Ask for North Cheng?
The shopkeeper beamed and reached out to pat Steward Yu.
“You’ve come to the right person,” he said with a laugh.
Steward Yu frowned slightly and looked at the young servant. “From the capital?” he asked.
“Who are you looking for? Who sent you?” he inquired.
The only ones in the capital with connections to the Cheng Family were the Zhou Family—oh, and the Fourth Young Master. Could it be that the Fourth Young Master had sent someone to deliver a message?
The young servant in blue looked at him, somewhat puzzled.
“And you are?” he asked.
“This is Steward Yu of the Cheng Family,” the shopkeeper said with a smile.
The young servant in blue nodded, but his expression showed neither deference nor delight.
“In that case, let me ask you: Is Cheng Jiao-niang currently at your residence, or does she still live elsewhere?” he asked.
The steward was taken aback by the question.
What?
“You… you’re looking for Cheng Jiao-niang?” he asked in astonishment.
“That’s right,” the servant replied.
“Are you from the Zhou family?” the steward asked.
The servant in blue chuckled.
“Sir, if I were from the Zhou family, would I need to ask for directions?” he said with a laugh, his tone carrying a hint of undisguised mockery.
Steward Yu flushed slightly under the servant’s gaze but soon grew surprised. How did this servant know about the relationship between the Zhou family and the Cheng family?
“Then which family are you from?” he asked.
“Sir, is Cheng Jiao-niang at your residence or not?” the servant in blue pressed, frowning.
Steward Yu was at a loss for words. Just as he hesitated, a woman’s voice came from inside the building.
“Is that Liu Ge’er from the Chen family?”
The voice made everyone turn to look. Steward Yu was even more surprised—it was one of the women from the Qin family. How did they know each other?
The servant in blue broke into a smile.
“Oh, you’re here too! Wonderful!” he exclaimed, stepping forward eagerly to bow.
“What brings you here?”
“The old master, the master, and the madam sent us to deliver New Year gifts.”
“You should have said so earlier—you could have sent them together with our family.”
“Separate deliveries make for more excitement.”
“Come, I’ll take you to see the young lady.”
The group chatted and laughed as they headed out, leaving the teahouse owner and Steward Yu standing there in stunned silence.
“Were they talking about… that eldest daughter of Second Master Cheng’s… the simple-minded one?” the teahouse owner asked.
Steward Yu smacked his lips twice, seemingly at a loss for words.
The Qin family had been here for so long without leaving, and now another family, the Chen family, had arrived—and it seemed both were here for the young lady.
Which Chen family could it be?
“Your Honor! Your Honor!”
In the Jiangzhou magistrate, a retainer rushed in frantically, startling the Prefect and two other officials who were in conversation.
The Prefect was displeased by his retainer’s lack of composure in front of others.
“Your Honor, someone from the Chen family has arrived,” the retainer said urgently, not bothering to observe the Prefect’s expression.
“Which Chen family?” the Prefect asked impatiently.
“The Chen family from the capital—Chen Shao, Chancellor Chen’s household,” the retainer replied.
At this, not only the Prefect but also the two subordinate county officials present sprang to their feet.
“What? How could there be no prior notice at all?” Prefect Song exclaimed anxiously, immediately calling for his official robe.
“No, no, Your Honor—it’s only a servant from the Chen family,” the retainer hurriedly explained. “The courier station just delivered the message.”
Another servant?
Prefect Song frowned slightly as he looked at the retainer.
“Don’t tell me… it’s for the Cheng family again…” he asked.
The retainer nodded in confirmation.
After a flurry of activity, the Vice Prefect and the Judicial Officer were summoned, and more detailed information was gathered and delivered.
“…They went straight not to the Cheng residence, but to the Southern Cheng…”
“That plaintiff, Lady Cheng, is staying with the Southern Cheng.”
“Exactly! The women from the Qin family personally led them there to meet that Lady Cheng!”
Hearing this, Prefect Song couldn’t help but slam his hand on the table.
“I knew it! How could she dare to do such a thing so boldly? She truly has a powerful backer behind her,” he exclaimed.
The term “powerful backer” made the Vice Prefect and the Judicial Officer exchange glances. For them, such backing was a double-edged sword—on one hand, it meant they no longer had to fear First Master Cheng, but on the other, it complicated matters of discretion in certain affairs…
“So, how should we proceed with this case now?” the Vice Prefect asked in a low voice.
In other words, should they tone down their efforts to divide the Cheng family’s wealth? If so, they would inevitably lose some of their enthusiasm for the matter.
Prefect Song stroked his beard in silent contemplation, while the Judicial Officer beside him chuckled.
“I don’t think we need to overcomplicate it,” he said. “Didn’t the young lady make it clear? She doesn’t want her dowry—she only wants justice.”
Prefect Song shook his head.
“Nobody acts without self-interest, let alone when it involves their own money,” he remarked.
The Vice Prefect clapped his hands.
“Well, that’s easily handled,” he said. “The case we’re dealing with is against the Cheng family, not specifically this young lady.”
In other words, they would leave the dowry untouched but feel free to stir up trouble with everything else.
They had reasons to cause trouble before, and now they had even more confidence to do so. After all, the young lady had made her intentions clear: she didn’t want money—she wanted the Cheng family to pay the price.
Hearing the Vice Prefect’s words, the Prefect and the Judicial Officer looked enlightened and raised their teacups to him.
“Brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” they said with laughter.
The three clinked their teacups together as if toasting with wine, drank up, and burst into hearty laughter.
“Madam, madam, look, look!”
Two maids supported Second Madam Cheng as she hurried a few steps forward, standing in the alley and pointing into the distance.
“That’s another group of visitors calling on the young lady—also from the capital.”
Again, from the capital.
Second Madam Cheng instinctively took a few steps closer, squinting to get a better view.
The carriage was no less impressive than the Qin family’s, and the servants stepping down were dressed in bright, fine clothing. They were unloading gift boxes—large and small parcels alike.
“I never should have left back then. Even if I’d been driven out, I should have stayed, even if it meant apologizing and making amends,” Second Madam Cheng murmured regretfully. Then she asked, “Which family are they from?”
“They say their surname is Chen,” one of the servant women replied.
The Chen family from the capital? There were many families with the surname Chen, but she knew only a few—like Chen Shao, Chancellor Chen—but beyond that, she wasn’t familiar with others.
“They seem quite close with the Qin family—they must be another influential household,” Second Madam Cheng muttered to herself.
Meanwhile, First Master Cheng was also listening to his steward’s report.
“The surname Chen?” First Master Cheng asked with a furrowed brow. “From the capital?”
The steward nodded.
First Master Cheng pondered for a moment. Who could it be? What exactly had happened to that woman in the capital?
“Has First Madam not returned yet?” he asked.
First Madam Cheng had gone to the Wang family to get to the bottom of this matter. By his calculations, she should have returned today.
“Master, I’ve also gathered information about the Passing Immortal,” the steward added.
“Speak quickly,” First Master Cheng urged.
“It’s said that the business was originally run by a family named Dou and was extremely prosperous. Later, a dish called ‘eat-as-you-please’ emerged in the capital, offering a similar experience to Passing Immortal but at lower prices. As a result, Passing Immortal gradually declined. The Dou family also became entangled in a dispute, which further damaged their business. Eventually, they sold the shop and returned to their hometown,” the steward explained. “Now, Passing Immortal is operating quite successfully—it’s exceptionally expensive and has become a renowned restaurant in the capital, far beyond the means of ordinary people. Its patrons are all high-ranking officials and nobles, especially during the winter season when securing a reservation is incredibly difficult.”
He couldn’t resist adding one final remark:
“This is completely different from what that maid claimed.”
First Master Cheng stroked his beard, lost in thought.
A family named Dou… initially highly successful… then another dish called “eat-as-you-please” emerged… business declined… eventually sold off and left…
Was it really so different?
Once there was a man named Dou who encountered someone enjoying Passing Immortal. He learned the recipe and claimed it as his own, then made a fortune from it—business boomed.
Eventually, he came to believe that Passing Immortal was rightfully his. So when he met the person who had originally introduced him to Passing Immortal, instead of feeling gratitude, he became wary and defensive, even attempting to threaten that individual.
But that person insisted that Passing Immortal did not belong to her and refused to accept any payment for it.
Later, a new dish called “eat-as-you-please” appeared in the capital, offering an experience similar to Passing Immortal but at a lower price.
Before long, versions of Passing Immortal that cost nothing began spreading everywhere. As a result, the original Passing Immortal business declined, and the Dou family eventually sold their shop and returned to their hometown…
First Master Cheng’s hand, which had been stroking his beard, began to tremble slightly, and his breathing grew rapid.
It wasn’t different—it was the same! Exactly the same!
“Who owns the current Passing Immortal?” he asked, his voice shaking.
“That, I don’t know. They only say the owner is very powerful and seems to have connections with many high-ranking officials and noble families,” the steward replied.
“Such as?” First Master Cheng pressed.
“Well, for example… the Chen family…” the steward said after a moment’s thought. Before he could finish, First Master Cheng abruptly sat up.
“The Chen family?” he exclaimed, pointing outside. “That Chen family?”
The steward was startled.
“No, no—I meant Chancellor Chen Shao’s family,” he clarified.
First Master Cheng’s expression remained tense, and his outstretched hand continued to tremble.
“How… how do you know that the Chen family outside isn’t Chancellor Chen Shao’s family?” he asked, his voice quivering.
The steward looked stunned.
What?
Could it be that the Chen family delivering New Year’s gifts to Cheng Jiao-niang was actually Chancellor Chen Shao’s family?
“Wouldn’t it be better to find out for certain? Always relying on your own assumptions—what good does that do? Are you just deceiving yourself?” First Master Cheng roared.
Terrified, the steward scrambled to his feet, stammering assurances, and dashed out in a flash.
The South Cheng residence remained bustling, with carriages and horses coming and going. Children and women watched curiously as these unfamiliar men and women with different accents moved about. Despite their imposing appearances, these visitors were not unapproachable—some even offered candies to play with the children, creating a warm and lively atmosphere.
The steward took a deep breath and was about to step forward when the sound of another carriage echoed through the air.
More visitors?
The steward looked up in surprise, then breathed a slight sigh of relief. Thank heavens—this time, he recognized them. An elderly servant walking ahead of the carriage was from the Zhang family… the Zhang family!
Suddenly, the steward’s eyes widened, and he froze, holding his breath.
No… it couldn’t be!
“So many people here,” the elderly servant from the Zhang family remarked leisurely.
The attendants from the Qin and Chen families didn’t recognize this old servant.
“Are you also here to deliver New Year gifts?” one of the Chen family servants asked, wondering which other family might be involved. They knew the Tong family was supposed to deliver gifts…
But the man’s accent was clearly local.
“I’m not here to deliver New Year gifts,” the old servant said slowly. “I’m just here to deliver something on someone’s behalf.”
He then scanned the crowd at the door.
“Which of you serve Lady Cheng?” he asked.
A attendant from the Zhou family quickly stepped forward.
“I’m from the Zhang family,” the old servant said, looking at him unhurriedly.
The Zhang family…
A local accent, the Zhang family.
The women from the Qin family nearby hadn’t caught on yet, but the men from the Chen family immediately understood. After all, their master had often grumbled about Zhang Chun at home, frequently muttering “that Jiangzhou fellow.”
“Are you from Master Jiangzhou’s household?” one of the Chen family men exclaimed without thinking.
At these words, even the Qin family women looked surprised.
The Master Jiangzhou’s family was also sending gifts to this young lady?
The old servant neither confirmed nor denied it and continued speaking to the Zhou family attendant.
“Old Master…” he said.
At these words, everyone present, including the Cheng family steward, pricked up their ears and held their breath.
To invoke the name of the Zhang family’s Old Master was entirely different from the Qin or Chen families, who might use the titles of their madams or masters. This referred to an elder of an even higher generation…
“…has a maid named Ban Qin…” the Zhang family old servant said slowly.
The crowd relaxed slightly but then tensed up again. A maid serving the Zhang family’s Old Master undoubtedly acted on his behalf.
The Cheng family steward felt somewhat dazed, as if he had heard this name somewhere before. As he watched the carriages, horses, and people gathered at the door, the bustling scene left his mind in turmoil.
Outside the gate, it was bustling with activity, but inside Cheng Jiao-niang’s residence, all was quiet.
“…This is something Dan-niang specifically asked to give to the young lady alone…”
A woman from the Chen family smiled as she pushed a small box forward.
“She repeatedly insisted that it must be the first thing shown to the young lady.”
Ban Qin accepted it with a smile, opened it, and revealed a clay doll. She handed it to Cheng Jiao-niang with a chuckle.
Leaning against an armrest, Cheng Jiao-niang reached out and took it.
“She insisted it looks like you,” the maid said, covering her mouth with a laugh.
Cheng Jiao-niang looked at the clay figure—a beauty dressed in a white top and red skirt, sleeves raised to cover her mouth in laughter—and smiled faintly.
Chen Dan-niang…
She had several younger sisters around Dan-niang’s age…
“Very well, thank you,” she said.
The women from the Chen family exchanged a glance, a flicker of confusion in their eyes, but they quickly composed themselves, bowed, and took their leave.
Ban Qin personally escorted them out. As they reached the gate, she glanced back and saw through the half-open door that Cheng Jiao-niang remained seated by the armrest, motionless and serene, much like the clay figurine placed beside her.
Outside, the laughter of children, the chatter of men and women, and the distant clanging of construction work blended into a lively, bustling noise, full of vitality.
The threshold separated two worlds—one dynamic and vibrant, the other still and quiet.
Ban Qin lowered her eyes and sighed softly before bowing to the Chen family servants as she saw them off.
