Chapter 2: Main Courtyard (Part 2)

Translator: Tygris
English proofreader: 247Reader

Ninth ge’er slipped off the bed and ran to Seventh niangzi in his middle clothes. ^[1]中衣 (zhōng yī) is a traditional inner garment worn between undergarments and outerwear. This is a simple, basic piece of clothing that is an essential part of Hanfu. “You are Seventh Younger Sister?”

“Ninth Younger Brother, I am your Seventh Elder Sister.” Seventh niangzi could not help but laugh.

The rest of the people all began to laugh. Lichun laughed the loudest. And there was also the maid standing next to Fifth niangzi’s seat: she also laughed in a very unrestrained manner.

Fifth niangzi also could not keep herself from laughing secretly. Ninth ge’er’s small face had blushed completely red. He walked back towards Eldest Madam and buried his head into her embrace, refusing to come back out.

Eldest Madam softly gazed at Seventh niangzi, patting Ninth ge’er’s back, and asked, “Is Seventh niangzi literate?”

Seventh niangzi’s expression dimmed, and she stood up to speak.

“Replying to Madam, Little Seven has not yet gone to school.”

“It was because I was busy and had forgotten this matter. A daughter of the Yang clan should know at least a few characters,” Eldest Madam said. “You appear to be clever, and you have already reached the age of enlightenment. In a few days, I will inform the teacher and tell Bailu to take you to school.”

A maidservant who was originally standing next to the bed hurriedly agreed. Seventh niangzi glanced at her and gave a slight smile. Bailu was wearing a jade-colored cloud-patterned silk jacket. From head to toe, her outfit was neither new nor old. Though these clothes did not look as respectable as Lichun’s, they were still of fine material.

Eldest Madam said nothing further. 

Seventh niangzi thus stood up and said, “Then, Little Seven will take her leave.”

Eldest Madam smiled and nodded. Second niangzi and Fifth niangzi turned their head to watch as Bailu moved forward to hold the hand of and lead Seventh niangzi out the door. Even Ninth ge’er lifted his head, pouting as he peeked at her departing figure.

Only after Seventh niangzi had left, and Second niangzi, Fifth niangzi, and Ninth ge’er had gone to play in the courtyard, did Eldest Madam’s face darken.

“Where is Wang mama?” she asked.

Wang mama quickly entered the room.

“You were told to go check on Ninth yiniang’s illness. How did you end up bringing Seventh niangzi back?” Eldest Madam slowly asked as she blew on her piping hot tea.

Wang mama’s heartstrings tightened, but quickly, they loosened.

“Replying to Madam,” she knelt down, crawling on her knees to approach Edlest Madam, and said in a whisper, “Fourth yiniang had gone to the southern side-courtyard yesterday. Indeed, she wanted to take Seventh niangzi in to be raised in her courtyard.”

Eldest Madam’s brows raised.

“That is strange….” she murmured, looking through the sparkling glass window towards the figure of Ninth ge’er in the courtyard. “Why did Fourth yiniang suddenly become so kind-hearted?”

Wang mama had been with Eldest Madam for a full twenty-plus years. She understood Eldest Madam’s temperament. She did not say much, only remained with her head lowered, waiting for Eldest Madam’s questions.

Indeed, Eldest Madam asked, “What benefits did Ninth yiniang give you?”

Wang mama showed the gold bracelet on her wrist to Eldest Madam.

With a single glance, Eldest Madam could tell that this gold bracelet was at least three or four taels. ^[2]See: Liang (mass) – Wikipedia and Liang (currency) – Wikipedia 

“This is the most valuable ^[3]压箱底 (yā xiāng dǐ) literally means ‘pressed at the bottom of the chest’ and refers to something highly valuable and to be used only in a desperate situation. Alternatively, it can just be something that is kept safe for a long time. piece of jewelry that Ninth yiniang had,” Wang mama said. “I still remember that year when she birthed Seventh niangzi and Ninth ge’er. Madam had taken this gold bracelet off her own wrist and rewarded her.”

Eldest Madam’s gaze grew distant. “In the blink of an eye, it has already been five or six years.”

Wang mama smiled and did not say anything.

Ninth yiniang had already given out her most valuable piece of jewelry. One could presume that she truly wishes for Seventh niangzi to be raised in Madam’s courtyard. The conditions that Fourth yiniang offered must have surely not moved her…. What conditions did Fourth yiniang offer, and why did she want to pull Seventh niangzi into her own courtyard?

Eldest Madam’s eyes chilled.

During dinner, Eldest Madam casually ^[4]漫不经心 (màn bù jīng xīn) describes someone acting in a casual/nonchalant manner. mentioned Seventh niangzi’s matter. “…It seems that Ninth yiniang has already become quite frail. I was thinking—Seventh niangzi is only six years old. If she were to live on her own at such a young age, with no one to teach her proper manners, ^[5]眉高眼低 (méi gāo yǎn dī) refers to someone’s EQ, aka the ability to read social cues and behave appropriately, and handle interpersonal dynamics with tact. she would surely be looked down upon by her husband’s household in the future.”

Master Yang thought for a moment before remembering that Seventh niangzi was Ninth ge’er’s twin elder sister.

“Do as you see fit,” he casually responded. “As a girl, it is enough for her just to know a few words and for her to be able to embroider a few flowers.”

“Still, she is Ninth ge’er’s twin elder sister.” The Eldest Madam spoke gently, “I was thinking that Second jie ^[6]姐 (jiě) at its most common form just means ‘elder sister’, but here it is used as an affectionate term by her mother to refer to her status as a daughter of the family. Notice that Ninth ge’er has the 儿 (ér) after the 哥 (gē). Similarly, 哥 (gē) also just most commonly means ‘elder brother’, but has been used so far as an affectionate term. The 儿 (ér) is there to increase the sense of intimacy and closeness. In comparison, niangzi is more formal than both of these terms and is much more likely to be used by people outside of the family as well. is about to be married. In addition, Fifth jie has a rough temperament. As for Seventh niangzi, I took a careful look at her today—she is a quiet one, just right for keeping Ninth ge’er company.”

“If you are willing to take her to be raised in your own courtyard, that would be for the best.” Master Yang’s gaze towards the Eldest Madam softened. “It is just that you have just sent off the Eldest jie, and, in the blink of an eye, need to send Second jie out the door. In another few years, Fifth jie will be of marriageable age too. And you would still have to look after Seventh niangzi. Truly, it would be somewhat tiring for you.”

Eldest Madam lowered her head with a somewhat shy smile. “This concubine ^[7]妾身 (qièshēn) is a humble way of referring to oneself. Specifically, it is used by people of a lower status. The official wife using this term is not saying that she is a concubine, but simply expressing her submissiveness and vulnerability towards the head of the household. is simply doing all she can for this household.”

The matter of Seventh niangzi being brought to the Eldest Madam’s quarters to be raised was thus settled.

That night, Eldest Madam had Bailu go tell Ninth yiniang to pack up Seventh niangzi’s clothes and miscellaneous belongings. The eastern room of the west side-house will be cleared out. ^[8]TL Note: so at this point in the novel, I am somewhat confident that the author is basing the housing layout on Beijing Siheyuans. You can read more about that here: Siheyuan – Wikipedia. There is also an excellent “General Layout of Siheyuan” diagram in this article. Note that wealthy or high-ranking families typically have multiple siheyuans in a single residence, which I think is what is happening here. And once the final month ^[9]腊月 (là yuè) refers to the twelfth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. began, Seventh niangzi would be moved to live in the main courtyard.

“Ninth yiniang is still sick in bed…” Wang mama was somewhat hesitant.

“If she is to be brought over, then do so now.” Eldest Madam said with a trace of displeasure. “After all, Ninth yiniang is simply a yiniang. As a person close to death, she carries misfortune ^[10]晦气 (huì qì) refers to bad luck, inauspicious energy, or misfortune and is associated with unlucky events, death, illness, etc. on her body. When Seventh niangzi enters the main courtyard, you go have her first take a bath to wash away the misfortune.”

Wang mama felt her heart somewhat sink. “Yes.”

Eldest Madam then switched to a smiling expression and called Ninth ge’er to her side and asked, “Your Seventh Elder Sister is about to come to live in the main courtyard. With her to accompany you in the future, are you happy?”

Ninth ge’er blinked and looked at Wang mama. Wang mama’s heart had already leapt into her throat.

“Whatever.” ^[11]爱来不来 (ài lái bù lái) is a wording pattern of 爱 X 不 X, where X is replaced with an action word. Often, this phrasing implies a tone of indifference, impatience, or even annoyance. Here the action word is 来 (lái), ‘come’, which means that he is saying that he does not care if Seventh niangzi comes to live in the main courtyard. Ninth ge’er said after thinking for a moment. He left these words and dashed off again.

Eldest Madam lightly laughed, “This Ninth ge’er, he really is…”

She did not finish her words. Wang mama let out a sigh of relief and smiled alongside her, “Ninth ge’er is indeed a bit too young.”

Precisely because he had been raised by Eldest Madam from a young age, Ninth ge’er was completely unfamiliar with his birth mother and twin elder sister.

Eldest Madam fell into deep thought again.

“Forget it—just let Seventh niangzi keep living there till after the end of the year,” she said airily. “Tomorrow, find some time to take Ninth ge’er to see Ninth yiniang… After all, she is indeed his birth mother, and she is in such poor health. Ninth ge’er ought to go show some filial piety.”

“Eldest Madam is virtuous and kind-hearted,” Wang mama said hurriedly. Madam allowing Ninth ge’er to see his birth mother would make Fourth yiniang unable to nitpick, and only able to admit that Eldest Madam was virtuous. Otherwise, if the birth mother was so ill, and the son was not allowed even to see her, Eldest Madam would seem somewhat unfeeling and heartless.

Eldest Madam touched her cheek and sighed. “Seventh niangzi and Ninth ge’er indeed do look very alike. Perhaps even younger brother’s wife would not be able to tell who is who.”

Eldest Madam’s younger brother’s wife would naturally be Second Madam. Second Master Yang held an official position in the capital, but had left Second Madam behind in the ancestral house across the street. Every three or five days, the Second Madam would drop by, and upon seeing Ninth ge’er, she would be so fond of him that she could not help but touch him again and again.

Wang mama’s heart tightened again. She thought, how long had Eldest Madam been thinking of bringing Seventh niangzi to be raised in her own courtyard?

For certain, it could not have been a spur-of-the-moment decision today.

Eldest Madam’s thoughts—no one could figure them out.

<< Previous Chapter | Index | Next Chapter >>