The manager of the collapsed house delivered four months' worth of bonuses, totaling four hundred taels. After Jin Niang received it, she did some calculations—this collapsed house was truly profitable, potentially earning over ten thousand taels a year.
With this, she now had close to six thousand taels in hand. Daily expenses were covered by Jiang Xian's salary and the money she earned as a matchmaker, so all this silver could be saved.
"Ying, prepare travel expenses for the three of them in the next few days, along with some New Year goods. Oh, and send a portion to Manager Bi at the collapsed house as well," Jin Niang instructed.
"Don’t worry, I’ll handle it. Master Jiang recently helped the Cui family solve a major case, and their ships are heading to Suzhou and Hangzhou before the New Year. They can take two of them along—it won’t cost much," Ying replied.
Jin Niang nodded. Jiang Xian had been away on official business for a month to crack the Cui family’s case. The Cui family, a wealthy household in Daming Prefecture, naturally wanted to send gifts in gratitude. Jiang Xian refused at first, but the Cui family insisted. In the end, he only asked them to help transport two people, saving a considerable amount on travel expenses. Still, the Cui family felt it wasn’t enough.
After repeated refusals from Jin Niang and Jiang Xian, they finally relented.
The mistress and servant discussed a few more details until Sister Jun returned. Jin Niang then sent Ying off to handle the errands and smiled. "You’re back early today."
Sister Jun yawned. "I’ve been running around to different houses these past few days—I’m exhausted."
"Go rest if you’re tired," Jin Niang said affectionately.
Sister Jun added, "Mother, today at the Wei family, we had roasted meat—lamb and venison. The venison was especially delicious, so I wrapped some in oiled paper to bring back for you."
Touched by her daughter’s thoughtfulness, Jin Niang thought to herself: People say a difficult child is a debtor from a past life, but a good child is surely a reward for virtuous deeds in a previous existence. She tasted a few slices. Though venison usually had a gamy flavor, the seasoning masked it well, and the meat was tender.
"It’s delicious. Thank you, my dear."
Pleased by her mother’s reaction, Sister Jun chattered on about the day’s events—how Wei Qilang was skilled at roasting meat and playing backgammon, how Lady Lan scored a perfect throw in arrow-pitching, and how the Sun sisters had excused themselves again, claiming illness.
Jin Niang found it odd. "Why didn’t the Sun sisters attend?"
"Who knows? They always say something’s going on at home," Sister Jun shrugged.
This matter only came to Madam Zhou’s attention during the New Year. She was dismayed to learn her daughters had been skipping social gatherings. The eldest Sun daughter explained, "Mother, we first visited the Jiang family—their pavilions and corridors were stunning, and they served forty dishes! Our household is so small—how could we possibly match that?"
Madam Zhou fretted. "You should’ve told me! I could’ve helped arrange things!"
She had sent her daughters to the girls’ school precisely for education and social connections. Yet, out of shyness, they avoided gatherings entirely. What was the point? In terms of status, her husband was a seventh-rank magistrate, higher than the Lan family’s military officer and on par with the investigating judge. And in lineage, both she and Sun Shichen came from official families. Yet her daughters were the most self-conscious of all.
The eldest Sun daughter was pragmatic. "Mother, let’s focus on studies. We’re from Guantao, not Daming Prefecture. There’s no need to chase empty social circles."
"Still, it’s unfair to you," Madam Zhou sighed, knowing her daughter spoke the truth.
The eldest Sun daughter, ever sensible, consoled her. "Mother, let’s not compare ourselves to others."
Madam Zhou sighed again. She had recently served as a matchmaker for a few wealthy families in Guantao County but received only twenty taels as a reward—far too meager.
Guantao was less prosperous than Fuyang County, and Daming Prefecture was better, but getting there was difficult. Now, they even had to send holiday gifts to Old Madam Wang, which cost six or seven strings of cash.
The younger Sun daughter, less mature than her sister, complained, "Mother, the Jiang and Ji families’ daughters already wear jewelry and change outfits daily. They even have fur coats! Sister and I have nothing..."
Jewelry wasn’t an issue—Madam Zhou had plenty from her dowry, and the old madam had given more. But fur coats? Those weren’t cheap. A single pelt cost four or five strings, plus tailoring fees.
If only Old Madam Wang would assign her another matchmaking job! But the old lady was detached from worldly affairs.
While Madam Zhou lamented her circumstances, Jin Niang secured another matchmaking opportunity—thanks to her daughter’s networking. Sister Jun had been promoting her mother’s services and happened to catch the attention of Madam Luo, wife of the judicial commissioner.
The judicial commissioner’s subordinate, an eighth-rank inspector, was preparing for his daughter’s wedding and needed a reliable matchmaker. Originally, the groom’s sister was to fill the role, but she had quarreled with her sister-in-law. Since the inspector had always been deferential to Madam Luo, she recommended Jin Niang, who gladly accepted.
A matchmaker needed proper attire: an eight-treasure brocade robe, a sable fur coat, and a golden headdress—all lending an air of dignity. Jin Niang was also well-versed in wedding customs. Though the inspector’s rank was modest, he served under the Hebei Circuit judicial office. While his gifts couldn’t match the extravagance of the Gu family merchants or the generosity of Lady Wei (a third-rank noblewoman), they were still respectable:
A pair of gold hairpins, two sets of hexagonal plum-patterned porcelain, two gold-embroidered silk handkerchiefs, a bolt of purple-gray crepe, a bolt of brown peony-patterned silk, a bolt of smoke-colored gauze, a load of tea cakes, a twenty-five-tael silver ingot, a fresh pig, and two roasted geese.
Upon returning, Jin Niang handed the food to the kitchen and gave Ying one of the embroidered handkerchiefs—a reward for her hard work managing the household affairs.
"You always think of me," Ying said gratefully.
Jin Niang replied, "You should save your money now. You’re due soon—don’t overwork yourself."
Ying laughed. "If I stay idle at home, I’ll go mad. Besides, you worked tirelessly even while pregnant. I’m not that delicate."
Perhaps because she married late and her bones were set, Ying’s pregnancy had been smooth.
Jin Niang added, "I have a wolf pelt—nothing too expensive—but it’ll make a good footrest for when you give birth."
"With you here, I know I’ll be fine," Ying said, feeling inexplicably reassured.
After their conversation, Jiang Xian entered, and Ying excused herself.
Jin Niang remarked, "Our daughter is even helping me find work now."
"Sister Jun is becoming quite capable. Yesterday, she told me you had her draft a gift list, and next year, you’ll teach her the abacus," Jiang Xian said proudly.
Jin Niang smiled. "Money prefers movement over stagnation—but not too much movement, nor too much stillness. One must learn to manage finances, keeping constant accounts, so the family never falls into hardship."
Jiang Xian remarked, "Only one silver ingot this time?"
"Already quite generous—wealthy patrons are few. By the way, I must fetch the ginseng the Gu family sent earlier. Cousin Dou is likely to go into labor soon, and this ginseng will help restore her strength." Jin Niang handed the key to Qingrong to retrieve it.
Though the Zhen family would prepare, Madam Zhen was not the birth mother—what if arrangements fell short? It was best to have it ready.
After chatting awhile, they were about to retire when Ziteng hurried in. "Madam, Lady Dou's water has broken. They request your presence."
Jin Niang swiftly donned a fur-lined coat and rushed over. Zhen Erlang had already returned from Yingtian Prefecture and sat with Madam Zhen in the side chamber. They rose to greet her.
"No need for formalities—how is Yuan Niang?" Jin Niang asked.
Zhen Erlang paused, momentarily forgetting his wife's name was Dou Yuan. "They say the labor has begun," he replied.
Jin Niang lifted the curtain and entered. Dou Yuan lay on the bed, her eyes lighting up with relief at the sight of her. Anxiety had gnawed at her—fears of a bribed midwife or a difficult birth with no one to save her. Now, she could rest easy.
"Yuan Niang, I’ll stay right here. You’re safe," Jin Niang assured her.
Exhausted from a day as a "full-blessings matron," Jin Niang nonetheless steeled herself. Inside, the room buzzed with activity, while outside, Madam Zhen said to her son, "This may take a while. I’ll return to oversee matters. You stay here—her cousin’s wife is present."
"Let me escort you," Zhen Erlang offered.
Madam Zhen waved him off. "No need. Keep watch here."
Back home, Madam Zhen retreated to the family shrine, canceling Miss Yang’s reading session. Miss Yang, however, grew uneasy. If Dou Yuan bore a son, her own position would weaken further.
She and her cousin had grown up together, their union all but assured—until Dou Yuan appeared.
Why must fate tear apart true lovers?
Bound by propriety, she could do nothing. Tears spilled unbidden whenever she saw her cousin. As for her father—even when her mother lived, they’d barely spoken. Now remarried with concubines aplenty, who would spare her a thought?
Then came the news: Dou Yuan had delivered a daughter. Though unrelated to her, Miss Yang exhaled in relief.
Meanwhile, Jin Niang emerged with the newborn, telling Zhen Erlang, "Cousin-in-law, see how full this child’s forehead is? The bone between her brows rises straight into her hairline—this is the ‘hidden rhinoceros bone.’ They say those born with it rise to nobility, even to the rank of Three Excellencies."
She wouldn’t let anyone slight this girl, spinning the auspicious tale she’d prepared.
To his credit, Zhen Erlang showed genuine delight, admiring his daughter before stepping out to announce the news. Dou Yuan, listening from within, felt hope—her husband wasn’t beyond redemption. She couldn’t afford complacency, lest rivals steal him away.
Returning from the Zhen household, Jin Niang collapsed into bed, needing two full days to recover. The baby’s third-day bath coincided with New Year’s Eve. After a brief visit to check on Dou Yuan’s health, Jin Niang returned home.
Brother Ning, now five, enjoyed a break from studies during the festivities. Jiang Xian, tasked with reviewing lessons, instead indulged the boy with games—pitch-pot, chess, backgammon—barely squeezing in half an hour of reading.
"He’s usually diligent, better than me," Jiang Xian defended. "Let him play for the holiday."
Jin Niang’s heart softened—he was only five. That evening, the family set off fireworks in the courtyard. They played a three-legged race: Jin Niang paired with Sister Jun against Jiang Xian and Brother Ning.
Mother and daughter moved in perfect sync, overtaking the leading father-son pair to win amid laughter.
On the second day, they visited the Wei family. Alongside customary gifts, Jin Niang presented Seventh Young Master Wei with a handmade hood. Madam Wei summoned her son to thank her.
"Many thanks, Third Aunt," Young Master Wei bowed.
Jin Niang chuckled. "No need for such formality, Seventh Lang. I entrust Brother Ning to you—take him to play."
"Younger brother is in good hands," he assured, leading the boy away.
Sister Jun, already studying with the Weis, joined their daughters for games while Jin Niang settled at the willow-leaf card table. After joining the clan, she ranked third by age. Across from her sat the former Third Madam Wei, now Fourth Madam, who bore no resentment.
"Speaking of which," Fourth Madam Wei remarked, "the Wangs have served in Daming Prefecture for three years. This is their last."
"Truly?" Jin Niang mused. Madam Wu was shrewd to leave so promptly.
Fourth Madam Wei smiled. "Why would I lie? Who knows who’ll replace the prefect?"
Jin Niang recalled the betrothal between Wei’s sixth son and the Wang daughter—no wonder they tracked the Wangs’ movements. Still, Madam Wang’s departure was welcome; she’d been a troublemaker. Unlike Madam Shen, mother of Pingjiang’s military commissioner, who knew better than to stir discord.
With limited social circles in official posts, time slipped by. By the Lantern Festival’s end, Jiang Xian resumed duties, and the children returned to studies. Jin Niang planned to rest, but news broke: the Ji family’s eldest daughter, thirteen—prime marrying age for officials’ daughters—was betrothed abruptly.
Jin Niang asked Madam Qian, "Which family is it?"
"A scholar from humble origins—hardly a match," Madam Qian replied.
Puzzled, Jin Niang pressed, "Why not a suitable scholar from an equal household?"
Madam Qian shook her head. "That’s their private affair."
The Jis wouldn’t involve Jin Niang in the betrothal. Seeking reconciliation with Madam Wang, they’d hired Fourth Madam Zhou instead. Eager for profit, Zhou had splurged on new attire, only to receive a meager twenty taels of silver, some food, wine, and two bolts of cloth from the Jis.
Though the favored concubine might dote, Madam Ji handled such matters—and she couldn’t care less.
Fourth Madam Zhou had traveled from Guantao for this paltry sum, leaving bitterly disappointed.
At this time, her two daughters still needed to buy paints and books, as well as outfits for horseback riding, so a large portion of the money they had just received was immediately spent. The younger Sun daughter even said, "Mother, nowadays at the girls' school, everyone takes turns treating the others to pastries. The ones they buy are from either Hongbin Tower or Cuiyun Tower—none of them bring homemade snacks from home..."
Madam Zhou frowned. "Why has this trend of showing off become so prevalent? School should be for studying, not for such frivolities. I don’t think this girls' school is all that good."
She believed that a girls' school should solely focus on education—why bother with all these unnecessary distractions?
Jin Niang, however, was indifferent to these matters. After all, the Wei Family Girls' School was essentially a private institution, and she had mentally prepared herself for this. If all she wanted was for her children to learn a few books, she could easily hire a pedantic scholar for three strings of cash a year—more than enough.
But at the girls' school, they studied reading, incense-making, horseback riding, mounting paintings, drawing, and playing the zither—skills for which it would be difficult to find individual tutors elsewhere.
"Qingrong, have Chen Xiaolang take a qian of silver to buy some fruit-filled pastries from Cuiyun Tower. Tomorrow, have the girls bring them to school," Jin Niang instructed.
Now that Ying had given birth to a son on the ninth day of the first lunar month and was still in confinement, Jin Niang had Qingrong take over these tasks. Over the years, Qingrong had served as her assistant, meticulous and reliable—someone Jin Niang had often praised—so she felt at ease entrusting her with the matter.
The Sun sisters, however, couldn’t even afford to bring a qian’s worth of pastries, nor did they feel comfortable accepting treats from others. They always hurried in and out of school, finding no joy in it whatsoever. Eventually, Madam Zhou had no choice but to accept a large quantity of pastries sent by a wealthy family from Guantao County who often flattered her. Though the family smiled on the surface, they privately looked down on her.
At the start of the second month, Dou Yuan emerged from her postpartum confinement. Her daughter had been given the single-character name "Luo." Jin Niang didn’t dare kiss the baby, only holding her as she said to Dou Yuan, "Children need peace and quiet. The household shouldn’t be too noisy, and you shouldn’t carry her outside too often—the wind is too biting now. She shouldn’t be exposed to it."
"Cousin-in-law, my mother-in-law found out about the baby’s 'Fuxi bone' and now wants to raise her by her side," Dou Yuan said. She knew Jin Niang had mentioned the Fuxi bone to elevate her daughter’s status and feared she might resent the child otherwise.
Jin Niang smiled. "Shh. Mentioning the Fuxi bone once is enough—no need to keep bringing it up. Focus on recovering your health and raising your daughter well. Ignore the idle gossip."
Dou Yuan replied, "I’ve come to terms with it. That woman from the Yang family can stay in the estate if she wants. My husband is devoted to his studies and will be leaving again in a few days. Right now, she’s the anxious one—not me."
"That’s the right attitude." Jin Niang admired Dou Yuan greatly. A young girl who had married far from home, she not only managed the Zhen household flawlessly but also maintained her composure in the face of her husband’s first love. She was truly remarkable.
The two women chatted a while longer about household affairs before Jin Niang said, "I still have some clothes Sister Jun wore as a baby—lightly used but softened by washing, so they’re comfortable to wear. If you don’t mind, I’ll send a few over."
Dou Yuan, of course, didn’t refuse. New clothes could be rough against delicate skin, while worn ones were softer and more comfortable. Jin Niang returned home, selected some of the finest garments, had Ziteng wash them, and sent them over after they’d been sun-dried and scented.
By the end of the second month, Sister Jun’s birthday arrived. Since she was turning nine—a significant age before the tenth birthday—Jin Niang invited many relatives and friends to celebrate at home. She even hired performers of Zhugongdiao, puppet shows, and acrobatics, making the occasion lively and grand. The entire event cost exactly twenty-five taels of silver.
Nearly all of Sister Jun’s schoolmates and close friends attended. The children’s gifts were simple—fans, sachets, or small paintings.
"Sister Jun, your family treats you so well," Miss Luo remarked.
She had also celebrated her tenth birthday, but not with such fanfare—especially not with puppet shows, which were so entertaining.
Sister Jun smiled. "Yes, my parents are very good to me, especially my mother. If I ask for something reasonable, she always tries her best to make it happen."
That was her confidence—as long as her requests were justified, her mother would grant them.
But at the same time, as a student, she was expected to study diligently, excel in needlework, master arithmetic, and learn financial responsibility. If she slacked, her mother would reprimand her.
The Sun sisters watched with envy.
…
The carefree happiness of these young girls was what Dou Yuan envied most. She had once despised everything about Yangzhou, longing to escape. Now, she realized that marriage had become her greatest prison—a cold husband who had only married her for status, a hypocritical mother-in-law, and the ever-present shadow of his first love. All of it forced her to stay strong.
"Cousin-in-law, I should head back. The baby is waiting at home."
Jin Niang understood. "Go ahead. You’ve just left confinement—you mustn’t catch a chill."
Dou Yuan was deeply grateful. During her most vulnerable moments, Jin Niang had been there to support her, giving her someone to confide in.
Watching her leave, Jin Niang sighed softly.
After February passed, the sixth day of the third month marked Jiang Xian’s birthday. Jin Niang personally made him a robe, a pair of knee pads, and shoes. As he tried them on, he caressed her arm and said, "Jin Niang, sometimes I feel time moves too slowly—always waiting for my next posting. But other times, it feels too fast. We’ve already been married for ten years."
"Yes, it really does pass in the blink of an eye. Do you remember when we first met? I thought to myself, ‘This gentleman isn’t just handsome and younger than me—he’s also so eloquent. Could this be some kind of trap?’" Jin Niang gazed at her now even more distinguished husband and couldn’t resist standing on her toes to kiss him.
Jiang Xian chuckled. "Only you would see me as perfect back then. I wasn’t even a county scholar, the Liu family had dismissed me as a tutor, my mother was frail, and my father and grandfather had no official titles… Yet you cherished me like a treasure."
The couple exchanged a tender look.
As the evening grew cooler, they stepped inside. Jiang Xian said, "This is Prefect Wang’s final year in office. He’s ordered his subordinates to suppress several bandit hideouts, likely to bolster his record before seeking a promotion. But those bandits won’t take it lying down. They know he’ll be gone in a month, and I fear they might retaliate. Be cautious—avoid going out unless absolutely necessary."
Jin Niang nodded. "I don’t have much to do outside anyway. The Cui family has asked me to be their ‘Complete Blessing’ ceremonial escort for a wedding, but after that, I’ll feign illness and stay home."
"Then I can rest easy. If things become urgent, I’ll make sure to get you and the children out of the city," Jiang Xian whispered.
Jin Niang embraced him tightly. "I’ll protect myself and the children."
On the eighth day of the third lunar month, Jin Niang first visited the Cui family. The gifts from the Cui family’s "Full Blessing" ceremony were exceedingly generous. Even after Jin Niang returned most of them, what remained was still lavish: a crystal-adorned headpiece, two pearl-embellished combs, a gilded silver incense pouch, two crystal hairpins, eight bolts of fine silk, three pieces of brocade, twenty catties of spices, sixty catties of pepper, two loads of tea cakes, and two hundred taels of silver.
Sister Jun couldn’t help but exclaim, "Mother, this is so much!"
"All of this was earned through your father risking his life. That case—no one else would take it, but he did. He went undercover for a month and nearly didn’t make it back. Even now, he still has nightmares at night. If not for that, duties like the 'Full Blessing' ceremony would usually be given to family members. Why would outsiders receive such favors otherwise?" Jin Niang shook her head.
After organizing the gifts, Ying entered and said, "Madam, I’ve already instructed the gatekeepers to secure the household tightly."
"Good," Jin Niang nodded, then turned to her daughter. "I’m feeling unwell. Starting tomorrow, you’ll stay home to tend to me, alright?"
