Luo Yu'e and Wei Xiong, as Rongniang's only remaining elders, had to step in to mediate the situation. It must be said that Luo Yu'e was naturally hot-tempered, but after hearing both sides of the argument, even she found herself at a loss.
Rongniang claimed that after several quarrels with Feng Sheng, she had begun asking matchmakers to scout for potential new husbands—preferably from official families. Feng Sheng, on the other hand, accused Rongniang of growing too close to a minor clerk renting a room in their home, saying the two had developed an inappropriate bond.
Luo Yu'e, however, was preoccupied with her own daughter. Her daughter’s wedding was approaching, and if news spread that her cousin was divorcing, it would tarnish her daughter’s reputation. Besides, society always favored reconciliation over separation.
So, she resorted to her trump card: "Do you two think you can just act on your whims without considering the consequences? What about Brother Lin and Brother Guan? Feng Sheng, you’re a man of the world—I may not understand grand principles, but I know this: hearts are hidden behind flesh and bone. Can a stepmother truly love children not her own? And Rongniang, let me speak plainly—you’ve always been too generous, so much so that you’ve lost all sense of boundaries. Your parents are gone, and the only blood ties you have left are your two sons. Can you really bear to abandon them?"
Feng Sheng responded, "Aunt Luo, I don’t seek a wife from an official family—just one who understands duty. Rongniang is too lenient with the children. She’s never earned a single coin and doesn’t know how hard it is to establish oneself in the capital."
"You always say that," Rongniang shot back, "but do you think success comes overnight? Brother Lin has a scholar’s mind, but Brother Guan is frail. Must you force him into studies without regard for his health?"
Truthfully, ever since Feng Sheng fell ill once, he had sensed Rongniang’s growing impatience with him, and his heart had begun to waver. Meanwhile, Rongniang had found solace in the widowed clerk…
Luo Yu'e, having lived through such struggles herself, knew that couples often united in hardship but grew restless once life improved and options arose.
Watching them argue, she could only sigh and rub her temples.
Had Rongniang not truly considered divorce, she would never have confided such private matters to outsiders—especially not to her uncle and aunt, with whom she was not particularly close.
Seeing the stalemate, Luo Yu'e and her husband decided to take Rongniang home for the night, both to give her time to cool off and to avoid being stuck there themselves—they had an early morning ahead.
When they returned, Jin Niang was in the middle of charming a customer, her face animated: "You see, without the shawl, the outfit looks rather plain—just a simple skirt. But add the shawl, and suddenly there’s an air of elegance. You don’t even need to buy ours—if you have something similar at home, use that instead. It’ll save you money."
The customer clasped Jin Niang’s hands gratefully. "Thank you so much! You’ve styled my hair and helped me pick the perfect outfit. I do have a goose-yellow shawl at home…"
"Then I’d suggest switching to white," Jin Niang advised. "You’ve already spent so much on this ensemble—why hesitate over a shawl? If you must, go home and look again, but white is the way to go."
The customer hesitated, then nodded firmly. "Alright, I’ll take the shawl as well."
Jin Niang beamed. "Perfect! One bodice, one narrow-sleeved jacket, one pleated skirt, and one shawl—with eight embroidered motifs. The bodice features parrots and magnolias, and the jacket’s collar will mirror the design. All fabrics are of the highest quality. The total comes to twenty strings of cash, and it’ll be ready in about twenty days."
The customer paid without complaint, and Jin Niang handed her a receipt with a smile. "Keep this safe—we honor receipts, not faces."
…
Watching from the side, Rongniang realized just how shrewd her sister was in business—appearing accommodating while subtly steering the customer toward a major purchase.
Jin Niang had waited all day for a sale, and now, out of nowhere, a big spender had arrived.
When she noticed Rongniang’s return, Jin Niang didn’t pry into the divorce rumors. Instead, she cut straight to practicality: "If you’re divorcing, Sister, where will you live? How will you eat? And you’re still young—if you remarry, how will your dowry be divided? Have you thought this through?"
Rongniang fell silent.
The sisters now shared a bed, and Rongniang couldn’t help but notice the new mother-of-pearl vanity case on Jin Niang’s dressing table and the extra trunks piled on the floor.
So she asked something entirely unrelated: "How much dowry have you prepared?"
Jin Niang didn’t evade the question. "I’ll need at least thirty-six trunks. Soon, another batch of my belongings will arrive—seasonal clothes, fabrics, porcelain, jewelry, bamboo wares, and more. I’ve saved for it all myself. Truthfully, I’m still short, so I’ll have to work harder."
"That much?" Rongniang gasped.
Jin Niang laughed. "Elder Sister, a dowry is a woman’s security. And it’s all my own earnings. That’s why I asked—what are your plans after the divorce?"
"I… I haven’t thought it through," Rongniang admitted. She simply didn’t love Feng Sheng anymore but hadn’t considered the rest.
Jin Niang sighed. "Elder Sister, relying on mountains means they’ll crumble; relying on rivers means they’ll dry up. Look at me—I’m about to marry, but if things go sour later, I’ll still have my shops and property. I could raise children alone if I had to. I don’t need anyone to survive. But what about you? That clerk is already thirty and rents a room in your house. Even if he’s kind, poverty breeds strife. Changing men won’t solve your problems unless you figure out how to stand on your own."
Such long-term thinking had never crossed Rongniang’s mind. She had never believed herself capable of such independence.
She wavered. "But I’m not like you—I can’t embroider. I don’t have any skills!"
"Nonsense! You’re an excellent cook, and you make your own rouge," Jin Niang countered with a chuckle.
Rongniang’s resolve flickered between determination and defeat, leaving her dazed.
In the Northern Song Dynasty, advocating for women’s independence was delicate—Jin Niang could only hint at it. Even in the modern era, many women struggled with self-reliance. But at the very least, she could help her sister see the path ahead.
Rongniang sighed. "Your brother-in-law knows I don’t care for money, so he entrusted me with the deeds. But we don’t have much cash—most goes toward repaying debts. Aside from the house, there’s little to divide."
"Sister, that’s not the way to look at it," Jin Niang pressed. "If you truly want a divorce, make sure the house is sold and the proceeds split fairly. And decide who keeps the children—don’t leave it vague."
After a long silence, Rongniang finally admitted, "Jin Niang, you’re right. I haven’t thought any of this through. I’ve been too impulsive."
"Elder Sister, since you've come to your senses, when you return to the Feng household, consider what I said about securing your livelihood. When the time is right, you'll understand how to live freely."
The next day, Jin Niang had Wei Xiong and Luo Yu'e approach Feng Sheng again, asking whether he had thought about how property would be divided in case of separation and how the children would be raised. Feng Sheng was startled—were the property deeds all with Rongniang?
At this moment, Wei Xiong stepped forward and said, "It seems neither of you has thought this through. Perhaps I should persuade Rongniang—it’s better for you two to stay together and make things work."
Feng Sheng finally came to his senses and, for the first time, sincerely thanked Wei Xiong.
It was said that after Rongniang returned home, she initially wanted to learn cooking, but realizing that culinary skills were often mastered from childhood and true masters were hard to find, she instead took up making scented powders.
Of course, these were matters for later. After Jin Niang’s family saw Rongniang off, Jin Niang spent eight days rushing to finish a set of embroidery, only to realize she had already completed all her own embroidered shoes the previous month but forgotten the needlework gifts for the groom’s family. On the day after the wedding, she was expected to present colored silks and needlework to the elders.
These needlework gifts included shoes, pillows, pouches, fan cases, and more.
"No, there’s no time now. I’ll just stitch a few shoe uppers, take some patterns, and ask the young nun Jing An from the front to make them for me. As for the pouches and fan cases, I’ll buy some from Brocade Pavilion and Cloud Hair Tower—it won’t cost much." Jin Niang had no intention of exhausting herself over this.
Her goal was to earn five hundred strings of cash—that was the agreement before marriage. Any extra she earned would be her own. But she refused to ruin her health making needlework for elders she might not see for years. Buying them wasn’t expensive anyway.
Last year, when the betrothal was settled, she had already sent shoes, so she thought she wouldn’t need to send more. Who knew they still expected them?
Ying gave Nun Jing An three mace of silver, instructing, "This pair in orange should have plum blossoms and bamboo leaves embroidered, made into bow shoes. The purple satin ones should have orchid patterns, also bow shoes. The black and red satin pairs should be 'Misstep' shoes, and another pair should be 'Phoenix Head' slippers. Also, embroider eight pairs of silk socks."
Jing An was timid—her needlework was often taken and sold by her senior sisters without her receiving payment. Jin Niang knew this, so she had Ying give the money directly to Jing An and even sent her a box of chestnut cakes.
"Please thank Madam Wei for me," Jing An said.
Ying smiled. "If you do well this time, our young lady will surely hire you again in the future. But you must work quickly."
Jing An nodded earnestly. "Don’t worry, I’ll finish them as fast as I can."
With the shoes settled, Jin Niang went to Cloud Hair Tower but found the styles there, though exquisite, were outdated. She had no choice but to return to her old haunt, Brocade Pavilion. High-quality pouches cost a hundred coins each—she bought two pairs, one for Sixth Madam Jiang and one for Madam Xu. Mid-grade fan cases for her father-in-law were sixty coins apiece, so she bought six. With the remaining few hundred coins, she bought six low-grade pouches at thirty coins each.
One string and three mace—everything was settled.
As for Jin Niang herself, after finishing a twenty-string embroidery commission, she took on two more jobs for narrow-sleeved jackets, earning four strings in total.
The fashionable furniture had arrived and was placed under the corridor, covered with cloth to keep off dust.
Of course, her parents were also busy with wedding preparations—Luo Yu'e hired sedan carriers for the dowry procession, arranged the wedding banquet, prepared sweets, and decorated the house.
The date was already the eighteenth of the third month—just ten days until Jin Niang’s wedding.
But she was still nine strings short.
She recalled seeing people wearing draped shawls a few days earlier. Some disliked wearing a dudou under a jacket, preferring a ruqun paired with a shawl. Coincidentally, she still had a bolt of white crepe with lotus patterns.
With a plum-green floral blouse, a rose-red heart-patterned underrobe, and a pomegranate-red skirt embroidered with grapes and parrots, the shawl would complete the look—elegant and noble, like a classical beauty.
"If this set doesn’t sell, I can always wear it myself," Jin Niang told Ying.
Ying laughed. "Somehow, other brides worry about how to settle in after marriage or how the wedding will go, but all you think about is making money."
"I have to keep at it. If I think marriage means I can rest easy forever, I’m doomed," Jin Niang replied.
After some banter, Juxiang brought over chicken soup. Jin Niang had her sit for a while, reminding her, "In a few days, we’ll move to the Jiang household. You’ll need to pack your things—you’re coming with me."
Juxiang had originally been a maid, but after coming to the Wei household, she had worked in the kitchen, enjoying her freedom. Now that she was to follow Jin Niang to the Jiangs, she felt unsure. "What will I do there?"
Ying glanced at her. "Naturally, serve our young lady. In a few days, we’ll prepare the bridal chamber and send over the dowry—won’t you need to guard it? Though the eldest and third young ladies are her sisters, they might not be diligent. It’ll be up to us."
Juxiang nodded, finally understanding her role.
Sure enough, when Luo Yu'e mentioned preparing the bridal chamber at the Jiangs, Rongniang—who had once threatened separation but was persuaded by Jin Niang—proved helpful. She agreed at once, assuring Luo Yu'e, "Don’t worry, I’ll keep watch in the bridal chamber."
Ying Niang had initially agreed but backed out upon hearing she’d have to stay overnight, finding it too troublesome.
"Truthfully, Rongniang isn’t a bad sort. Ying Niang, though—she talks sweetly but never lifts a finger," Luo Yu'e sighed.
After all, when Ying Niang married, Wei Xiong had rushed about handling everything for her.
Jin Niang smiled. "I’ve long known what she’s like. I never expected much from my elder sister anyway—Juxiang and Ying can handle the chamber preparations."
Luo Yu'e sighed. "Our family is small—we have to do everything ourselves. The Jiangs are better off, with more hands to help."
The Jiang household did have many members, but helpers were scarce. Madam Xu, noticing the wedding awning was crooked, hurriedly ordered, "Straighten that at once!"
Soon after, Sixth Madam Jiang’s maid came over. "Eighth Madam, Her Ladyship asks if the dowry display items are ready. She wants to see them."
Madam Xu smiled. "Don’t worry, they’re prepared."
The maid left, satisfied.
Madam Xu couldn't help counting on her fingers: "The gold-embroidered bridal veil must be from Desheng Tower—one piece alone costs nineteen strings of cash. Then there’s the top-tier floral headdress, which cost four strings, and the six boxes of scented powder from Xiangfen Tower, each small box priced at three hundred coins. Just the dowry gifts alone cost over twenty strings."
Everything had to be of the finest quality, but the family’s funds were limited.
Not to mention the wedding banquet expenses, yet she dared not cut corners in front of her mother-in-law, who was shrewd herself.
In her youth, her father used to hold her on his lap while teaching her to write, and her calligraphy had been excellent. But now, her days were consumed by the daily grind—firewood, rice, oil, salt—leaving no leisure for such pursuits.
Still, as the eldest daughter-in-law of the sixth branch, she couldn’t afford to give anyone cause for criticism.
On the way, she happened to meet Jiang Xian. Madam Xu smiled and asked, "Where has Sixteenth Brother returned from?"
Jiang Xian replied cheerfully, "From Scholar Huang’s residence. I must thank my sister-in-law for all the effort you’ve put into arranging the wedding. You’ve worked hard."
"Sixteenth Brother, you’re too kind. We’re family—no need for formalities," Madam Xu said warmly.
Jiang Xian clasped his hands in salute. "Then I won’t keep you. I must go pay my respects to Mother."
Madam Xu returned the gesture. "By all means."
Jiang Xian then went to see Sixth Madam Jiang and added, "Though I haven’t formally become Scholar Huang’s disciple, I did resolve a pressing matter for his elder brother. It’s only a matter of time before I’m accepted. Rest assured, Mother, my studies won’t fall behind."
"Good. I know your capabilities. But your father and elder brothers have toiled for years on this path—the imperial examinations are no easy feat. Don’t push yourself too hard," Sixth Madam Jiang advised. Though she herself was ambitious, she had come to accept that success and failure were often matters of fate.
After some private conversation, Sixth Madam Jiang said, "In a few days, your bride will enter our household. You should spend more time with her."
Jiang Xian hesitated. "But I’m at a critical juncture in securing a mentor. If I stay home too often, I might lose this opportunity."
Sixth Madam Jiang thought to herself: Eighth Brother’s wife, Madam Xu, was the one obsessed with scholarly honors; Tenth Brother, who had been adopted out, was naturally brilliant—a born genius. But Sixteenth Brother? His ambition needed no prodding from others.
Still, she didn’t press further. Instead, she remarked, "Your fifteenth cousin married at the end of last year. His wife is as lazy as a snake—can’t cook a decent soup, her needlework is shoddy, and she needs to be roused four or five times just to get out of bed. Your Seventh Aunt emptied the family coffers to marry that daughter of a poor official, and now the girl keeps demanding hairpins one day, new clothes the next. They’re at their wits’ end—why, she was just here complaining for ages before leaving."
During the matchmaking, Madam Jiang the Seventh had been delighted—the girl was fair-skinned, elegant, well-read, and skilled in tea and incense. Who could have guessed she’d turn out like this?
Jiang Xian chuckled. "They say ‘all that glitters is not gold.’ I’ve heard of down-and-out gentry sons who pawn family heirlooms just to appear respectable for marriage. Women do it; men do it too. Thankfully, Mother has an eye for character. Miss Wei isn’t that sort."
"Of course not. Second Madam Zhou told me how, back in the Zhou household, Fourth Brother once ate something wrong and turned crimson—no one dared take responsibility. But Jin Niang saved him. When asked later if she’d been afraid, she said she hadn’t even thought about it—she just acted," Sixth Madam Jiang praised.
This made Jiang Xian all the more eager.
——
Meanwhile, Jin Niang had just sold an embroidered collar she’d finished. Looking up, she noticed a customer eyeing the robe she wore.
"Do you have other styles of pei scarves like this one?"
"Certainly. Here’s my design portfolio—please take a look."
Jin Niang handed over the book with a smile. The customer flipped through the pages, visibly impressed. "In that case, could I order one of each? I’ll take all five sets. As a woman yourself, you understand how ill-fitting these breast wraps can be."
Without modern shapewear, those with less natural curves and narrow shoulders faced sartorial disasters.
"Of course. I’ll have them delivered to your home by the twenty-seventh," Jin Niang said.
The customer frowned. "Why the twenty-seventh?"
Jin Niang smiled. "Because on the twenty-eighth, I’ll be getting married."
The five sets, minus material costs, would net her forty strings of cash. Finishing them in seven days would be grueling, but at least these required no embroidery—just skillful assembly.
She measured the customer meticulously and set to work at once. Who’d have thought this slow March would end with such a windfall?
The customer paid half upfront—twenty strings—with the rest due upon delivery. Still, Jin Niang had already exceeded her goal.
Between stitches, she instructed Ying which quilts to lay on the bed and which covers to use.
Three days before the wedding, the Jiangs sent the bridal headdress, gold-embroidered veil, "five boys and two girls" fans, scented powder, neck-washing herbs, and painted money-fruits as part of the dowry procession. In return, Jin Niang sent back gold and silver victory charms, a silk floral cap, a green robe, boots, and an official’s tablet.
The day before the ceremony, Ying and Juxiang accompanied Rongniang to deliver the dowry to the Jiang residence. The betrothal agreement had already listed the trousseau, but now every item was meticulously accounted for.
The Jiang family gathered to witness. Leading the procession were ten red-lacquered chests. Ying unlocked the first, revealing layers of seasonal robes in silk, damask, and gauze—so tightly packed one couldn’t slide a hand between them.
Only after the Jiang steward recorded everything did Ying relock the chests for transfer to the bridal chamber.
Next came furniture, bamboo ware, porcelain, followed by bedding—six sets each of quilts and covers, eight bamboo mats, twelve door curtains, two brocade canopies, two gauze canopies, two silk canopies...
Originally planned as thirty-six loads, the dowry had swelled to forty. Then came bolts of silk (three loads), followed by jewelry: a nine-piece gold filigree headdress set with gems, then boxes brimming with hairpins, combs, rings, earrings, bracelets, and more—not counting the Jiangs’ own gifts. The final two loads held deeds to houses and land.
Madam Xu thought ruefully, I underestimated Miss Wei. Forty-eight loads—when I married in, I brought only thirty.
There was also a dowry reserve of one thousand strings of silver, all brought over.
Even Madam Jiang the Eldest remarked, "By my estimate, the bride’s trousseau must be worth three to four thousand taels of silver."
Everyone gasped in astonishment. Madam Jiang the Seventh turned to Sixth Madam Jiang and remarked, "Back when the Zhou family betrothed their daughter to Brother Guan, I attended the ceremony too. If I recall correctly, the dowry was only five thousand taels."
Sixth Madam Jiang chuckled.
Meanwhile, Jin Niang was waiting at home for the tailor to deliver her new garments. After paying the remaining twenty strings of cash, she finally tallied up her accounts. To her amazement, she had accomplished what seemed impossible—not only had she earned five hundred strings for her dowry, but she even had thirty extra strings to spare.
Seeing the gleam in Jin Niang’s eyes, Chen Xiaolang thought to himself, Our young mistress never looked this thrilled even when she saw Young Master Jiang. Turns out, money truly is the closest to her heart.
