By the time Ziteng had learned most of the household rules, it was already the twelfth lunar month. Qingrong, Minzhi, and Peilan, who were skilled in needlework, were all helping Ying sew quilts and bedding.
Jin Niang was busy making three jackets for Brother Ning—one double-layered silk-padded robe, one bright red front-closing sheepskin jacket printed with golden ruyi patterns, and another bluish-green fox-fur sleeve coat. There was no helping it—the boy had previously worn hand-me-downs from his elder sister, but now that he was three and becoming more aware, he needed proper clothes of his own.
As for Sister Jun, Jin Niang had to spend more time embroidering for her, and since she still had last year’s jackets to wear, Jin Niang put her work aside for later.
"Mother, I’ve memorized this Yuefu poem," Sister Jun said, bringing over the book.
After listening to her recite it, Jin Niang had Ying serve her a bowl of almond paste. "To soothe your throat. Would you like anything else to eat?"
Sister Jun shook her head. "I want to do needlework with you, Mother. Could you draw a little rabbit for me?"
Jin Niang naturally agreed to her daughter’s request, though she couldn’t help worrying inwardly about where Jiang Xian’s transfer order would place them next year. She would have to find a tutor for Sister Jun—she couldn’t keep teaching her half-heartedly herself.
The mother and daughter worked together until the afternoon when Jiang Xian stepped into the house, brushing off the snow. The warmth of the room enveloped him. He took off his crane-feather cloak, which Qingrong hung aside, while Ziteng prepared tea.
"As the year-end approaches, thieves have grown bolder. County Captain Mei has been more diligent lately—he told me earlier he’d be patrolling at night," Jiang Xian said, sipping the hot tea and feeling much more comfortable.
Jin Niang bit off a thread and remarked, "Madam Tian mentioned that the military commissioner has passed away. If he doesn’t work harder, who knows where he’ll be reassigned."
The Song Dynasty had always favored scholars over military men, and County Captain Mei wasn’t from a proper military background. He usually relied on underhanded income, but now that his patron was gone, he was eager to prove his worth, hoping to secure another term and make more money.
Seeing that County Captain Mei was afraid he might steal credit, Jiang Xian decided to return home early. After all, he had already solved several major cases during his tenure, and his work at the county school had been outstanding.
"I had the kitchen prepare boxiagong—let’s eat it while it’s hot," Jin Niang said with a smile.
Jiang Xian rubbed his hands together and asked for Brother Ning to be brought over. The boy disliked being led by others, so he came running on his own, his little feet pattering across the floor. Today, he was wearing the new sheepskin jacket Jin Niang had just finished—bright red and full of festive cheer. Jiang Xian couldn’t help feeling delighted as he lifted his son onto his lap.
In the past, he had also held Sister Jun this way, but now that she was nearly seven, she was too old for such fatherly affection—a girl must keep a distance from her father as she grew.
"Brother Ning, what did you learn today?" Jiang Xian asked.
Jin Niang handed him the illustrated book, and Jiang Xian let his son flip through it. When he pointed to a painting of peach blossoms, Brother Ning recited in his childish voice:
"Fisherman’s Song by Zhang Zhihe of the Tang Dynasty:
Before the western hills, white egrets fly,
Peach blossoms flow, mandarin fish grow fat.
Green bamboo hat, a straw cloak worn,
In slanting wind and rain, no need to hurry home."
Listening to his son’s recitation, Jiang Xian stroked the boy’s head. "Once the transfer order comes next year, I’ll hire a tutor for both of them."
"That’s fine, but isn’t Brother Ning still too young?" In Jin Niang’s mind, a three-year-old was barely out of infancy.
Jiang Xian shook his head. "He’ll be four next year. If we wait another two years, who knows where we’ll be posted? Besides, Brother Ning will have to take the imperial exams one day—I started learning at three myself."
Jin Niang huffed. "You never say the same for our daughter."
"It’s not that I don’t think so, but even if you hire a tutor for her, she’ll only learn Classic of Filial Piety for Women, Admonitions for Women, and Domestic Regulations. It’d be better if she studied the same books as Brother Ning—the same curriculum as boys."
Jin Niang wasn’t sure if this was just an excuse, but she knew that since women couldn’t take the imperial exams, their education was indeed limited to such texts.
For now, she set the matter aside. After dinner, she spoke with Nanny Fang about Xi Qiu’s situation. "She’s two years older than Ying—I wonder what she’s thinking?"
Uneven treatment bred discontent. Xi Qiu was meant to be Sister Jun’s future maidservant. Though not the most capable, she was at least honest and reliable.
Nanny Fang said, "I’ll ask her and find out."
Xi Qiu, of course, wanted to marry, but there were few eligible men in the household, and she wasn’t as quick-witted as Minzhi. With a sigh, she resigned herself to waiting.
Seeing this, Nanny Fang smiled. "If you’re willing, Madam will arrange it for you."
Xi Qiu naturally agreed. Jin Niang recalled Steward Fan’s nephew from the estate—she hadn’t realized his capabilities until their last visit. Since Steward Fan was getting older, his son and nephew now managed most of the minor affairs.
Jin Niang had Ying ask Liu Dou'er about Fan the Fourth. Ying’s inquiries yielded a thorough answer: he was capable but orphaned and too poor to afford a wife.
The matter would have to wait until Steward Fan was consulted, but at least Xi Qiu now had some reassurance.
Ying married the day before Minor New Year. As Jin Niang’s personal maid, Ying had always been careless with money, so Jin Niang had forced her to save. Over the years, Ying had accumulated fifty strings of cash in wages and rewards, three chests of clothes, one chest of fabric, a case of jewelry, two boxes of silk flowers, and countless shoes and socks.
The next day, the newlyweds came to kowtow. Jin Niang noticed Liu Dou'er had tied his hair neatly with a kerchief and dressed more formally, while Ying’s smile was radiant.
Jin Niang smiled and bade them rise. Ying would continue serving during the day but return home at night—little would change. Ziteng could now enter the inner quarters, but she still had to start with menial tasks.
The commotion reached Madam Bao’s ears. She had won another battle in the inner courtyard, but her victory was incomplete—the little hussy she had planned to sell off turned out to be pregnant. County Captain Mei, who had no children, couldn’t bear to part with her. Madam Bao touched her own belly—if only she could conceive.
Qiao'er brought over a bowl of tonic. "Madam, your medicine is ready."
Madam Bao pinched her nose and drank it, then muttered, "What’s the use when my husband isn’t even home?"
Then she thought of Jiang Xian’s son and couldn’t help remarking, "Look at how well that child is raised. Madam Tian’s Dong’er is always sickly, but Brother Ning is plump and sturdy—he hardly ever catches a chill. Last time I saw him in the garden, he stomped on a bug with such vigor!"
Over time, Madam Bao’s resentment toward Jin Niang had lessened—not because she was kind or forgiving, but because she knew she was no match for her.
Wei Jinniang wasn’t like Madam Tian, who squandered money carelessly. She had wealth, influence, and methods—who wouldn’t fear her?
After the Minor New Year, Ying returned to work. She hadn’t changed much, except now she made sure to bring back a portion of the pastries gifted by Jin Niang for Liu Dou'er—she had one more person to care for.
By the warm charcoal fire, Jin Niang’s hands no longer stiffened from the cold as she continued embroidering a collar for her daughter. She then instructed Nanny Fang, "This trip to Yangzhou will trouble you, old mother."
Last September, Dou Yuan, the daughter of Aunt Dou in Yangzhou, had been betrothed, and by the end of the year, she would be sent off to Daming Prefecture for her wedding. With the bitter winter cold, Jin Niang couldn’t make the journey herself, so she arranged for Nanny Fang and Young Master Chen to deliver the gifts instead.
Nanny Fang smiled. "You flatter me, madam."
Ying opened the chest and brought out the carefully prepared wedding gifts. Nanny Fang noticed each box was labeled with tags—proof of Jin Niang’s meticulousness. She then sought out Young Master Chen and, along with the guards hired by Jiang Xian in Wu County, set off for Yangzhou.
Jin Niang used the gift lists to teach Sister Jun, pointing to the characters. She also took out several different invitation cards and explained, "These are door cards. Some are made of red silk, embroidered with gold thread for names, while others use luxurious brocade with crimson velvet thread—typically used by lower-ranking officials paying respects to those above them, often those beneath your father’s rank. Notice the terms like ‘humble junior’ or ‘late learner.’"
Sister Jun memorized this silently before pointing at a white one. "Mother, what’s this?"
"That’s an invitation card, used for hosting banquets. The envelope is made of plain white paper, about half a foot wide and a foot long, folded into an envelope shape. A red slip is pasted vertically in the center, bearing the guest’s name and title. Inside, there’s a smaller white sheet—the actual invitation—which states the reason, time, location, and formalities for the gathering. The sender’s name and rank are signed at the end."
When Jin Niang first left Bianjing, she knew little of official customs, but in just two years, she had studied diligently and now spoke with authority. She was determined to pass this knowledge to her daughter so she wouldn’t start as clueless as she once was.
"Today, let’s skip needlework and practice writing these invitations, alright?"
Sister Jun nodded eagerly. As Jin Niang set up mock scenarios for her to draft, the girl couldn’t help complaining about her brother: "Brother Ning wanted to stomp in the snow, but Nanny and I stopped him."
"He’s quite bold. Before Mid-Autumn, I took him to the garden, and he squashed a caterpillar underfoot without hesitation." Jin Niang mused how unlike his cautious father her son was—fearless even as a child.
Still, she chuckled. "But we can’t let him play in the snow, or he’ll catch a chill."
Sister Jun spoke like a little adult. "A chill means headaches and a runny nose."
"Exactly! Our Sister Jun is so clever." Jin Niang praised her.
After Sister Jun finished drafting, Jin Niang circled the errors and had her rewrite it neatly. By lunch, she showed Jiang Xian, who also complimented their daughter. "We’ve been blessed with such well-behaved children."
Jin Niang privately thought it was just as well they only had two—any more, and she’d lack the energy to raise them properly.
On the third day of the New Year, Nanny Fang and Young Master Chen returned from their trip, delighted with the rewards from Aunt Dou. Young Master Chen brought back toys for his son. Minzhi, now a seamstress in the Jiang household, and Young Master Chen, who handled external affairs, had both risen in status.
Minzhi teased, "Why spend so much on toys?"
"The peddler at the dock looked half-frozen, his face chapped from the wind. I pitied him and bought a few things." Life had improved for Young Master Chen, and with Minzhi’s warmth, their marriage flourished.
Minzhi then reminded him, "Don’t forget about Xi Qiu’s matter."
Xi Qiu and Minzhi had both served under Jiang Xian’s sixth madam. While Minzhi’s needlework earned Jin Niang’s favor, Xi Qiu—outmatched in cooking by Juxiang and lacking sewing skills—was reassigned to attend the young misses, at least securing her future.
Now unmarried, Xi Qiu turned to Minzhi for help. Bound by old ties, Minzhi urged her husband to scout suitable matches.
Young Master Chen assured her, "I haven’t forgotten. Even if you hadn’t mentioned it, the madam already tasked me with it."
Minzhi had once hoped to pair Xi Qiu with Liu Dou'er, but fate hadn’t entwined them. Such matches were ultimately Jin Niang’s decision, not theirs to make.
Xi Qiu’s matter would wait until after the New Year. Young Master Chen reported to Jin Niang about the Dou family: "I met the eldest son of the Dou household. Under his uncle’s strict supervision—and a recently arranged marriage—he seemed stifled, his face full of gloom."
"Good work. You may rest now." Jin Niang dismissed him.
Nanny Fang, unaware of external affairs, relied on Young Master Chen’s updates. The Dou household’s internal strife was palpable. "Miss Yuan’s marriage to the Zhen family is an upward match, so her dowry filled two entire boats."
"That’s unsurprising. Aunt Dou brought a lavish dowry herself, and the Dous are an established family." Jin Niang saw nothing unusual.
But Nanny Fang whispered, "Only the eldest Dou holds office. The second master has achieved little, and with so many mouths to feed, individual shares shrink. I didn’t pry, but I suspect Aunt diverted the second branch’s funds to Miss Yuan, hoping for a son’s adoption."
Jin Niang recalled how the Zhou family’s madam had done similarly—their third and fourth daughters received dowries a fraction of the eldest’s.
She discussed this with Jiang Xian, who remarked, "Good thing I never met the elder Dou. His nephew seems unpromising."
"Hard to say. By birth order, he’s the heir, but whether he can uphold the family is another matter. Let’s maintain cordial ties—help if we can, refuse if we must. Deep entanglements bring temporary gains but lasting burdens."
Jiang Xian nodded. "You’re teaching me to walk the straight path."
Jin Niang smiled. "Seek honestly, not through deceit. Bait not for common fish, but for kings and lords."
Jiang Xian pondered for a moment, savoring the implications of his thoughts, then turned to his wife: "My dear, do you truly believe I have what it takes to become a chancellor?"
The Investiture of the Gods was unknown to people of the Song Dynasty, but Jin Niang felt its themes suited Jiang Xian perfectly—if applied earnestly to governance, it might indeed bear fruit.
Yet Jin Niang only laughed. "Of course I believe you possess the talent of a high minister. But even if you did become chancellor, many matters might not go as smoothly as you imagine."
"What do you mean?" Jiang Xian had expected her to be more enthusiastic.
Jin Niang smiled. "When I was plump, I ate without restraint, and every month I could go out feasting with my parents. Aside from earning money, I had no worries. Now, though I live well as an official’s wife, I still miss the carefree days of the past. Similarly, you may chafe at the constraints of your current post, feeling your ambitions stifled. But once you stand at the pinnacle of power, with countless eyes watching your every move, even the smallest action will be scrutinized."
Jiang Xian nodded in realization. "That’s true."
"Still, gains and losses have always gone hand in hand. A man who wields great authority can afford a few minor flaws," Jin Niang added reassuringly.
Jiang Xian knew she was comforting him. As she turned back to her book, he tried to speak, but she waved him off. "I’m reading now."
"Oh." Silently, he went to brew tea.
After the tenth day of the New Year, the Eldest Miss of the Gu family gave birth to a son. Jin Niang sent gifts for the baby’s third-day celebration but did not attend in person. On the Lantern Festival, the family of four strolled incognito through the lantern fair. Brother Ning, dressed in a red brocade jacket made by Jin Niang and a blue-green hezhuo overcoat, with a red cloud-and-wild-goose-patterned hood, clamored to kiss his mother. Sister Jun, in a gold-embroidered peach-pink hibiscus-patterned jacket and a delicate yellow lambskin hezhuo, her hood matching, looked lively and charming as she pushed her brother away, refusing to let his slobbery kisses reach their mother.
Jin Niang turned to Jiang Xian with a smile. "Father, will you win us some lanterns today?"
She had slipped into the children’s way of addressing him, but Jiang Xian only grinned meaningfully and replied, "Of course. Father will win lanterns for you."
With his skill, he swiftly won three lanterns: a goldfish lantern for Brother Ning, a pomegranate lantern for Sister Jun, and the most exquisite bodhi-leaf lantern for Jin Niang.
Delighted, Jin Niang bought jade plum blossoms, night moths, bees, and snow-willow ornaments, distributing them to Sister Jun and the maids. When the wind picked up, she led the children home.
After the festival, Jin Niang rested for several days, only to hear that County Captain Mei had been accused of meddling in lawsuits. Prefect Shen, known for his strict governance, reported the matter to the surveillance commissioner, who sent officials to investigate.
Even Jiang Xian was scrutinized, but he emerged unscathed. Though he served as county captain, every case he handled was backed by solid evidence and meticulously documented. This particular case had been handled by County Captain Mei while Jiang Xian was away on official business, so he bore no blame.
Jiang Xian remarked to Jin Niang, "It’s simple—his patron, the late Zhaoxuan, is gone. No one dared touch him before, but now they’re eager to bring him down. In officialdom, trouble can arise from nothing, let alone when someone like Mei, who was never clean to begin with, is involved."
Thus, County Captain Mei’s frantic efforts before the New Year came to nothing.
With County Captain Mei arrested, Madam Bao was at a loss. She sought help from Madam Wen, who ignored her, and Jin Niang likewise kept her distance—getting entangled in such a case was no trivial matter.
"What should I do?" Madam Bao pleaded helplessly.
Prefect Shen resolved the case before the imperial envoy arrived, digging deep into Mei’s dealings. County Captain Mei had been on good terms with his colleagues, so he sent servants to bribe officials with the two thousand strings of cash he had saved over the years.
During this time, Jin Niang maintained ties with the family of the former judge, Yan, who had been reassigned elsewhere. Judge Yan’s wife and children remained in Wu County, and Madam Yan, a shrewd manager, often shared her expertise with Jin Niang.
Moreover, her youngest daughter was close in age to Sister Jun, unlike Fifth Miss Shen, who was much older. Jin Niang frequently brought her children to socialize with them.
For the Yan family, local connections mattered more than distant authority. Though Judge Yan still held office, he was stationed elsewhere, so maintaining good relations with Jiang Xian, the current county captain, was prudent.
Madam Yan and Jin Niang discussed farmland management: "If you hold office, it’s manageable. But if you’re absent, powerful families might seize your land, and you could end up in legal disputes."
"You’re right," Jin Niang agreed. "That’s why I only bought two qing of land—enough for steady income without inviting trouble." She had ended up with three qing due to circumstances and now had to manage it carefully. Buying more would risk encroachment by those with higher authority.
Salt, tea, wine, vinegar, alum, and frankincense were all state monopolies, forbidden to private traders.
Even merchants rarely traveled far, as excessive tolls—collected at every checkpoint—made long-distance trade unprofitable.
Madam Yan shared her experience: "When we moved from Qin Feng Road to Wu County, we offset travel costs by selling dates, walnuts, and sundry goods. If you ever relocate, you could do the same with Wu County’s silk and satin."
"A sound idea," Jin Niang said. She had considered it before, but Jiang Xian had dismissed it, claiming Wu County had everything they needed.
Now, with Judge Yan’s family profiting from mulberry fields and orchards, Jin Niang listened attentively before bidding farewell.
On their way home, Sister Jun remarked, "Mother, that Miss Yan knows fewer characters than I do."
"What do you play with her, then?" Jin Niang asked with a smile.
Sister Jun grinned. "We play with jujube grinders. She also has clay figurines and mohele dolls. But she keeps boasting about her family, and I don’t like it."
"When spring comes, we’ll fly kites. How does that sound?" Jin Niang suggested.
Sister Jun nodded eagerly.
By late February, County Captain Mei’s bribe had its effect. Stripped of his post, he sold Madam Bao and his concubines, keeping only the pregnant one, and fled with the money.
A female broker delivering refurbished jewelry—originally Jin Niang’s, now regilded as part of Xi Qiu’s dowry—mentioned that Mei had tried to sell Madam Bao to a brothel for a higher price.
Though Jin Niang disliked Madam Bao, she found Mei’s actions despicable. She instructed the broker, "Find her a decent household. Consider it an act of kindness."
The female broker smiled and said, "No need for you to say it, I already know."
Jin Niang was momentarily taken aback, then felt a deep sense of relief. Perhaps only a woman could truly understand the hardships of another woman—such was the nature of shared sorrow.
