Chapter 6: Paying Respects (Part 2)

Translator: Tygris
English proofreader: 247Reader

Lichun picked up Ninth ge’er with great difficulty and walked towards the clean room. ^[1]净房 (jìng fáng) is an ancient term for restroom/toilet. Second niangzi and Fifth niangzi both stood up and followed behind Lichun. Seventh niangzi quickly moved to follow behind them.

Ninth ge’er blinked his eyes, but did not make a sound. He just twisted and turned as Lichun washed his hands, seeming very restless.

Second niangzi frowned and coldly looked at Ninth ge’er. Ninth ge’er was somewhat afraid of her and quieted down.

After Ninth ge finished washing his hands, Lichun carried him back out. Second niangzi’s maid, Qingming, came forward to pour out the leftover water, then covered the bottom of the basin with hot water from a white tin kettle before rolling up Second niangzi’s sleeves. The sound of splashing water emanated from the room.

“Yang Wu, ^[2]舞 (wǔ) meaning ‘dance’. Here it refers to Fifth niangzi, likely due to it being a homophone of the number five/五 (wǔ). look at the good things you did today.” Second niangzi scolded Fifth niangzi as she washed her hands. “Since you have the guts to go cut up Seventh Younger Sister’s clothes, why not go cut up Yang Shan’s ^[3]珊 (shān) meaning ‘coral’. Homophone of the number three/三 (sān). clothes? Picking the soft persimmon to squeeze ^[4]There is a phrase in Chinese called 软柿子 (ruǎn shì zi), literally ‘soft persimmon’, that refers to someone who is an easy target or easy to take advantage of. — you truly are capable.”

Her tone was very grave. Seventh niangzi looked at Second niangzi in surprise. Second niangzi’s expression was chilly, paying no heed to her gaze.

Fifth niangzi was somewhat ashamed. She lowered her head and mumbled, “I did not know that those were not my clothes.”

“Did you ever treat Eldest Sister as an outsider?” Second niangzi stretched her hands out towards Qingming. Qingming took a white cloth and carefully wiped her soft and delicate hands. “Seventh Younger Sister has entered the main courtyard and is now your close younger sister. If you make it difficult for her again in the future, I will skin you alive.”

Although Fifth niangzi dared to smile playfully in front of Eldest Madam, she seemed to be very fearful of this Second Elder Sister. She lowered her head and timidly nodded in agreement.

Guyu moved forward to take over Qingming’s task: pouring out the water and assisting Fifth niangzi in washing her hands. 

Second niangzi nodded towards Seventh niangzi with profound meaning, ^[5]意味深长 (yì wèi shēn cháng) is used to describe something that is laden with deep/multiple/subtle meanings or thought-provoking. then exited the clean room with Qingming in tow.

Only Fifth niangzi, Seventh niangzi, and Guyu were left in the room.

Fifth niangzi lowered her head and rubbed at her hands vigorously until they were red before she sullenly said, “Yang Qi, ^[6]棋 (qí) meaning chess or board game pieces. Homophone of seven/七 (qī). you be careful.”

“Naturally, I will be careful.” Seventh niangzi took no offense.

Talking with Seventh niangzi was like punching a ball of cotton. If you liked her, then she was so soft; if you disliked her, she was still so soft.

Fifth niangzi felt another surge of nameless anger welling up. She stretched out her hands for Guyu to dry, humphed, then left with Guyu in tow.

Bailu and Lixia were both busy organizing the room in the western side-courtyard. Seventh niangzi gave a bitter laugh and lifted the white tin kettle. She was able to lift the kettle very easily.

There was no more residual water left in the kettle. Likely, in the past, there were only three young masters and ladies washing their hands, and so only that amount was prepared.

For no one specific reason, Seventh niangzi felt somewhat aggrieved.

She looked at the clear water rippling in the heavy white tin basin, and, hesitantly, was about to roll up her sleeves.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded behind her.

Bailu stood at the entrance. Her hair had already been redone into two little buns of different sizes, giving her a somewhat playful appearance. She had changed into a new, green onion-colored jacket and skirt set. Though she seemed somewhat hurried, overall, she looked presentable.

“I have come to serve Seventh niangzi in washing her hands,” Bailu panted. There was a small yellow brass kettle in her hand.

Seventh niangzi felt the rims of her eyes prickle. She lowered her head and made a soft sound of acknowledgement.

Bailu came from Eldest Madam’s courtyard and was very familiar with the rules and customs of Eldest Madam’s chambers. She moved forward to dispose of the remaining water, poured a basin of hot water, picked up a white cloth, and waited.

Seventh niangzi reached her hands into the water, feeling the soothing warm water flowing between her fingers. Suddenly, she felt a stirring of wistfulness. ^[7]感慨 (gǎn kǎi) refers to a deep emotional and heartfelt feeling, often a combination of nostalgia, regret, or awe.

Over these past several years, she and Ninth yiniang had depended on each other for survival. After washing their hands, they would simply wipe them dry with a handkerchief.

Who could have thought that the rules and customs of Eldest Madam’s room were so extravagant? These used white cloths were tossed upon the ground. The likelihood was that they would not be used a second time.

This was a truly wealthy clan.

Seventh niangzi held her hands out towards Bailu, who wiped them carefully, before following Seventh niangzi out of the clean room.

“There will naturally be someone to take care of the remaining work,” Bailu explained to Seventh niangzi in a whisper.

She had just arrived and was still finding her footing. ^[8]初来乍到 (chū lái zhà dào) describes someone who just entered a new environment and has a connotation of humbleness and vulnerability. Naturally, she needed to understand more of the rules and customs of Eldest Madam’s courtyard.

Seventh niangzi nodded. Before she had time to say anything, they had arrived at the dining room.

Eldest Madam’s living environment was fixed. The dining table had always been placed in the west side room of the main hall. Aside from the three meals every day, this place went unused. The four walls were covered with curio shelves. ^[9]博古架 (bó gǔ jià) refers to a display shelf showcasing treasures or collectibles. Two small square tables sat in the middle of the room. Eldest Madam sat at one table, alongside Ninth ge’er. Second niangzi and Fifth niangzi sat facing one another.

“Seventh mei ^[10]妹 (mèi) at its most common form just means ‘younger sister’, but here it is used as an affectionate term to refer to her status as a younger daughter of the family. is here.” Eldest Madam smiled in greeting. “Go sit below Fifth jie, okay?”

Seventh niangzi thus walked to the seat just below Fifth niangzi and sat down. Coincidentally, this was directly facing Ninth ge. Ninth ge made a funny face at her. Seventh niangzi suppressed her laughter, not even daring to smile. Feeling that she was boring, Ninth ge turned around to chat with Lichun.

The smile on Eldest Madam’s face deepened further.

Although the Yang clan was one of Jiangnan’s most affluent clans, their ancestors had been scholars, immersed in poetry and literature—their customs differed quite significantly from those of the newly wealthy or recently-appointed officials. 

Dinner consisted of only eight dishes and two soups, but each was exquisitely crafted. Though the serving size of each was not large, each was just enough for three people. It could be seen that the kitchen had put in lots of thought.

Second niangzi and Fifth niangzi only ate half a bowl of rice before putting down their chopsticks. Seventh niangzi also ate only half a bowl, and did not dare to eat more.

In fact, though, she was in the midst of her growth phase. This half-bowl of rice could only be considered to have padded her stomach, and was unlikely to make her feel satiated.

After dinner, fresh tea was served. The three people sat facing each other, silently sipping the tea, with not a single sound to be heard. Even Ninth ge chewed his food slowly with elegant table manners.

Seeing this, Seventh niangzi felt further relieved: Eldest Madam had really been attentive in educating Ninth ge.

After the meal, the three young ladies went back to their rooms together.

The Yang Mansion comprised a large area. Once a young lady turned eight, they would move to their own bowers ^[11]绣楼 (xiù lóu) could mean embroidery room, but more generally it is a place where young women live, read, and do other womanly arts. Architecturally, it adopts a pavilion-style structure with flying eaves and upturned corners, and is often connected to a main house. TL Note: Chose to use ‘bower’ instead of ‘embroidery room’ cuz it sounds better and has a similar meaning in this context. in Baifangyuan. But Fifth niangzi was the apple of Eldest Madam’s eye, and had continued to live in the eastern side-courtyard of the main courtyard. Ninth ge was the most favored, and lived together with Eldest Madam in the same room. Second niangzi had already moved to a patch of bamboo forest within Baifangyuan. The bower she lived in had a charming name: Youhuangli. ^[12]幽篁里 (yōu huáng lǐ) means “within the secluded bamboo grove.” This is a reference to Wang Wei’s famous Poem “Lodge in the Bamboo Grove”. See: 王維 Wang Wei: 竹里館 House in the Bamboo Grove or the end of the “Wang River Collection” in Wang Wei – Wikipedia.

This is a much more elegant name than Xiaoxiangguan. ^[13]潇湘馆 (xiāo xiāng guǎn) is a poetic name meaning the ‘Pavilion of Misty Rivers and Bamboo’. It originates from the classical Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber, where it is the residence of Lin Daiyu – Wikipedia. Seventh niangzi thought to herself.

Second niangzi had always been taciturn and of few words. Upon stepping out of the main hall, she supported herself with Qingming and turned to leave through the festoon gate. ^[14]垂花门 (chuí huā mén), literally ‘hanging flower gate’, is a distinctive architectural feature in traditional siheyuan. See: Chinese Quadrangle | China & Asia Cultural Travel, which mentions this feature. Seventh niangzi nodded towards Fifth niangzi and also turned and walked away.

Fifth niangzi had made a huge mistake today and must still hold anger in her heart. She did not need to say much to Fifth niangzi—the more she said, the more mistakes she would make.

The western side-courtyard had already been tidied thoroughly. Upon entering the courtyard, one could see a faint light emanating from the main room. The two side rooms on both sides were also lit. Seventh niangzi paused her footsteps and asked Bailu, “How have you arranged it?”

Bailu remained calm and collected. “There are a few pozi who usually just got back to nap. The eastern side room has been converted to a clean room. Two rooms have been freed up among the southern back rooms—four maidservants will rest there. When Lixia and I are not on night duty, we will sleep in the western side room.” ^[15]See: Chinese Quadrangle | China & Asia Cultural Travel for layout diagram.

Determining how to free two rooms from the stuffed-to-the-brim southern rear-facing back rooms had been Bailu’s matter to handle. Seventh niangzi had not sat in the western side-courtyard for very long before being dragged out. Lixia was inexperienced. Bailu, relying solely on herself, had managed to get things done to this state, which showed that she was quite capable.

Seventh niangzi gave a minuscule nod and said, “It would be better if you two each had your own rooms.” Then, she entered the main room with Bailu.

In the center of the main room stood a rosewood ^[16]See: Rosewood – Wikipedia eight-immortals ^[17]See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_Immortals table with two or three round stools casually placed beside it. On the table was a small marble screen; three or four candles sat in the candlestick holder, brightly lighting up the room. At the corners of the room stood two curio shelves, ^[18]博古架 (bó gǔ jià) refers to a display shelf showcasing treasures or collectibles. which were filled with a scattering of various jars and bottles. On the empty wall in the center space left between the two curio shelves hung a couplet: As the moon rises, water floods the earth; as clouds gather, mountains rise into the sky. ^[19]月来满地水，云起一天山 (yuè lái mǎn dì shuǐ, yún qǐ yī tiān shān) is a couplet written by Qing Dynasty painter Zheng Banqiao. Read more about him here: Zheng Xie – Wikipedia.

“Very elegant.” Seventh niangzi glanced at Bailu with a smile.

Bailu was dazed for a moment before she lowered her head in respectful acknowledgement. She had not expected  Seventh niangzi to be able to understand the goodness within.

Still underestimating Seventh niangzi, Bailu scolded herself in her heart.

“Where did the couplet come from?” Seventh niangzi asked as she walked into the room.

“It was sent over by Second niangzi.” Bailu followed behind and continued, “She had people bring it over the moment you entered the main courtyard.”

Seventh niangzi had already entered the eastern room, which was to be her bedroom.

The moment she entered the bedroom, she was stunned.

In the middle of the bedroom stood a rosewood plum blossom table, and on the table was a small platter of silver. The frosted silver ingots were arranged neatly, shining peculiarly under the candlelight.

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