Arranging a marriage is a matter that can be both swift and slow. For the Wei and Jiang families, as neither were families of modest means, everything had to be considered with great care.
Madam Wei first sent a matchmaker to the Jiang family. The Jiangs then needed to return a preliminary proposal document. This document not only had to state the bride's seniority among siblings and her exact date and time of birth, but also the names, official positions, and family assets of her ancestors for three generations. Landholdings, property, and dowry items also had to be listed.
Jin Niang had long been preparing her daughter's dowry, and now she was discussing with Jiang Xian what more needed to be added.
"We should at least keep our daughter until she's seventeen before marrying her off. In these four-plus years, we can certainly add another two thousand strings of cash to her dowry," said Jin Niang.
Jiang Xian agreed. Their daughter's dowry was also a matter of their family's prestige, and besides, she was their only daughter. Who else would they give it to if not her? There was no need to compare with the absolute pinnacle of wealth and nobility, but it shouldn't be too lacking either.
By the time Jin Niang and the others finished writing and sent over the preliminary proposal document, it was already the ninth month. The Wei family took the girl's birth characters to consult divination.
Once the eight characters were deemed compatible, both sides exchanged detailed documents. The preliminary document had only given general figures, such as 'three hundred mu of land,' but the detailed document had to specify 'three hundred mu of land at the Wang Family Estate in Luoyang.' Similarly, where the preliminary document said 'one residence,' the detailed document listed 'one property deed for a residence on Sweet Water Lane, comprising eighteen rooms in total; one property deed for a shop on Sweet Water Lane, three large frontage bays.' It listed 'eight sets of jewelry, ninety-six pieces in total; one set of huanghuali wood furniture,' and went into further detail: 'two beds, screens, tea sets, camphorwood chests, twelve cases of cosmetics...'
After exchanging the detailed documents, because the two families were already acquainted, there was no need for a formal meeting to view the prospective bride or groom.
The Wei family chose the eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month at year's end for the betrothal ceremony. Jin Niang and her side also had to prepare gifts in return. They needed to prepare twelve bolts of purple gauze and various silks and satins, along with feminine items like hair ornaments with pearls and jade, black silk scarves and ribbons, gold and jade hairpins and bracelets, seven-treasure headbands, as well as cases, handkerchiefs, shoes, and socks. They also had to return half of the amount of tea cakes, fruits, sheep, and wine received in the original betrothal gifts. In addition, they needed to send back a pair of 'return fish chopsticks.'
Those feminine items had to be made by Sister Jun herself. Jin Niang called her daughter over. Sister Jun had evidently already heard the news and seemed a bit awkward.
"Come next year, our Sister Jun will be a young lady," Jin Niang said with a smile.
Sister Jun felt somewhat embarrassed. "Mother, is it really Seventh Cousin?"
"Yes, your Aunt Wei came in person to ask for your hand. We're just finalizing the engagement first; you won't marry until you're seventeen. This way, you can stay at home peacefully and do whatever you wish," Jin Niang said, looking at her daughter.
Sister Jun, however, was troubled. "Your daughter never thought about such things."
"You're still studying now. These matters are for us adults to handle. I'll just explain the pros and cons to you. Our family and the Wei family are connected by clan ties; we're practically relatives. You also know the Wei family members, which is much better than going to a completely unfamiliar household. Furthermore, your Cousin Wei Qi is quite handsome, talented in literature, and has his own mind—not the type to be easily swayed by a few words from others. Lastly, the Wei family is illustrious. Even if your Cousin Wei Qi doesn't take the imperial exams, he can secure an official position through hereditary privilege. The two of you won't have to worry about money," Jin Niang started with the practical aspects.
Having been helping Jin Niang manage the household lately, Sister Jun deeply understood the importance of money—how to handle finances, how to give gifts. Social interactions were all built upon the foundation of money.
She found her mother's words reasonable, but the concept of "marriage" was too unfamiliar and unknown for a young girl. She simply wished to stay at home with her parents and brothers; that seemed just fine.
"Mother, you and father surely want what's best for your daughter," Sister Jun said.
Jin Niang smiled. "Of course. Actually, your father and I considered the second son of the Cheng family. But as you know, Madam Cheng favors her eldest and youngest sons, so we didn't propose the match. Living under a partial mother-in-law is very difficult. Your maternal grandmother had a very hard life because her mother-in-law was biased."
She didn't expect her daughter's future in-laws to give her any special treatment; being treated equally would be good enough.
This was a topic Sister Jun had rarely touched upon. She would always remember that evening, when her mother spoke to her about many things, many of which she had never known before.
The news of Wei Qilang's engagement was, of course, known within the Wei family, and even the Shen family heard about it. They were somewhat surprised, but it also made sense.
After all, a desirable girl has many suitors. Although the Jiang family wasn't as prominent as the Shen or Fan families, with two Jinshi in the family, they lived quite comfortably. Moreover, the two were cousins, strengthening family ties further, which everyone was happy to see.
Wei Sixth Master's wife, Madam Wang, returned to her parental home and mentioned this to her mother, Madam Wu. Madam Wu recalled how picky Madam Wei had been back in the day, and now the chosen bride was actually a daughter of the Jiang family.
"Although the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate birth isn't that significant, your husband is, after all, not Madam Wei's own son. You should still urge your husband to study diligently."
Madam Wang sighed. "Mother, I understand what you're saying."
When they formed the marriage alliance with the Wei family, they hadn't paid much attention to the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, and Wei Sixth Master was the only one around her daughter's age. At the time, she felt that the Wei family's standards were extremely high, and just being able to marry into it was an achievement.
But she never expected the standards would be lowered for the Jiang family.
Madam Wu stroked her belly and said, "Your sister-in-law, Madam Fan, is too much of a sentimental person. She can't bear it when a man takes a concubine, which actually gives others an opportunity. My child, don't be as foolish as her. We women must adhere to the Three Obediences and Four Virtues. This isn't to say we have no temper, but you must use these principles to position yourself invincibly."
Madam Wang nodded inwardly. Her father held her mother in great respect. Even though there were illegitimate brothers, whenever her mother was pregnant, her father only acknowledged the child in her womb—that was respect for the principal wife. Since she became sensible, she had never seen a woman as perfect as her mother: virtuous, kind, chaste, and virtuous; simple and restrained; dignified and magnanimous.
She would rather wrong herself than fail to protect others.
It was precisely because of such "perfection" that she earned her father's respect. Madam Wang felt she might never achieve such a state in her lifetime.
"How much dowry does the Jiang girl have?" Madam Wu inquired.
Madam Wang thought for a moment. "When the preliminary document came over, it was said to be ten thousand strings."
Madam Wu raised an eyebrow. "So, it's even more than yours?"
Madam Wang's dowry totaled six thousand strings, which was already considerable. She had younger illegitimate sisters and brothers below her, so her mother couldn't show favoritism. Her dowry included eight hundred mu of land in Xiangzhou Prefecture, three thousand strings in cash, plus clothing, jewelry, and so on—already quite substantial.
She just never expected Madam Jiang's to be even more—ten thousand strings for a dowry.
Madam Wang lowered her head. "Your daughter has heard that Madam Jiang is quite skilled in management. Having this much is not surprising."
"Well, speaking of which, it still comes down to the young master-in-law studying diligently. Whether he later secures an official post through hereditary privilege or passes the imperial examinations to become a Jinshi, your days will surely be better. Not like your cousin, married into the main branch of the Jiang family. Her father-in-law resigned from his post, her mother-in-law is stingy, even eating bird's nest has to be paid for with her own money." Madam Wu mentioned her niece with heartache.
Wang Shi thought that her cousin's temperament was quite similar to her mother's, but her cousin's luck wasn't as good. She had just married out when her husband's family declined. Her mother, however, was different. When she married over, her grandfather was merely a Tongpan, and her father was just an ordinary scholar, far inferior to the Wu family. But later, the Wang family climbed step by step and could even help pull up the Wu family.
The fate of a person's life is truly unpredictable. Just like her own grandfather, who was once the Prefect of Daming Prefecture, while Jiang Lijing (Sister Jun)'s father was only a Judge. Yet she herself married a son from a concubine, while someone else married the legitimate eldest son.
Over here, Jin Niang was doing needlework with her daughter. She had finished embroidering the Purple-robed Guanyin and was now working on the Child-giving Guanyin. In the intervals of embroidering the Child-giving Guanyin, she was also making a gold-threaded satin gown with tassels for her daughter, telling Minzhi not to do other tasks but to help Sister Jun with the needlework.
Even Ying and Qingrong gathered together to stitch shoe soles and paste shoe uppers, terribly busy.
But everyone was very happy. The Jiang family was now forming a marriage alliance with the Wei family. They had seen the Wei family's grandeur; such a mansion was no ordinary one.
Spring Day
Xi Qiu was even more delighted. She listened to her mistress, served the young lady well, and in the future could even go with her husband to the Wei family. One could say her future was boundless.
Just then, Fan Si returned to hand over the rent from Luoyang, a total of two hundred and seventy strings of cash. Twenty strings were spent on buying oxen and farm tools, and the rest of the silver was all brought back. Even so, Fan Si still had money left over, because besides grain, the estate also had poultry, livestock, and trees. The mistress had told him to sell them locally and use the proceeds as travel expenses.
With what was left, he bought hair ribbons, face powder, and a bolt of fashionable handkerchief fabric from Luoyang for Xi Qiu.
Xi Qiu went to the kitchen to arrange tea and meals to serve him, and said with a laugh, "Our young lady is betrothed to the young master of the Wei family. This is a great good fortune. The two of us are certainly going along. The mistress has already told me, she wants us to help the young lady manage the outside estates and fields properly."
"Is this true?" Fan Si was also overjoyed; he hadn't expected the young lady's marriage to be settled so quickly.
"Of course it is. The Wei family's young master stayed at our house for over two months, and he won our master and mistress's favor greatly. Madam Wei personally came to propose the marriage, you don't know how delighted she was." Xi Qiu naturally knew her own young lady's excellence, and added, "Now that our young lady has such a good prospect, I'm afraid many people might try to snatch it away. We two must absolutely not let our guard down."
Fan Si said solemnly, "Don't worry."
The news of Sister Jun's betrothal naturally also reached the old residence, as this was a major family event after all. The entire Jiang clan felt honored by association. Only Madam Xu found it somewhat unbelievable: "The Wei family? The Wei clan of Hebei? The current Grand Academician Wei's household?"
"Indeed, Madam Xu. Our mistress even said 'a great match is not a suitable match' and didn't agree at first, but Madam Wei simply liked our young lady, and said something about our mistress raising her well." Ying wouldn't be polite. This Madam Xu had previously introduced some down-and-out family, and they dared to covet her own young lady.
That wasn't forming a marriage alliance; it was clearly treating her young lady as a blood supply, pushing her into a pit of fire.
Now the young lady is betrothed to the Vice Chancellor's son, talented and handsome in both aspects. It's truly a moment to hold one's head high.
But Madam Xu smiled and said, "As the saying goes, marrying up means swallowing needles, marrying your equal means swallowing anger, marrying down means swallowing gold. Originally, it's not the right time for me to say this, but as the eldest aunt-in-law, having seen many people, I was just momentarily moved to say it."
"What you say is right. Marrying down is indeed better. 'Marrying down means swallowing gold' is certainly true. Then in the future, this servant wishes that Miss Zheng will marry down and swallow gold every day." Ying's tongue was sharp and unforgiving, but she was clever. After saying this, she quickly excused herself on account of having business and slipped away.
Madam Xu was so angry she wanted to have her seized, but Nanny Ge persuaded her: "Mistress, we mustn't let outsiders see us as a laughingstock."
Madam Xu slumped in her chair: "I am already a laughingstock now, even a maid from the third branch dares to bully me. Just wait until my husband returns, and see how I deal with her."
Over at Jin Niang's place, she was also talking to Ying: "It's good that you want to vent anger for Sister Jun like this, but she is still a mistress after all. If she were to lose her temper and order someone seized, you would still suffer for it. In the future, don't seek such quick satisfaction with your tongue."
"This servant just can't stand her attitude. Our young lady's betrothal is a great happy event, and she pulls a long face like a donkey, saying all those things." Ying had disliked Madam Xu from the start—hypocritical, harsh, narrow-minded, and selfish.
Even if sisters-in-law don't get along, what did Sister Jun, a young girl, ever do to her, to make her speak that way?
Jin Niang smiled: "I can understand your anger, but as the proverb says, don't beat a drowning dog. The better our lives are, the more uncomfortable she probably feels. There's no need to provoke her."
"Mistress, you say the eldest master has gone to Yingtian Prefecture. Will he have a chance to be reinstated in the future?" Ying asked.
Jin Niang nodded: "Perhaps. But even if he returns later, reaches the highest ministerial rank, and rises meteorically, what would Madam Xu gain from it?"
Even Jin Niang herself was thirty-four this year. In a few more years, she'd be forty. Madam Xu was several years older than her. By the lifespan standards of people in the Song dynasty, more than half a lifetime had already passed. It wasn't very meaningful.
Of course, the best outcome would be if Jiang Yan could return in a few years. But if he had to wait ten years, then Madam Xu would have to endure for ten years.
Suddenly, in a moment, she could understand Jiang Xian. He might not be some great official who served the country and the people, but being able to shelter his family from wind and rain was enough.
Because the Jiang family had actually also experienced great rises and falls. Although they were still within this circle, having one's own family decline and having to curry favor with others—one can imagine the feeling. No one is born knowing how to speak skillfully or guess others' thoughts. Wei Seventh Young Master, at his age, was far worse at observing people's expressions and moods than Jiang Xian, precisely because their upbringing environments were different.
Thinking of this, Jin Niang had the kitchen add two more dishes that Jiang Xian loved to eat.
When Jiang Xian returned from his yamen, seeing Jin Niang personally pouring wine for him, he was startled: "My dear sister, what are you doing?"
"Since I am serving you this once, you should just enjoy it," Jin Niang merely smiled.
Jiang Xian held her hand and said, "Right now you also have to worry about our daughter's dowry. How can I trouble you?"
He knew his wife had recently been busy starting to prepare their daughter's dowry and managing the family property, working very hard.
Jin Niang held his hand and also told him what Madam Xu had said about 'marrying up means swallowing needles.' Jiang Xian sneered: "Those who claim to be indifferent to fame and fortune with their mouths, do they really not want to be high officials? Do poor people not want to have money? Obviously, they lack the capability. I saw how happy her family was back then when they formed a marriage alliance with the Wu family, weren't they? Why are they making such noises now?"
"Who says it's not so? However, I think we still ought to keep a low profile. It's not really because of that person, but since ancient times, it's the quiet ones who make a fortune." Jin Niang had her reasons for saying this. When people are too conspicuous, even if they haven't done anything wrong, they can easily attract unwarranted resentment.
Jiang Xian deeply agreed: "In the past, when I handled a matter, everyone praised me for doing it well. Now, just because I've been promoted a bit quickly, those same people say I'm greedy for credit and too aggressive."
"Enough of that. The rent from Sweetwater Lane has been delivered. Dou'er will be back by the end of the year, so Manager Fan and Shopkeeper Yao won't need to make an extra trip. We have more income coming in. Thinking of these things actually puts me in a very good mood," Jin Niang said with a laugh.
This year, there was also over two hundred strings of cash from the Luoyang land rents, another extra income. The land here in Bianjing, managed by Fan Si, at least meant they didn't have to constantly buy food from outside.
After the meal, Jin Niang asked Nanny Bai to bring Ding Ge'er over.
Ding Ge'er already had eight teeth. Because his gums were itchy from teething, he was gnawing on a teething stick made of pepper wood. Jin Niang took the child and asked carefully about his daily routine. She then told Nanny Bai to go and relax for a while. She said to Jiang Xian, "I was thinking that next year, when the child is two, he can move to the east wing room in our courtyard."
"Good, but we must arrange the servants carefully," Jiang Xian said.
"I'm naturally aware of that. Ying's son will be old enough to serve in another two years. We can have that child be a page, following our Ding Ge'er," Jin Niang suggested.
Speaking of Ding Ge'er, and also Ning Ge'er—he was preparing to take the prefectural school exam this coming September. That age was indeed very young. But Ning Ge'er started his education at three, so in reality, he had already been studying for seven years.
These matters were of utmost importance. Jin Niang also had to worry about her eldest son's studies.
As for Sister Jun, she was buried in her embroidery work. Even the young lady from the neighboring Li family came over and remarked, "Why not have it done at an embroidery shop? Why trouble yourself to do it all?"
"My mother says these things must be done by oneself to show sincerity," Sister Jun thought to herself. If I bought everything from a shop, word would surely get out from your mouth.
Previously, because they were neighbors and close in age, Sister Jun had spoken with this Miss Li a few times. She quickly discovered that the girl would turn around and repeat everything.
She wasn't that foolish.
Since childhood, she had attended girls' school, learned social graces, and often interacted with people.
Miss Li's father was quite reputable, and her future husband was a child prodigy. Logically, her life should be free of worries. But the prestige of the Wei family, the dignity of Madam Wei, and the bearing of the Seventh Young Master of Wei were beyond compare for ordinary people. Her future father-in-law was merely a minor clerk in a government office, and her future mother-in-law was rather coarse—completely incomparable.
She looked again at Sister Jun's attire: a honey-colored casual jacket, her hair loosely tied in a small bun secured with two gold hairpins, a white jade bracelet on her wrist—an air of wealth evident even in her leisure.
Miss Li sat for a little while longer before leaving. Sister Jun shook her head. In this world, there are people who are genuinely happy for you, and at the same time, there are those who envy you. But because of that, should one deliberately remain obscure just to avoid attention? She couldn't do that.
Meanwhile, Miss Li returned home to find her mother coughing, her old ailment flaring up again. She said, "Why hasn't anyone gone to invite Madam Lou? She often treats my mother."
"Poor Madam Lou has gone on a long journey. Her clinic isn't even open," a servant sighed.
...
On the first day of the tenth lunar month, the Seventh Young Master of Wei personally delivered food for the warming brazier: crispy yam cakes, gold and jade stew, and pickled melon.
Originally, Jin Niang had gotten along very well with this nephew. Now, with an additional layer of relationship, they were even closer.
"How come your mother had you deliver these? Come, sit down quickly," Jin Niang urged, having someone serve hot tea.
The Seventh Young Master of Wei smiled, "Mother said Aunt is fond of spring day pickled melon, so she specifically asked me to bring it."
"Your uncle was just saying yesterday how fortunate it was we took you both to learn swimming in August. The weather is too cold now; even if you wanted to swim, you couldn't," Jin Niang said.
The Seventh Young Master of Wei quickly replied, "Aunt, there are hot springs! We could go to the hot spring manor then."
Hot springs? Jin Niang hadn't thought of that.
After aunt and nephew chatted for a bit, the Seventh Young Master went to find Brother Ning, who was currently writing an essay.
"Why are you still writing today?" the Seventh Young Master asked with a smile.
Brother Ning said, "It's a festival day today, so I'm writing less—only one essay. Usually, I write two. If I skip a day, I feel like I've missed something."
The Seventh Young Master felt somewhat ashamed, thinking to himself that he couldn't fall behind either. After saying this, he went back home and buried himself in his study.
After finishing his essay, Brother Ning went to the backyard to practice archery. After that, he went to the library to read. He read everything. Books were his world. Even when the whole family gathered around the brazier, it took three or four requests to get him to come.
After the meal, he disappeared into the library again. Jin Niang had Chen the young servant buy many new books from the bookshop and deliver them to the library. She always believed that reading was a shortcut in life. One could understand things they hadn't experienced through books, so she never hindered him. Instead, she would buy books from the market for her children to read.
Whether they were model examination essays, annotated exam papers, landscape travelogues, or even storybooks and tales of the strange—all were included.
As for Jin Niang, after the meal, she went to the storeroom to get fabric. She needed to sew the wedding quilts for her daughter, as well as the gauze bed curtains and door curtains. There were still several years to go, so she could work on them slowly. This was also her way of expressing her heartfelt wishes.
After his meal, Jiang Xian took a short nap on the couch before also heading to his study. Next year was another evaluation period, and he didn't know if he would be promoted. He was anxious in his heart.
After the daughter's engagement was settled, the whole family instead became more settled and quiet. Even Madam Wei remarked, "The Jiang family really knows how to keep their composure." After saying this, she looked forward to the marriage even more.
When the twelfth lunar month arrived, Jin Niang invited Madam Zhang to be the "All-Blessings" woman (a woman with both parents, spouse, and children alive, considered auspicious for weddings). Madam Zhang was their relative by marriage and an old acquaintance. Early that day, the Wei family came to the Jiang residence. They brought pearls, jade, jewelry, gold objects—no need to mention all—as well as gold-embroidered pleated skirts, bolts of satin, tea cakes, and added a pair of sheep led on ropes, eight vessels of gold-bottle wine, decorated with large silver lozenges and covered with red and green gold-embroidered wine cloths.
The Wei family sent four sets of gold, silver, and jade headdresses. Each set contained twenty-eight pieces, each set weighing about fifty taels. The designs were beautiful too: peonies and pomegranates, peaches and lilies, plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums, phoenix hairpins—all with excellent symbolism.
Jiang Niang's return gifts were also plentiful. She gave the matchmaker four bolts of gold-threaded gauze, a matchmaker's fee of one hundred strings of cash, tea sets and wine sets, plus two sets of jewelry. She also gave Madam Zhang, the "All-Blessings" woman, gifts similar to the matchmaker's.
Although the Zhang family was not short of money, receiving such gifts was a matter of face.
The Wei family sent the betrothal gifts on an auspicious day in late February of the following year. This time, in addition to the standard "three gold" gifts, they also sent hair ornaments such as a pearl-and-jade hairpiece, a pearl-and-jade floral crown, a four-season floral headdress, and pearl-and-jade hairpins arranged in a circle, not to mention high-quality colored silks, satins, cloth, tea cakes, and fruits.
The bride's family reciprocated with gifts of eight bolts of official green gauze, eight bolts of figured purple gauze, two sets of high-quality scholar's four treasures (writing brush, inkstick, inkslab, and paper), two hair crowns for a man—one of jade and one of purple gold—and a pair of jade pendants. There were also clothes for Wei the Seventh Young Master: six complete sets of robes, jackets, trousers, shoes, and socks, along with two wind hats.
By June, the groom's side sent the monetary gift, totaling one thousand strings of cash.
The people from the Wei family all wore blue jackets tied with red sashes, creating a very festive atmosphere.
Madam Zhou the Fourth was just asking Madam Zhou the Third, "Which family is celebrating a joyous occasion?"
"How do you not know? It's your husband's fellow graduate, and also my husband's younger brother, Jiang Shiliu. His daughter is betrothed to the current Grand Academician's Wei family, so of course it's this lively! I even attended their engagement ceremony that time," Madam Zhou the Third said with a laugh.
Madam Zhou the Fourth was momentarily unable to react. "It couldn't be with Wei the Seventh Young Master, could it?"
"Yes, how did you know?" Madam Zhou the Third asked curiously.
Madam Zhou the Fourth leaned back. It really was Wei the Seventh Young Master. She remembered in the book, he was supposed to marry a young lady from the Shen family. That book even said the Shen girls were all skilled in poetry and composition, and one wrote poems that spread complaints about her mother-in-law, leading to marital discord. In the end, the Wei and Shen families had a falling out.
Because that was near the end of the story, she had specifically read that part carefully.
