It is easier said than done.
Although Zhou Shaojin bravely shouted at Cheng Chi, the next day, she wandered around the cabin for a long time before taking the chess book and going to Cheng Chi's residence.
Cheng Chi acted as if nothing had happened and told Lang Yue to set up the chessboard.
Zhou Shaojin summoned up the courage to stop Lang Yue and said to Cheng Chi, "Uncle Chi, your chess skills are much better than mine. Playing chess with me is like arm wrestling with a child. It's not fair to win, and it's not smooth to lose. Why don't you tell me about the fixed patterns in the "Chess Manual"? Although I have learned Go from Aunt Shen these days, I still can't understand the chess manual!"
Cheng Chi has always felt that people have different talents, and he doesn't like to teach those who make up for their shortcomings with hard work.
Zhou Shaojin obviously cannot be called smart.
But Zhou Shaojin had already walked in front of him, spread the chessboard on the small table of the Luohan bed, pointed to a few chess pieces in the upper left corner and said, "I know I should make a move here, but I don't understand why I should make a move next to it. If I just want to create a live eye, shouldn't I make a move next to it? If the white player doesn't make this move, but makes a move here, then wouldn't his move be wasted?"
Cheng Chi didn't expect her to look at it so seriously, and the displeasure in his heart couldn't help but fade a little.
He pointed to the chess pieces in the upper right corner and said, "Look, he has several more moves. If the chess pieces are placed at the position you just pointed, this area will be empty, and the chess pieces in the upper right corner will become targets of attack. Only when the chess pieces are placed in this position can they watch each other." As he spoke, he casually placed the chess pieces in the chess record on the chessboard, "Look, the black pieces are like this. No matter whether the white pieces are placed from the left or right, the black pieces will extend to the left and right from this point, and the white pieces will become very troublesome... So this move is very clever..."
Cheng Chi kept making assumptions.
Zhou Shaojin cherished this opportunity very much, and didn't care about being embarrassed. He kept saying, "Uncle Chi, please slow down, I don't understand it yet!"
Although Cheng Chi didn't often play chess with others, every time he did, he was surrounded by a group of chess masters. None of them was as straightforward as Zhou Shaojin, saying that they couldn't understand and asked him to play slower.
He had no choice but to slow down and explain to her hand by hand.
Zhou Shaojin felt that this was still not clear, so she simply asked Langyue to grind ink for her. She set up a small table on the Luohan bed, and she took notes as Cheng Chi talked.
After going back and forth like this, Cheng Chi lost his temper.
When Mrs. Guo heard this, she fell into deep thought.
Nanny Lu, who told Mrs. Guo the story of Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Chi playing chess as a joke, felt a little uneasy.
She had served Madam Guo for decades, so she should have known Madam Guo's temper to some extent, and she was proud of it. But at this moment, she had no idea what Madam Guo was thinking. She stood there with bated breath, not daring to breathe.
After a long while, Mrs. Guo whispered to her, "Go and call Qin Ziping for me."
Nanny Lu felt relieved and called Qin Ziping over.
Old Madam Guo sent Madam Lu away, asked her to close the door, and called Qin Ziping to come over to talk.
"Ziping, your family has been the steward since your great-great-grandfather," Mrs. Guo stared at Qin Ziping with a burning gaze, like a tiger staring at a rabbit, "your generation is already the sixth generation. Our two families are master and servant, but you are trusted by our old grandfather and master more than brothers from the same clan. I am old and should not be in charge of things. But Silang is my son, my youngest son, who has not yet married and has not grown up. I can ignore other people's affairs, but I can't let his affairs go. Tell me honestly, is there any problem with his business?"
Qin Ziping was stunned and said, "Why do you think so? The Fourth Master's business is doing well, there is no problem!"
"You don't have to fool me." Madam Guo's face darkened. "If it's not about business, then he has some plan, and he said it out loud, and I would definitely oppose it... Otherwise, he wouldn't have the patience to accompany me to Putuo Mountain to burn incense!"
Qin Ziping was sweating in his heart, and said half-truthfully: "Old Madam, I didn't mean to hide it from you. But you also know that I am the follower of the Fourth Master. I dare not and cannot tell you about his affairs. Please don't force me!"
Madam Guo sneered and said, "Among the three of you, Silang likes your second brother the most. I saw that you are honest, reliable, and thoughtful, so I sent you to Silang's house to work... Since I can send you to his house, I can naturally take you back. You have to think carefully."
Qin Ziping's forehead was covered with beads of sweat. After a long while, he whispered, "The fourth master wants to build a shipyard in Beitang, Tianjin in partnership with others, so he sold this year's salt permits and the looms in Hangzhou... Although this business is profitable, you can only invest as much money as you have before making money. The family doesn't know about it yet, but when they find out, I'm afraid there will be an uproar."
Madam Guo was still a little skeptical: "It's just a matter of money, Si Lang shouldn't be so impatient."
Qin Ziping had no choice but to continue making up stories: "It seems that several princes are involved. This matter is handled by the Fourth Master himself. I can't tell you the details."
Madam Guo frowned and said, "Silang is not the kind of person who is eager for quick success... How could he get involved with the princes?"
"Well," Qin Ziping was sweating coldly this time, "I don't know either... The Fourth Master has always been mysterious in his actions, I really can't guess."
Madam Guo gently brushed away the floating leaves on the tea, and was silent for a long while before she said in a serious tone, "Go down! Don't mention this to Silang."
"Don't worry, old lady." Qin Ziping suddenly felt like he had escaped a disaster and said with a wry smile, "How dare I tell this to the Fourth Master! If the Fourth Master knew, he would definitely skin me alive!"
"It's good that you know." Mrs. Guo said in a deep voice and waved her hand.
Qin Ziping ran straight to Cheng Chi's cabin.
It happened that Cheng Chi was explaining chess to Zhou Shaojin, so he had to hide in the tea room nearby. When it was almost time for lunch, Zhou Shaojin got up to say goodbye.
Qin Ziping quickly asked for a meeting and told Cheng Chi what had happened.
Cheng Chi didn't take it seriously and praised Qin Ziping: "I didn't expect you to be so smart at the critical moment. This matter was handled well, I'll remember it. If the second house's ancestors ask about it in the future, you should all say the same thing. You can also spread the news by the way, so that you don't have to explain if someone asks."
Qin Ziping let out a long sigh.
After lunch, Mrs. Guo talked about Yutai Bank: "… Even I didn't think it would work out at first, but you still succeeded. There's no shortage of food at home, so you don't have to worry about others. Just do whatever you want. At worst, we can start over again."
Cheng Chi smiled and agreed.
Zhou Shaojin always felt that there was something else behind Mrs. Guo's words.
After coming out of Madam Guo's room, she sent Chunwan to inquire and said, "It should be something that happened in the past two days, otherwise the old lady would not say such a thing today."
Chunwan kept it in mind and told her two days later: "I heard that the fourth master had taken a fancy to a piece of land in Tianjin and wanted to build a dock there, but everyone opposed it. The fourth master felt very upset."
This continues the conversation!
Zhou Shaojin asked: "Do you know which piece of land in Tianjin it is?"
In her previous life, she knew very little about these things. She didn't know whether a wharf had been built in Tianjin, nor did she know whether the wharf was profitable.
Chun Wan shook his head: "Everyone was speaking vaguely. I guess I only heard a few words when they were serving tea and water."
Zhou Shaojin nodded, and became even more careful when he went to learn chess from Cheng Chi again.
Cheng Chi felt that although this little girl was not very smart, she was obedient and well-behaved. Sometimes she could tell what someone was doing just by looking at her, and could tell the hidden meaning behind a sentence she said. It was very comfortable to get along with her, and he naturally became more patient when he talked about chess.
Zhou Shaojin felt that Cheng Chi was the most remarkable person she had ever met in her two lifetimes.
Whether in good times or bad, he can remain calm and composed without being conceited or angry.
Her brother-in-law Liao Shaotang once said that such people are usually tenacious, have strong wills, firm beliefs, and are people who can accomplish great things.
Then why did Uncle Chi leave the Cheng family
Zhou Shaojin pondered in his mind.
Could it be that the second branch’s ancestor forced him
No matter how powerful Uncle Chi is, he can only avoid the Second House Patriarch who is several generations older than him... It can be seen that he was also a pitiful person in his previous life!
She couldn't help but sigh in her heart.
Thinking of this, after talking to Mrs. Guo in the morning, she would go to play chess with Cheng Chi in the afternoon.
A few days later, they arrived in Changzhou.
Changzhou is located on the shore of Taihu Lake, connected to Jingkou in the north and Gusu in the south. It is one of the major ports connecting the north and the south. It is known as the "important town in the Three Wus and the famous capital of the Eight Counties". Its geographical location is very important and the population is very prosperous.
But this is also one of the important strongholds of the Cao Gang.
Zhou Shaojin had made up his mind early on to keep Jiying in his cabin and not let her show up.
Who knew that when she went to find Jiying, Jiying was sleeping soundly.
Zhou Shaojin burst out laughing.
It was almost time for lighting when their ship docked, but the dock was still crowded with people, some selling snacks with their shoulders on their shoulders, some setting up stalls, some unloading goods, some brokers chasing after customers... The whole dock was bustling with noise, but also full of the atmosphere of the market.
Zhou Shaojin leaned on the boat window and watched with great interest.
Chun Wan said, "Miss, can we go ashore and buy some things? I promised Sister Shi Xiang and Sister Chi Xiang that I would buy them some combs to take back."
Zhou Shaojin sighed and said, "I also promised my grandmother, aunt and sister to bring the comb back... But do you think this situation is appropriate?"
It's because it's not suitable that I'm asking this question with a lucky hope!
The Spring Festival Gala is gloomy.
Zhou Shaojin said: "The only way is to go to Hangzhou to buy it. It is said that Hangzhou has everything."
But it’s not as good as buying it locally!
I was thinking about the Spring Festival Gala in my heart but I didn’t dare to say it out loud.
Someone was shouting, "Excuse me, is this the boat of the Cheng family from Jiuru Lane in Jinling Prefecture?" and walking back and forth in front of the dock where sand ships were docked.
Zhou Shaojin heard Qin Ziping respond loudly: "I wonder which old friend you are? This is the Cheng family's boat in Jiuru Lane, Jinling Prefecture!"
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Today's update, sisters.
The update for Tian Fei Xian Xian will be very late, so everyone should get up tomorrow morning and read it!
O(∩_∩)O~
※(To be continued)