Aunt Xue laughed heartily…
Aunt Xue laughed heartily and bowed again: "May your auspicious words come true, miss. Sooner or later, let me strike a windfall."
Bihe said, "If you strike it rich, don’t forget our young lady."
Aunt Xue smiled, "I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare, of course I wouldn’t."
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, everyone offered seats to one another. Aunt Xue remained seated in her original spot and continued making bead flowers.
She casually took a box from her basket, opened it, and placed it before An Ruosu. While her hands kept busy, she smiled and said, "Third Young Lady, take a look quickly. These beads are as round as the moon. Last time, Second Young Lady asked me to keep an eye out for these. I specially asked a familiar peddler to bring them back from out of town."
Most jade used for carving beads came from leftover scraps. No matter how smoothly the beads were polished, they inevitably contained mixed colors.
Therefore, An Ruosu hadn’t held much hope, only planning to pick beads with as uniform a color as possible, so that the bracelet she wove would have harmonious color matching.
Who would have thought that this time Aunt Xue had indeed gotten her hands on something good? Although this box of beads couldn’t be called entirely flawless, most were a clean chicken-fat yellow, with occasional light yellow or creamy white streaks that didn’t clash with the yellow at all.
An Ruosu was pleasantly surprised and quickly asked, "Are there more beads like these?"
Aunt Xue laughed, "Oh, my dear young lady, you’re someone who knows quality. Surely you understand that rarity makes things precious? Even if there were more, that peddler, to sell them at a higher price, would only tell me there weren’t any.
Only after I pester him three or five times will he pretend to go the extra mile to search for me. And only after I urge him a couple more times will he bring another box. Even though I see through these tricks, I still have to appreciate his effort."
Her words made everyone laugh. An Ruoyu teased, "Then you’ve really worked hard, Auntie. We sisters owe you one!" She turned and instructed her other maid, "Tang’er, hurry and brew some tea for Aunt Xue!"
Aunt Xue exclaimed dramatically, "That’s wonderful! After drinking your cup of tea, all my aches and pains will vanish, my stiff mouth will open, and my heavy legs will move freely. When that peddler comes again, I’ll empty him out completely!"
As she spoke, a bead flower was completed. Tiny rice pearls formed three layers of overlapping petals, with a large bead at the center and green jade leaves as a base—exquisite and beautiful. An Ruoyu couldn’t put it down.
Seizing her delight, Aunt Xue took the opportunity to display the pith flowers and velvet flowers she had made. Paired with that bead flower, she successfully sold five or six more to An Ruoyu.
While An Ruoyu was delighted with her beautiful accessories, Aunt Xue, having closed a big sale, grinned from ear to ear.
After finishing An Ruoyu’s bead flower, Aunt Xue picked up the foreign handkerchief draped over her lap, wiped her hands, shook off the debris clinging to her clothes, then leaned over to look at the beads An Ruosu had picked out. She praised effusively, "Third Young Lady truly has a sharp eye, picking out all the best from this box.
What kind of design are you thinking of weaving, miss? Would you like to pair them with some gold beads or silver leaves? I have ready-made ones here." As she spoke, she lifted the indigo linen cloth covering the basket, pulled out several more boxes, and opened them to reveal various gold and silver beads—some perfectly round, some oval, some teardrop-shaped, and some shaped like flower buds.
An Ruosu shook her head and said, "No need for those, just string the beads. Use the fashionable styles worn outside."
Aunt Xue changed her tone with a smile, "Indeed, at your age, young lady, you're as fresh and tender as spring onions, with a natural, captivating aura. Adding gold and silver would only make it look vulgar."
She thought for a moment, put away the gold and silver beads, and took out a box of rice pearls. First, she wove a flat crabapple flower with the rice pearls, then attached a large bead that An Ruosu had picked out. Next, she wove another crabapple flower with rice pearls and attached another large bead…
This process repeated about five or six times. She then gestured for An Ruosu to extend her hand, measured it around her slender wrist, and said with a smile, "One more flower should be enough."
The younger Bihe couldn't help but urge, "What exactly did the cloth merchant say? Dear sister-in-law, please tell me quickly."
It turned out that while Aunt Xue was weaving, she was also telling jokes, attracting not only the sisters An Ruoyu and An Ruosu but also all the maids in the courtyard.
"Years ago, there was a cloth merchant in the south who didn't have a son until he was nearly forty. When the child turned one month old, he held a grand feast for guests, and a passing fortune-teller happened to attend.
After eating and drinking his fill, the fortune-teller said to the cloth merchant, 'I won't eat your meal for free. Since it's your son's first-month celebration, I'll offer him a divination to predict his fortune.'
The cloth merchant happily agreed and invited the fortune-teller to his study, where he presented his son's birth details. The fortune-teller calculated for a while and said with concern, 'This child is excellent in all aspects, except there's some hindrance in his Thief Palace.'
Hearing this, the cloth merchant smiled and said… Third Miss, please extend your hand so I can measure. It looks about right."
Just as she reached the crucial part, she suddenly stopped. Bihe, being impatient, couldn't resist asking.
Aunt Xue, while finishing the bracelet, cleared her throat and imitated the cloth merchant in a rough voice, "'No problem. When he grows up, we'll just have him become a silversmith.'
The fortune-teller was puzzled and asked for the reason. The cloth merchant replied, 'After all, what silversmith doesn't steal a little every day to support his family?'"
Bihe burst out laughing, and her laughter seemed to unlock everyone else's mirth. They all leaned back and forth, their silver-bell-like laughter rising and falling.
An Ruoyu said with a smile, "There are at least eight or nine out of ten skilled artisans in Jinan City, no wonder every household loves to invite Aunt Xue. With your way with words, sister-in-law, even if we look back three hundred years or forward five hundred, I doubt anyone could compare."
Then it occurred to her that her father was about to be promoted and transferred to the capital, and their whole family would surely follow. In the long run, they might not see each other again, and she couldn't help but sigh.
Aunt Xue watched her for a moment and tentatively asked, "Second Miss, do you have something on your mind? Tell me. Although I may not have any great ideas, my lips are the tightest."
An Ruoyu smiled and shook her head, "It's nothing serious. I was just thinking that after we move to the capital with our parents, I'm afraid it'll be hard to find someone with skills as good as yours, sister-in-law."
Whether it was An Ruosu's imagination or not, she felt that Aunt Xue seemed to breathe a slight sigh of relief upon hearing this. Her smile grew even brighter than usual as she chided playfully, "Look at what you're saying, young lady. The capital is the finest place in the land, where all the best skills and finest goods from across the country converge like rivers flowing into the sea. I'm afraid once you ladies truly arrive there, within just two or three months, you'll have forgotten all about me, like a burnt pancake tossed aside."
Hearing her witty words, everyone burst into laughter again.
Seeing everyone laughing, Aunt Xue also felt delighted. She then made a few fashionable bracelets for An Ruosu and told several jokes in a row, leaving everyone present thoroughly satisfied.
In addition to the material and labor costs, the two sisters each rewarded her with two qian of silver.
Since she was a frequent visitor to the household, the maids in the kitchen often asked her to bring things for them, and she never refused. Naturally, the maids remembered her kindness.
Thinking that they would soon part ways, with mountains and rivers lying ahead and unsure if they would ever meet again, they each gave her a keepsake—one a pouch, another a handkerchief—as mementos.
Aunt Xue thanked them one by one, carefully packed her belongings into a basket, and covered it neatly with dark blue coarse cloth. She smiled and said, "Since I’ve come in, it wouldn’t be proper not to pay my respects to the Madam and the concubines. Please stay here, young ladies. Have one of the sisters lead me there, and make sure no one stops me halfway and stirs up trouble."
An Ruoyu then said, "Tang'er, take Aunt Xue to the main quarters, and while you’re there, pay our respects to the Madam on behalf of me and my younger sister."
Tang'er acknowledged the order and gestured with a smile for Aunt Xue to follow her.
An Ruosu said, "Second Sister, Aunt Xue’s visit today might be for a reason."
An Ruoyu chuckled, "When has she ever come without a reason? She’s a widow without a livelihood, raising her daughter alone, just trying every means to earn more silver for her daughter’s dowry. Our family isn’t lacking those few scraps of money. We give her a little extra each time, treating it as an act of kindness."
An Ruosu shook her head, unable to express the unease she felt, so she let it go, though the feeling of restlessness lingered.
Seeing her frowning, An Ruoyu reached over and gently massaged her face, teasing, "My dear third sister, how old are you to be worrying about this and that all day? We have our parents above us, and if not, you still have your older brothers and sisters. You should just eat heartily and play freely."
"In families like ours, there aren’t many years of carefree living. In another two years… at most three, you’ll have so much to learn that you won’t be able to avoid worrying even if you wanted to."
An Ruosu thought about it and realized it made sense. She nestled into her sister’s arms and giggled.
Before long, Tang'er returned, carrying a small foreign-lacquered tea tray with gold tracing. On it were two lidded bowls, and beside them, two silver spoons wrapped in hand towels.
An Ruoyu asked, "What’s this now?"
Tang'er replied, "The Madam had someone prepare donkey-hide gelatin and longan soup, and there’s some for both of you. When I mentioned that Third Sister was also in our room, she told me to bring it over together."
An Ruoyu pursed her lips and said, "What’s so good about this? It’s too hot to have an appetite." After a moment’s thought, she instructed, "Last time, we made some fruit jam following Little Sister’s method. It should be ready to eat now. Quickly bring out a jar to have with this."
Upon hearing this, Chan'er went to the cabinet under her dressing table and fetched a bottle of plum jam. The two sisters each added a spoonful to their donkey-hide gelatin and longan soup. After tasting it, the sweet and sour flavor indeed made it much more enjoyable.
The maids helped them wash their hands and rinse their mouths. Before they could exchange more than a few words, Tang'er lifted the curtain and said, "Young ladies, Sister Xiaoyu from the main quarters is here."
An Ruoyu said, "Please invite her in."
As she spoke, Xiaoyu had already entered. She bowed to the two of them and said with a smile, "Second Young Lady, the Madam asks you to come over. She has some private matters to discuss."
An Ruosu's heart skipped a beat. She silently calculated in her mind—Aunt Xue should still be in the main room and not yet left.
Her curiosity was truly piqued. Since she was currently living with her mother, she might as well head back to the main room together.
But as soon as she entered the main courtyard, Xiaoyu politely said, "Third Miss, you've been out for so long. Please go back and rest. At least don't make the mistress worry."
This was telling her: The mistress had given orders early on that today's matter was not suitable for the Third Miss to hear.
An Ruosu felt both regretful and worried, yet she could not disobey her mother's command. Reluctantly, she returned to the west wing room with Bihe.
Honglian, who had been left to watch the room, had already finished splitting the thread. She was stretching a cut piece of scallion-green handkerchief on an embroidery hoop, holding several colored threads to compare which color would match better.
Seeing them return, she greeted, "Miss, come take a look. Should the pattern on the handkerchief be embroidered in coral red or peacock blue?"
Virtue, appearance, speech, and needlework were the standards by which women were judged in this era. Even noblewomen, who did not need to make their own clothes or shoes in daily life, had to put some effort into needlework.
One could be unskilled, but one must understand.
A senior maid like Honglian was also tasked with helping the mistress educate the young mistress in daily life. Asking her which color looked better was actually a subtle way of teaching her how to match colors.
But at this moment, An Ruosu's mind was preoccupied with other matters, like a little rabbit hopping restlessly in her chest. She could not calm down at all. She waved her hand and leaned on the couch, not wanting to say a word.
Honglian found this strange and asked Bihe, "What's wrong this time?"
Author's Note:
Second chapter of the story!