Earlier, Broker Cheng had mentioned that the monthly wages at the Embroidery Institute consisted of two dan of grain and six dou of mixed rice and beans, all distributed as food provisions. She even went to a bookshop that collaborated with the institute to have a small wooden plaque made. On the right side of the plaque, the words "Embroidery Institute" were written in large characters, while the middle line read "Floral and Bird Division, Embroidery Department," and on the far left was the name "Wei Xiao Niangzi." The cost for the plaque was sixteen wen.
When Wei Xiong heard that his daughter had been selected, he and his daughter hurried home to share the good news with Luo Yu'e. The entire household was naturally overjoyed.
Upon learning of her acceptance, Jin Niang also gave her parents twelve strings of cash, urging them to quickly purchase a donkey cart.
Having their own cart would make things much more convenient—especially when it came time to collect the grain rations. They could simply haul it back themselves, saving a lot of trouble. However, she added, "As for the fodder, you'll have to take care of that yourselves."
Though the family lived together, when it came to daily life, it was best to settle matters clearly upfront to ensure harmony.
Luo Yu'e laughed and said, "Don’t worry, we’ll handle the fodder."
"Good. For daily expenses like vegetables, oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, as well as cooking and laundry, you’ll be responsible. As for firewood, charcoal, soap powder, and rice, I’ll take care of those. This way, we all share the burden," Jin Niang proposed.
Her parents initially refused, insisting they should cover everything, but Jin Niang countered, "That’s not how it should be. We’re living together long-term, and now that I’m earning, we should support each other to make life easier."
Only then did her parents reluctantly agree.
There was an art to family harmony. While parents loved their children unconditionally, one shouldn’t always act like a child, expecting endless sacrifices from them.
After being accepted into the Embroidery Institute, Jin Niang still had three days before she started work. So, she bought an embroidery frame and began stitching pouches at home. Luo Yu'e was puzzled. "Why are you still doing this? Didn’t you already pass the exam?"
"These are for Brocade Pavilion. The wages at the Embroidery Institute aren’t much, so I need extra income. You see, Brocade Pavilion doesn’t just let anyone sell there. You have to start with small items like pouches and fan covers to catch their eye before they’ll give you a spot to sell finished garments." Jin Niang stretched and then bent back over her work.
Luo Yu'e watched her daughter with admiration. "You’re truly diligent."
Jin Niang smiled. "Of course I have to keep at it—I’m still young. You wouldn’t believe how big the Embroidery Institute is! I’ll have three embroidery frames to myself, and they provide all kinds of silk threads, wool yarns, and pattern books. It’s wonderful."
Luo Yu'e moved the brazier closer to her daughter. "Now that you’ve got plans, we feel more at ease. We’ve already prepared everything for the New Year."
"Good. I’ll leave household matters to you, Mother. Our family will surely thrive from now on," Jin Niang said cheerfully.
Meanwhile, Feng Sheng, upon hearing that Ying Niang intended to buy a house, remarked to Rongniang, "That’s far too reckless. She’s leaping ahead too quickly. Everyone starts with a small house before upgrading—how can she expect to skip straight to a big one with so little money?"
"I thought the same. How could she borrow so much? It’s terrifying to even think about," Rongniang admitted, though she couldn’t help but notice how her cousins all seemed bolder than the last.
Feng Sheng had barely taken a few bites of his meal when someone called for him. He stood abruptly and said to Rongniang, "I’ll be visiting a few households tonight, so don’t wait up. Put Younger Brother Yang to bed early."
No one could deny that Feng Sheng earned well, but his work was grueling—nighttime house calls were practically routine. Sometimes, after staying up all night, he’d grab breakfast outside before returning.
Rongniang could only sigh. "At least finish your meal before you go."
"No time," he said, already grabbing his medicine chest. As an outsider in Bianjing, he couldn’t afford to slow down if he wanted to make something of himself.
The house fell into a heavy silence, leaving only her and the sleeping child. With no way to go out and nothing to do at home, loneliness pressed in.
Truthfully, she didn’t need Feng Sheng to work himself to the bone—just having the family together would have been enough.
The next day was Laba Festival. After preparing Laba porridge, Rongniang sent the coachman to Foul Water Alley, where both her uncles lived. To her surprise, her second uncle’s family had also bought a new donkey cart. When she arrived, her uncle was just unhitching the donkey and leading it inside.
"Rongniang’s here!"
Her second aunt emerged, a velvet flower pinned at her temple and pearl earrings dangling from her ears. She wore a green padded coat over a red embroidered skirt, looking quite different from usual.
Rongniang smiled. "I brought Laba porridge. So, Uncle bought a donkey cart?"
Luo Yu'e replied, "It was Jin Niang who paid for it. Without a cart, getting around is such a hassle. Now, when Jin Niang starts at the Embroidery Institute and Younger Brother Yang goes to school, they’ll need transportation."
Rongniang was stunned. "Jin Niang already found work so quickly?"
"Absolutely! A position at the Embroidery Institute is far better than being a maid in someone else’s house," Luo Yu'e said, beaming with pride.
Though the second uncle’s house was small, it was cozy. The kitchen bubbled with porridge, and the sitting room was set with delicate pastries. Luo Yu'e even poured hot water from an iron kettle to make tea. Soon, Jin Niang joined them.
At home, Jin Niang dressed simply—a faded pink padded jacket, cotton trousers, and a dark green skirt. Her complexion had improved, though dark circles lingered under her eyes.
Rongniang took her hand. "Why didn’t you tell us you got into the Embroidery Institute? We should’ve come to congratulate you!"
"It’s not like I became an official or passed the imperial exams—no need for formal announcements," Jin Niang replied modestly.
After a brief visit, Rongniang left for her third uncle’s house. Jin Niang, meanwhile, sampled the Laba porridge and remarked to her mother, "Elder Sister Rongniang cooked it until it was soft and thick—it’s quite tasty."
"She probably simmered it all night," Luo Yu'e agreed, taking a sip.
Jin Niang then returned to her knotting work. She had crafted a pair of red plum pouches—gray satin embroidered with crimson blossoms, the stems fashioned from black silk. The tassels were tied into plum-shaped knots, perfect for young ladies. Next, she hurriedly stitched a pair of more ornate coin-patterned pouches, though the satin for these had been brought from the Zhou household. Starting out required considerable investment.
Once the pouches were finished, the next day, after her father took Younger Brother Yang to school, both parents accompanied her to Brocade Pavilion.
Originally, according to the usual process, she would leave the embroidered pouches there for sale. If any customers took a liking to them, Brocade Pavilion would sign a contract with her. Jin Niang had assumed that since it was winter, the plum blossom designs would sell well, and she only needed to wait a month or so.
"Manager Tao, these are the pouches I embroidered. If anyone is interested, you can send word to me at the sixth house west of Foul Water Alley," Jin Niang said.
Manager Tao had initially been indifferent, but upon seeing the neat stitches and exquisite patterns on Jin Niang's pouches, he was about to accept them when Luo Yu'e stepped in to bolster her daughter's reputation. "Manager, my daughter was an embroideress at the Imperial Embroidery Academy—no ordinary seamstress."
"So you're from the Imperial Embroidery Academy? I was already inclined to sign a contract given your fine needlework, and now it's settled," Manager Tao said, his reservations completely dispelled.
Jin Niang also showed him the wooden token she had newly made, making the contract signing even smoother.
Their agreement wasn’t an employment contract but rather a profit-sharing arrangement for her embroidered goods. Jin Niang could source fabrics, threads, and accessories from Brocade Pavilion, though the shop only carried basic materials. If she needed to purchase from external cloth merchants, she would have to submit receipts for reimbursement.
After inspecting Brocade Pavilion’s storeroom, Jin Niang found the fabrics too plain and uninspired. She then took her parents to a proper cloth shop to pick out a few yards of finer material.
On their way back, Luo Yu'e kept glancing at her daughter, marveling at how confidently she spoke, how effortlessly she navigated conversations, and how shrewdly she handled matters. Her daughter had changed so much over the past three years.
Jin Niang, however, didn’t think much of it. "You just learn by handling things on your own," she said.
Even in the Song Dynasty, there were plenty of women doing business on the streets. Since the entire morning had been spent on errands, Jin Niang suggested having lunch at the Eight Immortals Tavern in the northern part of the city. This was a high-class establishment, its entrance adorned with a colorful silk canopy decorated with floral and avian motifs, exuding grandeur.
Wei Xiong hesitated at the threshold. "Let’s just go home and cook. Why waste money here?"
"Father, we’re already here—let’s go in. What’s the point of pinching pennies all year if we never enjoy ourselves? Besides, we’ve had nothing but good news lately—I got into the Imperial Embroidery Academy, signed a contract with Brocade Pavilion—why shouldn’t we celebrate?" Jin Niang wasn’t wealthy, but she wanted her parents to broaden their horizons, to feel at ease in such places, and to savor good food.
She noticed the scars on her father’s hands from years of burns and steam from cooking.
At the table, her parents fidgeted nervously, especially her usually talkative mother, who seemed utterly out of her depth. Jin Niang smiled and said to the waiter, "Bring us the menu, please."
High-end taverns like this had several menus. Though it was her first time ordering, Jin Niang feigned composure and selected, "One serving of scallion-braised rabbit, lamb head skewers, three-delicacy soup, lychee-style kidneys, and three bowls of noodle-wrapped white meat with three servings of rice porridge."
The waiter noted everything down without missing a word and left.
Once he was gone, Luo Yu'e whispered, "This place is so grand—we’ve never been anywhere like this before. Even when your father was in the Imperial Guard, we only ever ate at modest taverns. Look at these pearl-studded curtains! And the rock garden we passed in the corridor—such a fine place!"
Jin Niang nodded. "Yes, I only learned about these places after coming to Bianjing. Back at the Zhou household, I was never allowed to go anywhere. From now on, once I start earning my wages, we can come here every month."
Money wasn’t meant to be hoarded—cutting expenses without increasing income was pointless.
The dishes arrived swiftly. Despite Wei Xiong’s earlier protests about eating at home, he now dug in with more enthusiasm than anyone. The scallion-braised rabbit was fragrant and numbing, tantalizing their taste buds so much that Jin Niang ordered more drinks.
The lamb skewers were Jin Niang’s favorite, so she saved half to take home for Younger Brother Yang. The three-delicacy soup, light and refreshing with tender bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and wolfberry leaves, had her parents asking for seconds. And the lychee-style kidneys—named not for actual lychees but for the diamond-shaped crosshatch cuts on the kidney’s surface—were so flavorful they made the rice disappear quickly.
"Father, is it good?" Jin Niang asked with a smile.
Wei Xiong rubbed his belly sheepishly. "Delicious. Never eaten anything like this before."
Luo Yu'e added, "No more fussing next time. We earn together, we spend together. Jin Niang, next meal’s on me."
The family of three ate until they could barely move, practically staggering out of the tavern. As the streets buzzed with noise, they hitched their cart and headed home.
Back in Foul Water Alley, Jin Niang took a sip of water and grimaced. "Foul Water Alley indeed—this water is foul." She then brewed some premium Hunan tea, a luxury she used to hoard, thinking it wasteful to enjoy herself. Now, she believed indulging was the least wasteful thing of all.
Luo Yu'e, who adored tea, poured herself a cup as well.
Wei Xiong, exhausted from driving the cart all morning, had already gone to rest. Luo Yu'e mused, "Your father’s never eaten so well in his life. Said it’s better than being the emperor! And me—I hardly ever ate well growing up. At home, your grandmother always served carrots, and pickles were a treat..."
Jin Niang tried to stay awake listening, but soon dozed off.
When she woke, it was dark outside. Younger Brother Yang had returned and was happily eating the leftovers they’d brought back. Jin Niang slipped on her shoes and checked his schoolwork, noticing how quiet he was and how mediocre his handwriting looked.
"Mother, once he’s done eating, have him recite his lessons and practice calligraphy," Jin Niang said.
Luo Yu'e patted her son’s shoulder. "Listen to your sister. Finish up quickly."
At the mention of studying, the usually obedient Younger Brother Yang dawdled, more interested in his toys. Jin Niang wouldn’t let him off. "I’ll light a lamp and do my needlework while you recite. I’ll recite with you."
In her past life, she’d been a humanities student with an excellent memory. Besides, she’d already memorized the texts her brother was struggling with.
For a transfer student like Younger Brother Yang, falling behind early could make it impossible to catch up later. This was the Northern Song Dynasty, where printing was advanced and literacy was highly valued. Knowing how to read wasn’t just about becoming an official—it made everything easier, from reading contracts to finding work or ordering at a tavern.
Jin Niang first went in to check the measurements she usually used for making clothes, slightly looser this time. Since these were ready-made garments, they needed to fit most people, like a standard size. For winter, she made long jackets lined with hemp scraps and silk floss—using pure cotton would make them too expensive, and people might not buy them.
This was the first time Luo Yu'e had seen Jin Niang cut fabric. In just a short while, she already had a clear idea of what she wanted to make.
Younger Brother Yang dawdled his way inside. He was the son Luo Yu'e had after ten years of marriage, so she doted on him excessively. Seeing him fussing about being sleepy, she said, "Maybe let him rest for a bit."
"No. If he doesn’t memorize it today, he’ll be lost in class tomorrow, and soon he’ll drop out. Look how thin he is—could he even help you make steamed buns? My father still has some strength left; he can drive a cart. Even Brother Sheng from Third Uncle’s family, who used to study in the village school and moved to Bianjing at ten, always ranked last. And Third Uncle, stingy as he is, still paid the teacher for extra tutoring." Jin Niang retorted impatiently.
Luo Yu'e had no choice but to leave her son there. Jin Niang helped him memorize the text. A child who usually took five or six days to learn an article managed to recite it in just two hours today.
The whole time, Jin Niang was busy with her embroidery patterns. This was the first garment she was making to sell—she couldn’t afford to be careless. She also kept an eye on her brother, and by the time he finished memorizing, it was already late at night.
The next day, Younger Brother Yang returned and said, "Mr. Gou praised me today. He said I was the only one who memorized it. Thank you, sister."
Jin Niang pinched her little brother’s cheek. The whole family supported each other. Her parents handled the chores and sent her wherever she needed to go, so she could focus on her needlework without worries. If her brother succeeded in the future, he’d be her support too.
"We’re family—no need for thanks. From now on, study here every day. I’ll help you memorize. Good habits start young. If you keep dragging your feet, you won’t accomplish anything, whether it’s studying or anything else." Jin Niang patted his head.
The clothes she had cut yesterday still needed embroidery. She heard it took about ten days to finish a set like this.
That evening, Luo Yu'e made duck soup. Jin Niang drank a bowl and said, "Tomorrow morning, I’m going to the Embroidery Academy. I won’t be back for lunch, so don’t wait for me."
Luo Yu'e replied, "Your father and I will knead the dough tonight and make some flatbreads for you to take tomorrow."
"Don’t trouble yourself. There are food vendors nearby. Either let Father bring me food tomorrow, or you can come yourself. But someone should stay home—thieves are everywhere around New Year’s." Jin Niang reminded her.
That night, Luo Yu'e said to Wei Xiong, "No other daughter worries as much as ours. She thinks of everything."
Wei Xiong didn’t respond, but his mind lingered on the memory of that spicy rabbit dish, smacking his lips unconsciously.
The next morning, Jin Niang got dressed and put on her wooden identification tag. Luo Yu'e cooked noodles for everyone, each bowl topped with a poached egg. After eating, they set out—first dropping off Younger Brother Yang at Mr. Gou’s place, then taking Jin Niang to the academy.
Jin Niang trudged through the snow and showed her tag to the gatekeeper before entering. The Embroidery Academy was overseen by a Director, an eighth-rank official who managed everything. Below him were one chief embroiderer, one head embroiderer, and four deputy head embroiderers.
The four deputies were in charge of landscapes, architecture, figures, and flowers-and-birds respectively. Jin Niang soon met their head embroiderer—Head Embroiderer Gu. She was fashionably dressed, her hair styled in multiple loops, a golden comb pinned in the center, and a silver-gilt phoenix hairpin slanting at the back. A crystal prayer bead necklace hung around her neck, and her clothes were splendid. The only person Jin Niang had seen who could compare was Madam Wu, the second wife of the Zhou family.
Back at the Zhou household, Jin Niang had been fortunate to have a good supervisor—Madam Chen. She was fair, didn’t cause trouble, and never bullied them. Their relationship had remained good for three years.
But this Head Embroiderer Gu… Jin Niang felt a slight social anxiety coming on.
Five newcomers were assigned to the flowers-and-birds embroidery division—two young married women in their twenties, one unmarried woman around the same age with her hair still down, and another very pretty girl about Jin Niang’s age.
Before Jin Niang could ask anything, Head Embroiderer Gu announced the arrangements: "For the first month, you’ll familiarize yourselves here. The first half, you’ll learn the rules and taboos. The second half, mornings will still be for that, but we’ll also have scholars from the Hanlin Academy teach you painting. Afternoons, you’ll train under experienced embroiderers. After that, you’ll start working on the embroidery frames."
The five of them didn’t dare object. They were led to a side room to wait for the instructress, who would teach them about etiquette and dress codes.
Jin Niang thought this must be like company training. She took out paper and pen as the instructress began: "There are four types of formal attire for imperial consorts: the ceremonial robe, the vermilion robe, the ritual robe, and the imperial robe. The empress wears the ceremonial robe for investitures, court assemblies, and major ceremonies. Consorts and the crown prince’s primary consort wear the ritual robe for court assemblies..."
"Everyday attire typically consists of a red wide-sleeved robe with a red floral gauze collar, a long red skirt, and a red embroidered cape with medicinal jade pendants. The red gauze overdress is paired with yellow or red sheer inner robes, white sheer trousers, a yellow skirt, and a pink sheer short jacket..."
The instructress lectured on, while Jin Niang took notes and yawned—it really felt like being back in school.
By noon, her stomach was growling. The Embroidery Academy didn’t provide meals, so people either brought their own food or went out to eat. Jin Niang and the other new embroiderers went out and spent six coins each on bowls of noodle soup. The broth was light but flavorful.
"Why doesn’t such a big place provide meals?" someone grumbled.
Jin Niang looked up—it was Third Sister Xu. Originally from Ji’an, her husband had been a county clerk. When the magistrate was promoted to the capital, her husband followed, but living in Bianjing was expensive, so she took this job to help with expenses.
Hearing her complaint, Jin Niang figured it was because they were part of the outer offices—the imperial court wouldn’t cover meals.
Head Embroiderer Gu had explained: "We used to eat here, but everyone complained about the food. So instead, you’ll get an extra five hundred coins for meals, three hundred for lodging, and two hundred for charcoal. That’s an extra string of cash every month."
That was a pleasant surprise.
At exactly five in the afternoon, they were dismissed. Jin Niang wasn’t used to it—back at the Zhou household, there was no such thing as "clocking out." Work was constant, and you had to be ready anytime.
At home, her mother had already prepared dinner. Life was much better now than in Jiangling. Three dishes were on the table: stir-fried preserved pork with crown daisy, steamed cabbage with rice flour, and a small plate of pickles. The family chatted cheerfully as they ate.
After finishing her meal, Jin Niang stood for a while before settling down to work on her sewing. Winter days were short, leaving only about two hours of daylight for needlework. Though she could still use the leftover candles from before, buying new ones would cost a hefty one hundred and fifty wen each, so she had to be frugal.
The outfit she was making consisted of a beizi (a traditional jacket), a pleated skirt, a stomacher, a decorative collar, padded trousers, and even matching phoenix-head shoes. It could be sold as a complete set or as separate pieces—all of which required painstaking effort.
Luo Yu'e watched her daughter and sighed. "Among all my daughters, only your eldest sister is truly fortunate. Her husband earns so well that she need only enjoy her life." She secretly wished for Jin Niang to find a good husband so she wouldn’t have to toil so hard.
But Jin Niang merely tilted her head and smiled. "Mother, life is too long to make such judgments too soon. When you married Father, he was an imperial guard with a high salary, and you only had to focus on raising me. Yet within a few years, our family fell into poverty. Mountains crumble, rivers run dry—why should I place all my hopes on someone else? Others take pride in who they marry, but I want them to take pride in marrying me."
