Zhou Shaojin felt that Cheng Chi was like a mountain in the fog—seemingly clear, yet when you wanted to see clearly, you couldn’t see at all.
Meanwhile, Zhou Chujin, having received two hundred taels of pin money from Li Shi, discussed return gifts with Zhou Shaojin: “We can’t just take hers without reciprocating—that would make us seem petty. Gold and silver jewelry and such don’t seem sincere enough. Edibles and provisions are too far away—I’m afraid the items would spoil before they even arrive…”
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “Then let’s make a few more winter garments for Father and Stepmother! I saw that Father was very pleased.”
Zhou Chujin thought about it and really couldn’t think of anything more suitable.
However, neither Zhou Chujin nor Zhou Shaojin had much experience making clothes for men. Li Shi’s clothes posed no problem, but they were uncertain about Zhou Zhen’s garments.
Zhou Shaojin, thinking that the Cheng family had a needlework room and relying on her own decent needlework skills, said, “We can just ask the tailor who regularly makes clothes for Uncle Mian for guidance!”
Zhou Chujin nodded in agreement.
Zhou Shaojin then wanted to return early from Hanbi Mountain House.
This was the first time since she had started copying scriptures at Hanbi Mountain House.
Old Madam Guo couldn’t help asking curiously, “Is there something urgent at home?”
“No, no.” Zhou Shaojin smiled. “A few days ago was my father’s birthday. I made two garments to send over, received Father’s praise, and Stepmother even specially sent two hundred taels of silver to Sister and me. So I was thinking of making two more winter garments for Father…”
She told Old Madam Guo the whole story.
Old Madam Guo laughed heartily. “And here I thought it was something serious! You just want to personally make your father two garments? Just have the people from the household’s needlework room help with some patterns. Why would you need to invite someone from outside? How could outsiders’ craftsmanship compare to our household’s masters?”
Zhou Shaojin knew the Cheng family had a needlework room that employed Jiangnan’s finest tailors and embroiderers, but they only made clothes for the old masters, masters, and madams of the Cheng family’s First and Second Branches. Even Cheng Wen didn’t dare trouble them.
At least the Fourth Branch had never asked the Cheng family’s needlework room to make clothes…
She couldn’t help being tempted.
Jiangnan’s finest tailors and embroiderers… how would they differ from ordinary tailors and embroiderers?
Zhou Shaojin said carefully, “Would this… be appropriate?”
“What’s inappropriate about it?” Old Madam Guo smiled. “If it weren’t for you sisters’ filial devotion to your parents, I would just have the needlework room make them for you.” As she spoke, she called Biyu in. “You accompany Second Young Miss to the needlework room. See what Second Young Miss wants to ask about and have them explain everything properly to Second Young Miss.”
Biyu smiled in acknowledgment and led Zhou Shaojin toward the needlework room.
On the way, she told Zhou Shaojin about the needlework room’s situation: “There’s a Master Hu who oversees the entire needlework room. He only makes clothes for Old Ancestor. The young masters’ garments are all made by his apprentices… The head of the embroidery room is surnamed Zhang—she’s barely past twenty and only entered the household last year. The bright red horse-face skirt with hundred flowers and butterflies that Madam wore on her birthday was embroidered by her. Those butterflies were so lifelike, as if about to fly out. Even Old Madam praised it. These days, following Old Madam’s orders, she’s embroidering a hundred-boys-at-play swaddling cloth for Second Young Miss…”
Cheng Xiao’s due date was in September. The Cheng family needed to send washing-three gifts, full-moon gifts, and hundred-day gifts. This swaddling cloth was one of the essential congratulatory gifts that the maternal family must send for the full-moon celebration.
Zhou Shaojin asked, “Has there been any news from Cousin Xiao’s side?”
Biyu smiled. “The last message said everything was going smoothly. The midwives and birth attendants have all been engaged and brought to the house…”
The two chatted as they arrived at the needlework room.
The Cheng family’s needlework room wasn’t large—it was a small courtyard occupying barely one or two acres, with three-bay side rooms on all four sides. In the courtyard stood an old scholar tree as thick as two people could embrace, its canopy like an umbrella providing shade from the sun, making it quite cool—somewhat like the layout of a northern siheyuan courtyard.
When they walked in, the courtyard was very quiet. Seven or eight women sat buried in their needlework under the old scholar tree. Small pouches and bamboo baskets for needlework hung from the protruding knots on the tree trunk. The atmosphere was warm and peaceful.
Seeing someone enter, the needleworking women merely lifted their heads for a quick glance, then lowered them again to their flying needles and threading. No one came forward to greet them.
Zhou Shaojin and Biyu were left standing there.
Biyu looked apologetically at Zhou Shaojin and said in a low voice, “The needlework room has many tasks that are also tedious, so their tempers aren’t very good. Second Young Miss, please don’t take it to heart.” She then stepped forward a few paces and called out loudly, “Is anyone here? We’re from Hanbi Mountain House and have come to consult about something.”
Zhou Shaojin smiled gently.
Biyu really had a good temperament.
The Cheng family’s needlework room probably wasn’t busy so much as bad-tempered, wasn’t it?
However, having come this far, she had to take a look before leaving.
A thirty-something woman wearing an apron quickly walked out from the eastern side room.
Her clothes were neat, her smile obsequious, and she wore a thimble on her hand. She enthusiastically greeted Biyu: “So it’s you, young miss! Does Old Madam have some instructions?” As she spoke, her eyes swept over Zhou Shaojin, unable to hide the amazement in her gaze.
Biyu secretly smiled, pretending not to notice, and explained their purpose.
“So you’re a young miss from the Fourth Branch.” The woman showed surprise on her face, gave Zhou Shaojin an appraising look, then ushered Zhou Shaojin and Biyu into the eastern side room. After serving tea, she smiled and said, “Biyu was right to bring Second Young Miss to find me. I’m now making clothes for all the masters. I wonder what kind of garments Second Young Miss wants to make for Master Zhou? When are they intended to be worn? I haven’t been to Nanchang Prefecture—is winter there colder or warmer than here…”
In the eastern side room’s three-bay main hall, a large cutting table stood on the west side with seven or eight women sitting around it, silently doing needlework.
Zhou Shaojin sat at the round table in the hall. She smiled and said, “I haven’t been to Nanchang Prefecture either and don’t know what the winter weather is like there. I imagine Father surely doesn’t lack clothes—this is just my small gesture of filial piety. Master, please just recommend a few styles for me.”
“Second Young Miss, please wait!” The woman said, then immediately ducked behind the screen beside her.
A young maid called from the doorway, “Is Niang Wang here?”
The woman emerged from behind the screen with a frown and said, “What is it?”
The young maid said with an apologetic smile, “Doesn’t Niang Wang remember me? I’m Hongrui from Second Branch’s First Madam Shi’s side. Our First Madam wants to embroider a ‘rising step by step’ cloak for the young master. First Madam heard it needed black jade for the eyes but couldn’t find any at the moment, so she sent me over to see if you have any here?”
“Wait!” The woman called Niang Wang said impatiently, then turned and ducked behind the screen again.
Hongrui couldn’t help feeling somewhat embarrassed, but she still smiled and greeted Zhou Shaojin and Biyu: “Which household are you sisters from? You look unfamiliar. I’m from the Second Branch, serving First Madam Shi.”
So she was a maid of Cheng Zheng’s wife, Zheng Shi, from the Second Branch. Just didn’t know if she came as part of the dowry or was a hereditary servant of the Cheng family.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and nodded at her. Biyu quietly introduced Zhou Shaojin to her.
Hongrui was clearly someone who knew how to handle situations. She immediately came forward to bow to Zhou Shaojin and warmly addressed Biyu as “Sister.”
Niang Wang brought out four or five garments and said, “This one is for daily wear at home. The sleeves and such are all looser… This one is for visiting guests and friends—you should choose stiffer fabric, and here at the shoulders and sleeves, they should be made more fitted…”
Zhou Shaojin, seeing her speak knowledgeably, couldn’t help perking up her ears to listen.
Hongrui was naturally left to the side.
She could also remain composed, quietly following beside them listening to Niang Wang speak.
Someone outside called, “Who’s on duty in the room?”
The voice was clear and crisp.
Niang Wang was at a crucial point in her explanation. Hearing this, she didn’t respond and continued talking to Zhou Shaojin.
But slight commotion sounded from outside.
“Miss Minghe! You’ve come!”
Niang Wang’s expression changed upon hearing this. She abandoned Zhou Shaojin and the others and rushed out.
Zhou Shaojin and the others didn’t understand what was happening.
Niang Wang’s fawning voice already came from outside: “Miss Minghe, why have you come? On such a hot day, you could have just sent a young maid with a message. Yet you came personally. Look how you’ve worked up a sweat. Quickly come inside to rest…”
The clear female voice laughed, “It’s nothing really. Sister Nanping just said the summer socks you sent last time were well-made and wanted to have a few more pairs made…”
“What kind of matter is that?” Niang Wang smiled. “Who will wear them? What size? I’ll have them sent over first thing tomorrow morning.”
Who was this?
Zhou Shaojin looked toward Biyu.
Biyu smiled. “If I’m not mistaken, it should be one of Fourth Master’s senior maids, Minghe!”
Speak of the devil and he appears.
She had previously wanted to inquire about Ji Ying, and now here she was encountering someone who served in Cheng Chi’s household.
Zhou Shaojin was astonished.
The clear voice laughed, “There’s no need to rush. Aren’t you all working on the full-moon gifts for Second Young Madam these days? After you finish Second Young Madam’s things, it won’t be too late to make ours.”
“They’re just a few pairs of summer socks—how could we not find the time!” Niang Wang said, patting her chest, accompanying the visitor toward the eastern side room.
Zhou Shaojin sat up straight.
Niang Wang ushered in a woman of about twenty years old with fair skin, thick eyebrows, large eyes, wearing a lake-green Hangzhou silk vest.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin and the others, she was startled and said, “Biyu, what are you doing here?”
Biyu smiled and came forward to bow to Minghe, smiling as she said, “I was ordered by Old Madam to accompany Second Young Miss to find some clothing patterns…”
The two exchanged pleasantries.
Niang Wang smiled obsequiously from the side. “Speaking of which, we’re all family. This is Second Miss Zhou from the Zhou family… This is from Second Branch First Madam’s side…” She pointed at Hongrui.
Minghe nodded at Hongrui but properly curtsied to Zhou Shaojin with bent knees.
“Miss Minghe needn’t be so formal.” Zhou Shaojin politely exchanged pleasantries with her. “You work in Uncle Chi’s household? It seems you rarely go to Hanbi Mountain House?”
Minghe smiled. “I do rough work in the master’s household. How would I dare go to Hanbi Mountain House and disgrace myself?”
Her tone was forthright, making Zhou Shaojin feel favorably toward her.
Niang Wang brought out several pairs of summer socks and said, “Miss Minghe, what style would you like?”
Minghe flipped through them and pointed at two pairs. “Just make a few pairs following these styles.”
Niang Wang repeatedly agreed.
Zhou Shaojin noticed that the summer socks she requested were women’s styles.
Who was Minghe running errands for?
Zhou Shaojin thought of the dignified Ji Ying dressed all in black… She couldn’t help saying, “Are there different types of these socks? How is it that Miss Minghe specifically selected these two styles?”
“There’s no difference really.” Minghe seemed to find her question amusing. “I just think these two styles are more attractive.”
Zhou Shaojin felt embarrassed.