"Yan'er, Xian'er, you two little rascals, what brings you here today?" Madam Jiang had a close relationship with her maiden family and was delighted to see her nephews.
Jiang Yan smiled and replied, "Aunt, our mother sent us to deliver the Mid-Autumn Festival gifts. We also took the opportunity to visit you."
Jiang Yan's great-grandfather had once served as a Vice Grand Councilor, his grandfather was granted the honorary title of Grand Supplicator in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and his father, relying on ancestral prestige, held a minor educational post in Fujian. Though the family's influence had waned over generations, Jiang Yan, as the eldest son of the main branch and future Clan Leader, was still a figure to be reckoned with. As for Jiang Xian, his grandfather had passed away early, and his father had been raised by the main branch, making the two cousins exceptionally close.
Now that Jiang Xian's grandparents were both deceased and his father was far away in Fujian, his mother had sent him to deliver the festival gifts.
Madam Jiang inquired after the well-being of the brothers' mothers, and they assured her all was well. Just then, the Aunt arrived. Madam Jiang's eyelids flickered slightly as she greeted her with a smile, "Aunt, what brings you here?"
"I brought some fine pastries I thought you might enjoy, Sister-in-law. I didn’t realize you had guests," the Aunt said, eyeing the Jiang brothers.
As a mother herself, Madam Jiang understood the Aunt’s unspoken intentions. In the past, a match might have been suitable—Mei Pan'er’s father, after all, had been a jinshi. But now, with Mei’s father dismissed from office for misconduct, the Aunt’s family had fallen into poverty. When the Aunt had married, the old matriarch had given her a dowry of twenty thousand strings of cash, yet now she could barely afford decent clothes. Clearly, nothing remained of that fortune.
The main branch of the Jiang family, though no longer producing officials, was still exceedingly wealthy.
Moreover, Madam Jiang and the Aunt were not on good terms, and she had no intention of letting her nephews become entangled with the Aunt’s daughter. So she merely smiled and said, "Yan'er, Xian'er, pay your respects to the Aunt."
The Jiang brothers promptly bowed, and the Aunt effusively praised them. "Such fine young men!" She immediately asked their ages and, learning Jiang Yan was thirteen and Jiang Xian ten, showered them with compliments.
Once the formalities were over, Madam Jiang sent her nephews away.
Seeing this, the Aunt had no choice but to turn to the old matriarch for information. "Those two boys don’t seem to be Sister-in-law’s own nephews?"
The old matriarch chuckled. "Of course not. They’re from the main branch. Ever since their family produced a Grand Councilor, three generations have coasted on ancestral prestige. Jiang Yan is somewhat better off—his father at least holds a minor post, and he’ll be the future Clan Leader. As for Jiang Xian, his father never cared for studies, spending his days on cockfighting and gambling, and his wife is a notorious shrew. Your sister-in-law is from the secondary branch. Her father recently retired, but her brother only holds an honorary post, and none of her nephews are known for scholarly pursuits."
She knew exactly what her daughter was hinting at and added, "They’re just idle rich boys. You’d be better off finding a diligent young scholar with prospects for a stable future."
"Mother, I’d love to, but where would I find such a man?" The Aunt sighed. Where could she meet a promising young scholar from a well-off family?
Her elder brother had four unmarried daughters. If a good match came along, would he even spare a thought for her daughter?
Besides, she had married a jinshi once, only for him to squander her entire dowry. Now she’d rather have a husband who wasn’t overly ambitious but came from a secure background.
The Jiang family hadn’t produced an official in generations. They might appear prosperous, but who knew how things really stood?
The old matriarch soothed her, "There’s no need to rush. Pan'er is still young."
But the Aunt dared not voice her true fears—if she didn’t secure a match soon, her brother’s daughters would take precedence, and by the time it was Pan'er’s turn, little would be left for her dowry. True, the old matriarch doted on them and had given her three hundred strings of cash for expenses, but that was far from enough for a proper dowry.
Her own dowry had been twenty thousand strings. Her daughter deserved at least ten thousand.
As Mid-Autumn Festival approached, Jin Niang finally finished the beaded gown. The ties were adorned with peony buds, and the pouch featured a design of a long-tailed bird holding a flower in its beak—a clever touch where the button was hidden within the bird’s mouth.
When the Eldest Miss wore the gown, her youthful charm and radiant elegance stunned even Madam Jiang. The Zhou Sisters were no match, and even the late madam’s spirit might have been dazzled. Jin Niang was rewarded with a string of cash from Madam Jiang and two bolts of silk gauze from the Eldest Miss.
Fabric was a valuable commodity—one bolt of gauze was worth about two strings of cash. Jin Niang mused that if she were to commission such a gown outside, it would cost far more.
But she quickly dismissed the thought. With her meager savings, such luxuries were beyond reach.
After completing the beaded gown, Jin Niang rested for a few days. The gown had garnered much praise, especially after the Eldest Miss wore it to her maternal family’s home, where many inquired about it. Soon, Jin Niang’s humble quarters were bustling with visitors. The Third Miss, ever tactful, often sent small gifts—tea, pastries, handkerchiefs, hairpins—discreetly and without fanfare.
In her spare time, Jin Niang began teaching Si'er the basics: hemming, making pouches, selecting patterns, and coordinating colors. Even these rudimentary lessons were plenty for a beginner like Si'er.
The Zhou household was abuzz with activity. First, the second wife, Madam Wu, gave birth to a son, followed shortly by Miao Xiaoniang delivering another boy. After the double-month celebrations, the family welcomed two visiting scholars.
Lan Xue and the other maids, ever quick with gossip, eagerly shared the news with Jin Niang: "One of the scholars is Third Young Master He, the son of our aunt. He’s a relative, quite handsome and proper. The other is a disciple of our master’s former colleague—seems to be from humbler origins."
These matters were of little concern to Jin Niang and the others, except for the dread that Madam Jiang might task the sewing room with making clothes for the guests. More work for them, while the excitement belonged to others.
But the Aunt took keen interest. This time, she had done her research: Third Young Master He was the youngest son of the Prefect of Jiangling, scholarly and from a well-off family—no impoverished scholar he. A perfect match for her daughter.
"Sister Shan, come here," the Aunt called.
Sister Shan set down her needlework and hurried over. "Yes, Aunt? What do you need?"
The Aunt smiled. "Embroider a handkerchief for the young miss. Make it exquisite, the finer the better." She knew full well that Madam Jiang would obstruct any overt matchmaking. But if things were set in motion discreetly, familial pressure might ensure success.
And if it failed? Well, it was just a hired maid’s doing. She could always be blamed.
For the first time, the Aunt handed Sister Shan two hundred coins as a reward. "You’ve worked hard on all this needlework lately."
Clutching the coins, Sister Shan beamed, unaware of the storm brewing.
