After the children turned six, Jin Niang gave them a monthly allowance of two strings of cash each month, to help them develop a concept of money. If one is idle and ignorant of practical life, even vast wealth bestowed upon them in the future would likely be beyond their control. Jiang Xian's sister was a case in point; she had brought several thousand strings of cash as her dowry when she married, yet now, after returning to the capital, the whole family was living in a rented house so cramped one could barely find a place to stand.
Seeing Jiang Xian return and change his shoes, Jin Niang asked, "How did it go? Will your sister and brother-in-law be staying in the capital from now on?"
"Not exactly. Brother-in-law has been appointed as the Prefect of Yingzhou," Jiang Xian replied.
Brother-in-law Xue had previously served as a Censor; his return to the capital and appointment as Prefect of Yingzhou was actually good news. Jin Niang smiled, "Then I'll have someone prepare some parting gifts first, so we're not caught unprepared when they leave."
Jiang Xian nodded, "Good, you go ahead and prepare."
With that, the two parted. Jiang Xian went to the study in the garden, while Jin Niang first went to the storeroom to arrange things. Her relationship with this sister-in-law was rather ordinary, and the sister-in-law had never taken Jiang Xian's side to speak fairly on his behalf, so Jin Niang instructed the servants to prepare even more local food specialties and gifts.
Upon returning to the main quarters, Jin Niang washed her hands and went to check on Ding Ge'er. Although there was a nurse looking after him, Jin Niang still personally inspected his care every day.
The child was now three months old and loved sucking his hand. Jin Niang smiled as she watched him, touched his forehead, and then said to Ziteng, "The diapers must be changed promptly, otherwise his bottom will easily get red."
"Don't worry, I check every half hour," Ziteng did not dare to be negligent.
Jin Niang nodded, "That's good. When the Second Young Master grows up, things will be easier for you all."
As she was speaking, she saw Sister Jun coming to see her brother, holding a very delicate cloth doll in her hand. Jin Niang couldn't help but say, "This isn't something for him to play with. He's still very young and puts everything in his mouth. Don't let it get ruined."
Sister Jun laughed, "Daughter was just showing it to brother. I saved up for half a year to buy this."
Since Xi Qiu was her personal maid, if she wanted to buy something, she would just tell Xi Qiu, who would then have Fan Si buy it for her. This time, Jin Niang had sent Liu Dou'er to Luoyang to buy land. As Luo Da was busy in the capital, she had Fan Si first go look at the estates near the capital to see if they should plant something else.
Fan Si truly was an expert in this field. He suggested that the northern fields should also use the Champa rice introduced from Vietnam, just like in the south, as it matured early and was drought-resistant. Jin Niang naturally agreed.
Previously, only Luo Da had shouldered the responsibilities, but now Jin Niang needed to train everyone up.
Coming back to the moment, Jin Niang cautioned again, "I know, but he loves putting things in his mouth so much, you must be very careful." Hearing this, Sister Jun had Jiao Xing hold the cloth doll and simply squatted down to talk to her brother.
Mother and daughter then went together to the main room to talk. Sister Jun played the moon guitar for her, while Jin Niang took up her needlework again.
She was currently embroidering another Guanyin. Besides the already completed Basket-Carrying Guanyin and Child-Granting Guanyin, she was now working on another piece depicting White-Robed Guanyin. Jin Niang treated embroidering Guanyin as her daily practice, using the time spent making clothes for Jiang Xian in between as a diversion.
There was no helping it; her husband had such a childlike nature that sometimes a single piece of clothing could make him immensely happy.
When the tune ended, Jin Niang smiled, "It sounds even better now."
"Mother, are we going to the household of the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy tomorrow? Is Big Brother going too?" Sister Jun asked.
Jin Niang nodded, "Yes, all four of us are going. It's almost the eleventh month now; it will be lovely to see the flowers in full bloom in the garden."
It wasn't an official matchmaking visit yet, just a preliminary look at the other party. Jiang Xian would assess whether the young man was skilled in the eight-legged essay, while Jin Niang would observe the potential mother-in-law's temperament, the family's situation, and whether they were just putting on a front.
Most importantly, it was about whether her daughter's temperament would be compatible. If it didn't work out, it wouldn't matter to move on to the next candidate.
No one had broached the subject explicitly yet; everyone was just looking, so it wouldn't affect anything.
Sister Jun smiled, "Daughter must thank Mother for staying up late to make this dress for me. It's truly beautiful."
"Shh, speak softly. If Brother Ning hears, he'll be jealous again," Jin Niang said, putting on an expression that this was their little secret.
Sister Jun stuck out her tongue.
Jin Niang looked at her daughter, thinking to herself that if possible, she wished her daughter could stay at home forever. But then, even if she stayed at home her whole life, it would be fine too; the garden was empty with no one living there anyway.
Even if she were to marry, it would be at least at eighteen. She wanted to keep her for a few more years.
Sister Jun had no idea what her mother was thinking. She happily returned to her own room for a nap, while Jin Niang shook her head and continued her needlework.
In late autumn, it got dark early. When Jiang Xian returned, the boiling broth in the hot pot was bubbling away, accompanied by steaming lamb spine. Each person had a bowl of noodles, with a full bowl of green vegetables placed in front.
"I'm afraid you'll get too much internal heat if you eat too much meat, so you must eat the greens," Jin Niang instructed.
Jiang Xian pointed his chopsticks at the two children, "Did you hear that? She's talking about you."
Sister Jun and Brother Ning both pouted simultaneously.
The family enjoyed their meal happily. The next day, they all went together to the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy's residence. Madam Xu happened to be there as well. Jin Niang exchanged a slight nod with her before going to see Madam Li, the Chancellor's wife. Madam Wei was also there. Since they all knew each other, Jin Niang integrated into this circle quickly. She had always been like this, first establishing herself well within her own circle before expanding outwards.
Sister Jun used to wear her hair in twin buns, but now she wore her hair in double coiled buns. On her head was a butterfly-shaped pearl hairpin, her forehead adorned with a hairband decorated with three small pearls, and a tasseled hairpin was inserted at the back. She wore a long, red cherry-patterned brocade fur-lined jacket with a collar embroidered with the twelve seasonal flowers, paired underneath with an olive-green pleated skirt and a pair of upturned-toe shoes on her feet.
Everyone saw this young lady dressed in fine silk, her eyes like stars, her eyebrows like distant mountain ridges, standing graceful and elegant. They thought to themselves, who knows what a stunning beauty she would become when she grew up.
Jin Niang did not deliberately praise her daughter, as from any perspective, her daughter was excellent; it was plain for all to see just by her sitting there.
"Your young lady is truly lovely," people couldn't help but compliment.
Jin Niang had to modestly reply, "Look at what you're saying. I'm just bringing her out to see the world. You don't know how often this child annoys me at home."
Madam Wei pointed at Jin Niang, "Look at you, talking nonsense again."
As they chatted and laughed, they heard Madam Li ask Jin Niang where they had come from, adding, "It's not far from here, is it?"
"Not too far. We live near the Jinliang Bridge," Jin Niang replied with a smile. She understood perfectly well that this was an inquiry into the value of their residence.
But since matchmaking hadn't officially begun, she wouldn't reveal their exact address.
Then she heard Madam Li say, "Because I love hibiscus, I've specially cultivated quite a lot of them in the garden, so the chrysanthemums and camellias have become mere accents. Madam Wei, please don't laugh at me."
"In our garden, we've also planted some hibiscus. They truly change thrice a day, and now only the red ones remain." Even if Jin Niang wasn't necessarily discussing marriage, she also couldn't pretend to be poor.
Hearing that Jin Niang's family had a garden, Madam Li nodded inwardly. It must be said that Madam Xu also had her own circle of acquaintances. Her cousin was, after all, the daughter-in-law of the Chancellor of the Jixian Academy, so there were people who spoke with her, though Madam Xu and Jin Niang seldom mentioned each other.
After everyone chatted for a while, they got up to go to the garden to admire the flowers. Sister Jun stayed with Jin Niang the whole time. The mother and daughter enjoyed the flowers and drank beverages, with nothing unusual at all.
Madam Xu didn't think much of it either, as it wasn't even a proper matchmaking meeting yet; she thought it was just an ordinary flower-viewing banquet.
Unexpectedly, after returning from the banquet, Jin Niang and Jiang Xian didn't even stop for a drink of water before heading straight for the inner chamber, making the maids blush, thinking they were about to do something.
"You go first," Jin Niang said as she sat down.
Jiang Xian said, "I saw he had published a collection of poems before, seeming like a renowned scholar. But when I asked about the current examination essays, he seemed at a loss for words."
Jin Niang also said, "The Li family looks decent on the outside. When I took Sister Jun to see the flowers, I deliberately gave a one-qian tip to the maid who served us beverages. It turns out their master has already decided to retire from office. His health isn't very good, and he takes medicine year-round. That aside, his two elder daughters-in-law don't get along."
Putting it all together, both felt it wouldn't work. So when Madam Li invited Jin Niang a second time, Jin Niang declined several times. Everyone was sensible; Madam Li, being the wife of the Director of the Imperial Academy, had many other prospects. By the time Winter Solstice came and Liu Dou'er returned from Luoyang, the Li family's third son was already engaged.
As for Liu Dou'er, he brought back the land deeds. It turned out the first-grade red silt fields had already been bought up, so he could only buy second-grade fertile land at two strings per mu, and thus he bought three hundred mu.
Jin Niang smiled, "You've worked hard."
"Madam, you are too kind. It's all within this humble one's duties," Liu Dou'er was also quite eloquent.
Jin Niang rewarded him with a ten-string banknote, a bolt of coarse silk, and a bolt of fine silk.
At the year-end, she also specially gave a five-qian bonus to the outstanding employees, along with an extra pair of lambskin gloves. This year's two other outstanding employees were Fan Si and Xiao Yun. Fan Si had increased output by reorganizing the estate in the capital, while Hui Zhu was recognized for making pastries, preserved fruits, and crab-stuffed oranges quickly and well, and never shirked work.
Fan Si received a length of heavy silk fabric, and Hui Zhu received scented powder, rouge, and an emerald-green handkerchief.
At every staff meeting, some were happy and some were worried. Ying was overjoyed for Liu Dou'er. The couple even spent money to prepare a feast and shared a drink together. Fan Si and Xi Qiu carefully stored away the length of heavy silk fabric. Hui Zhu, originally hired from outside, felt so honored by such recognition that she began to think of staying with the Jiang family long-term...
As for Hutou, he even cried because he didn't get an award, saying to his mother, Luo Da's wife, in the back garden, "Your son worked very hard this year and will strive even harder next year."
This happened to be overheard by Jiang Xian, who shook his head in amusement.
Jin Niang was just then doing the final accounts. The income from the warehouse and the Sweetwater Lane shop came in, plus Jiang Xian's salary for the past few months and the income from the capital estate, totaling over one thousand nine hundred strings.
For the New Year festivities—making clothes, paying monthly wages, preparing festival gifts—about fifty strings were spent. The rest of the money was all saved.
Previous funds had bought the house, and they were still saving for their daughter's three-thousand-string dowry. Now they were saving some flexible funds for themselves. Thinking this, she went to see Brother Ding again. Brother Ding was now four months old and had started learning to roll over. Jin Niang played with him for a while until she was yawning with exhaustion herself. She returned and rested on the bed for a bit.
The next day was New Year's Eve. This year, the whole family was going to the old mansion to celebrate. Jin Niang left the steady Nanny Fang to watch the house and look after Brother Ding. A child of just a few months couldn't be exposed to the wind, but the other children were all going.
Today everyone was dressed in brand-new clothes. They first went to the eldest branch, Master Jiang Da's place, where the Jiang family ancestral hall was located. They had to pay respects to the ancestors first, then all dine together at the eldest branch. Before, due to the family division, there weren't so many rules. But now, the main Jiang family had produced two jinshi scholars—Jiang Yan and Jiang Xian—both working in government offices. Whenever capable Jiang family youths were needed for minor official posts, they would recommend them, contributing to the clan. The Jiang clan had also started to attach more importance to them.
Jin Niang chatted with Madam Xu and her daughter-in-law, Madam Wu. Sister Jun talked with the young girls from the clan. Their family had often invited Jiang clansmen over before, and Sister Jun often helped host the young guests, so she was very familiar with them upon returning.
Seeing this, Madam Xu said properly, "Sister-in-law, Sister Jun is truly a wonderful child. If my daughter could be like her, I would be chanting Amitabha Buddha's name."
"Sister-in-law, you flatter her. I think your Sister Zheng is also lovely as jade and snow," Jin Niang replied, wondering why Madam Xu was praising her daughter, but she modestly said a few words.
Madam Xu smiled, "I'm getting older and can't manage everything. She is actually very close to her sister-in-law."
Jin Niang looked at Madam Wu, then said to Madam Xu, "No wonder everyone envies you, sister-in-law, for welcoming such a good daughter-in-law into the family."
Madam Xu wondered if her husband had mentioned it to his younger brother. Even if there was an element of control in having her maternal nephew marry Sister Jun, after all, her maternal nephew was talented and handsome. For her brother-in-law and his wife to seek a young, outstanding talent wouldn't be easy either.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Xian flatly refused.
Earlier, Jiang Yan had brought his nephew, Xu Kang, to Jiang Xian to be examined. Seeing Jiang Xian praise him several times, after Kang left, Jiang Yan tentatively brought up the subject.
"Seeing how the Sixteenth Young Master appreciates him, this young master Xu is not yet betrothed. I wonder what the Sixteenth Young Master thinks?"
Jiang Xian, of course, could not agree. They hadn't even agreed to the son of the Director of the Imperial Academy. While Xu Kang did have some talent, the Xu family made it impossible for them to agree, let alone have their daughter marry down.
Their family wasn't like Zhang the Ninth's, who came from a hereditary official background and thus needed to find a jinshi son-in-law to prevent the family's decline. He himself was a jinshi. His son, though young, showed scholarly promise. His daughter could completely find someone both wealthy and highly talented—there was no conflict there.
But since Xu Kang was his elder brother's nephew, Jiang Xian smiled and said, "Sister Jun is still young. My wife and I wish to keep her at home a few more years."
This was a refusal. Jiang Yan had only asked on his wife's behalf. Xu Kang was indeed outstanding among men, but if his younger brother didn't agree, so be it. Thus, the brothers moved on to discuss other matters.
They spoke of Jiang Fang, who was serving outside the capital. "He is to return to the capital for his assessment this year. I wonder how it will go? Sixteenth Brother, what if we both recommend him? If he can stay in the capital, that would be better than anything."
Hearing these words, Jiang Xian felt a flicker of anger in his heart. He could only manage to maintain a superficial peace with Jiang Fang, but to actually support that older brother who had been given away in adoption? He was unwilling.
Since Jiang Fang had voluntarily requested to leave the family, he was no longer part of it. Treating him as a clan relative was one thing, but to truly treat him as a blood brother? That was another matter entirely.
Even someone like him, who never showed his true thoughts, couldn't help but say, "Elder brother, since Second Brother has already been adopted out, shouldn't we…"
"Third Brother, how can you think that way?" Jiang Yan thought this way. "He is, after all, our own blood brother. What's more, our aunt personally came to apologize to our mother. All these years, they've kept in close contact with us during festivals. It's better to resolve enmity than to perpetuate it."
Jiang Xian didn't want to argue stubbornly with his elder brother, but he felt rather depressed inside.
Returning home, the husband and wife first went to see their youngest son before retiring to their room to discuss the matter.
Upon hearing it, Jin Niang slapped the table. "So that's why sister-in-law was praising Sister Jun for no reason! She was laying the groundwork here. What a beautiful thought!"
"I've already refused all that. Elder brother naturally understands my meaning. But he actually wants me to recommend Jiang Fang in front of Grand Academician Fan? Truly laughable." Jiang Xian felt somewhat wronged.
That brother who had always looked down on the whole family—just because he wasn't doing well himself, did the whole family have to help him? His elder brother could forgive, but he himself didn't seem to be that magnanimous.
Jin Niang supported him: "Back then, when your aunt offered land to make peace, we didn't accept it. All these years, although we've had dealings with them, it's only been as ordinary relatives. I'm glad you're willing to stand firm on this. Mother, in heaven, would surely be very comforted too."
Jiang Xian thought, at least someone didn't consider him narrow-minded. He took Jin Niang's hand and said, "My dear, now I only have our own family."
Ever since Mother passed away, everything had changed.
Meanwhile, the Zhou family's New Year's Eve was also not very lively. Lady Zhang wore a gloomy face, Madam Jiang was worried about her two daughters, so the mood wasn't great. And Zhou Cunzhi's most beloved son had fallen ill, his favorite concubine was critically weak, making the New Year's Eve exceptionally quiet and cold.
His temperament had always been proud and aloof, but at this moment, he suddenly felt a sense of loneliness.
For some reason, he thought of many years ago, when the family was gathered together, his father was still a powerful official, the gate was bustling with carriages and horses, and his mother was also generous and kind back then. Everything was good.
Ah, nothing remained but a sigh.
Suddenly, he smiled again, remembering that plump girl and the time she made clothes for him. Life truly had its highs and lows, forever cycling and repeating. And now, she was an official's wife.
Compared to Zhou Cunzhi's gloom, Madam Xu was even more frustrated: "Does my brother-in-law look down on Kang'er?"
Jiang Yan said, "That's not it. As you know, Sister Jun is still quite young, and she's their eldest daughter. Wanting to keep her at home a few more years is only human. Let's not mention this matter again. If your cousin has any good prospects, consider that side instead."
"Yes." Madam Xu also couldn't criticize her brother-in-law too much in front of her husband.
As Jiang Yan went out to observe the New Year's Eve vigil, she complained to Nanny Ge: "Such a good match, and they refuse. They talk nicely, but isn't it just about looking down on the poor and currying favor with the rich?"
Nanny Ge hurriedly advised, "Mistress, if we can't gain any advantage, what about that one from the Zheng family?"
Since Madam Zheng married into the Zheng family, the Zhens had been visiting frequently, especially after Jiang Yan and Jiang Xian passed the imperial examinations. They practically treated the Jiang family as their own.
"Right, isn't my step-mother-in-law always bringing her grandniece over to visit? She's about the same age as Brother Ning. Could it be she hasn't had any thoughts about it?" Madam Xu said.
...
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Jin Niang and Jiang Xian went to Aunt Liu's house, had a meal, and returned. On the second day, they went to the Wei Family. Sister Jun and Brother Ning didn't come along, and Madam Wei even asked about them.
"The children caught a chill yesterday at their uncle's house, so I let them rest at home. Tomorrow, sister-in-law and my nieces-in-law must all come to my house for some fun." Jin Niang had arranged opera and a feast for the third day.
New Year was always the most exhausting, with visiting relatives being particularly tiresome, involving much socializing, entertaining, and conversation.
However, not seeing Madam Fan this time surprised Jin Niang: "Why isn't Eldest Daughter-in-law here?"
Madam Wei said somewhat awkwardly, "She's not feeling well."
Jin Niang sensed something was amiss. Upon discreetly inquiring with Nanny You later, she learned that Madam Fan had been so angry that she returned to her maternal home. Nanny You couldn't help but add, "The Eldest Young Master has gone too far, wanting to bring the woman he keeps outside into the household."
This sounded so familiar, just like how Eldest Young Master Liu had acted back then.
"What will happen now?" Jin Niang thought to herself that Madam Fan had borne children and was a virtuous wife and mother. Why were people still not satisfied? Did men all need three wives and four concubines to feel dignified?
Nanny You advised, "It's best you don't get involved in this muddy water."
"I know," Jin Niang sighed.
On the third day, Jin Niang invited people to her home for music and singing. Among the guests was Madam Cheng, whose husband was an Attendant Scholar of the Tianzhang Pavilion. This lady also had a son and specially brought him along to play.
"This is my second son," Madam Cheng introduced.
Jin Niang looked at this Cheng Second Young Master, about fourteen or fifteen years old, quite the handsome youth. She was very pleased and couldn't help asking, "Is he studying currently?"
Madam Cheng explained, "This child studies at the Yingtianfu Academy."
"He looks every bit the refined scholar," Jin Niang praised.
With several ladies in the main hall, young men like Wei Seventh Young Master, Brother Ning, two young clansmen of the Jiang family, Zhang the Ninth's son Mengran, two young masters from the Liu family, and a nephew from the Xue family were all present. Wei Seventh Young Master promptly stood up to help with hosting.
Jin Niang glanced at Madam Wei: "Our Seventh Young Master has become much more sensible now."
He was practically family, even helping her with hosting. Perhaps it was because Brother Ning was still too young.
Madam Wei smiled and shook her head: "He's just being mischievous."
Later, when the boys all went to play arrow-throwing and pitch-pot, Sister Jun and the young lady from the Zheng family were talking in the adjacent side room. Miss Zheng was nine this year, with very fine features, serene like a Guanyin statue.
Servants brought tea and snacks. Miss Zheng thought to herself that her family was once said to be even more illustrious than this, but now her father only held a hereditary official post, and they had declined, unlike the Jiang family who had guests streaming in like clouds.
Jin Niang was unaware of these thoughts. She needed to learn more from Madam Cheng. The Cheng family's ancestral home was in Luoyang, west of the capital, which was perfect as the three hundred mu of land she bought for her daughter was also in Luoyang.
After the guests left, Jin Niang even called her son over and asked, "I told you to seek advice on studies from that Cheng Second Young Master. What did you think of him?"
Brother Ning slapped his forehead: "Son forgot. You have no idea, today Brother Wei Seventh and this Brother Cheng Second were competing at everything—archery, pitch-pot, they were even playing drinking games at the table. We were all just watching the excitement."
Young boys truly have boundless energy.
Meanwhile, Lady Wei was also speaking to her son in the carriage on their way home: "What was the matter with you today? You usually get along quite well with the Second Son of the Cheng family."
Senior Official Cheng was also a disciple of Academician Wei, so their families were quite close.
The Seventh Young Master Wei laughed and said, "I didn't do anything out of the ordinary, son was merely jesting."
Lady Wei thought to herself that as her son was growing older, she could no longer easily guess his thoughts. One by one, they were all becoming beyond her control.
