After spending the third day of the lunar new year at home, Jin Niang visited Grand Academician Fan's household on the fourth day and didn't stop her rounds until the eighth. Then, she simply did nothing, lying at home to rest.
Only when idle did she have time to review the events of these past days.
The Cheng family was quite good and could be listed among the candidates. Also, the price of gold seemed much cheaper this year; she should take advantage of it to have a gold crown made for her daughter.
These were things to do. Furthermore, she needed to identify a few more promising young men this year, observe them for a year or two, and then arrange a marriage engagement.
Otherwise, even Madam Xu's natal family was scheming against them. This was the annoying thing about relatives—you couldn't just cut ties and not interact, yet maintaining contact always came with a sense of distaste.
"Madam, the lady from the neighboring estate has sent a visiting card," Ying brought the card over.
Jin Niang looked at it; it was actually the Lady of Le'an County wishing to pay a visit. She merely accepted the card without saying a word, indicating she had no intention of inviting the visitor in.
"Although the hundred days of mourning have passed, she is still in mourning for her late husband after all. I'm also afraid of damaging her reputation."
Ying nodded, "You are right. Next time they send gifts, we should return them as well."
"It would be best not to have any dealings at all. During this period of her mourning, she has persistently tried to visit. I don't know her intention; I'm afraid she either has some troublesome matter or harbors ulterior motives," Jin Niang said.
Ying didn't understand, "What do you mean by ulterior motives? She is a lady of the county; she couldn't possibly be considering becoming a concubine, could she?"
Jin Niang laughed, "Becoming a concubine is impossible, but what if she wants to become the principal wife?"
"Ah? You are still here, how could she dare think that?" Ying found it impossible.
Jin Niang replied, "Why wouldn't she dare? Such matters only require mutual agreement to proceed smoothly. Of course, my husband has a clear mind and wouldn't make such a mistake, but I must also guard our household well. Otherwise, it would be a pity to let someone cause trouble for nothing."
Speaking of which, having few family members also had its drawbacks. If her parents lived here, how would Madam Xu dare to be so blatant in her provocations?
Seeing that the visiting card she sent had sunk like a stone without a trace, the Lady of Le'an County felt quite disheartened. Her attendant nursemaid advised, "My Lady, we don't necessarily have to seek help from officials. We can petition the Imperial Clan Court. As long as they speak for you, everything will be fine."
In truth, the Lady of Le'an County was not unaware of this idea. She just had this foolish notion in her heart. That fleeting glimpse that day—what exceptional grace and bearing Jiang Xian possessed! She had wanted to get acquainted, but who would have thought the neighboring Madam Jiang would refuse to socialize with her? No matter how valuable the gifts she sent, the other party would return gifts of equal value, never taking advantage.
Thus, with her husband's family pressing her more urgently, she could only resort to this.
On the fifteenth day of the first month, the Lantern Festival, after resting for several days, Jin Niang finally took her two children out to see the lanterns. Most women on the street wore predominantly white clothing, and Jin Niang was no exception: a white silk-lined jacket paired with a pink narrow-sleeved overgarment, underneath a pearl-white pleated skirt, adorned with pearls and jade hairpins. Her daughter was dressed similarly, but as a young maiden, she also wore festive hair ornaments like moth-shaped and willow-shaped hairpins.
The Imperial Street was bustling with excitement, with performers swallowing swords and walking tightropes. Brother Ning watched, utterly captivated.
Jin Niang, meanwhile, watched a storyteller narrating the History of the Five Dynasties. The scene before her eyes was one of prosperity.
Just as she was enjoying the lively atmosphere, Jiang Xian approached happily to greet her and introduced, "My wife, this is Brother Shen."
It turned out to be Shen Zijia, the younger brother of the former Prefect Shen. The two had met once at the Wei household on the third day. Jin Niang thought Shen Zijia's name was quite pleasant, but the man himself was rather stout and stocky. Fortunately, she had seen the young lady of the Shen family, who was quite fair and delicate.
After Jiang Xian finished his pleasantries, Jin Niang asked him, "The Chancellor of the Jixian Hall seems to be at odds with Lord Shen Ziji. Earlier, when the new emperor ascended, Lord Shen was sent to Pingjiang. Later, after the new emperor passed away and the Crown Prince succeeded to the throne, Lord Shen, being the Crown Prince's tutor... I wonder what will happen in the future..."
"My wife, you truly see the large from the small," Jiang Xian said, pacing with his hands clasped behind his back.
In official circles, he aligned with no one, making himself a useful person to all. This way, regardless of faction or partisan strife, he would remain in an unassailable position.
However, Jin Niang told him, "What you say sounds good in principle, but as long as one is human, how can one have no preferences? Unless you always follow the wisest ruler, otherwise, no matter how capable you are, you could easily leave a name of infamy for millennia. Think about the treacherous ministers in history—were they all just petty, scheming individuals? Of course not. Choice is also important."
She understood very clearly that Jiang Xian was someone who wavered and changed his mind very quickly, so she had to steady his heart first.
Jiang Xian came back to himself and smiled awkwardly, "My wife is right."
"In terms of being an official, my husband surpasses me a hundredfold. However, we now have eight hundred mu of farmland, two shops in the Eastern Capital, and a shop in Wuxian County, all profitable. If we, husband and wife, work hard until we are forty, we can live a life of tending flowers and plants, free from the constant toil of official documents. Husband, there's no need to be impatient. No matter what we do, we must always preserve our dignity," Jin Niang said.
Jiang Xian nodded, "My wife is right."
After the first month passed, Jin Niang went to the largest gold and silver shop in the Eastern Capital and spent one hundred and sixty strings of cash to have a nine-liang mountain-opening gold crown made for her daughter. For herself, she spent twenty-four strings on a pair of gold filigree openwork bracelets with colored glaze, and seventeen strings on a gold tassel necklace.
After buying these, she returned home, first putting the jewelry away safely, and then let out a sigh of relief.
The second month was Sister Jun's birthday. After her birthday passed, news arrived of the marriage alliance between the Wei and Shen families.
Jin Niang promptly put on her newly bought jewelry and went to offer congratulations. She hadn't expected Seventh Young Master Wei's marriage fate to lie with the Shen family. Back in Daming Prefecture, that young man had been very popular.
However, when she went to congratulate Madam Wei, Madam Wei laughed and said, "Wrong, don't congratulate me, go congratulate your second sister-in-law."
"What does this mean?" Jin Niang didn't understand.
Madam Wei explained, "The young lady from the Shen family is engaged to the eighth young master."
Jin Niang was a bit confused. Madam Wei added, "Her horoscope didn't quite match with the seventh young master's."
Such a statement usually indicated dissatisfaction with the match. Jin Niang wondered, why would Madam Wei feel this way when the Shen family was a rising star in politics? Actually, Madam Wei was also puzzled. In terms of age and appearance, her own son was more suitable, but the Shen family didn't choose him. She didn't feel disappointed; instead, she felt relieved.
Jin Niang later learned the reason from Jiang Xian. It turned out that the youngest daughter of Prefect Shen, that Fifth Lady Shen, who was said to have married into an extremely illustrious family, was skilled in poetry and often produced excellent works in the women's quarters, which led to discord with her mother-in-law.
Originally, when the Wei family proposed, Grand Academician Wei didn't put on airs and even brought his own son and the eighth young master from a collateral branch together. The Shen family felt that such a high-ranking and powerful household had too many rules. Furthermore, influenced by the incident involving the Fan family, the Shen family chose the Wei family's eighth young master.
Wei the Seventh Son was handsome and always wore a smile, giving off an unreliable air. Wei the Eighth Son, in contrast, was honest and steady. Furthermore, Wei the Eighth Son's father held the position of Secretary-Cheng and was known for his integrity, quite different from the extravagant main branch of the family.
Thus, Jin Niang went to the second branch to offer congratulations. Madam Wei the Second took Jin Niang's hand and said, "I am not one for managing affairs. When the time comes, I will need your help, dear sister-in-law."
"That is only right," Jin Niang replied. In truth, she felt somewhat indignant on behalf of Wei the Seventh Son.
Men in this world, after all, whether handsome or plain, could be unfaithful. One might as well choose a handsome one.
But these were not matters for her to comment on. At most, she would mention them to Jiang Xian upon returning home. Jiang Xian, however, pouted, "Darling, what are you saying? I have never been unfaithful to you."
Jin Niang felt a twinge of guilt. "I was just speaking thoughtlessly. Don't take it to heart."
"Words spoken without thought reveal true feelings. Darling, you've truly hurt me. I am your most loyal one," Jiang Xian kept teasing her.
Even Jin Niang's apologies were not enough. Only after yielding to him in their intimate relations did he finally let her off.
"You did that on purpose, didn't you? Usually so agreeable, today you deliberately wouldn't let me off," Jin Niang pointed at him accusingly.
Jiang Xian did not deny it. Jin Niang thought to herself that this fellow was becoming increasingly cunning.
When the two got up later, their children brought their schoolwork. It was said that Brother Ning excelled in poetry and prose. He had a rich imagination, and his short poems were quite fresh and elegant. This past New Year, Jiang Xian, afraid Jin Niang would say he was showing off, had secretly taken them out to show others, claiming they were written by a young friend. Only after hearing everyone's praise did he reveal they were the work of his eldest son.
Compared to her brother, Sister Jun was even more skilled at writing policy essays. She was exceptionally quick at grasping the core of a topic and even privately purchased exemplary examination essays to study. Therefore, the articles she wrote were incisive and reasoned.
Jiang Xian thought it would be wonderful if his daughter were a son, but his wife was right—their daughter should also be nurtured well.
After Jiang Xian finished checking their schoolwork, he took Brother Ning out for horseback riding, while Jin Niang began teaching her daughter double-sided embroidery with different colors on each side. This was almost the daily routine of the family.
Mother and daughter worked on their needlework. Jin Niang embroidered a White-Robed Guanyin while instructing her daughter.
In the afternoon, the mother and daughter ate together. The household always ate seasonal dishes: shepherd's purse dumplings, wild chives stir-fried with eggs, and braised pork with spring bamboo shoots. When she was little, Sister Jun disliked vegetables, but as she grew up, she came to enjoy them. She said to Jin Niang, "Mother, it seems there's nothing I don't like to eat."
"That's a good thing. People who are picky eaters miss out on many pleasures," Jin Niang said with a smile.
Sister Jun nodded. "Seventh Cousin is extremely picky. Last year on your birthday, he came to deliver gifts. You had him go speak with Brother Ning first and sent over some tea and food. He wouldn't even eat chicken wings with bones, only the chestnuts. He also refused to eat green vegetables. I happened to go over and, seeing such waste, scolded him. I said how hard the farmers work to grow these things, and how Juxiang specially cooked in such heat, yet he was wasting it. I told him if he wasn't going to eat it, he should tell you. Then he stuffed all the food into his mouth."
Jin Niang gave a thumbs-up. "Well said. We don't waste. You see, I always tell Juxiang not to cook too much—only as much as we'll eat."
Although their life was more comfortable now and Jin Niang occasionally indulged in some luxury, most of her habits hadn't changed much.
After finishing her meal, Sister Jun asked Jin Niang to accompany her for a walk, which Jin Niang naturally did. In truth, her daughter was extremely beautiful and had a considerable dowry, but currently, all the marriage proposals came for younger sons or second sons, almost all coveting the dowry. If Jiang Xian hadn't been driven out of his family, they would have had to endure Madam Xu's temper their whole lives.
While parents are alive, the family does not divide. Even now, if anything happened at the main house, the couple had to return, or else they could be accused of filial impiety.
Therefore, Jin Niang thought it better to wait until her husband's official rank was a bit higher. As for Wei the Seventh Son, she had completely dismissed the idea. Despite what Madam Wei said, if she truly wished for the match, she wouldn't let her own son be outshone and would likely choose someone better.
Her own daughter also deserved to marry someone talented, handsome, and of good standing. This required effort from the parents as well.
After accompanying her daughter on the walk, it grew dark, and mother and daughter returned home.
By the third month, another year had passed. Steward Fan and Shopkeeper Yao came together. This time, Shopkeeper Yao had someone deliver timber and also brought four hundred taels of silver. It turned out the harvest was bountiful this year, and the manor had sold a good amount of fruit, poultry, and eggs. Knowing his youngest son was to be married, Jin Niang rewarded him with two bolts of red satin, four silver-gilt hairpins, two sets of brand-new men's clothing, and a set of satin and silk garments.
Steward Fan expressed profuse thanks and mentioned that their neighbor was selling fifty acres of mulberry fields and fifty acres of orchard, both by the river with extremely fertile land. Thus, Jin Niang gave him two hundred strings of cash to make the purchase.
Shopkeeper Yao first offered congratulations: "I have long heard that the master is now the Junior Minister of the Court of the Imperial Treasury. I specially offer these humble gifts to the master and madam."
Jin Niang flipped through the account book and smiled. "Shopkeeper Yao, you have managed things very well."
"I hired a famous chef and also had someone write a few articles in the small gazette. That's why business this year is better than before," Shopkeeper Yao said with a smile.
Jin Niang saw he had sent seven hundred strings of cash this year, plus separate gifts for her.
She only said, "I have two requirements. First, you must not bully others by relying on our influence. If I find out, I will absolutely not tolerate it. Anyone who damages my husband's reputation will be the first I deal with. Second, I do not wish to see a proper establishment turn into a den of vice."
"You have my assurance," Shopkeeper Yao said immediately.
Jin Niang said sternly, "This is no joke."
Shopkeeper Yao nearly broke into a cold sweat.
Only then was Jin Niang satisfied. As usual, Shopkeeper Yao took silk fabrics along on his journey to sell to familiar merchants in Bianjing, while Steward Fan took the silver to hurry back and purchase the mulberry fields and orchard.
Here, Jin Niang had an income of over eleven hundred strings of cash. Added to last year's income of over nineteen hundred strings, she now had around three thousand strings. Of course, she had also spent two or three hundred strings in the meantime on jewelry, clothes, and such.
But there was still a usable sum of liquid money. They didn't have any major expenses at the moment.
The neighboring lady with the title of County Princess seemed to have sold her house and returned to the Prince's mansion. The new family that recently moved in belonged to the newly appointed Director of the Bureau of Military Appointments, who coincidentally also had the surname Li and claimed descent from the former dynasty's imperial family.
This Li family had only one daughter. Their son-in-law was a child prodigy whom Director Li had taken a liking to during his term as a Vice Prefect. He was only thirteen years old and reportedly would take the child prodigy examination next year.
Sister Jun had met this Miss Li of the Li family twice and had invited her to visit their garden. Madam Shi, the wife of Director Li, also asked Jin Niang, "May I ask if your young lady is already betrothed?"
"Not yet. We are still looking," Jin Niang replied with a smile.
The second son of Vice Director Cheng's family was indeed good, but after much observation, Jin Niang always felt that this child, with an elder brother and younger brothers, might be overlooked. Madam Cheng might not even realize her own favoritism, but Jin Niang saw it clearly.
So, the couple still needed to keep looking.
Madam Shi didn't feel it was her place to comment on others' family affairs, so she spoke instead of her own chosen young son-in-law: "Extremely clever and diligent. My husband is overjoyed. Sometimes one doesn't necessarily have to aim so high; it's possible to lower the requirements slightly."
"That's what I think too," Jin Niang said, though in her heart she thought, I will absolutely not lower my standards for a son-in-law. Why shouldn't such a fine daughter be matched with an even better man?
She wouldn't even consider the Wei family's seventh son anymore.
Some might advise her that 'close enough is good enough,' but Jin Niang didn't see it that way. Even in her own youth, she had preferred to go without rather than settle for less, let alone for her daughter. Her daughter was only twelve, still very young.
After seeing Madam Shi off, Jin Niang returned to normal.
She felt she had been somewhat obsessed lately. When the third month arrived and Jiang Xian had a day off, she took the children to the outskirts to welcome spring. Spring was the most comfortable season, neither hot nor cold. Dressed in light spring robes with some pastries prepared, it was very pleasant.
The two children were flying a kite not far away. Jin Niang said, "No matter what others do, our family must stand firm. Otherwise, finding someone unsuitable would be worse than keeping our daughter at home."
"You're right, my lady. Our daughter is still young; many will seek her hand," Jiang Xian said with a laugh. He thought his wife was truly someone who, once she made up her mind, became utterly immovable.
She had very strong opinions of her own and great perseverance.
The children flew the kite for half the day. Jiang Xian wove flower crowns for his daughter and son, and finally, with deft hands, he made one for Jin Niang as well.
"When did you learn to do this?" Jin Niang asked, happily placing it on her head.
Jiang Xian raised an eyebrow. "I know many things. It's just that some people don't believe me."
Jin Niang chased after him, playfully trying to hit him, while Jiang Xian dodged nimbly. The two children watched, dumbfounded; they rarely saw their mother so lively. At home, their mother was the mistress of the household, commanding respect and obedience from all servants in the inner and outer courtyards, a figure of great authority. Yet now she was frolicking with their father.
Of course, due to a lumbar injury from a previous childbirth, she had spent seven or eight years recuperating. After giving birth to little Brother Ding, she took even better care of her health and rarely made any strenuous movements. But now, out with her husband, she somehow seemed to have recaptured a long-lost youthful vitality.
No, it was more like making up for the youth she never had.
After all, her own girlhood had been spent constantly working, forced to deal with many people, heads down just to earn money.
Jiang Xian, too, felt that after the mental strain of official documents, fooling around like this lightened his mood considerably.
After their playful romp, the couple was no longer so fixated on finding a son-in-law and felt much more at ease. However, news came that disappointed Jin Niang somewhat: the Child Prodigy Examination had now been expanded to include children under fifteen, and the exam content had been broadened to be almost on par with the actual imperial examinations.
"Then let's forget it. Our son should study properly and participate in the regular imperial examinations when the time comes," Jin Niang said.
Jiang Xian looked at his wife. "Just like that? This is something you've been looking forward to for years, putting in who knows how much effort."
Jin Niang smiled. "Brother Ning is the one studying, and the teacher is the one teaching. I haven't put in much effort. Don't worry, I'm not disappointed. I said before that even if our son couldn't take the Child Prodigy Examination, he still learned a great deal. We adults shouldn't put too much pressure on the child."
"My lady, why is your attitude so calm?" Jiang Xian was puzzled, as he usually found his wife broad-minded but also quite ambitious.
Jin Niang linked her arm with Jiang Xian's. "That's because my life now is already very good. Having an occasional shortcoming prevents things from reaching 'the point where water overflows when full, and the moon wanes when at its brightest.' Besides, my husband is handsome, talented, and holds office. Most importantly, he treats me extremely well. Our children are obedient and sensible, and my own health is good. There's hardly anything in the world better than this. I am very content."
The couple gave up on the Child Prodigy Examination, but they did not give up on their son's studies.
Brother Ning was actually quite happy about it.
"I was afraid that if I really became an official at ten, how would I manage? That's something for adults to do."
Jin Niang poked her son's forehead. "They would surely wait until you grew up before giving you an actual post. Never mind. Since you don't have to prepare for the Child Prodigy Examination, you can relax a bit. Today, I'll have Xiaoyun from the tea kitchen make your favorite 'Ting'er' pastries, alright?"
Brother Ning hugged Jin Niang around the waist. "My mother is the best in the world."
Jiang Xian quickly separated the mother and son, naturally taking the opportunity to stand next to Jin Niang while speaking. "We're tired of the food at home too. Let's change things up and have a feast delivered from outside."
Jin Niang naturally agreed.
Now that Brother Ning was no longer participating in the Child Prodigy Examination, the most disappointed person turned out to be Madam Wei. Last time, seeing her son and the Cheng family's second son competing fiercely, she had naturally inquired and thought her son liked Sister Jun. Having grown up together as childhood friends, she would be happy to see that happen.
So she had declined the Shen family's marriage proposal, thinking to wait and see if Brother Ning passed the Child Prodigy Examination and perhaps even received an official title from the emperor. Her husband would likely be pleased then. But now that Brother Ning wasn't taking part, and who knew how many years it would take for Jiang Xian's official rank to rise again—the Jiang family still relied on the Wei family—perhaps it was better to choose a more secure match. Yet, she soon changed her mind again.
...
Jiang Fang arrived in the capital at the end of the third month. His adoptive parents had worried themselves sick over his future and even suggested, "Your eldest brother is very familiar with the Chancellor of the Jixian Hall. Should you seek his help?"
"I was the one who left the family back then. I can't go begging for their help now. It would be one thing if I could make amends to them, but to ask for favors? Moreover, the Chancellor of the Jixian Hall is currently under attack from the Censorate and can hardly manage his own affairs. It would be worse for me to seek him out now," Jiang Fang had his own thoughts.
News that the Chancellor of the Jixian Hall was about to step down had even reached inner quarters ladies like Jin Niang in the capital for some time. She had previously advised Jiang Xian that even if he were to switch allegiances, he should wait until the man had left his post and not turn his coat too quickly, lest others see him as an opportunist.
However, while Jiang Xian agreed readily, he had already privately visited the Shen family. This was something Jin Niang couldn't dissuade him from. As Jiang Xian said, if you don't establish connections in advance, others will think you're not part of their faction, and you'll be the first to be cast aside.
For Jiang Xian, he didn't crave leaving a name in history; that would make life too exhausting. He just wanted to hold an official post, enough to protect his family.
Jin Niang could understand. Some people see work merely as a means to support a family, while others invest their greatest ideals into it. Neither was right or wrong.
Right after the Cold Food Festival, the Chancellor of the Jixian Hall, who had been in power for nearly a decade, stepped down and prepared to go to Yingtian Prefecture to compile books. Jiang Yan immediately resigned from his post to follow him. Shen Ziqí ascended as the Vice Councilor. Simultaneously, Jiang Xian was promoted to Deputy Director of the Palace Library, a rank of 5b.
