Eight-treasure tofu, braised lion's head, bamboo shoots in wine, shrimps with Longjing tea, sweet and sour spare ribs, fish balls in clear soup... The table was full of dishes, all light and most of them were Zhou Shaojin's favorites, especially the braised lion's head, each one was only the size of a small wine glass, which was exactly what she asked the kitchen of Wanxiangju to make for her.
Was this done especially for her
“Madam…” Zhou Shaojin held the chopsticks, not knowing what to say.
Madam Guo motioned to Zhenzhu, who was serving dishes, to pick up a braised lion's head and put it in Zhou Shaojin's bowl. She smiled and said, "You will still be living in Hanbi Villa for a few more years. You have to tell me what you like and what you don't like. Otherwise, you will be the only one who will be wronged. Do you understand?"
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly.
Madam Guo smiled and pointed at her bowl, saying softly, "Eat quickly! I asked the kitchen to make crystal cakes. After today, you can write a list of what you want to eat and go to the kitchen. I'm going to go to Fucui Pavilion with you later! I wonder how they are cleaning up?"
"The house is very clean." Zhou Shaojin said with a smile, "They put out all the things for the Spring Festival Gala in the afternoon. I'll be there to help you digest the food later."
Mrs. Guo smiled with satisfaction.
She raised three granddaughters by herself. Cheng Zheng was steady and she didn't have to worry about anything; Cheng Xiao was reserved and kept everything to herself; Cheng Sheng was lively, but too lively, sometimes giving her a headache. Zhou Shaojin was just right between the three.
Don’t talk while eating and don’t talk while sleeping.
After dinner, Zhou Shaojin helped Mrs. Guo to go to Fucui Pavilion.
There were black lacquered furniture, floor-standing covers covered with oily green Hangzhou silk curtains, sweet white porcelain vases, and pastel-colored teacups. On the large desk by the window there was a Ru kiln plum vase containing magnolia flowers.
Mrs. Guo was a little surprised.
Sweet white porcelain and pastel colors have only become popular in the past two years. The older generation thinks they have no substance, are too simple or too fancy, but the younger generation likes their light and bright colors.
Although she asked Madam Lu to treat Zhou Shaojin well, she did not say how to treat him. Judging from Madam Lu's opinion, she would most likely open the storehouse and take out the more valuable jade bonsai and cloisonné porcelain in the house to entertain the guest.
This kind of steady yet bright furnishings could never have been the work of Aunt Lu.
But she didn't dare to ask more questions in front of Zhou Shaojin.
After sitting in the banquet room of Fucui Pavilion for a while, Mrs. Guo stood up and said goodbye.
Zhou Shaojin accompanied Mrs. Guo all the way to the door before turning back.
Mrs. Guo returned to the upper room in silence.
Madam Lu, who was serving Madam Guo, saw that Madam Guo was fine just now, but she became a little depressed after taking a look at Zhou Shaojin's residence. She couldn't help feeling very uneasy. Seeing Zhenzhu helping Madam Guo sit down on the Luohan bed, she hurriedly took the tea from the little maid and handed it to Madam Guo personally.
Mrs. Guo drank tea, sent Zhenzhu and others away, and asked her, "Did you personally arrange the second cousin's residence?"
It turned out to be because of this matter.
Aunt Lu breathed a sigh of relief.
She also felt it was a bit shabby at first, but Qin Ziping said that this was the Fourth Master's idea, so she just let them do what they wanted.
"No." Madam Lu smiled, "It was the idea of Mr. Qin, the general manager beside the Fourth Master."
Old Madam Guo frowned, sent Madam Lu away, and sat there in a daze for a while. Then she called Zhenzhu in to help her rest.
Zhou Shaojin rolled over on the bed happily.
She likes this bed too.
It is a small painted bed with many small drawers at the head of the bed, which can hold a lot of things.
There were also mattresses, with many layers, which were soft to lie on, just like lying on clouds. Unlike the hard beds in Wanxiangju, which were said to be good for the body, she just liked soft beds. In her previous life, after she moved to the farm in Daxing, she had four cotton mattresses made at once and spread them all on the kang.
Chun Wan covered her mouth and laughed, saying, "Second Miss, are you going to move the flowers you left in Wanxiangju here?"
Zhou Shaojin began to feel a little worried.
She originally thought that flowers were very delicate things, and if she could stay in Jiashu Hall after her sister got married, she would not have to bother with those flowers. If she wanted to follow Li to Baoding, it would be perfectly legitimate for her to move the flowers left in Jiuru Lane.
Now, she has moved into Hanbi Mountain House, but some of her things have been left in Wanxiangju. Just now, her grandmother asked her to go back to Wanxiang to live for a few days in the future, but before she finished speaking, she went to Wanxiangju to move her things... It makes people feel cold and indifferent.
If I had known this would happen, I should have moved those pots of flowers back to Pingqiao Street.
It's too late to say this now.
"We can only wait for an opportunity and move slowly later." Zhou Shaojin said helplessly.
Chunwan responded with a smile and helped Zhou Shaojin take off the hairpins.
Zhou Shaojin slept dreamlessly until dawn.
There has been some movement from Mrs. Guo's side.
She got up and dressed quickly.
Chun Wan smiled and said, "Don't worry, Second Miss! When you were still asleep, Miss Zhenzhu came here on the orders of the old lady to pass on a message, saying that you don't have to visit her every morning and evening. Just accompany her to the Buddhist temple at 10 a.m. every day to recite two volumes of sutras."
"How can that be possible!" Zhou Shaojin still urged Chunwan to help her wash and dress.
Chun Wan smiled and said, "I have also asked Miss Biyu and Miss Zhenzhu, and they said that it was like this when Miss Sheng was here. They also said that the old lady would occasionally wake up in the morning and lie in bed thinking for a long time in recent years. I guess she doesn't want to be disturbed. I think the second young lady should follow the old lady's wishes and accompany her to recite two volumes of scriptures every day."
As she had just arrived, she didn't know whether what Mrs. Guo said was true or not, but since Biyu and Zhenzhu said so, she'd better be obedient.
Zhou Shaojin relaxed completely.
Chun Wan handed her a red menu with gold sprinkled on it: "Second Miss, look! This was sent over from the kitchen early this morning. It says it's prepared according to the usual practice. We just need to tick off the menu for what we want to eat. If there's anything we particularly want that's not on the menu, I'll ask you to send someone to tell the kitchen, and they'll change the menu."
Zhou Shaojin opened it and saw that her favorite assorted tofu and crystal cake were on the list.
She couldn't help but take a look at the list.
There is not even a wrinkle, it is obviously new.
This shouldn't be arranged by Mrs. Guo, right
Of course Mrs. Guo would treat her well, but she is too old to be so careful.
Could it be Aunt Lu
But those sweet white porcelain and pastels should all be newly bought, so she shouldn't have such great power.
Could it be... Uncle Chi!
Impossible!
Uncle Chi was not at home at all, and he didn't even know she had moved in. And the reason why Mrs. Guan agreed to let her move in so readily was because of the Cheng Yi incident that suddenly happened... I don't know what Cheng Yi said to Ji Ying at that time? He actually made Ji Ying so angry. Fortunately, the person who was beaten was Cheng Yi. If it was someone from the second, third or fifth room, even if Ji Ying was Uncle Chi's maid, even if Ji Ying was not wrong, I'm afraid she would not let it go.
She will have to remind Jiying when he comes back.
Zhou Shaojin was thinking about it in his mind, and after breakfast, he went to see Mrs. Guo.
Old Madam Guo was leaning on the bed, reading a book while wearing glasses.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "Can I help you read it?"
In her previous life, she often saw Aunt Mu helping Lin Shisheng's mother with her studies. Lin's mother, who originally did not agree with Lin Shisheng taking Aunt Mu as a concubine, was conquered by Aunt Mu little by little.
Mr. Guo laughed and handed the book to Zhou Shaojin.
When Zhou Shaojin took a look, he found it was actually a travelogue. He became interested and sat next to Mrs. Guo and began to read it vividly.
Her voice is sweet and gentle, very nice to hear.
The morning glow fell on her body, as if she had been coated with a layer of gold powder, and her peaceful expression made her look even more gentle than usual.
What a beauty!
I don’t know who is lucky enough to marry her!
Mrs. Guo secretly praised in her heart.
Aunt Lu walked in quietly.
Zhou Shaojin quickly stopped the topic, put down the book, stood up, and said to Madam Guo, "I'll go make you another pot of tea."
"No need. The tea is still hot." Mrs. Guo said, and then asked Madam Lu, "What do you want?"
This means there is no need to avoid Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin was very touched.
Mrs. Guo did not treat her as an outsider.
Nanny Lu was startled and said, "The Duke of Liang's mansion has sent a wedding invitation."
The wedding date of Liangguo Duke's son Zhu Pengju and Liu family's eldest daughter is scheduled for May 15th.
Madam Guo thought for a moment and said, "Then you can help me prepare two gifts, one to be sent to the Duke of Liang's mansion, and one to the Liu family. Twenty taels of silver will be enough for each family."
So little!
When Shi Xiang got married, Old Madam Guo gave her twenty taels of silver to buy a box for her.
Zhou Shaojin was surprised.
Madam Guo said, "Both the Duke of Liang's Mansion and the Liu family have dealings with the Cheng family. Your Uncle Chi also has a good relationship with the Duke of Liang's Mansion's Young Master. The Duke of Liang's Young Master is remarrying, so your Uncle Chi will definitely send a big gift. I am just an embellishment. But your Uncle Chi has no relationship with the Liu family. In addition, the Liu family is marrying off their daughter, and your Uncle Chi is not married yet, so he has no family. So there is no need for him to send a box to the eldest daughter of the Liu family. I will just come forward to make things happen."
Zhou Shaojin received instruction.
Mrs. Guo laughed, stood up and prepared to go to the Buddhist temple to chant.
Zhou Shaojin helped Mrs. Guo change her clothes.
There was a sudden noise outside.
Zhou Shaojin was very curious.
Madam Guo's face darkened and she asked, "What's going on?"
Pearl had already lifted the curtain and walked out before Madam Guo could say anything. When Madam Guo finished speaking, she hurried back and said with a pale face, "Madam, it's Madam Wen from the fifth room. I don't know why, but she came in crying and making a fuss, supported by the maid beside her."
Mrs. Guo's face looked even uglier.
Pearl hesitated and said, "Old Madam, do you want to go to the Buddhist temple first? It's time to chant the sutras."
This is to let Mrs. Guo avoid it.
But before Madam Guo could answer, Madam Wen rushed in, knelt in front of Madam Guo, hugged Madam Guo's legs and started crying: "Aunt, you have to make a decision for me! Your nephew Wen wants to kill me!"
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Sisters and brothers, please update the content about the spirit beast egg in Jinlingchun Bar.
There are typos and they will have to be corrected later, so please bear with it for now.
⊙﹏⊙b sweat…
PS: Regarding Cheng Sheng’s wedding date, I typed it wrong, and I have corrected it. Thank you, my book friend Su Yan. Please correct me if there are any mistakes.
※(To be continued)