Liao Shaotang stayed in the Baoding government office for only one night and set off for Tianjin early the next morning.
He will take the water route back to Zhenjiang to celebrate the New Year.
Zhou Shaojin brought the steaming hot rock sugar red bean soup to the study and asked Zhou Zhen: "What did your brother-in-law talk to you about?"
Looking at his daughter, who was wearing a pink silk jacket and was as graceful as a lotus, Zhou Zhen's smile overflowed from his heart.
He teased Zhou Shaojin: "Your brother-in-law told me a lot of things, what do you want to know?"
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "I want to know if my brother-in-law will take my sister to the capital? That way I can visit my sister more often."
Zhou Zhen smiled and said, "Your brother-in-law came here so urgently. In addition to telling me about the Cheng family, he also wanted to discuss your sister's affairs with me. The Liao family has had a lot of troubles in recent years. It is not only because of the selfishness of the clan members, but also because the clan leader Liao Da Laoye cannot convince the public. Madam Liao and your sister are just women in the inner house. There are some things that they are powerless even if they are willing, and sometimes they are implicated by Master Liao. Your brother-in-law wants to take them to Beijing after your sister has a baby, but he is afraid that the child is too young for your sister to take care of. He wants to discuss whether to invite Madam Liao to Beijing after returning, so that she can take care of your sister and shut up the mouths of those people in the Liao family. I asked him to go back and discuss with Chu Jin. If Chu Jin feels that it is more difficult for him to take care of the child alone, then he can invite Madam Liao and your sister to Beijing to take care of the child; if your sister feels that she is capable, Madam Liao is a clan woman after all. If she leaves the family for too long, it will be unfilial in the eyes of the elders in the clan. He has to balance this matter well."
Zhou Shaojin chuckled and said, "Daddy, you are so cunning!"
My sister is so capable and has a group of servants to serve her, how could she not be able to take care of a child
What Dad said clearly showed that he did not approve of Madam Liao and my sister going to Beijing together.
Zhou Zhen smiled and scratched her nose, saying "smart", then sighed: "The main thing is that the Liao family is too chaotic now. If Mrs. Liao doesn't help your sister, your sister will have a hard time. In a few years, when Mrs. Liao is old and your brother-in-law can handle things on his own, it won't be too late to take Mrs. Liao over. But it's a bit early now."
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly.
A wife values her husband.
After the arrival of Mrs. Liao, Mr. Liao would come to Beijing to stay from time to time, and then the Liao family's aunts and uncles would come to Beijing to visit Mr. Liao and Mrs. Liao, and the Liao family's affairs would still trouble my brother-in-law and sister. Now my brother-in-law has not passed the imperial examination, and his words have no weight at home. My brother-in-law can't help solve those things, and it will only make people upset.
Zhou Shaojin had experienced this in his previous life.
Once, my sister was at her wit's end and hid in her farm pretending to be sick.
In this life, Zhou Shaojin hopes that his sister can give birth to a few healthy children first, recover her health, and then fight against those people in the Liao family.
The father and daughter talked in the study for a long time until Tan Dianshi of Zhaomosi came to ask to see Zhou Zhen, and Zhou Shaojin returned to the inner courtyard.
But as soon as she stepped into the yard, she saw Li escorting Mrs. Huang out of the hall.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin, Mrs. Huang came up to her warmly and said, "Where has the second young lady gone? Tomorrow, Mr. Wang will invite everyone to enjoy the flowers. The second young lady should go with them. It's really a waste of talent to keep such a beautiful person at home and not let anyone see her."
Zhou Shaojin frowned secretly.
She doesn't like people talking about her appearance.
But she still smiled and greeted Mrs. Huang before returning to her room.
After a while, Li came over and said, "Don't you want to go?"
"I don't want to go." Zhou Shaojin said, "I like to stay at home and don't like to go out."
Li saw a pair of cute tumblers on the windowsill, a few camellias slanted in the teapot on the coffee table, and a half-embroidered pocket for Zhou Youjin sticking out of the needlework basket on the kang. She vaguely understood Zhou Shaojin's personality and smiled with relief, "I know. Then I will go and refuse Mr. Wang's family."
"That's not necessary." Zhou Shaojin said with a smile, "I won't go, you go. There will be many more such things in the future, you can't always accommodate me, I won't feel at ease even if I stay at home."
Li said vaguely: "Wait until I discuss it with the master!"
However, Zhou Shaojin was determined not to go.
She doesn't want to meet anyone and thinks her life is good like this now.
However, Zhou Zhen thought that she should get to know more people and advised her to attend the flower-viewing party at Mr. Wang's house.
Zhou Shaojin was a little unhappy and said, "I'm taking care of Youjin at home."
Zhou Zhen immediately changed his tone and said, "If you don't want to go, then don't go."
Zhou Shaojin then smiled.
Zhou Zhen smiled and shook his head.
Zhou Shaojin was thinking of an old friend and said, "Dad, do you know the Fan family in Baoding? The eldest daughter of the Duke of Liang's family married into the Fan family in Baoding. I want to go see her. Can you help me ask her?"
Zhou Zhen agreed.
Who knew that Zhou Youjin would develop a fever that night, his little face turned red and he kept crying.
Zhou Shaojin was terribly frightened.
In her previous life, her younger sister died young.
She knelt in reverence before the shrine and prayed for Zhou Youjin.
Two days later, Zhou Youjin recovered.
Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief and decided to go to the Great Compassion Pavilion to burn incense.
Zhou Zhen knew that she had prayed for Zhou Youjin, and thought that she might have made a vow in front of the Bodhisattva when Zhou Youjin was sick, and she wanted to fulfill it. He did not stop her, but sent a guard to escort her to the Great Compassion Pavilion.
Li was very moved. With red eyes, she held Zhou Shaojin's hand and didn't say a word for a long time.
Zhou Shaojin was not good at comforting others, so he just smiled and went back to his room.
But on that day, it snowed heavily.
The snowflakes were like cotton wool, falling in large flakes. In just a stick of incense, the roof was covered in white.
Li hesitated and said, "It's snowing so hard, Miss Second should go to burn incense another day!"
"It's okay." Zhou Shaojin smiled, "The more windy and snowy the day is, the more we should go - the Bodhisattva will know our sincerity then."
Li couldn't stop her.
When Zhou Zhen, who was in the court, learned about this, he only said "Be careful on the road" and then sent two more guards.
The group braved the snow and arrived at Dabei Pavilion.
Perhaps because of the strong wind and snow, there were not many people in the temple.
Zhou Shaojin knelt devoutly before the Bodhisattva, lit three incense sticks, and donated ten taels of silver as incense money.
The monk in charge of reception led her to the merit book.
Four or five men were coming towards us.
She lowered her head and moved aside.
Those people passed by her while talking.
She heard someone say, "After chasing him here, he disappeared."
Then a familiar voice said, "Doesn't he often stay in Li Er's shop? Send someone to keep an eye on him..."
The person who spoke had a fierce tone, and Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but look up and glance at him.
She was suddenly struck by lightning and lowered her head in panic. She did not leave her name in the book of merit until the group of people had gone far away, and then she hurried back to the carriage.
"Madame Shang," she pulled Madame Shang to sit in the carriage and whispered, "I met that guy named Xiao Zhenhai. He said he lost someone and asked someone to keep an eye on a store called Li Er..."
Although Nanny Shang tried her best to hide it, her expression still changed. She said, "Second Miss, how about we go back first?"
Zhou Shaojin hurriedly ordered the driver to hurry back, and then said to Shang Ma: "If you have something to do, go first. I have guards here to protect you. When you go to father, I will tell him that I asked the master in the temple to perform a ritual and left you there." After that, she reminded him, "You can't lie in front of the Buddha. When you finish your business, remember to go to the temple to perform a ritual." Then she took out two ten-liang silver notes and handed them to Shang Ma, "One for you, and one for the temple to perform a ritual."
Nanny Shang looked at her anxious face, feeling mixed emotions. She was silent for a moment, took the banknote from her hand, and whispered, "The Fourth Master ordered me not to leave the Second Young Miss at any time. It won't be too late to leave after I send the Second Young Miss back to the mansion."
Zhou Shaojin felt scared when she thought of the look Xiao Zhenhai gave her that time, but she still said, "Things have their priorities, Mammy, just go do your thing. I have guards here to protect me, and I'm under Daddy's rule, so nothing will happen."
But Nanny Shang still sent her to the gate of the yamen before leaving.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
The maid on duty came up to them immediately upon hearing the noise, and said courteously, "Second Miss, someone has come from Jinling Jiuru Lane. They say it's the Fourth Master. He looks very young to me, how can he be a master? But the Master was very polite to the Fourth Master..."
Fourth Master
Could it be Cheng Chi
Zhou Shaojin's heart was pounding, and she couldn't help showing her surprise. She picked up her skirt and ran towards Zhou Zhen's study.
Chunwan was stunned and chased after him.
The maid on duty shouted, "Second Miss, please be careful where you step. We have swept the snow, and the corridor is paved with bluestone bricks. The cold wind makes it very slippery..."
How could Zhou Shaojin listen carefully to what the old woman shouted? He ran hurriedly to the door of Zhou Zhen's study and reached out to lift the cotton curtain, but his foot slipped and he slipped forward.
She cried out "Ouch" and was about to fall down.
The cotton curtain was lifted, and she fell into the arms of a man wearing a green Hangzhou silk robe with auspicious cloud patterns.
There was a faint fragrance lingering around Zhou Shaojin's nose, as if it was there and not there.
"Uncle Chi!" She jumped up happily.
Those gentle eyes and warm smile.
If not Uncle Chi, then who else
Before Zhou Shaojin could say anything, his feet slipped again.
She hurriedly grabbed Cheng Chi's collar.
Cheng Chi smiled and grabbed her arm.
Zhou Zhen appeared behind Cheng Chi while talking: "... Since you are here, how can you stay in the inn! The guest room on the east side is still empty..."
From his angle, he just happened to see Zhou Shaojin snuggling in Cheng Chi's arms.
Zhou Zhen's words came to an abrupt end.
His eyes widened and he was speechless.
Cheng Chi was calm and said with a smile: "Stand firm, don't let me let go, or you will fall again!"
"No, I won't!" Zhou Shaojin blushed and stammered.
Cheng Chi slowly let go of Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin stood aside cautiously.
Zhou Zhen reacted and asked hurriedly: "How is it? Did you fall anywhere?"
"No!" Zhou Shaojin's face was burning, and he was busy proving Cheng Chi's innocence, "If Uncle Chi hadn't pulled me back just now, I would have fallen to the ground."
Zhou Zhen breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Cheng Chi with a smile.
※
Dear sisters and brothers who are reading this book, here is today’s extra update.
The update is still around 12 o'clock in the evening.
PS: I will correct the typos later...
O(∩_∩)O~
※(To be continued)