Zhou Shaojin didn't expect his sister to be so anxious about this matter. She came over early the next morning with Guan Ge in her arms. When she saw Zhou Shaojin, she said angrily, "You are too ignorant. You knew that Madam Guo had come to the capital, but you were still so slow and didn't even tell us. Logically, we should go to Xizhimen to pick her up."
Although Zhou Chujin didn't like Cheng Xu, when Jiying beat someone up, Madam Guo didn't say a word, which allowed Zhou Chujin to leave Jiuru Lane and Jinling smoothly. Only after Zhou Chujin became a mother did she deeply understand this.
For this kindness, she will be grateful to Mrs. Guo for the rest of her life.
Zhou Shaojin was not ready to meet Madam Guo yet. Hearing this, he couldn't help but smile awkwardly and said, "I sent someone to tell you as soon as I knew about it. The old lady came quietly and it is said that she didn't tell cousins Xiao and Sheng at the time. There is a layer between us, right?"
"Don't relatives need to visit each other?" Zhou Chujin disagreed, saying, "Even if they are close relatives, if they don't visit each other for a long time, sometimes they will become distant. Besides, Madam Guo is so old, it's not easy for her to come to the capital, and Madam Yuan is making a fuss about dividing the family in Nanjing. The old lady must be feeling bad. Let's all go visit her and make her happy."
Who knows whether the old lady would be happy or unhappy when she saw her
Zhou Shaojin muttered to himself.
But I have to go to the old lady's place after all.
She listened to Li and Zhou Chujin discussing: "… Today the old lady is moving to the fourth master's house at Chaoyang Gate. She will have to spend a day to rest tomorrow. The day after tomorrow is the best time to go, not too early or too late. But it would be best to send someone to deliver the invitation today. It would be disrespectful if it is too late!"
Zhou Chujin also had the same idea, and said, "I think we should just bring some gifts to Uncle Li. The old man is old and can't stand socializing. He didn't see many guests when he was in Jinling. Now that Uncle Li's business has come to the capital, there will be many opportunities for us to interact with each other in the future. The old lady's birthday will be after summer, and I'm afraid she will have to celebrate her birthday in the capital this year. Without the pressure from the second house ancestor, the old lady's birthday can be lively. It would be better if Uncle Li went there to ask for a birthday wine."
Li nodded repeatedly and thanked Zhou Chujin with a smile, thanking her for coming up with this idea.
Zhou Chujin smiled and said, "I didn't think so far ahead. My mother-in-law reminded me of this when I was leaving. My eyes are glued to Guan Ge'er now. How can I have the energy to care about other things?" He sighed again, "Fortunately, my mother-in-law came over, otherwise, my place would be in chaos after my wife left."
Saying this seemed to be a way of acknowledging and thanking Li for his care.
Li's eyes became sore when she heard this.
It's difficult to be a stepmother.
What's more, he has two stepdaughters who are already sensible and grown up.
It was not until today that she felt like she had become part of the Zhou family.
There were three people, or should I say two people. When Li and Zhou Chujin were talking, Zhou Shaojin was listening beside them. Li and Zhou Chujin finally decided to deliver the invitation today. There were two invitations, one for Li and Zhou Shaojin, and one for Mrs. Liao and Zhou Chujin. When the time comes, they will go to Chaoyang Gate together to say hello to Old Madam Guo.
Li smiled and sent Zhou Chujin out, but Zhou Shaojin began to worry.
How should I dress up when I go to see the old lady
If she wore red, she was afraid it would be too bright and her temper would not be able to control it; if she wore pink, the old lady would think she was too young and not a good match for Uncle Chi... She searched through the cabinets and boxes at home, and finally even Mrs. Li was alarmed and suggested to her: "You can wear the aqua blue vest that you made a few days ago, a white embroidered skirt, and insert a row of jasmine flowers. It will look dignified, elegant, refreshing and pleasant."
Zhou Shaojin laughed.
This is the way she usually likes to dress.
I am taking my patient attitude too seriously and might end up ruining this meeting.
Zhou Shaojin did needlework at home for a whole day before her mood calmed down. The next day, she just put on a pair of South Pearl ears and dressed up as Li had asked, and went to see Old Madam Guo.
The bigger the house, the more people it will have.
Old Madam Guo moved in, and with servants coming and going, the house in Chaoyangmen seemed much more lively than in the previous few days, and it also had a homely atmosphere.
Perhaps because of Mrs. Liao, it was Mrs. Wei who greeted them at the hanging flower gate.
She is forty-one years old this year, beautiful and gentle. Although she applies light powder and cream, her thin body and the tired look between her brows cannot hide her sickly appearance.
However, Zhou Shaojin knew that she was just like the saying "a bent carrying pole is hard to bear". She had been in poor health for many years, but her children were obedient and her husband respected her. She lived a good life until the Cheng family was raided.
Everyone greeted each other with a smile, and Mrs. Liao warmly took Mrs. Wei's arm.
Mrs. Wei's father was the same age as the late old grandfather Cheng Xun. Her mother was a girl from the Li family in Jianglu and was related to Mrs. Liao's maiden family, the Fang family.
These people...are all relatives!
Zhou Shaojin was walking at the back, pinching his handkerchief nervously. When he saw Biyu standing in the corridor of the main house with a smile on her face, he let out a long sigh and felt much more relaxed.
Biyu stepped forward and bowed to everyone, saying with a smile, "The old lady has been waiting in the house!" Then she opened the curtain and helped them into the house.
Compared with the solemnity of Zhou Shaojin and others, Mrs. Guo seemed dignified yet casual.
Her hair was casually tied up in a bun, and she wore a pair of red gold hairpins inlaid with cat's eyes, and a knee-length bodice with silver auspicious cloud patterns on a dark blue background. With a gentle expression, she sat on the large kang by the window in the west banquet room.
They hurried forward and saluted.
Madam Guo's expression softened again, and she waved towards Zhou Chujin and said, "Hold the child for me to see."
Elderly people love children, and there is nothing more joyful than this.
Zhou Chujin hurriedly took Guan Ge from the wet nurse's hands and handed him to Old Lady Guo.
Mrs. Guo took the child in her hands and teased Guan Ge with a smile.
Zhou Chujin and the others were surprised and delighted - Madam Guo asked them to bring the child over. They thought that Madam Guo would just take a look at the child and give him some rewards. Unexpectedly, Madam Guo actually held the child herself... It can be seen that she really likes the child.
The atmosphere in the room became warmer and more intimate.
Mrs. Guo's gaze seemed to inadvertently pass over Zhou Shaojin, who had been sitting there quietly, smiling, without saying a word.
The old man couldn't help but sigh secretly in his heart.
She is really beautiful, like a jade sculpture...but why does she feel so uncomfortable
Why did Silang fall in love with this little girl when there were so many people he could like
When the time comes and everyone eats from the same pot, what will Jiashan do
She thought of what Cheng Shao had said to her two days ago: "I am fine with whoever Zichuan wants to marry... Ever since Xun Ge'er and Sanlang passed away one after another, I have become more indifferent to worldly affairs... Both of them died suddenly of a cold... Life is only a few short decades. I still remember that the day before Xun Ge'er passed away, he was still reading the "Four Books Annotations" with great concentration. He said he had asked for a few days' leave from the academy, but he didn't want to fall behind in his studies... When I think about it now, I still feel heartbroken.
"Zichuan is an adult, and I believe he has carefully considered the consequences of his actions.
"Let him live whatever life he wants!"
Old Madam Guo asked Cheng Shao to stay and talk to her. The eldest and second sons thought that it was about dividing the family line with the second branch. However, after Cheng Shao knew about Cheng Chi's situation, he not only did not help her persuade Cheng Chi, but instead advised her to let go.
How could she not know what Cheng Shao said
She knew it, but whenever she thought about Zhou Shaojin really entering the Cheng family... her niece would become her sister-in-law, how would the sisters address each other? Jiashan was the most pitiful... her beloved girl would become her little aunt... her scalp would tingle.
To break up the couple
Silang is not Jiashan, so it is still unclear whether he can defeat them by himself.
Besides, for the first time in his life, Silang was so enthusiastic about getting married and put a lot of thought into it... She really liked Shaojin, too... But as long as she wasn't her daughter-in-law, she would definitely happily buy her a box lavishly and let her marry in style!
She has always been decisive about what to do, but she hadn't made up her mind until she met Zhou Shaojin.
Maybe, she should also find an opportunity to talk to Zhou Shaojin
Maybe the son is just too eager to get his hair cut
If she doesn't agree at that time, can my son still force her to marry me
But what if my son’s marriage is ruined because of this
Mrs. Guo looked at the fat boy in her arms and thought, if she just turned a blind eye to her son's mischief, maybe next year she would have a fat boy like the one in her arms. At the same time, she thought, how could she let her son, whom she had carried for ten months and finally gave birth to, do this? If there were even a little bit of gossip that he seduced his niece, his life would be over...
Even after returning the child to Zhou Chujin, giving him a gift, and exchanging a few words with Mrs. Liao, which led Mrs. Liao to keep talking about how cute, naughty, and smart her grandson was, Mrs. Guo still hadn't made up her mind.
Then let's take it one step at a time
For the first time in her life, Mrs. Guo felt so helpless.
Zhou Shaojin quickly sensed that Mrs. Guo was treating her strangely.
It seemed as if she had not had time to talk to her because of the presence of Mrs. Liao and the two elders, Mrs. Li. But in fact, her expression revealed a hint of alienation.
If it was someone else, Zhou Shaojin wouldn't take it to heart.
But Madam Guo is the kind of person who can ignore you if she despises you, and can also show her love for you without any scruples. Treating her this way would only make things worse.
Don't you like her
It seems not.
I like her... but not...
After all, it may be because of her identity.
Zhou Shaojin suddenly felt a dull pain in his heart.
Identity...has always been her weakness.
She doesn't want to be like this either!
But what else can she do!
Madam Guo is the closest person to Uncle Chi in the world. Without her support, life for her and Uncle Chi in the Cheng family... will be very difficult, right
Zhou Shaojin's hands unconsciously clenched together.
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Sisters and brothers, please give extra updates for Su Yan!
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: Today's update will be late, around 8pm.
※(To be continued)