"Your father wanted to borrow a carriage from Brother-in-law Feng, but I stopped him," Luo Yu'e complained to Jin Niang as soon as she boarded the carriage.
Jin Niang gave her mother an approving glance. "You did the right thing. It's not that we want to cut ties with family, but we shouldn’t trouble others unnecessarily. These small favors add up, and we’ll have to repay them eventually."
Luo Yu'e nodded. "Exactly my thoughts."
After passing through the Vermilion Bird Gate, they crossed Longjin Bridge and headed south from Zhou Bridge, entering a bustling night market street. Jin Niang lifted the carriage curtain, her eyes widening at the sea of lantern lights. She could hardly contain her excitement, itching to step out, but Luo Yu'e held her back. "What’s the rush? Now that you’re back, you can come here every day if you like."
The lively street was packed with vendors selling everything from rice meals and braised meat to dried meats and an array of ready-to-eat delicacies in front of Jade Tower. The Cao family’s shop displayed layers of exquisite pastries and snacks, a feast for the eyes.
Once past the Zhou Bridge night market, they arrived at the entrance of Foul Water Alley. Luo Yu'e handed the coachman fifteen coins, and together they carried Jin Niang’s luggage inside.
This was Jin Niang’s first time seeing her new home in Bianjing. Candles flickered in her room, illuminating a complete set of furniture: a curved-head writing desk beside a bookshelf, a carved bed draped in satin quilts, and a tall cabinet by its side. She flopped onto the bed, rolling around gleefully, wishing she could stay there forever.
Luo Yu'e chuckled. "Do you like it? I picked the colors myself—perfect for a young lady like you."
Jin Niang nodded, beaming, then hugged her mother tightly. "Mother, I’m so happy. I don’t even know what to say."
"Then hurry and change your clothes. Come help me light the stove in the kitchen," Luo Yu'e said, unwilling to let her daughter out of her sight for even a moment.
She had so much to share with Jin Niang. Wei Xiong wasn’t much of a talker, and Younger Brother Yang was still too young. Only her daughter could truly understand her and stand by her side.
Jin Niang cheerfully changed into a green silk jacket, gray cotton pants, and a goose-yellow waist apron. She carefully arranged her books and clothes in the bookshelf and wardrobe, then placed her money box and toiletries in their spots. Noticing an empty space by the window, she thought it would be perfect for her embroidery frame.
Perfect.
The kitchen wasn’t large, with only one stove. Luo Yu'e sighed in relief. "Thank goodness we brought our iron pot. Buying a new one here wouldn’t be cheap."
Iron was expensive in the Song Dynasty—unlike modern times where a pot might cost just a few dozen coins. A single iron pot could cost three to five strings of cash, making it a valuable asset. Some families even fought bloody battles over one during property divisions.
Jin Niang bundled straw into a small bundle and tossed it into the stove, stoking the flames until they roared.
She had always loved helping her mother with the fire, especially in winter when it warmed the room. Her mother would sometimes place a small black earthenware pot filled with beans and cured meat into the embers, pulling it out later to reveal a mouthwatering dish.
Luo Yu'e prepared six dishes: roasted goose bought from outside, lamb bone soup, pan-fried tofu with scallions, braised fish, steamed radish and crown daisy, and a stir-fried pickled vegetable medley.
Jin Niang sipped the steaming lamb bone soup, savoring its warmth. Her mother chatted away. "In a few days, I’ll fry some meatballs and radish balls, then store them in baskets hung from the beams."
Unlike Jin Niang, who wasn’t picky, Younger Brother Yang was a fussy eater. He pushed away homemade dishes, only nibbling on the store-bought roasted goose. Though quiet, he kept glancing at his sister. Jin Niang booped his nose. "Younger Brother Yang, how’s your studies going?"
He grinned and handed her a wooden sparrow he’d carved.
Jin Niang marveled at its lifelike details. "What’s this?"
Luo Yu'e smiled. "He made it himself. When we first arrived in Bianjing and stayed with your uncle, we bought him a wooden toy to keep him busy. He kept taking it apart and putting it back together. Look at his little hands—they’re surprisingly strong."
Noticing the calluses on his fingers, Jin Niang ruffled his hair. "You’re so clever, Younger Brother Yang. How’s school?"
"In Jiangling, he had many playmates. Here, his country accent stands out, but his teacher doesn’t mind," Luo Yu'e said.
Jin Niang reassured them. "It’s fine. Now that we’re settled here, he’ll adjust. If he doesn’t pass the child prodigy exams before ten, we’ll find him a good academy. Studying in Bianjing is definitely better than in Jiangling."
Wei Xiong and Luo Yu'e deferred to their daughter on matters of their son’s education. Still, Luo Yu'e fretted. "He’s so young, and he can’t get used to the food here. Many parents of Scholar Gou’s students bring meals."
"If it’s nearby, we can deliver food. But if it’s far, he’ll have to adapt. You’ll be busy with work later and won’t always have time," Jin Niang said, loving how her family discussed things so openly.
The meal was delicious. Her father had saved the goose leg for her, insisting she finish it even when she was full. Jin Niang laughed—no matter how grown or capable she became, her family would always worry she wasn’t eating enough.
Under the bean-oil lamp, they polished off every dish. After washing up with the leftover hot water, Jin Niang fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. The next morning, she almost called for "Si'er" before remembering she was home. She chuckled at herself.
Outside, snow blanketed the ground. Jin Niang bundled up as she listened to her mother haggle at the back gate, finally buying a load of firewood for sixty coins. In winter, charcoal and firewood were essentials, and with New Year approaching, they had to stock up before prices soared.
A pot of bean porridge simmered on the stove, served with salted duck eggs. Jin Niang ate until she was stuffed.
Her father returned after dropping Younger Brother Yang at school. The couple had spent two or three months securing this house, delaying their search for a shop. Besides, the cold weather made it hard to scout locations—even the Zhou Bridge night market stalls were packed tightly, leaving no room for newcomers. They decided to wait until spring to start their business.
Jin Niang agreed. "Besides Younger Brother Yang’s schooling, we don’t have other expenses right now."
Her parents had worked tirelessly for a year under her uncle just to earn a year’s operating rights. After two years of scrimping and saving to move to Bianjing, they deserved a break. Truth be told, Jin Niang was also eager to rest at home for a few days.
After being busy with work all day, Jin Niang found it somewhat uncomfortable to suddenly have free time. Her parents doted on her excessively, so she didn’t have to do household chores. Instead, she went out to the street to order two embroidery frames from a carpenter and inquired about the Imperial Embroidery Institute at the broker’s place.
However, hiring a carriage every day was quite troublesome.
Wei Xiong felt the same way. "Why don’t we buy a donkey? A top-quality one only costs twelve strings of cash."
"Sure. We can’t afford a horse-drawn carriage—even a mule costs a hundred strings. But a donkey is manageable. It’ll make traveling easier for the whole family later. But we should wait until I pass the Imperial Embroidery Institute exam first." Only after securing an income could they consider buying one.
Wei Xiong nodded. "That makes sense."
Jin Niang knew her parents had sold their family’s carriage and horses before moving to the capital. After all, having a means of transport would be useful for business, deliveries, and moving goods—why skimp on such expenses? Money was meant to improve one’s life. But since she had just returned from the Zhou household and was temporarily unemployed, she couldn’t afford to dip into their savings recklessly.
Speaking of which, Jin Niang had brought back another iron teapot from the Zhou residence, so now they had a matching pair—one for drinking hot water and the other for bathing.
At the moment, she sat comfortably in the main hall, sipping hot tea, simply enjoying the peace.
But her relaxation didn’t last long. Someone knocked at the door, and Luo Yu'e welcomed the visitors—it turned out to be Third Uncle’s family and Grandma. Right, Third Uncle ran a steamed bun business near the foul-smelling alley. She had forgotten about that.
According to her mother, after they moved here, Third Uncle had been trying to mend relations, even personally teaching Wei Xiong how to make the steamed buns popular in Bianjing. Given that, Luo Yu'e couldn’t really complain.
Jin Niang went out to greet them. "Grandma, Third Uncle, Third Aunt, Ying Niang."
Ying Niang smiled. "Second Sister, Grandma has been wanting to see you."
"I’ve missed Grandma too. Come, everyone, sit in the main hall. I’ll make tea." Jin Niang brought out coarse ceramic cups filled with loose tea leaves. By the time she returned, the others were already chatting.
Her mother and Third Aunt had never gotten along—they had even quarreled before. Yet now they were making small talk. Jin Niang supposed this was typical in their society—people often ignored past grievances for the sake of appearances.
In reality, Third Uncle’s family had taken advantage of every opportunity. They claimed to be filial by bringing Grandma to Bianjing, but in truth, she was the one who had to wake up in the middle of the night to light the stove, knead dough, and cook because Third Aunt was terrible at cooking and had a terrible temper.
Third Uncle had come to discuss New Year’s arrangements. "Why don’t you all come to our place this year? Since Mother is staying with us, we’ll prepare the dishes—you just need to show up."
Luo Yu'e instinctively glanced at Jin Niang for her reaction. Jin Niang knew Third Uncle might genuinely mean well, but Third Aunt was notoriously stingy. So she smiled and said, "Third Uncle, I’m afraid of the cold. Bianjing isn’t like Jiangling—it snows for days here. And washing all those dishes afterward would be such a hassle for you. How about this—when the weather’s nice, you all come to our place instead? It’ll be more comfortable."
Catching her daughter’s disapproval, Luo Yu'e happily agreed. Third Uncle’s household was disorganized—they always bought New Year’s groceries on the last day, lacked competence but loved giving orders, and arguments were inevitable during the holidays. When they had no house of their own, she had no choice, but now that they did, she refused. "Yes, not just Jin Niang—I don’t want to go out either. The wind gives me a headache."
Third Uncle was taken aback but quickly changed the subject to Ying Niang’s engagement and plans to buy a house. Ying Niang chimed in, "An Ping’s family can contribute a hundred and sixty strings. We’ve spoken to a property broker—he said we could borrow nine hundred strings. I’ve also borrowed over four hundred from the temple. But I still need to come up with another two hundred or so. The deed will be in my name, but I only have thirty strings on hand. Eldest Sister (Rongniang) already lent me fifty, so I’m still short about a hundred..."
Jin Niang had often heard that Third Uncle loved gambling—taking risks in business, always choosing the cheapest or most obscure locations. But she never expected her cousin to be planning an ancient version of a "mortgage."
Tsk, who’s the time traveler here?
Still, Jin Niang quickly replied, "I only earn one string a month. My parents spent their savings on this house, and I’ve already given them over a year’s wages. I really don’t have anything left. If I did, I’d lend it to you."
Wei Xiong, however, looked at Ying Niang. "Why don’t you ask your father for some?" If he had money, he’d give it all to Jin Niang.
Of course, Third Uncle had no intention of lending anything—that’s why he came to them.
Once it was clear no one would lend them money, Third Uncle’s family couldn’t stay any longer. They left in a huff.
The moment they were gone, Luo Yu'e clicked her tongue. "That girl is trying to get something for nothing—borrowing every penny and putting the deed in her name alone."
"Nothing in this world comes free. And they wanted us to eat at their place?" Jin Niang rolled her eyes.
Wei Xiong, though seemingly honest, had his share of conspiracy theories. "You don’t think they rushed to buy a house because they saw we’d leased one, do you? Trying to one-up us?"
Jin Niang laughed. "Well, we don’t have money to lend anyway, so it’s not our problem."
But she quickly warned her father, "I’ve heard about credit loans—they either require property or valuables as collateral, or three guarantors if there’s none. Whatever you do, don’t agree to be a guarantor for them."
"Right, right! Listen to our daughter," Luo Yu'e urged, afraid her husband might be swayed.
Wei Xiong immediately said, "Of course I wouldn’t. But why won’t your Third Uncle give Ying Niang any money? He’s been in business for years—no house, no carriage, yet he must have plenty saved up."
Jin Niang shrugged. "Who knows? Forget giving money—if you dare take an extra bowl of rice at their place, Third Aunt starts scowling."
Still, the situation gave Jin Niang an idea. Turns out, even in the Northern Song Dynasty, people could take out loans to buy property—even from temples. That was a pleasant surprise. The "Song Penal Code" even referenced regulations from the "Miscellaneous Decrees": "For private loans involving property, agreements may follow personal contracts, and the government will not intervene. Monthly interest must not exceed six percent, and total interest must never exceed the principal." Additionally, the Ministry of Revenue’s edict stated: "Private loans should collect four percent interest, while government loans may collect five."
It reminded her of the modern apartment she’d bought at peak prices, with an interest rate nearing six percent.
Luo Yu'e sighed. "How do they plan to repay all that debt?"
Jin Niang thought for a moment: "I heard Ying Niang was introduced by Brother-in-law Feng to work at a medicinal shop, specializing in selling pre-made remedies. Do you think selling medicine is profitable? Especially since many women are too shy to see a doctor—they just buy ready-made prescriptions. Sometimes she even carries a basket to sell door-to-door, so business is naturally good, and she earns quite a bit."
Previously, Ying Niang had worked as a tea-server, earning a high monthly wage, but after hearing she was harassed by customers, she asked Brother-in-law Feng to find her another job.
Both practicing medicine and selling remedies are lucrative professions, but one needs connections to get into such lines of work.
Wei Xiong turned to his daughter and said, "Jin Niang, why don’t you do the same? Ask your brother-in-law to introduce you. Earning ten or twenty strings of cash a month is no small sum."
"Father, I’d rather do what I truly want to do. I don’t want to rely on others—we shouldn’t owe anyone favors." Jin Niang always felt that depending on others made her feel inferior.
Wei Xiong knew his daughter was strong-willed and couldn’t be persuaded. Instead, he went to her room to help make her bed, sweep the floor, and even wiped her washbasin spotless. Though he often nagged her to do chores, Jin Niang knew it was just talk—most of the time, her parents tidied up for her without her lifting a finger.
At noon, Luo Yu'e made fried meatballs and personally carried a basket to Scholar Gou’s house to deliver food, even bringing a bowl of meatballs for Mrs. Gou. On her way back, she invited Jin Niang to stroll around the Zhou Bridge. Jin Niang quickly changed into an old pair of shoes and put on a felt hat.
As soon as they stepped out, Luo Yu'e complained, "You have no idea how much your father nags. The moment I spend even a single coin, he calls me wasteful. But now that you’re back, at least I have company."
"Mother, Father is just like that—he talks big, but he doesn’t mean it. Next year, once you two find a shop and start a proper business, once you’re successful, he won’t have anything to fuss about," Jin Niang reassured her.
Many women her mother’s age carried unspoken sorrows—husbands who didn’t understand, sons too young to confide in, strained relationships with relatives. At least Jin Niang’s return brought some comfort.
As they walked, Jin Niang felt a deep sense of contentment. "Mother, do you know why I’m especially happy today? Because Third Uncle and his family can’t affect me anymore. I’m free now—it’s truly wonderful."
Luo Yu'e understood the unspoken comfort in her daughter’s words, but as a simple woman, she could only say, "Jin Niang, didn’t you like the snacks from the Cao family yesterday? I’ll buy some for you."
Jin Niang laughed. "Mother, you always say a girl should stay slender, yet you’re the first to stuff me with treats."
The Cao family sold marinated dried fish and pine cakes, which Jin Niang found appealing, so she had some wrapped up. She also spotted various dried meats and spent twenty coppers on some, while Luo Yu'e bought two wind-dried chickens for the New Year.
After picking up some snacks, they came across a shop specializing in hair ornaments. Jin Niang tugged at her mother’s sleeve. "Come on, let’s take a look inside."
The shop had everything—combs, earrings, hairpins, silk flowers, velvet blossoms, necklaces, and tasseled pendants—all at affordable prices, the most expensive costing just thirty coins.
At first, Luo Yu'e hesitated, but soon she was trying things on. Jin Niang encouraged her, "Mother, these long pearl earrings suit you, and this lotus-patterned pair is lovely too. You should buy them."
"I’m just trying them for fun—I can’t actually buy them," Luo Yu'e protested, though she struggled to put them down. With no income, she couldn’t justify the expense.
"It’s only ten coins—let me get them for you," Jin Niang insisted.
When her mother still refused, Jin Niang turned to the shopkeeper directly. "I’ll take this pair of pearl earrings. Please wrap them up."
She paid for them herself, and though Luo Yu'e was both delighted and guilty, it pained Jin Niang to see her mother so hesitant over such a small luxury.
Before Laba Festival, the broker Cheng delivered a notice for Jin Niang to take an on-site examination at the Imperial Embroidery Academy—meaning her previous embroidery submissions had passed the initial screening, and now she was in the final round.
Broker Cheng added, "This time, the academy is only recruiting ten people, but hundreds applied. Only thirty made it to the final selection."
Now, Jin Niang had to stand out among those thirty. The pressure weighed on her.
The examination was overseen by officials from the Court of the Imperial Granaries. While her family was nervous, Jin Niang was the type who grew calmer under pressure. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself as her father hired a carriage to take her there.
Wei Xiong, never one for words, simply pointed at the carriage. "I’ll wait here for you."
"Alright, I’m going in," Jin Niang said, inhaling deeply before stepping inside.
The Imperial Embroidery Academy, responsible for creating embroidered works for royal attire, ceremonial items, and diplomatic gifts, was as magnificent as rumored. It housed not only the Embroidery Academy but also the Brocade Weaving Academy, the Dyeing Academy, and the Artisan Academy. The Brocade Weaving Academy produced fabrics exclusively for the imperial family, nobility, and military needs. The Dyeing Academy specialized in coloring silk, threads, leather, and paper. The Artisan Academy crafted not only fine silks for annual tributes but also gold, silver, jade, and lacquerware for carriages, seals, and ceremonial objects.
The attendants, dressed in official robes, moved with measured steps.
Inside, Jin Niang saw several eight-foot-long redwood tables, each set with examination materials. The supervising official announced, "Each of you has three tasks: first, mend a torn garment so flawlessly that the repair is invisible; second, embroider a specified scene onto a provided pouch; third, demonstrate proficiency in gold-leaf printing using engraved blocks. You have two hours. Late submissions will not be accepted."
Hearing the requirements, Jin Niang relaxed—she was skilled in all three, especially gold-leaf printing, which she had secretly learned from Madam Chen.
Her three years at the Zhou household felt like a grueling exam she had already aced. Now, she was formidable.
She started with the torn garment, matching the thread color and carefully aligning the weave before securing it on an embroidery hoop. The repair alone took nearly an hour, and even that was fast. Next was the pouch—an unappealing mud-brown. Glancing around, she saw others had equally garish colors.
Turning the muddy hue to her advantage, she envisioned it as soil and sketched a design of June snowflowers, creating a "lotus rising from mud" effect.
Noticing another candidate using double-sided embroidery for their repair, Jin Niang reminded herself not to underestimate the competition—this place gathered master embroiderers.
She focused intently on the June snowflowers, hiding every thread end meticulously before setting it aside.
Finally, it was time to work on the collar trim. The gold-stamping process was a delicate craft, and Jin Niang was weakest at this skill, but she managed to complete it nonetheless. Murmurs rose around her: "How are we supposed to use this for the collar trim? We don’t know how..."
At this point, no one would share their techniques—everyone was focused on securing their place. Jin Niang worked with painstaking care. The trick to gold stamping was applying the adhesive three times before pressing the design onto the fabric. Once it was ironed, there was no going back.
After applying the adhesive, she quickly brushed it with a small tool before moving on to coloring—a step where even the slightest tremor in her hand would ruin everything.
Jin Niang reminded herself: Careful, careful, be careful.
By the time the last incense stick had burned down, she finished. Standing up, she announced, "Supervisor, I’ve completed my work."
The supervisor examined her embroidery and gave a subtle nod. "Wait outside in the corridor. The results will be announced shortly."
"Yes." Jin Niang exhaled in relief.
She hadn’t even finished a cup of tea in the corridor when the supervisor emerged to call out the names. Jin Niang barely registered the first few until, at last, the eighth name was hers.
"Jiangling’s Wei Jin Niang—selected!"
Her heart leapt with joy. From now on, her life would follow a strict routine: starting work at mao shi (6–7 a.m.), finishing at you shi (5 p.m.), with one day off every ten days and sixty days of leave per year. Rumor had it that during the sweltering summer months (from the fifth to the eighth month of the lunar calendar), the workload for embroiderers would be halved. Holidays like New Year’s, Cold Food Festival, Winter Solstice, Imperial Celebrations, and days for requesting clothing, grain, or ceremonial leave were all days off!
