Before the Minor New Year, Zhang Pingjun took her in-laws to her place for the New Year celebrations, saying she had arranged everything very comfortably at home. Jin Niang said to Luo Yu'e, "Living on either side of them, you two are actually in high demand. If you truly devote yourselves wholeheartedly to them, they'll think that no matter how they treat you, you'll still be eager to please, and then they won't cherish you."
Hearing this, Luo Yu'e felt very upset. She thought her daughter really considered them too much in everything, always thinking ahead for them.
In the past, she always thought having a house and living with her son and daughter-in-law would be fine, because for thousands of years, everyone had lived that way. But now she and her husband had their own land. If they weren't comfortable living somewhere, they could just return to their own manor. On ordinary days, when they went back to the countryside and came up to Bianjing, they could bring some local produce. She always felt her back could straighten with more confidence.
After seeing her parents off, she welcomed back Brother Ning. After turning thirteen, Brother Ning had shot up in height, as if he had eaten a skyrocket.
"Mother, it's still warmer at home," Brother Ning said with a smile.
Originally, Brother Ning planned to stay at the Imperial College for a few days before returning home, and Jin Niang had agreed. Unexpectedly, after staying a few days, he felt he shouldn't make an exception for himself, so he ended up staying at the college.
Jin Niang smiled and said, "Look at you, come over and sit down. Let's have a cup of hot almond drink."
Brother Ning just felt thirsty. The almond drink wasn't overly sweet and had a pleasant aftertaste. He drank it all in one gulp. Then he wiped his mouth hastily with a handkerchief and said with a laugh, "You don't know, our dormitory head at the college has to go out to buy firewood. I often hear you talk about household expenses, so I know right away what's expensive and what's cheap."
Many of the dormitory and section heads in the Imperial College had to go out to buy food and charcoal for the students, which was considered a form of training.
However, Jin Niang said, "You're still young. Does your dormitory head let you go out with him?"
"You don't understand. When it's close to the year-end exams, everyone wants to do well. Who has the patience for these chores? I was just conscripted for labor! But it's good for me to get out for some fresh air too." Brother Ning thought of how many Imperial College students frequented brothels. Those people were utterly improper, not acting like scholars at all, only fond of such things.
If some came from well-off families, that was one thing, but some had poor family backgrounds, wasting their family's money on bad deeds.
Just as mother and son were sharing amusing stories, Brother Ding arrived, and Sister Jun also came over, hugging a hand warmer. Everyone talked and laughed, filling the hall with joyful reunion.
Sister Jun felt very happy and content, but when she stepped out of the room, she felt a bit lonely again. A few days after the New Year, she would have to get married. The Wei family was certainly not like her own home, even though the Wei family was the place she was most familiar with besides her own home.
Since she was sensible, she had studied at the Wei family, and later, they visited frequently during holidays.
But the atmosphere in the Wei family was completely different from the Jiang family. The Wei family placed more emphasis on rules, with strict protocols between parents and children, very particular about hierarchy and seniority.
When she went to their home, would she still be as comfortable as she was in her own family?
Just like Madam Song, relying on the Song Family, wasn't she once the darling of fortune? Only she could cause others displeasure; when did anyone ever cause her displeasure?
However, once the Song Family fell, their political opponents would seize on the slightest issue to make a case. The Song descendants could only live as idle wealthy people. Those who still acted as they did in the past not only harmed others but also themselves.
Even Madam Song now sat in the lowest seat, and someone as proud as Jiang Song had become much more tactful.
After the Minor New Year, New Year's Eve arrived quickly.
The door gods and couplets on the doors were all brand new. The old peach wood charms were taken down and replaced with new ones.
Jiang Xian was reading in his study. In the past, he studied for fame and rank; now he studied more for his own pleasure. Hutou came in from outside with a tray holding a plate of spring pancakes thin as cicada wings and a plate of cold-tossed bean sprouts.
He was quite fond of good food but also exercised restraint. If he ate rich, oily food one day, he would eat lightly for three consecutive days.
Seeing Hutou put down the dishes, he asked, "What is my wife eating?"
"Madam is having vegetable and meat porridge, with a few side dishes and a fried dumpling," Hutou said.
They all got their meals from the main kitchen, so it was clear at a glance.
Jiang Xian nodded. "Then get me some vegetable and meat porridge too."
Hutou immediately went out, thinking to himself that the master was increasingly following his wife's lead. Whatever the wife did, he wanted to do too. Really.
After finishing lunch, he went to the main room and saw his wife quietly tracing embroidery patterns, serene as water.
"Wife, you just rested for over half a year, and now you're doing needlework again?" Jiang Xian asked with a smile.
Jin Niang said, "You don't know, the fashionable styles are different from before. Look, before, a fully embroidered collar trim was considered the best. Now they use gold thread on the collar trim and embroider small flowers on the edging, making it look delicate."
Delicate yet still revealing luxury—that was the latest fashion.
Although Jiang Xian loved fine food and beautiful clothes, now he wore official robes all day. When he returned home, he only sought comfort and simplicity. Hearing Jin Niang's description, he quickly said, "Wife, make one for me."
"I knew I shouldn't have said anything. You always love this. Whenever I say something is delicious, you say, 'Wife, I love that too, buy it for me.' If I say a piece of clothing is nice, you ask me to make one for you," Jin Niang said with feigned annoyance.
Jiang Xian chuckled and hugged his wife. "That's because I have the best wife in the whole world."
Jin Niang gave him a reproachful look but could do nothing with him.
This year, they didn't go to the old family home for New Year's Eve. It was just their own family celebrating, but Jin Niang didn't feel lonely at all. Instead, she was very happy. This was truly their own little family.
Only when she looked at her daughter did her heart ache slightly. "Sister Jun, this is the last New Year you'll spend at home. In the future—"
Sister Jun also hung her head, feeling unhappy.
But then she heard her mother say, "In the future, bring a son-in-law home for New Year."
Sister Jun couldn't help but laugh.
Jiang Xian, however, said, "Wife, don't talk nonsense. If the Wei family hears, the Seventh Young Master might not be allowed to come to our house."
Jin Niang raised an eyebrow. "That depends on our daughter's skills."
The Wei family's New Year's Eve was very happy. Fan-shi and Wang-shi were serving their mother-in-law. Madam Wei said, "Please, sit down."
Fan-shi said playfully, "Madam, next New Year, our family will have a new addition. You'll have one more person to serve you. But, speaking of happiness, the happiest person is probably Seventh Brother."
Madam Wei rarely teased her son. "These past few days he hasn't been eating beef or mutton, saying they are 'stimulating foods' and afraid eating too much will cause pimples on his face."
"Our Seventh Brother is already handsome. Now with such careful grooming, our future sister-in-law probably won't be able to compare," said Fan-shi. Although she was older, her temperament was actually more lively.
Wang-shi just smiled without speaking.
Wei the Seventh Young Master naturally paid great attention to his appearance. Although he didn't go so far as to apply powder with such ceremony, he absolutely ensured his hair and clothes were neat and tidy, and his face was clean. He had about ten bottles of facial cleanser.
Today was New Year's Eve, and he had groomed himself even more meticulously.
This wasn't always his habit. It was during the years he lived at the Jiang residence that he noticed Jiang Xian was like this. Jiang Xian's clothes were always impeccably pressed, his headwear perfectly matched his attire, and it was only when they stayed out together that Wei realized men also needed to maintain their skin.
No wonder all these years, wherever Jiang Xian went, people praised him as a figure from a celestial realm.
Not long after the New Year, Sister Jun would be married into his household. If his face were to be ruined right at the wedding, after being fine all other days, it would be a disaster. Counting on his fingers, in less than two months, he would have a wife.
Compared to Wei the Seventh Young Master's joy and Sister Jun's sorrow of parting, Eldest Miss Sun deeply felt the difficulties of being a daughter-in-law. It wasn't that Madam Meng mistreated her, but that the rules were simply thus. A daughter-in-law was inherently one step lower in front of her mother-in-law. Suffering grievances without arguing was actually considered good; if you insisted on arguing your point, even if you were right, you would still be in the wrong.
On such happy days, it was the men who were joyous, and the women who were busy.
Even a woman like Madam Lin, daughter of a noble and prestigious family, was careful and diligent before Madam Meng. What right did she have to complain?
On the second day of the New Year, when married daughters return to their natal homes, she took Meng the Third Young Master back to her parents' home. Fourth Madam Zhou wept with joy upon seeing her daughter: "My good child, you're finally back. Your father and I have been waiting for you for so long."
"Mother, here are some top-grade bird's nests and red ginseng, one package each. Use the bird's nest for daily nourishment, and the red ginseng for stewing chicken soup. Both are excellent," Eldest Miss Sun said.
Because Eldest Miss Sun had been preparing her dowry, the family hadn't been able to afford such things for a long time.
Although Fourth Madam Zhou was born into the Zhou family, a mid-level official family, in the first few years after her marriage, Sun Shichen had not yet passed the imperial examination. They relied entirely on the Sun family's support, spending hundreds of strings of cash annually on rent and expenses. After he finally passed the exam, the celebration gatherings, networking, and travel expenses also cost a considerable sum of silver. In the years since he became an official, although there were occasional surpluses, the household expenses were high. After buying the house, they were almost stretched thin.
Then immediately came the preparation of their daughter's dowry. Five hundred strings of cash in silver had to be paid out, not to mention the clothes, jewelry, furniture, and utensils. It was nearly the death of them.
Yet, even these things were considered meager in the eyes of the Meng family. Eldest Miss Sun would not tell her mother such things, to avoid making her feel guilty. No matter what, her mother had already given her the best she had.
On the third day of the New Year, it was time for the theatrical performance and feast at Jin Niang's house. The musicians, acrobats, and storytellers had been booked well before the New Year. They only needed to have the kitchen slaughter chickens and cook lamb. Nowadays, the chickens came from their own estate, the lamb was bought from the Hexi region, and the wine was, as usual, ordered from Huixian Tower. There was no helping it; Huixian Tower knew how to do business. On ordinary days, whenever they had new wine, they would send a jar over.
Unlike other shops that specifically exploited their regular customers.
Neighbors like Madam Meng came over early to help. She actually got along only moderately with many people, but she got on quite well with Jin Niang.
Jin Niang also had her mother and younger siblings helping, and Wei the Seventh Young Master had arrived early as well. Everyone even had a meal together first.
"Sister, I specially brought some tangerine peel duck. It's an old family recipe of ours, and everyone who has tried it says it's good," Zhang Pingjun said with a smile.
Most women, after marriage, easily develop a certain mindset: feeling that as a married daughter returning to her natal family, their status is somewhat higher. But for Jin Niang, she was her own support. To put it bluntly, she used to think having a brother would elevate the family's status. Later, when someone else's son proved more scholarly, that issue ceased to be a problem.
That day when Zhang Pingjun went to fetch Luo Yu'e to go home, her husband's elder sister had actually given her a warning: "It was your brother-in-law who helped get Brother Yang transferred from outside into Bianjing. We don't need your thanks here, but you still must show appreciation to a few of the senior officials' families in the Ministry of Works. Otherwise, people won't blame you, but will instead criticize us."
Superficially, she referred to people from the Ministry of Works, but in reality, she meant Jiang Xian.
You don't have to thank me, but you must thank Jiang Xian.
Thus, Zhang Pingjun and Wei Yang prepared gifts again: tea that Jiang Xian liked, a set of superior Four Treasures of the Study, and specially chosen silk for Jin Niang. Jin Niang was true to her word; she didn't take what was meant for her, only accepting Jiang Xian's portion.
Her former impression of this elder sister-in-law, when the two families interacted merely as family friends, was of a gentle face and a very capable person. But upon closer contact, she realized she had a decisive, no-nonsense character and seemed indifferent to outsiders' opinions. She was the undisputed head of her household.
Coming back to the present, everyone was socializing with Madam Meng, and Eldest Miss Sun was naturally among them. Her mother-in-law, who usually nitpicked about everything, was being quite obsequious to Madam Jiang. They were currently discussing fish.
"Shad is also good to eat. In another month or two, my estate manager will deliver some. You can come over and have some then. When it comes to fish, people from the south cook it best," Jin Niang said with a smile, then remembered she had already instructed Manager Fan and others to arrive earlier this year.
Although Dou Yuanru and Ruyan wouldn't be coming, Jin Niang had personally written letters to them all.
Madam Meng smiled and said, "Then I'll be benefiting from your generosity."
"As the saying goes, a good neighbor is better than a distant relative. This is only right," Jin Niang also smiled.
The group was talking in the main hall when, after a while, Madam Fan, Madam Wei, and Madam Shen arrived. These were all from top-tier powerful official families in the capital. Jin Niang was related to Madam Wei, the Shen family was an old connection, Madam Fan was a relation by marriage of a relation, and furthermore, Jiang Xian was very close to Academician Fan.
Among them, she always observed the etiquette of a junior and never meddled in their affairs. That they could all come was an honor that overwhelmed her, but she didn't fawn over them like others might. Maintaining friendly relations was good enough; taking a step closer would easily involve her in their family matters, which could instead invite unnecessary trouble.
Sister Jun came out to greet everyone briefly today before going back inside. Everyone could understand, as a new bride, it wasn't proper for her to appear much in public.
At such a prestigious gathering, Madam Xu naturally refused to come, only sending her daughter-in-law, Young Madam Wu. She kept complaining to Nanny Ge: "As an uncle, he doesn't even talk about helping his nephew. If it weren't for my husband back then, could he have been transferred to the capital? He shows no gratitude at all."
Nanny Ge also felt somewhat aggrieved. Master Jiang the Sixth and his wife had lived with the main branch of the family for years, served by the main branch's people, while the younger brother and his wife lived very comfortably. Now that the younger brother had been promoted to Prefect of Kaifeng, a high-ranking official of the third grade, he treated his own nephew as if he didn't exist.
But no one was willing to listen to Madam Xu's complaints anymore. Even if the Jiang clansmen heard them, they wouldn't take them seriously. Because everyone knew that Jiang Xian's three hundred mu of farmland had always been controlled by the main branch. Moreover, back when Sixth Madam Jiang passed away, Jiang Xian and his wife moved out immediately.
Of course, when you achieve fame and success, great scholars will naturally come forward to justify your actions.
During the Lunar New Year feast on the third day, Madam Song also came. She dared not stay away now. Originally, there was no rift between the two families; if she suddenly stopped coming, people might think she held some grievance against them.
However, even though she came, she couldn't even sit inside the main room; her seat was in the corridor.
It wasn't that Jin Niang looked down on her; seating was arranged according to status. Even Madam Meng, the wife of a fifth-rank official, could only sit at the third table.
At the feast, some meddlesome ladies brought up the Jiang family's in-laws with Madam Song: "This Prefect Jiang is so young, already a third-rank official, truly remarkable. But when you think about it, marrying a daughter of the Hebei Wei family is what really allowed his career to soar."
Madam Song sneered inwardly. What Hebei Wei family? These people had no idea about Wei Jin Niang's true background.
But most of those who knew the details were merchants, and such people could hardly set foot in refined company. Then there were the Zhou family members who also knew, but Zhou San, being Jin Niang's sister-in-law, naturally wouldn't expose family affairs. Besides, Zhou San was shrewd. It was Zhou Si who was a bit odd.
After the feast, Jin Niang ordered the servants to clear all the tables, dishes, and utensils overnight, so that everyone could rest the next day without having to deal with the cleanup.
Sister Jun didn't need to appear in front of guests, but behind the scenes, she was busy helping out. The gold and silver vessels had to be stored properly, the expensive porcelain had to be washed and packed away carefully to avoid breakage, as they would be needed next time and missing a piece would ruin the set.
Jin Niang urged her daughter, "Don't worry yourself too much. It's late, you should rest. I'll oversee things here."
This was the same phrase Luo Yu'e used to say to her, and now she found herself saying it to her own daughter. She would rather tire herself out, hoping her children could rest a little more. It wasn't that they themselves weren't tired, but the words came out naturally.
Sister Jun, however, shook her head. "Mother, I've always done these things with you. It's you who should rest more."
"Then let's do it together, mother and daughter," Jin Niang said with a smile.
Sister Jun agreed with a smile.
Time flew, and soon it was the Lantern Festival. Every year in Kaifeng Prefecture, with crowds jostling to see the lanterns and join the festivities, incidents of stampedes and kidnappings were all too common. Jiang Xian was fully prepared.
Sister Jun couldn't go out, so Jin Niang stayed home to keep her company. She sent Young Master Chen out to buy some lanterns to hang under the eaves, so everyone could enjoy them at home.
Among the children, Brother Ding was the youngest. Brother Ning found a book of riddles and tested his younger brother with a few. If Brother Ding guessed correctly, he would have Chen Tong take down a lantern for him. Sister Jun, watching nearby, worried her brothers might catch a chill. After they played for a while, she called them all inside for tea.
Unconsciously, Sister Jun had become the big sister.
Jin Niang watched from the side, secretly wiping away tears. She had always been prone to easy tears, but crying aside, she was still strong. She knew that parental love for a child means planning for their distant future. The Seventh Young Master of the Wei family was exceptional in looks, family background, character, and talent—one in ten thousand. How could she not let her daughter go?
One must leave the old nest to fly to higher skies.
By mid-February, the Jiang family began setting up festive tents. Matchmakers and women blessed with both parents, children, and spouse bustled about, and even uninvited musicians with gongs and drums showed up at the door.
This time, Jin Niang hired professionals from the Four Bureaus and Six Offices. Now that Jiang Xian was the Prefect of Kaifeng, the number of relatives, friends, and colleagues had multiplied, and Juxiang likely couldn't handle it all alone. They also asked Luo Yu'e and Zhang Pingjun to help. Unexpectedly, someone surprising arrived: Dou Yuan.
It turned out that the Dou family's second son had received an official post, albeit through hereditary privilege, which prompted their move from Daming Prefecture to the capital.
Jin Niang and Dou Yuan had been very close back in Daming. She was even more enthusiastic than Zhang Pingjun, holding Jin Niang's hand warmly and saying, "I was so happy for you when I received your letter. Seventh Young Master Wei is someone we've watched grow up; there's nothing bad about him."
"Look at you, you've grown even more lovely these past few years," Jin Niang replied with equal warmth, quickly introducing her to Luo Yu'e and Zhang Pingjun.
Zhang Pingjun felt a twinge of jealousy, as it was obvious Jin Niang and Dou Yuan shared a genuinely deep bond.
Madam Zhang, serving as the 'complete blessing' woman, shuttled between both sides. How could she not know what her daughter was thinking? But after her daughter married, she endured long journeys and bore two children in succession. Madam Zhang felt for her.
"You, usually when you curry favor with your superiors, you smile more and spend more money than this. Why be so reserved with your own family? You're an official's wife now, your husband's salary is in your hands, and you don't have to manage your in-laws. You should take more initiative."
Zhang Pingjun turned away. "I did try to take initiative, but my sister-in-law still treats me the same."
Madam Zhang laughed. "You still have that young lady's temper. Before you married, didn't you see things clearly? Why are you being stubborn now? With any reasonable person, sincerity begets sincerity. As the saying goes, constant dripping wears away a stone. If you aren't willing to put in the effort, how can you expect others to trust you?"
An ordinary woman would naturally be close to her brother's wife, but they happened to encounter someone with Madam Jiang's distinctive personality. She was definitely not someone who was truly easy to deal with.
After listening to her mother, Zhang Pingjun became much more considerate towards Jin Niang, unlike before.
Jin Niang noticed the change and began entrusting her with household matters. Zhang Pingjun handled them flawlessly, running around diligently, which made Sister Jun thoughtful. "Mother, I feel like Aunt has become a different person."
"There's nothing strange about that. When we don't have to watch others' moods, they naturally watch ours. When your status is high, everyone around you seems like a good person."
Sister Jun seemed to understand.
Half a month later, on the day for sending the dowry, several people volunteered to be the 'dowry guardians'. Jin Niang agreed to let them all go: Zhang Pingjun, Dou Yuan, and Madam Wu the Younger.
Sister Jun's dowry consisted of one hundred and twenty carrying cases. Gold, silver, jewels, antiques, and calligraphy were a given. Clothing alone filled twelve chests: two of fur coats, two of lined jackets, three of spring attire, four of summer dresses, and one of sleepwear.
Madam Meng looked over the delivered dowry and exclaimed in surprise, "It's actually a full set of Huanghuali furniture. The Jiang family is truly well-off."
Eldest Miss Sun knew Sister Jun's dowry was substantial, but never imagined it to be this grand—one hundred and twenty cases! A dowry worth ten thousand strings of cash. Even when delivered to the Wei family, Madam Wei would find it greatly added to her face.
Amidst everyone's teasing, Seventh Young Master Wei's smile nearly reached his ears.
Back at the Jiang residence, however, the atmosphere was unusually quiet. This was Sister Jun's last meal at home as an unmarried girl. The sound of chopsticks scraping against porcelain was piercing.
"Sister Jun, here, have some stuffed eggplant. Your father made this himself," Jin Niang said, pressing her lips together tightly, determined not to let her tears fall.
Jiang Xian quickly took out a handkerchief for Jin Niang and said to Sister Jun, "Live well. Your mother and I will be at peace then."
Sister Jun had long been weeping uncontrollably.
Brother Ning then spoke words that startled everyone: "Father, Mother, Elder Sister, in my view, Privy Councilor Wei is already over forty. Even if he were to become a Grand Councilor in the future, his political views differ from those of the Shen faction. Currently, the court is dominated by the Shen faction, primarily because the Emperor supports their policies. In a few years, it's uncertain whether the Wei family can maintain their position in the court for long. Our father, however, maintains good relations with both the old and new factions. Moreover, in a few years, I will be eligible to take the imperial examinations and enter officialdom. Later, we can have brother-in-law study at our residence. Wouldn't that bring us all together again?"
