Cheng Chi was unable to move for a moment.
Zhou Shaojin had never been able to read any emotion from Cheng Chi's expression. Her feelings all came from her intuition. Seeing that Cheng Chi looked at her without saying anything and didn't look like he was in a bad mood, she simply said, "Uncle Chi, then let's make a deal. You will live in my house until Xiao Xiao Zhenhai's matter is resolved."
Cheng Chi nodded.
Zhou Shaojin ran away with a smile. Even when she returned to her room, drank two cups of tea, and sat quietly for a stick of incense, her heart was still pounding.
Uncle Chi is dressed so formally today!
Also wearing a jade belt.
The small seal hanging down was made of chicken blood stone, in the shape of a pagoda, with the eight auspicious treasures carved into it. It was obviously very expensive and very beautiful.
Uncle Chi rarely dresses so gorgeously.
I don't know if he will stay.
Zhou Shaojin tossed and turned in bed for a while before he remembered that Nanny Shang had gone somewhere to find Uncle Chi.
However, she would naturally come back if she couldn't find Uncle Chi.
Zhou Shaojin told Ruyi to wait for Nanny Shang at the door, and as soon as he saw her, he told her to come and see him.
Ruyi responded and left obediently.
Madam Li came over with a menu and said respectfully, "Madam said that the banquet tonight would like Second Miss to take a look. I'm afraid there are some dishes that violate Master Cheng Si's taboos."
Zhou Shaojin looked at it carefully, replaced two dishes that she thought were not so tasty, and handed them to Nanny Li.
Nanny Li laughed and said, "Master Cheng Si is the brother of Elder Cheng? How come he is so young?"
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "He is the youngest son of the eldest son. Uncle Chi was born to Madam Guo when she was over 40 years old."
"Oh my!" Madam Li said enviously, "Mrs. Guo is so blessed."
Zhou Shaojin smiled approvingly.
Nanny Li packed up the menus and muttered, "Master Cheng Si is really handsome," before leaving the room.
Zhou Shaojin thought of Cheng Chi's clear eyes and couldn't help but snickering while holding the big pillow.
Of course Zhou Shaojin had nothing to do during the dinner.
Zhou Zhen and Cheng Chi drank some wine, talked about gossip in the court and events in history books, and then went back to their rooms.
Li has been waiting for Zhou Zhen.
While helping Zhou Zhen change his clothes, he asked, "Is Mr. Chi from the Cheng family easy to get along with?"
It is impossible to see Cheng Jing all the time, but if I have close contact with Cheng Jing's younger brother, some things can be told to Cheng Jing through him, which may be more effective.
Zhou Zhen was kind to Cheng Chi at the beginning, and he also had this consideration. It can be seen that Cheng Chi was cold, and he just regarded the other party as an ordinary in-law.
"He is well-educated." Zhou Zhen thought about what he had just said to Cheng Chi, "He is a nice person. But he is a little aloof and cold. However, he is a successful Jinshi at a young age, which is not uncommon. It's just a pity to let him manage the general affairs. The eldest branch of the family has few descendants, not even a capable nephew or nephew. Even if he wants to become an official, there is no one to take care of the general affairs in his hands." At this point, he laughed, "Other families think that there are not enough children who study hard and have a promising future. I think the eldest branch of Jiuru Lane thinks that there are too few children who don't study, and they can't even find someone to manage the general affairs."
Lee smiled meekly.
Zhou Zhen said thoughtfully: "However, I think the eldest branch will only have these 20 to 30 years of luck - the three families have only produced one Cheng Jiashan, and it all depends on whether Cheng Jiashan can support the family. The second branch already has two grandsons..."
Li didn't care about these things. She asked, "Why hasn't the fourth master married yet? Others of his age have children who have already started school. Do you think he has any hidden illness?"
Zhou Zhen frowned and said, "Don't say such things in the future. Each family has different situations. Old Madam Guo doesn't care, so we outsiders have no right to speak."
Li said unhappily, "Didn't I tell you this in private?"
Zhou Zhen was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Then let's just talk about it in private."
Li responded with a smile on her face.
※
Nanny Shang did not return until the second watch. When she learned that Cheng Chi was resting in the yamen, she was so shocked that she could not close her mouth for a long time. The next day, before dawn, she went to the courtyard of the guest room to wait.
Cheng Chi let him stand outside for nearly an hour. When he finished his breakfast and was about to go say hello to Zhou Zhen, he let Nanny Shang in.
Nanny Shang knew that she had done something wrong, so she knelt down in front of Cheng Chi without saying a word, and whispered, "The second young lady got the news, and if I don't go, the second young lady won't agree." As she spoke, she stretched out her hand, with two ten-liang silver notes spread out on her palm, "This is a big gift from the second young lady, saying that she was afraid that I would need the silver..."
In the morning light, the wrinkles on the two silver bills were clearly visible.
Cheng Chi's heart suddenly felt like it was hit by something. It felt numb and tingling, and he felt a little breathless.
He covered his chest and took a deep breath.
My heart began beating steadily again.
Cheng Chi said calmly, "You know about the Xiao family. Can Xiao Zhenhai do anything to me? I asked you to follow the Second Miss because I was afraid they would find out something that would harm her. You are putting the cart before the horse. For the sake of the Second Miss, I will let it go this time. If it happens again, I will have to find someone else to serve her."
"I've got that!" Nanny Shang lowered her head deeply.
"Go!" Cheng Chi said coldly, "Remember not to act on your own next time."
“Yes!” Nanny Shang retreated, her vest wet as if she had escaped death.
Huaishan was relieved when he saw her look, and whispered to comfort her: "It's okay. Just stay with the second cousin."
Nanny Shang returned to the side room.
Zhou Shaojin was waiting for her over there.
She asked impatiently, "Uncle Chi didn't scold you, did he?"
"Scolded!" Nanny Shang said aggrievedly, "He said I didn't follow his instructions and left you without permission. If anything happens to you, someone else will serve you."
Zhou Shaojin felt very guilty after hearing this and said, "Then I'll go talk to Uncle Chi."
"You'd better not tell the Fourth Master." Nanny Shang stopped her. "If the Fourth Master misunderstands that I'm complaining in front of you, he will dislike me even more. Just let me follow you. The Fourth Master knows how to act, so nothing will happen."
Zhou Shaojin nodded, but disagreed with what Nanny Shang said.
Even tigers take naps sometimes. What if, she meant what if, Uncle Chi was tricked by someone
She asked Fan Qi to keep an eye on Cheng Chi: "If the Fourth Master goes out, see if the Fourth Master comes back every day? What time did he leave? When did he come back?"
Fan Qi smiled and said "yes", then ran away.
Zhou Shaojin suddenly felt very proud and satisfied.
In the past in Jiuru Lane, she had to be cautious about everything she did, but now in Baoding Prefecture, if she wanted to keep an eye on Uncle Chi, she could do it with just one sentence.
Let’s see if Uncle Chi can still hide everything from her.
With a smile on her face, she hummed an unknown tune while doing her unfinished needlework.
Cheng Chi soon discovered something unusual.
Fan Qi simply stared at Cheng Chi blatantly.
Cheng Chi didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
This little girl, even though she was given the chance, she climbed on top of him without even breathing a breath.
But his heart has its own ideas, so soft that water could drip out of it, and it is impossible to get angry at him.
Cheng Chi ordered Huaishan: "The matter of Xiao Zhenhai must be resolved quickly. If it doesn't work, replace Xu Mu, the leader of the Jinsha Gang."
Huaishan slowed down his pace and said, "Fourth Master, would you like to reconsider this? Xiao Zhenhai is known as 'Mengchang Jun' in northern Wuhan and is very prestigious among the outlaws. If he comes forward to help us, it can not only confuse the court's attention, but also free us up to do other things. If we replace him with Xu Mu from the Jinsha Gang, he is too young and may not obey. If we want to use him, we have to spend a lot of effort..."
Xiao Zhenhai has the Xiao family in their hands, so he will be cautious in his actions.
Xu Mu is an orphan. If he has enough food, the whole family will not have to worry. He has fewer constraints and is difficult to control.
Cheng Chi knew it very well.
But he didn't want Zhou Shaojin to continue following him like this.
He said, "I originally wanted to dawdle with Xiao Zhenhai for a few more days, but now it seems that it is no longer possible. You go and talk to him in person. If he obeys and surrenders, then proceed as planned. If he still relies on his seniority and thinks that I dare not touch him, then change someone."
Seeing that Cheng Chi had made up his mind, Huaishan did not dare to persuade him anymore. He agreed respectfully and left the guest room.
Fan Qi went to report to Zhou Shaojin: "The fourth master did not go out today. He got up early in the morning, practiced calligraphy after breakfast, and then went to visit the master. I heard that the master invited the fourth master to have lunch, and asked the kitchen to make lamb rib hot pot at noon! But Uncle Huaishan and Manager Qin who were beside the fourth master went out early in the morning, and no one knew what they were doing!"
The Cheng family has a lot of Qin managers.
The chief steward of Qin is Qin Shouyue, the steward of Qin is Qin Shouyue's son Qin Xiao, the steward of Great Qin is Qin Zian, the chief steward of Small Qin is Qin Ziping, and there are many other stewards of Qin, Zhou Shaojin is not familiar with them and did not remember them all.
Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Youjin were lying on the kang, holding a sandbag and playing with each other. When he heard this, his eyes rolled and Zhou Youjin threw the sandbag at his face.
Everyone was stunned.
Zhou Youjin's wet nurse's legs went weak and she was about to kneel down.
Zhou Shaojin, however, laughed and picked up the sandbag and threw it at Zhou Youjin's feet, making Zhou Youjin giggle.
The servants in the room breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhou Shaojin handed Zhou Youjin over to the wet nurse and called Shang Mama in to ask her: "…Sent Huaishan and Qin Ziping out, what do you think Uncle Chi is going to do?"
Knowing something is one thing, and saying it out loud is another.
Nanny Shang smiled and said, "I don't know about that. In the past, I was just responsible for the food and tea in front of the Fourth Master."
Zhou Shaojin didn't believe it.
But whenever she thought that Uncle Chi would not go out and would not meet Zhou Zhenhai, she felt relieved again.
So when she heard that Zhou Zhen and Cheng Chi were going out to visit a friend, she was quite happy and asked who they were going to meet.
Fan Qi smiled and said, "He said he was going to visit Mr. Zhang, the former vice minister of the Ministry of Justice, who has retired and is at home."
Zhou Shaojin nodded with a smile.
My father is an official appointed by the imperial court. With my father following him, Xiao Zhenhai would not dare to do anything even if he discovered Uncle Chi.
In the next few days, Cheng Chi followed Zhou Zhen to visit friends.
Sometimes it was Lord Qian's family, sometimes it was Lord Miao's family; after visiting someone's house, he had to invite them back. After hearing this many times, even Zhou Shaojin, who never went out, knew which official families there were in Baoding Prefecture.
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Sisters and brothers, today’s extra update.
O(∩_∩)O~
※(To be continued)