After giving birth, Jin Niang truly understood how devastating childbirth could be for a woman. Despite having good nutrition, a stable mood, and decent living conditions, she still suffered both physically and mentally.
Outside, however, the atmosphere was jubilant. Jiang Xian rewarded Granny Kong and the maids who had attended to Jin Niang. He had always felt somewhat childlike himself, but upon seeing his daughter—her tiny, wrinkled face flushed red—a sense of responsibility surged within him.
"Granny Kong, how is my wife?" Jiang Xian asked.
Granny Kong smiled. "Both mother and child are well, so you needn’t worry." Still, she cautioned, "A woman’s body is fragile after childbirth. She must rest properly during her confinement."
Jiang Xian nodded repeatedly. "Don’t worry, I understand."
He immediately sent Liu Dou'er to summon Lou Siniang for the next morning. Lou Siniang was a female physician he had taken note of after Feng Sheng mentioned her. If not for Jin Niang’s nighttime delivery, a doctor would have already been on standby.
Hearing Jiang Xian’s arrangements from inside, Jin Niang felt somewhat reassured. As the saying goes, "It’s not the godlike opponent you should fear, but the pig-like teammate." Many claimed that since Jiang Xian was younger, she would suffer more in their marriage. But Jin Niang believed maturity had little to do with age and everything to do with wisdom.
From the way he had calmly resolved conflicts at twelve or thirteen to the meticulous care he took when preparing to marry her, his ability to adapt and his emotional maturity were evident.
Just then, he called for Juxiang: "Prepare some millet porridge with red dates."
Juxiang promptly replied, "Yes, my lord."
Before long, Lou Siniang arrived. Being a woman, she faced no restrictions, and Jin Niang felt comfortable discussing her ailments with her.
Lou Siniang advised, "You must observe your confinement properly—no strenuous activity, prolonged sitting, or needlework. Except for necessities, you should stay in bed. The lochia typically takes a month to clear, though some women may take ten days longer."
Though Lou Siniang was only modestly attractive, her confident demeanor and medical expertise won Jin Niang’s trust. She nodded. "Understood. What about dietary restrictions?"
Seeing Jin Niang’s exhaustion, Jiang Xian interjected, "Lou Siniang, you can explain it to me. My wife needs rest."
Lou Siniang was surprised—most men wouldn’t bother with such details. Yet Jiang Xian acted as though it were perfectly natural. She praised, "Master Jiang truly treasures his wife."
She then listed dietary guidelines: "Avoid overly bland or greasy food. Meals should be soft and porridge-like, preferably with chicken broth or minced meat for flavor. But even tasty dishes should be eaten in moderation to prevent indigestion."
She also covered bathing and other postpartum care. Jiang Xian listened attentively, especially when she added, "Madam Wei has suffered significant blood loss, leaving her emotionally fragile. She needs peace, particularly at night when solitude may bring anxiety and overthinking."
After Lou Siniang left, Jin Niang fell asleep. Jiang Xian kissed his wife’s forehead, instructed Ying and Minzhi to care for her, then went to announce the joyous news.
Master Jiang the Sixth was delighted. Madam Xu, ever the consummate performer, personally visited with generous gifts. Since her brother-in-law’s family had moved out, her cousin’s father-in-law had risen to a high official position and favored her husband. Talent mattered, but reputation was equally crucial.
Even Madam Xu treated Luo Yu'e with exaggerated courtesy, promising to welcome the family back once funeral debts were settled.
Luo Yu'e, no fool, knew her daughter preferred independence. She replied, "The young master is quite comfortable here. Rest assured, I’ll care for him as my own son."
As they spoke, Rongniang arrived with hand-me-down baby clothes and homemade diapers. Luo Yu'e said, "Perfect timing—the baby needs these. I’ll have them sent upstairs to the wet nurse."
Rongniang asked, "I heard Jin Niang hired a wet nurse?"
"Yes, for two years. She’s a peddler’s widow whose husband died suddenly, leaving her with a one-month-old. Though there were better candidates, Jin Niang took pity on her."
Privately, Rongniang thought breastfeeding would save money, but Jin Niang now carried herself as a noblewoman. She held her tongue.
Madam Xu wondered why they’d hire a wet nurse for only two years—were finances tight? Though she resented her late mother-in-law’s favoritism, she hoped her brother-in-law’s family remained solvent to avoid future pleas for help.
Before she could probe further, envoys from the Zhou Family, the maternal uncle’s household, and the Liu family arrived, requiring her attention.
Due to the mourning period, Jiang Xian skipped the traditional third-day baby celebration, though gifts poured in regardless.
Amid the outside bustle, Jin Niang focused solely on recovery. With the wet nurse, Luo Yu'e, and her parents tending the baby, she rested easy.
Her embroidery shop, Wei Family Embroidery, remained open, but she instructed Ying to withhold updates until after her confinement.
Jiang Xian, meanwhile, was busier than ever. Scholar Xiao frequently summoned him for academic discussions, yet he still checked on Jin Niang nightly, often sleeping in her room’s adjoining couch to ensure proper care.
His devotion didn’t go unnoticed. Third Miss witnessed his attentiveness and later recounted it to Fourth Miss Zhou.
Though they’d been distant as girls, shared struggles as married illegitimate daughters had brought them closer.
"That Jiang Xian is remarkably considerate. When I visited, he was personally overseeing porridge preparations. Who’d have thought?"
Fourth Miss Zhou chuckled. "Now that the brothers have separated, and with Wei Xiong’s wealth, he’s certainly bending his pride."
Nothing was truer than money’s allure, Third Miss agreed. "I’ve visited Wei Family Embroidery—not the largest shop, but their garments are exquisitely crafted. Even we can’t afford them often."
"Truly, are nobles and generals born to their stations? She's practically the poster child for rising above one's origins," thought Fourth Miss Zhou. If this were a farming novel, Wei Jin Niang could easily be the heroine.
Third Miss laughed. "What do you mean, 'are nobles born to their stations'? Though Sixteenth Master Jiang comes from an official family, his father and grandfather were commoners, and he himself holds no scholarly rank. Yet Jin Niang single-handedly built herself up—thousands of strings of cash in dowry, and I hear her embroidery shop now brings in fifty strings a month in profit. That’s nothing to scoff at, is it?"
Truth be told, Third Miss’s dowry wasn’t small either—five thousand strings in capital. After marrying Jiang Fang, her in-laws proved adept at managing wealth, and with her husband being an official, the whole family lived prosperously.
Yet even so, her assets were static, while Jin Niang’s money was alive and growing.
Fourth Miss Zhou gave an awkward smile of agreement, then heard Third Miss add, "Since your husband failed the provincial exams this time, don’t fret too much. He’s still young. If he passes next time, all will be well."
This was precisely what weighed on Fourth Miss Zhou’s mind. Sun Shichen, too, was the son of an official family, yet his failure in the exams had left him utterly dispirited.
Moreover, while the Sun family had sent money to the capital, renting a house alone cost ten strings a month—not to mention winter charcoal, summer ice, food, clothing, travel, even fetching water. Add in seasonal gifts, and how could three hundred taels possibly cover it all?
Take winter, for instance—a single fur coat cost sixty taels. Nothing came cheap.
As Fourth Miss Zhou grumbled about finances, Third Miss advised, "Whatever you do, don’t invest recklessly. I heard recently that Second Sister-in-Lady Zhang lost a fair sum. She lent two thousand strings to two merchants from Pingjiang Prefecture through one of her shops, and they vanished without a trace."
This tidbit had been secretly relayed by Madam Lü, who mentioned Lady Zhang didn’t dare make it public.
"Second Sister-in-law has grown increasingly money-obsessed," Fourth Miss Zhou mused. In her view, while the Zhou family’s circumstances weren’t what they once were, Lady Zhang had no real need for such sums. Now that she’d lost so much, she was likely in a foul mood—best to avoid visiting home for a while.
Meanwhile, Zhang the Ninth and his wife came to the Zhou residence to visit his elder sister, Lady Zhang. The siblings had always been close, and Lady Zhang’s spirits lifted slightly at the sight of her brother.
Zhang the Ninth asked, "Elder Sister, I came as soon as I heard you were ill. What exactly is the matter?"
Only in her brother’s presence did Lady Zhang confide her troubles. Zhang the Ninth frowned. "This is tricky. Official households are barred from lending at interest. Perhaps I could reach out to some old contacts in Pingjiang Prefecture."
"Forget it. Those two probably used false identities. Don’t breathe a word—if your brother-in-law finds out, I’ll never hear the end of it," Lady Zhang fretted, dreading her husband’s reprimand.
Zhang the Ninth conceded the point. Unable to linger in the inner quarters, he left his wife to keep Lady Zhang company.
Noticing her sister-in-law’s striking peacock-blue bodice and exquisitely embroidered outer robe, Lady Zhang complimented the attire. Her sister-in-law smiled. "This was a gift from Jiang Xian’s wife. She’s remarkably generous. Last time, when my husband went to their home for white Huai fish, I paid a visit and happened to hear her mention a merchant from Guazhou who’d ordered clothing but left before the agreed date. Since it fit me, she gave it to me."
"So it’s her. She’s grown quite lavish—back when she was just a maid in our household," Lady Zhang remarked dismissively.
Her sister-in-law found the comment improper. Jiang Xian was her husband’s good friend, and the couple had treated them with great kindness. Yet her sister-in-law spoke so rudely. Still, she held her tongue and steered the conversation elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Zhang the Ninth and Zhou Cunzhi discussed the newly crowned top scholar, Jiang Guyan, who would soon wed a daughter of the Song family.
"What a brilliant young man. Have you met him, Ninth Brother?" Zhou Cunzhi inquired.
Zhang the Ninth chuckled. "I haven’t had the pleasure, but Shushi (Jiang Xian) speaks highly of him."
Zhou Cunzhi looked puzzled. "How did Sixteenth Master Jiang come to know him?"
Zhang the Ninth shrugged. "I couldn’t say exactly."
Elsewhere, Jiang Xian was complaining to Jin Niang: "That top scholar Jiang seems to dislike my clothes—thinks they’re too extravagant. But how could I bear to take off this robe you made me? The embroidery is exquisite!"
Jin Niang was unfazed. "What then? Should I make you plainer clothes from now on?"
For her, it’d be a relief—just cutting a simple robe without embroidery would halve her workload.
At this, Jiang Xian gave her a wounded look, prompting Jin Niang to burst into laughter. She knew her husband too well—he was even more vain than she was.
"Fine, fine. I’ll make you something plain for your visits to the top scholar’s residence. But at home, my lord shall have only the finest, most beautiful robes I can craft," Jin Niang conceded. She rarely made men’s clothing, and what little she did was exclusively for her husband.
Satisfied, Jiang Xian then asked tenderly, "Has the milk dried up yet?"
"No, the worst is over now. Thank you," Jin Niang replied. She hadn’t anticipated how painful weaning would be. Lou Siniang had prescribed roasted barley sprouts to suppress lactation and Four-Substance Decoction to replenish her energy—all arranged by Jiang Xian himself.
Having nearly completed her month-long confinement, Jin Niang had weathered the worst physical trials. Lying idle all day, she’d actually regained some plumpness and strength.
But the family insisted she extend her confinement another ten days to fully recover. Reluctantly, Jin Niang agreed.
On the third day of the third month, the baby’s full moon celebration arrived. Jin Niang gazed at her daughter—now plump and fair after just a month, with round, sparkling eyes that melted hearts.
"Little Jun, have you come to see your mother?" Jin Niang kissed the baby’s soft cheek.
At one month old, Sister Jun alternated between feeding, sleeping, and basking in the sun—with copious diaper changes in between. Washing cloth diapers could occupy a servant full-time, but thankfully, Jin Niang was spared that chore.
She’d initially planned to breastfeed but reconsidered—the ordeal had been too much.
Now, with dedicated caretakers for the baby and herself focused on rest, she felt stronger than ever. The wet nurse was supervised by Luo Yu'e, so Jin Niang had no worries.
Only their purse had lightened considerably—fifteen taels for the wet nurse, plus Luo Yu'e’s monthly wage of three-tenths of a tael.
But these were necessary expenses, and fortunately, they could afford them.
In the half-year since their wedding, after all expenditures, they’d saved three hundred strings. Combined with rental income from their shop at Golden Beam Bridge, they now had eighteen hundred strings in ready cash.
At this rate, in two years they’d amass three thousand taels—enough to cover Jiang Xian’s potential official appointments and any necessary bribes.
With these thoughts in mind, she felt slightly reassured and soon fell asleep. The wet nurse quickly carried the child away.
At lunchtime, Juxiang brought over Citrus Days, shrimp-tofu, and two vegetable dishes. Jin Niang was well aware that indulging in gluttony led easily to weight gain, while losing it was far more difficult. Maintaining her figure was no simple feat, so she always remained cautious.
"Madam, what would you like for dinner?" Juxiang asked.
Jin Niang replied, "Just millet porridge, steamed fish, and two stir-fried vegetables."
"Understood," Juxiang nodded.
Having control over her meals was truly a blessing. If she had to eat the braised pork trotters, fatty meats, or marinated chicken her mother served, she’d likely relapse into old habits. Speaking of her mother, Luo Yu'e usually visited every afternoon to see the child, but today, there was no sign of her.
In truth, Luo Yu'e and Wei Xiong had been summoned to the Feng residence. When they arrived, Rongniang was kneeling on the floor, her mind in complete disarray.
Feng Sheng, however, remained composed. He first instructed the servants to close the doors, leaving only the four of them—Wei Xiong and his wife, along with Feng Sheng and his spouse—inside.
The gentle spring breeze outside made it the perfect season for outings, yet upon hearing Feng Sheng’s words, Wei Xiong and Luo Yu'e felt as though they had been plunged into an icy cellar.
"Uncle, Aunt, I’ve worked tirelessly to repay our debts ahead of time, never daring to rest even for a day. Even during the New Year, I was seeing patients. Yet, she—she’s been carrying on with a married man and was caught in the act." Feng Sheng wore an aggrieved expression.
Rongniang hurriedly defended herself, "No, that’s not true! I only went to make things clear with him."
"Then why were you embracing?" Feng Sheng countered sharply.
Rongniang’s lips trembled. Sensing trouble, Luo Yu'e interjected, "Rongniang, what exactly have you done? Speak up!"
Rongniang’s mind was a muddled mess. With little to occupy her time, she had often played leaf cards with others—first with women, then gradually with men joining in. One man, who shared her love for gardening, also delighted in simple, commoner’s fare—like the fifteen-copper bowl of offal stew they both relished. He was nothing like Feng Sheng.
Feng Sheng aspired to live among the elite and held himself to their standards. If he had extra money, he spent it on maintaining appearances. Rongniang preferred cheap rice wine at three coppers a cup, while Feng Sheng insisted on renowned brands like Huixianlou. She adored wildflowers, finding beauty in a simple earthen vase of chrysanthemums, whereas Feng Sheng only bought expensive blooms when guests visited.
It wasn’t that Rongniang loved the man—they simply shared interests. He had lavished attention on her, and though she initially resisted, his persistence wore her down. At a time when she felt constantly dismissed and belittled by her husband and sons, he was the only one who went out of his way to please her.
This time, it was because his family was moving away, and they would never see each other again. He had a pouch she had made, and she wanted it back to erase all traces of their past.
But then he said his final wish was just to hold her once, after which they would go their separate ways.
And as fate would have it, at that very moment, Feng Sheng—who was rarely home—and the man’s wife barged in. There was no explaining her way out of it.
Seeing Rongniang like this, Luo Yu'e and Wei Xiong exchanged uneasy glances. Caught in adultery, she was undeniably at fault.
Feng Sheng noted Luo Yu'e’s uncharacteristic silence. He knew that if Jin Niang were here, she might have stirred up more trouble, but Luo Yu'e lacked wit, and Wei Xiong was even less capable.
So he laid out his plan: "Uncle, Aunt, I paid a hundred strings of cash to silence the man and his wife. But Rongniang has cuckolded me—I can’t simply let this go."
Luo Yu'e frowned. "Nephew Feng, you know we’re only her uncle and aunt by relation. We can’t control her actions."
She feared Feng Sheng would demand they cover the hundred strings—absolutely out of the question. Her husband had already done much for Rongniang’s parents, yet Rongniang and Yingniang’s family had prospered more. Why should she spend money on a niece now?
Predictably, Wei Xiong stayed silent at the mention of money.
Feng Sheng had intended to broach another topic, but seeing their reluctance, he inwardly sighed in relief. He feigned reluctance before proposing, "Divorcing her would shame our children. So, I suggest a peaceful separation—you take her back."
"Take her back? Where to?" Luo Yu'e immediately refused.
Feng Sheng scoffed. "That’s your problem to solve."
There was no spare room in Sweetwater Alley, and even if there were, Luo Yu'e wouldn’t take in a divorced niece. Her daughter was in confinement, and her son-in-law had been sleeping in the study. What if Rongniang, desperate and without options, tried to seduce him?
A divorced woman with no refuge would naturally seek a protector—and who better than her handsome, talented son-in-law? She wouldn’t invite such a wolf into her home.
So Luo Yu'e snapped, "Impossible! We have no space, and Rongniang isn’t even my daughter—just a niece from a separate branch. Our families split long ago."
She turned to leave, then barked at Wei Xiong, "Why are you still standing there like a corpse?"
Seeing their resolve, Feng Sheng glanced at Rongniang and pretended to relent. "Wait. I know Jiang Xian lives in Sweetwater Alley. If word of Rongniang’s scandal spreads, Jin Niang will be ridiculed."
Luo Yu'e hadn’t considered this. Her daughter had married into an official’s family, mingling with high society. If people learned her cousin had been caught in adultery, how would they view her?
Her daughter was already a commoner who’d married into nobility. She turned back. "What do you propose?"
Feng Sheng said, "I have a compromise. Rongniang’s dowry remains untouched—she can remarry far away and take it with her. We’ll announce she drowned while visiting relatives. This way, my sons, your family, and even Rongniang benefit."
Luo Yu'e and Wei Xiong exchanged glances. Feng Sheng was being more than fair. "We agree. What does Rongniang say?"
"Rongniang, think of the children," Feng Sheng pressed.
……
The news of Rongniang’s drowning during her homecoming reached Jin Niang only after her confinement. She asked, "They say ‘see the body to believe the death.’ Did anyone actually see her corpse?"
"They identified it. Your brother-in-law did," Luo Yu'e said hastily.
Jin Niang asked again with confusion, "How could Eldest Sister go back to visit her family all alone? She’s really something. With bandits roaming both the waterways and roads, even I’d be afraid traveling here, let alone the three of you coming together."
Luo Yu'e finished helping her daughter bind her postpartum belly before replying, "It’s all because your grandmother sent someone with a message. Well, never mind that. Your brother-in-law Feng Sheng has always been a shrewd one. Now that your sister is gone, the ties between our families will likely break, so there’s no use talking about it anymore."
"Alright. I still need to check on the shop. After a month and a half of lying in, I don’t know how the business is doing." Jin Niang was clearly anxious.
Seeing her daughter drop the subject, Luo Yu'e secretly sighed in relief.
