"Yes, it was almost lost. My heart was in my throat, but thankfully it was recovered in the end." Jin Niang was speaking with Madam Wei about the embroidered portrait.
Madam Wei, who often stayed up late, had fainted from rising too abruptly. After resting for some time, she now looked much better. She smiled and said, "It’s because your embroidered portrait is so famous."
Jin Niang laughed. "In truth, it may not be all that miraculous—just a comfort to the heart."
Though she spoke honestly, Madam Wei privately assumed she was unwilling to lend it out again and was making excuses. Ah well, she thought, our family already has one—no need to be greedy.
The two then discussed the current affairs of the prefecture. Jin Niang mentioned, "Judge Xia has arrived, and I’ve heard the new assistant prefect’s appointment has been issued. He’ll be arriving soon."
As a prominent local family, Madam Wei often interacted with officials’ wives. She couldn’t help but advise, "You must maintain good relations with these superiors. Otherwise, a poor evaluation would render all your efforts wasted."
Recognizing the guidance, Jin Niang quickly agreed. "You’re absolutely right. We wouldn’t dare neglect them."
"But don’t let them walk all over you either," Madam Wei added with a smile.
Jin Niang nodded.
Just then, Madam Wei’s fourth aunt arrived, bringing her daughter and a niece to enroll in the girls’ school. The little girls, around six or seven, looked both excited and nervous.
Knowing Madam Wei was busy, Jin Niang took her leave. Madam Wei had a trusted maid escort her out—a maid who had once received a pair of gold bracelets from Jin Niang and now regarded her warmly. The maid remarked, "The Sun family’s two daughters haven’t shown up—neither confirming nor refusing, just asking for leave. Now that these two girls are here, it’ll liven things up a bit."
"Why aren’t the Sun girls attending?" Jin Niang asked.
The maid shook her head. "No idea."
The truth was, the Sun sisters couldn’t attend. Sun Shichen had taken shares from two merchants but, fearing repercussions for his career, refused to fulfill his end of the bargain. The merchants, however, were not without means and began making threats, leaving Zhou Si terrified.
But Sun Shichen, born into an official family, remained unshaken. "A few merchants can’t cause much trouble. Don’t worry. We’ve distanced ourselves enough—compared to others, we’ve taken very little. It’s nothing."
Zhou Si finally relaxed. After all, this was an unspoken rule—almost everyone took shares. Their share was modest, like the advertising income she once earned as a blogger.
By the time the matter settled, the Sun sisters had already missed two or three months of school. Unable to return to Daming Prefecture, Zhou Si had no choice but to withdraw them entirely, canceling their lease and abandoning their studies halfway.
Meanwhile, in Daming Prefecture, the new assistant prefect’s wife arrived—a shrewd woman whom Jin Niang felt was entirely different from their circle.
Different circles, fewer interactions, she thought.
Yet, to her surprise, Madam Xia paid a personal visit—to propose a marriage. "Madam Jiang, I’ve come with wonderful news to discuss."
"Oh? What might that be?" Jin Niang asked.
Madam Xia smiled. "Yesterday, while speaking with the assistant prefect’s wife, she mentioned her nephew—the son of a wealthy medicinal merchant from Chu Prefecture, earning a fortune daily. He’s around Sister Jun’s age. I thought this was a splendid match, so I hurried over."
"No need. Our daughter is still too young," Jin Niang declined.
Madam Xia pressed on. "At least meet him first! See for yourself."
"Madam Xia, we’re from Bianjing and will return eventually. We won’t marry our daughter far from home. Thank you for your kindness." Jin Niang was firm.
Still persistent, Madam Xia asked, "Is it because he’s a merchant? His family is wealthy—they could easily afford a house in Bianjing!"
This was starting to feel like coercion. Jin Niang, baffled by her insistence, simply said, "Thank you, but we’ll discuss our daughter’s future another time."
Only then did Madam Xia leave.
Ying watched her go, wrinkling her nose. "What nonsense was that?"
"Who knows what she’s scheming? Best not to dwell on it," Jin Niang sighed.
Little did they know, some people thrived on stirring trouble for the sake of feeling important. When Madam Xia first arrived in Daming Prefecture, neither Madam Liu nor Jin Niang gave her much attention, and the two families seemed close—leaving her no opening. But now, with the new assistant prefect’s wife here, Madam Xia saw an opportunity.
The assistant prefect’s wife, impressed by Madam Wei’s noble demeanor and connections—her brothers held high positions, and her husband’s family boasted two scholars—had eagerly sought a match.
So, Madam Xia scurried to her house, sighing dramatically. "My dear superior’s wife, I wore my lips out trying, but they wouldn’t hear of it! They called Chu Prefecture too remote and looked down on merchants. I was too embarrassed to repeat their words."
The assistant prefect’s wife frowned. "Are you telling the truth?"
"Why would I lie? What would I gain?" Madam Xia wiped her brow, feigning innocence.
Convinced by her meek demeanor, the assistant prefect’s wife grew displeased with Jin Niang.
Madam Liu’s husband held a higher rank, so Madam Xia dared not cross her. But Jin Niang’s husband, though slightly lower in rank, was close enough to provoke her mischief.
Another motive was the hefty matchmaking fee—a lucrative reward. The Xia family rented a modest two-courtyard home, while Jin Niang’s family lived in a grand three-courtyard residence with a garden. To Madam Xia, this was unacceptable—those of lower rank shouldn’t live better than her.
Had the match succeeded, she’d have profited. But since Madam Wei had "dared" to snub her, she deserved the assistant prefect’s wife’s disdain.
Later, Jin Niang recounted the incident to Jiang Xian. Both agreed Madam Xia had overstepped and resolved to decline future visits from her.
"I always wondered how Judge Xia, who passed the imperial exams at twenty-three and has been in office for twenty years, holds the same rank as me. Now I see the problem lies with his wife," Jiang Xian remarked, astonished by Madam Xia’s absurdity.
Jin Niang shook her head. "Let’s not dwell on them. Through my years, I’ve learned that truly reasonable people are rare—most are riddled with flaws."
Jiang Xian shared another oddity: "Last time I presided over a case, a clerk suddenly started talking to himself mid-trial—nearly gave me a fright."
"It sounds terrifying—you see how unpredictable human hearts can be in this world. Even Lady Zhen would stoop to petty theft." Like most people, Jin Niang had once assumed that those of high status and wealth wouldn’t act in such shocking ways, but in truth, it was best not to idealize anyone.
Speaking of Lady Zhen, Jiang Xian remarked, "Indeed. This is what they call 'knowing a person’s face but not their heart.' Fortunately, she isn’t particularly bold. If she were the type to stubbornly cling to her misdeeds, we’d have no way to deal with her."
Dou Yuan shared the same thought. Her mother-in-law occasionally indulged in minor mischief but was easily frightened. Who would have thought she’d secretly send someone to steal her cousin-in-law’s Guanyin statue simply because she fancied it? As for why she took it, Dou Yuan had an inkling—it wasn’t for her son or grandson but likely for her own health.
A child’s cry snapped her out of her thoughts. Shaking her head, Dou Yuan, as the lady of the house, turned to her servants. "Later, deliver some tonics to Aunt Seven’s household."
Aunt Seven’s daughter-in-law had suffered a severe hemorrhage barely forty days after giving birth.
Just as she finished giving orders, her sister-in-law, Madam Zhuang, arrived. Dou Yuan quickly rose to greet her. "What brings you here today, sister-in-law?"
Among Lady Zhen’s three sons, the most reliable was Dou Yuan’s own husband. The third son, though a scholar, lacked the perseverance for study and preferred indulging in romantic pursuits. Madam Zhuang had been unassuming when she first married into the family, but after bearing a son, her true colors emerged—she carried herself with unshakable confidence and showed little respect for her elder sister-in-law.
Madam Zhuang smiled. "Second Sister-in-law, I wouldn’t come unless I had a request. With all the chaos in our household lately, we’ve all been run ragged. Now that things have settled, I thought I’d share some news—I’m pregnant again, and my mouth is constantly bitter. Mother suggested that rather than troubling you, I might as well set up a small kitchen of my own."
So, she wanted her own kitchen. Establishing one would mean hiring a separate cook, arranging independent grocery purchases, and—most problematically—disrupting household norms. Neither the eldest sister-in-law nor Dou Yuan had their own kitchens. If Madam Zhuang alone had one, it would break convention.
Breaking convention wasn’t the real issue—the blame would inevitably fall on Dou Yuan.
Keeping her tone gentle, Dou Yuan replied, "You want your own kitchen? I have no objections, but as the current manager of the household, I must consider fairness. If you set one up, what will the eldest sister-in-law say?"
"If you weren’t managing the household, I wouldn’t have come to you. Mother has already agreed." Madam Zhuang thought smugly, I’ve borne a son. The eldest sister-in-law is just a widow—if I were in her place after the scandal her brother caused, I’d have dashed my brains out long ago. How can she compare to me?
Dou Yuan remained unshaken. "Yes, you’ve mentioned it several times. Setting up a kitchen while pregnant is a significant matter for our family, and I fully support it. But I must clarify things now to avoid future disputes."
Madam Zhuang was no match for Dou Yuan. When Dou Yuan later approached Lady Zhen about the kitchen and suggested inviting the eldest sister-in-law to prevent resentment, Lady Zhen immediately backtracked, saying it wasn’t necessary.
The matter was quietly dropped.
Later, Dou Yuan visited Jin Niang’s home with her daughter in tow. The weather was cold, so Jin Niang had set aside her needlework and was serving tea and snacks when Dou Yuan recounted her clash with Madam Zhuang.
"She’s putting on airs. She thinks bearing a son and now being pregnant again makes her untouchable." Jin Niang saw right through such behavior.
Sometimes, women just needed to vent. After Jin Niang validated her feelings, Dou Yuan’s mood lightened. But when Jin Niang mentioned Madam Xia’s schemes, Dou Yuan advised, "Cousin-in-law, don’t listen to her. Our Jun’er’s looks and temperament deserve a match in Bianjing."
Jin Niang smiled. "I think so too. But Madam Xia wouldn’t stop pestering me, even driving a wedge between me and the Magistrate’s wife. A mutual acquaintance warned me, so I must find a way to smooth things over."
Dou Yuan suggested, "It’s not so difficult. You’re close with Madam Liu, wife of Secretary Han. Ask her to mediate—let both sides reconcile."
"That makes sense." Jin Niang disliked Madam Xia and knew reconciliation with her was impossible, but there was still room to mend ties with the Magistrate’s household.
So, Jin Niang discussed it with Jiang Xian and visited Secretary Han’s residence, entrusting Madam Liu with the matter. "Madam Xia cornered me with endless nonsense. I’m not looking down on anyone, but my Jun’er is barely thirteen—far too young for marriage talks. And even if we did arrange a match, I’d never let her marry far from home."
Madam Liu understood immediately and was indignant. "How presumptuous of her to push some merchant’s son on you out of nowhere! Don’t worry—I’ll handle this."
"Thank you so much." Jin Niang naturally presented her with several bolts of fine silk as a gesture.
On the way home, Nanny Fang asked, "Madam, do you think Madam Liu will truly help smooth things over?"
Jin Niang shook her head. "I’m just going through the motions. If she accepts the gift, we’ll maintain appearances. Besides, the Magistrate and his deputy are new here—they won’t make trouble recklessly."
"But aren’t you worried?" Nanny Fang fretted. Officials’ promotions depended on superiors’ evaluations, and every three years, their performance was reviewed.
Jin Niang replied, "We can’t just throw gifts at them blindly. If we start now, their demands will only grow next year. For now, I’ve asked Madam Liu to mediate. If they’re reasonable, all well and good. If they insist on making trouble, I’ll discuss countermeasures with my husband."
Meanwhile, Madam Liu, having agreed to Jin Niang’s request, was happy to owe her a favor. Secretary Han and Jiang Xian had been close for years, and Jiang Xian’s mother was also Madam Liu’s relative. Moreover, Jin Niang came from the prominent Wei family.
Thankfully, Madam Xia and the Magistrate’s wife were fools—otherwise, Madam Liu wouldn’t have had this chance to curry favor.
Madam Liu soon summoned the Magistrate’s wife, who was far shrewder than Madam Xia. "The Jiang family has been friends with ours for generations. How have you been getting along with them?"
The Magistrate’s wife hadn’t known about this connection. Catching the implication, she quickly said, "Very well, extremely well."
"Good. I won’t say more. His wife is from the Wei family—a local powerhouse. Old Master Wei may be gone, but Young Master Wei now serves as a third-rank Transport Commissioner. We’re all posted in Daming Prefecture and must deal with families like the Weis, Zhens, and Zhangs. Not one of them can be offended." Madam Liu gestured for her to drink tea.
The magistrate's wife listened with trepidation, inwardly blaming that troublemaker Xia Huazi for stirring up trouble and offending people.
After some pointed remarks, Madam Liu suddenly laughed and said, "Oh dear, I almost forgot—Madam Wei has a few bolts of fine brocade silk, and I’ve taken the liberty of gifting them to you on her behalf. Let’s keep in touch more often so we can grow closer."
The magistrate's wife murmured her agreement.
With this matter resolved, though the magistrate's wife remained friendly with Madam Xia, she maintained a cordial demeanor toward Jin Niang.
This was precisely the outcome Jin Niang had wanted. As for Madam Xia, Jin Niang listened as Madam Lan complained, "I accompanied her all over Daming Prefecture, and she found everything too expensive. In the end, we came back hungry without buying a single thing."
"Just ignore her from now on. Haven’t you heard? Even the clerks and subordinates under Magistrate Xia are grumbling about her," Jin Niang said, blowing on her tea before shaking her head.
Madam Lan pursed her lips. "It’s so hard being the wives of low-ranking officials."
Jin Niang agreed wholeheartedly. With their modest positions, they constantly feared offending this person or that. Madam Lan had it even worse than her, though Jin Niang and her husband had endured similar hardships back in Wu County. That’s why encountering someone like Madam Qian—a kind and understanding superior’s wife—was such a rare blessing.
After venting for a while, neither realized Madam Xia remained oblivious. She had assumed she and the magistrate's wife were allies, but at the Wei family’s gathering, the magistrate's wife actively sought out Jin Niang, who then introduced her to Madam Wei. Left alone, Madam Xia stood isolated, utterly ignored.
Desperate, Madam Xia sidled up to Jin Niang’s table with a forced smile, but Jin Niang had no intention of welcoming her sincerely. She chatted only with Madam Liu and the magistrate's wife, while Madam Lan chimed in merrily—leaving Madam Xia completely sidelined.
She had brought this upon herself. Everyone had coexisted peacefully until she stirred up trouble. Jin Niang wasn’t afraid to retaliate. She could reconcile with the magistrate's wife because there was still some mutual respect, but Madam Xia was beyond reason.
Petty people fear power, not virtue—a lesson Jin Niang had learned long ago from how Madam Bao treated Madam Tian.
After the gathering, Jin Niang returned home, only to hear that Madam Xia had followed her. Instead of going inside, Jin Niang had her carriage stop at the Zhen family’s gate. Alighting, she feigned surprise. "Oh, what brings you here? I’m just on my way to the Zhens’."
Madam Xia smiled ingratiatingly. "I came to discuss something with you."
"I already have plans with the Zhen family. My apologies," Jin Niang said before walking away.
Any conversation with Madam Xia would inevitably be twisted into gossip. Today, the magistrate's wife had made her stance clear—Madam Xia was nothing but a troublemaker.
As Madam Xia walked home, she grew increasingly puzzled. Her usual tactics had always worked before—why had they failed this time?
She didn’t realize Jin Niang hadn’t spent two years in Daming Prefecture for nothing. Without some clever maneuvering, how could she have secured her place?
The next day, when Madam Xia tried to visit again, the gatekeeper informed her that Secretary Han and his wife were dining there. Only then did she realize how close the prefect was to the Jiang family. If the Jiangs said anything unfavorable about her to the prefect, she’d be ruined.
But Jin Niang wasn’t about to show mercy. She complained to Madam Liu, "Magistrate Xia seems to have taken bribes—he’s clinging to a case riddled with errors. The clerks are all protesting, and my husband refuses to endorse it."
"He must be meddling in lawsuits for profit," Madam Liu said knowingly.
Jin Niang shook her head. "I can’t fathom it. With superiors like the surveillance commissioner and the prefect, how dare anyone act so brazenly?"
During the meal, the men dined at one table while the women sat nearby. Han Xiao, who had little appetite, found himself hungry again after watching Jin Niang devour a piece of braised pork.
Perhaps that was why Han Xiao always ate well at the Jiangs’. Madam Liu, too, enjoyed visiting—especially since she and Jin Niang could sketch floral patterns together afterward. Madam Liu had loved drawing flowers since her youth, and she was pleasantly surprised to find Jin Niang not only skilled at sewing but also talented in painting.
A few days later, when Second Son Zhen returned, Jin Niang introduced Dou Yuan to Madam Liu. To everyone’s surprise, the two families soon arranged a betrothal between their children.
Luo’er was promised to Han Xiao’s eldest son, and Dou Yuan naturally asked Jin Niang to serve as the matchmaker.
Jin Niang asked earnestly, "How did you two settle on this match so quickly?"
"Cousin-in-law, to be frank," Dou Yuan said, "Secretary Han is young yet already prefect of Daming, and his father-in-law is Minister Liu. Though my father-in-law still holds office, he’ll be fortunate to retire as a third-rank official. Besides, Han’s eldest is handsome, and Madam Liu is virtuous. We had to secure this match early—if the Zhen family declines later, at least Luo’er will still become an official’s wife." In Dou Yuan’s eyes, even if Han’s son didn’t excel in studies, he’d still inherit an official post.
She even advised Jin Niang, "Sister-in-law, though Jun’er is still young, you should start looking now. You can’t expect a perfect suitor to just appear when the time comes."
Jin Niang suddenly recalled a saying: Good men rarely stay long on the marriage market.
When the first snow of winter fell, Luo Da arrived, bringing not only the rental income but also letters from Jiang Yan to Jiang Xian. Jin Niang didn’t open them, though she noted this year’s earnings were less than usual.
Luo Da sighed. "The money shop at Golden Beam Bridge closed. After two months, we finally rented it to a hair ornament vendor for only twenty-eight strings of cash. As for your other shop, the silk merchant transferred it to his nephew, who paid just twenty strings. In total, we collected only five hundred seventy-six taels. Adding the two hundred mu of farmland rent—another one hundred seventy-six strings—we’ve brought just over seven hundred strings this year."
Jin Niang mused that owning more property was clearly necessary. Though disappointed by the reduced income from Bianjing, she merely said, "Thank you for your trouble."
Luo Da didn’t dare act as boldly as in previous years, given the diminished sum.
However, he brought good news. After reading Jiang Yan’s letter, Jiang Xian told Jin Niang, "Elder Brother says Xuan’er is betrothed to the Wu family. He’s recommended me to them and to the Chief Councilor. Barring any issues, I may be transferred back to the capital."
"That’s wonderful news!" Jin Niang exclaimed.
She and Jiang Xian discussed sending gifts back to Jiang Yan with Luo Da for the festival, which Jiang Xian readily agreed to.
Still, the couple couldn’t help but frown at this year’s meager earnings from Bianjing. Fortunately, the warehouse delivered twelve hundred taels, and Wu County sent another eight hundred taels in installments, allowing Jin Niang to breathe easier.
"Darling, if we return home, will we be able to afford a grand estate?" Jiang Xian's greatest worry was this, especially seeing his wife frown.
After all, in their hometown, Han Xiao was a close family friend who wouldn’t give him a poor reputation. With connections smoothed out among the higher-ups, he had no other concerns—except this one matter.
Jin Niang did a quick calculation in her mind. Roughly eighty-eight hundred taels of silver—and if they sold their current residence later, it would come to over nine thousand taels. That should be enough.
But she said to Jiang Xian, "Let’s not think so far ahead. We’ll discuss it once everything is settled."
Though Jiang Yan was a decent man, practically the epitome of gentleness and humility, there was the cautionary tale of Madam Wu to consider. After all, the daughter-in-law of the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy was Madam Xu’s cousin—would Madam Xu even be willing?
