Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Returning from the Second Young Master’s place, Jin Niang received a message sent by Cheng the Broker. The Embroidery Academy had posted an announcement, asking Jin Niang to write her own “footnote status.” If she didn’t know how to write it, she could pay two hundred coins for someone to do it.

The so-called “footnote status” was similar to a resume, detailing one's hometown, household registration, names of three generations, family members, age, and previous employment. Jin Niang certainly didn’t need to spend this money.

She wrote from right to left: Wei Jin Niang, fifteen years old, born on the eighth day of the sixth month, maternal surname Luo. On a new line, she wrote: Under the auspices of my father, I have one younger brother; both my grandfather and great-grandfather have passed away. My father was originally a soldier in the Shaanxi military, our original domicile is in Jiangling Prefecture, but we now reside in Kaifeng Prefecture, where my father is registered as the head of the household. I was once a embroiderer at Shu Embroidery Studio, skilled in floral and bird embroidery techniques, and later served in the Chancellery of the Military Council, having completed my term of service.

The Embroidery Academy is located among the outer government offices outside the palace, alongside institutions like the Left and Right Jinwu, the Dairy Institute, the East and West Workshops, the Silk and Brocade Institute, and the Military Equipment Office.

Their documents needed to be reviewed first. Jin Niang thought she could use her time at the Zhou residence to make some purses and sachets, as they would definitely be examining their needlework skills.

No matter what, she decided to prepare herself.

After ten days, Cheng the Broker sent someone again, asking her to bring some needlework for the preliminary selection. Jin Niang took out the sachets she had made and gave the messenger twenty coins as a tip.

Although the treatment at the Embroidery Academy was average, having its endorsement would make her future embroidery career smoother.

On the day before the eldest daughter’s wedding, the dowry began to be delivered. The second and third households sent their servants and guards to help carry the items, and Jin Niang and the others went to the second gate to watch.

Jin Niang’s eyes were fixed on the embroidered pieces. In the sunset, various intricate embroidery techniques were displayed together, and she murmured, “Those were embroidered by me.”

“When the First Lady carried these embroidered pieces out of our sewing room, many people gathered around to admire them, praising the exquisite embroidery on the quilts,” Fang Qiaolian also sighed with emotion.

Jin Niang smiled, “You haven’t seen the embroidered clothes made by Chen Niang yet; they are truly beautiful.”

On the bed frame in the eldest daughter’s room hung a fiery red wedding dress. Chen Niang was particularly skilled in making xiapai (a type of ceremonial sash). For this occasion, she specially made a “Twelve Months Scenery” red xiapai for the eldest daughter. Although people often referred to brides as ‘red men and green women,’ she did not make the wedding dress entirely green. Instead, she used green plain silk for the bodice, while the “Twelve Months Scenery” xiapai featured a red background with green embroidery, giving the dress a grand and elegant appearance.

Truly worthy of being trained by the Embroidery Academy, all the designs were in the large-sleeved style, abandoning the long-backed robe style.

Along with the eldest daughter's dowry went her wet nurse and maidservant, who had gone ahead the day before to prepare the bed. Lady Wang also came with her daughters-in-law to see the arrangements. The third daughter-in-law's family background was not as distinguished as the first two, but her dowry was quite generous.

Even the quilts laid out in the bridal chamber were exquisite, especially this quilt cover with a design of mandarin ducks playing in water, which was embroidered beautifully.

In fact, Fang Qiaolian had once embroidered a dragon and phoenix bringing good fortune, but when the Jiang family saw it, they found it too conventional and lacking in highlights. In contrast, Jin Niang's embroidery of the mandarin ducks exuded a lively and bright charm, making the entire quilt cover look like a painting.

Jin Niang, of course, was unaware of these matters. She had even been copied by Lady Chen, though Lady Chen's skills were slightly better, resulting in a superior piece.

In the sewing room, Jin Niang and Fang Qiaolian had already started packing. Tomorrow, after the wedding feast, Lady Chen and the others would return to Jiangling by boat, while Jin Niang would go home. Over the years, she had saved more than a hundred strings of cash, giving fifteen taels to her family, leaving her with one hundred and two strings. Besides that, she had six bolts of silk, two pieces of gauze, ten pairs of incense candles, three pounds of premium tea, half a box of silk and wool threads, ten handkerchiefs, two gold hairpins, a pair of pearl hairpins, a pair of pearl flowers, three pairs of earrings, seven rings, a box of velvet and silk flowers, and three silver hairpins.

As for clothing, over the past three years, she had accumulated two trunks full, including padded, lined, silk, brocade, and gauze garments.

She then called Si'er over and gave her a book of flower patterns: "These are designs I've sketched over time. If you're unsure what to embroider, just follow these. You know how to cut and sew now, so I'm not worried."

"Jin Niang, if only you could stay here longer," Si'er clung to her like a fledgling bird.

Jin Niang smiled: "There's no banquet that doesn't eventually disperse. If I stayed here all the time, you wouldn't have the chance to shine. Perhaps we'll meet again someday. My parents are now in Bianjing; we will surely see each other again."

Si'er still didn't want to let go. Jin Niang took a few more designs from her sketchbook and gave them to her: "These are outfits I've designed. If you're unsure about matching, you can refer to these, but I believe you're so clever that you will surpass me in the future."

"Thank you, Jin Niang." Si'er wiped away her tears.

Jin Niang also dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief: "No matter what happens to the sewing room, with these skills, you can forge your own path wherever you go."

Lanxue, Ruicao, Luying, Hu E, and Zhen'er prepared a farewell meal for them in the kitchen. They didn't let Jin Niang help, and she crossed her arms: "Fine, I'll enjoy myself today."

The girls were bustling around in the room, and the Zhou family had gathered at the matriarch's place for dinner. Wu Shi, who was close to giving birth, also came. The eldest Zhou daughter looked at everyone, feeling a lump in her throat. Lady Jiang, the head wife, couldn't help but wipe her tears with a handkerchief: "It's a happy occasion, don't cry. Your brother will be sending you off in the flower sedan tomorrow."

The matriarch smiled: "That's right. The Wang family isn't far from us, so it will be easy for you to come back home."

But the Jiang family matriarch said, "In your husband's home, you must be filial to your in-laws and respectful to your sister-in-law. Living a good life is more important than anything else."

She did not approve of always relying on the family for support. Just like herself, though the Jiangs were an official family, whether one could live well ultimately depended on oneself. Even the in-laws couldn't manage everything for you; once married, you belonged to another family.

If you can't stand on your own feet and always rely on your natal family, they can only help you temporarily.

Zhou Dama nodded, understanding that this marriage had been a significant effort from her family. She also needed to set a good example for her younger sisters and maintain the relationship between the two families.

Among the young ladies present, except for the Fourth Miss and Mei Pan'er, the others were already engaged. Coincidentally, the Fourth Miss and Mei Pan'er had a good relationship. The old lady, being advanced in years, rarely went out to socialize anymore, so it fell to the Jiang matriarch to arrange these matters. The match she found for the Third Miss was quite good.

The old lady, however, felt that the Jiang matriarch hadn't done enough, unaware that the Jiang matriarch had already done her best. With the eldest daughter about to marry and the second daughter soon to follow, there was little time to think about the cousin.

After the banquet, the old lady, having drunk some wine, lay on the couch and sighed deeply.

Dong Mama, who had served the old lady since childhood, stepped forward and asked, "What's troubling you, Old Lady? Are you reluctant to part with the eldest daughter? In my opinion, there's no need to be sad. This is such a perfect match, something others would envy."

Dong Mama, a shrewd woman, knew the old lady was still blaming the head of the household but couldn't say it outright, so she suggested, "Old Lady, actually, our cousin isn't young either. If I may say so, don't miss the right person in front of you."

The old lady was puzzled, "You old fox, why can't you speak clearly?"

"House Han is currently in mourning, but their Seventh Young Master, though orphaned, will receive some wealth and land from his elder brother, who is known for his kindness. The young master is very studious. Why not consider a match between the two families?" Dong Mama proposed.

However, the old lady waved her hand, "No, Han Qiulang has lofty ambitions. He won't marry until he passes the imperial exams, and our Pan'er can't wait that long. Besides, she is an orphan and needs a gentle and kind husband."

Dong Mama added, "There's also the Third Young Master of the Jiang family. Though he is a bit younger, he is a relative and matches in age and appearance."

The old lady disagreed again, "The Jiang family has fallen on hard times, and his wife is notorious for her fierce and unruly behavior. If our Pan'er, who often cries, marries into such a family, even with her dowry, she will still be mistreated."

Dong Mama remembered the last time Jiang's sixth wife came over. Because the Sixth Master had gambled, she had erupted into a fit of rage, showing no trace of feminine virtue.

Both candidates suggested were rejected by the old lady, leaving Lady Dong at a loss. Nowadays, all the jinshis (imperial scholars) are snobs, mostly older bachelors waiting to pass the exams so they can marry into wealthy and powerful families. Even the current prime minister had to offer his son-in-law three thousand taels as a bedding gift. The old lady only has five thousand taels left, which is her life savings; she could at most give half of it to Miss Mei.

How could such a dowry secure a jinshi for her? Even the third daughter, who was born out of wedlock, is said to have a dowry of five thousand taels.

...

After leaving the old lady's quarters, the fourth daughter did not want to visit Xiao Miao, who was now pregnant and very cautious. Among her sisters, she only had a decent relationship with the eldest, but the eldest was getting married tomorrow and had already been called over by the matriarch.

Feeling rather bored, she returned to her room. Seeing Yu Xing return from outside with a slight flush on her face, she asked, "Where have you been?"

"I just attended a farewell banquet in the embroidery room. Chen Niang, Jin Niang, and Qian Lian are all leaving tomorrow, so we all chipped in for a drink. I just came back after the drinking started to wind down," Yu Xing replied.

Jin Niang is leaving too. Yes, when she met Zhou Cunzhi, she was already remarried.

The fourth daughter said, "I've heard good things about her. I wanted her to draw a flower pattern for me. It might be too late to ask her later."

She hoped that if she didn't meet Zhou Cunzhi again, she wouldn't be deceived into marrying him.

Jin Niang had just finished eating and lit a charcoal brazier, preparing to rest, when she heard that the fourth daughter wanted her to come over. She patted her chest, saying, "Even on my last day, there's no peace." With that, she resignedly took her inkstone and pigments and went.

It turned out she was only asked to draw a flower pattern. Jin Niang couldn't help but ask, "What would Fourth Miss like to draw? I'll do it for you."

The fourth daughter casually replied, "Draw a morning glory."

If it were a more complex design, Jin Niang would need to trace it first, but morning glories have few leaves and are simple, requiring no preliminary outline. After mixing the pigments, she began to paint directly. Having always emulated the styles of Xu Xi and Huang Quan, her brushstrokes were unique, even surprising the fourth daughter.

Those watching Jin Niang paint didn't know she had been copying famous paintings all along, assuming she painted them herself. They were captivated. The fourth daughter, a noble lady, found herself inferior to a mere servant. Originally, her own flower patterns were novel and outstanding, praised by the maids, but Jin Niang's light purple morning glory, complete with a bamboo fence and a white-winged, light green-bodied butterfly, exuded a rustic charm and an aura of opulence.

No wonder she caught the eye of her second brother.

Even in a scholarly family during the Song Dynasty, daughters of Bianjing mostly read "The Admonitions for Women" and "Rules for Women." True talents among women were indeed rare, and they could only come from families that were rather enlightened. Just like today's meal, Lady Jiang treated Elder Sister so well, and the Master also regarded his eldest daughter as a pearl in his palm, yet he still expected her to be gentle and obedient to her husband, respectful to her in-laws, and even said that women should primarily be humble and weak.

Could this Jin Niang not have some extraordinary background?

She then asked, "Jin Niang, what do your parents do for a living?"

"Just some small trades," Jin Niang smiled.

After finishing the painting, seeing Fourth Miss look at her work in disbelief, Jin Niang roughly understood her thoughts and was somewhat dismissive. This Fourth Miss had put on such an act earlier, seemingly showing great respect, but in reality, she still thought herself superior and believed that a servant like her could never be good at painting.

But Jin Niang wondered how this Fourth Miss, who wasn't from another time, could be more conservative than local women? Eldest Miss, Third Miss, and even Second Young Master had never questioned her abilities.

Fortunately, they were leaving tomorrow, so she didn't mind these things anymore.

The next morning, when they woke up, the Zhou family was all red, and Jin Niang and the others were essentially off duty. For the first time, they didn't have to work and could play in the garden. Fang Qiaolian even laughed, "Let's play here today. We're always busy with needlework and have never properly toured the garden."

"We still need to be cautious; otherwise, it wouldn't be good if someone saw us strolling around so freely," Jin Niang knew everyone was feeling stifled.

No one was born to be a servant, destined to serve others.

The Zhou family's wealth and power were indeed formidable. It was said that the Master would soon receive a promotion, and this time, Eldest Miss had even become a relative of the Chancellor, bringing even more visitors.

Fang Qiaolian then said, "I'll bring some food. Let's hide behind the garden and enjoy some pastries and tea, or we'll be hungry later."

"Okay," Jin Niang agreed.

Soon, the two of them were enjoying boiled peanuts, a few dishes of pastries, admiring the flowers, and listening to the distant sounds of the opera troupe, feeling quite content. But then Fang Qiaolian clutched her stomach and said, "I'm going to the restroom. I'll head straight to the needlework room for a nap afterward. You stay here for a bit and then go back too. We're leaving today."

"Alright," Jin Niang really felt a bit reluctant to leave when it was mentioned.

After Fang Qiolian left, a group of young men in fine clothes and on spirited horses arrived. Jin Niang recognized a few of them; some were from the Jiang family, while others were sons of officials. She had planned to wait for them to leave before quietly returning to the sewing room, as her parents would soon come to move things.

Unexpectedly, these young men started making a commotion. A tall and chubby youth demanded to practice archery. Nowadays, scholars not only had to read books but also master the six arts of a gentleman. He pointed at two slender youths and said, "Xi Sir, Peng Sir, you two come over."

Jin Niang knew that this Xi Sir was the nephew of Lady Xi, the third wife, who usually lived modestly and looked frail. He seemed shy when pushed around. The other, Peng Sir, was also a thin young boy. He endured and suggested, "Why don't we play arrow-throwing instead? We're not good at archery."

The tall and chubby youth held a bow and said, "That's why I say you two are like little girls. Get lost."

This tall and chubby youth was truly detestable. However, these young men were all in their teens, and some did not step forward to mediate, allowing the tall and chubby youth to become increasingly unreasonable.

Fortunately, one of the most handsome youths slipped away quietly. Jin Niang recognized him; he was the nephew of the first lady, seemingly named Jiang Xian. She had seen him once during a polo match. Jin Niang thought he would go find the adults to settle the matter, but instead, he spoke to another youth beside the flower bed: "Zhang Shiba is really bullying people too much. If he bullies others, it might be fine, but Xi Sir is the nephew of the third lady. If things get out of hand because of Zhang Shiba, it will cause discord between the Zhou family's main branch and the third branch. What do you think... Zhang Shiba is still part of your Zhang family."

The youth listening to Jiang Xian had been an observer, standing aside. Upon hearing this, he immediately sneered, "Zhang Shiba is just a distant relative of our Zhang family. His parents and he have been begging my mother for help, crying every day. Now he acts so high and mighty here. Watch me teach him a lesson."

Jin Niang, standing nearby, figured out the relationships: the tall and chubby youth was the cousin of Second Lady Zhang, while the observer was Zhang's younger brother. By having a Zhang family member deal with Zhang Shiba, they could avoid involving the Zhou family and save the two slender youths from trouble.

Jiang Xian, despite being several years younger than her, was indeed very clever.

Then, she saw Zhang Xiaolang go out to stop Zhang Shiba, scolding him harshly. At first, Zhang Shiba tried to argue back, but eventually, he apologized to Xi Sir and Peng Sir.

However, Jiang Xian was nowhere to be seen.

When Jin Niang returned, she told Lanxue about the scene in the garden. Lanxue smiled and said, "Do you know why Jiang Xian only mentioned Xi Sir and not Peng Sir? Because Jiang Yan's wife is from the Peng family. He was helping Jiang Yan."

Jin Niang understood. Jiang Yan was the son of the Jiang clan's patriarch and was closest to Jiang Xian. She had seen them together several times.

Indeed, the children of prominent families were not to be underestimated.

Lanxue said, "You're leaving soon, and I'll really miss you. There won't be anyone to talk to me anymore."

"You should start planning for yourself. The tea room attendant is no more than twenty years old. Whether to pair him with a junior servant or to take him out of service early, you need to have a plan. I know you’ve been living day by day, but now the Second Madam has taken charge of the household. A new emperor means new ministers; you can’t just let them push you out. When that happens, everything will be decided by them." Jin Niang usually wouldn’t say such things, but today was different. She was about to leave the Zhou family and felt compelled to give her friend, who she was close to, a few extra words of advice.

The Zhang family’s young men were clearly haughty, not just ordinarily so; the Zhangs must certainly be no ordinary people.

Lanxue rose, glanced at Jin Niang, and then lowered her head to pour tea for her: "What you said is indeed something I need to consider. If she’s sent out to be married, it will be hard for her to come back and work here in the inner chambers. Sigh, I always hope that I can stay here by some stroke of luck, and that all of you can stay here too; it would be quite nice. But you’re right, we can’t always let others arrange things for us. If we’re just sent out to be married off carelessly, our whole lives could be ruined."

Seeing her friend finally understand, Jin Niang was also delighted for her and wanted to say more. However, she then heard that Chen Niang and Qin Shuang'er had arrived. After several months without seeing Qin Shuang'er, she noticed that Qin Shuang'er was wearing a shiny satin beizi and adorned with vase hairpins and gold ball hairpins, looking every bit the young lady.

"This is your compensation, sixteen taels in total, sent to me by the Second Lady’s people. Shall I take it to Jiangling for you or give it to you directly?" Chen Niangzi was eager to return and wished to settle this matter as soon as possible.

Changing the living deed to a dead one, she sold it for only sixteen taels, yet Qin Shuang'er was still delighted. "Let me keep this money for now. I'll give it to my mother when I bring her here in the future."

Jin thought to herself that this Second Master was truly a businessman, so skilled at making deals.

Qin Shuang'er clutched the bag of money and walked away without a backward glance, barely acknowledging Jin Niang and Fang Qiaolian. Jin Niang shrugged and said to Lady Chen, "Lady, this..."

"She chose it herself; we can only hope she has good fortune. If not, then she truly is foolish." Lady Chen shook her head, unwilling to say more.

Then, someone came to urge them from outside. Lady Chen and Fang Qiaolian made several trips to move the luggage. They had bid farewell the previous day, so they weren’t as sentimental today. Jin Niang also helped them carry some things and was about to speak with Lanxue when her parents arrived. Si’er and Lanxue also joined in to help with the moving.

Wei Xiong's hired carriage had just arrived, and Jin Niang was introducing Si'er and Lanxue to Luo Yuen: "This is my young apprentice, and this is my good friend."

Luo Yuer hurriedly greeted them. She was so beautiful and young that Lanxue couldn't help but say to Jin Niang, "Is this really your mother, not your sister?"

"Go to hell." Jin Niang shot them a withering glance.

Wei Xiong quietly helped Jin Niang move her trunks, book chests, and bolts of cloth. Seeing that most of the items had been moved, Luo Yüe urged Jin Niang to return home: “The furniture is all ready, we’ve bought a roasted chicken, and we’ve ground the rice flour. We’ll be making steamed dishes later. Let’s go home quickly.”

Jin Niang saw that Lanxue was fine, after all, she was the senior maid, but Si’er was visibly uneasy. She rushed forward and hugged her: “Take care of yourself. My bed is yours to sleep in, and I’ll leave you my writing brush and paper. Don’t be afraid; be bold and do what you must.”

"Very well." Si'er said, then with renewed strength, "Sister Jin, until we meet again."

Jin Niang nodded heavily and glanced back at the Zhou residence. She had originally thought that three years would be an eternity, but now, after all the bitterness and sweetness along the way, she found herself leaving not with relief, but with a sense of melancholy.

As she climbed into the carriage and they were about to leave Wugque Alley, she couldn’t help lifting the curtain to take one last look at the Zhou residence, silently bidding it farewell in her heart: Goodbye, Zhou residence. I am about to start my own life.