With the torrential rain pouring down, Ru Shi had her stay at home for now, just right allowing Miaozhen to manage household affairs alongside her mother. Besides teaching them reading, Chou Niangzi typically instructed them in needlework, account-keeping, and household management.
Mei Shi cleared out two western rooms for the three members of Da Fang to reside in, and arranged for Xu Siniang to stay with Miaozhen.
“It’s only for a few days. We should be more accommodating and not give relatives cause for gossip,” Mei Shi said.
Miaozhen smiled, “I understand, Mother.”
Having been drenched from head to toe, Xu Siniang was first taken by Xiao Xi and Xiao Tao for a bath. After soaking in the hot bath, Xu Siniang, unwilling to be seen naked by the maids, emerged from the tub herself. Finding no towel to dry herself, she noticed a stack of paper nearby and used it all to wipe her body before putting on clothes.
Xiao Xi, noticing how worn her dress was, especially the seat of the skirt nearly threadbare, realized how stingy Xu Laotai was. Entering and seeing scattered paper balls all over the floor, she immediately exclaimed, “A bolt of hemp cloth only exchanges for a few stacks of toilet paper! Our young lady usually uses it sparingly. How could there be seventy or eighty paper balls all at once? What a waste!”
Hearing this from outside, Xu Siniang flushed with embarrassment. Her parents helped Third Brother without pay, merely eating meals there. She herself wasn’t diligent in spinning thread, only earning pocket money to buy hair ornaments and cosmetics. Although Third Branch’s business was doing well, they were frugal—using sticks or leaves instead of toilet paper. Pretending not to hear Xiao Xi’s outburst, she went ahead to find Mei Shi.
Meanwhile, Mei Shi and Miaozhen were speaking with the mother and daughter from Da Fang. After two years, Miaoyun had blossomed even more beautifully, becoming the loveliest among the Xu Family’s young ladies. Dressed in silk, she held a polished silk handkerchief with an orchid embroidered on a white background, appearing quite elegant.
Huang Shi noticed that Mei Shi had acquired new furniture over the past year or two: a white rosewood Luohan Bed, beside which stood a three-legged floor lamp with scrolling grass patterns, and in front of the bed, a high-waisted flower stand with cloud patterns holding a bronze incense burner—creating quite an atmosphere. She also recalled that the outer wall seemed to have been rebuilt into a decorative flower wall.
Mei Shi said, “I’ve assigned my maid Xiu’er to attend to you, sister-in-law. If there’s anything you need regarding food or entertainment when I’m not around, feel free to tell her.”
Huang Shi smiled, “You’re too kind, sister-in-law,” but didn’t refuse. Looking around, she lamented her own husband’s lack of ambition—despite being a Tribute Scholar, he lived less comfortably than a Xiucai.
Outside, Feng Niang was having hawthorn cake, lily pastry, and several cups of tea served. Miaoyun asked Miaozhen, “Have you started reading the Four Books yet, cousin?”
“I’ve finished them all. Now I’m studying the Book of Changes, practicing divination every day. How about you?” Miaozhen inquired.
Miaoyun smiled wryly, “I’m accompanying that family’s young lady in her studies. I understand everything, but she hasn’t even grasped the Great Learning.”
“Really? What does the Thousand-Household Commander’s wife say about that?” Miaozhen was speechless.
Miaoyun shrugged, “The Commander’s wife dotes on her excessively. Even when learning embroidery from my mother, after pricking her fingers a few times, I ended up doing most of the needlework for her.”
“That’s truly… You must feel quite constrained in their household, cousin,” Miaozhen felt it wasn’t worth it for Miaoyun. She handed her a piece of lily pastry and added, “I’ve learned to make Braised Abalone with Bone now. I’ll prepare some for you in a few days.”
Miaozhen thought to herself that her sister was treated like a maid in that household.
She then heard Miaoyun first express gratitude before saying, “Her family has long been betrothed—to the second son of General Dingyuan. Her future is already settled.”
“Those official-class daughters inevitably form alliances through marriage.” Miaozhen didn’t find this particularly remarkable. In her own family, her father often said he’d spend these years accumulating a dowry for her so she could marry into a good household someday.
Even in modern society, breaking class barriers was difficult, let alone in ancient times like these. One had to be practical.
Yet Miaoyun felt resentful. She was clearly superior to that Thousand-Household Commander’s daughter in every way, yet she was treated like a servant—now even without proper lodging.
As they were speaking, Xu Siniang approached with her hair still wet.
Huang Shi was the first to frown. A young woman in her teens ought to know better than to appear in public with dripping hair. Mei Shi was equally startled and hurriedly said, “Younger sister, with people coming and going out here, please go to the inner chamber. I’ll have someone dry your hair.”
Yinhuan promptly escorted Xu Siniang inside. Fortunately they had retreated, for soon Ma Taitai arrived with Old Lady Li for mahjong. This elderly matriarch, who had retired from high office in the capital, carried herself with distinct elegance. She too had sought refuge at the Ma residence due to the heavy rain.
Noting Old Lady Li’s distinguished bearing, Huang Shi was pleased to keep her company.
Miaozhen took Miaoyun aside to talk privately. Upon emerging, they unexpectedly encountered the Li brothers—Li Xilie and Li Ximeng. Both wore amber-colored robes and oiled boots, holding umbrellas but no rain hats. Their hair was secured in netted headpieces with hairpins, their movements exuding the grace of well-bred young gentlemen.
“Young Master Li, Second Young Master Li.” Having studied at the Ma family’s Girls’ School, Miaozhen recognized them. Even fallen phoenixes deserved respect.
Li Xilie, ever gallant with women, responded genially even to a young girl like Miaozhen: “Our grandmother forgot her lumbar support, so we brothers brought it over.”
Miaozhen pointed toward the main hall: “Please proceed, young masters.”
She then led Miaoyun away. Returning to her boudoir, Xiao Xi complained that Xu Siniang had used all the tissue paper for bathing. Miaozhen declared, “In that case, she shan’t ruin my belongings here. Prepare the downstairs room by the window—move my bamboo bed there and make it proper for her.”
In modest households, every possession counted. Though Miaozhen had transmigrated to an era without modern toilet paper, the available tissue paper wasn’t cheap. She never expected her aunt would be so wasteful with what was hers.
Miaoyun inquired, “Who were those young men we met earlier?”
“Oh, they’re relatives of the neighboring Ma family. They used to hold high offices in the capital but resigned after offending someone. Still, a broken ship has three thousand nails—I heard the elder Li’s father now runs an academy in Hangzhou Prefecture, while the younger’s father serves as a secretary in the Ministry of Works. They’re all officials’ sons,” Miaozhen explained casually.
Her offhand remark stirred something in Miaoyun.
Xiao Tao brought various silk threads. As Miaozhen and Miaoyun began separating strands, Xiao Tao—accustomed to the relaxed norms of the Xu Family’s servants—asked, “Miss, is the Ma daughter next door betrothed to the Li family?”
“Probably not. Ma Taitai dotes on Sister Yulan dearly. She knows the Li family has lofty ambitions and they’re not of the same kind.” There were also those declining families who married merchants’ daughters, all coveting their wealth. After the woman married over, it was essentially using money to buy status—requiring at least three or four boatloads of dowry, which would completely drain the Ma family.
Miaozhen had ambition but wouldn’t indulge in wild fantasies. She knew to wear shoes that fit her feet.
Meanwhile, Xu Siniang had the maids in her room help towel-dry her hair until semi-dry, then styled it into a bun. They mentioned that the ladies outside were playing mahjong and suggested she could return first if she had nothing to do.
Xu Siniang was two years older than Miaozhen. Miaozhen had just turned ten in the first month and would be eleven in half a year, while Xu Siniang had recently passed her birthday and was already thirteen. Having long understood worldly affairs, and with her marriage still unsettled, she was merely anxious. Unexpectedly, upon going out, she encountered two young gentlemen, instantly making her heart flutter like a startled deer. She stood there rigidly, unwilling to move.
…
Night fell. Xu Siniang slept on the first floor. The room was fumigated with mugwort, filling it with the pungent smell of the herb. Resenting Miaozhen for not letting her sleep upstairs and looking down on her, she thought how right her third sister-in-law’s words were—Second Brother’s family constantly talked about debts, yet they lived quite comfortably and associated with extraordinary people, simply unwilling to do her any favors.
With these thoughts, she unexpectedly fell asleep, unaware that Xu Erpeng was still in his study writing by lamplight. The later it got, the more inspiration he found. Moreover, regardless of wind, rain, severe cold, or scorching heat, he never reduced his daily word count.
Because of this, he had suffered from stubborn insomnia for years. Fortunately, his daughter studied medicine and would sometimes prepare sour jujube seed soup for his migraines. Today, hearing he had some palpitations, she had the assistant get Guipi Tang from the pharmacy. As he wrote, he yawned repeatedly, thinking he probably wouldn’t have trouble sleeping tonight.
The next morning, the rain had lightened somewhat. Miaozhen had already started cutting fabric for clothing—she was preparing to make a field-patterned Bijia to give to Ru Shi eventually, though it was quite time-consuming and had already taken a month.
Xiao Tao was just clearing away the finished breakfast when Xiao Xi said, “The eldest young master says he wants to invite his friends for a meal at our house and has given money to buy plenty of dishes.”
“In such heavy rain, I wonder how they’ll manage to come?” Miaozhen laughed.
Little did she know that Xu Dalang hadn’t been doing well these past years. He and Huang Shi saw each other less and fought often, with Huang Shi criticizing his uselessness. He was unwilling to stay there any longer, especially since Huang Shi kept talking about buying a house yesterday and complaining about his incompetence.
Seeing his brother so excited to meet friends, Xu Erpeng thought to himself that he wasn’t this generous when inviting his own brothers. What kind of friends were these, with not a word from them in years?
But seeing Xu Dalang’s enthusiasm, he didn’t say anything.
This friend of Xu Dalang’s was someone he met during his social activities in Jinling. The friend came from a renowned family, was a Juren by qualification, had truly served as a tribute student at the Imperial Academy, and could be considered his best friend.
He even told Xu Erpeng, “He might be able to look out for you too.”
Xu Erpeng remained silent and returned to his study to continue writing. With the heavy rain these days, fearing his books would get damp, he had moved them inside and was writing in his room.
Xu Dalang’s friend arrived shortly, wearing a tall hat and a lake-blue silk Zhiduo, with wooden clogs on his feet. He glanced around and said, “Yiming, when County Magistrate Zhang resigned from his post back then, you went north while I went south. Now I’ve pursued an official career, yet you’ve become a wealthy gentleman—quite admirable indeed.”
Originally, Xu Dalang intended to explain that the residence belonged to his younger brother, not himself, but for some inexplicable reason, he tacitly accepted the remark: “You’re now holding a high position in Jinling. Had I not heard you were visiting relatives, I wouldn’t have had the chance to see you. Please pardon the simplicity of my humble abode.”