Hide it from mother-in-law!
I'm afraid there are few things in this family that can be hidden from my mother-in-law.
Yuan was racking her brains, and suddenly she heard that Old Lady Guo had called her over, and she couldn't help but feel a little uneasy, so she didn't care who had called her. When she learned that Old Lady Guo had decided to stay in the capital for a while and decide whether to return to Nanjing after Cheng Jiashan's wedding, she was overjoyed and had a hard time suppressing her emotions and not laughing on the spot.
By going to the capital, my mother-in-law could avoid the things happening in Jinling and she could also pretend that she was troubled by it and say that she went to the capital to avoid the pressure from the second house.
This is really like a sleepyhead meeting a pillow.
Naturally, Yuan had no objection. She not only helped Madam Guo pack her bags, but also took the initiative to ask Madam Guo to help her go to the capital to supervise Xinglin Hutong in preparing for Cheng Xu's wedding.
Madam Guo smiled faintly and said, "I heard that Silang's house at Chaoyang Gate has been renovated. I plan to live there. When Jiashan gets married, it will not embarrass the children."
Yuan had been shrewd all her life, but now she was confused. She said casually, "It depends on what you said," and then she said, "I have also heard about the house of Fourth Uncle at Chaoyang Gate. He bought the houses of several adults next door. It is one of the best in the whole capital. Even my sixth cousin has heard about it. Fourth Uncle has always been filial. It would be good for you to live there for a few days and make Fourth Uncle happy."
The sixth cousin she was referring to was Yuan Weichang, the chief minister of the cabinet.
Mrs. Guo smiled and said, "That's exactly the truth."
But as soon as she sent Yuan away, her expression turned cold, and she snorted at Nanny Shi: "Look, anything that didn't come out of my belly is different. I said I wanted to stay at Silang's place for a few days, and she pushed me there just because I said so, fearing that it would be unlucky for an old widow like me to be there when her daughter-in-law came home."
Naturally, Nanny Shi could only persuade her: "You are a little too much. Madam also wants to make you happy. She can't go back to the capital for a while, and Master Xu's wedding has already been set. The Second Wife is in poor health and can't help much. If you go, with your help, Madam will be more powerful, how can she not breathe a sigh of relief? Besides, the Fourth Master and you are apart for a long time, and you will live there, and the Fourth Master will definitely be very happy. What's more, the Fourth Master has not married yet. If you go, it will just urge the Fourth Master to get married quickly, and you can also hug a few more grandchildren quickly."
When it comes to holding a grandson, Mrs. Guo becomes happy and says with a smile, "Of course my daughter-in-law is not as good as my son. I raised my son by myself, but my daughter-in-law was raised by my mother-in-law. Even kittens and puppies know who feeds them and they will kiss whoever feeds them, let alone people? I didn't expect her to treat me well, but when I think of her making a fuss about dividing the clan for Jiashan and coaxing Silang to help them pay for it, I feel uncomfortable. I feel uncomfortable just looking at her." Then she sighed and said, "Maybe it's because she is not the daughter-in-law I chose. I don't say it, but I am actually dissatisfied in my heart, so I find fault with her everywhere and find fault with her. It's just that I am old and don't want to wrong myself. Just think that there is no fate between her and me."
Nanny Shi smiled along.
Old Madam Guo had a feeling that after going to the capital this time, she might have a hard time returning to Nanjing. She told Madam Shi, "The affairs of Hanbi Shanfang are now entrusted to you. If we split up with the Second Branch, most of the houses here will be given to the Second Branch. I will take the valuables to the capital this time, and the furniture, calligraphy and paintings, antiques, porcelain, tin dishes, etc. of Hanbi Shanfang will all be handed over to you and Daman."
Daman is Nanny Shi's son.
When Nanny Shi thought of the five rooms filled with things belonging to the old lady, she felt a great sense of responsibility and nodded solemnly.
Mrs. Guo arranged everything, then went to the Gu family, the Guo family and other well-connected families to say goodbye. She chose a good day for the trip, took the chief steward Qin with her, and sailed to the capital.
Cheng Chi was shocked when he received the letter and asked hurriedly, "Why did she suddenly want to come to the capital?"
He didn't believe a word of it when she said it was to attend Cheng Xu's wedding.
Qin Ziji smiled and said, "I don't know either. My great uncle brought a letter and told me to report back to you and prepare a place for the old lady to live as soon as possible."
Cheng Chi handed the matter over to Qin Ziji.
Li's eldest brother came over. There were no males in Yuqian Hutong, so he went over several times to keep company. Master Li was a very shrewd businessman with great insight. He spoke and acted in front of him with boldness but without losing caution, generosity but not servility. It was obvious that he was a person who could be dealt with. For Zhou Shaojin's sake, he hosted Liu Yong and prepared to introduce him to Liu Yong. He dared not say anything else, but at least he would have no problem becoming an imperial merchant.
He gave a few instructions and went to a private restaurant in Dongzhimen.
Zhou Shaojin felt like he was dreaming these days.
Cheng Chi wrote her a letter every day, sometimes he would tell her what he had eaten and drunk, sometimes he would write nothing but put a hand-painted bookmark or a half-opened flower in the letter... Every time this happened, her heart would beat fast, and she would solemnly store the letter and bookmark in a rosewood box. As for the half-opened flower, she made it into dried flowers and placed them all in a jewelry box, taking them out to look at them when she had nothing to do.
Chun Wan came in with a tea tray and saw Zhou Shaojin fiddling with the dried flowers again. She couldn't help but smile and said, "Second Miss, we have a bunch of lilies planted in our backyard. If you like them, I'll pick some for you later. Why do you have to make dried flowers?"
She didn't know that Nanny Shang had secretly sent a letter to Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin didn't explain. He smiled and locked the box, then placed it on the partition at the head of the bed together with the box containing the title deed.
Chun Wan said, "Madam asked me to tell you that the eldest uncle of the Li family will not be back for dinner tonight, and asked if you would like to go to Shuangyu Hutong with him to visit the eldest aunt."
The eldest uncle of the Li family came specially to celebrate the 100th day of Zhou Chujin's child. He also prepared many gifts for Guan Ge, including a set of writing brushes, inkstones, paper, and inkstone, a red gold plum blossom headpiece, a pair of mutton-fat jade bracelets, a red gold headband inlaid with hundreds of precious stones, a headband inlaid with hundreds of colored South pearls, and several pieces of precious materials such as woven gold and embroidery.
Fan Liushi calculated that these things were worth at least two hundred taels of silver.
Not only her, but all the servants in Yuqian Hutong were taken care of by him.
Mrs. Fan Liu said, "He is doing this for the sake of the Madam. If you put yourself in her shoes, the Second Miss should treat the Madam better."
Zhou Shaojin felt that what Fan Liu said made sense. She hadn't seen her sister for a few days. She dressed up and went to Yushu Hutong with Li.
As Guan Ge’s hundred-day celebration was approaching, Liao’s relatives came over one after another to give gifts.
When Zhou Shaojin and Li went there, they happened to meet Fang Xuan and her mother.
Fang's mother is a very kind woman. In comparison, Fang Xuan looks a little spoiled.
She just greeted Zhou Shaojin politely, and followed behind Fang's mother, listening to Fang's mother and Mrs. Liao reminiscing about the past. However, when Fang's mother saw Zhou Shaojin's appearance, she not only praised her beauty, but also praised her gentleness and quietness, and asked Fang Xuan to get closer to her.
Fang Xuan glanced at Zhou Shaojin with a half-smile and responded perfunctorily.
Even before Zhou Shaojin was reborn, she would never associate with relatives who looked down on her, let alone after she was reborn
She smiled and went to the inner room with Li to visit Zhou Chujin.
Seeing this, Fang's mother couldn't help but teach Fang Xuan a lesson: "We are all relatives by marriage, how can you be so unreasonable? Even if you don't like it, you should at least say a few words to each other when you are face to face, and then just don't have any contact with each other afterwards. How can you show your displeasure to others?"
Fang Xuan was angry that her mother was biased towards Zhou Shaojin, and couldn't help but whispered: "I just don't like her - Sister Jia also said that she grew up in Jiuru Lane and should be very familiar with Cousin Xu. But she was very cold when she saw Sister Jia, maybe she liked Cousin Xu in the past..."
Fang's mother immediately covered her mouth and said coldly, "If you dare to say another word, the first thing I will do when I get back is to tell your father and have him punish you with family rules!"
Fang Xuan had never seen a mother so strict with her, and nodded fearfully.
Fang's mother's expression lightened up slightly, and from then on she held her daughter's hand and never let go.
Zhou Shaojin and Li had dinner in Yushu Hutong before returning home.
But not long after returning, Li's uncle sent someone to tell Li that he wanted to see her.
Li asked the maids and old women to leave and invited her brother to the hall to talk.
Uncle Li drank too much and was drunk. He even breathed alcohol when he spoke, but his thoughts were clear: "Guess what the fourth master of the Cheng family asked me to do? He introduced me to Liu Yong! Do you know who Liu Yong is? He is the most powerful eunuch in the palace now! If we can follow his path, let alone bring business to the capital, even if we want to become imperial merchants, it will be a piece of cake... I was so happy today that I drank two more cups. The fourth master is really a good person. He doesn't talk much, but every word he says is to the point. If it weren't for him this time, I wouldn't have gotten the job. I have to invite the fourth master Chi out for a drink one day! Of course, is the fourth master of the Cheng family married? If he is not a Jinshi from the two lists, it would be nice to marry our eldest girl to him!"
Li waved her hands quickly and said, "Brother, please don't interfere in this matter. Unless you want our daughter to be your concubine, don't even mention a word about Mr. Chi's marriage!"
Uncle Li laughed and said, "Isn't this just a random thought? I can't really let our daughter become someone else's concubine."
Li breathed a sigh of relief and persuaded her brother to go back to the house to rest.
However, Li's uncle was so excited that he couldn't sleep. He talked to Li for a long time before returning to the guest room.
Li couldn't help but sigh: "I thought Mr. Chi Si was cold to others, but I didn't expect that he was cold on the outside but warm on the inside."
Nanny Li smiled and nodded continuously.
The next day, Li told Zhou Shaojin about Cheng Chi's matchmaking for Li's uncle.
Zhou Shaojin was very surprised.
In her impression, Uncle Chi was not such a passionate person.
However, perhaps because he was under pressure from his elders in Jinling, he didn't want to cause trouble even if he wanted to.
"Let's go thank Uncle Chi tomorrow, shall we?" Zhou Shaojin said, his face slightly reddened, "and let Uncle know that we remember his kindness?"
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Dear, extra update for Dragon Boat Festival!
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: The update is still around five o'clock in the evening.
※(To be continued)