After having lunch at the Old Marchioness’s quarters and returning home, Zhen Jie’er followed Shiyiniang into the main room with a somewhat hesitant air.
Shiyiniang, seeing that she had something she wished to say, sent Lvyun and Hongxiu to lay out the bedding and attend to Xu Lingyi for his afternoon rest, while she herself went with Zhen Jie’er to the east side room.
“What is it?” she asked Zhen Jie’er with a smile.
Zhen Jie’er hesitated for a moment before saying: “Mother, I would like to stay with Second Aunt and spend the New Year with her.”
Shiyiniang was momentarily taken aback.
Zhen Jie’er quickly continued: “Second Aunt is alone on the Western Mountain… At home there is still Elder Brother, Second Brother, Third Younger Brother, and Zhun Ge… And I am only a girl…”
What she meant was that it made little difference whether she was there or not at home. But for Second Madam, who was there alone, her going would at least provide company.
The thought was a kind one.
Yet she was still, after all, the eldest young lady of the Xu household. To be away from home for the New Year vigil — the Old Marchioness would likely be the first obstacle.
Looking at the thoughtful and tender-hearted Zhen Jie’er, Shiyiniang stepped back a measure.
“Let me bring it up with your father. We’ll see what he says.”
Zhen Jie’er also knew that this request of hers was rather extraordinary. Yet every time she thought of Second Aunt’s cool and desolate expression, her lonely silhouette, she could not hold back the words that lay deepest in her heart. Now, hearing that Shiyiniang was willing to speak on her behalf, she broke into a radiant smile: “Thank you, Mother!”
Shiyiniang looked at her smile — bright as the spring sunlight of May, so unlike her usual cautious and restrained manner — and worried that her own words had been too confident. If the matter could not be arranged, would it not leave Zhen Jie’er doubly disappointed?
“Don’t celebrate too soon,” she said, cooling Zhen Jie’er’s expectations ahead of time. “We don’t know yet whether your father will agree.”
Zhen Jie’er was not deterred; her smile remained just as radiant: “Whether he agrees or not, Mother has been willing to speak for me before Father.”
Shiyiniang was quietly moved.
She had never encountered a child more knowing of gratitude than Zhen Jie’er.
Returning to the room, she found Xu Lingyi reclining on the large headrest on the bed, reading a book. He glanced up at her and said: “Did Zhen Jie’er come to you about something?”
He was asking on his own initiative — there could be no better opportunity than this.
Shiyiniang smiled and conveyed Zhen Jie’er’s wishes: “…From the way Third Sister-in-law spoke, she will likely send someone to deliver New Year’s gifts to Second Sister-in-law tomorrow. If Zhen Jie’er is able to go along, Second Sister-in-law will surely be so happy!”
Xu Lingyi considered for a moment, then said: “I will discuss it with Mother shortly.”
If he was willing to speak on the matter personally, it was nine parts settled.
Shiyiniang breathed a quiet sigh of relief, and took the opportunity to ask about Second Madam’s situation: “…Why not adopt or bring a child into the family? That way, the Second Branch’s line of incense could be carried on, and Second Sister-in-law would not be so lonely.”
A shadow of gloom passed through Xu Lingyi’s eyes, and after a long moment he said: “Second Sister-in-law is unwilling. One cannot force her.” He put down his book and lay back. “I am going to rest for a while.” His tone made it plain he did not wish to say more, and he turned over and went to sleep without further ceremony.
Shiyiniang was quite surprised, but reflecting that this was, after all, a matter within his family, she asked no more questions. She tucked the blanket around him and went to sleep for a while in the warm inner room of the east side chamber.
When she rose, Xu Lingyi was already gone.
“Seeing that Madam was still asleep, my Lord went to the Half-Moon Pavilion,” Lvyun answered, watching Shiyiniang’s expression with careful attention.
Shiyiniang nodded. Seeing there was still time, she told Lvyun to bring the embroidery frame into the inner chamber and set it on the broad platform bed by the window: “…The progress has been far too slow.”
“A full character and a half have already been embroidered.” Lvyun laughed as she and Hongxiu went to bring in the embroidery frame. “You have truly been far too busy.”
As they were talking, Hupo came in: “Liu Yuanrui’s wife has arrived.”
With the New Year so close at hand, her coming at this moment must mean there was something urgent.
Shiyiniang quickly told Hupo to bring her in.
She had come this time wearing a lilac figured cloth jacket, her hair smoothed neatly and glossy, looking quite sharp and bright.
She curtsied to Shiyiniang, then said with a smile: “The New Year is nearly upon us, and though we are far away, we still wished to come and pay our respects to Madam. But then we thought that during those days Madam would surely be busy receiving the ladies of official households, and it would not be proper to come and disturb you then. So the others sent me as a representative to ask Madam to grace us with a few ‘Fortune’ characters to put up — and to receive a share of Madam’s good fortune.”
What a gift she had for words.
Of her accompanying servants, only Wan Daxian held a position within the household, so he could join the household stewards in paying New Year’s respects to Xu Lingyi. As for the others, they lived far away — and even if they rushed over to pay their respects in person, they would look quite shabby amid the gold-and-silver-clad women servants of the Xu Family and its various branches. If it were only Shiyiniang’s household alone, that would be one thing; but with several Xu family branches all living together, the contrast would inevitably invite the sort of people who fawn on the powerful and trample on the weak to gossip and make things awkward for Shiyiniang — so it was better not to come at all.
Shiyiniang had no fear of others laughing at her; she simply thought it would be excessive to make such a long journey in such cold weather just to perform a bow. Hearing Liu Yuanrui’s wife frame it this way, she took the opening readily and had Lvyun bring out the brush and ink, and had Hongxiu cut several foot-square sheets of deep crimson gold-flecked paper, and wrote seven or eight “Fortune” characters in one go in the warm inner room of the east side chamber.
Liu Yuanrui’s wife kept calling out admiration from the side. When Shiyiniang was done, she watched Lvyun and Hongxiu carry the gold-flecked papers to the main hall to dry, and then stepped forward eagerly to help Shiyiniang gently by the elbow and guide her to the broad platform bed by the window in the west side room.
“…Madam’s calligraphy has such sweeping vigor and grace — Wan Yizong’s wife will surely be sighing with admiration when she sees it.” She watched Shiyiniang’s expression carefully as she said this with a smile. “You don’t know, Madam. Once Wan Yizong learned that you had it in mind to match one of the girls in your service to his family’s son, he came running to my place every single day — sometimes bringing ribs, sometimes pig kidneys. It made me laugh to no end.”
She was feeling out Shiyiniang’s intentions, surely.
Shiyiniang simply smiled without speaking, and steered the conversation to other matters.
Liu Yuanrui’s wife was composed enough to follow her lead and shift accordingly, and did not mention Wan Yizong again.
Shiyiniang, watching her, gave an inward nod of approval, and the topic naturally turned to matters of social custom, household management, and the way of running a home.
Liu Yuanrui’s wife had inquired early and learned that the Xu household was currently managed by the Third Madam. Some people felt that, while Shiyiniang would sooner or later take over the household management, she was young and no one knew when she would actually assume charge; moreover, the people in the household were numerous, and since they were not Shiyiniang’s own accompanying servants, even if a desirable post came up in the future, it would not necessarily fall to them. Better, they thought, to seize a position during the Third Madam’s current round of personnel changes, since once Shiyiniang took charge, surely she would not dismiss every last person.
Liu Yuanrui’s wife had originally thought that, were she in their shoes, she would have done the same. Yet after interacting with Shiyiniang on several occasions, she had changed her mind.
This Fourth Madam might be young in years, but her mind was not small, and her conduct was even more sound and steady — qualities that even a woman like herself, with over twenty more years of living, might not necessarily possess. She had also heard that since entering the household, Shiyiniang had won the Old Marchioness’s affection, and that even the Marquis treated her with respectful courtesy. She swiftly put aside that earlier sense of slighting and brought every ounce of her attention to bear on attending to Shiyiniang.
Hearing Shiyiniang now inquiring about the business of managing the household, she assumed it was preparation for taking charge of the inner household in the future, and she did not dare to be careless. What she knew, she told in full; what she did not know, she shared even as hearsay, speaking with cheerful warmth and great ease.
Shiyiniang found that Liu Yuanrui’s wife was not only quick to read expressions and nimble of mind, but also clear and candid in speech, and free of exaggeration — with her own approach to social dealings and household management. Shiyiniang was quite satisfied, and listened more than she asked.
While they were talking, a little maidservant came in to report: “Steward Bai has sent someone to deliver the fine kudzu cloth curtain.”
So quickly.
Shiyiniang was surprised, and told Lvyun to bring it in.
Five curtains were brought in at once. Two plain ones, one embroidered with herbs and insects, one woven with scrolling flower sprays, and one with five blessings surrounding a cloud motif — all of them exquisite. The plain ones in particular were so light and soft they seemed like wisps of mist, and anyone could see at a glance they were no ordinary thing. Shiyiniang liked them very much.
“Steward Bai says that if Madam is not satisfied, she need only specify the style and the Imperial Household Department will make one to order.”
“No need.” To have the Imperial Household Department help on an occasional basis was acceptable, but calling on them constantly would be far too conspicuous. “This is perfectly fine.”
The little maidservant went to relay this to Steward Bai. Shiyiniang chose one of the plain curtains and told Hupo to take down the original deep crimson silk curtain and replace it.
Liu Yuanrui’s wife watched from the side, her eyes wide.
She thought to herself — no wonder everyone from the Luo Family spoke of the Xu household with undisguised envy.
She came forward with a smile to help, but only dared to remove the crimson silk curtain — she did not dare touch the plain fine kudzu one.
Before they had even finished, Hongxiu brought over the “Fortune” characters whose ink had fully dried. Then another little maidservant came in to report that the three Yiniángs had arrived.
Liu Yuanrui’s wife, quick-witted as ever, accepted the “Fortune” characters from Hongxiu, thanked Shiyiniang, and was guided out the door by a maidservant.
Shiyiniang went and sat on the broad platform bed by the window in the east side room. The three Yiniángs took their seats around the bed platform. A little maidservant brought tea. Shiyiniang told Hupo to read aloud the list of New Year goods allotted to the Fourth Branch from the household’s common stores.
Qin Yiniang’s face was full of surprise; Wen Yiniang’s first showed astonishment, then shifted to an expression of understanding. Qiao Lianfang sat to one side with a detached air, sipping her tea as though none of this concerned her in the least.
When Hupo had finished reading, Wen Yiniang spoke at once: “Sister, you are the mistress of this household — everything in the home is naturally at your word. How could we be the ones to speak out of turn?”
Qin Yiniang had not grasped Shiyiniang’s intention, but she had understood Wen Yiniang’s words clearly enough, and quickly followed: “Madam, my feelings are the same as Wen Yiniang’s. I will follow entirely whatever you say.”
Qiao Lianfang, however, let out a cold, quiet laugh.
What the household’s common fund had distributed was no more than New Year money and sweets and food — not dividend shares from any business. Of course Shiyiniang was happy to be generous with these.
Shiyiniang, seeing that Qiao Lianfang had not spoken, ignored her, and said with a smile: “Being together like this is a matter of fate. I don’t mean anything else by it. It isn’t much, but let each branch divide it according to their number of people and have a good New Year. Consider it a small gesture of goodwill from me.” She smiled further: “If you find the amount lacking, I truly have no more to offer.”
“How could we find it lacking!” Qin Yiniang said with an earnest expression. “This year there are two hundred taels of silver more than in previous years.”
Shiyiniang’s heart gave a small leap; she kept her expression even and said with a smile: “That is good, then!” She then drew up a list of how much each person — Xu Siyu, Zhen Jie’er, Zhun Ge, and the three Yiniángs — was to receive, and distributed a copy to each person. “Please have the maidservants who hold your keys go and collect the goods from Hupo presently.”
Qin Yiniang answered respectfully; Wen Yiniang smiled and thanked Shiyiniang warmly, as though Shiyiniang had bestowed some precious treasure upon her, full of eager attention. Qiao Lianfang simply gave a cool, slight nod.
Shiyiniang then brought up the matter of duty shifts: “…From what my Lord has said, there will be fireworks set off over the New Year. When that time comes, there will also be guests to entertain and opera performances, and each branch must properly arrange their own staff on duty. This is to prevent anyone from taking advantage of an empty room to pilfer things, or from accidentally knocking over a candle. Beginning tomorrow, each branch is to draw up a roster — listing the people on day duty and those on night watch for every day, from now through the Lantern Festival — and submit it to Hupo.”
All three were taken aback.
—