This was their first New Year at the Shen family. In the past, when she was still a young lady, with elders arranging everything above, she could be carefree like a child. Now that she was managing the household herself, she realized how complicated running a home truly was.
New Year’s goods, household decorations, gifts for the titled ladies’ social visits after the New Year, and the mandatory New Year tributes to the palace – all these required her attention. Having finally arranged everything properly, on New Year’s Eve they needed to clean the ancestral tablets in the family temple. This wasn’t something that could be delegated to servants; they had to do it themselves. So the four of them, armed with brooms and feather dusters, carrying buckets and cloths, marched magnificently toward the ancestral hall.
The men seemed rather inept at this task. While cleaning the table, they practically sprawled across the offering table, respectfully saying, “Great-great-grandfather, let me wash your face,” only to turn around and knock over the founding ancestor’s tablet.
Qingyuan watched with furrowed brows, asking Fangchun, “Didn’t you clean during the previous New Year?”
Fangchun wrung out a cloth and sighed, “Every time I did the actual work they just pretended to help.”
Just as she finished speaking, there was a “rip” sound. Everyone turned to look – Shen Che had torn down the hanging banner, holding it sheepishly in his hands with an awkward smile: “It’s been hanging for a whole year… it’s rotted…”
Shen Run frowned and scolded him, “Did you come to help or to make trouble?” But it was a case of the pot calling the kettle black – while clearing cobwebs from under the eaves, he stuck the long pole into the ceremonial incense burner, scattering ashes everywhere.
Qingyuan developed a headache. “You both should go outside – to clear the cobwebs out there.” She shooed the brothers out to the corridor. It was better with just her and Fangchun working. Young ladies were skilled at detailed work – they properly attended to each ancestral tablet, replaced the candles with new ones on the holders, and polished every piece of copper on the altar until it gleamed, creating a fresh new appearance.
While Fangchun worked, she kept stealing glances at Qingyuan. Since that incident, she hadn’t found a chance to properly talk with Qingyuan. She had many things bottled up inside, feeling somewhat embarrassed and unsure where to begin, so she kept glancing at her, words caught in her throat.
Qingyuan noticed and smiled, “Does Sister have something to tell me?”
Fangchun nodded, saying awkwardly, “About that matter, I haven’t properly thanked you yet. I’m so fortunate to have you – though I’m a few years older, I’m as stupid as an ox compared to you. You tried to warn me several times before, but I never believed you. I even felt somewhat upset, thinking you looked down on my family. Now that everything has come to light, I realize you were thinking only of my best interests. I was small-minded before – I’m truly sorry.”
Qingyuan listened and smiled, “How could this be your fault? The blame lies with the Yao family for being too wicked. It’s quite a coincidence – neither of us has a very good maiden family. You mistakenly trusted your aunt and sister, while I ended up with such a family – neither grandmother nor father truly cared for me. Fortunately, I have my grandparents from the Chen family, who treat me better than my relatives. I know you don’t have a maiden family in Youzhou either, so let’s become close relatives from now on. The Shen family has few members – just the four of us in our mansion is too quiet. It would be more lively to gather together during festivals.”
Fangchun now followed Qingyuan’s lead in everything, so of course she had no objections. After agreeing, she hesitated slightly and carefully said, “Yesterday I was discussing with Chengbing – you and Elder Brother are married now, and by rights, we should separate households and live independently, especially since there are no parents above us… Sister-in-law, what do you think?”
Qingyuan looked at her puzzled, “Do you feel it’s inconvenient living in the same mansion with us?”
“No, no, no…” Fangchun waved her hands repeatedly, “I’m afraid that I’m so foolish, I’ll bring trouble to you in the future. Originally, you and Elder Brother had no complications, but because of my affairs, everything became chaotic. I feel truly guilty.”
Qingyuan understood her anxiety and smiled, “We’re one family – there’s no need for such talk. In life, who can guarantee they’ll never make mistakes? Today I understand and can guide you, tomorrow when you understand, you can advise me – isn’t that good? I’ve discussed this with my husband, and we think the mansion in Youzhou is large enough, and the residence in the capital isn’t small either. It’s more than spacious for four people – there’s no need to build another residence. The family is already small; if we separate further, it would only make the household more desolate.” She paused, carefully observing Fangchun’s expression before adding, “However, if you feel constrained living with us, building a separate residence wouldn’t be wrong either.”
Fangchun realized she had misunderstood and hurriedly said, “We don’t feel that way! We were just worried that you and Elder Brother would find us bothersome and think we lack propriety.” She continued with a shameless smile, “Since Sister-in-law has spoken, we’ll brazenly stay together with you. To speak frankly, living in the same mansion is wonderful – when I get tired of my small kitchen, I can come to yours to freeload. If we had separate residences, we’d need to take a carriage just to share a meal – that would be inconvenient.”
It was precisely because they had so few close relatives that the four of them could keep each other warm by staying together. Qingyuan remembered when Fangchun was causing trouble with Shen Che, Grandmother had worried about future sister-in-law relations and suggested separate residences, but she had never considered it. She cared for Shen Run – though he never said it, his feelings for Shen Che ran very deep. How could she separate the brothers just because she had married?
This arrangement was perfect – as long as everyone remained sincere, the next generation of children could grow up as close as real brothers. With the household members tightly bound together, the Shen family would soon flourish and rise again.
As they were speaking companionably, suddenly they heard shouting outside. Qingyuan and Fangchun hurried out to look – the two men were chasing a stray cat with bamboo poles. Qingyuan remembered that cat – it was the one Shen Run had watched from behind the window. He hated it for targeting Big Circle, and seeing his enemy made his blood boil – he would chase it away even during daylight. So he joined forces with Shen Che, using their wall-climbing skills to surround it, but human movements weren’t as agile as a cat’s. The cat, finding no other escape, darted between Shen Che’s legs and fled. The brothers missed their target and knocked their heads together – their foolishness was truly painful to watch.
Qingyuan and Fangchun both held their foreheads, amazed that these smooth operators in the official world could be so clumsy in private. Sometimes men shouldn’t be treated too much like adults – such people could be occasionally dim-witted, maintaining silly sides even at eighty years old.
“Gentlemen…” Qingyuan called out, “Stop playing, it’s time to go back.”
Only then did they reluctantly give up. Shen Run kept looking back as he asked her, “Wife, did you see that cat?”
Qingyuan said she had.
“That’s the cat that won’t leave us alone, always crying on the wall at night.”
Qingyuan sighed, “If you catch it, what do you plan to do with it?”
Shen Run said, “Have someone take it to Kaifeng by fast horse – let’s see how it comes back then.”
So this imposing figure at the Palace Guards Command turns into a fool at home! Qingyuan forced a laugh: “We’re moving to the capital after New Year’s – isn’t it pointless to go to such trouble sending it to Kaifeng?”
Shen Run suddenly realized, exclaiming, “Oh right… I forgot…” Even Shen Che looked down on him a bit this time.
So the ancestral hall cleaning was handled by the sisters-in-law Qingyuan and Fangchun. The two men came just to make up numbers, wielding feather dusters only to chase cats, spending no energy on the actual task.
But what could be done? They still had to be pampered. Back home, Qingyuan brought out newly made clothes for him to try on, so any problems could be fixed promptly.
Shen Run stood before the mirror, turning to look at himself. These were truly made by his wife – the fine stitching and intricate embroidery, every needle and thread filled with deep affection, everything fitting perfectly.
Qingyuan stood beside him making adjustments, carefully smoothing the robe’s hem, then fastening the official belt and arranging the hanging pouches properly. She smiled, “I was just telling Fangchun the other day – she’s made pouches for Second Uncle, but I’ve never given you anything. From now on, I’ll prepare all your small accessories – you won’t need to use things from outside anymore.”
He agreed, “The embroidery bought outside is too poor quality and not durable – how could it compare to what my wife makes?” As he spoke, he turned to embrace her, “You don’t know how envious my colleagues are, saying my wife is both young and virtuous, and beautiful too.”
Qingyuan blushed, “There you go talking nonsense again! I’m sure plenty of them bring up my background too – in their eyes, I married above my station.”
He fell silent briefly, then smiled deeply, “Don’t worry, I have plans for this – I’ll clear your name sooner or later. Besides, regarding family background, I hold the second rank – I don’t need to rely on marriage for connections. If I had that intention, there are plenty of noble ladies in the imperial clan’s families – wouldn’t getting a wife be easy!”
Qingyuan found this reasonable, but it was something she had often pondered without finding an answer, “Yes, why didn’t you seek to marry those noble ladies?”
Shen Run thought for a moment, “Because the Li family’s daughters aren’t beautiful – none of them compare to you.”
Qingyuan looked at him askance, “Wasn’t it that no one was willing to marry you?”
The truth was always embarrassing. He smiled awkwardly, “We’re all people who risk our lives for His Majesty. Put nicely, we’re the new nobility; put bluntly, we’re hunting dogs and claws. Today’s glory might not last till tomorrow – with so many examples of ‘birds gone, bows stored away’ before us, girls from good families don’t dare marry me. As for me, I have my pride – knowing they’re not interested, why press my hot face against their cold bottoms? If they won’t marry me, naturally someone a thousand times better than them will, I’m a real man, I won’t die of holding in my pee…” His words earned him a smack from Qingyuan.
She blushed, “What pee… you…”
He quickly apologized with a smile, “I misspoke, I’m sorry, sorry.”
Qingyuan sighed, “But one can’t blame them. They’re used to comfort – who would want to weather storms with you…” She looked at him sadly, “Only me.” Her regretful gaze earned her a passionate kiss from Shen Run.
However, even on New Year’s Eve, such a household couldn’t find peace. In the afternoon, the steward who had been sent to inspect the Lonely Garden returned to report that the rice, coal, clothes, and quilts the madam had prepared had all been distributed to the kitchens and the elderly and young. “Those people all kowtowed toward Youzhou, thanking the master and madam for their kindness. I also inquired – in previous years at this time, there would be eighteen or twenty people lying in the streets, but this year there’s not a single one. Just as madam said, the elderly and young have homes, they’re well-fed and warmly clothed, and there are doctors to treat their illnesses. The common people praise His Majesty’s benevolent governance – yesterday they even kowtowed at the Gate of Receiving Heaven in gratitude.”
Qingyuan sat properly in the hall and nodded, “That’s good. As long as the common people are grateful to His Majesty, everything we’ve done is worthwhile. Go back and tell the accounting office to prepare – make me a register of expenses for after the New Year. When spring comes, clothes need to be changed, and spring brings more diseases – those common medicines need to be prepared. What needs to be purchased, have people purchase it – don’t let shortages cause problems when we need them.”
The steward answered, “Yes, madam, I’ll pass on the message right away.”
As he was about to leave, Qingyuan told him to wait, smiling, “Everyone has worked hard all year, the entire household united in purpose – the master and I are very grateful. Besides the monthly silver, each guard on duty will receive a bonus of five taels, the stewards two taels, and the maids, servants, and manual workers one tael each. Consider it our New Year’s gift – let everyone have a good holiday.”
The steward beamed with joy, “Thank you for master and madam’s generosity. May the master and madam have a happy New Year and be blessed with a big healthy young master next year.”
The servants hadn’t read many books – their wishes were most practical. Shen Run sat nearby laughing, while Qingyuan was somewhat embarrassed, nodding and saying, “You may go.”
Once he left, she quietly complained, “Why are you just sitting there without saying anything?”
Shen Run was now content to be carefree, “When madam handles matters, I have no worries. Everything is up to madam’s decision, no need to consult me.”
Qingyuan finally understood – there was a reason why grandfather kept his hands clean of affairs. Shen Run wasn’t even old yet, but he was already like this.
Ah, women were born to toil, she smiled helplessly. At least he knew to roast sweet potatoes for her in the brazier. He carefully covered them with coal fire, and by the time she finished her work, the sweet potatoes were almost done. He squatted there, using fire tongs to dig out the sweet potatoes, then, regardless of the heat, peeled them for her. His hands were blackened, and he accidentally touched his nose, looking like a coal miner.
She raised her handkerchief, smiling as she wiped his face, remarking how sweet the potatoes were. The two sat facing each other, alternating between bites of sweet potato and sips of tea, unexpectedly eating until half full.
Someone else came to the door, standing in the slanting light at the entrance, reporting on the harvest from the manor and official fields. Qingyuan opened the account books to review – she could spot discrepancies at a glance. These people coming to report at this hour were merely counting on the rushed timing, hoping the mistress would overlook things.
She closed the account book and said with lowered eyes, “The seed grain entry is wrong – it doesn’t match what’s recorded in the accounting office. Take it back and return it when it’s correct. Also, next year have these two harvests reported by the twenty-eighth of the last month, to allow time for checking the accounts. Don’t rush at year’s end and miss mistakes due to carelessness.”
She always left the room in her words, never showing anger unless necessary. So even knowing the servants were trying to fool her, she still said “carelessness” – after all, such a large household couldn’t be run on the master’s authority alone. Even with heaven-reaching abilities, you couldn’t personally handle everything – you still needed these people to assist.
Servants who had experienced the mistress’s capability no longer dared to play tricks before her. The accounts went and came back, this time clear in every detail, with confused accounts clarified. Now they could close the books and properly enjoy the New Year.
The brothers and sisters-in-law sat together, toasting each other and exchanging New Year’s wishes. After several rounds, they heard firecrackers outside – servants were lighting huge fireworks in the open space. Youzhou had many noble families, all living fairly close together, so they took turns. Standing at the door watching, the quiet night was filled with all kinds of festive lights, even the sky turning deep blue. If there were people in heaven, they would surely exclaim what a lively firework world this was!
As for Shen Run, his creative thoughts went into small details. During the New Year’s Eve vigil, when it was time for lucky money, they had no children, so he treated her as one. He had had tiny gold ingots made, each the size of a fingernail, drilled with holes and strung together, hanging them around her neck, then cupping his hands in greeting, “May my wife stay forever young and be blessed with fortune and longevity.”
Qingyuan was dumbfounded, feeling like she was glittering all over, just like a country nouveau riche. But he didn’t see it that way – in his eyes, she looked better wearing gold than silver. With gold all over her body, not only did her skin appear more radiant, but her eyes seemed especially soft.
The next day, when paying New Year’s respects to her grandparents, Qingyuan pulled out this chain of gold ingots from under her outer garment to show her grandmother, grimacing, “I never knew before that he was such a vulgar person.”
Fangchun pulled out an identical one, playing with it, “I think it looks quite nice.”
Grandmother just smiled, relieved to see them all well. With the family complete, it was essential to arrange good food and drink – the whole morning was busy with this. By midday, not seeing the old master and the Shen brothers, they asked around and learned they had gone fishing in the small river in front of the gate.
“Has that old man gone mad, fishing on New Year’s Day!”
The old lady was muttering complaints and about to send someone to call them when an elderly female steward came rushing in from the gate, running and calling for the young miss.
The old lady was displeased, “Why are you running around like a headless chicken on such an important holiday!”
The woman cried out, “Old Madam, terrible news! Two military officers have come from outside – they say the Yao mother and daughter hanged themselves in prison. One is dead, and the other can only breathe but won’t open her eyes!”