Thinking of these things, Zhou Shaojin felt a tightness in his chest and couldn't breathe, and it took him a long time to calm down.
After Mrs. Wu established a relationship with my grandmother, she often visited the fourth room of the Cheng family. At this time, if we just sent someone to inquire about my grandmother, we should be able to find out whether she and her sister had come out to meet the guests.
She asked Shi Xiang, "Did Ma Fushan's family come into the mansion today?"
Ma Fushan and his wife and their son Ma Sheng lived in the Zhou family's old house, but Ma Fushan's family would go to the house every day to see if the Zhou sisters had any instructions, and also to pass the message to Ma Fushan for him to do.
Shi Xiang smiled and said, "Auntie Ma went to the temple with the eldest lady and said she would be back at Shenzheng (four o'clock in the afternoon)."
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but frown when he heard that and leaned against the head of the bed unhappily.
Ma Fushan is a smart and clever girl. She has been in and out of the Cheng family for many years and has some friendship with people from all branches of the Cheng family. It is most appropriate to send her to inquire about the affairs of the grandmother's courtyard.
Unexpectedly, she followed her sister to the temple.
When her sister comes back, she will order Ma Fushan's family to run errands, especially to inquire about what's happening in her grandmother's yard. Her sister will definitely become suspicious and ask her the whole story.
Looks like we have to find another way!
Who should I ask
Zhou Shaojin was thinking.
Shi Xiang saw that she looked uncertain and worried secretly. She stepped forward cautiously and said softly, "Second Miss, what's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell somewhere? Do you want me to ask a doctor to come over and see you right away?"
"No need." Zhou Shaojin came back to his senses and his eyes fell on Shi Xiang.
Let Shi Xiang find out about Wu Baozhang
Zhou Shaojin shook his head slightly.
Matters concerning Wanxiangju have always been handled by Chixiang, the maidservant beside my sister. If Shi Xiang rashly ran to my grandmother's courtyard, she might alarm her grandmother, who might think something had happened to her and end up making things worse.
Send to the Spring Festival Gala
Probably even more inappropriate!
My sister always says that Chunwan is rash, not steady enough, and can't keep her words to herself. And now she is still receiving the monthly salary of a maid
Who should we send
Zhou Shaojin pondered in his mind.
Shi Xiang, however, looked horrified.
Although Wanxiangju looked the same as usual, something was wrong with the second young lady, and those who served the eldest and second young ladies could not hide it from them. Now that the eldest young lady was not at home, the second young lady must not get into trouble at this time!
She hurriedly called out "Second Miss" and said loudly: "The mixed tofu will not taste good if it gets cold. I will ask the maid to bring it to you." Then she turned around and opened the tall cabinet: "What are you wearing today? How about the white lace skirt that was made a few days ago? The weather is getting warmer, and wearing white looks refreshing..."
"Don't worry about it." Zhou Shaojin was a little absent-minded and said lazily, "I don't want to get up yet. You go down first. I want to be alone."
Shi Xiang didn't dare to ask any more questions, she retreated in fear and ran to Fan Liu's house...
Zhou Shaojin was in a restless mood.
This one doesn't work, and that one isn't suitable either. Do I have to go and find out the information myself
The thought flashed through his mind and Zhou Shaojin was shocked.
She had never done anything like this before.
If I get exposed, I will be embarrassed in front of my grandmother!
Then will she still be able to live as a human being in the future
Zhou Shaojin immediately denied the idea.
Then... who else can help her
She thought about it, but couldn't find a suitable candidate.
Zhou Shaojin was feeling upset when Shi Xiang walked in nervously and said, "Second Miss, Madam Mian is here."
The old man Cheng Quan of the fourth branch of the Cheng family was the only son and died of illness thirty years ago. He had three children. The eldest son Cheng Mian, the eldest daughter Cheng He, and the second son Cheng Yuan. Mrs. Mian was Cheng Mian's first wife He, and Cheng He was Zhou Chujin's biological mother.
Zhou Shaojin hurriedly ordered Shi Xiang to welcome Mrs. Mian to the west wing study to serve tea, and asked Chunwan to come in and help him wash and dress.
Who knew that she had just rinsed her mouth and washed her face when Shi Xiang came back and said, "The eldest lady said that the second young lady is ill. Don't get upset just because the elders are coming to visit her. She let me come in and tell you that you just need to lie on the bed. She will look at you and leave." As she spoke, there was movement outside the house.
Zhou Shaojin followed orders, but she didn't actually lie down on the bed—she stood in the room waiting.
Shi Xiang went to invite Mrs. Mian in.
Mrs. Miao had just celebrated her 40th birthday on the second day of the second lunar month this year. She was a plump woman with a face like a full moon. She wore a honey-colored jacket with four-petal patterns and had her hair done in a bun. She only inserted three gold hairpins inlaid with southern pearls in her hair, which was simple and generous yet gorgeous.
Zhou Shaojin stepped forward and saluted.
Mrs. Miao walked up to Zhou Shaojin and picked her up without waiting for her to bend her knees. She said, "Your grandmother is afraid that you will suffer. She has been worried about your condition but has not dared to come to see you. I saw that your grandmother was really worried, so I bit the bullet and came here in person. If you still don't listen to the elders' instructions, I won't dare to come again."
She pretended to be sick here, but it made the elders worried. Zhou Shaojin was embarrassed and murmured, "Thank you for your concern, grandma and aunt, I am much better now. Madam Zhou said that I will be fine after taking this medicine. My sister was afraid that I would pass the disease to grandma and you, so she kept me in the house and asked me to rest for a few more days before going out."
The Cheng family would consult Dr. Zhou from the "Zhou's Clinic" when they were sick. Dr. Zhou's wife's family ran a medicine store. After she married into the Zhou family, she learned the skills of taking pulses and diagnosing diseases from Dr. Zhou. When the women of the wealthy families in Jinling were sick, they would ask her to come to their homes to see them. As time went by, the name "Mrs. Zhou" became more famous than her husband, Dr. Zhou.
"That's good!" Mrs. Miao took Zhou Shaojin and sat her down on the embroidered cushion next to the red lacquered round table in the middle of the room. She looked at her carefully for a while. Seeing that she looked fine, she let out a long sigh, took the tea that Shi Xiang held and took a sip, and asked Zhou Shaojin if she was still taking the prescription from the past few days, whether she slept well, whether she ate well, and what she did at home when she couldn't go out... There were all kinds of things, trivial and specific.
Zhou Shaojin answered respectfully, but he hadn't slept well in the past few days, and after a while, he couldn't help looking a little tired.
When Mrs. Miao saw her, she gave her some advice like "focus on your recovery" and then left.
Zhou Shaojin saw Mrs. Mian off to the door.
A maid was waiting outside the door. When she saw Madam Miao coming out, she stepped forward to greet her and said with a smile, "The old lady asked me to come and tell you that there will be guests coming to our house in a few days. She asked you to come over as soon as you leave the Second Miss' place."
Zhou Shaojin suddenly felt like he was being scratched by a cat.
My grandmother was a widow and seldom received guests. Whenever she did, they were either relatives or distinguished guests.
Who is coming
Do you want to send someone to find out
When he thought of this, Zhou Shaojin became deflated again.
Who does she have available now
Unlike before, if she had anything to ask, even if her servant, Mother Zheng, couldn't do it, Lin Shisheng would help her accomplish it. It's not like now...
Zhou Shaojin was a little dazed as he thought about it.
Things haven't been figured out yet, but she is constantly affected by her memories. If this continues, she will not be able to tell what is real and what is just her imagination!
Zhou Shaojin was in low spirits. She rolled herself in the quilt, waking up and sleeping at times. Her sister's red and swollen eyes appeared in her mind, and then Cheng Lu's ferocious face appeared... She was in a daze and didn't know what time it was. When Shi Xiang pushed her awake, she realized that it was already late and the room had darkened.
"Second Miss," Shi Xiang, who had been waiting for her outside the door with Fan Liushi for a whole day, could not hide her excitement, "The eldest Miss is back."
Zhou Shaojin was stunned, and Shi Xiang had already quickly helped her comb her hair and change her clothes.
Zhou Chujin walked in with a beaming smile on his face, and it was obvious that the trip was worthwhile.
Both sisters look like Zhou Zhen, with delicate and beautiful facial features, fair and delicate skin, sparkling eyes, and slender figures. The difference is that Zhou Chujin's eyes and eyebrows reveal flexibility, while Zhou Shaojin is more docile. In addition, there is a seven-year age difference between them. Zhou Chujin has grown up, while Zhou Shaojin is still a little girl. Zhou Chujin is gentle and steady, while Zhou Shaojin is delicate and timid. People who have met the two sisters do not think they are similar.
Zhou Chujin's jet-black hair was tied up in a simple bun, with only a pair of lotus seed-sized pearl earrings hanging from her ears. The sleeves and hem of her snow-blue orchid-patterned jacket were wrinkled, and it was obvious that she had gotten out of the carriage and came to see her without even returning home.
"Shaojin, how are you?" She sat on the bed, holding her sister's hand, and said, "My father's birthday is coming soon, so I went to the temple and burned incense for my father and us." She couldn't hide her joy, and took out a golden sachet embroidered with Epiphyllum from her bosom, "and asked for a peace charm for us all." She handed the sachet to Zhou Shaojin, "This is yours. Keep it and hang it around your waist, it will bless you with peace and good fortune this year, without any disasters or troubles."
Was it specifically for her
My father’s birthday is in June, which is almost three months away!
Zhou Shaojin silently took the sachet and murmured thanks to his sister.
"You don't have to be so distant with your sister." Zhou Chujin touched her head with a smile and asked her, "What did you eat today? Is there anything you want to eat in particular? I'll ask the kitchen to make it for you tomorrow."
Shi Xiang's expression was slightly nervous.
The second young lady hadn't eaten for a whole day, but they really didn't dare to force her...
Only at this moment did Zhou Shaojin feel hungry.
She said, "I want to eat some crystal cakes."
Shi Xiang said hurriedly: "It's still steaming in the kitchen. I'll go get it right away."
"Let's make it again!" Zhou Chujin said with a slight displeasure, "Ask the kitchen to add another sweet-scented osmanthus duck and a squirrel fish."
These two dishes are Zhou Shaojin's favorites.
Shi Xiang knelt down and retreated.
Zhou Chujin also stood up and said with a smile, "I'll go change my clothes. I'll greet my grandmother and then have dinner with you."
Zhou Shaojin sent his sister out, washed and dressed, and sat at the table waiting for his sister to come back for dinner. But Zhou Chujin didn't come back from Old Lady Guan until the big red lanterns in the inner courtyard of the Cheng family were lit up one after another.
"Are you getting impatient?" Zhou Chujin smiled as Chixiang helped her wash her hands while she instructed her maid Dongwan to serve the meal.
Perhaps he had something on his mind, or perhaps he had been eating irregularly in the past few days, but Zhou Shaojin was full after eating two pieces of crystal cake and a few chopsticks of squirrel fish.
Zhou Chujin was very surprised, but did not force her. Instead, he winked at Chixiang.
Chixiang nodded slightly and immediately brought in a bowl of soup.
"I had someone stew this for you," Zhou Chujin said vaguely, "Drink it while it's hot! It's good for replenishing your qi and blood."
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Brothers and sisters, here is a new article. Please watch, collect, click and vote... Thank you everyone!
※(To be continued)