Shi’er Niang had not paid attention to any of this. She was busy packing Jin Ge’er’s luggage.

“Those things like tea bowls and fly whisks — leave all of that behind. Just bring fur coats and fur boots and the like. Jiayuguan may be remote, but I believe it is not entirely without people. If you are truly short of something, you can buy it locally.” She raised her head and saw that Jin Ge’er was holding a black-lacquered riding crop, and added: “None of these things are to be brought along either. The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. Even with the protection of the commander of Jiayuguan, you must still be able to get along with those around you. Above all else, you must never allow yourself to think you are better than others. More than a few men of talent and ability have been undone by this arrogant streak.”

“I understand!” Jin Ge’er said with some reluctance, handing the riding crop to A Jin to be put away.

Xu Lingyi came in. “Has everything been packed?”

“All packed!” Shi’er Niang replied. Thinking of the party that would be accompanying Jin Ge’er to the northwest, she hesitated. “Why not let Chang Shun stay in the capital? He is still young, and the northwest is too harsh…”

Chang Shun was nine years old this year — fair-skinned and slight, bearing not the slightest resemblance to Chang An. One of the stewards had joked that Chang Shun was the classic example of a northerner with a southerner’s look.

“Let him go.” Xu Lingyi smiled. “I have already arranged everything. When they arrive at Jiayuguan, they will rent a small courtyard outside the military camp to live in. Everyone except Jin Ge’er will stay there; Jin Ge’er will go over when he needs to bathe. This way, Master Pang can continue to guide his martial arts training, and the tutor can check on his studies. When there is nothing else to do, he can teach Chang An, Liu Er Wu, and the others martial arts and lessons — and Chang Shun, by going along, will also be able to learn a great deal.”

Shi’er Niang felt the whole arrangement was far too grand — more like setting out for a holiday than going to endure hardship. At any other time, she would certainly have tactfully pointed this out to Xu Lingyi. But now that she had seen the conditions Xu Lingyi had laid out for Jin Ge’er, she felt she had been worrying needlessly. Xu Lingyi clearly had a plan for all of this from the very beginning.

The two discussed a few more specific details of Jin Ge’er’s departure and then went together to the Grand Dowager’s quarters.

The Grand Dowager was consulting the almanac. “…The twenty-second day of the third month is an auspicious day, but in just a few more days it will be the eighth of the fourth month — they are not that far apart, so he might as well worship the Bodhisattva before departing, so the Bodhisattva can bless him with safe travels and smooth sailing… that would make it the twelfth of the fourth month… but he has just gone to pay respects at the temple — better to rest a few more days and set out with his strength fully restored… the eighteenth of the fourth month… the twenty-fourth of the fourth month… better to leave after the twenty-sixth of the fourth month…”

At this rate of deliberation, there would never be a single suitable day.

Xu Lingyi and Shi’er Niang exchanged a helpless glance.

“Mother, I think the twenty-second of the third month would be best.” The Second Madam caught a glance from the two of them and said gently: “Jiayuguan is not like the capital — you cannot really divide it into four distinct seasons. Over there, it is either cold or hot. This time of year is the best for traveling. If it gets any later, that side will have grown hot. It would not be good if he were to suffer heatstroke on the road!”

“Is that so?” In the Grand Dowager’s memory, it was always cold over there — they were wearing lined garments even in the sixth month. But her memory had grown much less reliable, and she could not be certain, so she looked at Xu Lingyi with some uncertainty.

Xu Lingyi gave a soft, deliberate cough. “The third month is indeed the best time to leave.” He neither directly contradicted nor directly confirmed.

“Mother, the sooner he goes, the sooner he can come back.” The Second Madam smiled. “Think about it — with this arrangement, Jin Ge’er would be back in time for your birthday to pay his respects! Would that not be wonderful?”

The Grand Dowager gave a slight nod. “Very well, then — he shall set out on the twenty-second of the third month.” She then instructed Shi’er Niang: “Since it is warm over there, remember to pack plenty of fans for him. In those out-of-the-way places like Jiayuguan, there is nothing decent to be bought.”

Shi’er Niang smiled and agreed.

Jin Ge’er flashed a grin at the Second Madam.

The Grand Dowager then asked in detail about what clothes had been packed, what utensils he was bringing, and went on and on until she began to yawn, at which point she finally let the matter rest.

The Second Madam accompanied the two of them to the door. She drew from her sleeve a small, red-lacquered lotus-carved box and handed it to Jin Ge’er: “It is a compass. Keep it carefully — do not forget to find your direction.”

The meaning ran deeper than the words.

It was unclear whether Jin Ge’er had understood. He thanked her with his usual smile, and followed Xu Lingyi and Shi’er Niang back to the main house.

On the other side, Fang Shi and Jiang Shi were sitting side by side on the heated bed platform talking. “…At first I could not get him to remember no matter what. So I found fitting places outdoors and pointed to the scenery and recited the lines to him one by one. Now he not only recites poetry very fluently, but also explains to me what this phrase means and what that phrase means.” Fang Shi’s expression carried a barely concealed pride.

“Eldest Sister-in-law is so clever — how did you ever think of such a method!” Jiang Shi laughed and marveled. “I am going to try it when I go home. See if my Ting Ge’er can memorize a few more poems.” Then she said: “Ting Ge’er only wants to eat fish and refuses to eat meat. Does Eldest Sister-in-law have any good methods for that?”

“Small children — there is nothing they do not like to eat eventually!” Fang Shi smiled. “It all depends on how the kitchen maids prepare it…”

The two exchanged parenting wisdom, and before long the sun was tilting westward. Jiang Shi rose to take her leave. Fang Shi did not detain her, but accompanied her to bid farewell to the Third Madam and then saw her off to her carriage.

Jin Shi came over: “What was Fourth Sister-in-law here for?”

“Just chatting.” Fang Shi watched Jiang Shi’s carriage leave the alley before turning back.

Jin Shi was puzzled.

“Second Sister-in-law is Second Uncle’s niece; Fifth Sister-in-law is Fourth Aunt’s niece. She is caught in the middle — her days are not easy.” Fang Shi explained. “Having someone to talk idly with makes the heart feel much better.”

“I wonder if Fourth Sister-in-law is not worrying too much.” Jin Shi murmured. “Second Sister-in-law will sooner or later be moving out. Fifth Uncle will never manage the household. What could be difficult about her days?”

Fang Shi smiled and said nothing.

Some things Jin Shi could not appreciate. Because she, like Second Sister-in-law and Fifth Sister-in-law, always had someone to step forward on her behalf…

Jiang Shi had talked at length with Fang Shi and was in much better spirits by the time she returned home. She heard that Jin Ge’er would be setting out on the twenty-second of the third month and began discussing with Xu Sizhun what parting gift to send him on his journey.

“He is not an outsider — there is no need to be so formal about it.” Xu Sizhun smiled. “I will see him off from the city, and discreetly slip him a few hundred taels of silver.”

“Is that really appropriate?” Jiang Shi hesitated. “I heard that Fifth Uncle and Fifth Aunt’s parting gift to Sixth Brother is a copy of the Spring and Autumn Annals. They even jested that Sixth Uncle should read it by lamplight!”

Xu Sizhun smiled and said nothing more, instead bringing up household matters: “…For the wedding at the Marquis Weibei household, did Mother say anything?”

Jiang Shi could not help inwardly furrowing her brow.

Which was more important — the Marquis Weibei family’s wedding, or Jin Ge’er’s parting gift?

“Mother said to send a pair of ornamental vases and a standing screen.” She mentioned it lightly and steered the conversation back: “What do you think of a set of the four scholarly treasures for Sixth Brother? He could make use of it, and it would not make things too awkward for Fifth Uncle either.”

“I heard that Mother has packed away everything Sixth Brother usually kept to play with — not a single thing is being allowed to go with him.” Xu Sizhun smiled. “I think just a box of brushes will do. And I will privately slip him some silver on the side.”

Jiang Shi felt this was not quite right.

“Fifth Uncle’s household has only the fields, properties, and Fifth Aunt’s dowry that were apportioned at the time of the division — together, the two of them probably bring in no more than two thousand taels a year.” She put it tactfully. “If our gift is too extravagant, Fifth Uncle and Fifth Aunt may not match ours exactly, but they will aim to come close. If we give too much, it may put Fifth Uncle and Fifth Aunt in a difficult position.”

“I know!” Xu Sizhun smiled. “That is precisely why I plan to privately slip some silver to Sixth Brother — in terms of income, we are the best off of all the brothers. Giving the same parting gift as Fifth Brother would be a little shabby.”

But there was no need to go about it all so furtively!

Jiang Shi thought it best not to say more.

If she pressed on, Xu Sizhun might misunderstand her as being reluctant to part with money, or as always wanting to compare herself to the uncles and aunts.

She sighed inwardly, steeled herself, and simply let it go — picking up the thread of what had just been said: “Mother’s meaning is that we should all go to the Marquis Weibei household to drink the wedding wine.”

“Wonderful!” Xu Sizhun smiled. “You haven’t added any new jewelry in a while either — why not take this opportunity to invite a goldsmith into the household to have some pieces made, just in time to wear to the wedding banquet!”

Rather than fussing over these things, it would be far better to think about how to manage the household affairs properly!

“Let us wait until Sixth Brother has left.” Jiang Shi could not muster much enthusiasm. “Bringing this up to Mother right now would likely irritate her.” She continued: “How is the rice shop in Dezhou that you mentioned last time coming along?”

Xu Sizhun said with mild interest: “Steward Bai dispatched a manager to Dezhou. Word will not come back until the end of the third month.” Yet inwardly he was puzzling: the maids and young wives had all been quite pleased at the mention of new clothes and new jewelry being made. He had brought up inviting the goldsmith because he had noticed his wife seeming unhappy these past few days and wanted to cheer her up — but looking at her now, she seemed thoroughly unenthused…

“Investing one hundred thousand taels all at once is no small matter.” Jiang Shi said gently. “You ought to keep a closer eye on it as well, my husband. We cannot rely on that manager for everything.”

“Father has his own plans for these things.” Xu Sizhun smiled at this. “Besides, if I oversee what the manager oversees, what is the point of having a manager at all?”

“That may be so — but Father has placed the household affairs in your hands. You ought to take charge of them. The more you handle, the less Father needs to trouble himself…” Jiang Shi urged him softly, but Xu Sizhun’s thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.

His wife always wanted him to manage this and manage that…

The thought left him with a vague, unsettled feeling.

On the twenty-second of the third month, Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie accompanied Jin Ge’er all the way to the ten-li post station. Jin Ge’er gave Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie a deep, formal bow: “I entrust Father and Mother to your care, Elder Brothers!”

“Have no worries — we will look after Mother. It is you who must take care on the road…” Xu Sizhun spoke, and while Xu Sijie was not looking, slipped a sachet into his hand, saying in a low voice: “For use in an emergency.”

Jin Ge’er broke into a delighted smile, said his thanks, and quickly tucked the sachet into his sleeve: “If Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother have time, come to Jiayuguan for a visit!”

“We will, we will.” Xu Sizhun smiled warmly and waved to Jin Ge’er.

Jin Ge’er spurred his horse forward.

Master Pang and the others hurried to catch up, leaving behind a cloud of rolling yellow dust.

Xu Sijie could not help exclaiming: “Sixth Brother really does ride beautifully!” There was no mistaking the note of envy in his voice.

—