Chapter 131

Chapter 131

In June, as Minister Liu returned to the capital, Jiang Xian was dispatched as an envoy to the Liao Dynasty, a journey that would take a year or more. Jin Niang packed two large clothing trunks for him. For the four retainers accompanying him—long-serving attendant Liu Douer and the page boy Hu Tou—she also had the kitchen prepare a send-off banquet.

Jiang Xian sighed slightly, "When Ning Geer takes the prefectural examination, I won’t be there to guide him."

"He’s still young. Even if he doesn’t pass, he can continue studying at home. Your duties are more pressing—don’t worry about home affairs," Jin Niang said with a laugh.

Yet Jiang Xian couldn’t help but worry. Though he often prioritized his own career, he deeply cared about his children’s futures. Moreover, leaving his young wife behind made him uneasy.

Jin Niang listened to his rambling until he mentioned "young wife," at which she burst into laughter. "What nonsense! I just turned thirty-five, and our daughter is nearly of age. How could I possibly be called a 'young wife'? In a few years, I’ll be calling myself an old woman!"

Jiang Xian grew indignant. "Don’t speak such words. To me, you are the youngest and most beautiful woman."

"Enough, enough. Just don’t get entangled with other women out there, or I’ll kick you out and disown you," Jin Niang teased, tapping his nose.

Jiang Xian embraced her. "How could I dare? No matter how fine other women may be, they have nothing to do with me, Jiang Xian."

Naturally, Jin Niang trusted her husband—without such trust, their marriage would be meaningless. That night, the couple exchanged many tender words.

The next day, after he departed, Jin Niang ordered the gates closed to visitors. She had A Ying and others tidy the library, setting up a brazier in the corridor with desks and candlesticks. She then personally worked with her son Ning Geer to categorize the books by classics, histories, philosophy, miscellanies, and travelogues, even compiling a catalog for easier access later.

Ning Geer smiled. "Mother, this method is excellent. Finding books will be much simpler in the future."

"I was thinking that our Jiang clan also has impoverished scholars. Once your father returns, if they wish to study, they can come to our library to read or copy books," Jin Niang said. Knowing the Jiang family had a substantial collection, and that she and her husband had acquired books from various regions, she felt allowing less fortunate scholars access would be a worthy deed.

Ning Geer nodded approvingly. "A splendid idea, Mother. We can also place our used model exam essays here for aspiring candidates. This is how a family upholds scholarly heritage."

Jin Niang agreed. "Exactly."

She also hoped that exposure to diligent, underprivileged scholars would inspire her son, who had only attended private school, to recognize greater challenges and persevere.

Once the library was arranged, July arrived swiftly. Jin Niang now spent most of her time caring for Ding Geer herself or with Yun Jieer’s help. Wet Nurse Bai’s term had ended. Though Jin Niang had already paid her wages, she pitied the woman’s efforts in raising Ding Geer and gave her a five-strings worth of banknotes, a sack of wheat flour, two jin of pork, one jin of mutton, a bag of millet, six boxes of seasonal pastries, two doses of cough medicine, and a never-worn set of her own clothes.

Though reluctant to leave, Wet Nurse Bai had received generous gifts from the Jiang household during festivals—towels, coins, and fabrics—all of which she was allowed to take home. These earnings would sustain her family for some time, and she missed her own children dearly.

Chen Xiaolang arranged to see her home. Worried Ding Geer might struggle with the change, Jin Niang took him into her own bed. Yet children adapt faster than adults—he didn’t seek Wet Nurse Bai and nestled obediently in her arms.

"Once your father returns, we’ll start your studies. For now, stay home and play with Mother, alright?" Jin Niang asked gently.

As the youngest, Ding Geer often took a backseat to his elder siblings’ priorities, leaving Jin Niang unable to teach him as she once had. Now, she had to embroider her daughter’s bridal quilt, manage the household, and read before sparing an hour for him.

Ning Geer, however, proved a responsible elder brother, playing with Ding Geer daily after school before tackling homework.

"Come September, you’ll take the Kaifeng Prefectural School exam. At only ten, I’m not afraid you’ll fail—I fear you’ll pass and have to board there. So from now on, you must learn to make your bed and manage your affairs," Jin Niang advised. Having worked away from home young, she knew those lacking self-reliance couldn’t last long, no matter their talent.

Unlike common examinees, sons of officials like Ning Geer didn’t take the Provincial Exam but the Avoidance Exam—what Sun Shichen called the "nomination exam."

Admittedly, the Avoidance Exam’s prestige was dubious, as some passed through connections, a measure to prevent official's sons from crowding out poorer candidates. Yet while easier to pass, the subsequent Metropolitan Exam was open to all, weeding out the unqualified.

Ning Geer grinned. "Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll manage."

"Don’t take it lightly. Later, I’ll teach you to fold bedding, make up beds, handle money, and fetch water," Jin Niang said.

Her eldest, bold from childhood, had grown more solemn and principled after studying, unlike his father’s charming adaptability. Once, eating out, he’d even intervened in a theft dispute, laying out such airtight reasoning that both parties yielded immediately.

But the boy was overly homesick: "I may be able to learn these things, but if I can stay at home, I will definitely stay at home. I don’t want to leave Mother."

Since he was still so young, Jin Niang smiled and said, "Of course, I also hope you can stay at home."

But now things were different. Back then, his brother had to study at a distant academy. But the Kaifeng Prefecture School was nearby, and with dedicated escorts, it was naturally different.

Ning Geer exchanged a few more lighthearted words with Jin Niang but still felt uneasy and went back to his studies.

While mother and son shared this tender moment, on the other side, Lou Siniang felt disheartened. When she rushed to Qizhou, Feng Sheng had already been ill for a long time. She spent money on medicine to nurse him back to health, and on their way back, the couple discussed the behavior of their two stepsons.

Feng Sheng, sharp as he was, could tell immediately—since Lou Siniang had come alone, it was clear those two boys were utterly ungrateful.

Seeing no benefit in it, they naturally stayed away.

What had Feng Sheng ever done to deserve Lou Siniang traveling thousands of miles to find him? So after returning from Qizhou, Feng Sheng decided to divide the family property and separate from his two sons. The division sparked a fierce dispute. Feng Lin, who owned a profitable clinic, went to great lengths for his younger brother, Guan Geer.

"Father, if we’re dividing the family, we shouldn’t just invite the Lou family. That’s unfair—my aunt should be invited too."

Hearing this, Feng Sheng fell silent. Over the years, he had accumulated a thousand mu of land, three thousand taels of capital for medicinal herbs, and two thousand strings of cash originally intended for Yun Geer. In the end, he gave a thousand strings and three hundred mu of land to Guan Geer and even arranged a marriage for him.

From then on, his once-fiery ambition dimmed. Lou Siniang had money of her own, but to see the stepsons she’d raised now treat her as an enemy left her utterly disheartened.

Feng Sheng said, "I exhausted myself for those two brothers, never expecting to raise such wolves and tigers. A true disgrace for our family."

"Don’t think like that. Now that we’ve cut ties and provided for them, you and I still have our medical skills. We needn’t push so hard anymore—let’s just focus on raising Yun Geer well." Though Lou Siniang was disheartened, she wasn’t as bitter as Feng Sheng.

Feng Sheng sighed. "In the past, I taught my children to strive for success, valuing only results. Now I see—what matters most is teaching them to be good people."

Though the snake venom no longer plagued him, the doctor warned that his lifespan might be limited. That was why he insisted on dividing the family—to at least preserve some wealth, fearing he wouldn’t live to see Yun Geer succeed.

Lou Siniang wiped her tears. "Yes, let’s reopen the shop soon."

...

Now that he had his inheritance, Guan Geer invited his elder brother over. He had always deferred to Feng Lin, so he said, "Brother, now that we’re on our own, why don’t we seek help from Second Aunt?"

Feng Lin remained calm. "As the saying goes, if kin truly cared, they’d visit of their own accord. If they don’t come, there must be a reason. If we show up uninvited, we’ll only be seen as beggarly kin. You should focus on your studies—then people will naturally seek us out."

Guan Geer, ever obedient to his brother, nodded repeatedly.

Feng Lin smiled. "I’m no scholar and have no connections, but you’re different. If you can enter the prefecture school, you’ll surpass me. I know you’ve just married and need money, so I’ve brought some for you."

As a renowned eye doctor who ran his own pharmacy, Feng Lin had ample savings. After the division, he gave Guan Geer fifty strings of cash.

Guan Geer thanked him profusely.

The brothers then went to a nearby tavern, drank until they were thoroughly drunk, and had a grand time.

Meanwhile, Zhou Si’s husband, Sun Shichen, was also drunk. After passing the exams and three postings away from the capital, he had finally returned after nearly a decade, thanks to the help of Zhou Cunzhi and Jiang Fang. They all gathered for a drinking feast.

Zhou Si was dining with her children, Madam Zhou, Zhang Shi, and the family of Zhou San.

When Zhou Si mentioned how they had coincidentally encountered Jiang Xian’s family forming a marriage alliance with the Wei family, Madam Zhou stifled a scoff. But with the younger generation present, she kept her thoughts to herself—after all, her maiden family was the Jiangs, and Jiang Xian now held the highest official rank among them.

Zhang Shi was less restrained. Though her brother’s family had married into the Weis, she was displeased. Last time, she had heard Jiang Xian’s wife whispering with her own concubine—were they gossiping about her selling fakes? But she couldn’t say it outright, so she joked, "Speaking of which, with such a family background, why did that Madam Wei come to our house as a maid? Had we known earlier, we would’ve treated her better."

"They only claimed kinship after moving to Daming," Zhou Si said, having known Old Madam Wang and Madam Ji from Daming. "But back then, the Weis were very picky—even Old Master Wang’s granddaughter wed a concubine’s son. I really don’t understand why Wei Qilang chose her daughter now."

Zhou San, unaware of these details, only heard Zhang Shi say, "There was never any talk of choosing her family. Madam Wei just had her son study under Jiang Shiliu—must’ve been childhood sweethearts."

Zhang Shi spoke subtly, but everyone understood her meaning.

Zhou Si thought to herself that Yun Jieer was only thirteen or fourteen—still a child by Ming standards—how could she have developed feelings for a man? If anything, it must have been Wei Jinniang’s influence. She had met Wei Qilang before, and he was a well-mannered boy who never paid any mind to the many girls in the family’s girls’ school.

If it really was Wei Jinniang’s doing, then she was truly despicable—corrupting a young girl like this before she even came of age. At the very least, marriage matters should wait until after her hair-pinning ceremony (marking adulthood) or even eighteen years of age. Thinking this, she shook her head.

Why was she so fixated on Wei Jinniang? Firstly, because she found this character in the book the most inscrutable, and secondly, because Zhou Cunzhi’s future was tied to Jiang Xian.

Two unrelated parties had somehow become linked—her brother’s future was now her husband’s future as well.

After the meal, Zhang Shi returned to her room, while Zhou San first went to see her mother, Lv Xiaoniang, who had always been a clever woman. She admonished her daughter, “From now on, don’t visit so often and focus on your own life. Don’t worry about me—I’m doing just fine.”

“What kind of talk is that? You’re my mother—why shouldn’t I come to see you?” Zhou San replied.

Lv Xiaoniang glanced around nervously when she heard her call her “mother” and said, “Don’t say it so loudly where others can hear. It’s not proper.”

Zhou San shook her head and then asked about her uncle and aunt from the second branch: “I wonder how they’re doing in Hangzhou?”

“They’re doing well, very well. Your second uncle bought a huge villa in Hangzhou and even invited your father and stepmother to retire there. Now that he has sons, he’s content. Though your two cousins haven’t shown any remarkable talent, they’ll do just fine as wealthy layabouts.” Lv Xiaoniang couldn’t understand why Jiang Shi was always so resentful—people had to accept growing old.

Second Master Zhou and Wu Luan had come to terms with it—they had their own sons, and after the death of Third Son Zhou Shenzhi, they understood that peace was the greatest blessing. They cared much less about money and power now. Even so, the second branch had likely given the eldest branch thousands in silver in total, including dowries for the daughters.

The reason the eldest branch was now struggling financially was simply that they no longer had the second branch as their benefactor.

But in another sense, the second branch had also fed the eldest branch’s extravagance—once accustomed to extravagance, frugality became difficult.

Zhou San sighed softly. Meanwhile, Zhou Si was chatting with Zhang Shi, accompanied by her two daughters. Compared to Zhou San, Zhang Shi preferred Zhou Si because the former treated Zhou Cunzhi’s wife and concubines alike—when Concubine Guo’s son fell ill, she was even more anxious than Zhang Shi herself.

In this regard, Zhou Si handled things better than Zhou San—she never visited the concubines’ quarters to chat.

“Your eldest and second daughters are such lovely girls—they must be nearing their hair-pinning age soon,” Zhang Shi remarked with a smile.

Zhou Si laughed. “Oh, they’re still young.”

Zhang Shi replied, “They’re not children anymore.”

Not wanting to discuss marriage in front of the two girls, Zhang Shi kept her words vague but heavily implied her meaning. She even gifted each of them a gold coronet.

Eldest Miss Sun and Second Daughter Sun had spent many years away due to their father’s official postings. Now that they had returned to their maternal grandparents’ home, they were overjoyed by the grand residence and the kindness of their aunts.

But marriage? When Eldest Miss Sun heard that Jiang Yun was to marry Wei Qilang, she felt nothing but envy. Back in the girls’ school, there had often been quarrels over Wei Qilang.

She just didn’t know what kind of suitable match her mother would find for her in the future.

Zhou Si wasn’t thinking about her daughters’ marriages at all. After their return, they planned to buy a house. As a pragmatic woman, she believed property was the most important thing—especially since the Sun family had divided their assets. They had received a thousand strings of cash, a residence in their hometown, two shops, and two hundred acres of land.

Though the Sun family was an official household, Sun Shichen had only become a prefect in his forties or fifties. By the time he retired this year, he had managed to save a decent fortune. However, the old family home wasn’t worth much—three hundred strings could buy a two-winged house, and the two large shops only brought in twelve strings and thirty-six strings a year in rent, respectively.

Fortunately, they had saved six hundred strings from their years in office. They sold one shop for five hundred strings and the other for seven hundred, and with her dowry and income from land, they had a total of three thousand strings. They bought a spacious two-winged mansion and furnished it.

Even so, their money was nearly exhausted, but she was happy—no matter what, she now owned property. She wouldn’t sell the shops unless absolutely necessary, but the ones in their hometown weren’t worth much anyway. This was more of an exchange.

After buying the house, they still had rent from several hundred acres of land and her husband’s salary. Sun Shichen had risen from a seventh-rank county magistrate to a sixth-rank probationary censor, so his salary had increased significantly—enough to live comfortably.

Meanwhile, Jinniang was inspecting the betrothal gifts sent by the Wei family. Betrothal gifts were traditionally given to the bride’s parents. Since Jinniang’s own family hadn’t been able to provide her with a dowry back then, she had kept everything for herself. But now that they were preparing a dowry for her daughter, they couldn’t simply use the Wei family’s gifts to bulk up their own dowry.

Otherwise, once the dowry was delivered, the Wei family would surely claim the Jiangs were using their own gifts to inflate their status.

Thus, Jinniang added a hundred strings to the thousand sent by the Wei family and had a pearl-encrusted coronet, a gold coronet, and a chest of gold and silver utensils made for her daughter. She also included five hundred strings from last year’s rental income in the dowry. She planned to add five hundred strings yearly (a small fortune), so by the time her daughter married, the cash alone would exceed five thousand strings. Combined with shops, land, jewelry, and clothing, the total would reach at least ten thousand strings—fulfilling her ambition.

Since Jin Niang could sew quilt covers for her daughter herself, she saved some money. She had already finished one quilt cover last year and had begun working on a gauze canopy, with an embroidered Purple-Robed Guanyin one-third completed and still in progress.

"Madam, the owner of Huixian Tower is here."

Over the past few years, Jin Niang had developed the habit of ordering wine from Huixian Tower during festivals. Several family banquets, including Ding Geer's first birthday celebration, had also been arranged through them.

This particular owner had recovered from illness thanks to the Purple-Robed Guanyin embroidery Jin Niang had given her previously. Therefore, Jin Niang had a rough idea why she had come.

After inviting her in, the owner smiled and said, "My granddaughter is getting married, and I would like to request an embroidered portrait from you as a dowry treasure. I humbly ask for your kindness."

"We've known each other since our humble beginnings. How could I refuse when you ask me?" Jin Niang replied.

Unexpectedly, the owner made a generous gesture, purchasing two embroideries at once—one depicting Guanyin with a Basket and another portraying the White-Robed Guanyin. She immediately delivered five hundred strings of coins directly to Jin Niang's room, far exceeding what Jin Niang had expected.

Although money had gone out, some had also come in—but this sum now became Jin Niang’s personal savings.

"A Ying, open the storeroom and bring out some fabric bolts. Call a tailor to make clothes for the servants. The payment will come from my own funds—just say it's for their efforts regarding the engagement," Jin Niang said with a smile.

A Ying grinned. "You always think of making clothes for us, Madam."

There were over thirty servants in the household, and the total wages amounted to six taels of silver.

Now, the path of being a Complete Fortune Matron was becoming less feasible. After all, the capital was full of high-ranking officials and nobility, and their family was hardly significant by comparison. While straightforward business dealings were manageable, openly serving as a Complete Fortune Matron for merchants might invite gossip about improper connections, so she tried to avoid it.

She rarely indulged in luxuries like bird's nest or ginseng, and even her tea was mostly received as gifts through social courtesy. Staples such as rice, flour, and eggs came from the estate, and occasional expenses like books were easily covered by Jiang Xian's salary.

By the time Jin Niang finished embroidering the Child-Granting Guanyin, it was already the ninth lunar month—the time for Ning Geer's exams. Since Jiang Xian was away, Jin Niang personally accompanied her son in the carriage. Ning Geer nervously pressed his lips together, and she reassured him, "Don't be nervous. Once you finish the exam, secure your papers carefully in your book bag. Otherwise, if someone plays a prank—like bumping your desk or splashing ink on your papers—there'll be no way to undo the damage."

"Mother, I'll remember," Ning Geer said earnestly.

Jin Niang smiled. "Good. Stay calm, and everything will be fine."

Ning Geer patted his chest. "Mother, I'll definitely pass the prefectural exams—to bring you honor and be my sister’s support."

Under normal circumstances, Jin Niang would have said the family didn’t need him to bear such burdens, but seeing his sense of responsibility, she simply replied, "Then I thank you, my son."

Ning Geer resembled Jin Niang in many ways—he wasn’t picky about food and had practiced archery and martial arts for years, making him taller than most boys his age. Watching Luo Da escort him inside, Jin Niang finally relaxed.

After seeing her son off, Jin Niang returned home and taught her daughter how to make gold-woven collar panels and gold-woven handkerchiefs. She explained, "Buying gold foil and doing it yourself saves money—just prepare the carving template. See this carved dragonfly? If you're too lazy to embroider on green silk, you can press it onto the collar panel like this. Two dragonflies, and the gold foil won't be used excessively."

Once Yun Jieer quickly mastered the technique, Jin Niang gifted her a small box of gold foil. The mother and daughter then went to the library to read. Now that Yun Jieer had mastered playing the yueqin and no longer needed intensive study, her days were spent pleasantly—doing needlework, reading, playing the zither, and blending incense.

"Mother, do you think my brother will pass?" Yun Jieer worried about Ning Geer.

Jin Niang shook her head. "I don't know. Many unexpected things happen during exams. Even if he doesn't pass, it's fine—he can always apply to Kaifeng Academy."

When Ning Geer returned that evening, his calm expression eased Jin Niang’s worries. A few days later, after checking the results, they learned he had passed—qualifying for the titles of Maocai and Xiucai at such a young age.

Overjoyed, Jin Niang wept and brought out the lánshān (scholar's robe) she had made for him. "My good child, I'm truly happy for you."

Ning Geer grinned for a while but then frowned. "Mother, but I’ll have to live at the school now."

Yun Jieer chuckled. "Mother, brother, listen to me. Now that he's passed, shouldn't we inform the relatives first? If guests come, should we invite Cousin Xuan to help with arrangements?"

Jin Niang glanced at her daughter. "Why trouble your cousin? It would be easier to invite your prospective brother-in-law. I'll send for him now."

Besides, strangers couldn't be expected to fall in love at first sight—they needed time to become acquainted, starting as friends with shared interests. When circumstances weren't favorable, they had to create them.