Over the following two days, Xu Lingyi met with Steward Bai to discuss the construction. Xu Lingkuan heard about it and was very interested, volunteering to take charge of the design. Though the new year had passed, the clan school had not yet resumed, and as Third Master’s whereabouts remained uncertain, the Dowager had been vague about it, leaving Xu Siqin and Xu Siyu without instructions to move back to the outer courtyard residence. The two were happy to be left to their own devices and trailed after Xu Lingkuan, running back and forth and joining in on the construction plans. Shiyiniang spent her time doing needlework with Zhen Jie’er. Xu Sijie stayed by Shiyiniang’s side all day. Zhun Ge had always been close with Zhen Jie’er and had also grown fond of Xu Sijie, so he circled around the two of them. Xu Sijian was interested in the construction but also wanted to play with Zhen Jie’er and Zhun Ge, going back and forth between the two, every day merry as if it were the New Year.

Then Wan Yizong and Chang Jiuhe came to see Shiyiniang. The former had come to hand in his resignation — he and his two sons would be working for Chen Ping, helping him grow fruit trees. The latter had come to ask Shiyiniang for silver — the house crushed by snow had already been repaired, and he and his son were now tilling the fields, just waiting to buy seeds for the spring sowing.

Shiyiniang took out her New Year’s gift money and gave Wan Yizong ten taels of silver as a supplement, and Chang Jiuhe forty taels for the spring planting.

Liu Ruichun’s wife came into the mansion once, saying she had been entrusted by Wan Yizong’s family to ask Shiyiniang to act as a matchmaker. Shiyiniang had Dongqing’s birth details written on a red gold-flecked card and entrusted Nanny Tao to deliver it to Liu Ruichun’s family.

The horoscopes would then be compared. If they matched, the next steps could be discussed. If they didn’t, the young man’s family would tear off two feet of cloth and have the matchmaker return the card. So while everyone knew about it, no one made a fuss. Meanwhile, Shiyiniang had already begun rummaging through trunks and boxes to prepare Dongqing’s trousseau. Dongqing was too embarrassed to face her fellow maids and often went to do needlework in Nan Yong’s wife’s room instead.

Nan Yong’s wife had moved into the rear courtyard behind Qin Yiniang’s quarters on the eleventh day of the first month, bringing Shuangyu with her. One time their little girl, Niu’er, cried so hard that Nan Yong couldn’t bear it and secretly brought the child to see her mother. Yu’er, from Wen Yiniang’s side, saw this and told Lvyun, Lvyun told Hupo, and Hupo told Shiyiniang. Shiyiniang thought it over briefly and simply let Nan Yong’s wife bring Niu’er to stay with her: “One cow is grazing, two cows are grazing too. As long as she takes good care of Sijie for me, that’s all I could ask for. Besides, Niu’er and Sijie are about the same age — having a playmate is good for Sijie as well.”

Nan Yong’s wife was very grateful and kowtowed to Shiyiniang several times. She never overstepped, and on ordinary days only let Niu’er play in the side room or the garden. Fortunately, the child had grown up in a crowded courtyard and was not shy around strangers. Young as she was, she already knew to hand things to the maids in the courtyard. Everyone liked her — whoever had a free moment would look after her — and Niu’er grew ever more cheerful. Zhen Jie’er and Siyu Ge would coax her with sweets whenever they saw her. The courtyard rang with laughter and chatter, drawing the attention of people in the neighboring rooms.

After these boisterous days, the First Young Mistress of the Luo family arrived.

Zhun Ge grabbed her hand and cried out, “Eldest Aunt, why didn’t you bring Xu Ge? We have elder brothers and younger sisters and little brothers here — Xu Ge must be so lonely at home all by himself.”

The Luo First Young Mistress forced a smile. “I’ll bring Xu Ge next time.” She gave silver ingots to a few of the children as gifts, then went with Shiyiniang into the warm inner room to talk.

“I’m so angry I don’t know what to do. I came here to drink a cup of tea and calm down before going home,” she said with an indignant expression. “Otherwise I’d have no pleasant face to show when I get back, and I’d only make your Elder Brother worry for nothing.”

Shiyiniang could see that the Luo First Young Mistress had come from Duke Maoguo’s manor. She poured the tea herself and had a maid bring sweet pastries. “While you’re fuming here, they’re probably quite cheerful over there. You really must try to look on the brighter side — it’s not worth making yourself ill over.”

“Everyone understands the reasoning,” the Luo First Young Mistress said, drinking several gulps of hot tea before continuing. “But when it happens to you, you may not be able to control yourself.”

Shiyiniang smiled and nudged the dish of pea cakes closer to the Luo First Young Mistress’s side, gesturing for her to eat.

The Luo First Young Mistress shook her head. “Those collateral relatives of the Wang family are truly despicable — they’ve been saying behind our backs that our Tenth Sister brings ill fortune to her husbands. They even said she should be made to move into a temple. And their own eldest daughter-in-law doesn’t even try to stop them. I can see now that there’s no hope of sitting down with the Wang family for a proper discussion.” She let out a long sigh and showed a trace of grief. “Tenth Sister truly has no fortune.”

Shiyiniang said nothing.

This was only the beginning. There would likely be even worse things said in the days ahead.

While she was thinking this, a maid came in to report, “Madam, a nanny from next door — the First Young Mistress of Weibei Marquis Lin’s household — has come to pay her respects.”

“Please show her in!” Shiyiniang said at once. Then she turned to explain to the Luo First Young Mistress, “When Zhen Jie’er came back from the Western Hills, she brought some homemade food, fragrant dew, and incense — she had some sent over to the Lin family’s Hui Jie’er. This must be their way of coming to thank her.”

The Luo First Young Mistress, seeing that there was a guest, rose to take her leave.

Shiyiniang kept her back. “She’s not an outsider. Besides, I have something I’d like to discuss with you, Elder Sister-in-Law.”

The Luo First Young Mistress sat down again accordingly.

The nanny from the Lin First Young Mistress’s side brought several bolts of fabric, saying they were Hui Jie’er’s thanks for the fragrant dew Zhen Jie’er had sent. She also said, “Our Hui Jie’er hasn’t seen Zhen Jie’er in some time and would like to come for a visit.” She then presented a calling card for Shiyiniang.

Shiyiniang smiled and agreed, asking Hupo to invite Zhen Jie’er to come receive the card and arrange a gathering for the twenty-eighth day of the first month. She then had Nanny Tao see the two nannies from the Lin household out.

She also had Zhen Jie’er write out a calling card: “Invite Twelfth Aunt as well to come for some company — she must be bored at home alone.”

Zhen Jie’er smiled her agreement and went to write the card. Shiyiniang continued speaking with the Luo First Young Mistress. “How are things on the Wang family’s side?”

“A complete mess,” the Luo First Young Mistress said, shaking her head. “The Duke sits in his study every day in a daze. The Old Madam weeps with her face covered, taking no interest in household matters whatsoever. As for Tenth Sister-in-law — she was never one to manage things, and now she’s even less involved. She keeps herself shut in her room. Thankfully, Jinlian and Yinping are attending to her adequately, so at least her food and clothing are kept in order. All the household affairs are left entirely for their eldest daughter-in-law to handle. But she’s busy running all over the place trying to manage Wang Lang’s case and can’t give the household affairs much attention. Meanwhile, all those collateral relatives have faces thicker than city walls — they’ve helped themselves to rooms and settled in without being asked, eating and drinking at the manor and refusing to leave. Then they’ve split into groups by gender — the men hovering around the Duke, the women around the Old Madam — not moving an inch, afraid of missing any advantage another group might snatch. Their conduct is sordid and their words are cutting. Every last one of them behaves like a small-minded provincial who has never seen the world. It’s gotten so bad that the household managers don’t dare approach — they avoid what they can, dodge what they can, push off what they can — all of them pulling back their necks and refusing to step forward.” Her voice dropped. “I heard from Yinping that some of the ornaments in the Old Madam’s room have gone missing. And someone even barged into Tenth Sister-in-law’s room — if Jinlian and Yinping hadn’t driven the person off, Tenth Sister-in-law’s belongings wouldn’t have been spared either.” She paused, an uneasy expression crossing her face. “I came partly to discuss this matter with you.”

The Luo First Young Mistress was sensible and not the rash sort. Since she was coming to her, it must be something that was within Shiyiniang’s ability to help with.

Shiyiniang didn’t even pause to think. “Please speak, Elder Sister-in-Law. As long as it’s within my power, I will do my best.”

The Luo First Young Mistress nodded slightly, but still hesitated a moment before saying, “Seeing how those relatives conduct themselves with absolutely no sense of shame, I’m worried they’ll set their eyes on Tenth Sister-in-law’s dowry… I was thinking, if it truly comes to it, why not send a few strapping, rough-handed serving women over and move her dowry to your dowry farmstead…” She said this even though she herself felt uneasy about it, having no other solution. “We can’t let those people muddy it all away. Moving it to Gongxian Hutong wouldn’t be quite right either — the Wang family might think the Luo family is competing with them over the property.” She gave a wry smile. “And Tenth Sister-in-law’s dowry farmstead is in the south… That leaves only here. The Marquis’s household is prominent and substantial — no one would believe they’d be coveting a widowed aunt’s dowry. People would only say you’re standing up for Tenth Sister-in-law.”

The Wang family’s relatives were simultaneously claiming Tenth Sister brought ill fortune and should move into a temple, and barged in wanting to take her things — the Luo First Young Mistress’s worries were not unfounded. But doing this would inevitably draw the Xu family into the affair. One does good without expecting reward, but one mustn’t do good in a way that breeds resentment.

Shiyiniang thought for a moment. “Elder Sister-in-Law, I have an idea — see if you think it’s appropriate.” Then she said, “Let’s have Tenth Sister send word to Gongxian Hutong saying she’s feeling unwell and has no experienced servants to attend to her properly. We’ll send a few people over to guide Jinlian and Yinping. I’ll also help find a few dependable, strapping serving women to go. If anyone dares to cause trouble, they’ll be given a sound thrashing. I don’t believe that still won’t rein those people in.”

“That’s an excellent idea!” the Luo First Young Mistress exclaimed approvingly.

She had thought of this herself, but first, the Luo family was not local and had brought too few servants to spare any. Second, she couldn’t find women of the right sort at short notice — they’d need to be big-boned, fierce, and formidable. Women from humble, unfamiliar households might not be trustworthy, and could end up as thieves within the gates, bringing in a wolf rather than driving one out. Third, she had worried about asking Shiyiniang for people, knowing Shiyiniang had a mother-in-law above and sisters-in-law beside her. Now that Shiyiniang had raised the idea herself, she clearly had some confidence. Being able to help Tenth Sister without dragging others into it — she was naturally delighted beyond all expectations.

“Since Elder Sister-in-Law agrees, how many people do you think would be appropriate to send?” Shiyiniang felt a measure of relief as well. “I’ll have Nanny Tao lead them over first thing in the morning. As for their wages, I’ll cover that.”

“This is for the Luo family’s sake — how can I let you pay their wages,” the Luo First Young Mistress said with a smile. “The wages are on me!”

Shiyiniang thought it over. “All right then. You pay them and they’ll feel obligated to the Luo family — that makes it all more proper and aboveboard.”

In her heart, she thought: if they put out the effort without seeing any benefit, who would be willing to help in the future? Better to let them feel grateful to the Luo family, knowing that following her lead is not a losing proposition.

The two discussed further details, and as the sky was growing darker, the Luo First Young Mistress rose to take her leave.

Shiyiniang knew she had household matters still to tend to, and had Hupo bring out several bolts of fabric. “These two lengths of bright red are for Elder Sister-in-Law and Fourth Sister-in-Law. These three lengths of blue are for Third Aunt, Fifth Aunt, and Sixth Aunt. And this apricot yellow is for Fifth Aunt to make a small garment.”

The Luo First Young Mistress accepted without ceremony, had Nanny Hang collect the items, went to pay her respects to the Dowager, and was accompanied by Shiyiniang out through the decorated gate.

Shiyiniang immediately called for Nanny Tao and arranged for six large, strapping serving women to go to Gongxian Hutong first thing in the morning, telling the Third Young Mistress only that the Luo family had some business that needed assistance for a few days. Upon meeting the serving women, the first thing she did was make their wages clear.

Hearing that their regular Xu household monthly stipend would continue and that the Luo family would additionally pay them wages, every one of them beamed, beat their chests, and swore to look after Tenth Sister well and not let the Wang family’s people bully her in the slightest.

—