This was no simple kneeling—she was prostrate on the ground, a posture of reverence even surpassing that used in ancestral temple worship.
Yuan Niang was startled at first, instinctively thinking to quickly shut the door and shout to alert the neighbors. Anomalies often signaled danger; who knew what this was about? What if someone barged in to seize belongings while she was unprepared, or worse, some vile kidnapper?
Whether back in the village or now in Bianjing, she had heard plenty about kidnappers and their cunning tricks.
Fortunately, before her instinctive urge to close the door took hold, she spotted Grandma standing a few steps behind.
The young lady had been standing so close to the door gap that she completely blocked Granny Wang, so Yuan Niang hadn’t noticed her at all.
The tension in Yuan Niang instantly eased, and she opened the door, deliberately avoiding the kneeling direction of this seemingly destitute young lady. She crouched down to help her up, “Please don’t kneel anymore, the ground is so cold.”
But the young lady seemed stubbornly set, refusing to rise despite assistance.
Yuan Niang cast a pleading glance toward Granny Wang, “Grandma…”
Only then did Granny Wang approach leisurely, but she didn’t help lift the girl either, instead speaking sternly, “Stand up. Our household has no custom of mistreating servants.”
At that, the young lady finally rose.
Upon closer inspection, Yuan Niang realized the girl was likely only thirteen or fourteen, not much older than herself, but considerably thinner and smaller. Her skin was dark and rough, especially the hands Yuan Niang accidentally touched—they felt coarser than old tree bark.
Combined with the earlier kneeling and Grandma’s words, Yuan Niang could already guess the identity of this person, though she wasn’t entirely certain.
After all, Yuan Niang had grown accustomed to poverty in the village. Even after moving to Bianjing, she hadn’t shifted her mindset to see herself as a wealthy young lady who could afford servants and command others.
A trace of timidity lingered in her heart.
How could Granny Wang not discern her granddaughter’s state? She knew Yuan Niang had physically arrived in Bianjing but mentally still regarded herself as a poor village girl. Though she appeared to handle situations adequately, inwardly she was timid and confused.
This couldn’t continue.
Granny Wang had exhausted her efforts to move to Bianjing precisely to ensure her grandchildren would live well from now on.
Harboring such thoughts constantly meant even enjoying blessings would feel unsettled, leaving her heart unanchored, as if grasping nothing solid. Even when arranging marriages or selecting a husband later, she might always feel inadequate or consider unsuitable matches acceptable.
Granny Wang understood this clearly. She intended to reshape Yuan Niang’s spirit but knew it wouldn’t happen overnight, so she maintained composure, calmly stating, “She is the servant girl I bought, yet unnamed.”
Though she appeared indifferent, as if buying a servant was as simple as buying tofu, it was far from that.
This servant girl, though from the countryside, was nimble and free of disabilities. Buying her for ten years cost fifty-eight guan. Though Granny Wang still had savings, plus income from farmland and rented properties, such a sum wasn’t decided without hesitation or devoid of heartache.
But upon noticing Yuan Niang’s unease and lack of confidence, Granny Wang felt the money was even more worthwhile.
It’s not easy to make an official’s wife live a hard life, but when you have silver and money, isn’t it easy to pamper a young lady?
Granny Wang had her own calculations in mind. She entered the door without looking back and said, “Since you’ve entered a new home, you should have a new name. Yuan Niang, you give her one.”
“Me?” Yuan Niang pointed at herself, unable to believe it.
How could she do such a thing?
She couldn’t possibly do it.
Yuan Niang waved her hands repeatedly, “No, no, no, Grandma, you should do it.”
The commotion of their conversation woke Madam Cen, who was resting on the couch. She got up to see what was happening and happened to hear the dialogue, understanding what was going on.
Just then, Granny Wang responded in a displeased tone, “Can’t you even decide on such a small matter?”
Madam Cen quickly softened her voice to mediate, “Yuan Niang, Grandma loves you, that’s why she’s asking you to choose the name. Be obedient.”
Yuan Niang felt somewhat flustered. The young lady before her, dressed in patched clothes, looked about the same age as her. Wouldn’t it seem like an insult if she gave her a name?
After hesitating for a moment, Yuan Niang first asked the other girl, “What… what was your original name?”
Sensing the tense atmosphere in the household, the young lady in patched coarse cloth became even more nervous and flustered. She kept her head bowed low and whispered like a mosquito, “Zhaodi.”
“Huh?” Yuan Niang didn’t hear clearly.
“Zhaodi!” The young lady closed her eyes, trembling as she raised her voice to answer.
Yuan Niang heard it clearly but was stunned.
It took her a long while to snap out of it. She touched her head and then her nose, not knowing where to look—in short, she was extremely embarrassed.
But Grandma and Mother showed no reaction, remaining silent. Clearly, she had to take the lead and speak; there was no avoiding it. Yuan Niang’s restless fidgeting led her hand to touch her money pouch. The shape of the copper coins inside was clearly imprinted in her palm—round on the outside, square on the inside, something everyone loved.
A flash of inspiration struck Yuan Niang, and she immediately had an idea. “Wan Guan!”
“How about you be called Wan Guan from now on?” Yuan Niang said.
There is no one in the world who doesn’t like money, and once you have ten thousand strings of cash, there will be no more troubles.
All of Yuan Niang’s troubles stemmed from not having enough money. For example, when treating Xu Chenger to food, she had to budget carefully. Or when she wanted to try the Fanlou and various Zhengdian restaurants that the people of Bianjing praised, but her money pouch was empty, and she couldn’t even get close to them. And wasn’t the young lady before her sold into servitude also because of a lack of money?
In Yuan Niang’s simple understanding, having lived in poverty for many years, there was nothing in the world that money couldn’t solve.
So, with money, there would be no more troubles.
Her family didn’t like her; they liked her younger brother. They named her Zhaodi, but as long as she had money, everyone in the world would like her.
“Do you think it’s alright? If you don’t like it, I can think of something else,” Yuan Niang said sincerely.
Wan Guan knew she had come to be a maidservant. The village grannies and aunties had all said that maidservants were at the mercy of their masters. If they displeased them, they could even be beaten to death, with nowhere to seek justice.
So, being sold into servitude, even if it meant having enough to eat, was the worst possible fate.
These thoughts weighed heavily on Wan Guan’s mind, filling her with fear. How could she dare to have any opinions? She simply bowed her head and agreed, “I… I like it. Wan Guan… Wan Guan is very… very good. What the young mistress says is good.”
Yuan Niang knew Wan Guan was being reserved, but being praised like this still made her feel a bit embarrassed.
Granny Wang timely interjected, “Alright, now that you’ve come to our home, there’s no need to be so nervous. We’ll have plenty of time to get along in the future. There’s no need to call anyone ‘master’ or ‘young master’—it would be laughable if others heard. Just call her ‘young lady.’ I have another grandson who hasn’t returned from school yet. You can call him ‘Second Young Master.'”
Granny Wang then pointed to Madam Cen. “Call her ‘Madam,’ and call me ‘Granny.'”
“Our family is humble and doesn’t stand on ceremony. We don’t deserve titles like ‘Madam’ or ‘Master.’ From now on, as long as you’re diligent and obedient, don’t overthink things. I won’t treat you unfairly.”
“If there’s anything else…”
“Hmph.” Granny Wang sneered, her eyes sharp and menacing. “Although our family won’t resort to private punishment, selling you back to the slave trader would bring you plenty of suffering. Think carefully about that!”
Granny Wang’s harsh words were enough to intimidate a young girl from the countryside who had never seen much of the world and had been neglected by her parents.
Wan Guan hurriedly knelt down, eagerly pledging her loyalty. “Wan Guan wouldn’t dare! Whatever you ask, I’ll obey. Back in the village, I—no, Wan Guan—Wan Guan was the hardest worker. I can do all the farm work, cooking, and cutting grass in the mountains. I… I also eat very little. Please don’t sell me again.”
Her words were disjointed, clearly spoken in a panic.
Her fearful and helpless appearance was genuinely pitiful, making even Yuan Niang frown, unable to bear watching.
But Yuan Niang also knew this wasn’t something she could interfere with. Grandma had her own considerations for everything she did.
Sure enough, Granny Wang reached out and helped Wan Guan up, her expression stern. “In Bianjing, there’s no custom of kneeling at the drop of a hat. If you do this outside, people will laugh at you.”
She looked Wan Guan up and down, shaking her head. “Too dirty.”
After saying this, Granny Wang methodically began giving instructions. “Yuan Niang, didn’t you bring old clothes all the way here? Find two decent sets. Later, A Cen can make a few adjustments to the waist.”
“Decent” meant old clothes without too many patches. Now that they were in Bianjing, Granny Wang wouldn’t allow Yuan Niang to wear coarse linen skirts outside. One should dress according to their status and maintain proper dignity; otherwise, people might grow suspicious and eagerly try to take advantage.
Such clothes were just right for Wan Guan and wouldn’t go to waste. Since Yuan Niang was slightly broader in build, altering them would be easy.
“You also need to wash up. Did the bedding you used before have lice?” Granny Wang had a keen eye and understood at a glance.
Wan Guan’s face flushed crimson, and she nodded stiffly.
Granny Wang, however, wasn’t angry. “Fortunately, there’s still some mugwort left. Boil it for a bath, then use a fine-toothed comb to comb through your hair thoroughly.”
This was a classic case of “a slap followed by a sweet date.” Granny Wang had never made a mistake in handling people.
In Wan Guan’s eyes, aside from shame, there was now overwhelming gratitude. She felt as though heaven had taken pity on her, allowing her to encounter such an excellent household!
But Granny Wang was still Granny Wang. Sometimes, her words could cut deep enough to draw blood. “Before you finish bathing, you’re not allowed inside the house. Stay in the courtyard, and don’t touch the cat either. Don’t pass on any lice—it was just cleaned up.”
Wan Guan lowered her head and timidly agreed.
Even after being spoken to like this by Granny Wang, Wan Guan’s eyes held only unease and humility, with not a trace of dissatisfaction or dissent.
Granny Wang’s eyes could truly be said to see through everything like fire; whether someone was genuine or deceitful simply couldn’t escape her gaze. From the moment she saw Wan Guan, she knew this was an honest child, and now she was even more certain. But the necessary discipline still had to be applied—rules had to be established from the start so that things would go smoothly later on.
In truth, there was no harm in treating servants well; the real fear was that servants might later become arrogant and overbearing, turning the tables to oppress their masters. They had to recognize their place—that was what was truly good for them.
Just as they were speaking, the side door was pushed open.
It was Xu Chenger who entered. Seeing the Chen family all gathered together with a stranger present, she immediately felt unsure where to step.
She wasn’t foolish—how could she not sense the strange atmosphere?
Xu Chenger let out an awkward laugh and greeted Granny Wang and Madam Cen, saying, “Yuan Niang and I agreed to take a walk near Zhouqiao later. I hope I’m not interrupting?”
After hesitantly finishing her words, she quickly moved closer to Yuan Niang, and the two exchanged meaningful glances, asking what was going on.
Yuan Niang didn’t need to say anything, as Granny Wang spoke up. Upon seeing Xu Chenger, she revealed a kindly, grandmotherly smile. “How could you be interrupting? Yuan Niang is new here, and I’m most at ease knowing she has such a good child like you to show her around Bianjing.
“Don’t overthink it—this is a newly purchased maidservant for the household. Our Xi Lang has gone to school, leaving us, a house full of the elderly and weak, in need of a servant to help share the burdens.”
Xu Chenger suddenly understood. She showed great approval and familiarity with the idea of buying a servant to help with chores.
In the houses along Sanjidixiang, with its good location, those who could afford to live there certainly had some means. While they might not have crowds of servants, it was common to buy one or two to share the workload.
Once a purchased servant arrived at the house, there was no need for any pretense—they could simply be ignored.
But Xu Chenger was an exceptionally kind-hearted young lady. She glanced at Wan Guan, her eyes finally settling on her feet, and suddenly said, “Her feet seem a bit smaller than mine. It just so happens I have some old shoes that have become too narrow. If you don’t mind, Granny, I could bring them over. Though they’re old, they’re still quite clean.”
Granny Wang immediately beamed with delight. “Wonderful! How could I possibly mind? I thank you in advance, child. I was just worrying about what to do—it wouldn’t be proper to have her go barefoot right after being bought. That would be too unseemly.”
Xu Chenger very gently and politely chatted with Granny Wang for a while, delighting her so much that her eyes crinkled with joy.
Granny Wang took the initiative to say, “Alright, alright, I won’t keep you young ladies any longer. Didn’t you agree to go out together? Don’t let me delay you.”
As she spoke, Granny Wang beckoned to Yuan Niang, untied her blue patterned money pouch, took out twenty copper coins, and gave them to Yuan Niang. Finally, she gently stroked the hair tied at the side of Yuan Niang’s cheek. “Off you go!”
Now it was Yuan Niang’s turn to beam with joy. “Thank you, Grandma!”
Turning around, Yuan Niang and Xu Chenger walked out hand in hand.
How wonderful it was to be a young lady—filled with laughter and joy, where even twenty coins could bring such happiness. A faint smile also surfaced in Granny Wang’s eyes.
Coming back to her senses, Granny Wang withdrew her gaze, her face stern once more. Even the flesh on her cheeks seemed taut, appearing very serious and unapproachable. Anyone who saw her would feel intimidated, certain she was not to be trifled with.
She still had to arrange the remaining matters clearly.
After Yuan Niang and Xu Chenger left the house, they headed straight for Zhouqiao.
On both sides of the road and even along the bridge, stalls were densely packed. The simplest ones had just a piece of hemp cloth spread on the ground, while slightly better ones had small carts. There were also larger setups with Fupu stalls, some even shaded by large umbrellas spanning six or seven feet. Others carried baskets, weaving through the crowd and hawking their goods.
The variety of items was dazzling—there seemed to be everything one could imagine.
But precisely because of this, it became a dilemma.
“What do you think I should buy?” Xu Chenger asked, deeply troubled. “Ordinary hairpins and Zanzi would make excellent gifts, but they cost hundreds or even thousands of wen. How could I afford them? Needles and threads are cheap, but giving something worth just a few wen… My relationship with Sister Dou is quite good. She often treats me to Ke Shui, so it would seem stingy of me.” She sighed heavily, her brow clouded with worry.
She clutched Yuan Niang’s wrist, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. “Help me think of something!”
Yuan Niang genuinely pondered the matter, mulling it over for a long while before hesitantly suggesting, “How about something practical for daily use? Not big items like a Tie Guo or a stove, but something that complements them. Usually, such things aren’t too expensive and can be put to good use. When giving gifts, especially to someone you’re close to, practicality matters. Something flashy but useless, even if expensive, isn’t worth it.”
“That makes sense,” Xu Chenger agreed, deep in thought. As they passed by a stall, her eyes suddenly widened. “I’ve got it!”
Not wanting the stall owner to notice her interest, she pulled Yuan Niang farther away and whispered conspiratorially. “Look at that stall—no, just glance out of the corner of your eye, or we’ll be noticed. Yes, the bamboo incense cage in the middle. What do you think? It’s perfect for scenting clothes. I remember Sister Dou has a small incense burner, and this would fit it perfectly.”
Yuan Niang listened attentively, but her experience was limited. She had only recently started eating dishes cooked in an iron wok, and items like incense burners were still beyond what Granny Wang considered necessary purchases. So far, they had only bought essentials like bedding and mosquito nets.
If Xu Chenger hadn’t mentioned it, Yuan Niang wouldn’t even have known such a thing as an incense cage existed.
She admitted as much, but Xu Chenger didn’t mind and patiently explained. An incense cage, she said, was a bamboo cover placed over an incense burner. In daily use, one could light the incense burner, cover it with the cage, and then place clothes on top to scent them. Not only would the clothes become fragrant, but they would also dry faster in humid weather—a very practical item.
After this explanation, Yuan Niang also thought it was a good idea.
The two of them huddled together to discuss how to bargain later. Cheng’er would have to frown and criticize the item, pretending she didn’t like it, while Yuan Niang would play the mediator, persuading Cheng’er to buy it while also urging the stall owner to lower the price.
They planned everything in detail, even scripting the persuasive lines Yuan Niang would use under the guise of mediation.
Then, pretending to be casual, they strolled over to the stall, stopping here and there along the way.
Xu Chenger pretended to glance casually at the bamboo incense cage and shook her head. “The craftsmanship is a bit rough.”
Yuan Niang immediately played her part. “Oh, it’s not bad. Since we’ve come across it, why not buy one?”
Xu Chenger feigned reluctance, pursing her lips and shaking her head. “But…”
Chen Yuanniang, catching the cue, interrupted, “Let’s ask the price first. If it’s reasonable, there’s no harm in buying it.”
And so, the two of them began their act, asking about the price as if they weren’t particularly impressed with the item.
The stall owner pondered silently for a moment, not daring to ask for an exorbitant price for fear of scaring the customers away, and offered a fairer price, “Fifty copper coins.”
Xu Chenger blinked, and Yuan Niang understood—this was a fair price but could still be bargained down a bit.
So, Xu Chenger shook her head, pretending to be unsatisfied, and made as if to get up and leave. Just as Yuan Niang reached out to stop her and persuade her to stay, the stall owner suddenly glanced around and whispered, “Don’t go. If the price isn’t to your liking, why not try Guan Pu?”
Guan Pu?
Yuan Niang was puzzled. What was this?
But Xu Chenger’s eyes lit up immediately, and she grew excited, even turning to grab Yuan Niang’s hand.
She crouched down like a thief, leaning closer to the stall. “What are the rules?”
The stall owner chuckled twice and took out three copper coins, placing them on the stall. “Ten coins for one try. If all three land face-up, I’ll sell this to you for fifteen coins. If you lose, the ten coins are naturally… hehe.”
The stall owner grinned, making it perfectly clear—ten coins for one bet.
If she won, the ten-coin bet would be returned, and the originally fifty-coin incense burner could be bought for just fifteen coins—a real bargain.
Even if she lost, it was no big deal—just a bit of fun.
Xu Chenger gritted her teeth and agreed, taking ten coins from her money pouch and handing them to the stall owner.
Then, eagerly picking up the three copper coins, she tossed them.
“Clink!”
As the last coin settled, two were face-up and one face-down—she had lost.
Xu Chenger let out a soft groan, while the stall owner cheerfully pocketed the ten-coin bet, saying, “Winning or losing is up to fate, young lady. Don’t be upset.”
Clearly hooked by the thrill of Guan Pu, Xu Chenger couldn’t bear to part with the ten coins and wanted to try again. Naturally, the stall owner had no reason to refuse.
But she lost again.
Xu Chenger couldn’t bring herself to try a third time—if she did, she might not have enough money left to buy the item. In the end, she paid the fifty coins.
As she paid, she sighed to Yuan Niang, “Ah, I’m born under Capricorn. No wonder my luck is so poor—I just can’t play games like Guan Pu.”
“Huh?” Xu Chenger suddenly paused. “Yuan Niang, what’s your zodiac sign?”
“The Sheep God of the first month,” Yuan Niang finally heard something she was familiar with and spoke with a bit more excitement. Most followers of the Radiant Light Buddha were familiar with the Twenty-Eight Mansions and the Twelve Zodiac Signs. Influenced by other women and friends in the village, Yuan Niang had also learned a bit about them.
Xu Chenger said seriously, “Oh, the Sheep sign. Then your financial luck should be pretty good. Why don’t you give it a try?”
Yuan Niang didn’t know how her financial luck was—she hadn’t played such games much. But after watching Xu Chenger play twice, she had a rough idea of what Guan Pu was—just a gambling game, but with physical prizes.
She had never tried it before and felt a sudden urge to do so.
She scanned the stall carefully and finally settled her gaze on a pot of lush, green daphne. The leaves of the daphne were long and narrow, somewhat resembling enlarged bamboo leaves, but with yellow edges, giving them a unique charm.
The stall owner understood immediately and began extolling its virtues. “This is daphne. It stays green all year round, and if you take good care of it, it can bloom in spring. The flowers are delicate pink and white. Keeping a pot like this can save you money on buying flowers or hairpins. Including the pot, it’s only ten coins—a very low price.”
Yuan Niang listened and grew even fonder of it.
Even without trying Guan Pu, she wanted to buy it and take it home to care for.
But the stall owner wouldn’t miss this opportunity. Guan Pu was only openly permitted during major festivals. He took the risk and secretly encouraged customers to play Guan Pu precisely because it was highly profitable.
He noticed Yuan Niang’s hesitation and lowered the requirement, taking out only two copper coins.
“Two coins for one try. If both land face up, this daphne will cost you only two coins.”
“Young lady, this is very simple indeed.”
Compared to requiring all three coins to land face up, this was indeed much easier.
Yuan Niang thought for a moment, then nodded firmly. “Let’s try!”
With that, she placed two copper coins on the stall.
Then, Yuan Niang nervously picked up the two copper coins, closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, gave them a shake, and let go. The two copper coins tumbled down.
One landed on the cloth, just right, with the heads side facing up.
The other rolled off the edge of the cloth, spinning upright on the bluestone bricks. Yuan Niang’s heart spun along with it.
Please, she thought, I want to win!