The nanny was subtly reminding them that the time for birthday celebrations had come, and asked them to stop running around and go sit in the side rooms.
Zhou Shaojin and the other two understood what was said, smiled and agreed, and went to the side room.
In the three spacious wing rooms, the wives and grandmothers sat in the east room, the elegant and introverted young ladies sat in the west room, and some lively and active girls sat or stood or sat in the main room and talked in groups of three or four. It was a lively scene with elegant clothes and beautiful figures.
Gu Shiqi smiled and whispered to Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Ji in a teasing tone, "Look, the ladies and grandmas have all brought their daughters here."
And there was more than what Zhou Shaojin saw at the engagement party of the sixteenth daughter of the Gu family.
But at that time, when the sixteenth young lady of the Gu family got engaged, thirty tables were set up for the banquet, but only twenty tables were invited for Mrs. Guo’s birthday party.
Could it be that these people came prepared
Zhou Shaojin was a little suspicious and felt that he was being too suspicious. Just when he was about to tell Gu Shiqigu about this, someone had already seen Gu Shiqigu and greeted her enthusiastically: "Where have you been? I couldn't find you anywhere just now?"
The girl was about the same age as Cheng Jia, of medium build, with a chubby peach face, beautiful eyebrows, big eyes, and fair, delicate skin. She was wearing a bright red jacket with a dark pattern of grape branches. When she spoke, her eyebrows and eyes curved, making her look like a Wuxi doll, very festive, and what the older generation called a lucky face.
Gu Shiqigu introduced Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Ji: "This is Miss Nineteen from the Liu family of the Mei Mansion."
They greeted each other.
Then four or five more people came over to greet Gu Shiqigu.
Everyone met each other and became friends.
Gu Shiqigu recognizes so many people!
Zhou Shaojin was a little envious.
The nineteenth young lady of the Liu family was particularly affectionate towards Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin was a little confused.
The nineteenth young lady of the Liu family smiled and said, "I have just met your sister - my maternal family is a branch of the Liao family in Zhenjiang."
Zhou Shaojin suddenly realized and felt a little more familiar with the Nineteenth Miss Liu.
When Miss Liu saw this, she suddenly pulled her to the flower table next to her and whispered, "You were not here just now, but Miss Gu's 18th and 20th, Miss Guo's 3rd and 4th, the two cousins of Minister Sun, and the niece of Lin Jiaoyu... were all called to the upper room." As she spoke, she paid attention to the movements around her, "The other ladies went, but the two ladies of Minister Sun said they wanted to go to the official room. When the receptionist left, the two said they didn't want to go. After a while, they said they wanted to go again. You said it was such a coincidence that when we came back, we ran into the fourth master of the Cheng family and Mr. Xu from the eldest house... If there is no trick, I am willing to lose two taels of silver to you!"
Zhou Shaojin didn't know what to say for a moment as he was so familiar with the other person, but he couldn't help but look at the people in the room.
My sister and my aunt were talking to the eldest lady of the Gu family. It seemed that the young ladies of the Guo family were really missing two people...
The nineteenth Miss Liu saw this and said hurriedly, "I didn't lie to you, did I? The two cousins from the Sun family have gone to the upper room. They have already shown their faces in front of Master Xu, so why are they still staying here? They are really... shameless!" She was angry, as if she had been treated unfairly. She added, "I heard that the daughter of Mr. Hu, the provincial governor of Zhejiang, the sister of Mr. Liu, the magistrate of Jiangning, the daughter of Mr. Wu, the prefect of Jinling, and the sister of Shen Qingyun, the deputy magistrate... are all in the upper room!"
Zhou Shaojin was shocked.
Miss Liu misunderstood and explained, "Shen Qingyun's mother is the daughter of Li from Lujiang, so Shen Qingyun's sister is also in the upper room."
What Zhou Shaojin noticed was "the daughter of Lord Wu, the prefect of Jinling."
Wu Baohua is one year older than her, Wu Baozhi is one year younger than her, and there is nothing outstanding about her moral character, speech, appearance and skills... Could it be that the person who came is Wu Baozhang
But why did Mrs. Wu bring Wu Baozhang to the upper room
How could Mrs. Guo allow Wu Baozhang to stay in the upper room
She couldn't help but ask Miss Liu's Nineteenth Family: "Prefect Wu has three daughters. Which daughter of theirs are you talking about?"
"Who else could it be?" The nineteenth young lady of the Liu family said disapprovingly, "Of course it's the one with the Guanyin mole on the forehead! Recently, people in Jinling City have been saying that the eldest young lady of the Wu family is the reincarnation of the Jade Girl in front of the Bodhisattva, and that she is a good wife and a good wife, and has a good fortune for her husband and children... Only those uneducated women in the market believe that having a mole can make one a good wife and a good wife, and have a good fortune for her husband and children. Anyone with a discerning eye can see what Wu Jiaan is thinking..."
I see!
Does Mrs. Guo also believe this
Zhou Shaojin was silent.
Gu Shiqi waved at her and said, "Second Miss Zhou, Nineteenth Miss Liu, come over here quickly. I would like to introduce you to the eldest lady of the Fang family in Jiaxing!"
The Fang family of Jiaxing, the same family as Fang Xin.
I wonder who Fang Xintong is
Zhou Shaojin and the nineteenth Miss Liu walked over.
The eldest daughter of the Fang family looked about seventeen or eighteen years old, tall, with delicate features. What was rare was that her every move had the elegance of a scholar. At first glance, I only thought she was gentle, generous and calm, but the more I looked at her, the more I thought she was very beautiful, and her beauty was different from that of ordinary women.
Gu Shiqigu said, "The eldest daughter of the Fang family has a brother who is the richest man in Jiaxing, Fang Xintong. He once studied in our family's academy."
"I was wondering why he looked so familiar!" Miss Liu laughed, "I have a sister who married in Jiaxing. My brother-in-law said that her maternal family is the Fang family of Huaxi, so it should be my sister's family..."
She spoke sweetly to the eldest daughter of the Fang family.
Gu Shiqigu watched as Miss Liu's Nineteen winked at Zhou Shaojin and whispered, "Don't pay attention to her. She likes to spread messages. What you say to her now will be known to everyone the next moment."
I really can’t tell!
Zhou Shaojin looked at the smiling Nineteenth Miss Liu and felt a little depressed.
Compared to Gu Shiqigu's smooth dealings, Liu Jia's Nineteenth Miss's ease, Fang Jia's eldest Miss's calmness, and even Cheng Ji's liveliness and cheerfulness, she was obviously not used to such occasions.
She kind of wanted to stay with her sister.
Zhou Shaojin was looking for Zhou Chujin in the crowd.
My sister was talking and smiling to the Guo family.
She hesitated for a moment.
The noble families in Jiangnan are all relatives in some way or another, especially those who run academies like the Guo and Gu families. If my sister can show her face in front of the women of the two families, it will be very helpful for her to gain a foothold in the Liao family in the future.
Zhou Shaojin retracted his gaze and stood there listening to the 19th Miss Liu's smug whisper: "I think it must be Madam Guo who is anxious about the Fourth Master's marriage. If it is for Master Xu, Madam Yuan should be there. But Madam Yuan has been busy with Madam Guo's birthday banquet. When the Fourth Master and Master Xu were in the upper room just now, Madam Yuan did not go in! And Master Xu is seventeen this year, look at those ladies, the youngest is fifteen or sixteen years old, and the oldest is twenty years old..."
"Who is twenty years old?" Cheng Ji exclaimed in a low voice.
The eldest daughter of the Fang family blushed.
Gu Shiqigu coughed violently.
"Oh!" Cheng Ji understood and his eyes fell on the eldest daughter of the Fang family.
The eldest daughter of the Fang family blushed with embarrassment.
Gu Shiqi said hurriedly, "Hey, didn't they say the auspicious time is coming soon? Why haven't they started celebrating the birthday yet? Fourth Miss, when is the auspicious time?"
She asked Cheng Ji, changing the subject.
Zhou Shaojin felt more and more bored.
Fortunately, within half a quarter of an hour, the receptionist came over and invited close relatives such as Cheng Ji, Zhou Shaojin, the Guo family, and the Gu family to go to the upper room.
There were indeed several girls in the upper room with outstanding looks and temperament, and she also saw Wu Baozhang.
Wu Baozhang smiled and nodded at Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin lowered his head and pretended not to see it.
After these relatives had paid their respects to Madam Guo and presented their gifts, it was the turn of relatives and friends like Minister Sun and Madam Liu.
Zhou Shaojin gave up the living room and went to the banquet room in the east.
Zhou Chujin came over and shook his sister's hand, saying, "What's wrong with you? You don't look very well. Are you feeling unwell?"
Zhou Shaojin knew that Mrs. Miao would take her sister to socialize with those ladies and grandmothers later.
"I'm fine." She said quickly, "I'm just a little hungry!"
Zhou Chujin laughed and said, "I told you to eat more but you didn't listen. Now you know how powerful I am, right? Let's see if you dare to disobey your sister again in the future!" Then she said softly, "You are familiar with the people in Hanbi Mountain House. Just ask anyone to make you two pieces of snacks to fill your stomach. The feast will start soon."
Zhou Shaojin smiled and nodded, saying, "Sister, go and do your thing! I'll sit at the table with cousin Jia later."
Zhou Chujin nodded and went to Mrs. Mian.
Zhou Shaojin just felt it was noisy and wanted to hide in the tea room until the banquet started, but she knew that if she hid in the tea room like this, what would be the difference from her previous life
She smiled and took Cheng Ji's arm, listening to Gu Shiqigu and the other young ladies talking about family matters, poetry, calligraphy and painting.
Someone tugged at her collar.
Before Zhou Shaojin could react, the people around her were already showing expressions of surprise.
Miss Liu's Nineteenth Young Lady asked bluntly, "Miss Zhou Er, whose young lady is this?"
Zhou Shaojin turned around belatedly and saw Jiying wearing a dark purple floral jacket.
Jiying was looking at her with a smile in his eyes.
Zhou Shaojin was delighted, and then he thought of the group of young ladies standing beside him. He hurriedly pulled Cheng Ji's sleeve and said with a smile, "She is my cousin, from the branch of the Cheng family in Jiuru Lane."
Cheng Ji said nothing.
Everyone laughed and said, "No wonder we haven't met before." Even Gu Shiqigu had no doubts.
Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief, grabbed Ji Ying's sleeve and walked out. As he walked, he turned back and smiled at Gu Shiqigu and the others, "She and I have something to do. I'll be right back."
It was naturally not convenient for Gu Shiqigu and others to follow, so Zhou Shaojin dragged Jiying to the tea room.
Perhaps it was the time when someone was needed to serve tea in the upper room, and there was no one in the tea room, only boiling water bubbling on the stove.
Ji Ying's face was as gloomy as water, and he said, "When did I become a Cheng? And am I related to the Jiuru Lane family by marriage?"
Zhou Shaojin was panicked, but when she thought of Ji Ying obediently following her to learn needlework, she relaxed and her mind became more flexible. She said, "You never told me your last name? Can you blame me for this?"
Ji Ying was a little angry and glared at her, but still said, "My last name is Ji, and my maiden name is Ying."
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Sisters, today’s extra update!
There was a problem with the network at home last night. It took until almost nine o'clock to fix it. It was such a painful night...
PS: If there are any typos, I will correct them later.
※(To be continued)