Chapter 24 The Xie Family Mansion

Chapter 24 The Xie Family Mansion

Shen Miao was born under the red flag and raised in the warmth of spring. She had a stubborn streak since childhood and was doted on by her grandfather because of her culinary talent. At home, she lived like she was second only to heaven, and naturally, she had never personally witnessed the aristocratic demeanor that had vanished hundreds of years ago.

The original Shen Da Jieer came from a modest background and lived only a brief twenty-some years. The most accomplished person she had known was her mama’s boy of a husband, Rong Dalang, and she had no opportunity to interact with these lofty nobles.

The portrayals of aristocratic and royal life in films and books also seemed off, always differing somewhat from what one would see in reality, perhaps because there was a barrier between performance and reality. When Shen Miao walked to West Drum Tower Street, her basket on her back, she noticed that there were no peddlers setting up stalls along the street, nor were there any idlers always squatting at the entrances of eateries and teahouses.

West Drum Tower Street was lined with the Great Xiangguo Temple, where the sounds of Buddhist bells and chanting could be heard. Along the road were tall ginkgo trees, cypresses, and white pines, creating a quiet atmosphere with very few pedestrians.

The street was paved with neat blue bricks, a far cry from the dusty dirt roads outside.

Shen Miao had thought that only the Imperial Street connected to the palace in Bianjing was paved with bricks, but she was surprised to find that this place was the same.

She slowed her pace and strolled in, holding Xiang Jieer's hand.

The thick tree shade kept it cool inside. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows that danced on people's brows and shoulders. The faint scent of incense wafted through the walls. This place seemed to exude a natural sense of tranquility, as if all the hustle and bustle of the outside world were blocked by the high walls of these deep mansions. In the afternoon, it was completely silent.

The main gate consisted of four vermilion doors studded with copper nails, flanked by two majestic lions. The side gates and entrances were guarded by servants. Upon closer inspection, the thresholds of these small gates were made of a single piece of polished bluestone. Lanterns bearing the cinnabar-painted character 'Xie' hung tilted from the brick walls.

Beneath the unlit lanterns lounged two or three finely dressed servants, chatting and laughing while cracking melon seeds. When Shen Miao approached, one of them stared at her for a while, then gathered the melon seeds in his palm into his sleeve and asked politely, "Madam, are you Shen? Our lady's steward, Zheng Neizhi, told us to wait here for you."

Shen Miao smiled, put down her basket, and gave a respectful but unyielding bow, replying, "Yes, I’ve brought the vegetarian buns as Zheng Neizhi requested this morning."

"You’re right on time. Wait here while I take these buns inside to inform Zheng Neizhi."

One of the burlier servants took out several oil-paper-wrapped buns from Shen Miao's basket and patiently explained, "Madam, no offense meant. We’re not trying to slight you. I am merely a messenger at the gate and cannot enter the inner quarters. Once inside this gate, I can only relay the message to the gatekeeper at the second gate, who will then report to the lady's personal maid. If the lady has any further instructions, we will convey them to you."

"Neizhi" is a respectful term for senior servants in the inner quarters of wealthy households, while "yangniang" is the Song Dynasty term for personal maids.

The depth of the mansion could be glimpsed from the words of these servants.

Shen Miao nodded in understanding.

This grand mansion operated like a sprawling corporation, with layers of hierarchy. When someone came to visit, the receptionist would report to the administrative specialist, who would then report to the assistant, who would report to the manager, and the manager would report to the vice president... Well, she estimated she would have to wait for quite a while. But for those three strings of cash, a little waiting was nothing. She might as well take it as a break!

So she hauled her empty basket and took Xiang Jieer to stand by the side gate. There happened to be a patch of shade there, making it cooler. After a moment’s thought, she pulled out a small piece of yellow rock sugar, wrapped in a handkerchief, from her pocket and gave it to Xiang Jieer as a snack—it was leftover from making red bean paste in the morning, and she had thought it might come in handy to pacify the child, so she had casually stuffed it in her pocket.

Now it proved useful.

The servant quickly went inside to deliver the message, leaving two gatekeepers at the side gate. One of the younger ones secretly glanced at Shen Miao several times out of the corner of his eye. Seeing that she had a child with her, he turned around and went back to the duty room, bringing out two stools and handing them to her: "This back-and-forth could take at least half an hour. If the lady has other matters, it might take even longer. Have a seat."

"Thank you, sir," Shen Miao said without hesitation and sat down.

The two gatekeepers, having nothing else to do, struck up a conversation with Shen Miao. As servants, they were either born into families that had served the household for generations or had been purchased as children, so they had no other background to speak of. In their conversation, they could only take pride in their master's family.

Thus, Shen Miao learned that this Xie family was the Chenjun Xie clan, as renowned as the Langya Wang family. However, the aristocracy had long declined, and even the most glorious main branch of the Xie family was no exception. They had been nearly wiped out by the failed scholar Huang Chao at the end of the Tang Dynasty, who had slaughtered them like cutting melons and vegetables according to the family genealogy.

The surviving branch was already a distant collateral line, but the family's centuries-old heritage was still significant. The gatekeepers puffed out their chests, as if they themselves had built this vast family fortune, and pointed to another household on the street.

West Drum Tower Street was home to only two families. One was the Xie family, and the other was the Zhao family, bearing the imperial surname. They were descendants of the third son of Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin's cousin, making them genuine relatives of the emperor.

Although over the generations, this Zhao family had been reduced to the lowest rank of "county marquis."

"But that's still a marquis!" the gatekeeper said.

Shen Miao widened her eyes in feigned amazement and followed the servant's finger to look at the other half of the street behind the thickest ginkgo tree—the western half belonged to the Xie family, and the eastern half to the Zhao family.

What a revelation! Shen Miao listened with a smile, treating it as a way to kill time.

The gatekeeper found Shen Miao's reaction rather lackluster: why was there only surprise but no awe? As a lowly cake peddler, how could she not feel ashamed, humble, and reverent upon learning that this was the Xie family, once renowned throughout the land and now neighbors with the imperial relatives?

How odd.

Had he known that Shen Miao's surprise and curiosity were mostly an act, and that she was even muttering in her heart that the green bricks underfoot weren't as smooth as those in modern parks and that the ginkgo trees on this street were not as beautiful as those in Luoyang's Yongxing, he would have been even more astonished!

So what if it's the Xie family of Chen Commandery? So what if it's the imperial Zhao family? For Shen Miao, though she strives to live in this era, she always finds it difficult to view the world without the lens of history.

Those are all but dust of the past! She's seen far more stunning and expansive landscapes, so why would she yearn for an old world? Why would she feel sorrow for not being part of a noble family? Why would she feel inferior because of her status?

She does not consider herself lowly, even if she sells cakes on the street, even if her home is bare, even if she, as a woman, must make a living in this world.

So, listening to the gatekeeper brag was like hearing a storyteller, and she found it quite entertaining. Even Xiang Jieer, swayed by her sister's laid-back demeanor, tilted her head and continued to quietly lean against her sister's leg, focused on licking the sugar.

If she didn't hurry, the rock sugar would melt in her hand! Xiang Jieer noticed that her hand was already sticky, so she lowered her head and stuffed the entire piece of sugar into her mouth. When she looked up again, her cheek puffed out noticeably.

In the inner courtyard of the Xie family, Xie Qi had just finished reading when Xie Tiao roped him into practicing the Xi family's long staff. His martial skills were no match for his elder brother's, and he was forced back to the corridor by Xie Tiao's moves. Finally, he pulled a trick, kicking off the corridor pillar and leaping up to strike down with his staff, thus turning the tide.

Ignoring Xie Tiao's cries of "That doesn't count, rematch!" he waved his hand and went back to his room to bathe, drenched in sweat.

Freshly bathed, Yan Shu handed him clean clothes and socks, saying with a happy face, "Just now, Zheng Neizhi presented some fragrant baked buns to the lady and ordered me to come and invite Ninth Geer to taste them. I could smell them through the door—they were so aromatic!"

"Let's go try them," Xie Qi smiled, casually draping the towel over the screen and putting on his inner robe, lowering his head to tie the belt.

Xie Qi often went out, so he was accustomed to dressing himself and didn't like to be served by maids or servants. Yan Shu, eager for the tasty treats, peeked around the screen and couldn't help but marvel—Ninth Geer looked bookish when dressed, but when undressed, the young man's seemingly slender body was covered with thin, smooth muscles, with broad shoulders and a strong waist, resembling the martial demeanor of the Xi family's cousins who had long practiced martial arts and guarded the borders.

But as he donned the inner robe, shirt, and outer garment, the wide sleeves fluttering in the wind, he regained the Xie family's refined and elegant air.

The Xie children, boys and girls alike, all practiced both literature and martial arts, all because the lady Xi had brought a black lacquered, gold-decorated Xi family long staff into the Xie family when she married. As the matriarch, she not only ran the household well but also had a unique approach to raising the children.

Seeing that Xie Qi was ready, Yan Shu happily led the way. Entering the main courtyard of the Xie family's eldest house, Xie Qi saw several plates of sliced baked buns on the huanghuali wood table carved with the "Five Blessings" motif in front of Xi. His siblings, Eleventh Niang Xie and Xie Tiao, were also there.

Xie Tiao's plate was already empty, and he was stealthily reaching for a piece from his younger sister Eleventh Niang Xie's blue-and-white plate with intertwined branches. Eleventh Niang Xie smacked his hand away without mercy.

"Mother, look at my brother! I don't even have enough for myself!"

Xie Tiao withdrew his reddened hand and pouted, "You usually act like Zhao Feiyan, nibbling like a bird, taking two bites and putting down your chopsticks, refusing to eat more. Why is it different now?" Without waiting for Eleventh Niang Xie to retort, he turned to Xi, "Mother, why didn't you have someone buy more?"

Xi ignored the siblings' squabble and said, "This was just a trial to taste the flavor. Since you all like it, let's settle on this one. Our Chef Fang always makes the same vegetarian pastries like jujube cake and poria cake, which even monks find hard to swallow, spitting foam all over while chanting. These baked buns are great—even cold, they stay soft and fragrant. The cake-making lady is quite clever... Oh, Ninth Geer is here, you should try some too."

Xie Qi looked down and saw the baked buns he had eaten in the morning, seemingly no different. But he hadn't forgotten the soft, sweet flavor from the morning, and now seeing them, he couldn't help but take a piece. These all-vegetarian baked buns were no worse than those with lard and eggs, though lacking the egg aroma, they were even more refreshing.

He nodded slightly and glanced at his sister, who had been skipping lunch and dinner for several days to maintain her graceful figure, and smiled, "If these buns can whet Eleventh Niang's appetite, Mother, you know they're not bad."

Eleventh Niang Xie blushed. Of course, she wanted to eat, but a while ago, when she went boating at Jinming Pond with some noble ladies, they subtly mocked her for having a "pre-Tang style," which was just a way of calling her fat.

This made her so angry that she cut back on her meals, refusing to eat more.

In truth, she was starving every night, especially today when the baked buns smelled so good, and Mother said they were all vegetarian...

Eleventh Niang Xie couldn't resist and justified to herself: Eating all-vegetarian food won't make me fat, it's fine to have a little... it's fine...

"You all, none of you let your mother rest easy," Xi sighed and shook her head. The Xie family's branches hadn't divided the household, so all the children were ranked together. Thus, she, as the mother, had only three children: the eldest, Xie Tiao, was unreliable, always out drinking and carousing; the middle child, Xie Qi, was originally the most dependable, but after breaking off his engagement, he lost his appetite; the youngest daughter, who was once her mother's little comfort, had recently been acting strangely, refusing to eat meat or meals.

"Then let's settle on these 450 baked buns with the cake-selling lady Shen," Xi decisively said, then ordered her maid to fetch the silver. "It's not easy for a woman to make a living alone with her skills outside, so let's not hold her silver. Draw up the contract and give her the payment. Go now, don't keep her waiting outside and lose our manners."

"Yes, my lady," the servants immediately sprang into action.

After that, Xi shooed her three children out along with the buns: "Don't just stand around here, I still have to go over the accounts with the managers of each courtyard. Go on, all of you, I can't stand the sight of any of you right now, go, go."

Xie Qi innocently picked up the plate and followed his elder brother and younger sister out, thinking to himself, hadn't he just arrived? He hadn't even sat down yet!

Why was he also being disliked?

Xie Tiao didn’t mind being scolded; he wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if he didn’t get a couple of scoldings from his mother in the main courtyard every day. So as soon as he stepped out, he lazily draped his arm over his brother’s shoulder and eagerly suggested, "Ninth Geer, how about I take you out to explore the newly opened entertainment house in Zhulian Alley..."

Before he could finish, Xi’s shout came from inside the room, "Xie Tiao, how dare you!"

Xie Tiao didn’t dare say more and took off running.

Leaving Xiang Jieer and Xie Qi to look at each other in silence. After a while, Xie Qi finally said, "How about... going to your courtyard to play chess?"

"Alright, last time you lost an inkstone to me, what are we betting with today?"

"How about the roasted buns mother gave me?"

Xiang Jieer hadn’t eaten her fill yet, especially since these buns were so delicious she wanted more. She was so hungry her eyes lit up. She swallowed her saliva and said, "Deal!"

The siblings walked side by side through the covered corridor, while Yan Shu followed behind, dejected, thinking sadly: Poor me, the roasted buns are now the stake, so I won’t get to eat them?

The next moment, Xie Qi, who had turned back, casually stuffed a piece into his mouth, "Eat, when have I ever shorted you?"

Yan Shu covered his mouth, his eyes sparkling as he looked up, but Xie Qi had already turned back around. He hurried to catch up.

Outside, Shen Miao was also chatting happily with the two gatekeepers, almost learning about how many branches the Xie family had.

Finally, the gatekeeper who delivered the message came out again and joyfully congratulated Shen Miao, "Shen Miao, great news! Everything went smoothly. Our lady found your roasted buns extremely good and has decided to entrust all the vegetarian snacks needed for the three-day Dharma assembly to you. She has prepaid the money for your daily trips, saying the extra is for your tea."

He then presented four strings of newly minted coins, clearly freshly made, much better in quality than old coins! And she had agreed with Zheng Neizhi on a price of three thousand six hundred coins, but the lady of the Xie family gave four strings!

That was an extra four hundred coins for "tea"!

Shen Miao tried hard to contain her excitement. After steadying herself, she sincerely praised, "Thank your lady for me. She is truly decisive, worthy of being the lady in charge of the household in a high-ranking family! Oh, by the way, does your lady allow me to use the kitchen by the outer corridor? I can prepare the dough at home and bring it early to bake, so it’s just the right time and comes out hot!"

"The lady said the kitchen by the outer corridor is at Shen Miao’s disposal. When you come, just come to this gate, and the gatekeeper on duty will lead you in. After you’re done, leave through this gate."

That’s perfect. Shen Miao then pointed to Xiang Jieer and asked, "My parents passed away early, leaving me alone with my two younger siblings. They are still young, can I bring them along?"

The gatekeeper looked down at Xiang Jieer, who had been quietly eating candy, and after a moment’s thought, agreed, but carefully instructed, "No problem, the kitchen by the corridor is specifically for preparing food for guests. You can bring them, but I must make it clear, except for the kitchen, please take care to keep your siblings in check and not wander around other places, to avoid disturbing our masters and the young masters. You don’t know, several young masters live in the outer courtyard, all mischievous..."

"I understand the importance, don’t worry."

Shen Miao, having clarified everything, happily took Xiang Jieer and left.

Although the Xie family had the typical pride of a scholarly family, it was clear their family manners were good. The gatekeepers were neither haughty nor did they take bribes. Judging by this, it seemed much more reassuring to work there.

Shen Miao felt the heavy coins in her pouch and clutched it tightly, almost running home with Xiang Jieer, afraid of being robbed. Fortunately, the journey was uneventful, and no one noticed them. Shen Miao saw a vendor selling sugar figurines and had the vendor create a giant sugar horse for Xiang Jieer, larger than her head.

Just at the entrance of the alley, they saw Ji Geer walking in with a small basket. Shen Miao told Ji Geer about the task of making vegetarian roasted buns for the Xie family and excitedly had him feel the heavy purse in her sling bag.

"The Xie family’s distribution time doesn’t conflict with the morning market time. If I sell a batch in the morning and hurry to make more in the afternoon, I can make it!" When Zheng Neizhi first came to inquire, Shen Miao suggested making red bean buns at the Xie family’s place, not only to save on charcoal but also to save time. She didn’t want to miss her daily morning market. Even with a big order, she still planned to set up her stall as usual.

Tired? Not when there’s money to be made!

Shen Ji was happy but felt his sister would be even more tired. To catch the morning market, she had to rise before dawn every day. Originally, she could rest a bit in the afternoon to regain her energy, but these three afternoons would also be busy. So he seriously said, "Then these few days I won’t go to copy books. I’ll stay and help you, and accompany you to the Xie family."

"It’s okay, you just go and copy. This little work won’t trouble me," Shen Miao shook her head. "Aunt Li said the Biyong Academy at the Imperial Academy will open next month. I’m still hoping you can pass the student examination at the Imperial Academy! Then we won’t have to worry about finding a teacher, what teacher could be better than a Doctor at the Imperial Academy?"

Shen Ji was very firm this time, "Sister, don’t worry, trying to do too much at once isn’t effective. I’ve already copied most of it today. I’ll thoroughly understand these in the next three days and then continue copying. Sister, I must accompany you to the Xie family. The teacher said a gentleman should not be swayed by difficulties. Even while helping you with the fire, adding water, or mashing red beans, I can still study."

Shen Miao stared blankly at Shen Ji, whose face still bore a trace of childishness but whose eyes were resolute. She hadn’t expected such words from someone so young. Unable to resist, she reached out and ruffled his hair, her tone filled with pride as she praised him, "Ji Geer, it’s good that you have such a mindset. You’re right. I’ve heard that a true gentleman isn’t defined by wealth but by staying grounded in luxury and keeping his ambitions alive in hardship. That is what makes a true gentleman."

Shen Ji looked up, and Shen Miao smiled as she met his gaze, softly saying, "I believe in you and can’t wait to see you grow into a true gentleman who stands for what’s right."

Shen Ji looked at his sister and at his own reflection in her clear eyes, nodding solemnly.

He would.

He would study hard to make sure both Shen Miao and Xiang Jieer had a good life in the future.

Xiang Jieer sat on the threshold, licking the sticky candy from the candy horse Shen Miao had bought her. She glanced at her brother, then at her sister, and couldn’t help but ask, "What about me? If you and big brother are going, where will Xiang Jieer go?"

Shen Miao and Ji Geer turned their heads simultaneously and burst into laughter.

"The three of us will always stick together!"

The next day, taking advantage of the faint morning light, Shen Miao got up early as usual and made sixty red bean buns and fifty hand-pulled pancakes to set up her stall at the morning market.

After two days, fifty or sixty items weren’t enough—they often sold out before the market closed.

But Shen Miao decided not to make more. First, she could handle this amount alone, but more would be overwhelming. Second, after two days, the hand-pulled pancakes would lose their appeal. Curious customers might not come back, but true fans would. Third, in just a few days, other stalls copied her, but they didn’t know her sauce or have her skill.

So Shen Miao stuck with this amount—it was manageable, and she avoided leftovers.

Her biggest worry was making too much and selling at a loss. So she kept it manageable to stay in business.

Today, Ji Geer, as promised, didn’t go to Lanxin Bookstore and instead came to help at the stall.

With Ji Geer there, Shen Miao felt relieved. She could focus solely on making the hand-pulled pancakes while Ji Geer looked after his sister and helped sell the red bean buns. He was quick with money and hardly ever made mistakes.

Occasionally, when there were no customers, he would sit on a stool and review the pages he had copied the day before.

The red bean buns sold out fast, and the pancakes lasted until the market closed.

Shen Miao was busy packing up her things, preparing to return home to make the one hundred and fifty red bean buns for the Xie family that day, when suddenly, a well-dressed man leading a donkey appeared before her.

He asked directly, "Madam Shen, would you like to work as a pastry chef at my Wei family’s bakery?"