Ji Yaoting and Ji Fu took their mule cart to the city early in the morning to deliver goods. The Yang family owned many silk shops in the city. To avoid any appearance of impropriety, Ji Yaoting refused to sell to the Yang family, choosing instead Liu’s Fabric Shop.
The shopkeeper, long acquainted with him, saw him descending from the mule cart and came to greet him at the door: “Quickly, help unload the goods!”
Ji Yaoting responded: “Shopkeeper, this is the last batch of fabric before the New Year, fifty bolts in total.”
The shopkeeper invited him into the shop and personally brought hot tea.
All fifty bolts of fabric were wrapped in oilcloth, and when opened, they were completely dry without any trace of dampness, neatly stacked on the counter.
The shopkeeper counted them while expressing continuous praise: “During the New Year season, these red-based embossed plum and camellia patterns sell best. The plain bright blue is well-dyed too—you used parrot blue, right? These two green pieces…” He lifted a bolt of green fabric to examine it closely.
It was dyed the tender green of newly sprouting willow leaves. The color was even, and when held up against the snow’s reflection, it was delightfully fresh to the eye.
“Excellent color!” The shopkeeper immediately thought of spring and eagerly said, “Young Master, for this green, our shop would like to order another hundred bolts. After the Dragon Raising Its Head Festival in the second month, can you deliver by the fifteenth of the third month? The price is negotiable.”
Having sold all his fabric and received a new order, Ji Yaoting nodded readily: “Agreed. I’ll deliver them to you before the fifteenth of the third month.”
After drawing up the contract and receiving the deposit, Ji Yaoting took his leave.
Shortly after he left, a carriage stopped at the fabric shop’s entrance. Yuyuan helped Fifth Lady Niu descend: “This Liu’s shop is the First Young Madam’s maiden family’s silk and fabric store.”
Zhao Dalang’s wife was the daughter of the Liu weaving family. Fifth Lady Niu, wanting to establish herself in the Zhao family, had done her research. Using the excuse of shopping for New Year’s goods, she brought people to Liu’s fabric shop.
Though she couldn’t weave brocade, she knew how to judge fabric quality. Fifth Lady Niu sat in the shop while the shopkeeper and assistants brought fabrics for her inspection, comparing them with the fabrics in the Zhao family shop.
When that bolt of willow green was presented, Fifth Lady Niu’s eyes lit up.
The shopkeeper, knowing she was the Zhao family’s Second Young Madam and sister-in-law to their young mistress, was especially attentive: “Second Young Madam, this fabric’s color is thoroughly and properly dyed. It looks as if it were woven with green thread. Though it’s fine gauze, it’s no worse than silk, and the price is more reasonable.”
“This fabric is excellent. I’ll take ten bolts,” Fifth Lady Niu thought to herself, no wonder the Zhao family’s second branch had always coveted the position of the family head. With such capability from Zhao’s First Young Madam’s maiden family, she was indeed a powerful support for Zhao Dalang.
The shopkeeper smiled: “Second Young Madam, we only have two bolts of this kind in the shop. They just arrived this morning from the Huanhua Dye House. More won’t be available until mid-March next year. The dye houses are all closed for the New Year holiday and won’t resume printing and dyeing until after the Dragon Raising Its Head Festival in the second month.”
Huanhua Dye House? Fifth Lady Niu caressed the fabric, smiling faintly: “Then I’ll take these. I’ll come back for more when you have stock.”
Once she was in the carriage heading back, Fifth Lady Niu instructed Yuyuan: “Send those two bolts of fabric to the Madam. I remember the Military Commissioner’s wife loves bright green. It’s time for the mansion to make spring clothes.”
After dispatching someone with the delivery, Yuyuan sat in the carriage with Fifth Lady Niu: “What is Young Madam’s intention in doing this?”
“That night at the Sanhua Tower during the brocade competition, the Military Commissioner requested unusual brocades. The Zhao family is rushing to weave them. We can’t let the Huanhua Dye House benefit easily. The Commissioner is greedy, and Shu is prosperous—how could he resist such fine gauze? He’ll want it, and he’ll want a lot of it.” Behind her veil, Fifth Lady Niu’s clear eyes sparkled like scattered gold dust.
Just as the carriage left the city, someone spotted Yang Jingyuan coming from Sandaoyan and informed Fifth Lady Niu.
“Young Madam—”
Before Yuyuan could advise against it, Fifth Lady Niu had already lifted the carriage curtain.
The cold wind carried snow as she straightened her back, watching Yang Jingyuan and his attendant slow their pace as they drew closer. Men in Shu typically had delicate features. Fifth Lady Niu had been attracted to Zhao Xiuyuan not only because the Zhao family was the Yang family’s mortal enemy but also because of his refined appearance. However, whenever she saw Yang Jingyuan, Fifth Lady Niu would remember how he had galloped in the sunlight at the Niu family estate. She had fallen helplessly into love’s web. She often cursed him, asking what was so special about him. Yet human nature is such that what we cannot have always holds mysterious allure. It made her want to remain entangled with him for life, unable to let go.
As they passed each other, Yang Jingyuan didn’t even glance at her. Fifth Lady Niu deliberately called out to engage him: “Third Young Master Yang.”
Yang Jingyuan turned his head on horseback, smiling indifferently: “Does Second Madam Zhao have a business?”
He was coming from Sandaoyan, surely having gone to see Ji Yingying. Whether Yang Jingyuan cursed or resented her, Fifth Lady Niu didn’t care. What she couldn’t stand was his indifference. Seeing two cages covered with thick felt hanging from Xiangyou’s saddle, she couldn’t help but ask curiously: “What treasure is Third Young Master Yang carrying?”
Of all things to ask about. Unexpectedly, Third Young Master Yang answered her: “Tomorrow I’m going to the Ji family with betrothal gifts. I made a special trip to Jiazhou to catch a pair of live geese.”
In this cold weather, geese fly south. He had specifically gone south to Jiazhou for Ji Yingying, braving wind, and snow to travel hundreds of li to catch a pair of live geese!
Usually, he would never acknowledge her. Just to show off this pair of geese! Speaking of geese, when the Zhao family came to the Niu family with betrothal gifts, they also brought a pair of live geese. The Zhao family had also boasted that despite the time constraints, they had specially commissioned someone to catch a pair from the Yangtze River banks in Jiazhou. But it wasn’t Zhao Xiuyuan who had traveled hundreds of li to catch them.
Same geese, different men. Fifth Lady Niu was purely making herself miserable. Her heart ached with hatred, yet she savored this feeling. Perhaps only this way did she feel her marriage to Zhao Xiuyuan had meaning.
Fifth Lady Niu provoked him: “Does Second Miss Ji appreciate your effort? In the past, she was infatuated with my husband. When she heard my husband was betrothed to me, she went without food or water for two days and nights—the Ji family thought she wouldn’t survive.”
“She’s living quite well now. After marrying me, she’ll live even more happily. No need for Second Madam Zhao to worry. The snow is heavy; I won’t delay your reunion with your husband. Farewell.” Yang Jingyuan smiled perfunctorily and spurred his horse away.
“Living well now… but in the future, she’ll wish she were dead!” Fifth Lady Niu lowered the curtain and sneezed.
Yuyuan became anxious, quickly pushing a hand warmer into her hands and pouring her a bowl of hot ginger tea: “Young Madam, why must you quarrel with Young Master Yang every time?”
Fifth Lady Niu smiled desolately: “Who says I only quarrel with him? One day, I’ll make him bow his head and admit he was blind to reject marrying me… Life is so dull—how can I get through it without something to think about?”
Yuyuan said softly: “Don’t worry, I will always stay by your side.”
Fifth Lady Niu’s hand traced the faint scar on her cheek: “Just a few more days of recovery. It’s good to have you.”
Yuyuan said emotionally: “This servant will never leave Young Madam’s side.”