Having spoken, Lady Jin felt somewhat relieved. She took a sip of tea and glanced at Mother Xue, who was wearing a lilac-colored soft silk front-buttoning top with a white cotton gauze skirt, adorned with filigree hairpins and jewel-inlaid kingfisher feather ornaments, along with gleaming gold earrings – looking every bit like a landowner’s wife.

In contrast, Lady Jin wore a semi-worn blue satin jacket and jade-colored skirt, with silver hairpins and copper rings in her hair, and a single silver bracelet from her dowry, with no other ornaments. Compared to Mother Xue, she appeared increasingly impoverished.

Although Xia Yun had passed the provincial examination, received gifts from the local gentry, and become a minor official in the government office – which would have brought some prosperity to an ordinary family – Lady Jin had too many children. Though two sons were married and one daughter had wed, there were still two girls awaiting marriage at home, plus twelve-year-old twins, and the youngest son was only seven and had been sickly since birth.

They had spent considerable silver seeking medical treatment, yet his condition hadn’t improved – he lay in bed barely clinging to life. The family only owned a few poor acres of farmland, so they weren’t very well-off.

Lady Jin thought to herself that Mother Xue didn’t used to have many ornaments and only had two or three sets of clothes to wear repeatedly, so how had she suddenly become adorned with gold and silver? Feeling displeased again, she coughed twice and put on a false smile, saying, “Sister Xue, you’re dressed so elegantly. Tsk tsk tsk, all this gold and silver is dazzling my eyes.”

Mother Xue suppressed her displeasure and said, “Her father’s fortunes have finally turned around since becoming the chief manager at the large pawnshop. Life has improved. Now that the owner has gone to the capital and sold the shop, fortunately, the new owner also thinks highly of her father and keeps him on. In his spare time, he also deals in antiques, so we manage to get by. During New Year’s, her father arranged to get some ornaments for Sister Lan, and I benefited too, getting two or three pieces made.”

Lady Jin assumed an elder’s posture, leaning forward slightly to look at Mother Xue, and spoke earnestly, “Let me say something, Sister Xue. I’m a few years older than you, so please excuse my forwardness, but now that life is better, you shouldn’t waste money on gold and silver ornaments – there will be many other expenses in the future… In my opinion, while Brother Chen is still young, you should quickly spend some silver to buy a fertile maid. After all, having no heir is the greatest unfilial act – the Chen family line can’t end!”

At these words, Mother Xue’s face completely fell. Since leaving the Lin household, she had endured hardships alongside Chen Wanquan, tolerating her husband’s drinking and temperamental nature. Now that they were finally enjoying some good days, an outsider had come suggesting Chen Wanquan take a concubine!

Mother Xue was furious and about to speak when Lady Jin continued, “Without a son, how will Brother Chen face his ancestors after death? Even if you earn a great fortune, what good is it without a son? In the future, you won’t even have someone to care for you in your old age. You know Second Miss Gong from our old neighborhood, right? She has a broad waist and round hips – signs of being likely to bear sons. She’s eighteen this year, and if we mention it to their family, they’ll surely agree. Shall I ask about it tomorrow?”

Mother Xue sneered, “Elder Sister must be joking, right? ‘No one to care for us in our old age’? I still have Sister Lan by my side.”

Lady Jin covered her mouth and laughed, her eyes crinkling with wrinkles, making her look even older than when not smiling, and said, “Sister Lan will have to marry eventually, she can’t stay at home forever. Surely you’re not planning to find a live-in son-in-law? Oh my, listen to your elder sister’s advice – what decent man would agree to be a live-in son-in-law? Even if you can’t find someone like our Third Son who passes examinations and becomes an official, you should at least find someone from a family with property, right?”

As Mother Xue was frozen with anger, a voice came from the doorway: “Aunt Xia’s words speak right to my heart.” Everyone turned to look and saw Xiang Lan walking in, smiling. She first greeted everyone in the room, then said to Lady Jin, “Having some property is indeed better. Just having an empty reputation while the family is poor as church mice with many mouths to feed – even though we’re humble folk, we wouldn’t dare marry into such a family. How could we manage with a crowd of poor relatives?”

Lady Jin immediately glared with raised eyebrows, her chrysanthemum-like face becoming even more taut. She sneered, “I was just giving well-intentioned advice, but it’s invited so much criticism from a younger generation. Don’t think I can’t tell – miss, you’re mocking our family. I was simply giving sincere advice to your mother about taking a concubine – it’s a joyous matter. Your parents are getting older, and you’ll marry out eventually, how can they not have someone to care for them… I really can’t stay here any longer.” With that, she stood to leave.

Though Mother Xue felt vindicated, she still made a show of trying to keep them there, saying to Xiang Lan, “You child, not knowing your place! How dare you interrupt when elders are speaking? Quickly apologize to your Aunt Xia.” But she winked at Xiang Lan when she turned her face away.

Lady Jin raised her head and snorted coldly, saying to Mother Xue, “You’d better teach your daughter well. With such a poisonous tongue, she’ll have trouble finding a husband!”

Xiang Lan spoke clearly and crisply, like rapid-fire shots: “I’m young and ignorant, so I need Aunt Xia’s guidance. I originally thought only wealthy families were worthy of taking concubines. Like Aunt Xia’s family – having produced a Graduate, now when Uncle Xia goes out, isn’t everyone respectfully calling him ‘Old Master’? Such prestige and status would be worthy of taking a concubine. Firstly, Uncle and Aunt Xia are older than my parents, so they especially need someone to care for them; secondly, for a Graduate’s father to take a concubine would be a joyous occasion, bringing honor to the family, wouldn’t it?”

Lady Jin never expected the Chen family’s daughter to be so sharp-tongued, turning her arguments against her with such a counterattack. Her face immediately turned liver-colored with anger. Third Sister Xia, seeing her mother at a disadvantage, stood up angrily and said, “My mother was trying to help your family! My mother isn’t a hen that can’t lay eggs – why would my father need a concubine!”

Xiang Lan didn’t even glance at Third Sister Xia, speaking only to Lady Jin: “Aunt Xia, several things you said today were inappropriate. First, my mother is still young. In recent years when our family wasn’t well-off, her health was weak, but now with proper care, making temple donations, and praying for a son, there’s no need to worry about not having one. If Aunt Xia is truly concerned about my parents being childless, given our years as neighbors, you should advise my mother to take better care of her health. Second, my father has never had any intention of taking a concubine – he doesn’t even want to adopt a son. You can ask around if you don’t believe me. Third, whether to take a concubine or not is our family’s business – what does it have to do with you? Aunt Xia has always associated with common market women, gossiping all day without knowing proper etiquette, so it’s no wonder that even as a Graduate’s mother, you still don’t know proper conduct. Though I’m not accomplished, I did serve in a wealthy household for two years and know something about propriety. Let me tell you today, Aunt Xia – in the future, don’t go around advising people to take concubines and acting like a matchmaker trying to arrange such things. Losing your face is a small matter, but losing Young Scholar Xia’s face is another – people might think he’s a gossip too!”

Lady Jin was even more shocked that Xiang Lan would openly shame her like this. She trembled with anger, pointing at Xiang Lan: “You… you…” She couldn’t get the words out and rose to leave in fury. Second Sister-in-law Xia, being quick-witted, hurriedly supported Lady Jin and said to Mother Xue, “My mother-in-law meant well, though she spoke wrongly. Let me apologize on her behalf.”

Mother Xue also quickly tried to smooth things over, scolding Xiang Lan, “How disrespectful!” Then smiled at Lady Jin, “Young girls don’t know any better, please don’t be angry with her, Elder Sister!”

Second Sister-in-law Xia pulled Lady Jin’s arm, saying, “Mother, please sit down. It was just words leading to more words, nothing serious.” She kept making eye signals to Lady Jin.

Lady Jin knew her second daughter-in-law was the most cunning, and though she wanted to leave, being thick-skinned, she sat back down.

Second Sister-in-law Xia was good at making conversation. She first praised the room’s furnishings, then complimented Mother Xue’s clothes, and then steered the conversation to Xia Yun, praising his great talent and handsome appearance. Upon hearing this, Lady Jin straightened her back and began talking about how highly regarded Xia Yun was at the government office. After a few exchanges, the earlier unpleasantness was forgotten, and everyone was laughing again.

Second Sister-in-law Xia was naturally familiar, turning to chat with Xiang Lan, touching her temples and arms, and looking her up and down thoroughly. Xiang Lan felt uncomfortable and subtly moved away, but Second Sister-in-law Xia stepped forward again, taking Xiang Lan’s hand, saying, “Oh my, she’s just like a heavenly maiden! The last time I saw her was years ago before she entered the Lin household. In the blink of an eye, she’s become a young lady, so outstanding I barely recognize her. I like that straightforward personality too. I wonder who’ll be fortunate enough to marry such a beauty.”

She asked Xiang Lan what she did daily, and Xiang Lan smiled and replied, “What else could I do? Just sewing every day.”

Second Sister-in-law Xia laughed, “What sewing? You just paint, don’t you? How many taels of silver can you get for a painting nowadays?”

Xiang Lan was startled, seeing Second Sister-in-law Xia’s eyes gleaming with shrewd light. Feeling increasingly uncomfortable, she said coolly, “Sister-in-law Xia must be joking. I don’t know anything about painting – don’t listen to people’s idle gossip.”

Second Sister-in-law Xia smiled persistently: “Are you trying to fool your sister-in-law? Tell me quietly, I definitely won’t tell anyone else…”

Just then, Third Sister Xia came over again. She was a year younger than Xiang Lan and had rarely worn new clothes. Since Xiang Lan entered, she had been eyeing her bright clothes and ornaments enviously, saying, “Those flowers and ornaments in your hair are really pretty.”

Xiang Lan, who had been struggling to deal with Second Sister-in-law Xia, heard this and pulled a decorative silk flower from her hair, offering it to Third Sister Xia, saying, “If you like this one, it’s yours.”

Second Sister-in-law Xia repeatedly said, “Oh my, how could we accept this?” Secretly regretting that she hadn’t complimented Xiang Lan’s accessories earlier, as she might have received one too, but now it was too late to ask.

Third Sister Xia took the flower, seeing how exquisite and delicate it was, with copper wire forming butterfly antennae and small red-patterned stones that trembled slightly. She kept touching it without saying thank you, just putting it in her hair, then staring eagerly at Xiang Lan’s other ornaments, saying, “Your hairpins and rings are pretty too…”