Chapter 100

Chapter 100

When the transfer order arrived, the entire county office was reluctant to see him go. Madam Wen and Madam He threw farewell parties for them, each gifting twenty taels for the journey. The wives of Chief Qin, Chief Yang, and Clerk Huang each hosted a banquet, while Jiang Sixth Jieer sent over some prepared medicine.

Why did they go to such lengths? Because Daming Prefecture was an imperial capital prefecture. While ordinary prefectures were governed by prefects, Daming Prefecture was administered by a Prefectural Overseer.

Given Jiang Xian's youth and competence, his posting to Daming Prefecture would likely bring new opportunities. After all, success breeds followers!

Manor Manager Fan brought his son, and Shopkeeper Yao came with his son to pay respects, each bringing gifts. Manor Manager Fan presented a jar of yellow wine, a whole lamb, a box of abalone, four roasted ducks, and four shad fish. Shopkeeper Yao offered two packs of honey-crisp pastries, sixty chestnut-stuffed zongzi, and two jugs of citrus wine.

Jiang Xian instructed them to send money and provisions at the end of each year. The manor was not to shortchange its tenants, and the inn was to prioritize guest safety, especially during the county school’s autumn entrance exams in two months, when many scholars would stay. They were to treat guests courteously, as he had eyes and ears everywhere. Any misconduct would be dealt with strictly.

Fan and Yao hastily assured him they wouldn’t dare.

Meanwhile, Jin Niang began packing and purchasing supplies for the journey. She first bought ten straw mats, renowned in Wu for their vibrant green color, soft and smooth texture, and tight weave, offering cool comfort during sleep. She also acquired twenty bolts of fashionable silk, knowing that buying Suzhou-style fabrics in Daming Prefecture would cost several times more. Other items like gauze flowers, silk flowers, sweat towels, handkerchiefs, and pouches were a given.

Additionally, she tasked Chen Xiaolang with buying tangerines, melons, and dried fruits, while Ju Xiang was to preserve a few jars of duck and goose eggs, along with pickled vegetables like spicy pickled cucumbers. Staples like rice, flour, and wheat, as well as salt, ginger, garlic, and plum-based seasonings, were also prepared.

The journey from Pingjiang to Tongzhou in Daming Prefecture would take the Grand Canal all the way. This time, they didn’t need to hire a boat—the Gu family had provided a large vessel to escort them.

During Jiang Xian’s tenure as County Sheriff, he had often assisted the Gu family, resolving many issues. Yet, apart from gifts exchanged when Jin Niang acted as a wedding facilitator, she never accepted money, leaving the Gu family eager to repay the favor. Now was their chance.

At the same time, Jin Niang and Jiang Xian wrote to their family in Bianjing, informing them of their impending move to Daming Prefecture.

After celebrating Jin Niang’s 28th birthday, they departed from Wu County.

A smaller boat followed closely behind the main vessel, carrying guards hired by Jiang Xian. Having served as County Sheriff for three years, he had investigated many cases—some involving greed or lust on boats, others involving river pirates. Retainers were essential.

They boarded at dawn, and by the time they finished arranging their belongings, it was nearly noon. Jin Niang brought out snacks to hold everyone over.

Ru Yan had always assumed that ladies of high standing simply waited to be served. Now she saw how wrong she was—from managing social engagements to overseeing household meals, everything fell to the lady of the house.

An official’s wife had even more responsibilities than an ordinary matron.

For instance, after the snacks, Jin Niang instructed, "Set aside a bolt of crimson satin, a bolt of official-green lake silk, two jugs of citrus wine, and three shad fish. When we reach Yangzhou, have Chen Xiaolang visit the Dou family to ask if Second Madam Dou has any letters for her cousin."

On the surface, it was about delivering mail, but in reality, it was an opportunity to connect with Dou Yuan, offering her support. Since Dou Yuan had married into a prominent local family, this would also help forge ties with influential clans—killing two birds with one stone.

A Ying jotted it down before heading to the kitchen to instruct Ju Xiang to keep the shad alive in fresh water.

Expecting more chores, Ru Yan was surprised when Jin Niang retired to rest. She hurried to her own quarters.

Previously, she hadn’t lived closely with Jin Niang, so her understanding of Madam Wei was vague—perhaps just a kind-hearted, knowledgeable official’s wife.

Now, after close observation, she had much to reflect on.

Jin Niang, oblivious to these thoughts, napped for two hours until noon approached. Ju Xiang and two maids prepared lunch: a pot of plum-braised pork knuckle, lamb and gourd stew, chilled mung bean licorice drink, stir-fried greens, and stir-fried loofah and eggs.

The servants had two chestnut zongzi, a bowl of noodles, and two kinds of pickles.

Three days later, they reached Yangzhou. Chen Xiaolang took the gifts and hired a cart to the Dou residence. Second Madam Dou said to Lan Mama beside her, "Thank heavens! I was just worrying about my daughter alone in Daming Prefecture—who knew my nephew would be appointed Magistrate there?"

She wrote a letter, packed some medicinal herbs, and prepared a gift for Chen Xiaolang to take back, along with a tip.

Jin Niang first secured Second Madam Dou’s letter for Dou Yuan, then stored the herbs separately to avoid dampness. She then unwrapped the gift—a lamb’s wool hat and some medicinal rhizomes from Shuzhou.

Seeing the hat, Jin Niang told Jiang Xian, "Daming Prefecture is even further north than Henan. We’ll have much to do upon arrival, and making clothes may take time. Perhaps I should get a head start on sewing during the trip."

"There’s plenty of time," Jiang Xian replied. "Rest for now."

Here is the refined translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

Jin Niang then said, "I know that. But why do you look so displeased today? What's the matter?"

Jiang Xian replied, "My elder brother has already returned to the capital to take up a post in the Censorate."

"Is it because of the Chancellor of Jixian?" Jin Niang asked.

Jiang Xian nodded—this was a case of having connections in court making officialdom easier. Fearing Jin Niang might think his words carried hidden implications, he was about to change the subject when Jin Niang laughed and said, "Even if we’re hopping from place to place, who knows? We might find unexpected fortune along the way. Like my goal of buying a three-section compound—if we save enough, it’ll be a pleasant surprise. If not, we’ll still have saved a good sum, and buying a big house will just be a matter of time."

If she hadn’t comforted him like this, he would have remained sullen, for Jiang Xian sometimes waited for her to cheer him up.

Sure enough, her words brightened his mood.

Jin Niang took his arm as they entered their room, sharing jokes and laughing together.

All of this was noticed by Ru Yan. As someone from the entertainment quarters, she could tell the man seemed more emotionally dependent on the woman. Outwardly, Wei Shi appeared delicate and timid, while Jiang Xian was handsome, highly capable, and sharp-witted—one would expect the woman to lean on the man. Yet their dynamic was nothing like that.

The underlying reason eluded Ru Yan for now, but she found it fascinating.

During the journey from Yangzhou to Huai'an, Jin Niang, having bought new books for entertainment, read with relish. In her spare time, she did needlework with her maids and Yun Jieer.

First was a fur-lined jacket for herself. She already had spring and autumn outfits, especially since Gu Qingru had gifted her two gowns adorned with pearls—enough to hold her own in society. So she took out sable fur she’d saved and pondered fabric colors and embroidery patterns.

She assigned tasks to everyone—not to exploit them, but because Jin Niang knew confinement on the boat would lead to squabbles.

Min Zhi made a cloak for Ning Geer and a short jacket for Yun Jieer. Qing Rong sewed silk socks and shoe soles for Jin Niang, while Ziteng and Chunxiang assisted Ju Xiang. Others had their duties, and Ru Yan monitored the children’s health daily.

After three days, Jin Niang finalized the design—red fabric with peony patterns, peony and hibiscus embroidery along the collar panel, embellished with gold-leaf and colored techniques.

At dusk, the boat docked in Huai'an overnight. Jin Niang gave Liu Douer a shopping list and money for supplies. "Don’t buy too much—we’ll stop in Xuzhou," she said.

Later, as Nanny Ma and Xi Qiu put the children to bed, they unexpectedly encountered Sun Shichen and Fourth Lady Zhou, whom they’d met three years prior. Coincidentally, they too were transferring to Hebei Circuit—Sun Shichen from Fuyang’s Assistant Magistrate to Magistrate of Guantao County.

Reuniting, both women noted how the other had changed.

Fourth Lady Zhou saw Jin Niang as lavishly adorned now, wearing jade-inlaid bracelets and a lotus-shaped gilded hairpin set with emerald. Wu County’s prosperity clearly brought wealth—the saying "three years as a clean prefect, a hundred thousand taels of silver" rang true. Even they’d amassed three hundred strings of coins from customary seasonal gifts.

Jin Niang found Fourth Lady Zhou more polished and self-assured, likely from official social circles.

Their brief exchange ended politely.

That evening, Jiang Xian told Jin Niang, "Master Zhou lives in retirement now, while Second Brother Zhou went to Jiangling. His father’s mediocre local post offers little leverage—without second-term achievements, he’ll be reassigned without promotion."

"Officialdom mirrors business—connections help, but without skill, they’re useless. You need timing, opportunity, and connections. Don’t fear mistakes—solving problems beats inaction," Jin Niang said.

Happiness stems from comparison. Jiang Xian had envied his brother’s capital posting, but seeing Sun Shichen relegated to a lesser county lifted his spirits.

A month later in Jiyang County, Jin Niang made sure to dock the boat. Having sought advice from the Gu family, she knew Jiyang prized Suzhou silk.

She bought two hundred bolts of silk gauze for a hundred strings of coins, selling them for a 140-string profit. She rewarded Liu Douer and Chen Xiaolang with one tael each, and porters with two-tenths of a tael apiece.

"Wife, they sold out! We could’ve bought more," Jiang Xian laughed.

Jin Niang shook her head. "This was our first attempt, and only with the Gu family’s guidance."

Jiang Xian respected his wife’s savvy—though she claimed to lack a head for business, her methods were steady and sound.

"Why aren’t you teaching our son to read? Before, you said you were busy with official duties, but now you’ve got time." Jin Niang looked at him.

Even Jiang Xian, usually unflappable, scratched his head helplessly. "How come when you teach him, he listens quietly, but when I do, he’s suddenly thirsty, then needs the bathroom, then begs for snacks?"

Jin Niang said sternly, "You’re always the pushover—no wonder he doesn’t take you seriously. Stop fooling around with him. Teach him properly, the way he ought to be taught."

Men don’t give birth—how can they truly love a child? Only by raising one themselves do they grow attached. That’s why they say, "A stepmother brings a stepfather"—that’s exactly what it means.

At Jin Niang’s words, Jiang Xian gritted his teeth and went to summon their son for lessons. Meanwhile, Jin Niang ate two pastries and took a nice, long nap.

When she woke, Ru Yan came to chat. Seeing how well Ru Yan knew her poetry and could even write it, Jin Niang asked her to set aside an hour each day to teach her verse. Ru Yan eagerly agreed, and Jin Niang had A Ying present her with a cooling mat, a packet of incense, a set of Hu silk robes, and two packets of tea as a teacher’s gift.

She hadn’t had the chance before, but now that she did, why shouldn’t she better herself?

In her past life, she’d excelled at writing as a child and later became a screenwriter, wanting to pour out her heart. Here, poetry was the way to express her thoughts, so she studied with earnest focus.

Jiang Xian, hearing of this, was baffled. "If you want to learn poetry, why not ask me? Why get some stranger to teach you?"

"She’s free to come daily, but you have other things to attend to."

She firmly believed relatives shouldn’t share finances, and spouses shouldn’t smother each other—everyone needed their own pursuits.

Get too close, and you’ll hit a dead end.

Noticing Jin Niang had some foundation, Ru Yan began by teaching her regulated verse and quatrains.

"See, a regulated verse has eight lines of five characters each, forty in total. Its structure is strict: the opening, developing, turning, and concluding couplets, usually following the rules of introduction, development, transition, and resolution. A quatrain is four lines, five characters each, twenty total, with more flexible rhymes. Generally, regulated verse is more formal," Ru Yan explained.

Jin Niang had learned this in her past life but had forgotten much. After Ru Yan’s review, she took careful notes.

Ru Yan continued, "Take Du Fu’s 'Spring View'—a fine example of regulated verse. Savor it: 'The nation shattered, mountains and rivers remain; Spring in the city, grass and trees grow deep. Moved by the season, even flowers seem to weep; Heartbroken by parting, birdsongs pierce the soul. Beacon fires stretch three months unbroken; A letter from home is worth ten thousand gold. White hair scratched grows ever thinner; Soon too thin to pin up.'"

Then she shared a quatrain—Liu Zongyuan’s "River Snow."

After an hour of study and note-taking, Jin Niang fetched a Tang poetry anthology. Jiang Xian, already in bed, remarked, "Wife, memorizing the rules is important, and reading helps, but you must actually write."

"You’re right," Jin Niang thought. Hadn’t she progressed from sentences to essays in her past life?

Seeing her dedication, Jiang Xian watched as she copied ten regulated verses and quatrains, memorized them, and recited them to him.

"You’ve memorized them already?" Jiang Xian doubted.

Jin Niang banged the table. "I’ve had an education, you know! I teach the children daily!"

Jiang Xian surrendered. After her recitation, he applauded. Noting her pride, he patted the bed. "Jin Niang, come rest. You said the wind gave you a headache earlier—I saw you rubbing your temples. Let me help."

"Alright." She put away her notes, put out the light, and went to bed.

She kept this up for over half a month until their boat got stuck in Liaocheng due to rough canal waters. Jin Niang bought ice to combat the summer heat and insects, distributing paper-coiled incense—the Song version of mosquito coils—to everyone. Lighting it under mosquito nets made things a lot more comfortable.

When Ru Yan visited the next day, the iced room was a relief. The summer heat wore her out, so any respite here was welcome. But Jin Niang studied only an hour before resting, so Ru Yan had to leave.

A Ying asked Fang Ma, "Why won’t the lady let Ru Yan stay a while? She told me she’s still roasting."

Since Ru Yan had helped A Ying with her menstrual troubles, A Ying favored her.

Fang Ma chuckled. "Think—Ru Yan’s neither master nor servant here, and she’s pretty. The lady’s lessons lift her status, but if they linger too long, folks might talk."

"Guess? Guess what?" A Ying, heeding Jin Niang's advice to learn from Fang Ma, had been asking questions often lately.

Fang Ma said, "Mostly romantic matters. Spread such talk too much, and what if rumors turn real?"

A Ying shook her head. "How could that happen? The master truly cares for our mistress."

"I believe that too, but you can’t test someone’s heart." Fang Ma didn’t distrust Ru Yan or doubt Jiang Xian’s character. But once emotions stir, people chase novelty. Ru Yan met no other men—facing someone like Jiang Xian, she might well develop feelings. And Jiang Xian, usually so focused, might miss what’s under his nose.

A Ying frowned. "Is that really what our mistress thinks?"

Fang Ma chuckled. "This old lady’s just guessing."

Though she said that, Fang Ma had noticed Jin Niang rarely mentioned Ru Yan—only in passing, like with the poetry lessons, never elaborating.

Truthfully, Jin Niang had no such worries. She simply valued her alone time—reading, handling affairs, and needlework filled her days, but she also needed time to herself.

In her busier past, grabbing a bite or nap felt like a gift. These three years at the county office brought exhausting duties but also more leisure. Sometimes, it felt good to just zone out.

She told Jiang Xian: "Running a household means our minds never rest. When we finally get a break, it’s nice to just shut off your brain."

Jiang Xian agreed—lying quietly, thoughtless, was peace itself.

He often marveled how his wife’s insights mirrored common feelings—though Jin Niang would never explain why.

By Cangzhou, Jin Niang could imitate regulated verse, quatrains, even lyrics—clumsily, but passably.

Jiang Xian suggested: "Write what you see. Take ‘Spring River Flower Moon Night’—you could use the moon to describe scenery or people."

Jin Niang nodded. "No wonder you passed the exams—you’ve got skill."

Jiang Xian was torn between laughing and groaning.

Still, distractions beat boredom on the road.

Past Cangzhou, Daming Prefecture neared. Jin Niang asked, "Will the prefectural office be bigger this time?"

"Of course. They’re always larger than county offices." Jiang Xian looked forward to it.

Yan and Zhao—legendary for their fiery, heroic spirits!

Yet upon arrival, Jin Niang found Daming Prefecture nothing like Wu County. As a secondary capital, it mimicked Bianjing—officials rented or bought homes.

Jiang Xian settled his family at an inn and headed to the office.

A Ying fretted. "We should’ve stayed in Wu County—at least we had housing. Don’t officials live at the yamen? Why must we stay outside?"

Jin Niang smiled. "The best-laid plans often go awry. Let’s find a house instead." She added, "Did you tip the boatmen and stewards twenty taels?"

"They turned it down, saying the Gu family covered their pay. Only when I called it your reward did they accept." With no lodging, A Ying missed Wu County more.

"Quit griping—it won’t help. Let’s wait for our master."

Jiang Xian returned at noon, hired a carriage and agent. Houses here cost far less than in Bianjing or Luoyang.

They viewed a five-courtyard mansion with seven rooms and an octagonal pavilion, going for just twelve hundred taels.

But Jin Niang needed no palace. She told Jiang Xian: "Housing here’s affordable. Renting a three-courtyard place runs five or six strings monthly—over two hundred total. If the landlord ends the lease, we’re out. Let’s buy now and sell later. We’d lose less than two hundred strings tops."

Jiang Xian agreed. After two days of house-hunting, they chose a standard three-courtyard home—five front rooms, three central, one side room east and west, three wing rooms each, plus back rooms—for five hundred strings.

Just as they were about to make the payment, Dou Yuan unexpectedly arrived with some people and mentioned that the house opposite their residence was up for sale. Originally a three-courtyard compound bought for 520 strings of cash, the owners had added another 200 strings to build a pavilion and cultivate a garden. Now, because their youngest son was embroiled in a lawsuit in the Western Capital, they were urgently selling the property. With her help in negotiating, it could be settled for 560 strings.

Jin Niang and Jiang Xian went to inspect it and found that indeed, a pavilion, corridors, and a veranda had been built in the third courtyard, and it wasn’t far from the government office. After examining the deed, they immediately decided to purchase it. Jin Niang handed over 300 strings in paper money, another 200 in copper coins, and added two sets of Luoyang Brocade silk garments she had made years ago to cover the remaining 60 strings.

A residence they might not have afforded in the Eastern Capital—who’d have guessed they’d land such a place in Daming Prefecture?

Seizing a moment when no one was paying attention, Jin Niang slyly tickled Jiang Xian’s palm under her sleeve. Jiang Xian, who had been deep in thought, instantly stiffened and looked at his wife in disbelief. Jin Niang, however, withdrew her hand as if nothing had happened and said, “Why are you staring at me? The owner’s calling you to check the deed.”

Jiang Xian noticed the ambiguous looks from everyone around him, their eyes all saying, *Aren’t you a bit too eager? It’s broad daylight!* He almost wanted to yell, *What the—?!*—he felt even more wronged than the filial widow Zhou Qing*.* *Note: Zhou Qing was a famously wronged woman in Chinese folklore.*