After August 15th, the funeral was held at the Duke of Liang’s mansion.
The Cheng family also held a roadside memorial service on the street.
Zhou Shaojin felt a little sad. She sat quietly in front of the window embroidering a forehead scarf for Mrs. Guo.
Cheng Ji came to find her, and instead of chattering as before, she just sat there watching Zhou Shaojin do needlework.
After a few days, the two of them felt better.
Zhou Shaojin calmed down and copied the scriptures.
Someone was looking at her outside the temple.
Zhou Shaojin looked up and saw Jiying standing in the middle of the yard.
She smiled at Jiying.
Ji Ying thought for a moment, walked over, and asked her through the window: "Is this how you copy scriptures every afternoon?"
"Yes!" Zhou Shaojin smiled. His smile was as calm and peaceful as the gentle water of a lake.
Ji Yingbi was a little surprised and said, "It seems like you really like it, not just pretending."
In his previous life, many people thought that Zhou Shaojin’s silence was forced and did not take it seriously.
Zhou Shaojin smiled, not wanting to argue with Jiying about this, so she asked, "Why are you here? Is Uncle Chi back?"
Last time, she sent Shi Xiang to deliver mooncakes to Xiaoshan Congguiyuan, but Qingfeng told Shi Xiang that Cheng Chi had gone to Huai'an and had not returned yet. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, there was a lantern festival at home, but there was no sign of Cheng Chi.
When Ji Ying heard her mention Cheng Chi, she curled her lips and said, "The fourth master hasn't come back yet. I came here with Nan Ping. The old lady asked Nan Ping to talk to me, and I was bored, so I walked around and came to you."
Zhou Shaojin asked curiously, "What does the old lady want to see Sister Nanping about?"
Ji Ying said, "Who knows! It's probably because of the Fourth Master's matter. I can't think of anything else besides this."
"Doesn't the old lady care about what happens in Uncle Chi's room?" Zhou Shaojin asked.
"Even though I don't care," Ji Ying said, looking unwilling to talk more, "I will still call Nan Ping over to ask about it."
Zhou Shaojin didn't ask too much.
Ji Ying asked, "The mooncakes you sent last time were said to be made by you yourself?"
"My sister and I made it together." Zhou Shaojin said honestly, "My kitchen helper helped to mix the dough, my sister prepared the stuffing, and I helped to wrap it."
Ji Ying nodded slightly and commented, "That mooncake is pretty good."
Zhou Shaojin thought that Cheng Chi was a man and probably didn't like sweets, so he specially packed some mooncakes with preserved vegetables and sesame fillings. Unexpectedly, everyone thought the mooncakes with preserved vegetables and sesame fillings were delicious, but it was a pity that Uncle Chi had never eaten them.
As the two were talking, a little maid came over to ask Jiying: "... Miss Nanping said she wants to go back."
Jiying said goodbye to her.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but think.
I wonder when Uncle Chi will come back
Within two days, Jiying came to the door.
She came very suddenly. Zhou Shaojin was doing needlework. She asked Zhou Shaojin through the window: "I heard you are good at needlework?"
Zhou Shaojin didn't react for a moment.
When he reacted, he looked around first.
When Jiying came over, there was no one to report to.
Shi Xiang and Chun Wan were not at home, and the maid on duty was dozing off on the doorstep.
How could I fall asleep so early in the morning
Zhou Shaojin muttered to himself, stood up somewhat embarrassedly, and invited her in for tea.
"No thanks." Ji Ying's eyes flashed with embarrassment, and she said, "I have something I want you to help me with. Do you have time?"
Zhou Shaojin was stunned.
She glanced at the scraps of cloth in the wicker basket and said, "I wonder what you want to do? If you are not in a hurry, it's okay. If you are, I'm afraid you won't be able to do it in a short time."
Zhou Shaojin felt that Ji Ying seemed to be relieved. Although her expression was still a little cold, she was much more relaxed when she teased her than before.
"No need to wait for use." She took out a piece of moon-white Songjiang three-shuttle fine cloth and said, "Just make me two pairs of men's socks. No need for embroidery or borders, just something simple."
"Ah?!" Zhou Shaojin opened his eyes wide.
"Oh!" Ji Ying reacted and said hurriedly, "I didn't do it for others privately. It was a job assigned to me by Nanping. It belongs to your Uncle Chi."
Zhou Shaojin’s eyes opened wider.
Ji Ying had to explain, "Isn't it the beginning of autumn? All the rooms are rushing to make winter clothes. Nanping is in charge of your uncle Chi's winter clothes. She gives me some small tasks every year. I originally wanted to ask a few maids to do it, but Nanping said that your uncle hasn't bought a new fur coat for two years. This year, she collected some good furs and wanted to make two fur coats for your uncle. Those cotton-padded jackets, robes and so on were all distributed to those maids. I went to the needlework room, and the needlework room was also busy. In addition to the winter clothes for the second room, they also added things for Miss Xiao and Master Shi's children, and they were all embroidery. The needlework room hasn't rested for two months. I said I would pay someone outside to do it, but Nanping disagreed, as if I had secretly given your uncle Chi's things to others, so I had to bring it to you... "As she spoke, she glanced at the rattan basket in front of Zhou Shaojin and said, "I know you're very busy. You're probably making a birthday gift for Old Madam Guo. You don't have to do it yourself. Just give it to a maid who is good at sewing. I'll take you to the livestock farm to eat delicious food when the time comes."
It took Zhou Shaojin a while to figure out what Jiying had said.
"How can we just find a little maid to make socks for Uncle Chi?" She stared at Ji Ying in confusion, "Don't you know how to sew? If Miss Nanping knew that you didn't know how to sew, why did she insist on asking you to make socks for Uncle Chi? Miss Nanping doesn't look like the kind of person who would make things difficult for others."
Ji Ying snorted coldly when she heard this and said, "Why are you the same as Nan Ping? Is Cheng Zichuan the emperor? Why do his socks have to be made by his close servants? Would he feel itchy if he wore them after someone else made them?"
Zhou Shaojin blushed when he heard this, and said hurriedly: "That's not what we meant... We just think it's not good to let strangers do things that are close to you..."
"He's not a woman!" Ji Ying interrupted Zhou Shaojin disapprovingly, "I think Cheng Zichuan has been spoiled by you guys. He doesn't eat this, doesn't drink that, he doesn't act like a man at all!"
Is there anyone who would speak of her employer's maid like this
Zhou Shaojin was speechless.
Ji Ying looked at him and coughed lightly, saying, "I just talked about your Uncle Chi in private, I didn't mean anything else."
"Oh!" Zhou Shaojin felt that she must have said this about Uncle Chi in private more than once.
Ji Ying coughed lightly again feeling a little uncomfortable under the gaze of Zhou Shaojin's clear eyes that seemed to reflect her reflection, and said, "Then let's make this deal. You just need to help your Uncle Chi make four pairs of socks. They just need to be finished before the New Year." After saying that, she dropped the cloth in her hand and was about to leave.
Zhou Shaojin stopped her and said, "Why don't you help Uncle Chi? If you are not good at sewing, I can tell you! You can't always make Uncle Chi's things bad. If Madam Guo knew, she would be so sad. Her sewing of jasper and jadeite is very good, but it's just a few pairs of socks. She entrusted Uncle Chi to you to serve, but you don't even have anyone to make a pair of socks..."
Ji Ying paused as she was about to leave, then slowly turned around and asked, "What did you just say?"
Zhou Shaojin was shocked when he saw her burning gaze, and said hesitantly, "I said, Madam Guo gave Uncle Chi to you to serve..."
"No, no." Ji Ying shook her head. "You said, you can tell me how to do..." She said, clapping her hands and actually laughed. "Not bad, not bad, this is a good idea. Starting tomorrow, I will come to your place to learn needlework from you. In this way, I wonder what Nan Ping will say?"
But if this happens, wouldn't she be involved in the conflict between Nanping and Jiying
Zhou Shaojin waved his hands and said, "I think you'd better tell Nanping! Just because you can't make socks for Uncle Chi doesn't mean others can't..."
Ji Ying didn't listen to what she said at all, and said to herself: "Then it's settled. Aren't you going to Hanbi Mountain House to copy scriptures every afternoon? Then I will come here at Sishi (nine o'clock in the morning) every day in the future. Your sister should have gone to Hanqiu Pavilion by then." After saying that, she clapped her hands, "It's settled!" and turned and left.
What, what is this
Zhou Shaojin chased after him.
Jiying's shadow has disappeared.
She looked at the moon-white Songjiang three-shuttle fine cloth left by Jiying and felt it was like a hot potato.
When Zhou Chujin came back, she told her sister about this matter. But she was afraid that her sister would be angry with Jiying, so she didn't dare to explain it in detail. She simply said that Jiying wanted to learn needlework from her so that she could make socks for Uncle Chi.
Zhou Chujin was very surprised and asked, "Doesn't the maidservant around Uncle Chi know how to do needlework?"
"I don't know either!" Zhou Shaojin thought of the last time he went to the sewing room and met Minghe in Uncle Chi's room who wanted Madam Zhang to help make summer socks, and said, "Maybe he really doesn't know how to do it."
Anyway, it’s not a bad thing. Maybe it will please Mrs. Guo. Zhou Chujin thought about it and said, “Then just tell her.”
If she doesn't tell Jiying, will Jiying not come
Zhou Shaojin nodded.
When she got into bed, she couldn't help thinking about what kind of socks to make for Uncle Chi.
Uncle Chi is a very particular person. He doesn’t like embroidery or edging. I’m afraid it’s not because Jiying finds it troublesome, but because Uncle Chi doesn’t like it… Then it has to fit the feet and be comfortable to wear. But if it has to fit the feet and be comfortable to wear, then you have to measure your feet…
Thinking of this, Zhou Shaojin sat up suddenly.
She couldn’t possibly measure Uncle Chi’s feet, could she
Why did I forget to ask Jiying to bring a pair of old socks as a sample
The thought flashed through her mind and she laughed out loud.
Since Jiying was going to make socks for Uncle Chi, she must have Uncle Chi's size. Isn't Nanping in Uncle Chi's room a master of needlework? Even if Jiying forgot, Nanping should have remembered.
After thinking it through, Zhou Shaojin lay down again.
The next morning, Jiying came as promised.
She brought a few baskets of shrimp dumplings to Zhou Shaojin: "Try them. They're made with live shrimps delivered from Xinqiao early this morning. Everyone can have a portion." The last sentence was said to Shi Xiang and others.
Shi Xiang looked at Zhou Shaojin awkwardly.
Zhou Shaojin saw that the shrimp dumplings were crystal clear, and the red color of the shrimp was faintly visible, which was very tempting. He simply told Shi Xiang: "Put out the dishes, and everyone can have a taste."
Shi Xiang retreated with the food box.
There was a faint smile in Jiying's eyes.
※
Sisters, the pink tickets for the first seven days of this month are also doubled, please pink tickets...
※(To be continued)