Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Before the 49th-day memorial of the second branch, Jin Niang delivered the five volumes of the *Ksitigarbha Sutra* she had copied. Wu Shi, being quite literate herself, had originally intended to commission a few volumes from scholars outside, but with so much going on at the time, she agreed when the girl volunteered.

To her surprise, Jin Niang’s handwriting was remarkably neat and even carried a certain elegance: "Do you study Liu Gongquan’s style?"

Jin Niang nodded. "Yes, I practiced Master Liu’s calligraphy for a few days as a child and grew fond of it, so I’ve written this way ever since. Please forgive my poor imitation, Second Mistress."

Wu Shi smiled and shook her head. "I think you write very well. It’s admirable how much you love learning. I happen to have a few copybooks and books here that I can lend you."

Jin Niang was deeply grateful. "Thank you, Second Mistress! I’m endlessly grateful. I’ll return them as soon as I finish copying."

During the Song dynasty, thanks to the advent of printing, books were more affordable for the poor than in previous dynasties. But even so, Jin Niang had never had spare money to buy any before. She was thrilled.

She very much wanted to ask if Wu Shi had any flower-and-bird painting collections, but held her tongue. Moderation in all things kept one from becoming tiresome.

Wu Shi, however, greatly admired such a diligent and studious girl and asked further, "I see you’re quite literate—why did you later take up needlework?"

Jin Niang sighed. "At first, when I was studying, my family’s circumstances were still decent, and I cherished the opportunity to learn. But then my grandfather and uncle met with troubles one after another, and my father spent our savings to help them. Our household fell into difficult circumstances. I thought of ways to earn money to support the family. Strangely, I wasn’t particularly skilled at anything else, but needlework came naturally to me. I learned sewing by day, and at night, I used my wages to learn tailoring. While others rested, I practiced writing with a brush dipped in water. That way, I could both earn a living and continue learning."

This account was part truth, part fabrication, but Jin Niang knew exactly how to engage with women in authority—emphasizing diligence, hardship, simplicity, yet also intelligence and pure ambition.

"Good, good. It’s truly not easy for you to have come this far. Sun Ma, give this girl a set of the Four Treasures of the Study. From now on, when she needs to write, make sure to provide them on time." Wu Shi was genuinely impressed with Jin Niang.

Jin Niang was beside herself with joy and knelt to kowtow (a traditional gesture of deep respect) in gratitude.

Wu Shi added, "Next time there’s sutra copying to be done, I’ll call on you first."

"I don’t even know how to express my happiness," Jin Niang said, glancing at Wu Shi. She resolved to make a pomegranate-patterned bellyband for the baby in Wu Shi’s womb as a token of gratitude for her kindness.

Leaving Wu Shi’s quarters, Jin Niang happened to encounter the Fourth Young Miss returning from paying respects to the matriarch. The Fourth Young Miss glanced at her and asked, "What were you doing in the second branch?"

Jin Niang replied respectfully, "Second Mistress had me copy a few volumes of sutras. Seeing that I did well, she rewarded me with some paper, brushes, and copybooks."

The Fourth Young Miss shook her head inwardly. This Wu Shi was both stingy and out of touch—girls like Wei Jin Niang, who worked as servants, needed silver, not books! In *Dream of the Red Chamber*, Lady Wang had given Granny Liu a hundred taels.

But she couldn’t say any of this to Jin Niang. In her mind, she wished she could be the kind of charismatic, sharp-tongued heroine who commanded instant obedience, but in reality, she was rather reserved. Besides, she had always believed there was no real difference between legitimate and illegitimate children—people valued the father’s lineage, not the mother’s.

Yet, undeniably, there *was* a difference. It was subtle—Jiang Shi treated them all equally in terms of allowances, maids, clothing, and cosmetics, yet something felt off. She couldn’t pinpoint what, but it was undeniably there.

She didn’t understand. The family’s daughters didn’t affect inheritance rights; once married, they’d bring prosperity to their own households. Shouldn’t the principal wife be a mother to all the children, legitimate or otherwise? How could she be so unkind?

Like now—she had returned home, while Jiang Shi had taken the Eldest and Second Miss to attend a wedding banquet at the Assistant Grand Councilor’s residence.

Others would simply say the older girls were taken because of their age, but the Fourth Young Miss had read *The Survival Guide for Second Wives*. Jiang Shi hadn’t left a single coin to the children by concubines, even dividing her own dowry between her two daughters.

This was the climax that pushed Concubine Miao toward her downfall.

What’s more, Jiang Shi, despite her noble upbringing, despised concubines. The Fourth Young Miss wondered—weren’t concubines meant to share the burden of childbirth, given how painful it was?

Lost in thought, she walked away. Meanwhile, Jin Niang couldn’t shake the feeling that this Fourth Young Miss wasn’t as meek as rumors suggested. There was a sharpness in her gaze at times, as if she were playing the fool to hide her cunning.

Today was Mistress Chen’s birthday. Jin Niang quickened her steps back—she and the other embroidery maids had pooled money to prepare a feast for her.

She and Qin Shuang’er had quarreled a few days prior, but they made up the next day. After all, they still had to work together.

With three qian of silver, they arranged eighteen dishes and a bottle of silver-bottle wine. Borrowing a table and chairs from Lan Xue of the teahouse, they seated Mistress Chen at the head, with Qin Shuang’er and Fang Qiaolian on either side. Jin Niang sat beside Fang Qiaolian, facing Si’er and Xiao He.

Seeing the generous spread, Mistress Chen couldn’t help but say, "You’ve gone to too much expense for me."

"You are our master. Without you, we wouldn’t have made it to Bianjing," Jin Niang said with a smile.

The others nodded in agreement, naturally contributing the funds themselves—Si Er and Xiao He were not asked to pay. The two happily joined the meal and were delighted to do so.

Madam Chen smiled and said, "As the saying goes, the master opens the door, but the student must walk through. I don’t keep secrets—I believe in sharing what I know. You’re all still young, at the perfect age to learn a craft. If there’s anything you don’t understand, be sure to ask me."

She had climbed step by step to reach her current position. Now that she had established herself, she knew embroidery was a trade for young women; once one aged and eyesight faded, such work could no longer be done. Thus, she hoped they would learn as much as possible while they still could, ensuring they’d have a skill to support themselves in the future. Even if they didn’t remain embroiderers, such skills would earn them praise from their future in-laws for making shoes, socks, and clothing.

Qin Shuanger quickly replied, "Rest assured, if we have questions, we won’t keep them to ourselves."

"Just so, Madam Chen. Please don’t mind us asking too much," Jin Niang added, thinking wistfully that even Shanjie couldn’t return for Madam Chen’s birthday.

Madam Chen drank two more cups of wine and, slightly tipsy, said, "Not at all, not at all. You’ve left your hometowns to follow me here. We came together, and we’ll leave together." She knew the Zhou family was wealthy and appeared generous, but experience had taught her that this generosity was often just part of their official reputation—not genuine kindness.

As soon as she finished speaking, Jin Niang immediately chimed in, "Of course we’ll leave together."

Only then did Qin Shuanger and Fang Qiaolian respond in agreement.

After Madam Chen’s birthday came Yan Hong’s. Getting along well with her, Jin Niang asked Aunt Hu from the kitchen to prepare a box of longevity buns, bought some pastries from Lan Xue, and arranged everything in a lacquered gift box to send over.

This alone cost nearly three hundred strings of cash—such were the demands of social expectations.

The tael of silver she earned from copying scriptures was quickly spent after these two birthdays.

Yan Hong had now styled her hair up and was wearing particularly bright colors today. The dishes on the table were even more lavish than those at Madam Chen’s celebration, and the attendants—including Green Tassel—were so numerous there was barely space to sit.

Jin Niang smiled and said, "Sister Yan Hong, I must take my leave now, as I need to finish my work. I won’t disturb you further."

"Take some fruits with you. I also have something to tell you," Yan Hong replied. She was always thoughtful. Though she wasn’t as close to Jin Niang as she was to Green Tassel and the others—who had grown up together—she knew Jin Niang was reliable, discreet, hardworking, and understood proper etiquette, never taking undue advantage.

Jin Niang approached, and Yan Hong whispered in her ear, "I’ve just received a length of satin and would like you to make me a dress for the Dragon Boat Festival."

So that was it. Since finishing the scripture copying, Jin Niang had had a few idle days, so she smiled and said, "That’s easy. I already have your measurements and can start cutting right away. It’ll be ready in two or three days."

Yan Hong’s cheeks flushed slightly. "Make sure it fits well."

Jin Niang, ever perceptive, understood that Yan Hong, now a bedchamber maid, aspired to become a concubine. To gain official status, she needed to prove herself—preferably by bearing a child. Since Jin Niang had always been on good terms with her, she was happy to help. "If you trust me, I’ll make sure it turns out perfectly."

Yan Hong discreetly handed her two strings of cash. Jin Niang tried to refuse, but Yan Hong insisted, "Dear sister, if you ever join Brocade Tower, even the clothes we maids wear cost a hundred strings per set. If you don’t plan to stay in the manor, securing a place there would be far better than anywhere else."

"You flatter me, dear sister. Brocade Tower is the largest embroidery workshop for women in all of Bianjing—their standards are extremely high," Jin Niang replied, shaking her head.

Yan Hong was about to say more when someone pulled her away to drink.

Jin Niang, however, held the fabric thoughtfully, considering how best to highlight its beauty. Yan Hong was full-figured and delicate. With Grain Rain (one of the 24 solar terms in April) approaching, peonies would have been fitting, but they drew too much attention. Peach blossoms would be better.

*The peach tree is young and elegant;

Brilliant are its flowers.*

A single branch of peach blossoms would stretch from the bodice to the waist, the delicate flowers and tender leaves hinting at something just out of sight. Such subtle allure was far more captivating than overt displays.

With this in mind, she worked late into the night sketching the design, while Fang Qiaolian yawned over her own urgent task—sewing a gown for Concubine Miao. Both stayed up until midnight before finally resting.

The dress took nearly four days to complete. The ivory bodice bore an elegantly embroidered peach branch, paired with a silver satin skirt veiled in crepe, adorned with peach-pink tassels on either side. Over it, a pale blue outer robe completed the ensemble. When Yan Hong tried it on, her curves were suggestively concealed—half-hidden, half-displayed—lending her an air of newfound maturity.

Yan Hong admired herself in the mirror, captivated by her reflection.

"Jin Niang, thank you for making it so beautifully."

Jin Niang blinked. "May all your wishes come true."

Previously, Master Zhou had found Yan Hong too inexperienced, so even after making her his bedchamber maid, he seldom visited. But today, when he visited Lady Jiang's chambers, he couldn't take his eyes off Yan Hong. If Jin Niang had had some reputation before, her fame now spread rapidly throughout the Zhou household.