Chapter 1: A Visit (Part 1)

Translator: Tygris
English proofreader: 247Reader

Wang mama ^[1]妈妈 (mā mā) now simply means “mother” in the modern, familial sense, but that was not always the case in Chinese history. In many novels and dramas, mama was used to refer to older/more experienced women with authority and power within the household. This term of respect is generally used for people working as senior female servants in noble/powerful households, such as managers, wet nurses, matrons, etc. In some novels, madams in brothels are also referred to as mama. walked along the lengthy corridors of Baifangyuan ^[2]百芳园 (bǎi fāng yuán): Garden of Hundred Fragrances/Blossoms with a solemn expression.

The sunlight shone brightly on the walls of the Yang Mansion, ^[3]The word here used to refer to their residence is  府 (fǔ), which has to do with the government or authority. Here, it is used to refer to official residences, aka mansions, which typically (or at least as usually referenced in these ancient Chinese novels) are large compounds/estates big enough for multiple generations and possibly multiple branches of the family to live in at the same time. bringing a bit of warmth to the already darkening, worn red paint. The maids leaned against the walls in groups of two or three, cracking melon seeds and chatting casually. Upon seeing Wang mama, the quick-witted ones came forward to greet her, while the timid ones moved further into the corner, hoping that Wang mama would fail to see them.

The Yang family had been established for centuries, and there were certain rules for conduct. It was a rare sight to see maidservants, with no errands to do, having fun in Baifangyuan. Though Wang mama was strict, she never scolded them.

She passed by Huanshawu, ^[4]浣纱坞 (huàn shā wù): Silk-washing bank. This could be a reference Xi Shi, one of the Four Great Beauties of Ancient China, who often washed silk gauze in the Huan Sha river. looped around Zhuyingtai, ^[5]朱赢台 (zhū yíng tái): Red/Vermillion Victory/Winning Platform. and passed through Changqinglou. ^[6]长青楼 (cháng qīng lóu): Evergreen Tower. A high wall appeared before her. Two or three little maids had their backs to her, leaning against the wall of the flower garden at the corner. They were taking turns, one after another, discussing matters in the mansion, and failed to hear Wang mama’s footsteps.

These maids worked in the small warehouse. They were all newly assigned to this role and had not yet been deemed trustworthy.

The Yang clan was a wealthy family in Jiangnan. Even these little, low-status maids were dressed decently in uniform light blue cotton jackets. Though these seemed simple and plain, the cotton padding inside each jacket was thick and solid, keeping the wearer warm even during the winter.

“This time, the birthday celebration of Eldest yiniang ^[7]姨娘 (yí niáng) is a term used to refer to the concubines of one’s father. They are of lower status than the official wife but still part of the family structure. Their social status is somewhere between a servant and a master. In this translation, we will use yiniang when it is used as a title and ‘concubine’ when referring to concubines in general. is much more dignified than that of Seventh yiniang. More than ten bundles of the rarely used gold and silver threads ^[8]As in threads that are literally made of gold and of silver. were appropriated at once. And who knows if the embroidery room can finish on time? It is just that now no one knows when our winter clothes will be handed out.” It was unclear whose voice contained such envy.

“Short-sighted!” There came a laugh in an equally unfamiliar voice. “That person is a yiniang promoted from Eldest Madam’s side… Naturally, she would be more respectable. You are also one who has not seen the world. A few years ago, the Fourth yiniang celebrated her thirtieth birthday. That was very dignified. Tsk tsk, all kinds of kesi-style ^[9]See: Kesi (tapestry) – Wikipedia brocade with eight treasures ^[10]See: Ashtamangala – Wikipedia patterns, gold-sprinked leno ^[11]See: Silk Classification Series Three Gauze & Leno Fabrics – Wholesale Silk Supplier Suzhou Taihu Snow Silk silk, etc. flowed out of the small warehouse like water. Those who did not know might even think it was Madam celebrating her birthday!”

Wang mama’s expression darkened, and she shouted coldly towards the wall.

“Unruly! Are matters of the Madam and the concubines fit for discussion for the likes of you?” She stood still at the edge of the corridor, furrowing her brows and glaring at the little maids ferociously, scaring the group of girls into a tizzy. 

They scrambled to squeeze through the red-painted wooden door by the wall, not daring to make a single peep. They watched through the door gap as Wang mama passed by the gate of the small courtyard, before discussing with one another. 

“Why is Wang mama heading towards the southern side-courtyard?”

“Likely to visit the sick Ninth yiniang. I hear from others that Ninth yiniang’s condition has been getting worse these past two days.”

“She went to visit the sickroom? Is she not afraid that the more she visits, the sicker Ninth yiniang will become?” An unidentifiable voice spoke with a pout.

At these words, a few maids began to laugh and said, “Do you no longer want to live? She is a favored person by Eldest Madam’s side. How can we discuss her situation?”

Wang mama, the favored person by Eldest Madam’s side, had indeed gone to the southern side-courtyard to visit the sickroom. Though the southern side-courtyard was called a side-courtyard, in reality, it was just a room separated out from the large courtyard where miscellaneous servants resided. It could be considered a hundred and eight thousand li  ^[12]十万八千里 (shí wàn bā qiān lǐ) is a hyperbole emphasizing that something is extremely far away or that there is an extremely large gap. ^[13]里 (lǐ) is a traditional Chinese unit of distance approximately equivalent to 500 meters. away from the main courtyard. There was a door at the farthest corner of Baifangyuan. After opening the doors, one still needed to pass through several narrow alleyways before reaching the southern side-courtyard. Only one wall away was a noisy and bustling courtyard filled with miscellaneous servants.

During these past few years, everyone had grown to understand that the one living in the southern side-courtyard was the least capable and least favored Ninth yiniang.

A few years ago, when the Third yiniang was still alive, she was the one who had lived in the southern side-courtyard. Once the Third yiniang passed away, Ninth yiniang moved in. These two yiniangs were indeed neither favored nor respected. The southern side-courtyard was somewhat dilapidated. In the corner of the courtyard, long grasses came out from between the blue-green bricks. Even the sparse bamboo in the courtyard was half-yellow, half-green and not pleasing to the eye. Standing at the front entrance of the courtyard, Wang mama looked from right to left. Giving a rare sigh, she then entered the innermost part of the courtyard, where three blue brick rooms sat in a row.

As soon as Wang mama lifted the curtain, a strong medicinal scent entered her nose.

“This servant has come to pay respects to Ninth yiniang.” As she spoke, she walked towards Ninth yiniang’s bedroom. Only when she entered the bedroom did two maidservants come out to greet her. The two maids were still wearing the autumn clothes handed out last year. After a year, the blue-green color of the cloth had already begun to fade, seeming particularly shabby. The neckline of the younger maid bore a large patch, which gave off a rustic, village vibe. Wang mama condescendingly curled her lips before swapping her expression for a smile. Walking towards the jujube wood bed, she softly repeated her words, “This servant has come to pay respects to Ninth yiniang.”

She said she had come to pay her respects, but Wang mama only knelt down halfway before straightening up and looking down upon the woman on the bed. Ninth yiniang did not seem to be offended. She coughed a few times, struggled to sit up partway, and nodded to Wang mama.

“Wang mama is here on behalf of—” She began coughing again. The two maids hurried forward to pat Ninth yiniang’s back and to hold a spittoon for her. Wang mama moved backwards a few steps, as though she were afraid that Ninth yiniang would cough in her face. Wang mama softened her tone.

“This servant is indeed here to visit Ninth yiniang on behalf of Madam.”

Wang mama saw that there were only three people in the room, and looked around. Within the room, there were only two or three wooden cabinets, and the locks on them were rusted. The windows and doors were tightly closed. Below the lattice window ^[14]See: What are lattice windows? TL Note: Because I for one did not know there was actually a term for this. was a small stove. And other than those, there were only one or two small stools.

Wang mama frowned.

“Why do you not boil medicine in the corridor?” Her voice was neither high nor loud, but it contained a cold and oppressive, blade-like power. The two maids looked at each other and were just about to kneel down and admit their wrongdoings when Ninth yiniang, half-coughing and half-panting, spoke.

“Wang mama, do not blame them.” She coughed twice. “It is also because there is not enough manpower.”

Wang mama’s expression grew somewhat ugly. Sternly, she said, “The rules cannot be abolished.”

The two maidservants stood there at a loss, not knowing whether to admit their wrongs or to pretend nothing had happened.

Why bother with such stupid little maids? Wang mama suddenly calmed down. She asked, “Why did this servant not see Seventh niangzi?” ^[15]Common meanings for 娘子 (niáng zǐ) include being a term for one’s wife or a general term for women. Before the Song Dynasty, niangzi generally referred specifically to unmarried girls, which aligns with the use case in this novel.

Before Ninth yiniang could answer, one of the little maids rushed to respond. “Replying to Wang mama, Seventh niangzi is still taking her midday nap. This servant will immediately go wake Seventh niangzi up.”

Neither Wang mama nor Ninth yiniang spoke. Both of them silently watched as this maidservant nimbly ran out of the dark and gloomy room. Ninth yiniang remained silent for a long while before remembering. “Wang mama, have a seat.”

The remaining maidservant moved forward and brought a camphorwood chair for Wang mama. The cloth coverings of the chair had already been stained yellow. Wang mama gave a dry cough and sat down upon the camphorwood chair in a dignified manner. 

Ninth yiniang gave another order. “Serve tea for Wang mama.”

The remaining maidservant thus also disappeared. Wang mama said with a trace of dissatisfaction, “The matrons and maids within this courtyard should be properly disciplined. In broad daylight, they have all disappeared to who knows where.”

“Sigh, they are all busy too. It is almost the end of the year. Which family does not have a pile of matters to attend to?” Ninth yiniang seemed to take things very lightly. She was an unpretentious woman, about twenty-eight or twenty-nine years of age. But her features were already haggard, and she was so thin it seemed as if her flesh had all dried up. Near her wrist, a gold bracelet dangled pitifully, looking as if it were about to fall off at any moment.

Wang mama gave a reserved smile, and took the tea brought over by the little girl, but did not drink. She only held the teacup in the palm of her hands to warm them. Ninth yiniang coughed a few more times, then spit out a mouthful of phlegm, before leaning against her pillow and looking at Wang mama expectantly.

After a while, Wang mama asked, “Seventh niangzi is almost six, right?” 

Ninth yiniang smiled. “En, the same age as Ninth ge’er.” ^[16]哥儿 (gē ér) is an ancient term used to refer to sons of officials.

Now that Ninth ge’er had been mentioned, Wang mama’s face softened by three points, and she grew more talkative as well. “Ninth ge’er is very naughty. Yesterday, he came up with some other new idea, and caused Madam to lecture him for a long while, but she could not bear to spank him. One does not know if Seventh niangzi has the same temperament. People all say that twins—” She stopped speaking halfway into the sentence.

Ninth yiniang revealed a few points of bitterness and continued from Wang mama’s words. “Seventh niangzi is very quiet and does not speak much day to day. She only spends time embroidering.”

“Ninth yiniang’s needlework skills can be considered to have found a successor.” Wang mama grasped this topic and kept speaking on it. “It is just that Seventh niangzi is only six years old—she can already embroider flowers?”

“She has been learning on and off for about half a year. It can only be said that she is  barely able to avoid embroidering a winter jasmine flower ^[17]See: Jasminum nudiflorum – Wikipedia into a Chinese rose.” ^[18]See: Rosa chinensis – Wikipedia A hint of pride flashed through Ninth yiniang’s eyes, but her tone remained light and unconcerned. “Last night, she served me till halfway through the night. Today, she has finally been chased away to get a bit of sleep, making her seem somewhat lazy. Wang mama, she has made a fool of herself.”

After all, she was still a yiniang. No matter how far she had fallen, her words and deeds could not be considered unsophisticated. Wang mama became three points more respectful towards her. “How could that be? Seventh niangzi’s filial piety is commendable.”

Translator’s Corner

Hello Hello– Tygris here again! I’ve been reading through this novel over the past two weeks and am almost done! I think this is a very nice read and am excited to share this with all of you! Please be aware that my updates are usually slow because I can only dedicate translation time on weekends, but I will try to keep them regular. The current goal is to have one part up every other Saturday.

In celebration of this new project, we are posting two parts today!

Enjoy <3

P.S. Please leave us your comments/feedback/questions/etc. We love reading those!!

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