Cheng Chi and Song Min had a very pleasant conversation.
In the main room of the inner courtyard, Madam Song was holding a flower pattern that Zhou Shaojin had just drawn for her and praising Zhou Shaojin vigorously: "… I just said that, but who knew she would draw it. She is indeed a well-educated lady, so smart. When I was young, I also loved reading. Whenever my brothers went to private school, I would send them to the door. When they came back, I couldn't wait to help them carry their schoolbags. When my brothers were doing their homework under the lamp, I would help them serve tea and water, hoping that my brothers would teach me to recognize a few words in their spare time. I can now understand the account book, and I also learned a few words from my brothers at that time. I swore at that time that if I had a daughter one day, I must let her read and learn to read, not like me."
Madam Guo laughed and said, "The customs in different places are different. Most girls in our area can read. Shaojin is just average."
Madam Song smiled and said, "Old Madam, please don't be polite to me. I have seen many young ladies from official families in Jiangnan in Beijing, but I have never seen anyone with the character, appearance, and knowledge of my second cousin..."
Zhou Shaojin pretended not to hear and sat there with his head down, embroidering a lily flower on a piece of silk cloth he had found temporarily.
Song Sen sat in front of a round table covered with dishes, being fed by his wet nurse, but his eyes rolled around and he kept peeking at Zhou Shaojin, until a maid came in and reported that Mr. Song decided to go out for a walk with Cheng Chi, and asked them to rest early and not wait for them. The atmosphere in the room suddenly changed.
"At this time?" Mrs. Guo frowned, her face full of worry. "What's so urgent? Can't we wait until tomorrow morning?"
The old woman couldn't give a clear answer either, and said, "The fourth master went with Mr. Song and Mr. Huang, and Steward Qin brought a few guards with him. I don't think anything will happen. The old lady can just rest assured."
How could Mrs. Guo be at ease
Madam Song said guiltily, "Madam, I'm so sorry. Our old man has this temper. He would get up in the middle of the night to look at the stars. During the busy farming season, he suddenly ran to Bashan to visit a friend. As a result, he encountered a heavy rainstorm that washed away the mountain and almost lost his life there. Another time, he brought a boatload of fresh fruits to Zhenjiang. He left the manager and the clerk alone and went to Jinan Prefecture. The whole boatload of goods almost rotted. I heard that when my mother-in-law was alive, she was angry with my father-in-law for this matter. Later, when my mother-in-law was gone, my father-in-law didn't want to remarry because he didn't want someone to control him..." She stood up in panic and said, "I didn't expect that he would actually drag the fourth master out... I, I'll send someone to look for him now..."
Mr. Song's temperament was indeed a bit strange, but Zhou Shaojin believed that Cheng Chi was not the kind of person who acted on a whim, believed everything he heard, and could be moved by anything. Since he decided to go out for a walk with Mr. Song, he must feel that it was necessary to go out for a walk together, so they didn't need to worry so much.
"Madam," Zhou Shaojin gently advised Madam Guo, "Don't worry. Uncle Chi has always been a good person. They may have just drunk too much and wanted to go for a walk on the Qiantang River, or they may have been inspired to write poetry and want to reminisce about the past. If you are really worried, we can call the servants from the outer courtyard to come in and ask them."
Madam Guo nodded slightly and said, "You have a point. Your uncle Chi is not a child anymore. He knows his own affairs. Since he asked the maid to tell us, we don't need to call the servants from the outer courtyard to ask. Everything will be clear when they come back tomorrow morning!" She comforted Madam Song, "You can rest assured. Silang brought his steward and guards with him. Our guards are all very skilled. When Silang was doing business outside, these people protected his safety. It has been almost ten years, and nothing has happened."
Mrs. Song was mainly worried that Cheng Chi was instigated by her father-in-law. After hearing what Mrs. Guo and Zhou Shaojin said, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Song Sen, however, got into his mother's arms like a child and shouted, "My uncle won't sleep with me. I'm scared!"
Mrs. Song's face flushed red, and she scolded, "How old are you? Stand up! How can you let your uncle sleep with you every day? If your father sees this, he will punish you again."
Song Sen twisted and turned in Mrs. Song's arms like a twist, and refused to sleep alone.
Mrs. Song had no choice but to compromise and coax him, "If you listen to me today, I will agree to one of your requests. Even if it's just going to Shichahai to play with ice!"
Song Sen's eyes sparkled as he heard this. He stood up from his mother's arms and asked, "Really?"
"Of course." Mrs. Song assured.
"Okay then." Song Sen pointed at Zhou Shaojin, "I want to sleep with this sister."
Everyone in the room was stunned.
Madam Song's face turned from red to purple, and she said, "What nonsense are you talking about? That's your sister Zhou, not someone who serves you. How can you let your sister Zhou sleep with you? When we return to the capital, I will take you to Shichahai to play with ice!"
Song Sen refused and cried and made a fuss, wanting to sleep with Zhou Shaojin.
There was a flash of displeasure in Mrs. Guo's eyes.
Zhou Shaojin had lived two lives and all the children she came into contact with were well-behaved, cute, sensible and obedient. She had never seen one as unreasonable and unruly as this one. She was so shocked that she didn't react for a while. When she came to her senses, Song Sen was already sitting on the ground crying.
Mrs. Song was ashamed and angry. She hurriedly explained to Mrs. Guo and Zhou Shaojin, "He is not like this usually. I don't know what happened today." She also threatened Song Sen, "If you continue to act like this, I will definitely tell your father when I go back. If you anger your father in the future, your mother will never help you to plead with your father when he wants to punish you..."
Song Sen continued to cry.
Zhou Shaojin was very embarrassed. He felt that this matter concerned him. If he did not step forward to resolve it, it would only make it difficult for Mrs. Guo, the host.
She took a few steps forward hesitantly, and was about to agree to let Song Sen sleep with her. But before she could open her mouth, she was frightened by Mrs. Guo's deep voice, "Shao Jin," and she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
Song Sendi suddenly broke free from his mother, hugged Zhou Shaojin, and cried, "Sister, beautiful sister, I want to sleep with you. I will definitely listen to you and be good and not disturb you or make trouble for you..."
"You kid!" Mrs. Song looked embarrassed and tried to pull her son away from Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin was embarrassed. Thinking of the unhappy shout and look from Mr. Guo just now, he felt very embarrassed. He could only comfort Song Sen softly and said, "Since you said you would listen to me, then stand up quickly and stop crying."
Song Sen took the opportunity to negotiate with her: "Then you have to agree to sleep with me."
Zhou Shaojin didn't dare to agree.
Mrs. Guo stood up with a smile and said to Mrs. Song, "It's our second daughter's honor that Sen likes her, but she's not young anymore, and it's time for men and women to sit at separate tables. It's just that your master and our eldest master are both officials in the cabinet, and our fourth son and Mr. Song hit it off right away, so we didn't make a big deal about it and just treated it as a family affair. Everything else is fine, but it's not good for Sen to sleep with Shaojin."
"You are right, you are right." Mrs. Song was too embarrassed to face Mrs. Guo.
Madam Guo laughed and said to Song Sen, "Sen'er, you are also a child of a scholar. Do you understand what I said?"
As she spoke, she looked at Song Sen with a smile, but her eyes were as cold as ice, like a sharp blade piercing people's hearts.
Zhou Shaojin shuddered and thought of Cheng Chi for some reason.
They are mother and son, alike!
She couldn't help but lower her eyelids, only to find that Song Sen, who was holding her, was slightly stiff, with a hint of fear on his little face.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but laugh inwardly.
Madam Guo was indeed very powerful. She was able to intimidate Song Sen with just a cold look in her eyes.
Madam Guo slapped Song Sen, then gave him a sweet date and said, "Do you like Sister Zhou very much?"
Song Sen nodded continuously.
Madam Guo smiled and said, "Well, your sister Zhou has to serve me every night, so you can sleep with us!" After that, she said to Madam Song, "I think this child is very naughty. If you are at ease, I will help you take care of him tonight, and you can take the opportunity to have a good rest."
"How can this be possible!" Mrs. Song waved her hands repeatedly.
Unexpectedly, Song Sen shouted, "Mom, I will sleep with the old lady and my sister."
Mrs. Song walked forward with a stern face and pulled Song Sen, but Song Sen nimbly hid behind Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin looked towards Old Madam Guo.
Mrs. Guo nodded.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "Mrs. Song, just let him follow us! I didn't dare to agree to your request before because I was afraid of disturbing the old lady."
Song Sen was determined to follow Zhou Shaojin again, and Mrs. Song had no choice but to nod and agree.
Old Madam Guo ordered the people from the clan to carry a Luohan bed and put it in her inner room, and also found some bedding to spread it out.
Mrs. Song and Song Sen's wet nurse took Song Sen to take a shower and change clothes.
Only Mrs. Guo and Zhou Shaojin were left in the room.
Zhou Shaojin lowered his head in shame and said, "Madam, it's all my fault..."
"Silly girl, what's wrong with you?" Old Madam Guo interrupted her with a smile, "If you say it's not good, it's obviously because Madam Song didn't teach her children well. What does it have to do with you? You don't need to feel uneasy!"
Zhou Shaojin raised his head and looked at Mrs. Guo carefully.
Mrs. Guo had a smile in her eyes and looked calm.
The old lady really didn't vent her anger on her!
Zhou Shaojin's eyes were slightly red.
In the past, when something happened, everyone would always blame her and think it was her fault...
"Okay, don't cry, don't cry!" Seeing this, Mrs. Guo took her shoulder with pity and whispered, "Good child, I'm old, and I'm most afraid of seeing others sad. I know you've been wronged by this matter, but Mrs. Song is a guest from afar, and I can't just reply to them. Please bear with it for my sake. Tomorrow our two families will go their separate ways..."
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly, but couldn't help but shed tears.
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Sisters, today's extra update.
It is said that tomorrow is Valentine's Day. I wonder what everyone has planned? I wonder if you will continue to write at home like me...
PS: The New Year is coming soon, and I have a lot of things to do at work and at home. If there are any typos, I will correct them later.
※(To be continued)