Chapter 112

Chapter 112

After completing the Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy) embroidery, Jin Niang rested for half a month before starting to make clothes for her husband and children again. Over the past few years, she had mostly bought fabric and hired outside tailors to do the work. However, tailors wouldn’t embroider for you, and hiring an embroiderer was expensive, so Jin Niang decided to embroider a set of clothes for each of them herself.

First, she made a royal blue round-collared robe with a peony vine motif in subtle relief for Jiang Xian, paired with a maroon buttoned inner robe. She embroidered plum blossoms, bamboo, and parrots on the cuffs and collar, with a matching waistband similar to the inner garment.

When Jin Niang showed the design to Jiang Xian, he pointed at himself and asked, “Is this really me?”

“Of course, isn’t this clearly you?” Jin Niang replied without blinking.

Though Jiang Xian often admired his own handsomeness in the mirror, looking at the version of himself in Jin Niang’s sketchbook, he couldn’t help but laugh. “Wife, is this me from ten years ago?”

Jin Niang glanced at her husband and immediately shook her head. “You’re even more handsome now—dashing and elegant. Even I often can’t resist you.”

Jiang Xian pulled his wife into his arms, kissing her earlobe as he murmured, “Wife, I’ve always been yours.”

“Mmm.” Even after ten years of marriage, Jin Niang still felt a little shy.

Leaving aside the couple’s midday intimacy, Jin Niang later lay on the couch reading a book and brought up Mrs. Liu’s request. “Out of nowhere, she wants us to cook. You know me—I rarely set foot in the kitchen. I don’t even want to go.”

Jiang Xian stretched lazily. “It would seem rude if you didn’t go. If she didn’t know you, skipping it wouldn’t matter. But since we’re close, your absence might seem deliberate.”

“Then what should I do? Do I really have to learn to cook? Even my parents couldn’t get me to learn—why should I do it for her?” Jin Niang pouted.

There she was, his little girl. Hearing her tone, Jiang Xian quickly soothed her. “I’ll teach you one dish, alright? It’s very simple. You don’t know this, but there’s a reason behind Mrs. Liu’s request. Her husband, Han Xiao, often has no appetite—to the point where eating becomes difficult. She’s probably looking for recipes from households with skilled cooks.”

Noticing the indulgent tone in his voice, Jin Niang felt she might have overreacted. “Fine, I’ll learn. I’ll learn, alright? But you have to teach me.”

“Don’t worry. I roughly know what Han Qilang likes. Remember that time you had me deliver food to the Han household? Han Xiao actually ate a few extra bites—I think he cares about presentation. So I’ll teach you how to make ‘Orange Jade Raw.’ No need to even turn on the fire—just mash together snow pears and oranges, add vinegar, salt, and sauce, and serve it as a side dish with wine.” Knowing his wife feared fire, he suggested this method.

What a master of shortcuts—and saying it so seriously too. Jin Niang adored her husband even more, throwing her arms around his neck. “I love my husband the most in the whole world.”

Jiang Xian patted her head. “I told you, no matter the issue, big or small, I’ll always help you.”

For some reason, this man, who usually seemed so boyish, suddenly felt incredibly reliable.

After spending half the day being affectionate, the couple parted when Yun Jieer and Ning Geer returned in the afternoon. Yun Jieer came back with a box of pastries, grinning. “Mother, Aunt Ru Yan gave these to me.”

Outside, Jin Niang referred to Ru Yan as her adopted sister, so Yun Jieer called her “aunt.”

“Didn’t I tell you not to take things randomly?” Jin Niang worried that if her daughter got used to accepting gifts, she might not know when to stop—corruption always starts with small things.

Yun Jieer laughed. “Don’t worry, I slipped some money on the counter before running off.”

Jin Niang nodded. “That’s my good girl.”

Yun Jieer added, “Mother, I heard the young master of the Sun family has a cough. The Sun sisters went back to Guantao with their mother. Our teacher said polo lessons are canceled today because there aren’t enough people.”

Jin Niang had also heard that Zhou Si was accompanying her two daughters as their tutor, leaving her son at home. Honestly, even if Nanny Ma were the most attentive, Jin Niang would still keep her children close. Servants only saw caregiving as work—having worked as both a maid and merchant herself, she knew that a mother’s care was far more meticulous.

Young children were prone to illness and needed close supervision.

But since it was someone else’s arrangement, she didn’t comment, only saying, “Since there’s no polo, bring your riding veil back to wash.”

After exchanging a few more casual remarks, dinner was soon served. Once finished, Jiang Xian took Jin Niang to the kitchen.

Ju Xiang had been sipping mutton soup—one benefit of being the cook was getting to enjoy the broth while the masters ate. Seeing Jiang Xian and Jin Niang enter, she hurriedly stashed the bowl under the cupboard and wiped her mouth hastily. “Madam, sir, is there something you need?”

These two seldom visited the kitchen—had they come to catch her snacking? As heaven was her witness, she always saved money on groceries and never falsified the accounts!

Jiang Xian cleared his throat and said, "My lady wants to cook. Get some oranges and snow pears ready."

Ju Xiang scurried to the well to pull up the basket and quickly brought the fruits over. The heat made storage difficult, after all. She was nervous about sneaking a bite earlier, but Jin Niang hadn’t even noticed. Instead, she watched as Jiang Xian effortlessly peeled the fruits with a knife and demonstrated the steps to her.

Seeing him casually add the seasonings, Jin Niang hastily took notes. "Wait, you were too fast just now. How many spoons of vinegar was that?"

"Just a bit is enough. I never measure by spoonfuls—it depends on how much food there is," Jiang Xian replied.

Jin Niang sighed. "Alright, I’ll follow the amount you’re using now. Once I get the hang of it, I’ll be just as smooth."

Her words were so endearing that Jiang Xian couldn’t help laughing until his cheeks hurt. "Do you cook once every ten years or what?"

He had once heard from his mother-in-law that Jin Niang cooked for herself while dieting, but as soon as she lost weight, she refused to step into the kitchen again and immediately hired servants.

Hearing him expose her past, Jin Niang swatted him. "Ugh, you always have to call me out."

"Hahaha!" Jiang Xian burst into laughter.

After jotting down the recipe, Jin Niang went to the kitchen alone the next day and recreated the dish twice. Only after succeeding did she finally relax.

Then, out of nowhere, Madam Wei summoned her again. Confused, Jin Niang told Fan Si to ready a carriage to take her there. The household duties were now divided—Liu Douer handled Jiang Xian’s affairs, managing official documents and external matters, while Chen Xiaolang assisted Jin Niang with household management. Fan Si was responsible for her transportation.

When Jin Niang arrived, she was greeted by Madam Wei’s trusted attendant, who said urgently, "Third Aunt, thank heavens you're here!"

"What’s the matter? Why the rush?" Jin Niang was confused.

The attendant replied, "This morning, our Madam suddenly refused to eat or drink. The doctor said her mind was foggy. Fourth Aunt even called in Taoist priests to chant scriptures, but there’s been no improvement."

Jin Niang thought it impossible for someone to fall ill without reason. Chanting scriptures was just superstition. The worse things got, the cooler she stayed, so she strode in composedly. The attendant followed, thinking this honorary aunt kept her cool like a pro.

Madam Wei lay on the bed, surrounded by her sisters-in-law from the clan, whom Jin Niang knew well. Though not a true Wei family aunt, Jin Niang’s status as the wife of the local Judge lent her prestige.

Holding a hand under Madam Wei’s nose, Jin Niang sighed in relief upon feeling breath. "She’s breathing—probably just fainted."

Perhaps because she had once written a medical drama in her past life and researched extensively, or because a fellow screenwriter had experienced something similar, Jin Niang vaguely recalled a condition called vasovagal syncope. Though she couldn’t be certain, she believed Madam Wei would be fine.

"This room is too crowded. I’ll stay here and watch over her. If she doesn’t wake within the hour, call in Xun Clinic for acupuncture. Guiying, fetch some salt and water from the kitchen."

Once she’s up, just get some electrolytes in her.

Seeing Jin Niang’s confidence, the others withdrew. She forbade anyone from moving Madam Wei recklessly. The physician’s diagnosis—fainting—matched her own assessment.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If anything happened to Madam Wei, the Wei family might blame her. But if Madam Wei recovered, Jin Niang would earn their gratitude.

With that in mind, she told A Ying, "Bring over the Guanyin I embroidered—it’ll help keep bad luck away."

A plain Guanyin like this goes for about fifty strings of cash, but if perceived as blessed, someone who didn't know might be willing to pay two hundred.

If she ever went back to her old hustle, selling such images alone would ensure her livelihood.

After A Ying left, Wei Qilang came running in. Jin Niang was surprised. "Seventh Young Master, what are you doing here? Don’t worry, your mom’s just sleeping. Go study."

"Third Aunt, I snuck in. Is my mother alright?" Wei Qilang fretted.

Jin Niang knew Madam Wei doted on her youngest son. While his elder brother was already married and serving with his father, Wei Qilang disliked travel, so Madam Wei stayed with him in their hometown.

They were close—no wonder he was worried sick.

"She’ll be fine. Focus on your studies. I’ve got her—doesn’t that make you feel better?" Jin Niang smiled.

Seeing Wei Qilang still standing there foolishly, she couldn't help but feel a pang of pity: "Sweetheart, why don't you grab some paper and brushes? Let's transcribe scriptures together for your mother, alright?"

There was no need for him to fetch them himself—a quick order and someone soon brought the supplies. Jin Niang then sat with him to transcribe the scriptures. They chatted occasionally, as Jin Niang was the type who could chat with anyone—even a stray dog. Having two children of her own, she found common ground with Wei Qilang too.

"So, after your daily studies, you still have late-night snacks?"

Wei Qilang nodded. "Yes."

"What do you like to eat?"

"I love plum blossom soup cakes, but they're only available in winter."

Jin Niang smiled. "Plum blossom soup cakes, a delicate winter delicacy, stimulate appetite, balance qi, and clear lung heat. If made well, they're quite nourishing." She thought to herself, *This kid has good taste—plum blossom soup cakes aren’t just about tossing plum blossoms into broth. They’re quite intricate: first, the plum blossoms are washed and minced, then infused with sandalwood juice, mixed with flour to form dumpling-like wrappers, stamped into plum-shaped slices with a mold, and finally simmered in chicken broth.*

After some more conversation, they returned to transcribing scriptures. After an hour, Madam Wei gradually awoke. Jin Niang quickly had someone feed her salted water. Seeing she was still weak, Jin Niang forbade anyone from moving her and only called for the doctor again.

When Madam Wei opened her eyes, she saw Jin Niang sitting beside her and Wei Qilang nearby, which eased her mind. Yet Jin Niang didn’t boast about her role. Once the doctor confirmed she was fine and only needed rest, Jin Niang left with her Guanyin embroidery.

It was Madam Wei’s trusted maid who later told her how Jin Niang had taken charge. Of course, this confidante had also received a pair of gold bracelets weighing two taels from Jin Niang in private and thus praised her tirelessly: "We were all panicking. Even Eighth Aunt from the side branch suggested making coffin preparations. But Third Aunt checked your breath, brought her Guanyin embroidery, had us fetch salted water, and personally transcribed scriptures with Seventh Young Master. We thought it was just superstition, but you truly woke up!"

"So, I really owe it to her," Madam Wei said.

The confidante chuckled. "Indeed."

Madam Wei glanced at her. "In these two years of interacting with her, I’ve noticed she doesn’t push herself forward for favors, but in critical moments, she’s more reliable than even our own kin."

Though the confidante spoke well of Jin Niang, she feared Madam Wei might suspect her motives and quickly added, "Do you think Third Aunt is hoping to arrange a marriage with our family?"

Madam Wei shook her head. "I once probed her about Yun Jie'er’s marriage prospects. She said arranged childhood betrothals are unreliable—better to wait until the girl grows older and her temperament is clear before finding a suitable match."

The confidante stayed silent as Madam Wei continued, "Truthfully, the Jiang family has produced two Jinshi graduates. Jiang Xian is still young, enjoys an excellent official reputation, has remarkable talent, and their family is quite prosperous."

...

When Jin Niang returned home and recounted the events to Jiang Xian, she added eagerly, "Madam Wei is related by marriage to Madam Wu. If the eldest Wu gentleman recommends you, that would be splendid."

"My wife is truly strategic," Jiang Xian couldn’t help but admire her. Unlike others who rushed to forge connections, she steadily built connections gradually.

Then again, if Jin Niang hadn’t known how to embroider Guanyin images or had the means to act swiftly, things might not have gone so smoothly.

After Madam Wei recovered, Jin Niang visited her once more before accepting an invitation from Madam Liu.

Upon seeing Madam Ji and Jin Niang, Madam Liu nodded slightly. After some leisurely activities, Jin Niang—who didn’t need to cook—had prepared everything early and simply chatted on the side: "I’m not much of a cook, so I only made some appetizers. Please don’t mind, Madam."

"Nonsense," Madam Liu replied. "This is just for fun."

Jin Niang thought to herself, *Though we were once close, her husband now holds a higher position—I must mind my words.* Aloud, she smiled and said, "I truly envy your knife work. The way you prepare lychee and kidney dishes is something I’ll never master."

Madam Liu merely smiled faintly at the flattery. As a woman from a great family, she carried herself with subtlety—no one could tell if she was pleased or annoyed.

Madam Ji, meanwhile, labored over a pot of chicken soup packed with rare delicacies and ginseng. She didn’t care if others liked it—expensive was the point.

Lan Shi’s rabbit with scallion oil, however, was truly impressive.

Lan Shi, the daughter of a noble family, was straightforward by nature. When Madam Qian was still around, both she and Jin Niang had served under her. Now that Lan Shi had gained Madam Liu’s approval, Jin Niang was happy for her.

Soon, Lan Shi became a favored guest at Madam Liu’s gatherings. Knowing Jiang Xian and Han Xiao were already close, Jin Niang saw no need to push for connections with the wives—keeping up appearances was enough.

Often, wives socialized to facilitate connections between their husbands. But since the men were already acquainted, Jin Niang gladly took the easy way out.

Sure enough, during the Double Ninth Festival, Han Xiao invited Jiang Xian to go hiking together. The two men traveled incognito, and Jin Niang took the opportunity to help him change into new clothes, saying, "Should you bring the verse satchel along? You scholars always get inspired and burst into verse at the drop of a hat."

"My dear, I want to bring the verse satchel you made for me before," Jiang Xian said, very fond of the satchel Jin Niang had crafted.

Jin Niang smiled. "Alright, I'll pack it for you. And some snacks, handkerchiefs, and pouches—have the servants carry those."

Jiang Xian naturally agreed.

As for Jin Niang, she stayed home with her children, playing on swings in the Linglong Pavilion. When they tired, the siblings played backgammon or chess while Jin Niang rested on the couch.

Their household was mostly quiet but lively. If someone too loud or rowdy suddenly visited, the family wouldn’t be able to handle it.

Unexpectedly, Madam Liu showed up at their doorstep. Jin Niang hurried out to greet her and saw Madam Liu with two boys and a girl in tow. Jin Niang had heard that Han Xiao had been married for years without children, and Madam Liu, after three years of marriage, hadn’t borne any children. Thus, Han Xiao took in two concubines—the eldest son was born to one, the second son to Madam Liu, and the youngest daughter to another concubine.

Still, Jin Niang admired Madam Liu for treating all the children equally on the surface, far more diplomatic than Madam Ji, whose household was plagued by discord between wives and concubines.

After welcoming them in, Jin Niang had Yun Jieer take the younger children to the backyard to play. She then had tea and fruit served before saying with a smile, "My husband left early this morning, and I was just wondering how to pass the time. Little did I expect such esteemed guests to visit."

Madam Liu chided her, "No need to stand on ceremony! We’re both relatives and old acquaintances. The earlier distance was just for show."

Seeing Madam Liu so warm, Jin Niang reminisced with her. "How are the relatives in the capital? We’ve been away for so long, we’ve fallen out of touch."

Since the Jiang brothers both passed the imperial exams, the Jiang family had gained prominence. Madam Liu smiled. "Your sister-in-law just had another little girl. When we left, they were celebrating her first birthday. Even Xuan Geer got engaged—to a daughter of the Wu family, an official in the Bureau of Military Affairs."

"Really? That family?" Jin Niang thought it quite a coincidence.

Madam Liu laughed. "Oh? You know them?"

Jin Niang replied, "The daughter-in-law of the previous prefect was surnamed Wu. We had some dealings, so I wondered if it was her family—and it turns out it is."

"What a coincidence! By the way, I heard the Ji family’s term is ending soon?" Madam Liu quickly changed the subject.

Jin Niang nodded. "This should be their third year in Daming Prefecture. Their term must be up. There are several vacancies in our prefecture—has the Judicial Officer been appointed yet?"

Madam Liu was well-informed. "Yes, that’s actually what I wanted to discuss. The new Judicial Officer is surnamed Xia. He was once my father’s student—he’s decent, but his wife is notorious as a battle-axe, always stirring up trouble. They say if there’s a female mosquito around, she’d swat it dead. Xia had a bright future, but when his superior sent him a pair of pretty maids, his wife beat them black and blue. The two families had a falling-out, and his career stalled because of it."

"We wouldn’t send women his way, so it shouldn’t be a problem, right?" Jin Niang said.

Madam Liu waved her hand. "It’s not that simple. His wife loves to meddle and stir up trouble, gossiping, and making waves. I just worry that once she arrives, she might create misunderstandings between us, so I wanted to warn you."

Jin Niang looked grateful. "I appreciate the heads-up. Otherwise, I might offend someone without realizing it, and it could strain our friendship."

"My thoughts exactly," Madam Liu sighed in relief.

But her real purpose wasn’t this. After some small talk, she asked an unrelated question: "I heard your Wei family’s main branch is in Daming Prefecture?"

Jin Niang wondered why she was suddenly so friendly—ah, it was because of her connection to the Wei family. She replied calmly, "Yes, though we’re distant relatives. We’ve since acknowledged each other as kin, but they’re of high status, and we’re humble folk—it’s not proper to overreach."

Madam Liu smiled. "Since you’re family, there’s always some goodwill. Calling it ‘overreach’ is too much."

"You’re right," Jin Niang agreed.

Madam Liu found Jin Niang’s constant humility as the wife of a subordinate somewhat tiresome. But Jin Niang thought that if she treated Madam Liu as an equal, she might seem too forward, risking a rift. This distance was just right.

After a few more polite exchanges, they parted. When Judicial Officer Xia arrived with his family, Vice-Prefect Ji was instead transferred to a lower prefecture as Prefect.

Jin Niang had never gotten along with Madam Ji, so she didn’t plan to see her off. But Zhou Si, who was close to Madam Ji through Old Madam Wang’s connections, had to send travel expenses.

Madam Ji was in a sour mood. Never one for tact, she complained to Zhou Si: "We were Vice-Prefects in Daming Prefecture, and now we’re being demoted to a lower prefecture! Once you go down, how do you ever move back up?"

Zhou Si didn’t know how to comfort her.

Jin Niang, however, thought to herself: Madam Wu seemed so magnanimous, with an impeccable reputation—who knew she’d deliver the cruelest blow? Truly, revenge is sweet when served cold.