Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The early winter days in Jiangling were clear and sunny, yet it turned bitterly cold at dawn and dusk. Jin Niang wore an indigo-padded jacket and had her hair tied into twin buns as she climbed into the carriage with her parents. The entire family was seeing her off that morning.

Luo Yuer, holding her still-sleeping son, wished she could say more than she had the day before: “Share only a small portion of your thoughts; never reveal your true feelings completely. You were clever this time to keep quiet about being chosen by Madam Chen until the very last moment—even those in the embroidery workshop might not have known. Had you been as careless as before, you would have suffered serious consequences.”

“Daughter understands,” Jin Niang replied softly, her lips pressed together. Only a mother could offer such sincere advice—rooted in the memory of how Jin Niang had once been deceived.

Previously, Madam Hu from the workshop had taken on a commission and passed several pattern designs to the section heads for distribution. Those who performed well would later sew garments for a wealthy local household—a highly desirable opportunity. However, the section head secretly withheld the patterns, practicing them herself without informing the Flower-and-Bird Section.

Although the section head wasn’t ultimately selected, the incident taught Jin Niang to be cautious. After all, this woman had always been known for her honest and warm-hearted demeanor.

It proved that even nine parts of someone’s kindness might conceal one part of selfishness—a perfect example of a sly fox pretending to be genuine. Indeed, appearances can be deceiving.

Still, Jin Niang gave instructions to her mother: “I’ll write letters, but if I send them through Shu Embroidery Studio, I worry they may be intercepted along the way.”

“What is there to fear? It’s not like you will write anything inappropriate,” Luo Yuer said lightly.

Jin Niang knew her mother believed in acting openly and fearlessly, but that wouldn’t suffice. “Mother, what if I mention the money I’ve saved? Never mind. Just remember, I won’t usually send money back, as it might get stolen. As for clothes and similar items, I’ll pack them securely and list them clearly in the letter. If they claim something was lost or refuse delivery, we’ll hold them accountable.”

At the mention of disputes, Luo Yuer’s eyes lit up.

Jin Niang couldn’t help but laugh.

By the time the family of four reached the ferry, the sky was pitch-black, and even Madam Chen appeared to have just arrived in haste. Luo Yuer scolded her husband and daughter: “You two are always so anxious, like scared cats. I told you we could come later, but no—you insisted on coming too early.”

“Mother, arriving now ensures a smooth journey. If we came any later, it would be crowded,” Jin Niang replied, glancing out at Jiangjin Ferry before the wind forced her to pull the carriage curtain shut.

Outside, Wei Xiong rubbed his hands and chuckled. “Jin Niang, your father is watching over you. Don’t stick your head out.”

Jin Niang smiled. “Once I board the boat with Madam Chen, you should all have breakfast at the ferry before heading back. Little Brother has been longing for duck broth noodles.”

Luo Yuer immediately asked, “Is that what you want? Should your father bring you a bowl?”

“No need. When I worked at the workshop, I often ate out at noon. I’ve tried everything around here—don’t worry about me.”

As they chatted, Madam Chen finally hurried over. Jin Niang quickly stepped down from the carriage and joined the other embroidery girls bound for the capital. Expecting a proper farewell, she was caught off guard when the boat docked and loading began immediately. Before she could bid goodbye, she was already separated from her family, tears filling her eyes.

Madam Chen urged, “Go inside the cabin now—it’s windy out here. Use this opportunity to get to know each other. You’ll be spending the next three years together.”

With that, Jin Niang entered. Her father, Wei Xiong, a former Capital garrison soldier, had already efficiently made up her bed. Others were still arranging theirs, so she sat down and unpacked her tooth-cleaning twig, washing towel, and wooden basin. A girl across from her asked, “Where are you from?”

Jin Niang looked over. The girl was petite, slightly pale-skinned, with delicate features and two stylish silk flowers in her hair. Jin Niang smiled. “Originally from Anlu Prefecture, but my parents settled in Jiangling. What about you? Your accent sounds familiar.”

The girl grinned. “I’m from Anlu too.”

In those times, those who could read and possessed a trade typically came from families of modest means. The truly poor had no time for embroidery—they were too busy farming or taking care of younger siblings.

After this brief exchange, two other girls joined them. They introduced themselves by age: the eldest, Qin Shuang’er, was thirteen. She wore a pink satin jacket, had a pair of hairpins in her hair, and bedding that, though faded, surpassed the others’.

The second eldest was Fang Qiaolian, the girl who had spoken first. The youngest was Jiang Shan’jie, dressed in a dull-colored robe, her face marked with blemishes.

“So Madam Chen picked one from each section,” Jin Niang mused.

The workshop divided embroidery into four categories: figures, flowers-and-birds, insects-and-fish, and landscapes. Jin Niang came from the Flower-and-Bird Section, while the others represented the remaining three.

Qin Shuang’er then offered a handful of stir-fried broad beans. Fang Qiaolian accepted some and remarked, “Earlier, I saw someone seeing you off—your sister? She’s quite pretty.”

Qin Shuang’er’s expression turned strange. “That wasn’t my real sister.”

"Could she be your cousin?" Jin Niang also took a handful of broad beans, preparing to share the pancakes she had brought with everyone.

But Qin Shuanger replied, "No, not that either. When my father was alive, he was a petty official serving in the Gusu region. After he passed away when I was seven, my mother returned to our hometown in Jiangling and remarried. I'm her only child, but my stepfather already had a son and a daughter."

"So you're from an official's family—no wonder your clothes are different from ours," Jin Niang said, suddenly understanding.

Qin Shuanger smiled modestly. "What official’s family? My father was just a low-ranking official. But after my mother remarried into this household, the expenses were high with so many mouths to feed. These clothes came from my mother's dowry fabrics—if I didn't wear them, they'd have been taken away long ago."

Jin Niang sighed. "That explains it."

In a household, if the household head passes away and the woman cannot hold things together, even if there's money, it will be drained away.

Qin Shuanger, clearly street-smart, quickly turned the conversation to compliment Jin Niang. "Your family seems quite well-off—owning a house and even a mule cart."

"Don't mention it," Jin Niang said, putting on a show of lamenting their situation. "After buying that house, we had no money left. My parents finally saved up a bit, but when my grandfather died, it all went to his funeral. My grandmother still lives with my uncle, but my father has to send her money every month, which drives my mother mad. We're barely scraping by—otherwise, why would I go work as a maid?"

She thought it best not to boast about wealth—lest others grow envious—nor to complain too much about poverty, lest people suspect you of stealing. She had learned this the hard way.

Back when her father was still in the Imperial Army, she attended a girls' school mostly filled with daughters of wealthy merchants or scholars. Just because she honestly mentioned that her father had started in the provincial forces before joining the Imperial Army, she was ostracized and looked down upon.

Jiang Shanjie chimed in, "At least I don't have those in-law squabbles—my grandparents passed away long ago. My father is eighteen years older than my mother."

"How old is your mother?" Jin Niang asked.

"My mother is thirty this year," Jiang Shanjie replied with a smile.

Jin Niang nodded. "She's about the same age as my mother. But how did you learn embroidery? Sister Qin has family roots—her mother studied Suzhou embroidery. Did you learn it haphazardly, like me?"

Shanjie quickly shook her head. "Not exactly. My mother knew how to weave, and my father farmed. I originally learned spinning from her. Our neighbor was a tutor named Feng, and I picked up some literacy by eavesdropping. Later, I learned needlework from Madam Feng—I could hold a needle by the age of three."

"I started at five, two years older than you," Fang Qiaolian said lightly. "My mother always said you can never have too many skills, so she had me learn from others since childhood."

It was clear to everyone, more or less, that Fang Qiaolian's mother had mentioned to Chen Niangzi earlier that she was a widow struggling to make ends meet, working odd jobs in the prefectural yamen.

Each had their own burdens—every family had its own hardships.

By noon, Jin Niang shared her homemade pancakes and even gave each of them an egg. Not to be outdone in generosity, Fang Qiaolian also distributed pastries from the prefectural yamen that her mother had given her.

Outside the cabin, Chen Niangzi overheard their chatter and sharing, smiling to herself before stepping out to speak with the He family's servants. The He family had chartered this boat to deliver seasonal gifts to the capital.

Chen Niangzi said to Old Lady Dou, who had accompanied the He family, "These girls are leaving home for the first time—it's not easy for them. Not like us, used to life on the road."

"You worry too much," Old Lady Dou scoffed. "Once they get a taste of high society, they won't even think of home. Mark my words—they'll refuse to come back." As Madam He's chief maid, she prided herself on her sharp judgment.

Chen Niangzi smiled. "I'm the one who brought them out, and we'll be working together. I just hope they don't hold me back. But I'd appreciate your guidance—I don't want to walk into the Zhou household blind."

Seeing that Chen Niangzi was neither sly nor dismissive, Old Lady Dou decided to show off a little. "The Zhou family hails from Gusu—a scholarly lineage. The old master's father died young, leaving him to be raised by his widowed mother. Later, his talent earned him a marriage into Han Academician of the Zizheng Hall's family. Lady Han bore two sons before passing, and the old master then married her younger sister, who bore only a daughter."

"Now, the old master has died in Quanzhou. The eldest son, the current head of the Zhou family, is a palace graduate—quite accomplished. He married the daughter of his father's colleague, our mistress, Lady Jiang. Our Jiang family was once a chancellor's household—a proper match. The second son entered office through inherited official post—not bookish but sharp. He remarried into a scholarly family. The youngest is a son by a concubine, managing family affairs. As for the household you're going to—the elder branch—Lady Jiang has an eighteen-year-old son studying at the Imperial Academy and two daughters: Shi Shi and Hui Hui. There are also two concubines—one bore Third Miss Lingling, the other Fourth Miss Sushu. Third Miss's mother was originally Lady Jiang's maid. As for their temperaments, I only see them every few years, so I can't say."

Chen Niangzi took it all in, impressed. "The Zhou family is certainly flourishing. Numbers don't worry me—it's discord I fear."

Old Lady Dou waved a hand. "No matter. Your embroidery workshop will be tucked away—just keep your heads down and work. Besides, you're hired by the main branch; no one else would dare interfere. Still, I must warn you."

Chen Niangzi tensed. "Go on. I've got a flask of lamb's wine for you later." "Lady Jiang's eldest son is in marriage negotiations, and she guards him fiercely—barely tolerating even relatives' daughters. I've noticed some of your girls already have ambitions beyond their status. If any foolishness occurs, you'll be lucky to escape unpaid. Worse, you might have your face beaten raw with no one to plead for you." Old Lady Dou's words grew slurred before she finally drunkenly collapsed into her chair.