Chapter 6

Chapter 6

After breakfast, Jin Niang informed Mistress Chen and made her way to the Third Young Miss’s chambers. To her surprise, a woman sat inside—radiant and bedecked in pearls and jade. Hesitating for a moment, she only realized it was the Third Young Miss’s mother (a concubine), Lv Xiaoniang, after being reminded by the maid. She hurriedly bowed in greeting.

Lv Xiaoniang, however, was a kindly woman. Seeing the garment patterns Jin Niang had brought, she smiled and said, “I’ve never seen anyone sketch their designs like this before.”

The Third Young Miss also seemed pleased. “Just go ahead and make it according to this.”

“Very well, then,” Jin Niang replied. “I’ll start cutting the fabric right away.” A client with no objections was exactly what she liked best.

Lv Xiaoniang added, “Thank you for making the trip. Qing Xue, give her a few coppers to buy some sweets.”

Though she called it “a few coppers,” it was actually twenty coins. The Third Young Miss even gave her an extra plate of bean cakes. After expressing her gratitude, Jin Niang left. A single copper coin could buy a piece of honey candy—money in the Song Dynasty still held considerable value. Carefully tucking the coins into her pouch, she felt quite satisfied.

Back in the embroidery workshop, she kept two coins for herself in case she got hungry and shared the rest with the others.

Mistress Chen took the opportunity to advise them, “They say Lady Lv once helped the main wife manage the household affairs. She was also the main wife’s head maid before, so she has quite a bit of savings. Don’t be snobbish and only aim for higher-status households.”

She said this to caution those who might only want to serve the main wife’s children, thinking they had brighter prospects, while neglecting the concubines’ children. Little did they know, generosity mattered more.

Jin Niang shook her head with a smile and began marking the fabric with charcoal, focusing intently on her work.

The embroidery workshop was equipped with embroidery frames, long worktables, irons, threads of all colors, fabric scraps, and carving boards. Locked away in cabinets were gold leaf, gold thread, and beads.

While working, Jin Niang and the others would consult Mistress Chen on stitching techniques or request additional embellishments. Just as she had asked for a length of gold thread, Green Tassel arrived with two young girls in tow. They were no more than seven or eight years old—indentured as servants during a famine in exchange for several bushels of rice. One was named Si Er, the other Xiao He.

“How pitiful,” Mistress Chen sighed.

Green Tassel smiled. “Mistress Chen, these two girls are here to assist you.”

At noon, the two girls were tasked with fetching lunch. After the meal, they promptly collected the dishes to wash. Once done, everyone gathered to chat.

“I heard ten girls came in together with you?”

Si Er nodded. “Yes, the two of us were assigned to the embroidery workshop. Sister Green Tassel said we should learn skills from you all so we can help in different quarters later.”

Though the seamstresses enjoyed decent treatment, they would leave the household after three years. If the manor had helpers like these indentured girls, they could even skip paying wages, significantly cutting costs.

Jin Niang understood. Then Qin Shuanger asked, “Where were the others assigned?”

“One to each young lady’s quarters, one to the kitchen, one to the privy chambers, and two to the laundry,” Xiao He replied, covering her mouth to giggle. “The one sent to the privy chambers got the worst deal.”

Privy chamber duty meant scrubbing chamber pots and emptying waste buckets—a stinky job all day long.

After the idle chatter, Jin Niang and the others returned to their sewing, fully absorbed in their work, while Si Er and Xiao He nodded off near the threshold.

With these two girls around, Jin Niang was happy to stay indoors and focus solely on sewing. Though she worked faster than most, she took great care with embroidery, especially the peony sprig motif on the collar of the padded jacket with a turned collar.

They worked late into the night, the oil lamps still burning. Except for Mistress Chen, who had retired to her quarters, everyone else was rushing to finish. Jin Niang was already content with the conditions here—charcoal for warmth during the day and a private bed at night. She’d heard that young maids like Xiao He and Si Er slept in a shared dormitory, packed with over a dozen girls.

Three or four days later, as the jacket neared completion, Fang Qiaolin whispered to Jin Niang, “Have you noticed how often Qin Shuanger runs to the First Young Miss’s chambers?”

“Maybe she’s trying to show her patience,” Jin Niang replied. She didn’t approve of constant revisions—too many changes would strip away one’s unique style, making the final product uglier.

Let craftsmen handle their craft. Those selected for the job had their own innate skill. Like in her past life as a playwright—if actors and directors kept demanding changes, the production would almost certainly be ruined.

Of course, she knew Qin Shuanger was trying to expand her social ties.

But in Jin Niang’s view, talent was the foundation of one’s standing. Social ties were merely embroidery on fine silk. Otherwise, even if you knew many influential people, if you weren’t of the same class, they’d still hold you in low regard.

People from different walks of life rarely stay friends. Even between friends, sudden wealth can strain the bond.

After finishing the lapel jacket, they moved on to the next piece. The celadon-colored dress was to be embroidered with magnolia blossoms. Meanwhile, Fang Qiaolian’s version in the same shade featured pink butterflies, with white-trimmed edges—her stitches so fine they looked like real butterflies alighting on the fabric.

When Qin Shuanger returned, she saw that the other three had already started their second garments. She stayed calm; as long as everything was done by New Year’s, the pace didn’t matter. Even if the others worked faster, they’d still have to wait for her—only when all were completed could the pieces be handed in together.

“Madam Chen, I need another strand of gold thread,” Jin Niang called out, wanting to outline the magnolia leaves with a shimmering effect.

Madam Chen had plenty of work herself, but being an experienced hand, she could embroider an entire floral skirt in one evening while chatting. Jin Niang and the others weren’t at that level yet, so Madam Chen replied lightly, “Go ahead and take it.”

They kept their heads down, working steadily. Before they knew it, seven or eight days had passed. Jin Niang had already begun her final piece, taking seed pearls from Madam Chen to use as flower centers. She was embroidering two birds among crabapple blossoms—lighter fabrics needed brighter accents like gold thread or pearls for contrast.

Qin Shuanger was even more meticulous, working on a scene of graceful ladies gathering plum blossoms. Human figures were difficult enough to stitch, let alone filling the background entirely with floral patterns. Jin Niang glanced over—ten whole days just for this one piece? So slow! But when Madam Chen mentioned it, Qin Shuanger simply said it was the eldest young lady’s request, leaving Madam Chen no choice but to sigh and let it be.

Unfortunately, that afternoon, Yan Hong came in person to hurry them along: “The elder aunt will return home in two or three days. The madam is asking whether the young ladies’ outfits are ready. If not, you must speed up—they’ll be worn to greet guests, so finish those first.”

Hearing this, Jin Niang quickened her pace, resigned to working under lamplight again that night. After all, once the embroidery was done, the garments still had to be pressed, which would take time too.

Everyone was focused on their tasks when, despite the bitter cold and snow outside, Qin Shuanger broke into a sweat. Drops fell onto the silk—she gasped, dizzy with panic at the near ruin of her work.