After returning from the old residence, perhaps from all the helping with receiving and seeing off guests today, the soles of her feet were unbearably sore. Qingrong hurriedly had the maids come to attend to her. Jin Niang said with a smile, "A few years ago, when I accompanied someone hiking, I was just a bit weak. Now in recent years, even walking a few more steps makes me rather uncomfortable."
"You've also been worn out from all the busyness lately. With the Liu family's daughter getting betrothed, their rules and customs were so complicated, you were kept very busy. Then there was last year, constantly occupied with our own young lady's wedding preparations. No wonder you're exhausted." Qingrong felt heartache for her.
Managing everything inside and outside the household, the mistress was not the type to be a hands-off manager; otherwise, she wouldn't have quietly helped the eldest young lady accumulate such a substantial dowry.
She had just rested for a short while when the silver from the bonded warehouse business in Daming Prefecture was delivered. The owner even came in person to present a sandalwood screen inlaid with various precious materials depicting flowers and butterflies as a congratulatory gift. He also mentioned that Ruyan had sent a pair of glazed lamps as an addition to Sister Jun's trousseau. Last time, when Ruyan gave birth to a daughter, Jin Niang had specifically entrusted the bonded warehouse owner's ship to deliver a gift for the baby's third-day bath ceremony.
Thus, despite the pain, Jin Niang instructed Luo Da to act as host and invite the owner for a meal and wine at Pan Tower.
These several items were all stored in the warehouse of the second courtyard. She personally oversaw their storage before returning to her room, though doing so made her feet ache terribly again.
For two consecutive days, Jin Niang was unable to go out and rested at home. Sister Jun specially came to massage her legs, saying with concern, "Mother has become like this all for my sake. You even personally made so many things for me. Before, you would only embroider for two hours before taking a break to read."
"Don't say that. For my daughter, I am willing and happy," Jin Niang said cheerfully.
By the end of this year, not counting the fields and shops in Wu County, the gold and silver shop brought in seven hundred and twenty strings of cash annually, and Sweet Water Lane brought in four hundred and fifty-six strings. Additionally, selling two embroidered portraits brought five hundred strings, and being a 'complete fortune' matchmaker brought two hundred taels. The bonded warehouse brought one thousand two hundred strings. This already amounted to over three thousand strings. She thought that when the money from Wu County arrived next spring, she would add five hundred strings to her daughter's dowry, making it four thousand strings in total. This wouldn't strain their finances and was quite good.
Although the income seemed substantial, the expenses were also considerable. Preparing her daughter's trousseau had cost a fair amount of money. Now, apart from the four thousand taels of gold ingots that couldn't be touched and the four thousand strings for her daughter's dowry, they still had seven thousand strings in liquid cash.
At year's end, Jiang Xian's salary was also issued. This payment was for half a year. Having been promoted from Vice Minister of the Court of the Imperial Treasury to Vice Director of the Palace Library, his official rank increased, but his salary decreased significantly, as it was no longer a lucrative department. Once these silver coins and bolts of cloth were brought home, she had Sister Jun start drafting the list for New Year gifts and the items needed for the festival celebrations.
Wine, mutton, pork, silk satin, and so on all had to be prepared in advance, along with items for their own family's New Year celebration.
Having been trained for two years, Sister Jun was no longer as flustered as before. People of this dynasty loved incense, so she had also made her own incense pellets to use as gifts, another clever idea of hers.
Jin Niang praised, "My daughter is truly clever."
Sister Jun smiled sweetly, "Mother just loves to praise me."
"I praise you sincerely. However, you must also remember one thing: people in this world love to hear pleasant words. Often saying a few kind words costs nothing. Look, the wife of the Wei family's eldest son is from the Fan family, the sixth son's wife is from the Wang family. Only your father's official rank is somewhat lower. If your mother-in-law loves the house and its crow (loves someone and extends that love to people or things associated with them) it might be fine. But if, because she excessively dotes on the seventh son (your husband), she becomes picky towards you instead, and if your sisters-in-law, out of jealousy towards the seventh son, also exclude you, how would you handle it?" Jin Niang was simply telling her daughter the reality of the situation.
Sister Jun, with her intelligent eyes, looked at her mother, "If it were you, mother, how would you handle it?"
"I once heard someone talk about the 'Five Principles for Being an Official': 'Treat a minor post as a major one; treat an idle post as a busy one; treat a man's post as a woman's; treat a vulgar post as an elegant one; treat a popular post as a cold one.' 'Treating a minor post as a major one' means even if you are in a low-ranking or idle position, you must constantly enrich yourself and firmly seize any opportunity that arises. Look, you will enter the household as the youngest daughter-in-law. Don't immediately think that since there are a mother-in-law and elder sisters-in-law above you, you can truly relax. If the responsibility of managing the household falls upon you one day, and you have the capability, won't you then be able to turn your hand palm up or down (have great power and control)?" Jin Niang recalled lines from TV dramas she had watched, which seemed quite fitting here.
She herself was the same. To seek wealth, she first had to master her embroidery skills thoroughly. Only then did she later have the skill to open a shop and run a business with ease.
Sister Jun found this interesting and eagerly asked further, "Then what about 'treating a man's post as a woman's'?"
"This means that for an official, merely pleasing his superior is not enough. Those who can influence the superior are often women. They could be the official's mother, beloved concubine, or confidante. You are still young and don't know the power of the 'pillow talk.' Take me and your father, for example. If there is an official I deeply dislike, no matter how much your father values him, he would still consider my feelings. So, after you enter the household, your mother-in-law is your 'superior.' Among her confidantes like Nanny You, Zhuque, and others, you should pick a few whose temperaments align with yours. First, bestow small favors, then deliberately win them over. In this way, if they speak a word or two on your behalf and share information, it's stronger than anything else." Jin Niang was practically imparting all her knowledge.
The more Sister Jun listened, the more she felt she was grasping the true essence. She asked again, "Mother, what about 'treating a vulgar post as an elegant one'?"
Jin Niang smiled, "For example, if your mother-in-law puts you in charge of finances, that's a 'vulgar post,' right? The more you manage household affairs, the more you must not embezzle. Don't skim even a single copper's worth of profit."
"I would certainly never embezzle. And the last one, 'treating a hot post as a cold one'?"
"This means the higher your position and greater your power, the more amiable and courteous you should be towards others. Don't flaunt your family's influence. If one day, your father and your brother both become prominent, you must be even more modest and harmonious." Jin Niang instructed.
Sister Jun was sincerely convinced. "Your daughter has learned much."
Naturally, the people around Sister Jun were also carefully chosen by Jin Niang. Xi Qiu was attentive and loyal; Steward Fan could help manage business and estate fields; Jiao Xing had a gentle temperament but was firm within, capable of helping her daughter keep subordinates in check in the future. Her husband, Hu Cheng, was also clever enough.
After a few days, when Jin Niang had fully recovered, it was time for Brother Ning's break from the prefectural school.
Before his return, Jin Niang had already sent people to tidy his bedroom neatly and cleanly. She also had camellias and bougainvillea placed in his small study. The newly made fur coats and lined jackets were all warm and cozy.
When Brother Ning returned, drinking hot soup, wearing a warm new coat, and seeing his bed neatly made, he suddenly felt drowsy.
Sister Jun lit a stick of benzoin for him, and she and Jin Niang tiptoed out together.
"Brother must be very tired," Sister Jun said.
Jin Niang sighed, "Indeed. And there are still many years of hard work ahead. We cannot study for him. This path is ultimately one he must walk himself."
Mother and daughter went out, pulled their fur coats closer, and went into the main room to talk.
Meanwhile, Madam Zhou the Third was also speaking with Madam Zhou the Fourth: "Your eldest daughter is not young anymore and has reached marriageable age. Now, your husband is an Investigating Censor, among the purest of the Qingliu. It's the perfect time for betrothal. What are your thoughts?"
Fourth Madame Zhou said, "In my opinion, finding a simpler household would be best, the simpler the better. Not one of those great, sprawling families—too complicated. An only son would be ideal."
But after saying this, she sadly remembered that ancient times seemed to value large, close-knit families even more, and added, "Actually, we've only just returned not long ago. We can discuss this further when the time comes."
Third Madame Zhou, who always had a good sense of propriety, didn't press further, though she still remarked, "It's no rush. Next year there will be new provincial graduates entering the capital. Finding a scholar then would be most fitting."
Fourth Madame Zhou knew that in this dynasty, all occupations were considered lowly except for scholarship, and she smiled, "I'll have to trouble Third Sister a great deal then."
"What trouble? We are family, it's only right," Third Madame Zhou said with a laugh.
After a few more casual words, Third Madame Zhou left. Fourth Madame Zhou called her eldest daughter over and asked her, "Have you been continuing your studies lately?"
"Yes, it's just that in winter the ink is so difficult to grind properly." Miss Sun the Eldest was about the same age as Sister Jun, who would soon be fourteen; she was similar.
Other daughters of official families around her age were starting to have their betrothals arranged one after another. But how could her own marriage prospects even be broached? The family had just purchased a residence. If a match were discussed so soon, the other side would certainly inquire about the dowry. What dowry did she have?
Fourth Madame Zhou was also worrying about money. Her husband's official rank had been promoted, but while local posts came with land subsidies, the capital offered fewer such benefits. Fortunately, a cousin in the Sun family was a merchant. However, he had only sent over two hundred strings of cash, which was truly too little. Yet when he encountered business difficulties, he still relied on the family's name and influence.
This, indeed, was a vexation.
But she didn't speak of these matters before her daughter, only saying, "I've told you before, you must strive for what you deserve. Why were you so reserved that day in front of Old Madame Liu and Madam Xun? Usually you are quite poised."
"Mother, I am the daughter of a sixth-rank official. How could I speak so freely? Look at Jiang Jun—if she isn't directly addressed, she doesn't speak either." A girl of this age always felt some shyness.
But Fourth Madame Zhou said, "If you want something, you must simply go and contend for it, seize it. You are learned and talented. What's the point of pretending to be weak to outwit the strong?"
If you have merits, you must display them.
Miss Sun the Eldest, however, said, "You think I'm good, but I may not truly be so. Actually, Jiang Jun and the other young ladies are also well-versed in poetry and books."
Their Sun family was also an official family; her father was among the purest of the pure, the censorial stream. Yet the people she encountered were of even higher status. Being the daughter of a censor gave her little advantage. Moreover, Miss Sun the Eldest keenly sensed that it wasn't necessarily one's talent that made others favor you or consider your words correct. Rather, if your family had power and influence, people were more willing to listen to you.
Fourth Madame Zhou, believing she was planning for her daughter's best future, was thus not in a hurry to settle her daughter's marriage. They could even choose not to marry; she could simply give her a nun's ordination certificate. After all, when she herself married out, the old lady had given her such a certificate.
But her daughter didn't seem to think the same way. She would look with envy upon the marriage arrangements of the Liu family's daughter, and also envy the Jiang family's Sister Jun for being betrothed...
The snow fell thick as cotton wadding. The servants got up early to shovel it, clearing a path down the middle. Juxiang now had, besides Chunxian, two older women for rough work—both widows in their forties or fifties from the estate. After Madam inspected the estate, seeing their pitiful state and offering them a meal, she brought them back.
Of course, it was also made clear that if these two were lazy or caused trouble in the household, they would certainly be sent back to the estate.
Juxiang was no longer the Juxiang of old. She employed both kindness and authority with these two. As the kitchen stewardess, they didn't dare misbehave. First thing in the morning, they had the second courtyard swept spotlessly clean.
Once the snow was cleared, maids and serving women from each apartment came to fetch meals. The wind and snow were too heavy; the mistress had ordered the young ladies and gentlemen to have their meals in their rooms and not come out.
This morning's meal was simple. For Jin Niang, there was one boiled egg, a palm-sized sour vegetable steamed bun, and a bowl of almond drink. Aside from banquets or when there were guests, their family truly rarely had extravagant meals, minimizing waste.
Of course, this was what she ate. The children, growing, had more substantial fare.
After breakfast, Ying came over first. It was their long-standing habit, mistress and maid, to handle affairs promptly and early.
"Madam, I have already delivered the rewards to the three outstanding servants you selected this year," Ying said.
Jin Niang smiled, "That's good. In such heavy wind and snow, it's not right to have them all gather here for instructions. Write their names on red paper and post it on the wall outside the second courtyard."
Ying noted it down.
Then, Jin Niang said, "Even though the master won't be back this year, we still must have a good New Year. I won't be going to the old residence. Have Steward Luo go on my behalf later to inform them. Say that with the master away, I must guard the household well."
In the main branch this year, Little Madam Wu was in confinement. Madam Xu hadn't looked well since the third-day bath banquet. As for Master Jiang the Sixth and Madam Zheng, she had sent the seasonal gifts on time. As long as they received generous gifts, they usually wouldn't say much.
Ying nodded. She then added, "Also, a certain hereditary official named Jin wanted to invite you to be the 'Complete Fortune' person. I declined as you instructed."
"Mm. With such a heavy blizzard this year—look, it's falling even heavier outside—it's best I stay cozy at home. Otherwise, if I go out, catch a chill, and fall ill, who knows how much silver would be needed for medicine," Jin Niang said.
Since selling two embroidery portraits and serving as the 'Complete Fortune' person for the Liu family, Jin Niang felt she had already far exceeded her own expectations. She was past the age of braving wind, frost, snow, and rain to earn money. Now, her health came first.
Several charcoal braziers burned brightly in the house. After handling household affairs, Jin Niang waited for her hands to warm up and continued her needlework. She had already written to Shopkeeper Yao in Wu County, asking him to bring some of Wu County's blue 'qiao' gauze when he came to the capital. She could then embroider green-stemmed white jasmine on it, which would be exceptionally beautiful.
She embroidered a quilt cover all morning, took a short nap at noon, read for a while, and in the afternoon embroidered a Guanyin for another hour. When tired, she rested.
In the past, she had often pushed herself beyond her limits, resulting in many minor aches and pains. Now, naturally, she needed to take better care.
Later, she heard that the Jin family had invited another 'Complete Fortune' person. Unfortunately, on the betrothal day, the tent set up for guests collapsed under the weight of snow. It was said that 'Complete Fortune' person also took a fall, nearly breaking her tailbone.
Ying couldn't help but admire Jin Niang's foresight.
For this New Year, because Jiang Xian was not at home, Jin Niang felt it inappropriate to invite guests over. Coincidentally, Brother Ning was buried in books in the library and didn't emerge. Sister Jun and Jin Niang collaborated to embroider another quilt cover together.
After the Lantern Festival, Jin Niang again commissioned someone from the Embroidery Lane to make a "Hundred Sons, Thousand Grandsons" bed canopy, and went to a gold-inlaying shop to have gold inlaid onto a large piece of crimson silk gauze to make a gold-inlaid bed curtain. As for Sister Jun herself, she had finished making the chair covers, table drapes, and door curtains. Minzhi wasn't idle either; having received her year-end bonus, she diligently made a patchwork jacket and a patchwork quilt, all for Sister Jun's future children. Qingrong also made six pairs of shoe uppers.
The dowry couldn't be made all at once within a year or two like the Zhou Family had done before, which practically exhausted everyone.
February was Sister Jun's birthday. The Wei Family sent over two sets of clothing made from heavy brocade, a load of longevity noodles, a box of face powder, and a pair of jade pendants with ruyi cloud patterns.
Jin Niang took them to her daughter's room and said, "Take good care of this pair of jade pendants, don't lose them."
"Yes, daughter knows." Sister Jun had learned from Jin Niang to keep a tight hold on valuables.
As for the clothes, she didn't tell her daughter to put them away, saying instead, "These clothes are cut a bit generously, so you can still wear them in a few years. They'll be perfect for when you go out visiting. Last summer I bought some good furs; we'll make several fur jackets and boots later."
Now, Madam Wu's son was having his hundred-day celebration, and she specially sent an invitation to Jin Niang. Seeing that the weather had warmed up considerably recently, Jin Niang gladly went. It was also here that Jin Niang met her daughter's future sister-in-law, the Seventh Miss Shen.
When she had seen this Seventh Miss Shen before, her appearance wasn't much like her father's; she was quite delicate and pretty.
Looking at her today, with her eyebrows penciled and face powdered, she was dressed very fashionably.
Madam Wu was indeed a virtuous woman. She brought the child out for everyone to see and even specially introduced her stepdaughter to the guests. As a principal wife, she was beyond reproach.
But Jin Niang thought this was also a way of dealing with the world—using magic to defeat magic. Weren't they always looking for faults? She would first make herself appear to be a model of the "Three Obediences and Four Virtues" on the surface, so that whatever she did would be cloaked in virtue, placing herself in an invincible position. As for those who offended her, she would bide her time and strike with one decisive blow.
"Sister Wei, please hold the child," Madam Wu said with a smile.
Jin Niang gathered her thoughts, took the child, and saw his forehead was full and well-shaped. She took a jade pendant from her waist and gave it to his wet nurse, saying, "This child looks blessed at first glance. I think in the future, in the spring days, he will be an official; he has the bearing of one."
Madam Wu smiled, "Sister Wei, you flatter him too much."
"It's not flattery. I think this child is quite extraordinary." Anyway, Jin Niang had found that sometimes praising someone's child pleased them even more than praising the adults themselves.
After the midday banquet, Jin Niang listened to an opera in the theater for a while. Sitting next to her was none other than that Madam Su from before. Her younger daughter was sulking, and Madam Su was quietly coaxing her, "Don't you know that Seventh Miss Shen has always had a sharp tongue, she's like a python. Why must you get angry with her, of all people? Really."
"She's on bad terms with your elder sister, so she's deliberately taking it out on you," Madam Su said, pursing her lips.
The mother and daughter whispered to each other, and Jin Niang overheard it all. However, she didn't completely take the Su mother and daughter's words to heart and form a bad impression of Seventh Miss Shen. But after returning home, she would still give her daughter a heads-up.
Unexpectedly, Sister Jun said, "Actually, daughter knows why she acts that way."
"Oh?" Jin Niang was surprised.
Sister Jun then said, "You didn't know that Seventh Miss Shen was originally betrothed to Seventh Cousin. I even saw her write a poem once, implying that since she was the seventh child and Seventh Cousin was also the seventh, they were fated. Who would have thought her uncle and father would arrange her marriage to the Wei Family's Eighth Young Master instead? Naturally, she's resentful."
"How did you know about this?" Jin Niang hadn't known Seventh Miss Shen held a grudge about this matter.
Sister Jun lowered her head, "Seventh Cousin told me. When I mentioned that poem, Seventh Cousin quickly said he wasn't someone who chops and changes."
So it was Young Master Wei the Seventh who said it. Jin Niang smiled, "It's good that you discuss things together."
"What discussion? We only exchange a few words occasionally," Sister Jun said with a laugh.
In her daughter's environment, falling in love freely was even harder than in her own time. Jin Niang, after all, managed her own household and wasn't from a prominent family. Coming from a modest background, no one paid her much mind. But her daughter was a young lady from a good family; it was difficult for her to even step beyond the inner gate on normal days. Official families had their own set of rules. Jin Niang also valued Young Master Wei the Seventh's high emotional intelligence, his understanding and tact. No matter what, such a person could diffuse awkward situations, knew how to speak well, and wouldn't make people dislike him.
By March, Jin Niang began to miss her husband. After all, it was his birthday, and she wasn't by his side. She wondered how he was spending it?
Fortunately, there was always work to be done. Shopkeeper Yao and Steward Fan came to the capital. The year before last, they had sent Liu Dou'er to Wu County to bring the money, so they hadn't come to the capital themselves. This year, they came. Hearing there was a happy event in the household, they each brought congratulatory gifts.
Jin Niang also gave them each ten cakes of the tea she had received as a "Complete Blessings" person, along with several feet of brocade fabric scraps, bestowed two sets of silk clothing each, gave them a year's wages, and had Luo Da arrange their accommodation. Last time Shopkeeper Yao saw Jin Niang send someone to Wu County for inspection, he had become rather apprehensive. This time, he brought seven hundred and fifty strings of cash to the capital, along with the "qing qiao" gauze Jin Niang had asked him to help bring.
This year, Steward Fan sent five hundred strings, as they had bought an additional hundred mu of mulberry fields and orchards, which yielded considerable profit.
Since the "qing qiao" gauze had been delivered, Jin Niang began embroidering jasmine flowers on it, while having Sister Jun manage the local products sent by Steward Fan: a small jar of crab paste made from Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs, whitefish, whitebait, and white shrimp kept alive in water buckets, and ten jars of fruit preserves. Sister Jun sent three whitefish, two jars of fruit preserves, and one jar of crab paste to Master Jiang the Sixth. She also sent a basket of whitebait, a basket of white shrimp, and a jar of fruit preserves each to the Wei Family and the Liu Family. Furthermore, she sent a jar of pickled water shield, three whitefish, and three whitebait to the Zhang Family.
Nothing particularly precious, just something fresh to eat.
Madam Xun actually came in person. She said, "The things you sent are all very good. The old master has been craving fish and shrimp ever since returning from Quanzhou. He said what you sent was fresh."
"As long as he enjoys it," Jin Niang said with a smile.
Clearly, Madam Xun hadn't come just for that. She lowered her voice, "How have your dealings with the Zhou Family been lately?"
Jin Niang shook her head, "We don't interact much anymore. There is some contact, but they are, after all, relatives from the older generation, so visits have become fewer. Why?"
"Let me tell you first, the Zhou Family might be headed for trouble. That Zhou Cunzhi was originally part of the Jixian Chancellor's faction. After the Jixian Chancellor fell, he was promoted. But how could those in the court tolerate him? It's unknown whether he privately wrote something that was reported by an informant." Madam Xun, knowing of Jiang Xian's relationship with Minister Liu—both as a relative and a protégé—had come to inform them.
For many days, Jin Niang had not ventured out and was unaware of the affairs beyond her walls. She understood that factional strife meant taking sides and attacking those who differed; even if one were broad-minded, the members of one's own faction might not be so tolerant.
After Madam Xun departed, Jin Niang simply claimed illness and remained secluded. Even before the Cold Food Festival arrived, she heard from Luo Da that Zhou Cunzhi's entire family had been exiled to Lingnan. Zhang the Ninth and his wife had once called, but upon hearing Jin Niang was ill, they dared not disturb her further. When the Jiang clan members heard Jin Niang was unwell, they also felt it inappropriate to ask her to help mediate with the Liu Family and the Wei Family.
