Chu Jin, Shao Jin." He called the two sisters by their nicknames, and a smile couldn't stop overflowing from his eyes.
It’s father!
Only a father could laugh from the bottom of his heart when he saw them.
But Zhou Shaojin... still felt a little embarrassed.
Zhou Chujin's tears suddenly fell.
She choked and called out "Dad".
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but feel a little hesitant.
Do you want to say something too
Who knew that before she could think of it, Zhou Zhen had already taken a few steps forward, lifted his robe, bent his knees and knelt down towards Old Lady Guan.
"What are you doing?" Cheng Mian hurried forward to pull Zhou Zhen, "Get up quickly, get up quickly!"
Zhou Zhen knelt on the ground and said, "Chu Jin and Shao Jin are where they are today, all thanks to the careful care of my mother-in-law, my uncle, and my eldest son. I have no way to repay you, I want to kowtow to my mother-in-law!"
"No, no." Upon hearing this, Mrs. Guan quickly moved aside and said, "A man's knees are made of gold. I appreciate your kindness. But why don't you help the old man up!" The last sentence was said to Cheng Mian.
Zhou Zhen insisted on kowtow to Old Lady Guan: "A man's knees are made of gold, but he must kneel before heaven, earth, parents and teachers. Mother-in-law, you are like my reborn parents to me." After saying that, he kowtowed three times to Old Lady Guan on the bluestone paved corridor, regardless of the dust on the ground.
"Ouch!" Old Mrs. Guan's eyes were red.
The old man has worked hard, and although he doesn’t ask for anything in return, who wouldn’t be happy to receive sincere gratitude
Old Lady Guan personally stepped forward to help Zhou Zhen up. Seeing that his forehead was red and covered with dust, and his snow-white knee-length pants were also dirty, she repeatedly ordered Lady Mian: "Why don't you ask the maid to fetch some water for the old master to change his clothes."
Zhou Zhen's humble attitude made Mrs. Miao's favorable impression on him grow. Before Mrs. Guan finished speaking, she had already ordered the maid to fetch water, and also carefully instructed the maid: "Bring the new knee-length pants that the master just made a few days ago."
The maid smiled and left.
Zhou Zhen turned sideways and waved toward the door.
A woman in her prime came over with her servant.
She was tall and looked not much shorter than Zhou Zhen. She wore a white silk stand-up collar shirt with a silver-red burnt cloth bodice over it. She also wore South pearl jewelry, and had delicate features and a humble look.
The old woman looked to be in her forties, a little plump, with a smiling face. She wore a lilac silk jacket and gold-plated jewelry. She looked amiable and very neat.
Zhou Zhen pointed at the woman and said to Old Lady Guan, "This is my wife, Li."
The old woman helped Li kowtow to Old Lady Guan.
Mrs. Guan saw that she was pregnant at a glance. She quickly stepped forward to help Li and said to Zhou Zhen, "Since we are family, why are you so polite? It's hard for you to have children. I feel heartbroken every time I think of it. From what I see, the madam should be only three or four months pregnant. How could you bring your madam back in such a hurry?" Then she said to Li, "Stop being so polite! You must be tired after such a long journey. Come back to the house with me and rest. You can only bear it if you expect these men to feel sorry for you."
The old man's eyes were loving and his tone was sincere and kind, which made Li's heart settle down at once.
She smiled and said, "Our master always remembers the kindness you and Dajinzi have shown us. Since this is our first meeting, I must bow to you to make myself at peace."
At Mrs. Guan's age, she likes to keep things simple. She smiled and said, "In this case, you should just give me a blessing ceremony, so that you won't feel uncomfortable."
Li couldn't help but be very happy.
She knew that her husband respected his wife's family and respected his mother-in-law who raised his two daughters even more. If she could get along well with his wife's family, her husband would value her more.
Li bowed to Mrs. Guan seriously.
When it was Madam Miao's turn, she smiled and said, "Forget about my visit. When you give birth to the little boy in your belly and bring him back to worship the ancestors, we can meet again. This will be recorded in the account for now."
Li was overjoyed and had a great affection for Mrs. Mian.
Her husband already had two daughters, and now what he wanted was a son. She prayed to gods and Buddhas, and even made a wish to gild the body of the Buddha, all for the sake of having a son.
She walked up to Mrs. Mian and took her arm affectionately, saying with a smile, "Thank you, Madam. I accept the debt. When the child is born, I will bring him here to kowtow to you."
Her tone was light and joking, which made the atmosphere more relaxed.
Old Lady Guan called Zhou Shaojin and her sister and said, "You should also kowtow to your father and stepmother."
The nimble old woman had already brought two cushions and placed them in front of Zhou Zhen.
Zhou Zhen and Li stood and accepted the greetings from Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin.
Li's gift was two boxes.
Of course it cannot be opened in front of everyone.
The two men knelt down and thanked Li.
Li smiled and said a few polite words.
Zhou Zhen reached out to touch his daughters' heads, only to find that both of them had grown up and were no longer suitable for him to touch their heads.
He withdrew his hand awkwardly and looked at his two daughters with a smile.
The eldest daughter had twin spiral buns, a gold hairpin, and a large kingfisher flower on her head; the youngest daughter had a hanging bun and only a pearl hairpin. One wore a willow green dress, the other a pink dress. They stood side by side, like spring flowers and autumn moon...but the youngest daughter was firmly ahead of the eldest daughter.
Zhou Zhen couldn't help but sigh deeply in his heart.
Shaojin, you look more and more like Zhuang.
He couldn't help but put his arm around Zhou Shaojin's shoulders and asked Zhou Chujin, "You sisters weren't naughty and made Old Anren and your aunt angry, right?"
This was the first time in Zhou Shaojin's life that a man had put his arm around her shoulders like this.
She couldn't help but stiffen slightly, and saw her sister pursed her lips and smiled, saying, "We are not children anymore, how could we be naughty and make our grandmother and aunt angry?"
Old Madam Guan also laughed and said, "It might have been possible a few years ago. In recent years, the two children have been sensible and caring. If they get married in the future, I don't know how difficult my life will be?" By the end of her words, her eyes were red with sighs.
"Look at you!" Mrs. Miao handed Mrs. Guan a handkerchief and scolded her, "You are talking about this again, and you have made the old master sad for no reason. Please stop talking. The old master finally came back, it's a happy thing, you should be happy."
"It's my fault, it's my fault." Mrs. Guan took the handkerchief, laughed, and said to Zhou Zhen and Li, "Let's go inside and talk."
Everyone agreed in unison, and Zhou Zhen took Zhou Shaojin into the banquet room of Jiashu Hall.
Li exchanged glances with the maid she brought with her.
Not only did her husband mourn for Zhuang for three years, but he also kept Zhuang's portrait hanging in his study. It goes without saying that her husband loved Zhuang the most. But Li was still a little surprised that he was so partial to Zhuang's daughter.
She thought that at her husband's age, he should be hoping that she could give birth to a son.
It seems that she has to be nicer to Zhou Shaojin.
Li followed everyone into the banquet room calmly and sat down according to their seats.
Then she found Zhou Shaojin standing next to her husband, and Zhou Chujin standing next to Old Lady Guan.
In the eyes of others, Zhou Chujin is old and can't be so close to her father, but in Li's opinion, her husband clearly likes his younger daughter more.
The maids served tea and snacks, and the maids who brought water and knee-length pants also arrived. Cheng Mian personally accompanied Zhou Zhen to Hanqiu Pavilion to change clothes, while Li and others stayed in Jiashu Hall to talk with Old Madam Guan.
Li introduced the maid who had followed to Old Lady Guan: "… She used to serve my mother, and later followed me to the Zhou family. Her husband's family also has the surname Li."
Mother Li kowtowed to Grandma Guan and others.
Old Lady Guan and the others gave her a reward, and Old Lady Guan asked her to serve in the house: "… Your wife is pregnant, and you are a close servant. You know your wife's preferences better."
Mother Li responded respectfully and stood behind Mrs. Li with her head lowered and her eyes submissive.
Everyone was not familiar with each other, and this was their first meeting. In the end, they talked about local customs and daily life. When Zhou Zhen came over after changing his clothes, it was time for lunch. The meal was placed in the banquet room, one table for men and one table for women, without a screen. Because they had to pay their respects to the old ancestor of the second house later, Zhou Zhen and others did not drink. Even so, small dishes, cold dishes, hot tea, soup, desserts... It took almost an hour to get here, and it was time to pay their respects to the old ancestor of the second house.
After quickly drinking a sip of tea, Cheng Mian accompanied Zhou Zhen to the second room.
Madam Mian arranged for Li to rest in Hanqiu Pavilion and said, "The earthenware for each family has been delivered. You can take this opportunity to lie down for a while. After the master has met the old ancestor, I will accompany you to meet the old ladies, wives, and grandmothers of each family."
Li smiled and said, "I'm not tired, but I don't want to disturb Old An's lunch break." As she spoke, she looked at Zhou Shaojin and her sister with a smile and said softly, "How about we go to Hanqiu Pavilion and talk?"
This was Li's goodwill, wanting to have more contact with Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin. Naturally, Old Lady Guan and Mrs. Mian were happy to see it happen.
The Zhou sisters followed Mrs. Mian and Mrs. Li to Hanqiu Pavilion.
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Today’s update.
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: Jinzi was the name for uncle’s wife in ancient times.
※(To be continued)