Chapter 2: Do You Want Two Husbands?  

The Ning family had always followed the tradition of eating two meals a day.  

Coming from a merchant background, they had started by setting up stalls early in the morning and working late into the night. There was no time for a midday meal when doing business—they would have a hearty breakfast and a replenishing dinner before resting.  

Though the Ning family no longer needed to personally tend to their shops and their descendants now lived comfortably, the ancestral customs remained unchanged. If anyone got hungry, they could simply have some side dishes.  

Thus, the Ning family’s breakfast was always lavish, requiring considerable effort to prepare.  

Xijin, having woken up late, wasn’t particularly hungry and could only manage to eat a little.  

Seeing this, A Chou said, “Shall we keep it warm in the pot for later?”  

Xijin nodded slightly, but inwardly, she thought the custom was unreasonable. Who really had much of an appetite first thing in the morning?  

Before the table could even be cleared, the nursemaid brought Mang Er over.  

Mang Er, not yet two years old, was dressed in a soft silk outfit, looking plump and adorable.  

A Chou, upon seeing his son, naturally picked him up.  

Xijin eyed Mang Er’s brand-new silk clothes and remarked, “Silk is best. A child like him shouldn’t have to wear old clothes—they’re neither bright nor comfortable.”  

Yet, according to the older generation’s beliefs, a child’s bones were too delicate for expensive fabrics, and they insisted on dressing them in ordinary or even repurposed old clothes to ensure they thrived.  

Xijin sighed at the thought. These so-called traditions were nothing but nonsense.  

She was determined to dress her son in new, fine clothes—that was what felt right.  

Mang Er was at the babbling stage and was overjoyed to see A Chou. He called out “Daddy!” while reaching up to grab A Chou’s loose hair.  

A Chou gently took his small hand and said in a warm, patient voice, “Mang Er, if you pull like that, Daddy will hurt.”  

He coaxed Mang Er into letting go of his hair.  

Meanwhile, Xijin had settled in front of the mirror to do her makeup. As she applied eyebrow pigment with a fine comb, she mused that A Chou, usually so reserved and taciturn, became quite talkative around their son.  

Perhaps the only person he truly felt close to was his own flesh and blood.  

Suddenly, Mang Er let out an excited cry, waving his little hands and shouting in his clear, childish voice, “Mama! Mama! Pendant! Pendant!”  

Xijin paused with the comb at her brow. Through the mirror, she saw that Mang Er had somehow gotten hold of the jade pendant around A Chou’s neck and was clutching it tightly, as if fascinated.  

Xijin watched silently.  

A Chou treasured that pendant dearly—he never took it off, even in bed. In the early days of their marriage, when their intimacy still held some novelty, the cool jade would often press against her skin.  

One night, she had felt engravings on the pendant and, curious, tried to examine it under the candlelight. But A Chou had snatched it away abruptly.  

After that, he kept it hidden, never letting her see it again.  

Humiliated, Xijin had nursed a quiet resentment ever since.  

Just a worthless trinket—who cared?  

The Ning family was wealthy and influential, one of the most prominent in Rucheng. What rare treasure couldn’t they obtain? Why would she covet some measly pendant of his?

Back when he first came to Rucheng, poor and scrawny, starving to death, it was Father who saved him, letting him work as a shop assistant in the Ning family store. If Father hadn’t taken pity on him and valued him, would he have become the Male Matrilineal Marriage of the Ning family today?

Xijin grew angrier the more she thought about it. She even stopped applying the Eyebrow pigment, simply staring at the reflections of father and son in the bronze mirror, waiting to see his reaction.

Yet A Chou remained patient, holding Mang Er and coaxing softly, “If Mang Er likes it, I’ll leave this jade pendant for you in the future, alright?”

Mang Er, too young to understand, babbled and nodded eagerly, calling out “Daddy” repeatedly.

After much coaxing, A Chou finally got Mang Er to let go. With a swift motion of his long fingers, he tucked the pendant into his robe.

Xijin averted her gaze, picking up a hairpin to scoop a dab from the Scented inkpad while steadying her brow with a fine-toothed comb.

This was delicate work, not to be rushed. Holding her breath, she carefully studied her reflection, applying the pigment from deep to light outward.

Just then, A Chou approached and stood beside her.

Hearing the movement, Xijin’s hand trembled slightly, causing the brow line to smudge.

Annoyed, she slammed the hairpin, comb, and back of the brush onto the dressing table. “What are you doing? Look, you ruined the brow I worked so hard on!”

A Chou picked up the hairpin and comb. “Let me help you.”

Xijin huffed, “No need!”

Though she refused, her voice lacked conviction, soft and yielding.

A Chou scooped a bit from the Scented inkpad and asked, “Shall I try?”

Xijin was still reluctant. The thought of that jade pendant made her fume, yet she couldn’t vent her anger.

She wasn’t one to suffer in silence, so she seized another excuse to lash out.

But—

A Chou’s hands were skillful and steady. He really might do a better job.

After biting her lip and hesitating, she finally relented.

The greater good mattered, after all.

It was New Year’s Day—she ought to look her best, not with a botched brow.

Tilting her chin up with an air of dignity, she declared, “But I want the Distant mountain eyebrow, not the Inverted halo eyebrow.”

The Inverted halo eyebrow was all the rage now—thick, broad, and heavily pigmented. Xijin disliked it. She preferred the Distant mountain eyebrow, slender and graceful, which better suited her flower-like beauty!

A Chou replied, “Mm, I know.”

So he bent down to paint her brows.

Xijin sat quietly, cooperating fully. After all, these were her brows—if they turned out poorly, she’d be the one embarrassed.

Holding her breath, she watched A Chou’s hands before her.

They were exquisite—knuckles defined, fingers long and even, the skin faintly textured, like carved jade.

Xijin couldn’t help but want to compare her own hands to his. If she couldn’t even outshine her own husband, she might die of frustration.

She instinctively reached out—she had to compare, she absolutely must.

But just then, A Chou’s voice sounded by her ear: “You should stop using Face powder.”

His breath, so close, carried a crisp, pleasant scent that enveloped her.

It left her slightly dazed, but she still asked, “Why? This is made from High-quality rice—it cost me six hundred coppers!”

Six hundred coins for just a small box of face powder—it was beyond the means of ordinary households.

A Chou paused in his task, his gaze briefly sweeping over Xijin’s skin.

Xijin’s complexion was delicate, so delicate it seemed to glow with a faint pink hue. It was already flawless and translucent, and though the high-quality rice powder was pure and bright, it didn’t enhance her beauty much further.

She was naturally exquisite, like a jewel.

He said, “I don’t think you need anything better.”

Xijin sniffed lightly. “That’s just your opinion, and yours alone. It doesn’t mean it’s right. If you think the rice powder isn’t good enough, then buy me better face powder from Yanjing City—there must be something superior!”

A Chou remained silent, focusing intently on shaping her brows.

But Xijin had already made up her mind. “I want pearl face powder. I’ve heard that in Yanjing City, they make it using secret methods—far better than the pearl powder sold here in Ru City. But it’s hard to come by, reserved only for the imperial court.”

As she spoke, A Chou stayed quiet.

Finding his silence dull, Xijin eventually stopped talking.

Once A Chou finished shaping her brows, Xijin examined herself in the bronze mirror. The light makeup accentuated her features—her brows arched like distant mountains under a crescent moon, perfectly balanced in shade, enhancing her jade-like purity and enchanting charm.

Pleased, she sighed, “A Chou, A Chou, if you weren’t my husband, you could make a fortune in the pleasure quarters as a makeup artist!”

As she spoke, a sudden icy glance from him made his displeasure clear.

But Xijin wasn’t fazed. She chuckled. “Just teasing!”

***********

Once Xijin was fully dressed, the household servants came in to pay their New Year respects to the master and mistress.

With her parents gone, the household now consisted only of the young couple and their child, Mang Er, so they didn’t need many servants. Sun Momo was a long-serving elder maid, while the two young maids, Suier and Qiuling, were thirteen or fourteen—just old enough to be useful. The wet nurse took care of Mang Er.

Besides these four, there were two male servants: Uncle Chen, the old gatekeeper, and Zhou Fu, a young attendant who assisted A Chou in managing the shop.

All six, men and women alike, dressed in fresh new clothes, knelt before Xijin and A Chou, then greeted the young master, Mang Er.

Following tradition, A Chou rewarded them with silver—small ingot-shaped pieces wrapped in red silk, meant to bring good fortune for the New Year.

At such times, Xijin always assumed the dignified air of the household’s mistress.

Her father had passed early, and after his death, her mother, overwhelmed by grief, grew weaker by the day. Knowing her time was near, Xijin’s mother forced herself to write down every piece of advice she could think of for her daughter on silk handkerchiefs. Before her death, she bound them into a silk book and left it to Xijin.

Xijin deeply trusted her mother, believing her words were always right. She treated the silk book as sacred, consulting it whenever she faced difficulties.

Her mother had taught her that after her parents were gone, she was the head of the household. She could no longer act like a carefree girl—especially during festivals, she had to carry herself with authority, ensuring the servants respected her.

Her mother had also said that if the servants were discontent or even harbored ill intentions, the household could face serious trouble.  

So now, Xijin sat upright, sipping her tea with perfect composure. Only after distributing all the red envelopes did she speak lightly, “Yesterday, with all the cleaning, replacing the Door Gods, and nailing peach charms, everyone worked hard. Today is New Year’s Day—once you finish the household chores by noon, you may take the rest of the day off and stroll the streets to enjoy the festivities.”  

Already delighted by the rewards, the servants were even more thrilled upon hearing this.  

Over the past two days, they had seen the colorful tents set up along the streets, with vendors selling seasonal trinkets, and they had been eagerly looking forward to it.  

Now, they served with noticeably more enthusiasm than usual, and even Sun Momo’s nagging had lessened considerably.  

Meanwhile, Xijin and her family prepared to leave for the ancestral hall.  

Before setting off, Xijin suddenly remembered something and glanced at A Chou, instructing, “When we get there, you better sweeten your words.”  

A Chou looked up. “Hmm?”  

Xijin said, “Second Aunt said you’re like a living clam—don’t even think about opening your mouth!”  

A Chou was puzzled. “What do I have to say to her?”  

Xijin huffed, “I don’t care. Just make sure you greet her properly. Even if there’s nothing to talk about, at least say a few more words. Otherwise, when we all gather for drinks later, if others bring it up, I’ll be embarrassed. It’ll reflect badly on me!”  

A Chou frowned, seeming reluctant.  

Xijin nearly stomped her foot. “What’s the matter with you? You’re a grown man—do I really have to teach you how to talk?”  

A Chou replied, “Then teach me.”  

Xijin: “…”  

—Well, that was one solution.  

After a moment’s thought, she said, “Just say: ‘Second Aunt, you look in excellent spirits. Business must be thriving this year, and the family must be harmonious. Fourth Brother just took the prefectural examination—results will be out after the New Year. Surely he’ll pass with honors, and you’ll soon be a Madam. Congratulations in advance!'”  

But A Chou had doubts. “With Fourth Brother’s meager knowledge, can he really pass?”  

Xijin’s delicate brows instantly knotted as she stared at him in disbelief. “My Fourth Brother has studied diligently for ten years! If he doesn’t pass, do you think you will?”  

A Chou said nothing more and nodded. “Fine, I’ll remember.”  

Xijin finally relaxed. “Just memorize it, word for word. Don’t embarrass me later.”  

***********  

The Ning family was a prominent household in Ru City.  

And this wasn’t an exaggeration—the Nings were truly wealthy.  

There was a joke among the locals: A guest once visited the Ning residence, and after leaving one wing, they walked along the outer wall for two miles—only to look up and realize they were still circling the Ning family’s compound.  

Of course, the tale was exaggerated, but the Ning estate was indeed vast. Generations had lived together as a clan, earning them the nickname “Half of Ru City,” meaning the Nings occupied half the town.  

Though the family was large, they didn’t mingle much. Each branch lived in their own separate mansions, leading mostly independent lives. The only shared spaces were the gatehouse, passageways, and the ancestral hall for ceremonies.  

Xijin had A Chou carry Mang Er as they prepared to leave. Seeing this, Sun Momo instinctively moved to follow.

Xijin instructed, “Momo, the shop managers and Grave Relatives will be coming to pay New Year’s respects later. With you not managing the household, those two maids Qiuling and Suier would surely slack off. So you should stay. I’ll take Suier with me while you prepare the guest pastries with Qiuling. This way we won’t be caught unprepared and become laughingstocks.”

She smiled at Sun Momo: “Only you can handle these matters to my satisfaction. Otherwise, people might say our household lacks propriety.”

Sun Momo agreed: “Those lazy girls would surely find ways to shirk duties without me watching. I’d better stay!”

Thus Xijin took Suier along. As they walked down the path, Xijin said: “Suier, today’s ancestral temple worship is important. I’m bringing you because I value your cleverness and obedience. You must do me proud.”

Flattered, Suier hurriedly replied: “First Aunt, I understand completely.”

Xijin continued: “Sun Momo means well, but she’s getting old—always nagging about trivial matters. In a couple years she’ll retire. Then I’ll buy two new maids. As for you and Qiuling, I’ll surely promote one to manage affairs.”

Suier’s eyes brightened as she nodded eagerly: “First Aunt, I know! I’ll work diligently!”

Xijin nodded, then told A Chou: “A Chou, keep an eye out too. If you see any handsome young pages who’d suit Suier, buy them. Then you’ll gain another attendant while settling Suier’s marriage prospects.”

Suier blushed, biting her lip and lowering her head.

A Chou glanced at Xijin: “Alright.”

Passing a crescent moon gate leading to the main house, they saw freshly pasted red couplets, a fierce Zhong Kui ghost-catcher painting, and scattered firecracker remnants from morning celebrations.

Xijin told Suier: “Inform First Aunt we’ve gone ahead to the ancestral temple.”

Suier replied: “Yes,” before scurrying off, lifting her skirts.

Xijin then turned meaningfully to A Chou: “You understand my meaning?”

A Chou: “What should I understand?”

Xijin sighed: “Who do you think I’m arranging Sun Momo’s early retirement for?”

A Chou: “…For whom?”

Xijin: “For you, of course! She always criticizes and suppresses you. As my husband, I can’t tolerate this. I’m making arrangements to give you peace.”

A Chou gazed at her with unreadable dark eyes.

Xijin grew displeased. Here she was speaking kindly, yet he remained silent, staring as if seeing through her—such unlikable behavior from a Male Matrilineal Marriage husband!

She glared: “Speak up! Don’t play mute!”

Finally A Chou said: “You told Suier the same words you said to Qiuling yesterday.”

As her bedmate, he knew her patterns well.

Xijin admitted freely: “Indeed. I’ll promote one of them—whichever performs better!”

How could we decide now? They all need to put in more effort and be diligent before I can make a decision.  

Xijin had carefully studied the Silk Book to grasp this essence of household management—the art of handling people.  

A Chou held Mang Er and leaned slightly closer.  

The alley was so narrow that, caught off guard, their noses almost touched.  

Just as she was startled, the man’s deep voice fell beside her ear: “Xijin, are you trying to use the same tactics you employ on your maids on me? Should I be grateful and thank the lady for her favor?”  

Xijin abruptly took a step back.  

In the ancient blue-bricked alley, a chilly wind blew past, bringing with it a *bang* and the distinct scent of sulfur from the New Year festivities.  

A cold shiver ran through Xijin’s heart.  

She forced out an excuse: “It’s not the same at all! I have two maids—I urge them to be diligent because they’re competing for position. But I only have one husband—you don’t need to compete with anyone.”  

A Chou raised a brow. “Oh? You’d like two husbands then? You’d like me to compete? With whom?”