Chapter 6: You’ll Just Have to Endure It!  

In the afternoon, A Chou finished tallying the accounts. Just then, Manager Luo from the shopfront arrived. A Chou received him warmly, discussing last year’s business and sharing plans for the future.  

Manager Luo happened to mention an interesting opportunity. He had heard that the Wuzhou State-Owned Weaving Institute currently had a batch of goods originally intended as tribute to be shipped to Yanjing City. However, due to an unusually high output from the Brocade Institute last year, the batch had gone unused.  

“Originally, they planned to sell it overseas before the New Year to make a hefty profit. But when it reached the Zhejiang Shipping Office, they couldn’t obtain the export permit. The goods were already loaded onto the ship, yet the vessel was barred from setting sail—what a bitter disappointment! After the New Year, they lost interest in overseas sales and decided to sell the batch piecemeal at a discount. Rumor has it they’re only charging eighty percent of the market price!”  

Xijin, who had been in the inner chamber, overheard this and couldn’t help but feel tempted.  

State-owned silk workshops nowadays operated on a large scale. The capital alone had several under the Imperial Household Department, and they also established state-run weaving institutions in major silk-producing regions. Wuzhou was a renowned silk hub, celebrated as “the land that clothes the world.” The saying, “Silkworm cocoons pile high as mountains, and the hum of spinning wheels echoes from roof to roof,” referred precisely to Wuzhou.  

These state-run weaving institutes, supervised by officials, spared no expense in materials and craftsmanship. The quality of their fabrics far surpassed that of ordinary workshops!  

If she could stockpile such silk at a low price, and with the impending political upheaval in the court after the New Year, all the high-ranking officials and their wives would need to make public appearances. And for such occasions, new clothes would be in demand—prices would skyrocket, making it difficult for common folk to afford fine garments.  

She wasn’t interested in elaborate or trendy patterns. Instead, she could focus on plain, elegant silks for everyday wear by ordinary people—still a lucrative opportunity.  

Her mind made up, she listened intently.  

A Chou naturally pressed for details, but Manager Luo admitted he didn’t know the specifics. Seeing A Chou’s interest, he promised to inquire further.  

After Manager Luo left, Xijin tapped her slender fingers, calculating: “Based on Wuzhou’s prices in previous years, a bolt of top-grade silk would cost three hundred coins, and a bolt of brocade three hundred and twenty. The state-run weaving institute’s goods might be pricier, but the superior craftsmanship and materials make it worth it. And now with the discount, it’s an even better deal!”  

A Chou nodded. “I’ll make some inquiries these next few days. Or perhaps I should make a trip to Wuzhou as soon as possible?”  

Xijin replied, “It’s the New Year—no need to rush. Gather information first, then set out on the fourth day. That way, you can reach the Zhejiang Shipping Office by the fifth or sixth to investigate further.”  

A Chou agreed. “Understood.”  

Xijin added, “Bring plenty of silver for necessary… arrangements.”  

A Chou said, “I know what to do.”  

**********  

After the New Year, visits among relatives were inevitable. Xijin was more diligent than ever, carrying Mang Er around and eavesdropping on every conversation, gathering news wherever she could.  

The Ning family were merchants, as were most of their relatives, and their businesses often overlapped. During the New Year, information traveled fast. Soon, Xijin learned that the Wuzhou State-Owned Weaving Institute’s batch of goods wasn’t just on her radar—several other families had caught wind of it and were also eyeing the opportunity.

Actually, this might be for the best. If I were to struggle on my own, I might end up suffering losses. With all the families going together to share the benefits, even if the gains aren’t as substantial, at least we’re following the crowd and won’t suffer too much. Relatives can support each other, and everyone can make money together.

Early on the fourth day of the lunar month, A Chou reserved a calf cart from the carriage service. He specifically paid extra to rent a spacious, oiled-wall carriage, which would look impressive when visiting relatives.

Xijin was delighted when she saw the carriage. Last year, when they visited her maternal family, they couldn’t rent a good carriage, which had felt rather shabby. She cared about appearances, and the memory still irked her. This year, A Chou had handled things properly, and they could ride in this spacious, fine carriage.

Truth be told, the Ning family already owned several calf carts and kept oxen and donkeys. But those were communal family property, allocated by the household head, and Xijin’s branch couldn’t use them. Whenever Xijin went out, she had to rent a carriage herself.

Because of the carriage, Xijin’s mood noticeably improved. Holding Mang Er, she looked out the window, her face radiant with the spring breeze.

Seeing this, A Chou said, “Once we’ve earned enough money in the future, we might as well buy our own oiled-wall carriage and raise an ox.”

Xijin replied, “Why bother with such extravagance?”

After all, they didn’t go out much, so owning a carriage wasn’t necessary. Raising an ox would just be an unnecessary expense.

A Chou said, “If we really earn enough, raising one wouldn’t be a problem. Even if we don’t use it ourselves, we could entrust it to the rental service and let them lease it out. We could earn some silver that way. I’ve calculated—it would probably cover the cost of raising the ox.”

Xijin became interested. “That sounds good! Then let’s buy a few more oxen, raise them, and rent them out for profit!”

A Chou sighed helplessly at her. “If that’s the case, we might as well buy a manor in the suburbs and become ox farmers.”

Xijin naturally had no interest in becoming an ox farmer. Raising oxen would surely be hard, tiring work, and they’d reek of the animals, making it impossible to mingle with others.

She couldn’t possibly do that.  

Neither could she, nor could A Chou.  

She immediately shook her head. “Forget it. What if you end up smelling bad from raising oxen? If there’s even a hint of stench, you’re not allowed in my bed!”

A Chou knew her temperament well—she’d probably pinch her nose in disgust.  

He replied, “I understand.”  

But Xijin quickly moved on to another idea. “If we had the money, we should buy that house on East Street.”  

A Chou glanced at her. “You’re still thinking about that?”  

They had seen it once before, and she had liked it, but it was too expensive to consider seriously.  

Xijin shot him a displeased look. “Of course! Such a fine house—who wouldn’t think about it?”  

A Chou pondered for a moment. “Let’s work hard this year and earn more. If we make enough, we’ll buy that house.”  

Hearing this, Xijin felt a sweet happiness.  

People really do need to be pampered. Even if it was just talk, with no guarantee of success, the fact that he had such plans made her very happy.  

At least he was starting to think about their family’s future.  

Holding Mang Er, she smiled and said, “Then hurry up and earn money for me!”  

************  

Xijin’s maternal family was the Meng family, who had been in the porcelain business for generations. Her uncle owned a kiln, producing ceramics that were shipped to Zhejiang and then transported overseas by seafaring vessels.

The Meng family had some wealth and property. Xijin, being just a daughter, naturally relied on her maternal relatives to some extent in her heart. It was through the prestige of her maternal family that she managed to avoid being looked down upon in the Ning family.

Therefore, whenever she visited her maternal relatives, she always brought generous gifts, showing great respect to her uncle and even more warmth and care to her maternal grandmother.

While chatting with her uncle, A Chou mentioned the recent batch of goods from the Wuzhou Official Weaving Institute. Her uncle nodded approvingly, stroking his beard and saying, “You’re young, and youth brings good fortune. You should work hard to build up the family’s wealth. If you need any help, just say the word. With your parents gone, who else will look out for you if not me?”

Hearing this, Xijin felt deeply moved. Truly, maternal relatives were different—her own uncle was so considerate.

At that moment, her uncle’s sons and daughters-in-law also arrived. A Chou stayed to chat with her uncle and cousins, while Xijin carried Mang Er to the inner quarters to see her grandmother.

Several cousins and sisters-in-law were gathered around her grandmother, creating a lively scene. They welcomed Xijin warmly and coaxed Mang Er to speak.

Her grandmother, who cherished the memory of her late daughter, was especially affectionate toward Xijin. She quickly ordered the servants to bring red date and lotus seed sweet soup, along with tea eggs, lard rose rice cakes, snowflake crisps, and spiced cakes.

Xijin noticed a plate of “Bai Shi Ji” on the table—a common New Year’s treat for guests, consisting of persimmons, tangerines, and cypress branches arranged together. The name was a homophone for “hundred auspicious things.”

Though it was a simple dish, the tangerines stood out with their vibrant red hue and glossy sheen—clearly not the ordinary kind Xijin usually disliked.

One of her cousins noticed her gaze and said with a smile, “Xijin, you’ve never liked tangerines, but try this one—it’s sweet.” She peeled one and handed it to Xijin.

The others chimed in, laughing, “Yes, give it a try!”

Xijin took a bite and was surprised by its sweetness and juiciness—almost melting in her mouth with no fibrous texture.

Curious, she asked, “What kind of tangerine is this?”

Her grandmother replied kindly, “These are Cream Mandarins. Your uncle had them specially brought in—a whole cartload—and shared them with friends and relatives. Just yesterday, he mentioned how you don’t usually like tangerines but insisted you try these to see if they’re any good.”

Xijin smiled. “They really are sweet.”

Her grandmother added, “Take some home with you today to enjoy later.”

Xijin declined, “No need, really.”

Her tone was already a bit stiff. Earlier, she had bought New Year’s goods and even sent some to her grandmother and uncle as a gesture of filial respect. Yet, when her uncle spoke of sharing with “friends and relatives,” her family was clearly not included.

She could understand why. As a woman in a Male Matrilineal Marriage, she held little status. Both she and A Chou were young and had no say in the Ning family, so her uncle naturally didn’t rely on them. Rare delicacies like these would be reserved for more influential connections.

Still, being overlooked by her relatives—and her grandmother seemingly oblivious to the slight—left her feeling uneasy.

Just then, her grandmother peeled a tea egg herself and offered it to Mang Er. “Here, Mang Er, have a tea egg. May you hold a big gold ingot in the coming year!”

The round tea eggs symbolized gold ingots during the New Year, bringing good fortune.

Mang Er was still young and naturally didn’t know how to eat. He hugged the tea egg, playing with it, blinking his innocent eyes as if it were a treasure, which amused everyone.  

At this moment, cousin-in-law Nian Rui saw this and smiled, saying, “This Mang Er looks like a blessed one.”  

Grandmother, full of affection, replied, “Indeed! With such a full and prominent forehead, people say children like this are destined for great fortune!”  

Everyone chimed in with praise. Amid the laughter, Nian Rui suddenly remarked, “I remember Grandmother once mentioned that our Xijin was also destined for great fortune. When Aunt was pregnant with her, she dreamed of a seven-colored brocade phoenix!”  

Grandmother quickly nodded. “Yes, yes! The dream was so vivid. After waking, she even counted on her fingers the exact colors and described how the seven-colored brocade phoenix circled the courtyard walls with its beautiful tail and wings before finally descending. She said its feathers shimmered with rainbow hues, right before her eyes!”  

As Grandmother recounted this, she couldn’t help but sigh, missing her daughter who had passed away too soon.  

But Xijin didn’t like hearing such things.  

Her mother had indeed dreamed of the seven-colored brocade phoenix, which was why she named her Xijin—”Xi” from the Ning family’s generational character, and “Jin” for the brocade phoenix.  

Because of this dream, her parents naturally held high hopes for her, saying she would enjoy great fortune. From childhood, she had been praised for her jade-like purity and radiant beauty—a rare sight even in all of Ru City. People often said she was destined to marry into nobility.  

Later, when she was betrothed to Huo Erlang, many whispered that once he achieved scholarly honors, she would surely receive an imperial title.  

But who could have guessed—  

Xijin sighed, thinking it best not to dwell on it.  

Now, whenever someone mentioned the seven-colored brocade phoenix, it felt like a joke to her.  

She understood well enough that Nian Rui brought it up to mock her.  

Nian Rui wasn’t pleased with everyone praising Mang Er’s cleverness, feeling her own child was being overlooked. Instead of considering that people were just being polite to an outsider, she took it as neglect and deliberately brought up the old story.  

Her implication was clear: *What’s the use of a full forehead? Your mother dreamed of a seven-colored brocade phoenix, yet look at you now.*  

Xijin’s expression turned indifferent. By nature, she would have retaliated.  

But she held back out of respect for Grandmother and the family ties.  

So she smiled and said, “If Sister-in-law hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten all about it. It was just for good luck back then—who would keep bringing it up?”  

Her words, ostensibly about herself, were clearly aimed at Nian Rui.  

Those sharp-eared among the cousins caught the underlying meaning and pursed their lips in silence.  

Everyone knew Xijin’s temperament—she had been spirited since childhood, and her sharp tongue could leave anyone speechless with shame.  

*Really, Sister-in-law, why bring this up? Isn’t she just asking for trouble?*  

Then Xijin added, “Grandmother, my mother used to say you were the wisest in understanding fate. If you say dreaming of a seven-colored brocade phoenix brings great fortune, then it must be true. I’m still young—perhaps my fortune lies ahead. Who knows? Maybe tomorrow Mang Er will earn scholarly honors, and I’ll receive an imperial title, draped in a Rosy Cape!”  

Nian Rui heard this and knew it was directed at her. Though indignant, she found herself momentarily unable to retort.

Xijin had repeated her mother’s words, which were based on the old grandmother’s instructions. To refute her would be to refute the old grandmother herself, so she had no choice but to endure it, though she was still seething inside.  

The old grandmother remained cheerful, smiling as she said, “Don’t always hold the child. Look, our Xiao Yu’er is staring eagerly at Mang Er—he wants to play with him.”  

Nian Rui grew even more displeased, but since the old grandmother had spoken, she reluctantly set Xiao Yu’er down to play with Mang Er.  

Xiao Yu’er, now three years old, was curious about Mang Er and leaned in to pinch his cheeks.  

Seeing this, Xijin couldn’t bear it. Though she didn’t outright refuse, she quickly said to Mang Er, “Mang Er, go play on your own.”  

Her cousin-in-law Nian Rui took the opportunity to stuff a piece of sticky malt candy into Mang Er’s hand. “Here, Mang Er, take this and eat it.”  

Xijin frowned at the sight.  

That malt candy was sticky and overly sweet, something common folk gave their children as a New Year’s treat. But the Ning family was well-off and didn’t think much of such things. Besides, the child was still young, and she worried the sticky sweetness would rot his teeth—they usually didn’t let him eat it.  

Yet this cousin-in-law acted as if it were some delicacy, deliberately giving it to Mang Er as if he were some servant’s child.  

Xijin was deeply annoyed, but since she had already upset Nian Rui earlier, she couldn’t be bothered to say anything over a piece of candy. She simply gave the wet nurse a look, signaling not to let the child eat it.  

Meanwhile, Mang Er toddled unsteadily over to play with Xiao Yu’er. The wet nurse, seeing this, hurried after him.  

Only then did Xijin relax slightly and sit on the couch to chat with her grandmother and the other cousins and sisters-in-law. The women’s conversation mostly revolved around household matters—children, dresses and jewelry, which young man was doing well, which family’s daughter had secured a good marriage.  

As they talked, suddenly, Xiao Yu’er burst into loud wails.  

Xijin turned to look and saw Xiao Yu’er crying, pointing accusingly at Mang Er. “He stole my jade! He stole my jade!”  

Nian Rui immediately stood and rushed over. Sure enough, Mang Er was tugging at a pendant hanging from Xiao Yu’er’s neck, refusing to let go.  

Her heart aching for her child, she yanked Mang Er away. “Let go!”  

With that pull, Mang Er—barely two years old and still unsteady on his feet—stumbled and fell flat on the ground. He immediately burst into loud, choking sobs.  

By then, Xijin had rushed over and scooped Mang Er into her arms. Seeing his mother, the little boy buried his face in her chest, wailing as if his heart would break.  

Xijin’s heart ached terribly as she held him, soothing him gently.  

The others quickly gathered around, trying to calm the situation, saying it was normal for children to squabble and offering sweets to distract them.  

The wet nurse hurried over, her face pale. “The young master asked for sugar water—I was just fetching some when this happened!”  

The old grandmother frowned sternly. “Is this how you care for a child?”  

The wet nurse bowed her head, repeatedly apologizing.  

Xiao Yu’er, now four and quite articulate, stopped sniffling long enough to point at Mang Er again. “He stole my jade! Stole my jade!”  

Even as he spoke, his voice trembled with lingering grievance.

Nian Rui glanced at Mang Er and said, “This child Mang Er, really, has he never seen such a thing before? He wouldn’t let go of Xiao Yu’er’s jade pendant. What if he pulled too hard and hurt the child?”

Xijin had witnessed the scene earlier and knew she was at fault. She had no choice but to apologize, coaxing Xiao Yu’er with a smile, saying Mang Er was too young to understand.

As she spoke, Mang Er in her arms grew even more aggrieved, sobbing uncontrollably: “Daddy’s jade pendant, Daddy’s jade pendant!”

Nian Rui’s heart ached for her son, and her expression darkened. Hearing this, she sneered, “So your daddy even has a jade pendant, huh…”

The onlookers felt somewhat awkward.

Xijin’s Male Matrilineal Marriage husband was poor, originally just a small errand boy in the Ning family’s shop—everyone knew that.

A child’s innocent remark, but Nian Rui’s words were like a slap to Xijin’s face.

The grandmother intervened, “Children will always squabble. You siblings all fought growing up too. Just soothe them a little.”

She then brought out small, intricately carved silver ingots prepared in advance, each engraved with auspicious phrases like “top scholar,” and gave two to each child. The mothers then coaxed their own, and the dispute finally settled.

Just then, Xijin’s aunt arrived, serving honey date cakes. She smiled and said, “This year, we used pine nuts from Youzhou for these cakes—truly delicious!”

Making honey date cakes was laborious: glutinous rice flour ground with water, mixed with rock sugar, lard, finely chopped walnuts, and pine nuts, then stamped with auspicious patterns before steaming.

In Ru City’s customs, these were essential for New Year hospitality, a mark of prestige when hosting guests after the festivities.

As Xijin’s aunt chatted, maids served the cakes to each lady. Xijin only took a small bite; no matter how exquisite, she had little appetite.

Nian Rui noticed and laughed, “Ah, Xijin, raised in a grand family, knows better. Yesterday, our Grave Relatives visited, and their daughter-in-law ate a whole cake in one go! I asked—she came from a poor family, no sense of decorum.”

At this, the ladies around them covered their mouths and giggled.

In their circles, there were unspoken rules: when visiting during New Year, one only ate half a cake. Finishing a whole one was gauche.

Amid the laughter, Xijin couldn’t take another bite.

Leaving her grandmother’s home, Xijin sat expressionless in the carriage.

A Chou held Mang Er, who had fallen asleep, though his eyes were slightly swollen.

The fair-skinned child reddened easily from the slightest bump. Now, not just his eyelids but the corners of his eyes were flushed, a pitiful sight.

A Chou frowned. “Why did he cry so hard?”

Xijin gazed at the bustling street—colorful canopies, dazzling jewelry, vendors hawking snacks, the crowd lively and noisy.

Her voice was flat. “Does it pain you?”

A Chou studied her profile. Usually vibrant and carefree, she now seemed desolate and silent, unlike herself.

At that moment, he asked, “What exactly happened? Who bullied Mang Er to make you so upset?”

Xijin was already fuming, and hearing this only stoked her anger further: “No one bullied her! She cried, so what? Children cry all the time!”  

He feels sorry for her, does he?  

Well, let him suffer then!