Since Cheng Jiao-niang arrived at the household, her meals were delivered separately, and her interactions were limited to Old Master Chen and the courtyard where she resided. Apart from her initial arrival, the rest of the family members hadn’t even seen her, let alone had any contact with her.
If there were any frequent interactions, it would be with Old Master Chen, the Chen Shao couple, and the young girl, Dan-niang.
Facing Cheng Jiao-niang, who occasionally glanced their way, the ladies in the household felt an inexplicable sense of restraint.
As daughters of the Chen family, though not of royal or noble status, they were far from ordinary folk. Their manners and deportment had been meticulously trained, and they were all of an age to attend social events and banquets. At most, they might feel a bit shy, but this sense of unease was something entirely new to them.
“Sisters, where are you going?” Dan-niang asked as she ran a few steps forward.
“We’re going to Qieting Temple to admire the plum blossoms,” one of the ladies replied, seemingly glancing at Cheng Jiao-niang unintentionally.
“Have the plum blossoms bloomed already?” Dan-niang asked in surprise.
“Yes, the wintersweet at Qieting Temple has bloomed early this year,” the lady said.
Dan-niang clapped her hands with delight.
“I want to go too, I want to go too!” she exclaimed. Then, as if thinking of something, she ran back to Cheng Jiao-niang. “Sister Cheng, come with us!”
Hearing Dan-niang extend the invitation, the ladies of the Chen family inexplicably grew nervous.
Cheng Jiao-niang said nothing.
“Lady Cheng, if you’re free, why not join us?” one of the Chen family ladies stepped forward and said.
It wasn’t appropriate to let a child extend an invitation and leave the response hanging.
Cheng Jiao-niang looked at her.
“Alright,” she nodded in agreement.
Dan-niang jumped for joy, delighted.
At this moment, cold rain fell over Jiangnan, bringing with it a chill.
Cheng Liu-niang stepped briskly into the room and immediately spotted First Madam Cheng, smiling as she spoke with the stewardesses.
“Mother,” she called out, bowing properly in the presence of the servants.
First Madam Cheng had been in good spirits lately. She beckoned her daughter to come sit beside her.
“We’ve lost some profits because of those people stirring up trouble; otherwise, the shop’s earnings would’ve been even higher,” one of the stewardesses said, tucking away the account book as she spoke.
“People who don’t understand business only ruin it,” First Madam Cheng remarked. “Have they left yet?”
“They’ve relinquished control but are still refusing to leave,” one of the maids replied.
“Then let them stay. It’s not as if we can’t afford to feed a few extra mouths,” First Madam Cheng said with a faint smile. “Let them see for themselves how the shop prospers under my management, how their grandnieces’ dowries grow ever larger. We, the Cheng family, do not squander what we have.”
“However, regarding the accounts for the manor, the Second Madam has requested to review them,” another maid whispered.
First Madam Cheng’s expression hardened slightly.
Though he was deeply reluctant, Second Master Cheng still had to assume his new post on schedule. Second Madam Cheng, using the excuse of being close to home, decided not to bring their children along this time. Instead, she stayed behind, claiming her focus was on caring for her mother-in-law and educating her children.
As for the people from the Zhou family, perhaps due to being unfamiliar with the area and inclined to bully the weak, they seemed to lose interest in disputing the dowry when the Cheng family remained steadfast. However, they refused to leave, saying they wanted to witness everything firsthand to ensure the grandniece’s dowry wasn’t squandered.
The Cheng family was greatly relieved, and the shadow cast by Second Master Cheng’s stalled official career was slightly lifted.
“Then let her have it,” said First Madam Cheng. “It’s almost the end of the year. A few days ago, the Old Madam was thinking about Second Master’s winter clothes. Once the accounts are settled these days, have a few people accompany Meixiang, who serves the Old Madam, to deliver them.”
Meixiang, who serves the Old Madam? The maids exchanged glances, sharing a knowing look of mutual understanding.
“Meixiang is skilled with needlework and steady in her ways. Let her go and check if Second Master has settled in well. Otherwise, the Old Madam will remain uneasy,” First Madam Cheng added.
The maids lowered their heads and answered affirmatively. Glancing at Cheng Liu-niang, who was sitting nearby with an impatient expression, they packed up their things, excused themselves, and left the room.
“Mother, have the ten types of pastries I asked for from Xuan-miao Temple been arranged?” Cheng Liu-niang hurriedly asked.
First Madam Cheng seemed to have just remembered and called for a maid to inquire.
“They said that because many people place orders during the twelfth lunar month, everything is reserved well in advance, so…” the maid said, lowering her head.
“So, they still haven’t prepared ours, is that it?” Cheng Liu-niang cut her off, straightening up as she turned to grab First Madam Cheng’s arm. “Mother, did you see that? They’re doing this on purpose! No matter how early we place our order, they always leave us out!”
First Madam Cheng was somewhat surprised as well.
“Really none?” she asked.
“None, Madam. The demand far exceeds the supply. Xuan-miao Temple’s pastries are already being sold on the market for ten taels of silver per box,” the maid replied with her head lowered.
“That expensive?” First Madam Cheng was even more astonished. Since when had Xuan-miao Temple become like this?
It dawned on her that the last time she had seen the temple’s abbot seemed like a long time ago—so long that she could barely recall their face.
“They haven’t come to collect their offerings?” she asked.
Could it be that even when they visited the household, they weren’t seen?
“Don’t give them any!” Cheng Liu-niang interjected sharply, her brows furrowed.
“Madam, Xuan-miao Temple only came to collect offerings the first time. After that, they never came again,” the maid said, keeping her head down.
With pastries priced at ten taels of silver per box and so many people vying for them, who would still care about a bit of incense money?
First Madam Cheng’s expression grew slightly tense, and Cheng Liu-niang bit her lower lip.
So that’s how it is—no longer under someone else’s roof, who would be willing to bow their head!
“It’s fine,” First Madam Cheng smiled faintly. “Just go ahead and buy it. It’s only a little extra money.”
Cheng Liu-niang suddenly sank into her seat.
“It’s too late, it’s impossible to get them now!” She said, nearly on the verge of tears. “If we don’t bring the pastries to the plum blossom viewing, they’ll laugh at us! It was hard enough for that fool to leave, and now no one’s there to mock us, yet we’re still stuck inside!”
“My dear,” First Madam Cheng hurriedly embraced her daughter, comforting her with a tender voice. “What you’re saying is ridiculous. You’re both talented and beautiful, one of the best in Jiang-zhou. Everyone’s eagerly waiting to play with you, no one would look down on you. Liu-niang, those who are laughed at are always the ones who deserve it, not because of something like pastries. For example, your silly younger sister—do you think people would worship her just because she’s holding a pastry party?”
Cheng Liu-niang couldn’t help but chuckle, but quickly pulled a gloomy face again.
“You see, you know it too, don’t you? So, the envy others feel is only because of you as a person, not because of anything you own. Don’t worry, don’t worry,” First Madam Cheng smiled, wiping away her daughter’s tears. “Liu-niang is the best. Who wouldn’t like you? Those who don’t like you are just jealous because you’re so wonderful.”
Cheng Liu-niang’s gloom finally lifted, and she broke into a smile.
“Then, Mother, I want to wear that set of purple-gold cloisonné jewelry,” she said, clinging to First Madam Cheng’s arm with a touch of coquettishness.
“Alright,” First Madam Cheng smiled and nodded, lovingly patting her daughter’s shoulder.
The atmosphere in the room was warm and harmonious between mother and daughter.
When they heard that their daughters had invited Cheng Jiao-niang to the plum blossom viewing, Master and Madam Chen, being parents themselves, felt a bit nervous.
For a moment, they had the anxious feeling of their daughter going out for the first time to socialize.
What should she wear? What should she bring? Who should accompany her? What if she gets cold or overheated? What if she says something wrong? What if someone treats her lightly? The uncertainty made them unsure whether to agree or not, so they decided to inform Old Master Chen.
“What does she have in mind?” Madam Chen asked.
Old Master Chen laughed heartily.
“What does she have in mind? You’re thinking too much,” he chuckled. “She’s in the bloom of youth, she should be happy and carefree.”
Master and Madam Chen suddenly realized, and couldn’t help but laugh a little. Of course, they had forgotten—she was only fourteen or fifteen, not an old, withered tree.
“Let a few more people from the household accompany her. Have two of the brothers go along to escort her,” Master Chen suggested.
Cheng Jiao-niang changed into new clothes, draped a cloak over her shoulders, and came out with her maid. She saw that two more of the Chen family ladies had joined those waiting.
“This is Shi-niang*, this is Shi’er-niang*, and this is Shi’ba-niang*…”
Dan-niang enthusiastically introduced them one by one. The ladies, some with a touch of shyness, others feigning indifference, greeted Cheng Jiao-niang in turn.
After getting acquainted, the next step was to begin their conversation.
“The warm sleeves you made are really wonderful,” said the eldest, Shi-niang, who spoke first.
Talking about clothing and jewelry was both the most appropriate and fitting topic to start with.
“Yes,” Cheng Jiao-niang nodded.
“Today isn’t too cold, so the warm sleeves are better than a hand warmer,” another lady added.
The ladies all agreed, and the atmosphere became pleasant and relaxed. The group then started walking out. When they reached the second gate, they saw not only four carriages, but also six or seven people on horseback waiting.
“Why are there so many people?” The daughters of the Chen family were startled.
Immediately, the young gentlemen, wearing cloaks of various colors, all turned their heads. Some looked dashing, others more refined, and they ranged in age.
“Father sent us to accompany you,” they said in a chaotic, noisy manner.
It was completely normal for brothers to accompany their sisters when going out, but surely, there was no need for so many of them.
Translator’s Note:
*Shi-niang（十娘）：Shi（十）means “ten”, so this is the tenth daughter from the family.
*Shi’er-niang（十二娘）：Shi’er（十二）means “twelve”, so this is the twelfth daughter from the family.
*Shi’ba-niang（十八娘）：Shi’ba（十八）means “eighteenth”, so this is the eighteenth daughter from the family.
