On New Year’s Day, the sound of firecrackers came from the main street early in the morning. Children on the estate came out to set off “door-opening firecrackers.” After the firecrackers, red paper fragments covered the ground like brilliant brocade, called “full hall of red.”
Everyone on the estate began bustling about. Whether intentionally or by oversight, after New Year’s Eve dinner, not a single person came to the courtyard of the three.
Bai Zhi lit a brazier by the door, blocking half her body at the entrance to fan the choking smoke outside. The room barely had a trace of warmth. Outside, daylight shone into the courtyard—this was the most remote and dilapidated quarters. Not only did the eaves constantly leak wind and rain, but field mice often scurried about. The bedding sent by the estate was already thin, and much of it had been gnawed by rats. Bai Zhi sighed and couldn’t help turning to look at Jiang Ruan, who sat on the bed wrapped in her quilt.
Jiang Ruan leaned against a coarse cloth brown pillow, the quilt covering her chest, head lowered in a daze. After being sent to the estate four years ago, with Zhang Lan’s family providing insufficient clothing and food, she had developed even later than ordinary girls. Her hair showed a sallow yellow color. Now, as daylight streamed through the window, it illuminated her long hair with a flowing luster. Her slightly pursed lips seemed to have more color than usual, making her features appear delicate and proper. Most uniquely, sitting quietly like this, she seemed more composed than before, as if she had become a different person—strangely unfamiliar.
Bai Zhi poked at the firewood in the brazier, remembering how Lian Qiao had told her everything about Qiu Yan last night, ending with: “Why do I feel something’s off about Miss? The change is simply too great. Could it be that all her past submissiveness was fake?”
Bai Zhi didn’t know how to answer her. Actually, Lian Qiao wasn’t wrong—Jiang Ruan’s change was indeed too dramatic, especially noticeable to them as her personal maids. Ever since being sent to the estate four years ago, Jiang Ruan had always been washing her face with tears. With Zhang Lan’s family making things difficult in every way, later she didn’t even have time to cry, just silently enduring everything. Her sadness and resentment accumulated in her heart, making her even more withdrawn and quiet in daily life. Yesterday’s expression and attitude when facing Qiu Yan seemed like a completely different person. Bai Zhi wondered—could a serious illness change even one’s temperament?
But no matter how she changed, Jiang Ruan was still their master. Jiang Ruan’s current attitude was completely different from before—perhaps this was a good thing. While lost in thought, Lian Qiao had already entered carrying an oil paper package, nearly knocking over the brazier.
“Be careful,” Bai Zhi gently scolded: “Why are you so reckless?”
“I went to buy some New Year goods,” Lian Qiao wasn’t annoyed, still smiling cheerfully. She stepped into the room and unwrapped the oil paper package on the table, saying to Jiang Ruan: “Miss, come eat some too. The spring pancakes are still warm.”
Bai Zhi was puzzled: “Where did you get these?” Zhang Lan’s family surely wouldn’t be so kind. Now, because of Chen Zhao’s incident, Zhang Lan harbored considerable resentment toward Jiang Ruan. The servants wouldn’t voluntarily touch this bad luck, and they certainly didn’t have spare silver to buy snacks.
“The estate seems to have distinguished guests arriving. Everyone’s been preparing these past few days, and they’ve prepared more snacks too. I have some friendship with Bai He, who’s new to the kitchen, so I asked for a few.” She smiled: “Though we’re rough around the edges, we still need to celebrate New Year. Miss, look, there’s also this.” She pulled out a string of copper coin ornaments from her bosom: “I spent ten wen to buy this on the way back for good luck—smooth sailing in the coming year.”
Bai Zhi giggled: “Why buy a copper coin string for good luck? Are you praying for Miss to have abundant wealth next year?”
“What’s wrong with abundant wealth?” Lian Qiao said: “Money makes the devil turn millstones. What’s wrong with having silver? If we had silver, these people wouldn’t dare bully Miss like this.”
Bai Zhi quickly gave Lian Qiao a meaningful look, reminding her that Jiang Ruan was still there—she should stop talking. Lian Qiao realized her slip and quickly shut her mouth, carefully glancing at Jiang Ruan.
But Jiang Ruan shook her head and slowly threw off the quilt to get up. Lian Qiao hurried to support her. Jiang Ruan walked to the table and sat down, looked at the string on the table, then reached out to put it on her wrist. She examined it and said: “For good luck.”
Lian Qiao felt a pang of sadness. Which young lady from any household didn’t have piles of large and small jewelry for New Year? Their own miss only had a copper coin string worth ten wen—even in ordinary common families, this wouldn’t be worth mentioning. She turned her head to hide the sourness in her eyes and smiled again: “Miss, have another spring pancake.”
Jiang Ruan shook her head: “I can’t eat more. You two eat.” She paused, then added: “I have no silver to reward you. Following me to this estate, you’ve both suffered much these four years. Fortunately, from this year onward, we won’t need to suffer anymore.”
“Yes, yes, yes,” Bai Zhi quickly said: “This year Miss will have good fortune all year, everything will go smoothly!”
Jiang Ruan knew she had misunderstood her meaning but didn’t explain. She just looked out the window: “The weather outside is quite nice. Let’s go for a walk.”
Bai Zhi and Lian Qiao exchanged delighted glances. Usually, apart from doing chores, Jiang Ruan was unwilling to go out for walks voluntarily. The servants on the estate always mocked them to the extreme when they saw the three. Though Lian Qiao’s spirited nature could intimidate some people, it was ultimately futile. Over time, Jiang Ruan became unwilling to see people, always staying in her own courtyard.
“Good, good, good,” Lian Qiao smiled while going to rummage through the clothing chest: “Which outfit would Miss like to wear?”
Jiang Ruan smiled inwardly. In fact, it made no difference which outfit she wore. When she came to the estate, she had brought many personal items and clothing with her, but those jewelry and garments were soon cheated and stolen away by Zhang Lan and Chen Fang, mother and daughter. In the end, she didn’t even have a single piece of her own clothing left. Chen Fang had taken all her clothes and given her rough, tattered old garments in return. Never mind the appearance and fabric—the cotton padding in winter coats was pitifully thin, barely adequate for ordinary warmth.
“You choose,” Jiang Ruan said.
Lian Qiao and Bai Zhi spent quite a while choosing before settling on an old dark green buttoned padded jacket, with a wide pale yellow thick cloth skirt that Bai Zhi had altered to fit, covered by a tan-colored long cloak. Worried that elaborate hair wouldn’t match the clothing, Bai Zhi styled her hair in the simplest bun. Because of her young age, it actually looked surprisingly suitable. This outfit really couldn’t be called festive, but Jiang Ruan’s fair complexion made it not look shabby. Combined with her calm, indifferent temperament, she seemed like a completely different person from before.
After getting ready, the three finally left their courtyard. Lian Qiao suggested walking on the street. Just as they exited the estate’s main compound, they encountered several people head-on. A surprised voice called out: “Sister Ruan!”
Lian Qiao frowned, and Bai Zhi also quietly positioned herself protectively behind Jiang Ruan. Jiang Ruan looked up, and the other person’s shadow clearly reflected in her eyes.
It was Zhang Lan’s youngest son, Chen Zhao.