At daybreak, when the sky was still dim, Lin Zhijin suddenly opened her eyes. She had been on edge the entire night and had barely slept properly.
She got up and saw that Master Chen was still asleep. Moving quietly, she folded the bedding, then tugged at the cord beside the bed. A bell rang, and Xiaocui soon pushed the door open, looking unable to shake off her drowsiness.
“Ninth Concubine, are you awake? Would you like to wash up now?”
Xiaocui asked softly, peeking at Master Chen.
“Mm.”
Lin Zhijin followed Xiaocui into the outer room. Looking down at the red undergarments she was wearing, she lowered her voice and asked, “Where are the clothes I brought with me?”
The Chen family had provided a generous betrothal gift, including money, food, and bolts of fabric. To make themselves look good, the Lin family had taken some of the fabric and used it to make her two outfits and two quilts as part of her dowry. They had also given her two silver dollars to keep as savings.
The original owner had been deeply moved, believing that her parents genuinely cared for her. She had intended to behave well in the Chen household and send things back to her family whenever she obtained anything of value.
Lin Zhijin, however, could only sneer at the thought. They cared about her?
If her memories were correct, the Chen family had given sixty six silver dollars, six bolts of fabric, tobacco, alcohol, pastries, and other gifts. Yet the Lin family had provided such a meager dowry while constantly reminding the original owner to be grateful and never forget her maternal family, especially her younger brother.
Tsk. They had received such a generous betrothal gift, and the original owner had already repaid them for raising her. From now on, Lin Zhijin would not give them another thing.
“I will go and ask in a moment.” Xiaocui called over two young maids. One carried a toothbrush and a cup of water, while the other held a spittoon.
Lin Zhijin was pleasantly surprised when she saw the toothbrush. She had only rinsed her mouth the previous night and had assumed the Chen household did not have toothbrushes.
When the young maid tried to brush her teeth for her, Lin Zhijin quickly took the toothbrush and did it herself. She was not a three year old child. Having someone else brush her teeth felt unbearably awkward.
Xiaocui and the others did not find this strange. They knew that Ninth Concubine came from the countryside, so it was perfectly understandable that she was unaccustomed to being waited on. In fact, they were more surprised that she knew how to use a toothbrush at all. They had assumed she would not know how.
After brushing her teeth and washing her face, the young maid who had gone to fetch her clothes returned. An older woman followed behind her.
The original owner had seen this woman before. She had been the one who went to the countryside to select a girl and ultimately chose the original owner. She called herself Nanny Sun.
“I heard from Li Pozi that the Master woke up last night?” Nanny Sun asked, looking Lin Zhijin up and down.
Lin Zhijin appeared timid and subdued. She had not become arrogant simply because she had been made a concubine. Nanny Sun nodded inwardly in satisfaction. Her judgment had been correct. Compared with Lin Xiaoya, Lin Pandie was much easier to control.
“Yes. The master was awake for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn. The physician came to examine him as well, and his condition has improved somewhat.” Lin Zhijin answered with her eyes lowered.
Nanny Sun was very pleased with her obedient demeanor.
“Madam said that Ninth Concubine worked hard attending to the Master last night, so you may go and serve tea a little later.” Nanny Sun turned and beckoned to someone. “This is Xiaohong. From now on, she will be your personal maid.”
Lin Zhijin looked at the young girl, who was only twelve or thirteen years old, and obediently accepted the arrangement.
She knew nothing about the Chen household’s circumstances. For now, there was no harm in pretending to be well behaved. It was only two months. The time would pass quickly.
Nanny Sun nodded, then reminded Li Pozi and the others to take good care of Master Chen before turning to leave.
There were only two outfits, one pink and one blue. Lin Zhijin chose the blue one and enjoyed a lavish breakfast. Then, following Xiaohong’s directions, she went to pay her respects to the principal madam and serve her tea.
Along the way, Lin Zhijin asked Xiaohong about the Chen family. The situation turned out to be even more complicated than she had imagined.
Including herself, the household had one principal madam and eight concubines. There were also nine maids who had officially become bedchamber attendants. As for those who had not been formally acknowledged, Xiaohong had no idea how many there were.
In other words, Master Chen had eighteen women in his household on the surface alone, and Lin Zhijin was the eighteenth concubine.
She could not help wondering whether Master Chen could even remember all their names.
Apart from Lin Zhijin, who had become the Ninth Concubine to bring good fortune to the ailing master, the other seven concubines had all been promoted after giving birth to children. Although bedchamber attendants and concubines were both technically concubines, their status differed enormously. A concubine was treated as a member of the household’s ruling family and had maids and matrons to serve her. A bedchamber attendant, on the other hand, had to do the work of a maid in addition to sharing the master’s bed.
No wonder that bedchamber attendant had tried to drug Master Chen.
“Who is in charge of the household now?” Lin Zhijin asked quietly.
Xiaohong glanced around before answering in an equally low voice. “The Third Young Madam manages the rear courtyard. As for the front courtyard, the Second Master is in charge.”
Hmm? Why were the front and rear courtyards managed by different people?
“Ninth Concubine, we have arrived,” Xiaohong reminded her.
Lin Zhijin looked at the courtyard gate and took a deep breath before entering with Xiaohong. There was no need to rush. She could make inquiries after serving tea.
The moment she entered the room, everyone’s attention turned toward her.
They examined her without the slightest restraint, including the servants inside. None of them took a country girl who had been bought to bring good fortune as a concubine seriously.
Lin Zhijin had already expected this. She deliberately lowered her head as though frightened, gripping the hem of her clothes with both hands. Following Nanny Sun’s instructions, she served tea to the principal madam.
“Li Pozi told me that Master is very pleased with you. Good. You must continue to take good care of him. Neither Master nor I will treat you unfairly.” Principal Madam Chen Li glanced to the side, and a maid immediately brought over a wooden box and handed it to her. “The other concubines received gifts when they served tea as well. This one is yours.”
Given Master Chen’s current condition, Chen Li did not bring up the subject of producing heirs. She simply reminded Lin Zhijin to take good care of him.
“Thank you, Madam. I will serve my Master well.” Lin Zhijin glanced inside the box and discovered an entire set of jadeite jewelry. The stones had excellent translucency, and the designs were exquisite. It was obviously worth a fortune.
The principal madam was truly generous and extravagant. Lin Zhijin liked her already.
Next, Lin Zhijin met the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Concubines. Each smiled and gave her a welcoming gift. The Second Concubine gave her a gold bracelet, the Third Concubine a gold hairpin, and the Fourth Concubine a jade bangle. All of them were remarkably generous.
Lin Zhijin also met several of Master Chen’s children and grandchildren.
Technically, as their elder, she should have given them gifts upon meeting them. However, she was short of money and could not afford to give them anything. Fortunately, the principal madam was thoughtful enough to have someone prepare gifts on her behalf.
“All right. If there is nothing else, everyone may return to their own courtyards. Ninth Concubine, you should stay for a moment,” Chen Li said, waving her hand.
She was only one year younger than Master Chen and was already sixty seven years old. She certainly had no energy left to deal with the endless parade of women surrounding the old man.
After the concubines gradually left, Chen Li gestured for Lin Zhijin to sit down.
“Master is in poor health, so I arranged for you to stay in Wenzhu Courtyard, which is closest to his room. Besides Xiaohong, your personal maid, you will also have an older matron and two young maids. Xiaohong has been with the household for years, so let her explain the rest to you.”
When Chen Li picked up her teacup, Lin Zhijin pretended not to understand the hint. Only after Xiaohong reminded her did she hurriedly stand up.
“I will follow all of Madam’s arrangements. I shall return to my courtyard now. If Madam needs anything, please send someone to inform me.”
Watching Lin Zhijin walk away, Chen Li curled her lips into a smile.
“Timid and obedient. Nanny Sun, you made a good choice.”
A trace of smugness flashed through Nanny Sun’s eyes. She had known at a glance that Lin Xiaoya was not an obedient girl. The girl had even dared to play tricks in front of her, completely overestimating herself.
“Madam, Ninth Concubine is only a bride brought in to bring Master good fortune. Why are you treating her so well?” Xia Lan entered carrying a food box and took out a bowl of bird’s nest soup. “You barely ate anything this morning. Please have some more bird’s nest soup.”
“She is only seventeen, a year younger than Wan’er. Consider it an act of kindness.” Chen Li smiled benevolently. “Pick out some things and send them to Ninth Concubine. She is a concubine of the Chen family. If she is dressed too shabbily, it will be the Chen family’s reputation that suffers.”
The Chen family was not short of such things. As long as Lin Zhijin remained obedient, Chen Li might as well keep her like a little cat or dog.
Lin Zhijin followed Xiaohong to Wenzhu Courtyard. She had never expected to complete the tea ceremony so easily. She had even thought she might get to witness some dramatic household intrigue.
Then again, who did she think she was? She was a seventeen year old country girl who could not read or write and had no family she could rely on. The others could not even be bothered to pay attention to her.
Lin Zhijin curled her lips into a smile. Excellent. Absolutely excellent. They could keep ignoring her like this and let her live peacefully in the Chen household for two months.
Once the People’s Liberation Army arrived, she and the servants like Xiaohong would all regain their freedom.
“Greetings, Ninth Concubine. Your room has been prepared. Would you like to take a look? Madam said that if you need anything, you can ask Nanny Sun.” Nanny Zhang’s attitude was not particularly respectful, but she did not look down on Lin Zhijin either.
“You are Nanny Zhang?” Lin Zhijin then met the other two maids. They were a few years older than Xiaohong and looked honest and simple. She hoped they really were as honest as they appeared.
“Yes, I am Nanny Zhang. If anything needs to be done outside, please feel free to give me your orders.” Nanny Zhang led Lin Zhijin around the courtyard and showed her the rooms. “Ninth Concubine, are you satisfied with this room?”
The room was spotlessly clean. The sheets, quilts, and bed curtains were all new. The furniture, folding screen, and even the tea set on the table radiated luxury.
A mere concubine’s room was this extravagant. The Chen family truly was wealthy.
“I am satisfied. Very satisfied. Were all these arrangements made by Madam? I should thank her later.” Lin Zhijin asked cautiously, probing for information.
“Of course. Our principal madam has always been compassionate. You will understand once you have been here longer.” Nanny Zhang took the opportunity to sing the principal madam’s praises.
Lin Zhijin nodded repeatedly. “The principal madam looks so kind and benevolent. I have only just entered the household, yet she has already helped me so much. I… I do not even know how to thank her.”
Just as Lin Zhijin was preparing to rest for a while, Nanny Sun arrived with several maids carrying gifts. There were expensive bolts of fabric, exquisite jewelry, and nourishing delicacies such as bird’s nest and cordyceps.
“Are all these things for me?” Lin Zhijin asked, acting like someone who had never seen the world.
In truth, this was the first time she had witnessed such a display. Without knowing better, one might have thought she had traveled back to ancient times.
“These are all gifts from the principal madam,” Nanny Sun replied, deliberately emphasizing the word “gifts.”
Lin Zhijin did not mind the distinction. Gifts were gifts. These were all valuable things, and she hoped the principal madam would give her something every day.
“Madam is so kind to me. Nanny Sun, please make sure you thank her on my behalf,” Lin Zhijin said with heartfelt gratitude.
“I will inform Madam. If the Ninth Concubine has no other instructions, we shall take our leave.” Nanny Sun gave a slight nod.
Lin Zhijin escorted Nanny Sun to the door. Only after she had left did Lin Zhijin return to the room to admire her gains for the day.
So this was what fine silk and brocade looked like!
Lin Zhijin gently ran her fingers over the fabric. In her previous life, she had bought a silk blouse that cost more than two thousand yuan. She had never imagined that after being reborn as a concubine in the 1950s, she would actually get to wear such luxurious fabrics.
Besides the fabric, she had also received jewelry as welcoming gifts from the concubines and additional presents from the principal madam. Lin Zhijin could hardly bear to put any of it down, especially the jadeite set she had received during the tea ceremony. The more she looked at it, the more she liked it.
“Ninth Concubine, the principal madam treats you so well. She has given you so many things. Would you like me to call someone from the sewing room to take your measurements and make some clothes?” Xiaohong asked happily.
“Nanny Zhang, go and call someone from the sewing room to take my measurements.”
After sending Nanny Zhang away, Lin Zhijin instructed the two young maids to go outside and get on with their work, leaving only Xiaohong behind. She intended to ask about the Chen household, particularly why the Second Master was in charge of the front courtyard while the Third Young Madam managed the rear courtyard.
After Xiaohong explained the situation, Lin Zhijin finally understood how everything had come about.
The principal madam had given birth to the eldest son and a second daughter. The eldest son and his family had settled in Ugly Country, while the second daughter had moved to Xiangjiang with her husband’s family.
Apart from her granddaughter Chen Wan’er, none of her other descendants lived nearby.
The Second Concubine had originally been the principal madam’s dowry maid. She had given birth to the eldest daughter and the third son. She was completely obedient to the principal madam, and her children had therefore earned the principal madam’s trust as well. If the Second Concubine’s son had been more capable, he would have been the one managing the household.
The Third Concubine had given birth only to Master Chen’s second son.
Although she had just one child, he had distinguished himself through his abilities. He was now the Second Master in charge of the Chen household.
The Fourth Concubine had two daughters and one son, the Fifth Concubine had two sons, the Sixth Concubine had four daughters, and the Seventh Concubine had given birth to twins, a boy and a girl. The Eighth Concubine had once had a son, but sadly, the child had died at the age of three.
Lin Zhijin counted on her fingers. Master Chen actually had fourteen children!
Then again, considering how many wives he had, fourteen children was not all that many. Quite a few might have died along the way.
Good heavens! This was a real life household drama. Just thinking about it was exciting.
“Ninth Concubine, you do not need to worry. From the way the principal madam behaved, I think she intends to protect you,” Xiaohong said quietly when she noticed Lin Zhijin lost in thought.
“Mm. As long as we are careful and behave ourselves, we should be fine.”
Lin Zhijin nodded, pretending to be afraid.
It would be fine. She only had to keep her head down for two months. Once the People’s Liberation Army arrived, not only would she regain her freedom, but Xiaohong and the other servants would be free as well.
Just as she was preparing to rest, Xiaocui arrived to tell her that Master Chen had woken up and wanted her to come over.
The old geezer had woken up. So what? Why did he have to summon her?
Before she even entered the room, she heard a coquettish voice coming from inside.
“Master, you are finally awake! You have no idea how worried I have been about you.”
Lin Zhijin’s eyes lit up. Could this be the bedchamber attendant who had drugged him? She had to hurry inside and take a look!