Old Mrs. Guan returned to Jiashutang with a heavy heart.
Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin both knew the news of Cheng Fen's death.
Zhou Chujin felt that the eldest son's second grandfather had no heir, and the eldest son was heartbroken. It was an unwise decision for Mrs. Guan to choose this time to speak for Mrs. Wu.
Zhou Shaojin also felt that it was not appropriate to talk about this matter at this time. After all, a relative of the eldest house had passed away. What could be more important than this? Even if Mrs. Guo agreed, it would be difficult for things to progress. But she knew that after the second old master of the eldest house died in the previous life, he had no heirs or concubines, so the second house of the eldest house was cut off.
Thinking of this, for some reason, a lonely figure of a bright old man reading under a small light emerged in her mind.
The second old master of the eldest house, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, was extinguished in the long river of history like a firework. The in-laws didn't even know what he looked like, what kind of person he was, or what achievements he had made...
Zhou Shaojin was a little dazed.
If her sister hadn't stood up and hurried outside, she might not have noticed that Old Lady Guan had returned.
"Grandma." Zhou Chujin supported the old lady, "Are you okay?"
She really wanted to ask her grandmother what happened, but when she saw her grandmother's expression, she was afraid to ask.
Zhou Shaojin also hurriedly stood up and went to greet him.
Old Madam Guan smiled a little, nodded to the sisters, and said softly, "Why are you waiting here? Is there something wrong?"
"Nothing!" Zhou Shaojin said with a smile, "Sister is worried that it's too late to tell Madam Wu. Something has happened to Lord Wu. Even if Madam Guo agrees to help, it's too late, so I'm a little worried."
"It's okay." Mrs. Guan smiled, "Mrs. Guo agreed, and in front of me, she asked Uncle Chi, who was going to the capital to attend Uncle Fen's funeral, to ask what was going on!"
"That's great." A big stone fell from Zhou Chujin's heart.
Zhou Shaojin was stunned for a moment and asked, "Is Uncle Chi going to the capital to attend the funeral?"
"Yes!" Old Madam Guan sighed and said, "After all, he grew up with the Second Old Master. Your Uncle Fen is more than ten years older than your Uncle Chi! I'm afraid he treated him like his own son. Now that your Uncle Fen has passed away, he must go to the coffin to burn incense."
It's a pity that he was going to attend a funeral this time. If he was going to the capital for other things, it would have been great if she could have gone with him - she could have seen Uncle Jing, and maybe even had a few words with him because of Uncle Chi!
Zhou Shaojin shook his head secretly and went to find Jiying.
"Are you going to the capital with me?" she asked. "When will Uncle Chi leave?"
"I'll go to the capital with you." Ji Ying seemed a little depressed and said, "We'll set off this afternoon."
Zhou Shaojin asked: "Are you in a bad mood because we will be passing through Cangzhou?"
Cangzhou is the hometown of fireflies.
Ji Ying nodded and whispered, "I really want to go back and take a look... But without your uncle Chi's nod, I can't go back..."
"Then you should talk to Uncle Chi!" Zhou Shaojin advised, "The weather is still very cold now, you should wear more clothes. Be careful on the road and don't talk back to Uncle Chi, because you will always suffer in the end."
Ji Ying smiled, her cold and beautiful face was like a blooming summer flower, stunning: "Thank you, I will be careful."
Zhou Shaojin made some walnut cakes and asked Chunwan to give them to Jiying so that she could take them with her on the road.
Jiying thanked him and rewarded Chunwan with twenty or so copper coins.
Chunwan took the copper coin and felt strange.
Why are all the maids around Master Chi Si acting like young ladies? The last time she came to give Master Chi Si carrot cake, the maid who rewarded her was called Nanping...
She knelt down as usual to thank him and stepped back.
Ji Ying looked at the box of walnut cookies and decided to put her pride aside and go talk to Cheng Chi. After all, such an opportunity was rare and she didn't know when she would encounter it again.
But when she arrived at Cheng Chi's place, Cheng Chi was talking to Huaishan.
She sat on the stone bench outside the room and waited.
Huaishan saw Jiying through the glass window and said hesitantly: "When we pass by Cangzhou, if Jiying wants to go back and have a look..."
"Then let her go back and have a look." Cheng Chi said indifferently, and then carefully flipped through the book in his hand, and said, "Take this Huang Zhong Da Lu with you. Second uncle will definitely be very happy to see this book."
The second old master Cheng Shao’s hobby is making musical instruments.
Huaishan thought of the scene when the second old grandfather Cheng Shao put Cheng Chi on his knees and taught him how to play the piano when he was a child. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly and he responded with a low "yes".
Cheng Chi asked, "Hasn't there been any letter from Fan Qi yet?"
Huaishan said in confusion: "There is a letter. It says that he is staying in Shangqing Palace again in the name of the young master. He is either playing around with the Taoist priest surnamed Yang or strolling in Hu Shangshu Hutong..."
Cheng Chi was a little surprised and asked, "Besides that, didn't you do anything else?"
"Nothing else was done." Huaishan said confidently, and then he laughed as if he remembered something. "You know what, they planted willows unintentionally and it turned out to be a blessing. The Mu family and the Lin family have already set an auspicious time at noon on April 6th. In two months, the eldest daughter of the Mu family will marry into the Lin family."
They got married so quickly!
It seems that the Taoist priest surnamed Yang really managed to arrange this marriage.
Cheng Chi did not find it interesting like Huaishan did. Instead, he looked more solemn. He lowered his head and pondered for a while, then said, "This matter is too strange. The second lady of the Zhou family spent so much effort to send a servant to the capital. Was it just to let him go out for a feast? If it's not the servant surnamed Yang who has a problem, then there must be something wrong with the Mu and Lin families... So, you send someone to find out the background of these three people and see if there is any connection between them. Also send someone to keep an eye on the second lady of the Zhou family. This matter seems strange to me." After that, he paused and said, "The more things are inexplicable, the more dangerous they seem!"
Huaishan clasped his fists solemnly and gave the order.
Ji Ying came in and told Cheng Chi that he wanted to go home and take a look: "... I won't go into the house, I'll just take a look from a distance..."
"Okay!" Cheng Chi said without waiting for her to finish, "I made the bet with your father because I was too young and hot-tempered. Now when I think about it, I feel that I acted too harshly. You are not young anymore. If you want to go back, talk to your father and ask him to meet me."
Ji Ying looked at Cheng Chi in astonishment and didn't come back to his senses for a long time.
Cheng Chi, are you going to let her go
After waiting for so long and enduring for so long, can she finally go back
Jiying was so happy that she almost jumped up, but she quickly calmed down.
Cheng Chi asked her father to meet him... Her father might not agree...
She suddenly felt bored again.
Cheng Chi didn't want to let her go at all. It was obvious that he was just drawing a pie in the sky for her to eat.
Ji Ying said "Oh" and was too lazy to pack her luggage, so she went to Wanxiangju to find Zhou Shaojin.
"Then what are you going to do?" Zhou Shaojin couldn't understand how someone could lose ten years of their children's freedom over a bet, and he couldn't imagine how Ji Ying would feel when he met his parents again.
"Let me send a letter back first!" Ji Ying said, "Let my father know about this matter first... As for the rest, we can talk about it in detail after we arrive in Cangzhou."
"It's always good to be able to return to your own home and stay with your parents." Zhou Shaojin said, "Ouch" and laughed, "If your father takes you back, we will never see each other again. No, I have to give you something as a souvenir..."
Ji Ying smiled and held Zhou Shaojin, saying, "Don't worry, even if I go back to Cangzhou, I know where you live! I will find you."
Zhou Shaojin felt better after hearing this.
The two of them exchanged some assurances, and Zhou Shaojin saw that it was getting late, so he sent Jiying out of Wanxiangju.
When Jiying returned, Cheng Chi had already packed his things and was about to get in the car to leave.
Ji Jian couldn't help but blush when he thought about the fact that he hadn't packed anything yet.
Cheng Chi had no intention of waiting for her. He glanced at her coldly and said, "Jinling City will soon fall. You should pack up your things and ride your horse to catch up! Your Rouge is in Zaoyuan. You should know how to get to Zaoyuan, right?"
Ji Ying's face was burning. She lowered her head to see Cheng Chi out the door, then hurried back to the house to pack her things.
In the carriage, Huaishan asked Cheng Chi: "Why don't you ask what she said to Zhou's second son?"
"What's there to ask?" Cheng Chi said indifferently, "I'm going to the capital, and there's a chance I can go home. It's just the little thoughts of these girls!"
Huaishan was silent.
Zhou Shaojin also learned that Aunt Mu and Lin Shisheng's wedding was scheduled for April 6th.
Is this settled
She couldn't help but chant "Amitabha".
Hanbi Mountain Villa became very deserted because of Cheng Chi's departure, especially Old Madam Guo, who seemed to have been injured and did not recover for a long time. By the time she cheered up, it was already spring and flowers were blooming.
Mrs. Guo often took walks by the lake, and on several occasions she specially called Zhou Shaojin.
However, there was no news from Cheng Chi. He only sent a letter of safety when he first arrived in the capital.
Mrs. Guo couldn't help feeling a little worried. She was walking just fine, but would suddenly become dazed from time to time.
After the Buddha's Bathing Festival and the second branch ancestor's birthday, Fan Qi rushed back.
"Second Miss," he said with his eyes sparkling, "I saw with my own eyes the eldest Miss of the Mu family getting on the bridal sedan before she came back."
"Thank you for your hard work!" Zhou Shaojin couldn't hide his gratitude.
If it weren't for Fan Qi, she would probably still be frowning.
Fan Qi smiled and waved his hand.
Zhou Shaojin felt indescribably happy.
More than a year after her rebirth, she finally fulfilled a wish.
Although I am still far from my goal, it also shows that as long as I am willing and persist, I can still do something that seems impossible to accomplish.
She has more confidence in herself.
Zhou Shaojin decided to plan carefully and break down the barrier between her and Uncle Chi no matter what. Even if she had to squeeze, she would find a way to get to Uncle Chi's side.
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Sisters, after writing this chapter, I feel like I have seen the light of day...
An extra chapter for Tianfeixianxian.
Thank you all for your continued genuine subscription. If you have pink tickets, please cast your precious vote for "Jinling Chun".
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※(To be continued)