Zhou Shaojin suddenly realized, and said: "So Uncle Chi gave you the name 'Ji Ying'?"
Jiying said nothing.
That is the default.
Zhou Shaojin thought about her unhappy look just now, and guessed that it must be because he introduced her as a relative of the Cheng family that made her feel hurt in self-esteem, so he said: "Those are just irrelevant people, why do you have to tell them your details? If you meet someone on the street and ask your name, do you have to tell the truth?"
Ji Ying's expression relaxed slightly.
Zhou Shaojin felt relieved and asked with a smile, "Why are you here? Are you here to celebrate Old Madam Guo's birthday? Why don't I see Miss Nanping, Miss Heming and the others?"
According to etiquette, the maids serving in the eldest house should also pay their respects to Madam Guo.
"Yeah!" Ji Ying said, "They are talking with Nanny Shi and others in the room over there. I was too lazy to wait, so I came to see if you were there."
Zhou Shaojin was somewhat surprised that Jiying would come to kowtow to Old Madam Guo.
Ji Ying said: "The grudge between my father and Cheng Zichuan is their business, and Madam Guo has not offended me! She is the elder, so I naturally have to kowtow to her on her birthday!"
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly with a smile and felt much better.
Ji Ying thought so, which showed that her father and Uncle Chi were not enemies of life and death!
She said, "I have just paid my respects to Madam Guo. It should be your turn soon."
Her smile was peaceful and relaxed, completely different from the politeness and courtesy she had shown in the banquet room just now.
Ji Jian couldn't help but ask: "Did someone bully you? Why do you look unhappy?"
Zhou Shaojin thought about it and said frankly: "I'm just not used to the way they talk and act."
She told Jiying about the ladies' actions one by one.
Ji Ying listened very carefully and said, "When I was young, my father once told me a story. He said that there were two widows in a family. One of the widows was surnamed Li and the other was surnamed Wang. They were both supported by the clan. The widow surnamed Li was afraid that she would not be taken care of when she was old, so she was very enthusiastic to help anyone who had any problems. Everyone liked her very much and often sent her some food. She had a good reputation in the clan. The widow surnamed Wang was just the opposite. In addition to the support from the clan, she planted vegetables in front of and behind her house and raised chickens. If she wanted to go out for a walk, she would go to the city. If she wanted to be lazy, she would go to the neighboring village to buy two buns. If someone else had something to do and didn't call her, she would never show up. Even if she did, it would depend on what kind of family it was. In comparison, everyone said that the widow surnamed Wang was indifferent and didn't know how to be grateful. No one liked the widow Wang very much. Over time, people in the clan even began to distance themselves from her.
"Widow Li asked Widow Wang, "You are not liked by the people in your clan. Aren't you afraid that no one will take care of you when you are old and sick?"
"The widow Wang said: You want me to spend decades trying to please them just so they can take care of me in my last few years? I don't think it's worth it. I won't do it.
Widow Li just shook her head and walked away.
"Then Widow Li worked hard all her life. Her back became hunched and her hair turned white. Before she died, the people in the tribe took turns to take care of her. Everyone went to see her. A few days later, she died. Everyone in the tribe cried very sadly.
"But Widow Wang lived a carefree life her whole life. Before she died, only two people followed the tribe leader's orders to take care of her. No one came to visit her. A few days later, she died, and the people in the tribe quickly forgot about her."
Ji Ying recalled, "I still remember that my father asked me, should I learn from the widow Wang and live a carefree life and then suffer in the last few days, or learn from the widow Li and work hard all my life and enjoy the last few days of happiness?" She looked up at Zhou Shaojin, "I said, I would rather be like the widow Li and suffer in the last few days and enjoy the happiness of the rest of my life. Second Miss, if you were to choose, which path would you choose?"
Zhou Shaojin was very shocked.
No one had ever said anything like that to her.
In the teachings she received, she was told how to be respectful, frugal and courteous, win the approval and favor of others. Live your own life and let others talk... She never thought about it.
Zhou Shaojin looked at Jiying and was speechless for a long time.
Ji Ying smiled and said, "Second Miss, I want to tell you that there are some things that even if you force yourself, others may not consider your feelings and be grateful for your tolerance."
Zhou Shaojin seemed to be thinking about something.
The copper kettle on the stove made a humming sound.
A woman came in.
"Oh my! Second cousin." She wiped her forehead and said, "A little maid from Miss Biyu's side spilled the hot water she just brought over, so I had to send another pot over... I was afraid that the water would boil over and extinguish the stove. Fortunately, you are here..."
Ji Ying pushed Zhou Shaojin and said with a smile, "Let's go! The feast will start soon."
Zhou Shaojin returned to the hall with Jiying somewhat absentmindedly.
After Jiying and others paid their respects to Old Madam Guo, presented her with birthday gifts and gave her rewards, the maids and servants brought in the table. Everyone sat down according to their seniority. Old Madam Guo said a few words of thanks and held up the wine glass.
The birthday banquet officially began.
On the ladies and grandmothers' side, Madam Yuan was persuading them to drink at each table, with lots of laughter and chatter, making the atmosphere quite lively. On the young ladies' side, however, they were all proud of their status, sitting upright and eating elegantly.
Zhou Shaojin thought about the story Jiying told her. The more she thought about it, the more it made sense to her. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that Jiying's father was not an ordinary person.
If I have the chance, I will ask about Jiying's family affairs.
After the birthday banquet, everyone followed Old Lady Guo to watch an opera.
Only then did Zhou Shaojin discover that there was a stage not far from the upper room.
Mrs. Guo ordered a piece called "Liu Lang Visits His Mother", led by Gao Huizhu from the Changgao class.
His voice was as loud and clear as a silver bottle bursting, and his appearance was handsome, which attracted a group of old An people, wives, grandmothers, and young ladies to cheer for him from time to time.
Zhou Shaojin thought it was too noisy.
She quietly squeezed to the outermost part of the stage while Cheng Ji, Gu Shiqigu and others were not paying attention, looked at the lush green of Hanbi Mountain House, and let out a long sigh.
Someone was talking behind her.
She was very observant and heard the other party mention "Fourth Master" and "Uncle" and so on.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but prick up his ears to listen.
But the sound of gongs and drums on the stage drowned out the other side's voice.
Zhou Shaojin turned around and saw that the people who spoke were the two little girls who had sat next to her at the birthday party, but she had forgotten how to address them.
She approached calmly and heard one of them say to the other: "… I think the Fourth Master is the best. Who knows what the result will be after taking the imperial examinations all the way through. Otherwise, why would Lord Liu's sister try to please Old Madam Guo!"
The other one sneered and said, "If it were me, I would rather accompany Master Xu all the way to the exam than to live in a cold and lonely house. When the fourth master glanced at me just now, I shuddered. I always feel that there must be something wrong with him not getting married at such an old age. Otherwise, why would Madam Guo make such an arrangement?"
Zhou Shaojin was very surprised.
I didn’t expect Uncle Chi to look like this in the eyes of others!
She wanted to hear what the two little girls would say, but there was a loud applause from the stage - the song "Sixth Brother Visits His Mother" was over.
Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief and went back to sit down under the porch. However, out of the corner of his eye he saw Miss Liu sitting tenderly next to Mrs. Guo.
The eyesight of Mrs. Guo and several old An people was not very good. She was holding a play list and announcing the names of the short plays.
The two young ladies of the Guo family sat on the other side of Mrs. Guo, one was about eighteen or nineteen years old, and the other was about sixteen or seventeen years old, both of them were dignified and beautiful.
Mrs. Guo seemed a little undecided. She turned around and said a few words to the two young ladies of the Guo family. The younger one remained silent, while the older one smiled and answered Mrs. Guo with a very respectful expression. Mrs. Guo then handed the playlist to the old man An from the Guo family who was sitting next to her.
The old man from the Guo family said a few words and handed the playlist to the old man from the second house, Tang…
Miss Liu, who was sitting next to Zhou Shaojin, became impatient and muttered, "This is just a waste of time. Why didn't they order everything in advance?"
Zhou Shaojin smiled.
A maid came over with a smile and said, "Madam, the fourth master is here."
Everyone was stunned.
Madam Guo remained calm and said, "They are not outsiders. Although he is young, he is still an elder. Let him in!"
Several people who were originally planning to avoid the lady had to sit down again with red faces.
After a while, Cheng Chi walked in.
He looked cheerful and relaxed, and calmly saluted to Mrs. Guo in public.
Zhou Shaojin admired him very much.
If it were me, my legs would have been trembling a long time ago.
Mrs. Guo called Cheng Chi to her side to talk.
Because they were quite far away and their voices were not loud, Zhou Shaojin could not hear clearly what Madam Guo and Cheng Chi said. He only saw the dignified Miss Guo showing a shy look, and the people around her did not know whether they wanted to hear clearly what Madam Guo and Cheng Chi said, or wanted to watch the fun, so they either looked towards Madam Guo or squeezed towards her.
Zhou Shaojin was almost hit by someone.
She was a little unhappy and simply left the corridor.
Cheng Ji was still whispering to Gu Shiqigu: "… Tsk tsk tsk, Uncle Chi has become Tang Monk's flesh."
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but burst out laughing, and looked up and saw Jiying.
"Why are you here?" She walked over quickly.
The maids of Xiaoshan Conggui Courtyard left after paying their respects to Old Madam Guo. Fortunately, Zhou Shaojin and the others were in the banquet room at that time. If Miss Liu Nineteen saw them, there would probably be gossip.
Ji Ying said, "I came here with your uncle Chi."
Zhou Shaojin asked: "Then what are you doing standing here?"
Ji Ying sneered, "I am just your uncle Chi's maid, not his guard. Madam Guo wants him to watch the show with her. He wants to use me as a shield! If I shield him now, who will shield me when Madam Guo wants to deal with me? I won't do such a stupid thing!" He asked again, "Why are you here?"
Zhou Shaojin said, "I always had trouble sleeping before. The noise of the gongs and drums is so loud that it gives me a headache."
Ji Ying smiled and said, "Then let's go sit in the tea room for a while. Cheng Zichuan won't come back so quickly this time."
※
Sisters, Uncle Chi has a bad love life.
Hahaha…
PS: If you have pink tickets, don't forget to support "Jinlingchun". I haven't posted for a long time, so I need a place on the homepage! And pink tickets before the 7th will be doubled.
Please please!
※(To be continued)