Who knew that as soon as Zhou Shaojin finished speaking, Ji Ying snorted coldly and said, "Are you trying to fool me? How old are you? It took you three months to learn a cross stitch. It will take you seven or eight years to learn this whole set of stitches? Look at what you are making now, it's as good as Nanping's..." As she spoke, she held up her embroidery and looked at it carefully for a few times, then said with some pride, "However, I think considering the time I spent learning needlework, I did a really good job!"
Zhou Shaojin didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Ji Ying urged her: "Quickly cut a pair of socks so I can try to make them!"
Zhou Shaojin didn't bother to be polite with her and said, "You still need to practice for a while before you can do it."
"Can't I make myself a pair of socks?"
"Sure!" Zhou Shaojin said with a smile, "As long as you can wear it out."
"Why can't I wear it out?" Ji Ying said disapprovingly, "Is there anyone who would look at my feet?"
Zhou Shaojin laughed and cut a pair of socks for her.
Jiying lowered her head and did needlework very seriously.
Zhou Shaojin also sat down with a smile and started embroidering a birthday gift for Mrs. Guo. When she turned around, she saw Snowball lying obediently in the basket, looking at her with its big black eyes.
She just felt warm in her heart, and the smile on her face kept hanging on her face.
Zhou Chujin knew from the look on her face that she and Jiying had reconciled, and he was secretly happy for his sister.
Jiying has a straightforward personality. With such a playmate, my sister should become more cheerful.
She also specially chose a day when Jiying came to go to Zhou Shaojin's room, talked with Jiying, and gave Jiying a lot of candies and cakes.
Jiying was polite and smiling, but for some reason, Zhou Shaojin felt that Jiying didn't like her sister very much. After her sister left, she asked Jiying: "What's wrong with you? Did my sister do anything wrong?"
"No!" Ji Ying shrugged and said helplessly, "Your sister is very nice. But I always feel that your sister is quite similar to Nan Ping, both of them are too proper. I usually can't get along with people like this."
"What nonsense is this?" Zhou Shaojin glared at her and said, "Am I not well behaved?"
Ji Ying tore open the snack box Zhou Chujin had given her in front of Zhou Shaojin, took out a piece of crispy candy and stuffed it into her mouth, saying, "That's not polite, that's stupid!"
Zhou Shaojin was so angry.
Ji Ying laughed and said, "Have you ever heard of the saying 'dumbness brings good fortune'? I'm praising you for being blessed!"
If I was blessed, how could I have been harmed so badly in my previous life!
Zhou Shaojin was embarrassed.
Ji Ying asked carefully: "Are you angry?"
"No!" Zhou Shaojin said sadly, "I just remembered some things from the past and felt a little emotional."
Ji Ying curled her lips in disapproval and said, "Let me tell you a story." Then, without waiting for Zhou Shaojin to speak, she continued, "There was a little kid sitting on the steps very sadly. Someone passing by saw him and asked him, 'What's wrong with you?' Guess what the kid said? The kid sighed deeply and said, 'I'm thinking about my childhood.'"
What kind of story is this
It took Zhou Shaojin a long time to react.
It turns out that Jiying is making fun of her!
She couldn't help but push Jiying's shoulder and said, "Okay! You actually laughed at me, I will never let the kitchen make your favorite pot stickers again."
Ji Ying laughed and said, "Your reaction is too slow. When Cheng Zichuan told me this story, I reacted immediately... I told you that you are stupid, but you still don't admit it."
Zhou Shaojin was stunned and said, "So this story was told to you by Uncle Chi. But why did Uncle Chi tell you this story?"
She couldn't imagine what Uncle Chi looked like when he told stories.
Ji Ying blushed upon hearing this, coughed softly, and said, "Cheng Zichuan likes to stab people at every turn, how could I remember it so clearly."
Zhou Shaojin didn't believe it at all.
If he didn't remember it clearly, how could he have used this story to make fun of her
However, Jiying must have been very embarrassed at that time.
Zhou Shaojin was not the type of person who liked to expose other people’s scars, so he did not ask any further questions and just smiled.
Ji Ying sighed softly, patted Zhou Shaojin's head, and said, "You have such a good temper. I don't know which young master is so lucky to marry you."
Zhou Shaojin didn't want to talk about this, so he changed the subject and said, "Uncle Chi should be back from Huai'an, right? Is everything going well in Huai'an?"
"How can it not go well if Cheng Zichuan comes in person?" Ji Ying said nonchalantly, handing Zhou Shaojin a pair of socks with an inch of seam. "How is it? It should be okay, right?"
Although the stitches are still uneven, it looks pretty good.
Zhou Shaojin exclaimed: "You learn so fast!"
"Of course." Ji Ying said bluntly, "I used to have very steady hands, so learning these things is effortless!"
"Really!" Zhou Shaojin held his forehead.
I really wanted to ask her what happened in the past that made her hands so steady, but after thinking about it, she decided not to ask.
Jiying said: "I will bring you some tea san tomorrow."
Zhou Shaojin asked: "What is Cha San?"
"It's a snack from Huai'an." Ji Ying smiled, "I think it's pretty good."
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "Did Uncle Chi bring it back?"
Ji Ying curled her lips and said, "Do you think your uncle Chi is the kind of person who would do such a thing?"
Not like!
Zhou Shaojin shook his head.
"That's right." Ji Ying said, "Qin Ziping brought it back. He and Cheng Zichuan went to Huai'an. Cheng Zichuan came back first, and Qin Ziping came back yesterday."
Qin Ziping
Zhou Shaojin asked: "What is the relationship between him and Qin Zian?"
Ji Ying knew that Zhou Shaojin had seen Qin Zian, and smiled and said, "He is his younger brother. There are three brothers in the Qin family. The eldest is Qin Zining, the second is Qin Zian, and the third is Qin Ziping. He is the grandson of Qin Shouyue, the chief steward of the Qin family."
Zhou Shaojin asked: "Have you ever heard of someone called Qin Da?"
Ji Ying thought for a moment and said, "I haven't heard of it. But if you want to know, I'll ask for you."
Zhou Shaojin thanked him repeatedly and said, "I didn't expect Qin Ziping to be so thoughtful. He even brought you food when he went to Huai'an."
"He didn't bring them for us, he brought them for Nanping." Jiying didn't appreciate it at all, and said, "He brought four boxes, two of which were for Nanping, and the other two were for us."
Zhou Shaojin was very surprised and asked, "How old is Qin Zian? Did Uncle Chi know that he sent something to Nanping?"
Ji Ying burst out laughing and said, "What are you thinking! Nan Ping is Qin Zian's sister-in-law."
Zhou Shaojin was surprised.
Ji Ying sighed and said, "Nan Ping and Qin Zining were childhood sweethearts, but unfortunately Qin Zining died not long after they got engaged. Cheng Zichuan and the chief steward Qin wanted to wait a few years until Qin Zining's matter was over, and then find a good family for Nan Ping. But Nan Ping didn't want to, saying that she wanted to stay with Qin Zining. Your uncle couldn't force her, so he kept dragging it on. When the Qin family saw her, they had to take care of her... Sometimes I think she's quite pitiful. I should give in to her, but I really can't get along with her, and we would part unhappily in two or three quarters of an hour at most."
No wonder Nanping is still unmarried at such an old age.
Zhou Shaojin sighed in her heart, thinking that Ji Ying was already eighteen years old when she entered the mansion... She couldn't help but ask: "Then, did you get engaged when you were at home?"
Ji Ying's expression tensed, and the hand holding the needle trembled slightly. She smiled, "Why do you care so much, little girl?" But her smile seemed forced.
Zhou Shaojin vaguely understood something.
Jiying must have been engaged when she was at home, but she had to be a maid by Uncle Chi's side for ten years... Even if he didn't cancel her engagement, it would be difficult for him to wait for her for ten years... Although Jiying volunteered to replace her brother, reason is one thing and emotion is another. Could it be that this is why she seems so impetuous? That's why she refuses to do what a maid should do
Zhou Shaojin said, "Can't you go back and take a look halfway? Except for those maids who were sold by their parents when they were young and don't know where their home is, or those who have no relatives at home because the journey is too long, I give them a few days off every year to go back and visit their parents. Who is in charge of Xiaoshan Congguiyuan? You can talk to him! At worst, you can talk to Uncle Chi. I don't think Uncle Chi is such an unreasonable person."
"What a silly girl." Ji Ying smiled and tried to pinch Zhou Shaojin's face. Zhou Shaojin tried to avoid it, but Ji Ying's hand was as fast as lightning and she immediately pinched her. "If I can go back to visit my father at any time, then what kind of bet is this? Are you going to ask your uncle Chi for me? I saw you were very confident when you broke into Qingyin Pavilion last time."
Zhou Shaojin angrily knocked Jiying's hand down and said, "If you pinch my face again, I won't leave any delicious food for you in the future."
Ji Ying laughed and said, "Every time you threaten me, you don't give me food. Can't you try something else?"
Zhou Shaojin said embarrassedly, "I won't beg for you! Since Uncle Chi has been in charge of the general affairs of Jiuru Lane, Jiuru Lane has been getting better and better. He must be a very powerful person. Since he made such a bet with your father, he must have his intentions. I won't fall for your provocation!"
"I didn't realize you can be so smart sometimes!" Jiying insulted her again.
Zhou Shaojin ignored her.
Ji Ying burst into laughter again, without any trace of the indifference and arrogance she had when she and Zhou Shaojin first met.
Shi Xiang came in and changed their tea and the fruit plate.
Jiying picked an autumn pear to eat.
Zhou Shaojin asked her: "Can your father and brother come to see you?"
Ji Ying was silent for a while, then said, "That depends on how Cheng Zichuan is feeling..."
Zhou Shaojin wanted to say, "Then you should be obedient and behave yourself. Maybe Uncle Chi will soften his heart and let you go back to visit your parents." But as the thought flashed through her mind, she stopped in time.
With Jiying's personality, asking her to be as submissive and docile as those gentle maids would probably be more painful for her than killing her, right
Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to say, "How about you write a few more letters to your family... Writing letters should be okay, right?"
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Sisters, I'm sorry, I've been busy these two days and I can't guarantee my time.
Today’s extra update!
O(∩_∩)o
PS: The pink votes have doubled in the past two days, please support me with your pink votes!
※(To be continued)