Spring in Nanjing

Chapter 174: Pukou

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When Zhou Shaojin came back from Bihan Mountain House, the tailor hired by Mrs. Mian was waiting for her.

My sister joked, "We are going to Pukou to get engaged. We can't lose face for the Cheng family. We have to make some beautiful clothes."

The tailor was a woman in her forties, who was used to hanging around the Cheng family and was quite familiar with Zhou Shaojin and her sister. After hearing what Zhou Chujin said, she laughed in support, then took out a tape measure and looked Zhou Shaojin up and down and said, "I think the second young lady is a little taller than last year. I'm afraid the new clothes I made last year won't fit her."

As a tailor, you would love to have new clothes made for you every day.

Zhou Shaojin showed the sleeves of the spring shirt to the tailor and said, "I'm afraid it can be worn for another year next year."

"It's still a little short." The tailor laughed, "If the clothes of the ladies in the Mei Mansion are a little short, we will make new ones. The second young lady is so beautiful, she should make a few more clothes. It will also be decent when going out for a drink."

Zhou Chujin's heart was moved.

Zhou Shaojin said hurriedly, "I don't like going out for drinks, so this is good enough." Still afraid that the woman would persuade her sister with her eloquent words, he pointed to the pieces of fabric that the tailor brought and said, "Are these all new styles this year? Why are they all red or green? Are there any with lighter colors?"

The tailor had made clothes for Zhou Shaojin and her sister before, so he had some idea of their preferences. He smiled and explained, "I heard that the two young ladies came with you to place a small order for the master, so they brought a few pieces of cloth with festive patterns."

Zhou Shaojin said, "That day is my sister-in-law's wedding day. We, as sisters-in-law, can't steal the show! I think it's better for her to wear something elegant."

The tailor was in a difficult position.

She only brought these few pieces of fabric.

"Second Miss, how about I measure your height first, and then bring some fabric for you to choose tomorrow."

"It doesn't have to be so troublesome. We asked you to come over to make the clothes because we wanted it to be quick. Otherwise, we can just cut them ourselves." Zhou Shaojin discussed with his sister, "We can just use the materials in our own warehouse!"

Zhou Chujin also found it troublesome.

If they are still not satisfied with the material the tailor delivers tomorrow, do they have to wait until the day after tomorrow

The two sisters went to the warehouse. Zhou Chujin picked out a pink Hangzhou silk with auspicious cloud pattern, and Zhou Shaojin picked out a lake blue Hangzhou silk with an arched wall orchid pattern. They gave them to the tailor and then went to have dinner.

A few days later, the tailor delivered the clothes.

Cheng Chi and the eldest master of the Gu family also came back from Pukou. It is said that the eldest master of the Gu family made a lot of witty remarks, making the marriage that was originally a sure thing sound like a dream, as if the marriage between Miss He and Cheng Gao was destined by heaven, and that if the girls of the He family did not marry into the Cheng family, they would not be happy, and if the Cheng family could not marry the girls of the He family, they would have no good days at all, and the whole He family was so happy that they could not stop smiling.

Xiao Tan, who said this, finally said, "Everyone says that they never knew the eldest master of the Gu family had this talent. They say that your old lady An has good vision and hired the right matchmaker. The marriage between Master Gao and Miss He will definitely go smoothly."

Zhou Shaojin decided to slow down the pace of copying the scriptures, so he was drinking tea with them in the Buddhist hall at this time.

Hearing this, she hurriedly asked, "What about Uncle Chi?"

Xiao Tan covered her mouth and laughed, saying, "Our fourth master only said two sentences from beginning to end."

"Which two sentences?" Lian Biyu couldn't help but ask.

"One is 'No, no, it's a blessing for our Cheng family to marry into the He family', and the other is 'Then we'll take our leave first'." After saying that, Xiao Tan laughed, leaning forward and backward.

Zhou Shaojin couldn't help laughing either.

Several people couldn’t stop laughing during the Spring Festival Gala.

Biyu simply started to make fun of him, laughing, "This damn girl, the fourth master should have said five sentences, how come it was only two sentences?"

Zhou Shaojin thought about it carefully, it was just five sentences.

I couldn't help but burst out laughing again.

As soon as she returned to Wanxiangju, she couldn't wait to tell her sister about it.

Zhou Chujin couldn't stop laughing either.

Zhou Shaojin asked: "Uncle Chi and the others should also go on the day of the Xiaoding ceremony, right?"

"Yeah!" Zhou Chujin knew more about these procedures than Zhou Shaojin. She smiled and said, "But that day we were mainly there to see Aunt Lu. Uncle Chi and the others were just there for the occasion."

I don’t know if I’ll have the chance to talk to Uncle Chi

Zhou Shaojin pondered in his heart.

On the day of her engagement, she and her sister got up early, had breakfast, washed and dressed, and went to Jiashu Hall.

Jiang and Cheng Ji had already arrived and were having breakfast with Mrs. Mian.

Seeing the two sisters, Mrs. Mian asked them hurriedly if they had breakfast, but Jiang sighed secretly.

Mrs. Miao wanted to be a matchmaker for Cheng Ji. The other party was also from an official family, and his father was a secretary in the Ministry of Revenue. She was very moved when she heard this, and specially made a scallion green embroidered jacket for Cheng Ji, and put on gold and precious jewelry. It matched her daughter's bright eyes and white teeth, as bright as pearls and jade. The more she looked at it, the more she liked it. She felt that even if she couldn't compare with Zhou Shaojin, she could definitely beat Zhou Chujin. Who knew that today Zhou Chujin only wore a pink auspicious cloud patterned Hangzhou silk jacket, a green horse-faced skirt with a slanted edge, but she had a tilted bun, a large flower inlaid with red gold and emerald green, and a comb inlaid with precious stones. She was dignified and lively, elegant and playful. Zhou Shaojin dressed even more simply. A lake blue arch wall orchid patterned jacket, a dark blue pleated skirt, a flat bun, and a South Pearl flower. But the lake blue jacket set off her skin as white as snow, and the dark and colorful South Pearl set off her eyes as bright as ink, which was a little more colorful than usual. Not to mention Zhou Shaojin, even if Zhou Chujin and Cheng Ji stood together, they were like spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums, each with its own merits.

The problem with this family is that none of the men are officials!

I wonder if Mrs. He would mistakenly think that Cheng Ji’s appearance is ordinary

Jiang shook her head and exchanged a few words with Zhou Shaojin and her sister. Then, seeing that it was getting late, she said goodbye to Old Madam Guan, went out, got into the sedan chair, and took a boat to Pukou from Jiangbei Bridge.

Zhou Shaojin sat in the cabin, looking at the various boats shuttling across the lake and couldn't help but smile.

At first, she and Jiying went to see Jiangbei Bridge when no one was around on New Year's Eve. They didn't see Jiangbei Bridge, but they saw Uncle Chi and Xiao Zhenhai. But now she was sitting on the boat and admiring the boats of all sizes on Jiangbei River. When she went back and told Jiying about it, she wondered if Jiying would be envious and jealous.

She thought, looking towards the bow of the ship.

Because of the line of sight, she only saw a few feet, some wearing double-sided shoes, some wearing flat-toe shoes, and some wearing fat-face shoes...

I don’t know whether Uncle Chi is at the bow or in the cabin

She was guessing when she saw Langyue coming over.

Zhou Shaojin was delighted and waved towards Langyue.

Lang Yue also saw her and immediately ran over with a smile: "Second cousin, I heard that you were also on the boat. I didn't expect to meet you!"

Then Uncle Chi must also know that she is on the boat!

Zhou Shaojin stretched his neck to look outside and asked, "Where's Uncle Chi?"

Lang Yue pointed to the cabin and said with a smile, "The fourth master said it was windy outside and he wanted to read a book in the cabin."

The boat is swaying, can I read

Zhou Shaojin glanced at Cheng Ji, who was lying on the bed groaning and moaning because of seasickness.

It was also their first time traveling by water, and she was fine, but Cheng Ji started to feel dizzy not long after getting on the boat.

Maybe she felt dizzy while reading on the boat, but Uncle Chi was reading on the boat and nothing happened!

But in this way, she would have no excuse to get close to Uncle Chi - she couldn't just knock on the door of Uncle Chi's cabin, could she

Lang Yue smiled and said, "Master Gu and several stewards are at the bow of the boat. They said they want to have small fish and shrimps from the river for lunch. The stewards are instructing the boatman to go catch the fish and shrimps."

"There are fish and shrimp in this river?" The two spoke in low voices, but somehow Cheng Ji, who was lying on the bed, heard them and shouted, "We also have fish and shrimp for lunch!"

Zhou Shaojin, Zhou Chujin, Lang Yue and the servants in the room all laughed. Lang Yue said even more obediently, "I'll go talk to the kitchen right away." Then he said hello to Zhou Shaojin and went to the bow of the boat.

Since Uncle Chi was not at the bow, Zhou Shaojin no longer paid attention to the bow. He looked at the scenery for a while, chatted with Cheng Ji for a while, and then it was time for lunch.

There was actually a bowl of small fish and shrimp for lunch.

But Cheng Jia was like blanched beans, listless and didn't want to eat anything.

Zhou Shaojin made a cup of tea for her, and Cuihuan helped her to sleep.

They arrived at Pukou in just one hour. Zhou Chujin was called by Mrs. Mian and Jiang to discuss Xiao Ding's matter. Zhou Shaojin sat alone in the cabin for a while. Along the way, there were either green rice fields or dark gray houses. After seeing so many of them, they were no longer new.

She looked toward the bow and listened, but there seemed to be no movement.

Everyone is either having lunch or taking a nap at this time.

Zhou Shaojin thought about it, took a cloak, and went to the bow of the ship.

The scenery is really different when standing at the bow and sitting in the cabin.

The wind blows on your face, warm and gentle. The river is vast, with sparkling waves like fish scales. The laughter of children playing on the shore is as clear as silver bells.

Zhou Shaojin lay on the side of the boat, a smile overflowing from his eyes.

Cheng Chi stood on the other side of the boat, looking at Zhou Shaojin who was smiling like a seven or eight-year-old child, and suddenly thought of the Mu and Lin families in the capital.

What was Zhou Shaojin's purpose in sending Fan Qi to the capital

He thought about it and walked over from the side of the ship.

"Chi, Uncle Chi!" Zhou Shaojin turned around upon hearing the noise and saw Cheng Chi, who was wearing a royal blue Hangzhou silk gown. "Why are you here?"

Didn’t Langyue say that he was reading in the cabin

"I've had lunch and came out for some fresh air." Cheng Chi smiled faintly, walked over, and followed her gaze towards the shore. "Did you see anything interesting? I heard you laughing?"

Did she smile

And it also alarmed Uncle Chi.

Zhou Shaojin looked at Cheng Chi who was getting closer and closer, and his mind was a little confused.

Although she has lived two lives, Zhou Shaojin still hasn't developed a thick skin. This completely unexpected encounter, and the fact that she has always had a purpose for Cheng Chi, made her feel guilty and at a loss for a moment.

Cheng Chi was not affected at all and smiled: "Is this your first time traveling by water?"

Traveling by boat is different from traveling by water.

Taking a boat only means sitting on the boat for a while, but traveling by water means you will be in a cramped cabin for a long time, and many people will get seasick.

Sisters, today’s extra update!

O(∩_∩)O~

Asking for pink votes...

PS: The update will be around 9pm. (To be continued)