"Are you saying Aunt didn’t give a single coin as a reward?" Madam Jiang asked Yan Hong.
Yan Hong nodded. "Exactly. Jin Niang from the sewing room is renowned for her craftsmanship. She worked late into the night to finish the clothes and deliver them, even tripping on the way. But Aunt just pointed at her nose, criticized her work, and sent her away without a word."
Madam Jiang’s delicate brows furrowed. "For someone from a respectable family, she’s unbelievably harsh. Later, go quietly to the back quarters and give that girl two padded jackets. I remember an oversized goose-yellow silk jacket from last year and a blue Hangzhou satin one that was gifted to me—I’ve never worn either. Let her have them."
Yan Hong looked surprised. "You value her so much, giving away two jackets just like that."
Madam Jiang smiled. "Are you jealous? I have my reasons."
Some things couldn’t even be shared with Yan Hong. After all, maids like Yan Hong and Lü Ying dressed better than the daughters of minor officials. If Aunt dared to criticize her people, she would only elevate them further—making it clear that she knew Aunt had withheld rewards, and that the fault lay with Aunt, not her maids.
In time, when Aunt needed things done, the servants would drag their feet, and her position would become difficult.
Moreover, Madam Jiang had no desire for Aunt to return. If she stayed away, the family’s savings could be used as dowries for the daughters of the main branch. Otherwise, they’d have to spend money on her—something Madam Jiang refused to tolerate.
So, after Yan Hong delivered the two jackets to Jin Niang, she quietly spread the word about Aunt’s stinginess.
Jin Niang was overjoyed with the gifts and relieved that Fang Qiaolian had gone to her foster mother’s for a meal, while Qin Shuang'er and Jiang Shanjie were also out. She hid the jackets away, continuing to wear her old one.
On New Year’s Eve, the room was quiet and cold, but Jin Niang didn’t mind. She fetched hot water from the kitchen to bathe and wash her hair. As she was drying her hair halfway, Fang Qiaolian returned, even bringing her some warm chestnuts.
"Thank you," Jin Niang said with a smile.
Fang Qiaolian waved it off. "No need for thanks. Why don’t you follow my example and find a foster mother? You could stay here permanently."
Surprised that Fang Qiaolian had shared her plans, Jin Niang shook her head. "It’s different for me. My mother didn’t even want me coming to the capital. If I stayed, they might come looking for me. Does your foster mother take your money? Be careful with that."
Fang Qiaolian shrugged. "She tries, but I don’t let her. I give her a hundred coins a month to buy things I can’t easily get myself. Having this connection helps me make friends, too."
"That’s smart. Anyway, Lan Xue said there’s usually a New Year’s bonus—I wonder if we’ll get one?" Jin Niang wasn’t here to make friends; she was here to earn.
The Zhou Family, however, was generous. Even temporary maids like them received a bonus—two taels of silver. Senior maids like Yan Hong and Lü Ying got ten taels, skilled workers like Lan Xue five, along with handkerchiefs and fabric.
Back in the sewing room, Madam Chen gave each of them two hundred coins. Jin Niang and the others then gifted Xiao Si and He’er each a pouch with ten coins inside.
The festive mood was infectious.
With the New Year lull, the sewing room was quiet, and Jin Niang finally got a few days of rest.
When Lan Xue later brought her a torn dress to mend, she shared some gossip: "They say the eldest son of the second branch is gravely ill—they’re even preparing a coffin to ward off bad luck. But guess what? Second Madam is pregnant."
"Really?" Jin Niang pushed the needle with her thimble, surprised.
The last time she’d gone to Aunt’s, she’d glimpsed Second Madam Wu from afar—a woman in her early thirties.
Lan Xue fanned the small stove where she was brewing pear soup for Madam Jiang, alongside plates of beautifully arranged fresh and dried fruits. She popped a piece of pear into Jin Niang’s mouth. "Absolutely true. My sister works in the second branch—she got double the bonus this year. The second master is wealthy, and she usually gets more rewards than me. If Second Madam gives birth, she’ll get even more."
"What wonderful news," Jin Niang said, savoring the juicy pear. The affairs of the second branch didn’t concern them anyway.
Lan Xue’s jacket had a burn hole, so Jin Niang patched it with matching thread and embroidered a small flower over it. Delighted, Lan Xue gave her two extra pears and two tangerines.
When Jin Niang tried to refuse, Lan Xue insisted, "Take them. It’s not much, but it’s all I have."
Maids in wealthy households who rose to certain positions were masters of social graces. Thanks to Yan Hong’s earlier favor, Jin Niang had received two jackets. Now, she wondered what to give in return. Lan Xue’s gesture reminded her—instead of sending pastries Yan Hong might disdain, she could offer her skills.
So, she went to the east annex and bowed to Yan Hong. "Sister, I’m so grateful you spoke up for me with Madam Jiang, or I’d never have gotten those jackets. I’ve been wanting to repay you, but I have little to offer."
Yan Hong smiled. "I didn’t do it for you. Life isn’t easy for outsiders like you here."
"You’re too kind. But I’d be ungrateful if I didn’t return the favor. I have some leftover pearl-white satin from tailoring—may I borrow your shoe pattern? I’d like to embroider three-drunk hibiscus flowers on it. Would you prefer flat shoes or another style?"
Intrigued by the "three-drunk hibiscus" idea, Yan Hong agreed. "Flat shoes are best. We maids are always on our feet."
Jin Niang carefully noted her measurements and asked about any foot issues. Impressed by her attention to detail, Yan Hong praised her and added, "Take your time. You can give them to me after the Lantern Festival. And don’t come to the front too often these days—with the New Year visits from the master, the second young master, and Madam Jiang’s nephews, it’s easy to cause trouble."
Just as Jin Niang was about to agree, another maid rushed in. "Sister Yan Hong, Madam Jiang wants you. Miao Xiaoniang is pregnant."
Yan Hong, who had been so composed moments ago, abruptly stood. Jin Niang thought to herself—in modern times, people claimed ancient families didn’t distinguish much between legitimate and illegitimate children, but was that really true? Even today, who would tolerate a rival at their bedside? Yan Hong’s reaction said it all.
Jin Niang had initially assumed that Madam Jiang's displeasure stemmed from Miao Xiaoniang's pregnancy, and that the sewing room would soon be busy preparing clothes and shoes for the unborn child—whether a young master or young miss. Little did she know, this marked the beginning of the inner strife within the Zhou Family. Of course, that would become clear only later.
