For an outsider, a son gaining admission to the Imperial Academy might not seem like a big deal, but for the Jiang family, it was a major event. While Jin Niang appeared nonchalant to outsiders, for her own family, she prepared a feast, inviting everyone to come and celebrate Brother Ning's achievement.
In the blink of an eye, Brother Ning was already thirteen, looking quite like a young adult. Today was his special day, and Jin Niang had even stayed up late to finish sewing him a new jacket, feeling immensely proud of him.
Luo Yu'e had arrived early. Jin Niang was just saying to her, "Mother and Father should stay for a while this time before going back. The countryside is peaceful, but it can get too quiet. The Winter Solstice Festival is coming soon; you should spend it with us."
At their son's home, Luo Yu'e and her husband always felt rather constrained, but at their daughter's, she felt much more at ease. Seeing Sister Jun also plead, "Grandmother, please stay. I've missed you," further softened her heart.
Jiang Xian chimed in from the side, "Indeed. I'm often not at home during the day now. Having my father and mother-in-law here would be a great help looking after the house, and it would be livelier for everyone."
"You two can spend your days visiting the other gardens to see the flowers, or go to the restaurants for some good food. Then, when your son-in-law has his day off, we can all go out together. Wouldn't that be nice?" Jin Niang said with a smile.
Thus, Luo Yu'e and Wei Xiong agreed. The couple had, in fact, been living with Jin Niang for years. This time, Jin Niang arranged for them to stay directly in a three-room cottage within the garden compound. She now had considerably more free time; her daughter's dowry was fully prepared, her son had passed the Imperial Academy exams, and her younger son was studying diligently. She felt she had largely completed her major tasks.
Watching from the side, Zhang Pingjun observed Jiang Xian thoughtfully. She wondered how Jiang Xian managed his relationship with his in-laws. Watching carefully, regardless of whether it was genuine or not, his demeanor was far more emotionally engaged than hers could ever be.
How did he endure it?
She didn't understand.
Yet, some thoughts couldn't be spoken aloud. Zhang Pingjun still had to say, "Sister, this is really too much trouble for you."
"What trouble? I told you before your wedding. You and your husband live on your own. When your parents want some bustle, they can stay with me. When they want peace and quiet, they can go back to the countryside for a few days." Jin Niang laughed, not considering it a big deal at all.
Only then did Zhang Pingjun suddenly realize that back then, Jin Niang had truly meant well for her.
After the banquet, the guests gradually departed.
Jin Niang first settled her parents in their rooms, then said to Sister Jun, "On our estate in Suzhou, because we have mulberry fields, we receive a supply of undyed silk every year. For your estate in Luoyang, you can also invest in a few looms. Have the women there submit a fixed amount of cloth each year, have it dyed, and then tailor some for the servants. Any cloth beyond the fixed quota, the women can keep for themselves, wear, or sell as they wish. This way, it benefits everyone."
Her daughter was to be married next March, which was only about half a year away. She needed to teach her daughter everything she knew.
"Mother, I understand," Sister Jun replied with a smile.
Jin Niang thought to herself that although she had experienced poverty for several years after crossing over into this world, and her life before twenty was often marked by hardship and endurance, her one great fortune was having a good husband and children.
However, she still admonished her daughter: "When you first enter the Wei Family, you must adapt to their customs. Then, win over the Seventh Young Master. Later, no matter what you do, you won't be entirely without support. Otherwise, no matter how capable you are from the start, if you haven't gained their trust, even your best ideas will find no listeners."
This was advice from experience, and Sister Jun listened with dawning comprehension.
On another front, Fourth Madam Zhou had finally mostly prepared the dowry. Her husband, Sun Shichen, had also been promoted to Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, a rank of Lower Sixth Grade.
It was just that she had almost exhausted her funds in the process. She had originally wanted to keep her daughter at home for a few more years, but a grown daughter cannot be kept at home forever; she had no choice.
Just as she was thinking this, Madam Song arrived. Fourth Madam Zhou stood up to welcome her.
"Sister Song, what brings you here? You should have sent word ahead. I could have made proper arrangements."
Madam Song thought to herself how those who once clung to her had all changed. Wei Jin Niang was one thing, but even Fourth Zhou was now a different person.
But she had no choice. Her husband was like a hidden dragon, needing someone to recommend him for promotion, and this recommender had to be introduced by Fourth Zhou to Jiang Fang.
Fourth Madam Zhou was no fool. Jiang Fang was talented but sharp-tongued and critical. He hardly promoted even members of his own Jiang family, and his relationship with her own husband was merely superficial. It was only because outsiders didn't know the true dynamics that Sun Shichen could still manage to get by.
How could she possibly recommend someone else to him?
Therefore, Fourth Madam Zhou evaded the topic throughout the conversation, leaving Madam Song no choice but to depart in disappointment.
After Madam Song left, Miss Sun came over and asked, "Mother, why didn't Miss Jiang come?"
"How should I know? Last time, they said she was ill. Perfectly fine before, who knows what happened." Fourth Madam Zhou also found it strange.
Miss Sun, however, seemed to have an idea. "Last time, she was asking me about the fiancé of the Eldest Miss Jiang. I wonder if she has her eye on the Seventh Young Master of the Wei Family?"
Fourth Madam Zhou also realized. Madam Song had specifically inquired about Wei Jin Niang's relationship with the Wei Family as well. She couldn't help but admire her daughter's sharp perception, as if she had eyes of fire.
"Does the Eldest Miss Jiang know about this?"
That was the key point.
Miss Sun smiled. "Even if she knows, she probably pretends not to. Miss Jiang cannot influence anything, so why bother paying her any mind?"
They simply weren't on the same level. The Jiang family's fortunes had long since declined, while the Jiang family was rising like the morning sun.
With every three-year performance review, Jiang Xian had advanced. Previously a Deputy Fourth Rank Academician of the Baohé Hall, a close attendant to the Emperor, he wasn't a staunch ally of Prefect Shen, but he often completed tasks assigned by Prefect Shen the fastest. At the same time, due to his excellent calligraphy and literary talent, after Grand Academician Wei was promoted to Vice Director of the Right of the Bureau of Remonstrance and Deputy Military Commissioner, Jiang Xian remained an Academician of the Baohé Hall and was appointed Provisional Prefect of Kaifeng.
Jin Niang understood clearly that this was likely the peak of Provincial Administrator Shen's power since taking office, hence the successive promotions for both Jiang Xian and Jiang Fang. This time, both Jin Niang and the late Sixth Madam Jiang received the honorary title of Third Rank Shuren.
Congratulations poured into the residence for days. Even Madam Song, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, came with her daughter, Jiang Song. In truth, if the two families weren't neighbors, Jin Niang probably wouldn't have received her.
"Madam Shuren, Madam Wei and the Young Master have arrived," Ying announced as she came in.
At the word "Young Master," Jiang Song's feet seemed rooted to the spot. However, Jin Niang said, "Madam Song, my sister-in-law has arrived. Please excuse me."
Qingrong was already preparing to see the guests out. Madam Song thought to herself, truly, a phoenix that has fallen to earth is less than a chicken. She prepared to leave with her daughter. In the front corridor, they naturally saw Madam Wei approaching with her daughters-in-law. Seeing her daughter's infatuated gaze, Madam Song couldn't help but think to herself, "Foolish child, foolish child."
In the past, Jin Niang and the others had looked up to the Wei Family. Now, with Jiang Xian having risen to the position of Prefect of Kaifeng, it wasn't exactly equal footing, but Jin Niang no longer needed to be as deferential as before.
"Sister-in-law, you've come," Jin Niang went out to greet her.
Madam Wei thought to herself that since the marriage alliance, Jiang Xian's official rank had already reached the third grade. Her judgment had indeed been correct.
Because Madam Wei had come, Jin Niang asked Sister Jun to come out. Sister Jun emerged with a flushed face.
Over the past year, Jin Niang had nurtured her daughter like one cultivates a flower, having her rest properly, ensuring a balanced diet of meat and vegetables, and often sending her out for exercise. Even Madam Wei found it hard to look away when she saw her.
"The young lady has grown even more striking."
Sister Jun said, "You flatter me too much. I'll go prepare some tea for you."
The ladies present covered their mouths and smiled. Once Sister Jun left the courtyard, she let out a sigh of relief. Her current goal was that after getting married in the future, she could live independently like her mother, and also bring her parents to live with her. How wonderful that would be.
She just hadn't expected to see Seventh Young Master Wei again under the corridor. He had come with Brother Ning. Although Jin Niang managed the household strictly, they were both family nephews, so of course there was no need for such formality. Sister Jun thought about what her mother had said. She truly hadn't thought much about Seventh Young Master Wei before, but if she were to marry into that family in the future, she would definitely need to secure an ally first. She gave Seventh Young Master Wei a meaningful look.
Seventh Young Master Wei wondered if he had done something wrong?
The two cousins came in to pay their respects. Both Jin Niang and Madam Wei were delighted and asked them to go to the garden to entertain the guests. A son-in-law was considered half a son, after all.
Here, Madam Wei was asking Luo Yu'e, "Old relative, how come you've returned? We haven't seen you come to our house to visit?"
Zhang Pingjun, who was nearby, saw how much importance Madam Wei placed on her mother-in-law and thought to herself that she had forgotten—although the Wei Family had given a modest betrothal gift at the time, they had indeed formed a marriage alliance with the Wei Family. Moreover, all that dowry was her own. Now she was an official's wife, so it wasn't a bad deal at all.
People are like this; when living together, there are always many frictions. Now that they don't live together, she feels guilty towards her in-laws, thinking herself unfilial and not a good daughter-in-law.
Luo Yu'e would not speak ill of her family in front of outsiders. She just smiled and said, "We're old. Besides coming to Jin Niang and her brother's places, we find going anywhere else tiring. It's good that you, Madam, have come to my daughter's home, so we can meet here."
"You truly gave birth to a filial daughter," Madam Wei said, giving Zhang Pingjun a meaningful glance.
Clearly, although Jin Niang's side didn't speak of it openly, Madam Wei was an astute person and saw it at a glance. If the daughter-in-law were filial, how could the parents still be living at the daughter's house?
However, she also knew that this marriage back then was a case of a poor scholar marrying a wealthy heiress. Fortunately, the Wei parents had a good daughter like Madam Jiang, who was clear-headed, so there was no mutual attack between them.
Luo Yu'e chuckled, "Isn't that so? I raised this daughter like a boy since she was little."
While there was cheerful laughter here, the atmosphere at the Jiang household was heavy and low. The top scholar, Jiang, had also come earlier, but he was already a person whose influence had waned. Jiang Xian treated him no differently than before, but he himself was already relegated to the lowest seat. Even the official, Meng, from across the street was seated further ahead than him.
Madam Song had to comfort her husband and also talk to her daughter. She said with frustration, "In a few days, we'd rather provide a larger dowry and arrange a marriage with a scholar who has passed the imperial exams. In the future, things won't be too bad."
But even Madam Song knew that sons of official families had far more connections and smoother career paths than those from humble backgrounds. Back then, Jiang Xian didn't lack connections; what he lacked most was money. That's why he sought out Wei Jin Niang. Because of this, his social standing did not decline, and to this day his official career has been very smooth, and he is much more content.
Little did they know, although Jin Niang and Jiang Xian were happy, they both had their own plans.
At the beginning of the year, they had looked at two houses with two courtyards and three wings, but neither worked out. It wasn't until after the Winter Stove Festival that a property agent found a house near the Imperial Academy. Jin Niang was now the wife of the Prefect of Kaifeng; the agent wouldn't dare offend her or inflate the price. They secured it for two thousand three hundred taels, and the agent even introduced a very reasonably priced interior decorator to her.
Jin Niang spent another two hundred strings of cash to renovate the place and had furniture made by carpenters. Only after the deed was in her hand did she breathe a sigh of relief.
"This way, even if our family divides the household in the future, it won't matter much. For now, let's not rent it out. Have Nanny Fang and her nephew move there to live and help look after the house."
In the past, they had Nanny Fang accompany them to their provincial postings, firstly because she was an old servant of Sixth Madam Jiang, and secondly because she was a nanny with experience and knowledge.
But over a dozen years had passed. Nanny Fang had aged and was now over sixty, often suffering from back and joint pains. Jin Niang couldn't bear to have her serving constantly. Moreover, she now had Ying and Qingrong by her side, both outstanding among the new generation and literate, making them even more capable. Thus, arranging for Nanny Fang to live in that house was most suitable.
She wouldn't have to work and could still earn two mace of silver per month.
By the time Nanny Fang moved to the new house, the Laba Festival had already passed.
As the weather turned cold, Luo Yu'e and Wei Xiong didn't go out much, staying indoors for the winter. Sister Jun was strictly forbidden from going out. She was to be married next spring; it was best to be cautious. If she felt bored, she would call for Luo Yu'e, and they would play cards and chat together.
Today, some snow grains fell over Bianjing. The main room was lively and warm. Jin Niang had a small pot of pear soup and two kinds of pastries by her hand. Sister Jun smiled and said, "Mother, the moment I get a small blemish, you prepare this. It's truly like a pillow appearing just when you're sleepy."
Jin Niang looked at her daughter and couldn't help saying, "You, you're always good at saying sweet things to coax me. Why couldn't you say a single nice word when Madam Wei was here?"
Sister Jun's face flushed slightly. "Mother, you're teasing me again."
Luo Yu'e, who was nearby, came to her granddaughter's defense. "Originally, this marriage was considered us marrying above our station. Now it can't really be considered that. Our Sister Jun is just fine as she is."
"Regardless, this can be considered a debt of gratitude for recognizing one's worth, one must not forget one's roots. Back when your father held a low official rank, their family still agreed to the marriage alliance, which shows they thought highly of us." Jin Niang believed that for men, such recognition of worth lay in their official careers. For women, unless they were like in her former Embroidery Academy where they could be promoted, most deep-boudoir maidens could change their fate through a marriage match.
Sister Jun, listening to Jin Niang, couldn't help but nod. "What you say is true." But she didn't want to keep steering the conversation back to herself, so she smiled and added, "Mother, I heard the eldest Miss Sun is marrying into the Meng family this month. I wonder how that will turn out."
Hearing her mention the eldest Miss Sun, Jin Niang realized how quickly time had passed.
Fourth Madam Zhou felt the same. After preparing her dowry and trousseau, she was practically drained, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. But thinking of her eldest daughter marrying away soon filled her with great reluctance.
The eldest Miss Sun tried to counsel her younger sister, the second Miss Sun: "You, don't be too picky. While Uncle and Aunt are willing to make decisions for us, seize the chance to marry into a well-off family. It counts as finding a way out."
As children, they didn't like to speak ill of their mother. Sometimes she seemed to understand many great principles, other times she was very stubborn and naive.
She always said it wasn't good for daughters to remain unmarried their whole lives, but if they never married, wouldn't they still have to endure their sisters-in-law's attitudes in the future? Once their parents passed away, wouldn't they be driven out?
If one truly never married, one must have a backup plan.
Look at Jiang Xian's brother, who entered the Imperial College at thirteen. Another brother could later enter officialdom through hereditary privilege. With brothers as officials and the family flourishing, supporting one or two extra people was nothing.
But the second Miss Sun said, "Sister, I'm still young, what's the hurry? I don't think that Madam Meng seems easy to get along with, and the third young master of Meng is a concubine-born. Once you go there, you'll probably have to endure slights."
She had no desire to marry a concubine-born son. When people cursed others as 'a concubine's spawn,' weren't they just insulting their improper origins?
The eldest Miss Sun, rebutted by her sister, pursed her lips and said no more.
On the twelfth of the twelfth lunar month, the eldest Miss Sun's dowry was delivered first. The whole street came out to see the procession; joining in the excitement is human nature. Ying, of course, wouldn't miss such a spectacle. She came back shaking her head. "Only thirty-six cases in total. Madam Meng looked displeased, disapproving of her dowry being too meager."
"That can't be. I heard from Xiangming that when the old lady of the Zhou family passed, she left Fourth Miss Zhou many fine things," said Jin Niang.
Ying laughed. "I heard their family bought a house and used up all their money. You wouldn't believe it, there were only two sets of jewelry. One set looked decent, the other had just eight pieces, and one gold crown was very light."
Everyone loved to make these comparisons, especially with the Meng family having three sons, the rivalry was even fiercer.
But this from the Zhous was truly too shabby...
"Was any land included as dowry?" Jin Niang asked, puzzled.
Ying shook her head. "Seems not."
Even Sister Jun, who was nearby, chimed in, "Mother, don't you know? Even the third Miss Meng, who is concubine-born, had three hundred mu of dowry land. Although the second Miss Meng's was premium farmland near the capital and the third Miss Meng's was mixed medium and poor quality, at least it sounded respectable."
Jin Niang said, "Yes, the Meng family at least maintains an appearance of equal treatment on the surface. How did the Sun family end up like this?"
Madam Meng was also speaking with Master Meng at home: "And you kept saying what a scholarly family the Suns were, relatives of some high official. This dowry is simply too shabby."
Master Meng, however, retorted, "Picking apart a woman's dowry is the behavior of low-class people. In our family, as long the young lady's character is good, that's enough."
Originally, Madam Meng felt the Suns weren't wealthy, but such a paltry display also wounded her pride. Hearing Master Meng's affected superiority, she couldn't help but laugh inwardly. Every single thing in this household required money.
Just the inkstone on his desk cost a hundred strings of cash. Without money, where would these things come from?
Elegance is built upon piles of money.
Although Madam Meng grumbled, the eldest Miss Sun still married into the family normally the next day. With music and fanfare, it was quite lively. Jin Niang even went over for a cup of wedding wine. Sister Jun, of course, would not appear in public anymore now. After all, a child of a noble family does not sit under a crumbling wall—the closer to the crucial moment, the less one can afford a misstep.
Meanwhile, Madam Song brought her daughter, Jiang Song, out. After all, the Mengs were mid-level officials with imperial relatives, so many people of status attended.
The seat of honor was taken by Jin Niang, as the wife of the Prefect of the Capital. Madam Song sat at a secondary table. Her pride and joy, Jiang Song, was scrutinized by the wives of fifth or sixth-rank officials. Some even reached out to pull her closer for inspection. Even Madam Song couldn't bear it, let alone her usually proud and aloof daughter.
Both Jin Niang and Sister Jun had gone through such experiences. These people were indeed annoying, treating other people's daughters like merchandise. So, Jin Niang helped defuse the situation: "Madam Yi, look at you. You have so many daughters at home, yet you still covet others' when you're out."
Madam Yi laughed. "I'm just someone who loves to join in the fun."
"I say, this year our dates for opera banquets mustn't clash like last year. We should each pick a different day," Jin Niang changed the subject.
Everyone agreed enthusiastically.
But Jin Niang thought to herself how wonderful the benefits of status truly were. Yet, for someone like Madam Song who had fallen in social standing, it must be hard to endure. Indeed, it is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go from luxury to frugality.
Thinking of others made her reflect on herself. She was now a third-rank Lady, her household like flowers adding to brocade, a raging fire fed with oil. But if one day she fell in rank, she must maintain an ordinary heart.
At dusk, the third young master of Meng welcomed the eldest Miss Sun through the gates. Jin Niang saw that Third Young Master Meng was even more handsome than the eldest. She thought that the concubine-born mother, Madam Huang, whom she had never met but who had died, must have been a beauty.
After the newlyweds came out to pay their respects to the guests, Jin Niang left the Meng household. Arriving at her own gate, she unexpectedly saw Jiang Xian.
"What are you doing here?" Jin Niang asked with a smile.
Jiang Xian stepped forward. "Ever since I became the Prefect of the Capital, I've had to avoid offending the nobility and aristocracy above, and solve problems for the common people below. I've been so busy I haven't had a moment to myself. Luckily, I stole some leisure today."
In front of him, Jin Niang didn't put on any airs at all. She just chatted about recent happenings, inevitably mentioning the neighboring Miss Jiang: "It's a good thing we arranged our daughter's marriage early. Otherwise, being pulled around and inspected like livestock or goods by those people would have been pitiful."
Jiang Xian, however, had a different perspective: "If someone deigns to look at you, there might still be some hope. The true tragedy is when they don't even glance your way."
"That is also true." Jin Niang considered that everyone views a matter from their own angle.
To say nothing of Jiang Song returning home and crying once more, the Eldest Miss Sun, despite being slighted by Madam Meng on the very first day of her marriage, continued to greet her with a smiling face, seemingly without a trace of resentment.
Eldest Miss Sun's maid was indignant on her behalf: "Mistress, you were so respectful to them, even personally making all that needlework. Yet she puts on such airs as a mother-in-law."
Unexpectedly, Eldest Miss Sun smiled and said, "Doesn't this precisely show that my mother-in-law is someone whose emotions are displayed openly on her face? Moreover, she has given what was due. That's still better than dealing with two-faced hypocrites."
The maid also had a sudden realization: "That is indeed true."
Eldest Miss Sun then added, "With a mother-in-law who is too shrewd, you'd only be the one schemed against by her; how could you ever scheme against her? One cannot contend with such a person, and a daughter-in-law would suffer in silence."
Furthermore, after her marriage to the Third Young Master Meng yesterday, she discovered that he did possess some scholarly learning. The original furnishings in his room were also quite refined. Clearly, although a son born of a concubine, his daily life had not been harsh.
For this marriage, she cared not for the surface, only for the substance. In the future, when the Third Young Master Meng passed the imperial examinations and entered official service, she could recommend him to her uncle. With the support of the royal family, his future would depend on her maternal family. As for herself, she merely had to endure some temporary cold treatment.
The tricky one was Sister Jun. Madam Wei was an extremely shrewd person.
