From the time she was small, Che Niang had followed her aging parents drifting from place to place to make a living. A blind fortune-teller, after eating half of her steamed bun, decided to repay the kindness with a reading, and pronounced: “You, of the Che Family, are destined for a life of toil. Even should you attain wealth and honor in the future, the toiling will simply continue.”

Che Niang dismissed this without a second thought.

Who was fooling whom? They were all people who made their living on the road. She herself peddled flashy but hollow martial arts routines and talked up a crowd with slick patter — all of it a performance to trick people out of their coin. Everyone knew everyone else’s tricks in this line of work. She was not about to believe his nonsense. What wealthy, honored person had ever gone on toiling?

Many years later, when the memory surfaced again, she could not help the corners of her mouth twitching — the wretched blind man had been entirely right.

The poverty of her childhood, she could accept. From a very young age she had cooked and laundered, cared for her ailing mother, and sometimes gone along with her father to hawk their trade and draw in spectators. It had forged in her a spirited, capable, and shrewd character. Quite a few people had admired this brisk and competent quality in her; there had been no shortage of marriage proposals in those days.

At nineteen, her father died. In the lower trades, who dared stand on ceremony or observe the full proprieties? Even while still in the deepest period of mourning, she took her frail, ailing mother and married a small and unremarkable member of the Canal Transport Brotherhood named Shi Keng. She called her husband Da Shitou — “Big Rock.”

At Big Rock’s side was a little Xiao Shitou — “Small Rock” — with a runny nose.

The two brothers had lost both parents in early childhood and relied upon each other to survive. But Big Rock was a man, and keeping food on the table occupied all his energy — there was nothing left over for looking after a child. The small boy was thin and sallow, dressed in clothes that did not fit, shuffling along in shoes several sizes too large. His small hands were covered in chilblains. Yet he giggled foolishly and called her “Elder Sister.” Che Niang’s heart ached with tenderness, and from that point on she raised him with all the care she would have given her own son.

Her husband was steady and capable by nature, firm in matters of principle, though he needed a good push from her on smaller things and required occasional reminders. When the Brotherhood’s members had difficulties to resolve, her husband would seek someone to consult — and that someone was invariably her, first and foremost. When the brothers were away making their way in the world and their families faced urgent troubles at home, she as the Elder Sister-in-Law could not refuse. Husband and wife labored shoulder to shoulder, building everything up together. Everything required her attention; everything had to be weighed and considered again and again. Fearing that Big Rock might make a misstep out in the world, managing both inside the home and outside, she was somehow even busier than her husband throughout the entire year.

Many people teased that though she called Big Rock “the master of the household,” in practice she served as the master for the better part of it.

Through relentless striving, they at last built up a proper foundation — and now there was the younger brother’s marriage to worry about.

Little Rock had grown up watching his elder brother and sister-in-law, and had absorbed their manner of thinking from an early age. He had no taste for the gentle, yielding girls raised in the seclusion of inner courtyards, nor any appreciation for the small-minded young women of common neighborhoods. When Che Niang finally applied herself in earnest and found someone whose spirited, seasoned temperament matched her own, Little Rock pulled a suffering face and said it gave him “a feeling like looking at Mother, and I doubt I’d dare enter the bridal chamber” — which infuriated Che Niang so thoroughly she could only slap her hands together in frustration.

Watching Little Rock advance in years, and thinking how she and Big Rock had only two daughters between them, knowing that the family line and future support would have to rest with this younger brother — yet with no sign anywhere of a future sister-in-law — Che Niang fretted so much that her lips broke out in ring after ring of blisters.

Heaven’s mercy was evident at last when Little Rock came to her one day, shuffling awkwardly, to say that he had his eye on a young woman. Che Niang was overjoyed beyond measure and questioned him closely, only to learn that the girl was the personal attendant of the new Lady of Marquis Gu’s household.

Her husband was still hesitating, feeling that their family now had standing and reputation, not to mention money and influence — if they wanted to, they could perfectly well arrange for the younger brother to marry a proper young lady from a scholarly family. Taking a maidservant as a wife…?

But Che Niang was far more clear-sighted than her husband. What was her own background? A girl who had performed publicly in the streets since childhood, never sheltered behind closed doors. And what was her husband’s background? Flatteringly put, one might call him “a man of valor and heroism” — bluntly put, he was nothing more than a young ruffian who had come up from the canal docks. If they truly brought home a sister-in-law of good family, setting aside entirely the question of whether their characters would be compatible enough to share a table, should the two households ever find themselves at odds in the future — should the sister-in-law, trading on her fine pedigree, refuse to yield — how would that end?

Far better to take a maidservant. For one thing, sister-in-law and herself would be of broadly similar backgrounds, and she as the Elder Sister-in-Law could manage her household with an easy conscience. For another, it would maintain and strengthen their connection to the household of Marquis Gu — advantages multiplied on every side. What could be more fitting? Shi Keng already deferred to his wife by habit, and with his deep affection for his younger brother added to the balance, he needed little more persuasion. He agreed that on the next trip up to the capital, he would bring his wife and brother along, and they would call on the Gu household to present the proposal.

A year and a half later, the bride entered the household. The Shi Family put on a grand and lavish celebration. After the wedding, the young couple lived in sweet harmony, showing their elder brother and sister-in-law even more respect and devotion than before, which warmed Che Niang’s heart deeply. As for the sister-in-law’s overall character, well — how to put it?

When the new bride had just arrived, Che Niang had still been somewhat concerned. The girl had come from the side of a great household’s managing mistress, having handled affairs and overseen people — what if she had designs on taking over household management? Not that Che Niang was unwilling to loosen her grip eventually, but with a newcomer just through the door, how could she feel at ease handing things over?

As it turned out, not only had she worried needlessly — she had worried in entirely the wrong direction.

The sister-in-law was honest, wholesome, and simple-hearted to the point of being somewhat lacking in cunning.

Ask her to fetch a jar of soy sauce, and she would never pocket two coins of change to buy herself a sweet; tell her to watch the two nieces and keep them from mischief, and she would fix her eyes on them in wide-open vigilance, not moving a single step until her elder sister-in-law gave the word to stop; tell her to distribute the servants’ monthly wages, and not one copper coin would be off.

When Che Niang examined the accounts, the sister-in-law ground the ink and smoothed out the paper. When Che Niang summoned the household’s managing matrons to discuss affairs, she poured the tea and fanned the air. When Che Niang was at leisure and invited the wives of the Brotherhood members over to chat, the sister-in-law sat cheerfully to one side cracking melon seeds. At all times she was happy and bright, obedient and well-behaved, coming to ask Che Niang for decisions on every matter great and small, without a single private calculation of her own.

On one occasion when both Shi brothers were away and Che Niang wanted to leave home, she asked the sister-in-law to manage the household for half a month. The sister-in-law immediately dissolved into tears, clutching her sleeve and crying herself into a little spotted cat: “With Elder Sister-in-Law away, what am I supposed to do? Take me along, Elder Sister-in-Law — I promise I’ll be good. Please don’t leave me here alone. Please don’t make me be the one making decisions… I’m foolish. What if someone sells me off?”

Che Niang was so exasperated she didn’t know where to begin, and scolded: “How can you be such a simpleton?!”

The sister-in-law said blankly: “Before I left, the Lady told me that in the future I just needed to listen to my Elder Sister-in-Law and everything would be fine.”

Che Niang refused to give up: “But you must still make some decisions for yourself! You’re a grown woman with your own household now!”

The sister-in-law smiled her simple smile: “With Elder Sister-in-Law here, why would I make my own decisions?”

Che Niang said sharply: “What about when the household is divided in the future? Who will you go to for decisions then?!”

“Elder Sister-in-Law doesn’t want me anymore?!” The sister-in-law went pale with shock and immediately burst into floods of tears.

Che Niang was thoroughly startled by the torrential weeping and could do nothing but devote herself to soothing and coaxing the girl, swearing up and down that she had absolutely no such intention, talking herself hoarse before the matter was resolved. Afterward, she heaved a long sigh and had the distinct feeling she had acquired a second daughter — except that a daughter could at least eventually be married off, whereas this sister-in-law had clearly made up her mind to cling for the rest of her life.

Setting aside her fondness for seeking decisions from Che Niang, the sister-in-law was otherwise perfectly adequate in every respect. She could sew and cook, brew soups and manage meals. The two daughters adored this silly little aunt, learning etiquette and needlework from her, often gathered together in one spot chattering noisily, exactly like sisters.

In the second year after the sister-in-law’s arrival, she gave birth to a stout and healthy boy, after which came a string of daughters and sons. The Shi Family, which had always been sparse in members, flourished and grew lively all at once. Che Niang worried the young couple might not manage the children well and often came by to help — only to discover that the sister-in-law had the tenacity of sticky toffee, and simply handed the children into her care the moment Che Niang arrived, herself serving as mere assistant, without an ounce of anxiety.

“In the end the children will all be close to me and want nothing to do with you, their own mother!” Che Niang threatened fiercely.

The sister-in-law immediately draped herself over her shoulder and wheedled: “I’m close to Elder Sister-in-Law too. We all are. Elder Sister-in-Law is the very best.”

Che Niang could do nothing but tilt her face to the heavens and sigh.

After her two daughters were married off, Che Niang decided to have a proper heart-to-heart talk with the sister-in-law.

“You simply cannot go on relying on me for everything,” she said with earnest patience. “It is time you stood up on your own two feet. I will grow old someday — if your Elder Brother and I were no longer here one day, who would you turn to?”

The sister-in-law remained as guileless and unworldly as ever. Her round, rosy face showed not a single anxious wrinkle, and she smiled cheerfully: “By that time? By that time, I expect the wives of the eldest and second sons will have already come through the door, won’t they? Let them manage things.”

Che Niang nearly choked: “What if the daughters-in-law bully you? What then?”

The sister-in-law waved a hand without the slightest concern: “It doesn’t matter. I worked it out long ago. Once the children are all grown and settled, I’ll go back and serve at the Lady’s side — and stay there with the Lady always. With the Lady there, I won’t fear anyone bullying me.”

Che Niang stared at her, eyes wide as bronze bells: “You — you — what did you just say…?”

The sister-in-law’s face took on an expression of dreamy longing: “I admired Nanny Fang from the time I was very small. From when I was tiny, I always thought — if I could be like Nanny Fang, serving at the Lady’s side until I was old, how wonderful that would be.”

“Wait — wait — wait a moment.” Che Niang, sharp-witted her entire life, found herself utterly dumbfounded. “I remember that Nanny Fang — she only went back to serve old Lady Sheng after she was widowed in middle age.”

The sister-in-law blinked her eyes and tilted her head: “Well then, perhaps… perhaps… by that time I’ll have become a widow too. Who can say…”

Before Che Niang could open her mouth, a furious roar sounded from behind them — “You’re cursing me to an early death?!” There stood Little Rock of the Shi Family, livid with anger, in the doorway. And at once the young couple launched into their routine, their once-a-month quarrel.

Che Niang looked wearily up at the ceiling.

Very well. She was going to have to play peacemaker again.

Many years ago, when she had learned that she could no longer bear children, she had thought that after her daughters were married, she and her husband would inevitably face a quiet and lonely old age. But look at the life she was actually living — lonely? Not in a thousand years!

Appendix: Character Relationships

Family Relationships (1)

Sheng Patriarch (Third-Place Imperial Examination Scholar) + Sheng Matriarch (Legitimate Daughter of the Yongyi Marquis Household)

Sheng Hong: concubine-born, registered under the official wife’s name; birth mother Chun Yiniang, deceased

Wang Shi: wife, legitimate daughter of an official family lineage

Lin Yiniang: concubine, originally an orphan girl raised by Sheng Matriarch

(Other concubines and serving-room companions, details not recorded)

Eldest Daughter: Sheng Hualan, legitimate-born

Eldest Son: Sheng Changbai, legitimate-born

(Two daughters and one son who died in infancy, in between)

Second Son: Sheng Changsong, born of Lin Yiniang

Fourth Daughter: Sheng Molan, born of Lin Yiniang

Fifth Daughter: Sheng Rulan, legitimate-born

Sixth Daughter: Sheng Minglan, born of Wei Yiniang; birth mother deceased

Fourth Son: Sheng Changdong, born of Xiang Yiniang; the youngest, not yet walking

Family Relationships (2)

Sheng Patriarch: three sons

First Master + First Mistress: Sheng Hong (eldest daughter, deceased); Sheng Wei (married Li Shi, children: Changsong, Changwu, Shulan, Lan); Sheng Yun (married Hu Erniu, children: Hu Guijie, Hu Taisheng)

Second Master (Third-Place Imperial Examination Scholar) + Sheng Matriarch (Eldest Legitimate Daughter of the Yongyi Marquis Household): Sheng Hong (concubine-born)

Third Master (who once plotted to seize Sheng Hong’s inheritance) + unknown: Sheng Chou

Age Order Among the Same Generation

Changsong > Shulan > Changwu > Hualan > Changbai > Changfeng > Molan ≥ Rulan (a few months apart) > Lan ≥ Minglan (a few months apart) > Changdong

Full Character Table

Sheng Patriarch + a certain official’s daughter: three sons

Listed in age order:

First Branch

First Master + First Mistress

Sheng Hong (eldest daughter, deceased)

Sheng Wei + Li Shi: Shulan, Changsong, Changwu, Lan

Sheng Yun + Hu Erniu: Hu Guijie, Hu Taisheng

Second Branch

Second Master (Third-Place Imperial Examination Scholar) + Sheng Matriarch (Xu Shi, Eldest Legitimate Daughter of the Yongyi Marquis Household)

Sheng Hong (concubine-born) + Wang Shi: Hualan, Changbai, Rulan

• Lin Yiniang: Changfeng, Molan
• Wei Yiniang: Minglan
• Xiang Yiniang: Changdong

Third Branch

Third Master (who once plotted to seize Sheng Hong’s inheritance) + Third Mistress (deceased)

Sheng Chou + wife: Xiulan, Yuelan (concubine-born), Huilan, Changliang; others not recorded (to be supplemented)

Gu Family — First Branch

Gu Yankai (previous generation Ningyuan Marquis; the male lead’s father) × Da Qin Shi (original wife) / Bai Shi (first successor wife) / Xiao Qin Shi (second successor wife)

Legitimate Eldest Son: Gu Tingyu (current Ningyuan Marquis; mother: Da Qin Shi) × wife Shao Shi: daughter Xian Jie’er

Legitimate Second Son: Gu Tingye (mother: Bai Shi) × Rong Feiyan (original wife) / Sheng Minglan (successor wife)

Concubine-born children: Chang Ge’er, Rong Jie’er (birth mother: external concubine Man Niang)

Legitimate Third Son: Gu Tingwei (mother: Xiao Qin Shi) × Zhu Shi (family: Chengping Earl household): Xian Ge’er (legitimate-born)

Legitimate Daughter: Gu Tingcan (seventh in birth order; mother: Xiao Qin Shi; unmarried)

Concubine-born Daughter: Gu Tingyan (married)

Gu Family — Fourth Branch

Fourth Master + original wife (deceased) / Fifth Old Mistress (successor wife)

Legitimate Eldest Son: Gu Tingxuan (mother: original wife)

Legitimate Daughter: Gu Tingying (mother: successor wife; unmarried)

Concubine-born Son: Gu Tingbing (mother: Liu Yiniang)

Concubine-born Daughter: Gu Tingwen (mother: Liu Yiniang; unmarried)

Gu Family — Fifth Branch

Legitimate Eldest Son: Gu Tingyang (mother: original wife); daughter: Hui Jie’er

Legitimate Second Son: Gu Tingdi (mother: original wife)

Concubine-born Daughter: Gu Tingling