Early winter of the third year of Yong’an, Qiqian’er quietly emerged from mourning, and Chang Lianfang formally moved into Qinwei Lane.

His new house needed a house-warming, so Chen Dasheng, as his sworn elder brother, and Old Madam Chen, as his adoptive grandmother, both went early to Qinwei Lane to help Little Flower manage things.

Now that Qiqian’er and the others were returning, Father was of course unwilling to stay alone at the Commandery Prince’s mansion, and so the whole large household, a great bustling crowd, moved back together to Qinwei Lane.

In Qiqian’er’s unambitious words, only after returning here did life feel like something worth living. Nor was she the only one who thought so—even She Qingling himself felt the same. He simply loved his son’s household’s second courtyard, with people constantly coming and going, the lively bustle of ordinary life, and everything he looked at seemed to have a delightful flavor to it.

On the morning of the house-warming, Qiqian’er rose extremely early, going out before dawn. This was the work of being the sister-in-law who acts as elder sister-in-law—once saddled with the duty, there was no escaping it. The Chen family had sent over twenty thousand strings of cash in advance, which she felt was truly wasteful—spending twenty thousand strings on a house-warming? Truly money to burn.

Little Flower had always harbored some resentment toward his elder sister-in-law’s family. The men of the house couldn’t very well hang household matters on their lips, but the mansion that his sworn elder brother, adoptive grandmother, and sister-in-law had won back for him meant that Bao Shi and Xia Shi’s hands would no longer reach into these matters—he wouldn’t put up with that anymore.

The Chang family had been fighting these past few days. It wasn’t for nothing—the old lord had fought at the front for three years and had secretly sent quite a lot of things home. When the four of them (father and sons) returned and checked the accounts, it caused another round of anger—only a small portion of it remained, not even half.

This was exactly what pushed Little Flower to move to Qinwei Lane early; he felt his own family had become somewhat disgusting.

Marquis Chang, freshly out of the pot so to speak, had grown more short-tempered these past years. In the past he wouldn’t argue with his daughters-in-law, but this time he was finally going to settle accounts—without the slightest courtesy, he sent Bao Shi and Xia Shi back to their natal families.

Qiqian’er didn’t involve herself in the Chang family’s trivial squabbles. She arrived early, had the gates of each courtyard opened first, then had people gather up anything fragile or valuable. Amid the bustle, the household’s helpers arrived one by one.

The Chen family’s affairs were the collective affairs of Qinwei Lane. Lu Shi, Ding Yuniang, Zhang Wanru, Pan Baqiao, and Cai Shi all brought their own maidservants to gather in the courtyard. As for how things would be done—that had long since been understood without needing to be said.

One wouldn’t guess it looking at this group of madams who rarely went out, but each one of them was sharp as a tack. So Qiqian’er oversaw the whole operation: Zhang Wanru, who knew the most people, was in charge of receiving guests; Lu Shi managed the kitchen; Ding Yuniang, together with Daniu’er, helped Pan Baqiao with the gift ledgers…

By the time Chang Lianfang was woken by the noisy voices in the courtyard, it was already the end of the Hour of the Dragon (around 9 a.m.). Quanhou Street bordered Baiquan Mountain; the climate here was good, and without the noise of Yandu, he had slept well. Everything in the new house was new—the bed, the bedding, and that scent of family one could rely on.

After rolling around comfortably on the bed a couple more times, he shuffled into his shoes and pushed open the door, only to be startled to see that his once neat and tidy courtyard now had over thirty six-tiered food racks set up in it.

Though it wasn’t even the Hour of the Dragon yet, the kitchen fires were already blazing with oil, and fried meatballs, stuffed pastries, and seven or eight kinds of fried delicacies were already being carried in steaming hot.

Though it was early winter, there were still a few flying insects that had somehow appeared from somewhere; a couple of little girls, only two or three years old, held whisks and ran back and forth around the racks, chasing them away.

Seeing the young master emerge, his attendant Chang Qing, who followed at his side, smiled and directed people to bring over a washbasin stand and towels, to serve him in washing up, tying up his hair, and then helping him into the clothes prepared for the day.

People bustled in and out of the courtyard, everyone too busy to even greet their young master properly. Just as they were tidying up, several dozen strings of fried fish, fragrant and hot, were carried into the courtyard and placed on the racks.

Chang Lianfang was thoroughly puzzled, and asked A’Qing: “Tell me, why is everyone moving things into my courtyard?”

A’Qing, tying up his hair, said: “Listen to yourself. If it’s not moved into this courtyard, where else would it go? Out in the open, waiting for idle folks to grab a handful here, break off a piece there?”

Chang Lianfang said indifferently: “How much could they even eat?”

A’Qing knew how his young master’s mind worked, so he patiently explained: “Heh~ Young Master, you should just count your blessings. Look at you—you sleep as late as you please, and all these matters have already been arranged by the madams of Qinwei Lane, not a single thing for you to worry about… How much could they eat? If we let it all out in the open, you wouldn’t believe how fast it’d all be eaten up before the banquet even starts…”

Before he could finish, his mother Cai Shi’s voice came from outside the courtyard: “Your young master’s a fool, how would he understand any of this!”

Cai Shi had arrived late; upon entering the courtyard she’d first walked a full circle looking for somewhere to help, only to find there was no need for her at all, and so happily made her way to the back courtyard.

Chang Lianfang, still having his hair tied, couldn’t move, so he just smiled and said: “Mother, why are you here so early?”

Cai Shi, being helped to sit down, said in good spirits: “Oh my, I’ve been a daughter-in-law of the Chang family for decades, and this is the first time I’ve had it this easy! And this still counts as early—if it weren’t that your Qian’er sister-in-law was here, I would’ve moved in last night! You rascal, you really do have good fortune, much better than your blind old fool of a father. Look at the people you’ve made friends with, and then look at his.”

At this, Chang Lianfang did feel rather proud in his heart. He hummed in acknowledgment, and since he couldn’t nod, said instead: “That’s right. Qian’er sister-in-law has always been capable, and she dotes on me too, just like a real sister.”

Cai Shi wasn’t about to spare Bao Shi and the others any face, and mocked: “Just like a real sister? What are those two real ones of yours even worth, huh… it’s also that I, your mother, am useless—I never understood these household matters, and so I’ve suffered for it every day. The storehouses have been picked clean enough to breed rats. Child, you don’t know—it’s not just your Qian’er sister-in-law. Just now I went to look in on the kitchen and saw that Lu Shi from your Quanzi Elder Brother’s household—tsk tsk~ now that’s the real thing!”

Cai Shi gave an admiring thumbs up.

Seeing his mother’s exaggerated expression, Chang Lianfang laughed and asked: “That impressive, huh?”

Cai Shi nodded with certainty: “Mm, any woman would be a hundred times better than those two of ours! Truly capable. Child, you have no idea—your mother only learned today just how much there is to the workings of a kitchen. These past days I thought those great madams training up their housekeepers was just making trouble for themselves, but now I know there’s real learning in it!”

Having put on his cap, Chang Lianfang supported his mother as they wandered around the wooden racks in the courtyard, occasionally grabbing a still-hot meatball to pop in his mouth. He did this, and so did Cai Shi—truly, they ate their way along as they walked. This was a mother and son who cared little for propriety.

As they walked, Cai Shi said to her son: “Your mother learned something today too. Your Sister-in-law Lu told me—don’t underestimate a small kitchen. A ten-catty bundle of vegetables, once the leaves are stripped, if your own people are watching over the work, you can get eight catties out of it, enough for ten tables of green vegetable garnish. Take these meatballs, for instance—a conscientious cook can turn fifty catties of ground meat into these two racks of meatballs, but a careless one, letting the meatballs roll around more in the pot, wastes you another two ounces of oil per basket…”

Chang Lianfang listened, torn between laughing and crying, and said helplessly: “Mother, ah, is our family really short on those two ounces of oil?”

Cai Shi scolded him, exasperated at his lack of understanding: “You don’t know a thing. Our family spends no less than fifty thousand strings a year on food and drink alone. If this were handed to your Qian’er sister-in-law, to your Sister-in-law Lu and the others—do you believe that if you gave them twenty thousand strings, they’d spend at most half of it, and with the other half, they could even buy you a few hundred mu of land, and by next year could double your house-warming money for you!

Ah, such a fine daughter-in-law came to Qinwei Lane, and if only we’d been given just one like her, it would’ve been enough. Alas, we’re stuck with two household thieves instead. Your father was furious this time too… Well, never mind, it’s fortunate you moved out. Life is good over here, you’ll understand once you’ve lived it a while. It’s not just your mother saying this—with sisters-in-law like these around you, and whatever kind of wife you marry in the future, as long as she comes in and spends a few years around these good people, she’ll be steeped in their fragrance too…”

Just then, more than twenty servant boys carried in enormous baskets into the courtyard. Chang Lianfang helped his mother step aside, and looking down, saw the baskets were full of melons, fruits, pears, and peaches.

He reached out, picked up a pear, and took a bite—his teeth suddenly ached with cold, and he asked: “Which fruit shop are these from? Just pulled from the cellar, I’d guess? At this time of year, these things must be expensive.”

Early winter fruit prices had already risen; buying ten baskets like this must have cost quite a sum.

As it happened, the one escorting this batch of fruit was none other than Granny Yin from the Chen family’s needlework department. Hearing Chang Lianfang’s question, she came over smiling and bowed, saying: “Sixth Young Master, these are fruits our household stored in the cellar in early autumn—we stored quite a lot back then. Later we’ll settle the account with the main ledger at autumn fruit prices—it’s at most a few coppers per catty locally, not expensive at all.”

Chang Lianfang’s ranking followed the order set by the old lady’s side of the family, and among the servants he was privately called the Sixth Young Master of Qipan Courtyard.

Chang Lianfang, astonished, asked: “Our family has a cellar?”

Granny Yin smiled: “Of course, whose household these days doesn’t have a couple of deep cellars? Your madam’s side had one dug too, though nothing was stored in it this year. These fruits are from Third Young Master Tong’s household cellar—the vegetables we’re using this time are all from Eldest Young Master’s courtyard, the ice cellar is at Second Young Master Yu’s place. Our household has many cellars, so managing affairs is simpler.”

Even the great households of Yandu didn’t have as many deep cellars as Qinwei Lane.

Afraid of delaying matters, Granny Yin took her leave with a bow after speaking, and walked over to the racks, where Yu Shoutian’s attendants Da Gu and Xiao Gu—one holding a large scale, one holding a ledger—were recording exactly how many catties of fruit came in. When it came time to use them for the banquet, everything had to pass through proper hands too—how much went out, who took it, where it was placed, all had established rules.

Cai Shi watched, thoroughly amazed, and thought to herself that this was truly meticulous work—the madams of Qinwei Lane really didn’t waste so much as a single needle when managing affairs.

She admired them even more.

Feeling a pang in her heart, she led her son toward the main courtyard. Before they’d even entered, they heard Old Madam Chen’s voice, extremely loud, nearly shouting as she scolded someone: “What exactly do you mean by this? Are you afraid your brother-in-law’s family might be living better than you?”

Bao Shi, having lived this long, was being dressed down publicly for the first time. Her face burned with humiliation as she gripped her handkerchief and argued back: “Old Madam, what kind of talk is this? Our brother-in-law is going to be living around here from now on—it’s only right to pay respects door to door! I—I was only doing this for Third Brother’s sake.”

Old Madam Chen, thoroughly spoiled by her whole family, now showed courtesy to no one. Hearing this, she continued scolding without sparing any face: “I don’t see any good in either of you two—go ask around the whole street! I’ve never heard of such waste. There are plenty of households on Liubu Lane holding events—when they hold an event, do they send fried food out to every household, not even giving us a single bowl?

And here you are, the moment you walk in the door, looking for fault everywhere. When it comes to actually helping, you’re useless—do you think this is your own household? This is Qinwei Lane, this is my sworn grandson’s house!

Never mind that your own family has split up and everyone looks after their own—you’re sending gifts door to door, six different kinds to each household! Do you think your brother-in-law has a gold mine? Spending his money doesn’t hurt you, but it hurts me, this old woman, to death! How many households are on Quanhou Street—what do you owe them? Do you have some weakness someone’s got a hold on, that you need to curry favor door to door? Don’t you dare tell me who you are—I don’t recognize this kind of behavior…”

Cai Shi looked up and saw her own two unworthy daughters-in-law, and felt ashamed. She had no idea what had gotten into their heads—perhaps they’d truly come early meaning to please, wanting to contribute some effort too. But the moment they entered the courtyard, they’d wanted to seize control, wanted to manage the brother-in-law’s affairs according to their own ideas, so as to show off their own skill.

But these two weren’t especially clever in their methods, and didn’t feel any pain spending their brother-in-law’s money. Seeing that every courtyard and every place had already been staffed and arranged, with no room left for them to insert themselves, they’d offered up a small suggestion instead—that since this was, after all, a marquis household’s young master’s house-warming, it ought to be done properly, sending some token gift to every household to show proper style.

My goodness, that had kicked the hornet’s nest. Before they’d even finished saying this, before anyone even needed to fetch Qiqian’er to scold them, the Old Madam had walked in and heard it all herself.

She wasn’t one to bother with courtesy—she didn’t care whose sister-in-law you were; waste was waste, and you’d be dealt with for it.

Bao Shi and Xia Shi, with their capable nursemaids and maidservants trailing behind them, had also arrived in a bustling crowd. Being scolded publicly like this, they were none too pleased and were about to talk back and argue, when they heard their mother-in-law say coldly to the side: “Why did you two come?”

At once, the two women turned pale.

Bao Shi and Xia Shi had planned this together—arriving early today, handling things beautifully, so that their husband’s family would naturally see their good qualities… who could have guessed their own mother-in-law would arrive too, and this early besides.

With others present, Cai Shi still had to spare her daughters-in-law some face, so after telling them to stand aside, she went over warmly and affectionately, taking the Old Madam’s arm and saying intimately: “Oh my, my dear old ancestress, it’s just a junior’s house-warming, why did it disturb you so?”

Old Madam Chen was fond of Cai Shi—their temperaments matched, and this woman had never once been remiss with her respects during festivals and holidays.

The two of them went together to sit in the main hall, where the Old Madam finally said: “Oh my~ dear in-law, how could I not come over? It’s such a major event for my sworn grandson! Those two are only sharp with their mouths—it’s not that I think too highly of myself, but when it comes to household management, I don’t think much of either of them at all!

Your household only has two capable hands, while mine, from top to bottom, has a full eleven, and truly not one of them knows how to manage things—just look away for a moment and you’ll find several hundred coppers flown out the door. Dear in-law, you’re bold indeed, daring to let them carry on so freely—and… and twenty thousand strings? Are you mad! If it were up to me to manage your affair, heh, a few hundred coppers per table, chicken duck fish meat all complete and proper, I could give you seven days of a flowing feast and not spend even a thousand strings, and here you spent twenty thousand!”

The Old Madam bared her teeth: “Your Old Chang family men are blind!”

The three women of the Chang family, hearing this figure of a few hundred coppers from the Old Madam, gasped audibly.

Chang Lianfang watched, thoroughly entertained. After enjoying the show, he skipped off to find his sister-in-law at the main accounting office, and upon entering saw a room full of matrons lining up to collect tallies, coming and going without the slightest disorder…

Seeing Chang Lianfang enter, Qiqian’er smiled and asked: “Oh, our young master is up? Have you eaten?”

Chang Lianfang said he hadn’t, so Qiqian’er sent someone to cook him meatballs in hot soup, with a couple of fried items to fill his stomach in the meantime.

Now this was a real elder sister-in-law.

Chang Lianfang, without standing on ceremony, sat down casually beside his sister-in-law to watch her manage affairs while waiting for his breakfast. His heart felt warm; without a worry in the world, feeling pleased with himself, he said: “Sister-in-law, you know what? Those two women of my family, they hadn’t even reached you yet and already got scolded by our Old Madam. I’m thinking when my own mother arrives in a bit, she won’t hold back either, and there’ll be another scolding.”

Qiqian’er laughed: “Serves them right, I suppose. Of all people to run into, they had to run into our Old Madam, wanting to send gifts all over the street? It’s just that the Old Madam doesn’t like other people educating their own daughters-in-law—she’s only saying it for show.

As for those two of yours—compared to what our Little Seven has gone through, this world is full of bodhisattvas everywhere by comparison. Those two of yours are just foolish, the kind of foolish that can’t tell inside from outside. They spend their brother-in-law’s money without a second thought—but never mind them. I heard from your brother that your family’s currently looking for a wife for you. Found anyone you fancy yet?”

This kind of teasing from an elder sister-in-law to a younger brother-in-law was just idle joking, though the younger brother-in-law might not necessarily feel comfortable with it.

Chang Lianfang’s face flushed red instantly, and he changed the subject: “Where’s my brother?”

Qiqian’er, taking a tally and tossing it into the tray beside her, said without looking up: “Early this morning he went off with father, bow and arrows on his backs, leading a group up the mountain to hunt, saying they’d at least bring back some game to add to the feast today. If you ask me, though, don’t count on it—that bunch can’t be relied on. Counting on them for game, today’s banquet won’t even manage to open on time.

The old man went out prepared with all sorts of things—a low table, a low couch, brush, ink, paper, inkstone, cured meat and wine, heh heh—if the peak of Ertou Mountain has even a bit of winter mist today, father will splash ink on at least ten paintings. Your brother just spoils him, letting him do whatever he pleases—he even carried a whole load of pigments up the mountain for him today. Just you wait—game? Would you settle for wild grass instead?”

Hearing this, Chang Lianfang laughed heartily.

A matron brought over hot soup, along with a few freshly mixed small side dishes and crispy fried dough twists straight from the oil.

Chang Lianfang sat up and ate while saying: “Sister-in-law, let my brother play for a few more days. Starting next month, my brother and the others have to go deep into the mountains to train scouts—they won’t be back before the new year…”

Before Chang Lianfang could finish this sentence, the pile of tallies in Qiqian’er’s hands scattered across the table.

Qiqian’er, her face full of alarm, looked at Chang Lianfang and asked: “What did you say?!”

Chang Lianfang, startled by her reaction, set down his chopsticks and said hesitantly: “My brother, next month has to go into the mountains to train troops… What’s wrong, sister-in-law, didn’t you know? Did something happen?”

Something had happened, all right—something very big indeed!

Her own An’er had been conceived on the sixth of December—this date, Qiqian’er could never mistake. If that fool of a husband was going to be stuck deep in the old forest, then where on earth would her An’er come from?