Chapter 133

Chapter 133

Upon returning from the old residence, perhaps due to the day's busyness of receiving and bidding farewell to guests, Qing Rong’s feet ached terribly, and she quickly called the maids to attend to her. Jin Niang smiled and said, "A few years ago, I accompanied someone on a hike and only felt a bit weak. Nowadays, even walking a few extra steps makes me uncomfortable."

"You’ve been overworked lately. Young Miss Liu’s engagement involved many complicated customs, and you were kept busy. Not to mention last year, when you were tirelessly preparing for our young lady’s wedding—no wonder you’re exhausted." Qing Rong’s heart ached for her.

Inside and outside the household, the mistress was no absentee mistress. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have quietly amassed such a substantial dowry for our eldest daughter.

After resting only briefly, the proprietor of the Damingfu warehouse business sent over money in person, along with a purple sandalwood inlaid treasure butterfly screen as a congratulatory gift. He also mentioned that Ru Yan had sent a pair of glass lamps as additional dowry gifts for Yun Jieer. Last time, when Ru Yan gave birth to a daughter, Jin Niang had specially entrusted the warehouse proprietor’s boat to deliver a third-day bath gift.

Thus, despite the pain, Jin Niang instructed Luo Da to host the proprietor at Panlou Restaurant for drinks.

These items were all stored in the second courtyard’s warehouse. She personally oversaw their placement before returning to her room, though her feet ached even more afterward.

For two consecutive days, Jin Niang stayed home to rest, unable to go out. Yun Jieer came specifically to massage her legs, saying sympathetically, "Mother, you’ve done all this for my sake, even making so many things for me by hand. Before, you’d only embroider for two hours before resting to read."

"Don’t say that. For my daughter, I do it gladly," Jin Niang replied cheerfully.

By year’s end, excluding the fields and shops in Wuxian County, the gold and silver shop brought in 720 strings of coins, Sweet Water Alley contributed 456 strings, the sale of two embroidered portraits earned 500 strings, the Complete Fortune Matron’s honorarium was 200 taels, and the warehouse business yielded 1,200 strings—already totaling over three thousand strings. She planned to add another 500 strings from next spring’s Wuxian County earnings to her daughter’s dowry, bringing it to 4,000 strings without straining their finances.

Though income was substantial, expenses were also high. Preparing the dowry had cost a considerable sum. Apart from the untouchable 4,000 taels of gold ingots and the 4,000 strings allocated for the dowry, they still had 7,000 strings in liquid assets.

At year’s end, Jiang Xian’s salary was also disbursed—a half-year’s worth. Having been promoted from Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Treasury to Deputy Secretariat Director, his rank had risen, but the salary was significantly reduced, as it was no longer a lucrative position. The silver and cloth received were handed to Yun Jieer to prepare the New Year gift roster and the necessary items for the festivities.

Wine, mutton, pork, silk, and other goods had to be prepared in advance, along with their own household’s New Year provisions.

Having been trained for two years, Yun Jieer no longer panicked as she once did. People of this dynasty loved incense, so she even made incense pellets as gifts—another clever idea of hers.

Jin Niang praised, "My daughter is truly brilliant."

Yun Jieer smiled sweetly. "Mother always flatters me."

"I mean every word. But remember this: people love hearing kind words, and speaking them costs nothing. Look at the Wei family—the eldest son’s wife is from the Fan family, the sixth son’s wife is from the Wang family, while your father’s rank is slightly lower. If your mother-in-law loves the Seventh Young Master dearly and extends that affection to you, well and good. But if she dotes on him excessively and becomes overly critical of you, or if your sisters-in-law resent the Seventh Young Master and take it out on you, how will you handle it?" Jin Niang laid out the reality plainly.

Yun Jieer gazed at her mother thoughtfully. "If it were you, Mother, how would you handle it?"

"I once heard someone speak of the ‘Five Principles for Officials’: ‘Treat a minor post as a major one, a leisurely post as a busy one, approach a man’s duty as a woman would, treat a vulgar post as an elegant one, and treat a prestigious post as a humble one.’ ‘Treating a minor post as a major one’ means that even if your position is low or idle, you must constantly improve yourself and seize opportunities when they arise. As the junior daughter-in-law, don’t relax just because there are mothers-in-law and elder sisters-in-law above you. If the responsibility of managing the household falls to you, your competence will allow you to control matters effortlessly." Jin Niang recalled lines from a drama she had watched, finding them fitting here.

She herself had lived by this principle—to amass wealth, she first honed her embroidery skills, which later allowed her to run her business with ease.

Yun Jieer found this fascinating and pressed further. "And what about ‘approach a man’s duty as a woman would’?"

"This means that in officialdom, merely currying favor with superiors isn’t enough. Those who truly influence officials are often women—be it their mothers, favorite concubines, or trusted servants. You’re still young and may not understand the power of pillow politics. Take your father and me, for example. If I strongly dislike an official, even if your father favors him, he’ll consider my feelings. Once you marry, your mother-in-law becomes your superior. Her trusted servants, like You Mama and Zhu Que (Vermilion Bird)—pick those whose temperaments align with yours, offer small favors first, then deliberately win them over. A word or two from them, or sharing information, can be more valuable than anything." Jin Niang imparted all her wisdom.

Yun Jieer felt she was grasping the essence and asked, "And ‘treating a vulgar post as an elegant one’?"

Jin Niang laughed. "For instance, if your mother-in-law puts you in charge of finances—that’s a ‘vulgar’ duty. The more you manage, the more you must avoid corruption. Not a single penny should be embezzled."

"I would never embezzle. And the last one—‘treating a prestigious post as a humble one’?"

"This means the higher your status, the more courteous and humble you should be, never flaunting your power. If one day your father and brother rise to prominence, you must remain even more modest and polite." Jin Niang admonished.

Yun Jieer was convinced. "I’ve learned much."

Of course, Jin Niang had also carefully selected Yun Jieer’s attendants: Xi Qiu was detail-oriented and devoted, Fan Si could assist in managing business and estates, Jiao Xing was gentle yet firm, capable of keeping subordinates in line, and her husband, Hu Cheng, was quick-witted.

A few days later, when Jin Niang had fully recovered, Ning Geer returned from his school recess.

Before his arrival, Jin Niang had already arranged his bedroom neatly, placed camellias and triangle plum in his study, and newly scented his fur and quilted jackets with warmth.

When Ning Geer returned, he drank hot soup, wore the warm new jacket, and saw his neatly made bed, soon grew drowsy.

Yun Jieer lit an incense stick for relaxation for him, then tiptoed out with Jin Niang.

"Brother must be exhausted," Yun Jieer said.

Jin Niang sighed, "Indeed, he still has many years of hard work ahead. We can't study for him—this path is his alone to walk."

The mother and daughter stepped out, adjusted their fur-lined jackets, and went into the main room to chat.

Meanwhile, Madam Zhou the Third was also speaking with Madam Zhou the Fourth: "Your eldest daughter is no longer young and has reached the age for marriage. Now that your husband is a Censor-in-Waiting, a paragon of scholarly virtue, it's the perfect time to arrange a match. What are your thoughts?"

Madam Zhou the Fourth replied, "In my opinion, a modest family would suit us best—nothing too complicated. A large, prominent family isn’t necessary; in fact, a family with a single heir would be ideal."

But after saying this, she suddenly remembered that ancient times favored large, influential families and added, "Actually, we’ve only just returned. We can discuss this later."

Madam Zhou the Third, always tactful, didn’t press further but still remarked, "No hurry—next year’s imperial examinees will bring fresh prospects."

Madam Zhou the Fourth knew that in this era, scholars were held in the highest regard, so she smiled and said, "I’ll have to trouble you then, Third Sister."

"What trouble? We’re family—it’s only natural," Madam Zhou the Third replied warmly.

After a few more casual words, Madam Zhou the Third left. Madam Zhou the Fourth then called her eldest daughter over and asked, "Have you been keeping up with your studies lately?"

"Yes, but the ink is hard to grind in winter," Eldest Miss Sun replied. She was about the same age as Yun Jieer, who would soon turn fourteen.

Many noble girls her age were already getting engaged, but what about her own marriage prospects? Their family had just settled into their new home—if they rushed into matchmaking, people would surely ask about the dowry. Where would she get a dowry?

Madam Zhou the Fourth was also worried about finances. Though her husband had been promoted, their subsidies in the capital were less than what they had received in the provinces. Fortunately, a merchant cousin from the Sun family had sent them two hundred guan—though it was far from enough. Yet, whenever he faced business troubles, he still relied on their family’s influence.

It was a tangled web of worries.

But she didn’t mention these troubles to her daughter, only saying, "I’ve told you before—if there’s something worth pursuing, you must go after it. Why so timid in front of Old Madam Liu and Madam Xun? Normally, you’re much more eloquent."

"Mother, as a sixth-rank censor’s daughter, how could I speak so freely? Look at Jiang Yun—she doesn’t speak unless called upon either," Eldest Miss Sun replied. At her age, she often felt self-conscious.

But Madam Zhou the Fourth insisted, "If you want something, you must fight for it. You’re well-learned—why hide your light under a bushel?"

If you have merits, you should show them.

Eldest Miss Sun countered, "You think highly of me, but I might not truly be that outstanding. Jiang Yun and the other girls are also well-versed in poetry and literature."

The Sun family was indeed an official household, and her father was a respected scholar among scholars. Yet, among those she encountered, many held even higher status. As the daughter of a censor, she had little advantage. Moreover, Eldest Miss Sun keenly realized that talent alone didn’t earn favor—influence spoke louder than talent.

Madam Zhou the Fourth believed she was planning wisely for her daughter, so she wasn’t in a hurry to arrange a marriage. If necessary, she could even secure an ordination permit for her—after all, her own mother had given her one when she married.

But her daughter didn’t seem to share this view. She coveted the Liu girl’s betrothal and even admired Jiang Yun’s betrothal...

Outside, snow fell thick as wool. Servants rose early to shovel the snow, clearing a path through the courtyard. Ju Xiang, now the kitchen stewardess, had two additional helpers under her—Chun Xian and two widowed farmhands in their forties from the estate. The lady of the house, pitying their plight, had brought them back for work during her rounds of the estate.

Of course, she had also warned that laziness or mischief would see them banished.

Ju Xiang was no longer the same as before—she ruled with both carrot and stick. As the kitchen supervisor, the two women didn’t dare misbehave. By morning, they had already swept the inner courtyard immaculate.

Once the snow was cleared, servants from each wing came to fetch meals. The storm raged too harshly, so the matriarch decreed the youths dine privately instead of venturing out.

Breakfast was simple—Jin Niang had a boiled egg, a fist-sized pickled vegetable bun, and a bowl of almond tea. The family spared extravagance save for feasts or guests; otherwise, they rarely wasted food.

Of course, this was her own modest portion—the growing children received heartier portions.

After breakfast, A Ying arrived first. It was a long-standing habit between mistress and servant to handle matters promptly and efficiently.

"Madam, I've already delivered the rewards to the three outstanding servants you selected this year," A Ying said.

Jin Niang smiled. "Good. With such heavy snow and wind, it wouldn’t be right to make them gather here for instructions. Just write their names on red paper and post it on the wall outside the second courtyard."

A Ying noted it down.

Then, Jin Niang continued, "Although the master isn’t returning this year, we should still celebrate the New Year properly. I won’t be going to the old residence—have Manager Luo convey my regards on my behalf. Just say that since the master isn’t home, I must keep watch over the household."

In the main branch, Xiao Wu Shi was in confinement after childbirth, and Xu Shi had looked unwell since the third-day bath celebration. As for Sixth Uncle Jiang and Zheng Shi, she had sent them seasonal gifts on time. With such generous presents, they usually wouldn’t complain.

A Ying nodded and added, "There’s also a Hereditary Official surnamed Jin who wanted to invite you as the Luck-Bringing Matron. As per your instructions, I declined."

"Hmm, with such a heavy blizzard outside—see how it’s coming down harder?—I’d rather stay indoors for the winter. If I fall ill from braving the wind, who knows how much money would be spent on medicine," Jin Niang said.

Since selling two embroidered portraits and serving as the Luck-Bringing Matron for the Liu family, Jin Niang felt she had already exceeded her own expectations. She was past the age of enduring harsh weather just to earn money—now, her health came first.

With several charcoal braziers burning warmly in the house, Jin Niang waited until her hands were warm before resuming her needlework. She had already written to Innkeeper Yao in Wu County, asking him to bring some emerald gauze when he came to the capital. She planned to embroider white jasmine on green stems on it, which would look exceptionally beautiful.

After embroidering a quilt cover all morning, she took a short nap at noon, read for a while, and then spent another hour in the afternoon embroidering a Guanyin figure before resting when tired.

In the past, she would push herself beyond exhaustion, only to suffer from minor ailments later. Now, she knew better and took care of herself.

Later, she heard that the Jin family had invited another Luck-Bringing Matron. Unfortunately, on the day of the betrothal, the guest tent collapsed under the weight of snow, and the matron reportedly fell, nearly breaking her tailbone.

A Ying couldn’t help but admire Jin Niang’s foresight.

This New Year, since Jiang Xian wasn’t home, Jin Niang didn’t feel it appropriate to invite guests. Ning Geer was holed up with his books in the library, while Yun Jieer and Jin Niang worked together to embroider another quilt cover.

After the Lantern Festival, Jin Niang commissioned a "Hundred Sons, Thousand Grandsons" embroidered quilt from the embroidery alley and ordered gold-embroidered curtains from a gold-embellishment shop. Meanwhile, Yun Jieer finished the chair covers, table drapes, and door curtains. Min Zhi wasn’t idle either—having received year-end rewards, she diligently made patchwork baby clothes and quilts for Yun Jieer’s future children. Qing Rong also crafted six pairs of shoe uppers.

A dowry shouldn’t be rushed like the Zhous did—it would exhaust everyone.

February marked Yun Jieer’s birthday, and the Wei family sent two sets of brocade robes, a bundle of longevity noodles, a box of makeup powder, and a pair of jade pendants with ruyi cloud patterns.

Jin Niang brought them to her daughter’s room and said, "Keep this pair of jade pendants safe—don’t lose them."

"Yes, I understand," Yun Jieer replied, adopting her mother’s habit of safeguarding valuables.

As for the robes, Jin Niang didn’t insist her daughter store them away. "These robes are cut loose, so they’ll still fit in a few years. Wear them when you go out as a guest. Last summer, I bought some fine fur—we’ll have a few fur coats and boots made later."

Later, when Wu Niangzi’s son’s hundred-day banquet arrived, she specially sent an invitation to Jin Niang. Seeing that the weather had warmed up recently, Jin Niang gladly attended. There, she also met Shen Qiniang, her daughter’s future sister-in-law.

Shen Qiniang, whom she had seen before, didn’t resemble her father and was rather delicate in appearance.

Now, with her brows penciled and face powdered, she was dressed very fashionably.

Wu Niangzi was indeed a model wife—she presented her child for everyone to see and even went out of her way to introduce her husband’s daughter (by another wife), leaving no room for criticism as a mistress.

But Jin Niang saw it as a strategy—beating them at their own game. If people loved nitpicking, she would first present herself as the picture of virtue, armoring herself against criticism. Those who offended her would face her patience before a well-timed strike.

"Cousin Wei, hold the child," Wu Niangzi said with a smile.

Jin Niang pushed her musings aside and took the baby. His forehead was round and prominent. She took a jade pendant from her waist and handed it to his nanny. "This child has a fortunate face. I can tell he’ll become an official—he already has the bearing of one."

Wu Niangzi smiled. "Cousin Wei flatters him too much."

"Not at all. Mark my words, he’s special." Jin Niang had learned that praising someone’s child often went over better than praising the parents themselves.

After the luncheon, Jin Niang listened to an opera in the theater, seated next to none other than the previously mentioned Madam Su. Her younger daughter was sulking, and Madam Su was quietly coaxing her: "Don’t you know that Shen Qiniang has always been sharp-tongued, a real snake? Why pick a fight with *her*, of all people? Honestly."

"She’s on bad terms with your elder sister, so she’s deliberately taking it out on you," Madam Su said with a scoff.

The mother and daughter whispered to each other, and Jin Niang overheard every word. However, she didn’t take the Su family’s words at face value and jump to a negative conclusion about Shen Qiniang. Still, upon returning home, she decided to warn her daughter about it.

To her surprise, Yun Jieer said, "Actually, I know why she acts that way."

"Huh?" Jin Niang was taken aback.

Yun Jieer explained, "You might not know this, but Shen Qiniang was originally betrothed to Cousin Seven. I once saw a poem she wrote, implying that since she’s the seventh child and he’s also the seventh, they were destined to be together. But then her uncle and father arranged her marriage to Wei Qilang instead. Naturally, she’s resentful."

"How did you find out about this?" Jin Niang had no idea Shen Qiniang still held a grudge over the matter.

Yun Jieer lowered her head. "Cousin Seven told me. When I mentioned the poem, he quickly clarified that he wasn’t the type to flip-flop in love."

So it was Wei Qilang who had spoken. Jin Niang smiled. "It’s good you two talk things out."

"What communication? We only chat now and then," Yun Jieer laughed.

In her daughter’s social circle, the idea of free romance was even more constrained than in Jin Niang’s own youth. Jin Niang, having managed her own household, wasn’t part of a prominent family, so there were fewer restrictions. But her daughter, being a proper young lady, rarely even left the inner courtyard. Official families had their own strict protocols. Jin Niang had taken a liking to Wei Qilang precisely because of his good sense and charm. No matter the situation, someone like him could smooth things over with the right words, never causing offense.

By the third month, Jin Niang began to miss her husband. It was his birthday, and she wasn’t by his side. She wondered how he was celebrating.

Fortunately, she kept herself occupied. Innkeeper Yao and Manor Manager Fan arrived in the capital. The year before last, she had sent Liu Douer to Wu County to collect money, so the two hadn’t made the trip. This year, hearing of the family’s joyous occasion, they came bearing congratulatory gifts.

Jin Niang rewarded each of them with ten cakes of tea she had received as a Complete Fortune Matron, along with several lengths of brocade remnants, two sets of silk garments, a year’s wages, and had Luo Da arrange their accommodations. Innkeeper Yao, who had been nervous ever since Jin Niang sent someone to inspect Wu County, brought 750 strings of cash to the capital this time, along with the green *qiao* gauze Jin Niang had requested.

This year, Manor Manager Fan delivered 500 strings of money, having purchased an additional hundred acres of mulberry fields and orchards, which yielded considerable profit.

With the green *qiao* gauze now in hand, Jin Niang began embroidering jasmine flowers, while Yun Jieer handled the local specialties brought by Manor Manager Fan: a small jar of crab paste made from Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs, whitefish, whitebait, and white shrimp kept alive in buckets, and ten jars of fruit preserves. Yun Jieer sent three whitefish, two jars of fruit preserves, and one jar of crab paste to Sixth Uncle Jiang, then delivered a basket each of whitebait and white shrimp to the Wei and Liu families, along with a jar of fruit preserves for each. Additionally, the Zhang family sent a jar of pickled water shield, along with three whitefish and three whitebait.

Nothing extravagant—just something fresh to enjoy.

Madam Xun paid a personal visit, saying, "The gifts you sent were wonderful. Ever since returning from Quanzhou, the elder has been craving fish and shrimp. He said yours were exceptionally fresh."

"As long as he enjoys them," Jin Niang smiled.

But Madam Xun had more on her mind. She lowered her voice. "How have your relations with the Zhou family been lately?"

Jin Niang shook her head. "We’ve hardly interacted. There’s been some contact, but since they’re relatives from the older generation, we’ve drifted apart. Why do you ask?"

"Let me warn you—the Zhou family might be in trouble. Zhou Cunzhi was originally aligned with the Chancellor of Jixian’s faction. After the chancellor fell from power, Zhou was promoted, but those in court won’t tolerate him. Rumor has it he privately wrote something incriminating and was reported." Knowing the close ties between Jiang Xian and Chancellor Liu—both as relatives and as mentor and disciple—Madam Xun felt obliged to inform them.

Having stayed indoors for so long, Jin Niang was unaware of the outside turmoil. She knew how political factions operated—loyalty to one’s own and hostility toward rivals. Even if one were broad-minded, those within the same faction might not be so forgiving.

After Madam Xun left, Jin Niang claimed illness and stayed secluded. Before the Cold Food Festival arrived, Luo Da reported that Zhou Cunzhi’s entire family had been exiled to Lingnan. Zhang Jiulang and his wife had visited, but upon hearing Jin Niang was unwell, they didn’t press further. The Jiang clansmen, learning of her condition, also refrained from asking her to mediate with the Liu and Wei families.