Night had deepened, and Jin Niang closed her eyes, feeling as if she were back in her university dormitory. She had just paid off her mortgage early in her previous life, and her newly renovated house was ready—only for her to transmigrate before she could even move in.
Her past life hadn’t been much different from this one—a late bloomer. She had majored in a minor language in university but, fueled by her love for dramas, she ventured into screenwriting. Starting as an amateur, she eventually joined a studio. One of her scripts even gained modest popularity, only to be torn apart frame by frame by a small-time blogger.
To make matters worse, the drama starred a high-profile celebrity with a swarm of anti-fans, who amplified the criticism and ruined her hard-earned breakthrough. Still, she persevered, earning enough to rise from her humble origins as an ordinary girl from an unremarkable family to buying a home in a first-tier city.
Ah, back to square one.
But Jin Niang was no pushover. Over the past two years, she had been supporting her family. Her annual wages amounted to a little over eight strings of cash, plus occasional bonuses from the shopkeeper, bringing it to over ten strings. She sent five strings home and used the rest to learn tailoring from a seamstress, leaving her with only two strings to her name now.
She turned over and soon drifted into sleep.
Life on the boat was tedious. The constant rocking made reading or needlework impossible, leaving everyone to either nap or gossip. The He family had hired a cook, so meals were provided—lunch was a simple mix of rice with pickled cabbage and tofu, the latter gritty with sand. Jin Niang picked out the grains with her chopsticks.
Qin Shuang'er slammed her chopsticks down. "This is going to break my teeth!"
"Honestly, it’s worse than the wilted vegetables we got at the embroidery workshop," Fang Qiaolian agreed.
Jin Niang felt the same, but there was no helping it. She pulled out her mother’s homemade pickles to go with the meal. "Mm, my mom’s radish pickles are sweet and sour—perfect with this broth. So good."
Qin Shuang'er laughed helplessly. "How do you find everything delicious?"
Jin Niang smiled sheepishly. "I’m not picky at all. Even plain water makes me gain weight." It was true—she had once eaten nothing but pickles for a year, and though her mother scolded her, she never complained.
"Jin Niang, I saw you when you first joined the workshop. You were quite striking. If you slim down, you’ll be even prettier," Fang Qiaolian said earnestly.
Jin Niang shook her head with a smile. In her past life, she had been furious at gaining thirty pounds and swore to diet—only to realize that her extra padding had saved her from serious injury when a car hit her. After that, she embraced her body as long as she was healthy.
Besides, blending in with her plain looks might work to her advantage in the Zhou Mansion.
Just then, Jiang Shanjie returned from emptying the chamber pot and grumbled, "Turns out we’re getting the He family’s lowest-grade meals. The stewards heading to the Zhou Mansion get four dishes and a soup, Nanny Dou gets ten dishes, and even Madam Chen has several—I caught a glimpse of big, crispy meatballs."
("Crispy" was a local term for deep-fried until dry.)
The description made Jin Niang’s mouth water. Fang Qiaolian added, "We’re not even part of the He family—getting this much is already a favor. Only the head maids and personal attendants get better meals. I don’t know about the Zhou Mansion, but that’s how it works in the He household."
Of the four of them, only Fang Qiaolian’s mother had worked for a wealthy family, so she knew the rules best.
Even food was stratified. Fang Qiaolian continued, "There’s a difference between favored and unfavored masters too. Their allowances might look similar, but the details vary wildly. Their monthly pay might not be higher than ours, but they get hand-me-down clothes, jewelry, and bonuses—even covering weddings and funerals for their families."
The others gaped. Jin Niang understood the distinction—it was like the difference between government jobs and private companies. The former offered stability, high benefits, and security, while the latter paid more but lacked guarantees.
Traveling made everyone frugal. When the boat docked at Xiangzhou Prefecture in the Jingxi South Circuit, Jin Niang spent only one coin on two steamed buns as a treat, another on cough medicine, and a third on a handful of pickled vegetables.
After passing through the Jingxi South Circuit, they entered Henan and soon reached Bianjing. Disembarking, they switched to carts and took in the sights of the Eastern Capital. Colorful towers and festive arches lined the streets, with hosts greeting guests at every door. Waitresses in blue-flowered headscarves refilled wine and soup, and even the smaller taverns bustled with activity.
"Bianjing is so much livelier than Jiangling," Jiang Shanjie marveled.
Jin Niang nodded in agreement.
Crossing the main avenue, they turned north onto Horse Market Street, where rows of medical shops specialized in everything from obstetrics to pediatric care—even remedies for deafness. The physicians wore gold and purple robes, exuding prestige.
The girls longed to explore more, but they soon arrived at the Zhou Mansion in Magpie Lane.
Jin Niang adjusted her clothes. Before disembarking, they had all changed into their best outfits. Hers was a light-purple short jacket—not made of fox fur but repurposed from an old cotton coat—paired with a cream-colored skirt and a self-made purple sash. Her hair was styled in twin loops, simple yet elegant.
Qin Shuang'er, however, outshone them all in a gardenia-yellow jacket and apricot-yellow butterfly-embroidered skirt, her twin loops adorned with fluffy floral ornaments.
Unfortunately, their timing was poor. Madam Jiang, the Zhou matriarch, had left to mourn her cousin’s passing, taking even her personal attendants with her. Jin Niang and the other three embroiderers, along with Madam Chen, were left waiting in a cramped side courtyard.
Jin Niang had imagined feudal oppression as beatings or scoldings. Instead, from the moment they entered, they dared not speak out of turn, take an extra step, or protest the endless waiting.
The real oppression was being utterly ignored.
They waited, not daring to eat or drink for fear of needing the bathroom—and having no idea where to go.
Finally, in the afternoon, a girl in a green silk jacket and red satin skirt appeared at the gate, two gold hairpins glinting in her coiled-updo. She adjusted her collar but didn’t step inside. Madam Chen immediately rose to greet her. "My respects to you."
The young woman smiled and said, "You must be the embroiderer sent by Aunt He, right? I'm Yan Hong from Madam's household. She's just returned from the Jiang family and wishes to meet you all. You must be exhausted after such a long journey."
"Not at all. We came on an official boat, and the journey was quite smooth." Madam Chen made no mention of any shortcomings from the He family.
Yan Hong then led them forward. Jin Niang followed behind Madam Chen, her position reflecting her higher monthly wages compared to the other three. Before she could take in the Zhou Mansion's courtyards in detail, she already sensed that every brick, tile, plant, and tree here seemed extraordinarily refined.
Entering Madam Jiang's courtyard, a narrow path led straight to the main hall, flanked by lush greenery. The three main rooms were covered with bright Korean paper. Just past the entrance stood a carved red lacquer round screen inlaid with antique motifs. Behind the screen, a maid lifted a thick crimson woolen curtain, revealing a delicate ivory table bearing a celadon incense burner from the Longquan kiln, its fragrant smoke curling upward, filling the air with a sweet aroma.
Before Jin Niang could observe further, Yan Hong ahead curtsied and announced, "Madam, the embroiderers have arrived."
After Madam Chen led the group in kowtowing, she said, "This humble servant, Chen, pays respects to Madam."
"Rise, please rise quickly. I saw the embroidery work you did for the He family's eldest daughter—it was exquisite, and I adored it."
Madam Jiang, rumored to be nearing forty, wore her hair in a delicate coiled bun adorned with a white horn crown. Her oval face was lovely, and as she raised her hand, a floral-patterned bracelet glinted. Perhaps due to mourning attire, her clothing was simple—a plain satin cotton jacket with a pair of woven silk ribbons at the waist, the only hint of elegance.
Jin Niang stood with Madam Chen, who then introduced them: "Though these young ladies may seem youthful, they've been handling needles since they could speak. Their skills—cutting, stitching, embroidering—are all first-rate. Jin Niang excels in floral and avian embroidery, even sutra stitching. Qin Shuang'er, a master from Pingjiang Prefecture, crafts the most intricate 'Hundred Sons and Thousand Grandsons' quilts. Fang Qiaolian's 'Dragon and Phoenix' bedspreads sold out in Jiangling Prefecture last year. And Jiang Shanjie's landscape embroidery screens are renowned far and wide."
"Each of our households has seamstresses for minor repairs, but for garments, we usually hire outside embroiderers. Now that you're here, we needn't trouble others. With the New Year approaching, you'll handle the winter attire. If the work pleases me, I’ll reward you handsomely," Madam Jiang declared.
The group was delighted, and Jin Niang resolved to showcase her finest skills.
Yan Hong then arranged their lodgings—three rooms west of the rear annex behind Madam Jiang's main hall, with the central room serving as their embroidery workshop.
Yan Hong explained, "The rear annex houses those serving Madam. Your embroidery workshop is newly added. Next door is the tea room, while the eastern side has a two-story storage area. The privy is beside the storeroom. Meals are fetched from the main kitchen—two of you will take turns daily. You may collect a food hamper from me later. I reside in the eastern side chamber. Madam Chen, since these embroiderers are young maidens, they shouldn’t wander beyond the inner gate, and married women needn’t visit often."
Madam Chen murmured her assent.
Jin Niang thought Yan Hong was quite considerate—keeping married women away ensured no improper talk would reach the unmarried girls.
"The tea room handles brewing, serving snacks, and preparing medicine. For evening baths, fetch hot water from them—it’s convenient."
Yan Hong added, "Your five will handle only the main household’s needlework. The other households have their own staff. Yesterday, we bought ten new maids through Agent Wang—two will assist with laundry."
Jin Niang exclaimed, "Your household acquired so many maids?"
Yan Hong smiled. "Our main household has four young mistresses, all grown now and needing more attendants."
After Yan Hong left, the group marveled at their fortune. Soon, Yan Hong returned with a tall, slender maid named Lv Ying, both carrying bundles of clothing for them.
"I also serve Madam. You may call me Lv Ying," the tall maid said cheerfully.
The embroiderers chorused, "Sister Lv Ying."
Lv Ying smiled, exchanging a glance with Yan Hong. "Your arrival was sudden, so we weren’t fully prepared. Household maids receive two sets of spring-autumn and winter garments yearly. Madam, being generous, asked us to share some clothes with you. These are lightly worn—we hope you don’t mind."
The group hastily expressed gratitude. Jin Niang sighed in relief—they weren’t treated as outsiders, and the conditions seemed favorable.
She received silver-gray cotton trousers, a blue-lined jacket, and a gray-blue padded coat. The garments appeared nearly new, and she thanked them again.
After the senior maids left, the tea room sent over refreshments, apologizing, "You missed mealtime, so please make do for now."
Madam Chen thanked them and, once the door closed, addressed the embroiderers: "I’ll stay in the outer quarters. These two rooms are yours—Jin Niang and Fang Qiaolian in the inner chamber, Jiang Shanjie and Qin Shuang'er in the outer. You four came together from the same workshop. As you’ve seen, this official household is exceedingly kind. Excel in your work, and Madam may retain you permanently—a secure future. But if anyone falters, all suffer. Remember, we rise or fall together. Never say another’s mistakes don’t concern you—consequences are shared."
Jin Niang and the others nodded solemnly.
Madam Chen continued, "Don’t mistake Yan Hong and Lv Ying’s courtesy for unconditional kindness. They respect your skills. New maids who misbehave? I’ve seen them kneel on shards in the snow. Here, punishments spare no one."
Jin Niang understood—their value lay in their craft. The tea maids and senior attendants befriended them out of necessity. Had they been unskilled girls sold into service, they’d already be kneeling in punishment.
