After the boat had traveled about twenty li, Jin Niang asked Jiang Xian, "Have you told Secretary Han about what the Xia family has done?"
"I already have. This Judge Xia often abuses his authority to oppress good people in Daming Prefecture. If the higher officials fail to investigate, they’ll be seen as incompetent and will face consequences later," Jiang Xian replied.
Jin Niang felt reassured. She then said, "When we left Wu County, I was full of energy for some reason. But now that we’re leaving Daming Prefecture, I feel as if a weight has been lifted."
Jiang Xian chuckled. "Isn’t that what 'The Battle of Changshao' says? 'The first drum rouses the spirit, the second weakens it, and the third exhausts it.' When we first went to Wu County, being officials was still fresh and exciting. By the time we reached Daming Prefecture, you were already worn out. Now, on our third journey, we’re finally returning to the capital, no longer drifting around. Of course, it’s a relief."
"You’re absolutely right, my lord," Jin Niang said with a light laugh, nestling into his arms.
The couple had been too busy recently, both physically and mentally exhausted, leaving little time for intimacy. Now, on the boat with no disturbances, Jiang Xian even prepared sheep intestines in advance, but Jin Niang stopped him. "No need for that today."
Jiang Xian hesitated. "But what if you become pregnant, my dear?"
"If it happens, it happens," Jin Niang replied with a smile.
Jiang Xian was puzzled. "Why the sudden change of heart?"
Jin Niang shook her head. "Just putting myself in others’ shoes."
She had seen how Madam Luan, though widowed in the Zhen family, could still claim a share of the estate because she had a son. Otherwise, given the Luan family’s nature, she might have been forced to remarry for profit. For Jin Niang, she knew the inheritance laws well—if their only son met misfortune, they could only adopt within the clan, not choose freely.
In the future, she and Jiang Xian might still be at others’ mercy.
Of course, if Jiang Xian were no longer around, their family property might even be confiscated.
But saying this aloud would sound like she was cursing her husband, so she kept it to herself. In this world, it was hard for a woman to survive alone—she had to think ahead.
Jiang Xian didn’t press for details. Under the covers, passion flared, and both found comfort in each other.
The next morning, Jin Niang felt sore all over. She lazily put on a casual robe and reclined on the couch, reading a book. Occasionally, when her eyes grew tired, she closed them to rest.
At noon, Sister Jun came specifically to have lunch with her. Seeing her daughter, Jin Niang perked up and sat up. "Are you hungry? Did you come looking for food from your mother?"
"No, Nanny Rong (Xi Qiu) already served me. I just wanted to read with you," Sister Jun said playfully.
"Alright, let’s go to the bed—the couch is too small. What would you like to read?" Jin Niang never thought children were too old to be affectionate with their parents. On the contrary, she wanted to understand them better, especially as they approached adolescence and their emotions became more complex.
Mother and daughter read together, with Sister Jun often sharing passages and Jin Niang reciprocating with amusing bits from her own book. Jiang Xian, who had been about to enter the inner chamber, paused at the doorway. He wondered if Jin Niang’s desire for another child stemmed from how close their children were to them.
Perhaps it wasn’t a bad idea. If they bought a large estate, it would feel too empty without enough people filling it.
After lunch, Sister Jun returned to her room to rest, leaving behind a box of scented powder she had made herself. Meanwhile, Jin Niang recalled the children of Sun Shichen and Madam Zhou whom they had met along the way.
When Sister Jun greeted the Sun sisters—Miss Sun the Eldest and Miss Sun the Second—they barely responded, despite being former classmates.
Why was that?
On the same boat, Madam Zhou also asked her daughters, "Earlier, Miss Jiang came over to talk to you both. Why did you ignore her? That wasn’t kind."
Miss Sun the Eldest remained silent—she was reserved and rarely spoke her mind. But Miss Sun the Second answered, "We left the girls’ school midway. We were afraid she’d ask why we stopped attending."
Hearing this, Madam Zhou felt a pang of guilt.
Some things seemed trivial to adults—like her decision to keep the same tutor for her three children. But the shame of dropping out weighed heavily on her daughters, making them withdraw.
"Don’t worry. Once we reach the upper county, we’ll hire another female tutor to teach you," Madam Zhou assured them.
Miss Sun the Eldest shook her head. "Madam Shen was the most talented woman in Wuxing. No one else can match her. And now that Jiang Jun is going to the capital, she’ll have access to even better teachers."
Madam Zhou disliked such comparisons. "We don’t need to compete with her."
"Mother, I…" Miss Sun the Eldest trailed off.
Madam Zhou said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. If you focus on your studies, you’ll improve in time. Self-respect is the foundation of growth."
...
After five days on the river, strong winds forced the boat to dock. The captain went to pay taxes and restock supplies. Worried the children might be frightened, Jin Niang called them to her room, letting the siblings play chess while she watched, occasionally discussing household matters with Ying.
"We’ll reach the capital soon. Once we arrive, we’ll find a house and send gifts to all the right places. Sweetwater Alley is too cramped—the front is crowded with shops, and there’s too much coming and going. It’s not ideal."
Ying nodded. "I was thinking the same."
Jin Niang smiled. "Either way, in the capital, we’ll have a grand house with a garden. We won’t even need to go out for walks—we can stroll in our own garden. And hosting guests won’t be a problem with plenty of space."
She was a practical woman. A comfortable life, free from financial worries, eliminated eighty percent of life’s troubles.
She barely slept that night. The next morning, vendors were selling snacks by the shore, so Jin Niang had some brought aboard. The children, tired of Juxiang’s cooking, devoured the street food eagerly.
"Don’t overeat, or you’ll upset your stomachs," Jin Niang warned.
Brother Ning bounced excitedly. "Mother, you’re like a mind reader! You knew exactly what I wanted without me saying a word!"
Jin Niang tapped him lightly. "You’re this happy just from some snacks? But outside food is different from what you’re used to—it’s easy to get sick. No more after this."
She couldn’t explain gut bacteria, so this was the simplest way.
Brother Ning knew his mother granted many of their wishes, but her rules were non-negotiable—disobey, and privileges vanished. He quickly agreed.
After the children finished eating, Jin Niang was having water fetched for them to wash their hands when she heard a loud splash outside—someone had fallen into the river. For some reason, Jin Niang thought of Ru Yan. This time, she instructed the servants to rescue the person, take them to a riverside clinic, and leave some money for treatment. It wasn’t that she lacked compassion; saving a life was one thing, but taking responsibility for someone afterward was another matter entirely.
She didn’t like meddling in others’ fates, so her help ended at the rescue. She had no interest in arranging someone else’s life.
Ding San reported back that the person saved was a young married woman who had jumped into the river after being mistreated by her mother-in-law. Upon waking, she begged to be taken in, but Ding San refused.
Jin Niang simply said, “Understood. You may go.”
Ying brought over tea and remarked, “Madam, the two taels of silver you left her will last her three months. If she had the courage to jump into the river, she certainly has the courage to live on.”
“Mm.” Jin Niang’s thoughts drifted to Nanny Ma, Brother Ning’s wet nurse. Now that Brother Ning was growing older, the nanny seemed increasingly indulgent, perhaps fearing Jin Niang would dismiss her.
Once they reached the capital, she couldn’t let the nanny continue serving Brother Ning. Otherwise, it would become difficult for his parents to discipline him.
“Tomorrow morning, have Brother Ning come to me to practice his calligraphy,” Jin Niang instructed Ying.
Then she turned to Jiang Xian and said, “You must also guide him well. Once we return, we’ll need to hire a proper tutor for our son.”
There was a difference between an early education tutor and a scholarly tutor. The former taught basic literacy, while the latter focused on the classics, history, and philosophy.
Unlike in later dynasties, the Song Dynasty didn’t have county-level examinations for children, but there was the “Child Prodigy Exam.” Boys under ten who could master a classic text, along with the Classic of Filial Piety and the Analects, and recite ten passages flawlessly, could earn an official position. Even those who mastered seven passages would gain scholarly recognition.
Brother Ning was diligent and hardworking in his studies. If he aimed for the Child Prodigy Exam, passing would be ideal. But even if he didn’t, by age ten, he would still be far ahead of his peers.
Hearing this, Jiang Xian was astonished. Truthfully, he himself had only begun studying seriously after his elder brother was adopted into another family. Children from wealthy households rarely endured the hardships of rigorous study.
Studying could drain half a man’s life—it was no easy feat.
“Madam, you are truly far-sighted. But hiring a scholarly tutor isn’t the same as hiring an early education tutor. If we engage a renowned scholar, the cost might be higher. After buying the house, will we still have enough funds?” He wasn’t entirely sure how much money Jin Niang had left, especially since she had insisted on settling the boat fare with the shipowner upon their return.
Jin Niang laughed. “Don’t worry about money. Even if I had to sell my hair, I wouldn’t let you go hungry.”
She had an idea: once they returned, she no longer wanted to rent out her house in Sweetwater Alley. Instead, she could convert it into a lodging house. The small partitioned rooms she had built for the servants could serve as storage or rented quarters. The location near the Grand Xiangguo Temple was ideal, as many merchants gathered there to trade goods.
Still, the property was too small to generate much profit.
Ah—once they moved out, the upstairs rooms and study could also be rented separately. That way, one house could serve two purposes.
After buying the new house, major expenses would be minimal, and they could plan further from there.
Reassured by her words, Jiang Xian grinned. “Madam, just think—in just a few years, we’ve managed to afford a grand house. It’s hard to believe.”
“Silly man.” Jin Niang pinched his cheeks affectionately, as she often did with Brother Ning.
After a smooth voyage lasting over half a month, they soon arrived in Kaifeng.
When Jin Niang saw the familiar docks, she finally relaxed. She had sent word ahead to Sweetwater Alley, and Liu Dou’er had already arranged for horse-drawn and mule-drawn carts to fetch them. Luo Yu’e and Wei Xiong, knowing of their return, had moved back to Stinking Water Alley and thoroughly cleaned the house.
Luo Da, following Jin Niang’s instructions, had rented a few street-facing rooms near the Grand Xiangguo Temple to accommodate the extra servants who couldn’t fit in the main house.
This thoughtful arrangement impressed Luo Da—Jin Niang had left nothing to chance.
By the time they reached home, lanterns were already lit. Luo Yu’e craned her neck anxiously, rushing forward the moment Jin Niang stepped down. “Your father’s eyes must be on the back of his head—he’s still waiting at the alley entrance!”
Six years had deepened the crow’s feet around her mother’s eyes, but her complexion remained healthy. Jin Niang smiled. “Tell Father to come back quickly. It’s been so long since we last saw him.”
She then urged Sister Jun and Brother Ning to greet their grandmother, much to Luo Yu’e’s delight.
The children had left the capital too young to remember much, so they weren’t particularly close to Luo Yu’e. Still, Jin Niang wasted no time—she had the luggage carried inside and arranged neatly, with Qingrong keeping watch.
The family then gathered for dinner, the dishes warmed from what Luo Yu’e and Luo Da’s wife had prepared.
“Father, Mother, Jiang Xian and I plan to buy a house after we return. We’ll reserve rooms for you—you can stay whenever you like,” Jin Niang said.
Luo Yu’e hesitated. “We’re quite comfortable in Stinking Water Alley, but your younger brother will need a study…”
“Mother, I intend to rent out the Sweetwater Alley house. It’s wasteful to leave it unused. Younger Brother Yang can use the study in our new home.”
Jiang Xian admired his wife’s decisiveness, especially in financial matters. She disliked debts and had clear plans, unwilling to leave loose ends. To her, the house was hers to manage as she saw fit.
Though Luo Yu’e and Wei Xiong murmured inwardly, they had grown accustomed to their daughter’s ways.
Later, Jin Niang confided privately to Luo Yu’e, “I plan to keep this house as Sister Jun’s dowry. Since you haven’t yet found a wife for Younger Brother Yang, once he marries, it wouldn’t do for the newlyweds to live here. You should move into our new house before then. Let Younger Brother Yang stay there before his marriage, and afterward, the couple can live independently—newlyweds shouldn’t be disturbed.”
Luo Yu’e protested halfheartedly, but in truth, she preferred living with her daughter over her mild-mannered son. Jin Niang was the one who took charge.
Jin Niang added, “After buying the house, I might face some financial strain. With no relatives to rely on, do you think I should rent out more space for extra income?”
"By the time we're old, your father and I will support you. We may not have much extra money, but we'll always make sure you have food and shelter." Luo Yu'e had secretly set aside twenty strings of coins for her daughter, just in case she ever fell on hard times—she could always pull out some savings.
Jin Niang replied, "It hasn’t come to that yet."
In Jin Niang’s view, her parents were easy to talk to, but if her younger brother’s wife moved in and got used to living in Sweetwater Lane, asking her to leave later would only breed resentment.
If she didn’t resolve this now, what would happen when the property passed to Sister Jun in the future? She wouldn’t be able to force them out either.
That was one concern. The second was that she wanted to look after her parents, as their means were limited. Her own household also needed more people around. If Jiang Xian were ever assigned to a post outside the capital, having her parents there would be far better than relying on servants.
Besides, she was willing to support her parents in their old age, but bringing in her younger brother and his future wife would mean too many families under one roof—bound to stir up quarrels. Even Jiang Xian and their children would grow discontented.
Luo Yu'e then brought up the matter of joining the clan: "Is this really happening?"
"Of course. Everything was arranged according to family ties, and they even gave me a copy of the genealogy. Every New Year’s second day, the Wei family invites me back, and I get along well with them. Once we’ve bought the house, I plan to take you to pay respects to Madam Wei and introduce Younger Brother Yang. Then we can start visiting each other—wouldn’t that be nice?" Jin Niang smiled.
Luo Yu'e hesitated. "But associating with such high-ranking officials… people like us…"
Jin Niang laughed. "Your son is a scholar at the Imperial Academy, and you and Father earned your living with your own hands—that’s more honorable than most. Honestly, at your age, running a small business with all that toil, your health can’t take it. Why not buy a few acres in the outskirts? You’d have income from the land, plus the rent from Stinkywater Lane. There’s no need to work so hard."
The mother and daughter talked late into the night before Luo Yu'e finally left.
The next day, Jin Niang began inquiring about housing prices through brokers to get a sense of the market.
She spent the morning visiting three different brokers. Most buyers these days looked for homes near the Imperial Academy in the southern part of the city, but the available properties were either too small—just two courtyards—or far too large. Neither suited her needs.
After a quick meal of pastries in the carriage, Jin Niang headed to the western gate in the afternoon, where she found a three-courtyard house with a garden on six acres of land, priced at eight thousand strings of coins.
Not long after, Jiang Xian, who had just reported to his new post at the government office, joined her. He took an immediate liking to the house, but seeing Jin Niang’s silence, he held his tongue.
On their way back that evening, Jiang Xian finally spoke up: "That house wasn’t bad, was it?"
"It wasn’t, but we should investigate first. I’ve already asked Chen the Younger to pay the local beggar chief for information." Back when she was a courtesan, Jin Niang had dealings with all sorts of people. Without websites to search, she knew to turn to the beggar chief for local gossip.
Having served as an official for years, Jiang Xian found Jin Niang fascinating. For instance, she had Liu Dou'er and Luo Da inspect houses, yet afterward, she ignored their opinions entirely and went out to scout herself—even consulting beggars.
She was not an easy woman to fool.
That night, Chen the Younger returned with his report: "The family is eager to sell because they were involved in a land dispute that turned deadly. They want to offload the property quickly."
"We won’t take anything with legal troubles. Besides, that place is too close to the official road and too far from the city." Jin Niang had done her homework before house-hunting.
Jiang Xian still thought the house was a good deal—if the family was desperate, they could haggle the price down. But since his wife refused, he let it go.
With a few days before his official duties began at the Secretariat, Jiang Xian decided to take Jin Niang to pay respects to Master Jiang the Sixth. Now that they were back in the capital, skipping family formalities would raise eyebrows.
Jin Niang prepared generous gifts: six bolts of gauze and satin, twelve tea cakes, two jars of fine liquor, two cooling mats from Wu County, a gold-embroidered skirt for Madam Zheng, a brocade-printed skirt for Madam Xu, a set of men’s robes in lotus-blue patterns, twelve boxes of fruit-filled pastries, and two baskets of pears.
After all, Jiang Xian’s promotion was significant, so the gifts for Master Jiang the Sixth, his wife, and Madam Xu had to reflect that.
The Jiang family estate looked the same as ever, though the garden, no longer rented out, was now meant for Xuan'er and his wife. Yet it was poorly maintained—neat but lacking care.
Nanny Ge, Madam Xu’s confidante, personally escorted them in, probing for information: "Just from your attire, I can tell your time away was prosperous. Even our Madam Xu envies you."
"You flatter me. Life outside was rough—truth be told, I still feel dizzy from the journey. But you’ve grown plump, so Madam Xu must be doing well. When the masters prosper, so do their servants." Jin Niang slipped her a gold-threaded handkerchief from her sleeve. "This is from the Wan family in Daming Prefecture—please accept it."
Nanny Ge, noting Jin Niang’s crystal hairpiece and sharp demeanor, didn’t dare underestimate her and kept the conversation light.
Madam Xu was absent that day—reportedly at Taiping Xingguo Temple for a vegetarian meal—and Madam Zheng had returned to her family. After paying respects to Master Jiang the Sixth, Jin Niang and Jiang Xian left without delay.
Once outside, they both exhaled in relief. "Thank goodness they weren’t home," Jin Niang said. "Otherwise, we’d have been stuck there all day."
Jiang Xian nodded. "Exactly. So, are we house-hunting today?"
"Yes. Broker Huang mentioned an elderly scholar looking to sell near Golden Beam Bridge—about six acres."
They soon arrived at the bridge and met Broker Huang, who hurried over to bow.
Jin Niang signaled Jiang Xian to speak first. He cleared his throat. "Broker Huang, if you find us a good deal, you’ll be well rewarded. But if you try to inflate the price, don’t expect mercy."
"Sir, I wouldn’t dare!" Broker Huang, noting their fine clothes, chose his words carefully.
Jin Niang studied the property. Ancient willows and locust trees shaded the area, making it pleasantly cool even in summer. The owner, a man in his sixties, wore a simple round-collar robe, exuding the air of a recluse.
Broker Huang introduced them: "Master Jiang, this is the owner, Old Master Pang."
Jiang Xian, being younger, stepped forward with a respectful bow. Old Master Pang chuckled. "With your bearing, sir, you must be an official."
"I am, but the real authority stands behind me." Jiang Xian grinned.
Jin Niang shot Jiang Xian a reproachful glance, while Old Master Pang laughed heartily.
Entering from the northeast corner, the western side was lined with rooms. Old Master Pang explained, "Those are for servants or visiting guests."
Jin Niang nodded, then noticed the stables near the western corner, while the eastern side featured a small five-room wing with a single entrance. In the center stood a moon gate flanked by covered walkways. Passing through the moon gate, a winding path came into view, surrounded by lush flowers and trees. Following the path led to a reception hall with a gabled roof, consisting of three main rooms and three side rooms on either side, along with east and west wings.
Moving from the second courtyard’s eastern side to the third, they arrived at the main residence, which had five rooms and stood slightly taller than the reception hall, also featuring a gabled roof with a rounded ridge. It, too, was accompanied by east and west wings.
This was the main house. A small door on its eastern side connected directly to the garden, where a half-acre pond lay dotted with over a dozen lotus flowers, their dewdrops glistening as they rolled about. Surrounding the pond were a study and a pavilion.
"Come, let me show you this way," Old Master Pang said cheerfully, guiding them forward.
From the pond, a stream wound past a rockery, leading to a delicate waterside pavilion. Each of its windows was uniquely designed—some shaped like diamond lattices, others like ruyi symbols, bodhi leaves, or cracked ice. Peering through them revealed a different view at every turn: the diamond lattice framed a cluster of pear blossoms, small yet abundant, pure and elegant; the ruyi window offered a glimpse of emerald bamboo, lush and refined; the bodhi window looked out upon a bodhi tree, while the cracked-ice pane faced a plum tree, though its flowers had long faded in July, leaving only bare branches. Nearby, however, oleanders bloomed vibrantly.
Following the covered walkway north from the pavilion, they reached a library tower filled with countless books.
...
By the end of the tour, Jiang Xian had been stealing frequent glances at Jin Niang, who merely smiled in response.
Once they had finished exploring, Jin Niang finally said, "Your estate is lovely, but your asking price is a bit steep. If you could lower it, I’d be ready to pay immediately."
Old Master Pang replied, "Madam, nine thousand strings of cash for this property is hardly expensive. Look at the rockery and the flower beds—we built them painstakingly. Diverting the pond’s water to the rockery alone took considerable effort."
"I understand, I know this estate wasn’t easy to create. But since you’ve taken the time to show us around, we’re sincere about buying. How about we meet halfway—seven thousand strings? If you agree, I’ll bring the silver first thing tomorrow. To be frank, if my husband and I had nine thousand, we’d gladly pay it, but we simply don’t have that much," Jin Niang sighed.
Jiang Xian, standing beside her, was puzzled. Hadn’t she told him last night they had nine thousand taels? Then it dawned on him—this was bargaining, and a steep cut at that.
An ordinary three-courtyard house would cost around five thousand strings, and this one included a garden!
Sure enough, Old Master Pang refused. "Seven thousand is too low."
At this point, Broker Huang stepped in. "If I may suggest, why not split the difference? Eight thousand seems fair."
Jiang Xian immediately looked at Jin Niang, worried they might lose the chance. Jin Niang smiled and said, "How about this—you lower your price a little more, and I’ll raise mine. What’s your final offer?"
"Seven thousand eight hundred," Old Master Pang conceded, knowing buyers weren’t easy to come by.
Jin Niang countered, "Seven thousand six hundred, for good luck. I won’t haggle further. If you agree, I’ll have Broker Huang draft the contract."
As she spoke, Jiang Xian maintained a calm expression, though inwardly he was tense, wondering if Old Master Pang would accept—and whether Jin Niang had driven too hard a bargain. To his surprise, Old Master Pang chuckled and said, "Very well. You’re decisive, so I’ll be too."
Jiang Xian’s heart leapt with joy. He tugged discreetly at Jin Niang’s sleeve, only for her to swat his hand away. This man’s eagerness had nearly ruined their negotiation! Still, even after the scolding, Jiang Xian was delighted. This estate was even more exquisite than his family’s old home. What luck! And with money to spare, he wouldn’t have to scrimp and save.
