Sister Shan had come to the Zhou Family from Jiangling. Even if she were to be dismissed, her parents or relatives would have to come to fetch her. However, since her parents were still in Jiangling, Madam Chen had to take her back first to tend to her injuries for a few days before sending her away.
Yet, when she returned to the sewing room this time, the others no longer treated her as warmly as before. She wanted to say something, but her lips merely parted without a word. The First Lady had sent her maid, Lv Ying, to warn Sister Shan: if she kept her mouth shut, the Zhou Family would simply dismiss her, allowing her to make a living elsewhere without interference. But if she dared to speak of anything—whether theft or secret liaisons—she would be handed over to the authorities, and her life would be ruined.
As for Jin Niang, she now only spoke to others and no longer treated Sister Shan with the same closeness as before. Qin Shuang'er, who was usually amiable with everyone, now gave her only perfunctory attention, not to mention Fang Qiaolian.
Such is the fickleness of human nature!
Of course, Jin Niang wouldn’t treat her the same as before. Once Sister Shan had gained favor, she had ignored her old acquaintances. Now that she was likely involved in some shady business, who would risk getting entangled?
Sister Shan stayed less than two days to recover before being sent away ahead of time. Madam Chen mentioned that the Shu Embroidery Workshop was short-handed by year’s end, so she arranged for Sister Shan to go there—effectively tossing out this hot potato.
Naturally, losing Sister Shan meant little to Madam Jiang in the sewing room. Most embroidery work involved figures, flowers, birds, or insects, while landscapes were rarely requested. Sister Shan leaving a year early saved Madam Jiang twenty-four strings of cash—enough to buy several maids in a famine year.
Sister Shan’s departure caused barely a ripple in the sewing room. Jin Niang delivered the clothes she had made for the old madam and was rewarded with a pair of golden ball hairpins—an unexpected delight.
Soon, it was the Winter Solstice, known as the "Minor New Year," the most important festival in Bianjing. Even officials were granted leave, and Lord Zhou had seven days of rest. Everyone in the Zhou Family, from masters to servants, dressed in new clothes. Jin Niang also changed into fresh attire—a white silk jacket paired with a lake-blue fox-sleeved overcoat, dark green padded trousers underneath, and a gardenia-yellow pleated skirt draped over it.
If Jin Niang had dressed up a little, Fang Qiaolian had gone all out. Previously, she had worn simple headpieces, but today she was resplendent in a silver-red jacket and a turquoise pleated skirt, her hair adorned with fashionable vase-shaped hairpins—a stark contrast to her usual style.
Though the sewing room workers earned decent wages, that silver-red satin was not something just anyone could afford. But Jin Niang made it a habit to pry as little as possible into others’ private affairs. Sister Shan had gotten too involved and ended up beaten and dismissed.
The kitchen had prepared wontons stuffed with cured quail meat—a filling Jin Niang had never tasted before. She found it delicious, even drinking up the broth, and couldn’t help swaying her head in delight. "So good!"
"Here we go again. It’s obviously too salty," Qin Shuang'er scoffed, disliking such unsophisticated reactions.
Jin Niang didn’t mind her remark and just smiled. "If the meat isn’t cured, it’ll taste gamey. I think it’s quite nice."
Qin Shuang'er secretly curled her lip.
After lunch, Madam Chen arrived. The sewing room never rested, no matter the weather. Sure enough, Madam Chen began assigning tasks: "Shuang'er, Miao Xiaoniang’s Fifth Young Master needs two winter jackets, eight undergarments, and six pairs of open-crotch padded trousers. These are urgent—start now. Qiaolian, Second Miss Zhou and Third Miss each need two fox-sleeved coats. Jin Niang, Eldest Miss wants two pairs of 'Mismatched Soles' shoes and six pouches, while Fourth Miss Zhou needs a warm hat and a long jacket."
Jin Niang noted her tasks and first went to consult Eldest Miss. The so-called "Mismatched Soles" were the latest trend among Bianjing’s young ladies—essentially, two-toned shoes.
Eldest Miss was easy to work with, unlike the domineering Second Miss Zhou. Jin Niang made sure to confirm every detail: "One side in green silk, the other in red, with crimson and emerald hues complementing each other—it’ll look lovely."
"I trust your judgment," Eldest Miss said with a smile.
Jin Niang then discussed pouch styles, settling on two round ones, two oval, one ingot-shaped, and one heart-shaped. After selecting colors, nearly two hours had passed. She was about to leave for Fourth Miss Zhou’s quarters when the young lady herself arrived at Eldest Miss’s chambers.
Jin Niang hurried forward. "I was just about to visit you, and here you are!"
Fourth Miss Zhou handed her cloak to a maid and laughed. "You must be here about my new clothes?"
"You guessed it. Madam Chen assigned me to make you a long jacket in brocade with floral medallions. I wanted to ask what kind of collar trim you’d prefer."
Fourth Miss Zhou seemed to respect her expertise. "You’re the seamstress—your taste is surely better than mine. Just decide for me."
Delighted to have such an understanding client, Jin Niang beamed. "Since you trust me, I’ll proceed. If anything needs adjusting later, just call for me."
Fourth Miss Zhou nodded, and Jin Niang withdrew.
Once Jin Niang had left, Eldest Miss had servants bring out pastries and hot tea for her sister. "It’s so cold—why come out?"
Among the Zhou sisters, Second Miss Zhou was ill-tempered, and Third Miss always competed with Eldest Miss. But Eldest Miss was gentle and tolerant, so Fourth Miss Zhou enjoyed her company. Moreover, she wished for her elder sister’s long life and health—for the books said Eldest Miss had married the prime minister’s youngest son, only to pass away shortly after childbirth. The Zhou Family, to care for the grandson, had then married Fourth Miss Zhou as the replacement wife. But the widower, still mourning, treated her harshly. With Miao Xiaoniang’s misdeeds exposed and her natal family ignoring her, Fourth Miss Zhou had died of sorrow within years.
"Elder Sister, don’t fuss. I just wanted to see you—staying indoors feels stifling," Fourth Miss Zhou said, popping a pastry into her mouth.
Eldest Miss clasped her hand. "I’ve heard you’re too lenient with your servants. Kindness is good, but there must be order and boundaries, or the servants will grow unruly."
Fourth Miss Zhou flushed at this. Her good intentions had backfired. Raised on modern ideals of equality, she had initially forbidden her maids from kowtowing, treating them like employees rather than subordinates, even discouraging them from calling themselves "this humble servant."
Perhaps it was because she was too kind-hearted, but her belongings would mysteriously disappear, the servants would disobey her orders behind her back, and some even began to look down on her as their mistress. Left with no choice, she finally lost her temper once, and only then did these people start trembling with fear.
She wondered if she had changed.
It was just a thought—that there was no need to be too kind to servants. If you respected them, they would only see you as weak and incompetent.
Just like Miao Xiaoniang—if she didn’t fight for favor, that favor would be snatched away by others. Resources in ancient times were limited, even basics like eggs, rice, and fabric weren’t freely available. Especially in large families with many children, her mother had fought tooth and nail to secure a future for her and her siblings. How could those privileged nobles ever understand?
After the winter solstice, Jin Niang felt like she had forgotten something. The moment she saw Miao Xiaoniang, it came back to her—yes, she had meant to warn Yan Hong that the First Lady might be using her to undermine Miao Xiaoniang.
But how could she bring it up? After what happened with Sister Shan, small fry like them dared not meddle in such matters.
Soon, she thought of a way. When she visited Yan Hong, who was now carefully resting during her pregnancy, Yan Hong smiled and said, "What brings you here? I’ve heard the embroidery workshop has been quite busy lately."
"My sister and her husband live north of Maxing Street. A few days ago, they brought me a bundle from my mother. Since I wasn’t home when they got married, I wanted to ask your advice on what to give them as a gift. The relationship between my cousins is… complicated." Jin Niang deliberately teased her curiosity.
Yan Hong, who had been on edge these days, was eager for some gossip. "What’s so complicated about your family?"
Jin Niang then shared her family’s story: "My grandparents had three sons. My eldest uncle was a scholar and later became an accountant at a carriage house. My father enlisted in the army early, and my youngest uncle learned a trade. Before they married, the brothers got along well. But once their wives entered the picture, my grandmother started sowing discord. Out of respect for my elders, I shouldn’t say this, but she pitted them against each other until all three branches of the family were at odds. Whichever household did well, she’d use another to suppress them. It’s a mess. Now that my eldest uncle and aunt have passed, and my cousin is married, I can’t just pretend I don’t know."
She hoped her own family’s example would serve as a warning about manipulation and rivalry. But Yan Hong didn’t seem to grasp the hint and simply said, "That’s easy. Give them a set of porcelain. Newlyweds always need bowls and plates."
Jin Niang felt as if a light had gone on. "You’re right. I’ll go prepare it right away."
In truth, how could Yan Hong not understand her own predicament? But she was already in too deep. The master of the household, Lord Zhou, paid no attention to the inner court, and Madam Jiang, as the First Lady, had elevated her status. How could she refuse such favor?
Jin Niang usually stayed out of these wife-and-concubine conflicts. She felt she had done her part by dropping a hint—after all, she couldn’t spell it out too clearly. If no such scheming actually happened, she’d be accused of slandering the First Lady, a far graver offense than Sister Shan’s.
Still, she needed to prepare a wedding gift for her cousin. Originally, she had planned to take half a day off to shop, but leaving the estate for personal matters meant she wouldn’t have the privilege of using the family carriage. Going alone risked being robbed or even kidnapped.
After a discreet check of her private stash, she found the usual rewards from her masters—gold and silver jewelry, fabric—but these were her dowry savings and couldn’t be given away. Fortunately, she remembered the embroidered pouches she had bought earlier to study the patterns from Jinxiu Workshop. She picked out a bright pair, filled each with eighteen copper coins, then asked Kuang San'er to buy her a pair of wooden combs carved with floral and bird motifs for two hundred coins. She also gave Sister-in-law Hu a silver tael to purchase a bottle of lamb wine and six boxes of pastries. Everything was wrapped neatly in red silk, and she paid Lan Xue’s brother twenty coins to deliver it.
Jin Niang felt her gift was generous. Even the Zhou sisters usually exchanged only needlework. If Rongniang was willing to maintain ties, she might have a chance to visit the city later and check for job openings at Jinxiu Workshop or Wenxiu Academy.
Meanwhile, Feng Sheng and Rongniang had rented a modest one-courtyard house in the capital. After Rongniang’s father died, her mother spent thirty-five strings of cash on the funeral. When her mother fell ill, her uncle refused to visit, afraid of being asked for money. After her mother’s passing, Rongniang paid for the burial herself, and even her dowry came from her own savings. Though the family had once compensated her five hundred strings, only two hundred remained—her entire fortune.
Her husband’s wages went toward rent, furniture, and household necessities. Once they were settled, she glanced at the sky and hurried to the kitchen to prepare fish soup. Just then, Feng Sheng returned and handed her Jin Niang’s gift.
"Who knew she’d be so formal?"
Rongniang unwrapped it—a pair of pouches and wooden combs. Being naturally beautiful, she never bothered with famous shops and assumed Jin Niang’s gifts were ordinary. Only the pastries seemed decent. For a return gift, she packed some facial cleanser and soap her husband had brought from the clinic, presenting it as a winter solstice courtesy.
Jin Niang had bought facial cleanser from Zhao Taicheng’s shop before, but Rongniang’s small porcelain vial looked like a modern-day sample—worth just a few dozen coins. The two packets of soap she casually handed to Si'er.
So when Rongniang later invited her for New Year’s, Jin Niang declined. Their relationship wasn’t close enough to endure awkward small talk, and she didn’t want to owe another favor.
Besides, the most important thing was the New Year’s bonuses.
Working was all about earning money, after all. Her plans to go out were quietly shelved.
After the winter solstice came Laba Festival, when every household exchanged Laba porridge. The Northern Song version differed from modern ones—instead of red beans, dates, lotus seeds, and peanuts, it was made with walnuts, pine nuts, mushrooms, persimmons, and chestnuts.
Soft, sticky, and delicious.
After finishing the porridge, Si'er sat stitching shoe soles. She had improved enough to assist Jin Niang, who now worked more comfortably as she sewed a collar decoration for Fourth Miss Zhou.
The six pouches for the Eldest Miss and two pairs of "Cuodao Di" shoe uppers were all finished, and the warm hat for Fourth Miss Zhou was also completed—only the embroidered collar with magnolia flowers remained, which would take considerable effort. The magnolia and begonia design she was currently embroidering was based on a floral pattern inspired by the magnolia paintings of Xu Xi from the Five Dynasties period, symbolizing wealth and nobility in the jade hall.
Qin Shuang'er, of course, had no idea that Jin Niang was replicating a famous painting. She muttered to herself, wondering how Jin Niang, who had learned needlework from Madam Chen just like the rest of them, could create such exquisite floral patterns. Nowadays, the Eldest Miss’s wardrobe was almost entirely handled by her. What’s more, everyone praised her for being both fast and skilled—even Second Miss Zhou, who had once scolded her, seemed to have secretly asked the First Lady to have Jin Niang make her clothes.
But Qin Shuang'er had little time to dwell on it. During the day, she had to maintain good relations with the maids and matrons in the second young master’s quarters, and at night, she worked alone, burning the midnight oil to finish her embroidery. She simply didn’t have the time to experiment with new designs.
Truth be told, she hadn’t come to the Zhou Family to truly make a name for herself in embroidery—so she wasn’t about to invest extra effort in honing her skills.
For Jin Niang, however, even though she was self-taught, she genuinely loved embroidery and treated it as a passion. She avoided unnecessary socializing and focused on perfecting her craft.
Take, for instance, the long jacket she made for Fourth Miss Zhou. It didn’t employ overly complex techniques—in fact, Jin Niang wasn’t even well-versed in those—yet everyone still praised it for its beauty.
As the New Year approached, Fourth Miss Zhou proved quite generous with her rewards, nearly matching the Eldest Miss’s usual standards. She gave Jin Niang a string of coins, three feet of fabric scraps, and a delicate mother-of-pearl vanity case.
Of course, there were things Jin Niang didn’t know. After the gifts were handed out, Fourth Miss Zhou’s confidante, Danli, remarked, "Your private coffers aren’t exactly overflowing, and Madam Miao doesn’t give you much. Why be so lavish with the needlework department?"
"What’s the harm?" Fourth Miss Zhou replied. "They’ve worked hard for us—how can we just take it for granted?" In her mind, servants in ancient times already had it rough; they did this work for money, after all.
Unbeknownst to her, Danli privately thought that Fourth Miss Zhou’s monthly allowance was only two strings of coins, and even with year-end gifts from the elders, she barely scraped together twenty or thirty strings. Yet she spent it all on outsiders, leaving her own maids with little. It was all for the sake of her reputation.
Jin Niang, oblivious to these matters, simply focused on her work. When she did well, the more respectable mistresses usually rewarded her. For instance, the Eldest Miss had praised the "Cuodao Di" shoes and gifted her a bolt of premium Zhejiang silk—worth about one string and three hundred fifty coins—along with a plate of pastries.
Since Si'er had helped with the shoe soles this time, Jin Niang couldn’t very well split the silk, so she gave Si'er sixty coins and a plate of sweets instead.
Perhaps because Jin Niang’s work for Fourth Miss Zhou had also impressed, Madam Jiang—instead of commissioning Madam Chen as usual—asked Jin Niang to make clothes for her sister-in-law’s birthday this year. Not that Madam Chen was idle; she was busy crafting Zhou Cunzhi’s wedding robes and eight new outfits, leaving her swamped.
Madam Jiang, ever the gracious hostess, knew the needlework department was overworked and sent them a feast for the New Year. Unfortunately, Fang Qiaolian was dining with her godmother, Matron Kuang, and Qin Shuang'er was with her godmother, Matron Lin, leaving only Madam Chen, Jin Niang, Si'er, and Little He at the table—a rather sparse gathering.
People are easily influenced by their surroundings. Madam Chen teased Jin Niang, "Why haven’t you taken a godmother? It’d make things easier for you…"
"Come now," Jin Niang replied with a smile. "I’ll just do my duty, lighten your load, and work diligently until my two years are up before going home. With your guidance, I don’t need a godmother." Jin Niang wasn’t one for lofty ambitions; she believed in doing her best with what was in front of her and fostering good relationships.
Little He secretly envied Si'er, whispering, "Look how much Jin Niang values you—she gave you a pouch with twenty coins for New Year’s, and she teaches you embroidery and shoemaking. I still can’t even make a decent knot."
Though Jin Niang was strict with Si'er, she truly mentored her and shared rewards. Qin Shuang'er, on the other hand, spoke sweetly but rarely taught Little He anything substantial, giving her treats but never money.
Si'er just laughed. "Well, that’s just how it is."
To her, Jin Niang was always cheerful, patient in teaching, and generous—she’d definitely chosen the right person to follow. Qin Shuang'er might be sociable, but she acted in her own interest, much like Fourth Miss Zhou, who rewarded outsiders handsomely while her own maids received little.
Si'er also understood why Fourth Miss Zhou was like this. Among the young ladies, the Eldest Miss and Second Miss Zhou had the First Lady’s support, and Third Miss’s mother, Madam Lü—though fallen from grace—had once helped the First Lady manage the household for over a decade, accumulating a tidy nest egg. Only Fourth Miss Zhou’s birth mother came from poverty, leaving her no financial backing. To avoid being looked down upon by servants, she had no choice but to act this way.
When Si'er shared this with Jin Niang, the latter chuckled and said, "Si'er, as maids, our lives are harder than the mistresses’. We’ve no business pitying them—just focus on our work."
After finishing Madam Jiang’s clothes, Jin Niang noticed a small patch of frostbite on her right middle finger. She quickly soaked it in hot water at night, resisting the urge to scratch. Fortunately, Madam Jiang had rewarded her well: two iron thermos bottles, twenty candles, a pound of Hunan mountain tea, and a handful of chicken-feather brushes.
The iron thermos bottles—each worth nearly a string of coins—were especially useful for washing hair. That very afternoon, Jin Niang washed her hair and helped Si'er do the same, both of them relaxing afterward.
Si'er suddenly said, "Jin Niang, you mentioned wanting to visit Daxiangguo Temple again—but I suppose we can’t go now?"
"Indeed," Jin Niang sighed. "After New Year’s, the Second Young Madam will be moving in, and the needlework department will be swamped again."
Besides, with some savings now, she was reluctant to leave—lest someone steal her belongings.
Since they weren’t personal attendants who could accompany their mistress outside, Jin Niang’s plans to leave the household were temporarily delayed. However, as heaven never seals off all exits, an opportunity arose when the second young master needed a gift for his teacher’s wife. Knowing she was devout in her Buddhist practices and having learned from Cuixian that Jin Niang excelled at embroidering sutras, he commissioned her to stitch a scripture.
Seizing the chance, Jin Niang proposed a trip to the Great Xiangguo Temple to purchase rubbing copies for reference—each booklet cost merely a hundred or so coins and featured masterful calligraphy. The second young master readily agreed, impressed by her meticulousness and dedication.
Thus, she successfully obtained the exit token.
