Chapter 27

Chapter 27

After leaving the Zhou residence, she didn’t go straight to the Great Xiangguo Temple. Instead, she asked Kuang Sanlang to take her to a paper currency exchange. At that time, jiaozi (early banknotes) typically came in denominations of five or ten guan, with a thirty-wen fee per guan exchanged—roughly 3% of its value—and were redeemable for new notes every two years. This would work out perfectly, as by the time she returned to Jiangling, they could be exchanged again.

It was a necessary but regrettable choice. Back home, who would willingly use jiaozi? The fees were hefty, and if the court went to war, their value might become unstable.

When she left the exchange office, the box she had been carrying was now empty—twenty guan had been transformed into two flimsy paper notes.

Still, this also prevented theft, and the thought lifted her spirits. Si Er watched Jin Niang with envy—she knew how much literacy helped. Sister Jin Niang could earn extra money by embroidering Buddhist scriptures and even save it, while she herself couldn't do either.

After converting the coins to jiaozi, she quickly headed to the Great Xiangguo Temple to purchase rubbings, then said she wanted to visit the Shu Embroidery Pavilion for observation.

The Shu Embroidery Pavilion was nothing like the grand, opulent image she had imagined—it wasn’t even as large as the embroidery studio she had once worked at back in Shu. But upon entering, she found it completely different: everything was arranged in sections, with the front area displaying pieces marked “Works by Madame Rong,” likely all crafted by Madame Rong herself.

Madame Rong specialized in embroidered flowers and birds too, but her elegant color choices and refined needlework made Jin Niang feel inferior. Even nearby was a double-faced embroidery of a beauty.

As she walked and observed, she noticed many details. The most prestigious artisans at the Shu Embroidery Pavilion were those skilled in creating embroidered screens. She had just learned that one such screen sold for over a thousand guan. Yet these masters started with small items that caught clients’ attention before being entrusted with larger works. Skill alone wasn’t enough; luck played a role too.

“This embroidery of hibiscus blossoms is truly exquisite,” Jin Niang couldn’t help but admire.

Si Er nodded eagerly. “Yes, and that earlier piece—the one with the birds on brown silk—was beautiful too.”

Jin Niang smiled. “That was the *Partridge and Bramble Birds* embroidery. It looked quite classical done on tea-colored silk.”

After a quick tour, Jin Niang also learned about the Shu Embroidery Pavilion’s business model. Like other studios, they collaborated directly with individual embroiderers, taking a fifty-fifty split of the profits. However, the Shu Embroidery Pavilion attracted more high-end clientele, so any item placed there had a far better chance of being chosen than in other shops.

This was very different from the Shu Embroidery Studio, where payment was fixed at one guan per piece regardless of effort. Even Chen Niangzi, after years of experience, earned only three to five guan there.

No wonder, upon hearing that the Zhou family offered ten guan monthly wages, embroiderers were willing to leave their hometowns to come here.

Mulling this over, she heard Kuang Sanlang urging them from outside, prompting Jin Niang and Si Er to leave.

Back at the Zhou residence, Jin Niang first went to the storeroom to request tea-colored silk. She gridded the fabric and then sought black and gold thread from Chen Niangzi—black for the text, and gold whenever the character for “Buddha” appeared.

Embroidering such a piece was no small feat, but for now, Buddhist scriptures were all she could manage. Seeing the Buddha images displayed at the Shu Embroidery Pavilion today, she realized how far she had to go—those works used techniques like flat embroidery, knot stitching, gold imprinting, and gold-leaf mounting. Truly masterpieces she couldn’t yet match.

While she worked on the scriptures, the two scholar-guests staying at the Zhou house both sat for the provincial exams—and both failed. Scholar Dou, who studied at the Nanjing Imperial Academy, would return there to continue his studies. As for Third Master He, he had been recommended by Master Zhou for admission to the Bianjing Imperial Academy.

For every success, there was disappointment. The brightest star was the provincial champion, praised for his good looks, literary talent, and—most importantly—his unmarried status.

Beyond him, several young jinshi also drew attention. During the Song Dynasty, it was common practice to “snag a groom from the exam rolls,” and many families were already preparing for the opportunity.

Master Zhou also planned to take his daughters out for outings—if he could secure a jinshi son-in-law, nothing would be better. After all, he had four daughters. For Lady Jiang, however, it hardly mattered. Her eldest daughter had already secretly exchanged astrological birth charts with the prime minister’s family—a match no impoverished scholar could rival. The second daughter awaited news from her elder sister to finalize her own engagement. But she hadn’t told the girls yet—parents' decisions and matchmakers' arrangements were simply the natural order of things.

As for Third Miss, Lady Jiang summoned Lv Xiaoniang and instructed, “Though Third Daughter isn’t my own child, I sincerely hope she succeeds in this matter. I have some fashionable fabrics here—have our household embroiderers work on them, or hire someone outside if needed—but make sure Third Daughter stands out.”

Her eldest and second daughters, being her own, already had their futures secured. Third Daughter, though part of her camp, would benefit greatly from marrying a jinshi—good for both the Zhou family and Lv Xiaoniang.

In the past, out of jealousy and fear of ridicule, she had pressured Lv Xiaoniang to become a concubine. If her daughter could marry a jinshi, it would be a fitting compensation.

True to form, Lv Xiaoniang was delighted. “This humble servant thanks you, madam, for your guidance.”

Her daughter would soon turn twelve. If a betrothal could be settled now, future worries would vanish. The madam, with her lofty standards, might disdain jinshi without family connections, but for her daughter, marrying one would be infinitely better than wedding a noble family’s lesser-born son.

Her world was small—just her and her daughter.

While the adults seemed to have their paths set, the young ladies remained largely unaware. Eldest Miss, though always poised and proper, wondered if her father’s plan to introduce them to the new jinshi was for matchmaking. Whether it was or not, the chance to go out called for a new outfit.

But this was a personal commission, outside regular duties. She instructed Chunlan, “I have a bolt of jade-green silk. Take it to Jin Niang and have her make me a dress. Oh, and bring two strings of coins (2,000 wen) along with it.”

Before she could finish speaking, Second Young Lady walked in and said, "Big Sister is too generous—every time you reward them so much. They’re our family’s servants after all; giving so much just encourages their greed."

In Second Young Lady’s eyes, as mistresses, assigning work to the servants was a privilege they granted. Why should they be rewarded? The servants already received their monthly wages. Doesn’t this kind of behavior breed entitlement?

Big Sister knew her younger sister had always been spoiled by their mother. If she said too much, she would only invite complaints. So she simply replied, “I don’t have your nerve, Sister. What you say makes sense, but I’m not the only one in the household who does this.”

Unfazed, Second Young Lady sat down and changed the subject: “Big Sister, next month our future sister-in-law will officially join the family, and her father has just been promoted to Vice Minister of Punishments. While it’s good that she comes from a prestigious background, I heard at Grandmother’s that she was raised as a boy and has quite a temper…”

If even Second Young Lady thought someone was strong-willed, Big Sister naturally had heard similar rumors and felt concerned. Her brother himself was extremely headstrong—he had ranked first in the provincial exam in Kaifeng last year. That’s why the Zhang family agreed to marry their daughter into their household. This year, they even sent over a dowry list totaling thirty thousand guan.

Moreover, Zhang Shi would enter the family as the head wife. Although the Zhou family branches had divided assets, they hadn’t fully separated households. Since childhood, Big Sister had watched her mother run herself ragged managing everything. She wondered whether this new sister-in-law would be up to the task.

But to Second Young Lady, she said, “Don’t believe everything you hear. Sister-in-law comes from a noble family—she might not be as bad as people say.”

“That’s true,” Second Young Lady replied. “Big Sister, I must go now—I still haven’t finished transcribing the scriptures Grandmother asked me to copy.”

Big Sister recalled that their grandmother had assigned the task the day before and immediately urged, “Then you’d better hurry.”

No sooner had Second Young Lady left Big Sister’s quarters than she instructed her maid: “Go tell Jin Niang from the sewing room to make me a set of clothes quickly. Oh, and when I visited Grandmother’s house, one of my cousins’ wives gave me an ugly gift—I want you to give it back to her.”

The maid paused for a moment. “Second Young Lady, do you mean those jade pendants?”

Second Young Lady covered her mouth and laughed. “Yes! She even claimed they were from Jade Xuan Pavilion! As if! Passing off cheap knockoffs as the real thing!”

The maid bit back a laugh and went to fetch them.

Third Young Lady had always been close with Jin Niang—she was the only one who had ever given Jin Niang a birthday gift. Now that Concubine Lv had spoken to her about this matter, both mother and daughter decided to approach Jin Niang.

Concubine Lv added, “Although places like Brocade Pavilion and Beauty House are fine, bringing in an outsider would make things too obvious. Others might not matter, but Fourth Miss’s concubine is more favored than I am—if she drops a few hints to the master, we’ll be ruined.”

Children from poor families worry about their next meal, while children from wealthy families worry about their futures.

Concubine Lv feared the news might reach Concubine Miao, unaware that Concubine Miao, having recently recovered from childbirth, had already won back the master’s favor. Of course, she already knew what was going on.

Yet when she told her daughter, the reaction was stronger than expected.

“Concubine, I’m still so young,” Fourth Miss protested. At her age today, she wouldn’t even have finished elementary school in modern times.

Concubine Miao replied, “Miss, I know you’re smarter than I’ll ever be in every way. But who knows what could happen in three years? Secure the betrothal now, marry later, and you’ll become an official’s wife—who could ask for anything better?”

Fourth Miss politely refused. In her opinion, even in ancient times, marriage discussions should wait until after the hair-pinning ceremony. It was far too early now.

But Concubine Miao had her own view: “Your second sister-in-law will soon be here. Once she starts bearing children, by the time it’s your turn, you’ll be left with scraps.”

“But Concubine,” Fourth Miss countered, “perhaps by then Father will have been promoted. Wouldn’t my prospects be even better then?”

Concubine Miao shook her head. “Promotions don’t grow on trees. Remember, what’s in hand is real. Anything else is too distant for us to count on.”

Unable to convince Concubine Miao, Fourth Miss thought of how often she had rewarded Jin Niang in the past. Asking her to make a new outfit now seemed perfect.

Coincidentally, the maids of all four young ladies arrived at the sewing room at once. Si Er and Xiao He, carrying washbasins, quickly set them down at the door and greeted the senior maids.

“Sisters, are you here on business?” Si Er asked.

“I’m here to find Jin Niang…”

“Is Jin Niang around?”

“Second Young Lady sent me to find Miss Jin Niang!”

"I was saying that Jin Niang..."

To her surprise, they were all there for Jin Niang. Si Er froze, and the four maids exchanged confused looks.

Jin Niang had woken up early, her nose so dry it was nearly bleeding, but she loved sleeping with her head buried under the quilt—the cold air outside was just too chilly.

Before she could even eat breakfast, she overheard the conversation between the four maids and Si Er at the door. Jin Niang never thought she’d suddenly be in such high demand? Who wouldn’t want easy money? But you’ve got to be lucky enough to enjoy it!

With such a tight schedule, she still had to embroider Buddhist scriptures. Finishing even one set in three days would be tough.

If she helped one person but not another, she’d end up offending everyone.

Her only option was to make up an excuse to bow out. Right now, she was quite relieved she had taken on the Second Young Master’s task. So when the four maids entered, Jin Niang had just yawned and placed the rubbing on the embroidery frame.

Chunlan, the eldest young lady’s head maid, was familiar with Jin Niang and thus smiled, saying, “We’ll have to trouble you again. The eldest young lady asks that you help rush a set of clothes these few days.”

Chunlan had jumped in first, shutting the other maids out.

But Jin Niang replied, “Sister Chunlan, I’m afraid the Second Young Master has me working on a scroll of Buddhist scriptures. At the earliest, it’ll take ten days.”

“Can’t you squeeze it in? You’re usually so fast.” Chunlan seethed inwardly—after all the eldest young lady’s favors, how could Jin Niang refuse?

Jin Niang reasoned that tasks not assigned by Madam Chen were essentially private commissions, and accepting them was optional. She was no stranger to deflecting blame, so she scratched her head and said, “But embroidering scriptures isn’t like other work—it’s extremely difficult. Maybe the eldest young lady could ask the Second Young Master to ease the deadline? Otherwise, a single mistake would ruin the entire silk.”

She expected Chunlan to be angry, but instead, Chunlan smiled gently. “I see how it is. I’ll leave you to it.”

Once Chunlan left, the other maids hurried back to report to their mistresses.

Fang Qiaolin fretted over Jin Niang. “The way you just spoke could easily make them think you’re using the Second Young Lady to pressure them. That won’t end well for you.”

Qin Shuanger smirked to herself, thinking that Jin Niang’s superior skills had always set her above the rest, but now those same skills had landed her in trouble. Serves her right.

But Jin Niang said, “Even if I hadn’t said that, I’d still have offended them. After all, I only have one pair of hands—how could I possibly finish four sets of clothes in three days while embroidering scriptures?”

“We’re worked like pack animals,” Fang Qiaolin sighed.

Jin Niang thought to herself that they were indeed like cattle and horses. The Zhous were better than most employers, but even so, oppression existed. The system itself ensured that even kind masters would exert pressure. Unlike in modern times, where one could quit if they didn’t want to work, refuse extra tasks without fear for their lives, and where unpaid overtime, lack of social security, or wrongful termination of pregnant employees were regulated by authorities.

But back then, they had no rights at all.

The Song Dynasty was probably better than other dynasties in this regard. Once their service period ended, maids like them could become ordinary commoners, and their children could even take the imperial exams without being branded as low-status.

Meanwhile, Chunlan returned to report. The eldest young lady frowned. “Even Second Sister sent someone?”

“Yes, and not just her. The third and fourth young ladies also sent people. From what I saw, they all had the same idea,” Chunlan said.

The eldest young lady smiled. “No need to corner Jin Niang outright. Visit her tonight and smooth things over. Tell her I greatly admire her skills.”

Chunlan understood the implication.

But by noon, Jin Niang had already received a plate of roast goose and another of shrimp from Dan Ruo, the third young lady’s maid. She quickly said, “Sister Dan Ruo, I already have enough food here.”

Dan Ruo smiled. “Don’t mention it. The third young lady just wanted to show her appreciation.”

Jin Niang smiled back. “Is there something the third young lady needs? If it’s within my ability, I’ll certainly do it.”

Pleased by Jin Niang’s quick understanding, Dan Ruo said, “Our young lady wants a new set of clothes from you.”

Of course, Jin Niang already knew. She pointed at the embroidery frame. “I still have seven days left on this scripture. If she doesn’t mind the wait, I’ll get to it then.”

"That won't work. Our mistress is in a hurry for it," Dan Ruo immediately responded.

Jin Niang neither agreed nor refused outright, only saying, "If it's too urgent, I suggest going to Jinxiu Pavilion to find pre-made garments from Madam Rong or Madam Song. If the size doesn’t fit, I can help adjust them. My current workload won’t allow it, and I mustn’t delay Third Young Lady’s important matter."

A flat refusal wouldn’t suffice—she had to offer a concrete solution.

Dan Ruo let out a relieved sigh and hurried back to report. Upon hearing Jin Niang’s suggestion, Lv Xiaoniang also found it feasible: "Jinxiu Pavilion is a good option. We’ve often worn their clothes before."

"Yes," Dan Ruo added. "Jin Niang said Madam Rong’s designs are elegant and charming, while Madam Song’s are ornate and regal. If embroidery isn’t needed, she recommended Tailor Mo, who specializes in brocade and does excellent gold-leaf printing and gold-thread embroidery."

Lv Xiaoniang knew her daughter was very beautiful and thought a maiden from a literati family should wear something more refined.

Third Young Lady and Lv Xiaoniang were reasonable people, so Jin Niang breathed a small sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, Second Young Lady was furious: "These people are like fawning pups, all clinging to my brother, treating his affairs as matters of life and death. No matter what, make her work for me!"

Her maid wore a pained expression, unable to respond.

As for Fourth Young Lady, she understood Jin Niang’s predicament. After all, this was a man’s world, and Second Young Master’s matters naturally took precedence over theirs. Besides, with four young ladies, no matter whom she worked for, she’d offend the others.

So, she told Xiang Yuan, "Tell Jin Niang I understand her difficulties. She can make it for me another time—no need to pressure her."

Xiang Yuan agreed and relayed the message to Jin Niang, who was profoundly touched: "Fourth Young Lady is so considerate. I don’t even know what to say."

"Fourth Young Lady often tells us to consider others’ perspectives—that’s the idea," Xiang Yuan said, subtly boosting her mistress’s image.

Jin Niang, however, grew wary. "Considering others’ perspectives" wasn’t a phrase from the Northern Song era. Could this young lady be a time traveler? But she kept these thoughts to herself, only praising Fourth Young Lady in front of Xiang Yuan.

After Xiang Yuan left, Jin Niang stood frozen briefly, feeling much lighter.

At the same time, she reminded herself not to slip up.

They say when fellow countrymen meet, tears well up—but sometimes, they plant knives in each other’s backs.

Taking a deep breath, Jin Niang picked up her needle again. It was strange—she was used to finishing tasks quickly and had never learned to drag her feet, but now she had to. Otherwise, pleasing one would displease another, and she’d instantly become everyone’s target.

Late at night, the embroidery room was still busy. Jin Niang yawned: "I should rest early—my eyes are red."

Before she could finish, Chun Lan arrived. Of course, she was here for Jin Niang, who feared the two legitimate young ladies the most. Eldest Young Lady might seem gentle and harmless, but after spending time with her, Jin Niang had realized she was shrewd and lacked empathy.

Just as Chun Lan now said, "Eldest Young Lady has always thought highly of you, Jin Niang. I personally believe she intends to take you as her dowry maid in the future."

As she spoke, Chun Lan took Jin Niang’s hand: "Think about it—Eldest Young Lady is Madam’s favorite. If she asks for you, Madam will surely agree. Others in the embroidery room are eager to curry favor, but our young lady doesn’t even glance their way."

If Jin Niang were new, she might have been overwhelmed with gratitude. But she had seen through it—Eldest Young Lady wasn’t the type to show genuine consideration. Even if they thought they were being kind and valuing her, to Jin Niang, it was just another burden.

Like now, Eldest Young Lady thought dangling a future before her would make her run herself ragged. Jin Niang only smiled: "Sister, you flatter me. I’m deeply moved by Eldest Young Lady’s regard, but my family expects me to return home after these few years. I dare not hope to be a dowry maid. Chun Lan, I know why you’re here—we’re both servants, bound to fulfill our mistresses’ tasks. If I were working on Eldest Young Lady’s order now and someone asked me to drop it, I wouldn’t, just like last time when I made the pearl-embroidered gown for her and refused others’ requests."

They knew she was busy, yet they demanded she work day and night to rush their orders. On the surface, it was favor—in reality, oppression.

If she gave in, she might work herself to exhaustion or face retaliation from the other young ladies, and Eldest Young Lady wouldn’t lift a hand to help.

Jin Niang knew full well that Eldest Young Lady wouldn’t dare openly compete with Second Young Master. The sutra was for his teacher’s wife—it concerned his future.

Chun Lan left displeased, thinking about the nerve of a lowly seamstress.

...

The next morning, the young ladies went to greet Jiang Shi, who had several newest silks laid out on the Baxian table beside her. She waved them closer: "Come, help me pick which patterns would suit a woman of refinement."

The eldest daughter tilted her head and smiled. “Mother, who are you choosing this for?”

“For Madam Zhang—your brother’s mentor’s wife,” replied Jiang Shi.

The eldest daughter’s eyes flickered slightly. “I think this piece of indigo brocade with peony vines is quite lovely.”

Jiang Shi smiled. “Shi Shi’s eye is impeccable. I also favor this one. Although your brother passed the local exams, it was entirely due to Master Zhang’s guidance. In three years, he’ll sit for the provincial-level examinations. The Zhang family is especially important now—we mustn’t neglect them.”

Her meaning wasn’t clear, and the daughters remained puzzled. Just yesterday, Jiang Shi had heard from Jin Niang in the embroidery workshop that she was working on scriptures for Second Young Master. As the young master had explained, these scriptures were very important—they were to be presented to his mentor’s wife—so Jin Niang had to focus entirely on them. Yet she was also responsible for making the young ladies’ garments and had come seeking Jiang Shi’s instructions.

To Jiang Shi, though she loved her daughters, her son’s future mattered most. The third and fourth daughters made no strong demands, and the second merely fumed without pressing the matter further. But the eldest daughter, Cunzhi’s own sister, had deliberately strong-armed the seamstresses after dark to abandon her brother’s work in favor of hers.

She turned to the girls. “I’ve already instructed the embroidery workshop to prioritize your brother’s scriptures. Do you think Madam Zhang will like them?”

The eldest and second daughters exchanged a glance.

...

Si Er rushed in and, seeing Jin Niang still at her needlework, immediately leaned in to whisper.

Hearing that the eldest and second daughters had been confined to copying scriptures for the matriarch, Jin Niang smirked—the final hurdle cleared. But then she felt a pang of sorrow. She had gambled on Jiang Shi valuing her son’s future, yet hadn’t expected her to go this far.

Still, Si Er worried. “But once you finish the scriptures, won’t they find fault with you?”

Jin Niang shook her head. “No. Because the second young mistress is about to enter the household.”

The Zhous’ household power balance was about to shift!