Chapter 5: Wind and Waves (Part 1)

Translator: Tygris
English proofreader: 247Reader

The Yang Mansion occupied the entire length of Two Yang Street. Eldest Madam’s main courtyard was so big that several hundred people could simultaneously run about comfortably. Yet, the southern side-courtyard that Seventh niangzi had previously lived in was small, cramped, and old.

Seventh niangzi, in moving to the main courtyard, had obtained the entire western side-courtyard.

This was a very small courtyard. There was a small door at one side of the main hall that, after passing through a winding corridor, led to the courtyard. On the north side was a set of three adjoining rooms with blue-tiled roofs. On the south side was a row of rear-facing small houses stuffed to the brim with Eldest Madam’s belongings. At the moment, no one knew what was to be done with them, and so she had only obtained the three rooms on the north side along with the small side rooms ^[1]小耳房 (xiǎo ěr fáng), literally meaning ‘ear room’, are often used for auxiliary purposes, such as storage, sleeping, or minor purposes. on the east and west. ^[2]See: Chinese Quadrangle | China & Asia Cultural Travel for layout diagram.

Yet these five small rooms already seemed very spacious to Seventh niangzi. The crates that she had brought over from the southern side-courtyard, when placed in a row beneath the bedroom window, made the room seem very empty.

There was already a mother-of-pearl-inlaid rosewood ^[3]See: Rosewood – Wikipedia bed. It was just not as big as the one in the main house. Seventh niangzi reached out to feel the wood and thought that, just judging from the material, it seemed not too different from the one that Eldest Madam slept upon.

“This was the one that Eldest niangzi slept upon.” Liang mama’s eyes contained a trace of nostalgia. “She was so young when she was brought over back then, and now she has already become the mistress of a family.”

Liang mama’s words were not bereft of comfort towards Seventh niangzi.

And Seventh niangzi was truly comforted. Although Eldest Madam was somewhat unkind, she was not stingy with money.

The Yang clan was, after all, an illustrious family. Eldest Madam was still willing to spend these paltry bits of money.

Liang mama looked around the empty room, then spoke again, “The move today was a bit sudden, and some of the furniture has not been moved in yet. I will immediately have people move them. Seventh niangzi, please sit for a while.”

Seventh niangzi hurriedly stood up. “Thank you for your hard work, Liang mama.”

Now that she was a young lady of the main courtyard, it was no longer appropriate for her to salute Liang mama. But thanks had to be given. Liang mama was a popular figure at Madam’s side. When doing things for you, if she put in five points of effort, it would be her duty, but if she put in seven points of effort, then that was already doing you a favor.

Seventh niangzi understood this principle.

Upon hearing her sincere tone, Liang mama smiled and patted Seventh niangzi’s hand. She said affectionately, “Now that you have entered the main courtyard, you are a young lady of the main courtyard. No matter what, our Yang clan is still a wealthy Jiangnan family. The demeanor of a young lady of the main courtyard cannot be the same as that of a concubine-born daughter. You also need to establish some rules quickly, to avoid people mocking you.”

Liang mama’s words were all sincere and heartfelt. ^[4]肺腑之言 (fèi fǔ zhī yán) literally means ‘words from the lungs and other internal organs/bowels’. This could be a reference to a line in a poem of Bai Juyi – Wikipedia that basically says ‘the lungs and other internal organs/bowels have no gap between them’, meaning that there is no internal conflict and the actions of the body are unfettered. Here is that poem (in Chinese): https://gushicionline.com/poems/19823 Seventh niangzi was so touched that the rims of her eyes reddened.

“I will definitely not do anything to make Madam lose face,” she said softly and gently.

Liang mama, leaving with a smile, went to find Wang mama and discuss how much furniture and decorations were to be added to Seventh niangzi’s room.

“As I see it, we should give her that new set of rosewood table, chairs, crates, and wardrobe that came a few days ago,” Liang mama said.

Wang mama was somewhat hesitant. “The carvings are extremely exquisite.”

“After all, she is a young lady of the main courtyard…” Liang mama went to ask Eldest Madam.

Eldest Madam was delighted. “You are still the one who understands my thoughts best. Go find some more nice items for her to place atop the table. Bailu came back and told me that the most valuable item in Ninth yiniang’s room was actually a ‘beauty shrugging shoulders’ vase that Third niangzi brought over.”

Liang mama twisted her lips. “Third niangzi is generous.”

She took the paired tokens ^[5]对牌 (duì pái), usually made of bamboo or wood with words or numbers written on them, come in either two halves or in a pair. These serve as a token of trust and/or authority and is used by the servant to withdraw something or do something with the consent of the head of the family. and entered Baifangyuan, where she found and chatted a long time with Yao mama, who was in charge of the warehouse. Yao mama took the key and, along with a group of sturdy young wives, ^[6]Wives here as in wives of servants, so they are also servants, just female and married. moved the complete set of rosewood table, chairs, crates, and wardrobe, as well as ten-plus vases and jars, bowls and plates and porcelain items, to the western side-courtyard.

“Mamas have worked hard.” Seventh niangzi thanked them sincerely.

These mamas smiled and made noises of agreement, but did not leave.

Lixia swept her gaze towards Seventh niangzi, somewhat panicked. Liang mama and Yao mama stood to the side with smiles on their faces, watching to see how Seventh niangzi would react.

Seventh niangzi understood the rules. [With the servants having] done this kind of heavy work, per convention, young ladies should give them some reward money.

But she did not have even a single tael of silver on her—all she had were a few bracelets left to her by Ninth yiniang, and those were not even worth anything.

Not to mention, it was not like she could reward each person with one bracelet, could she? How improper would that be! ^[7]See: 成何體統-Wiktionary 

She was in a difficult position. She bit down on her lip and was on the verge of hardening her scalp ^[8]硬着头皮 (yìng zhe tóu pí) is similar to the saying ‘bite the bullet’, i.e. to grit one’s teeth and cope with doing something reluctantly. and seeing the guests off. 

Bailu suddenly walked in from outside the room. Smilingly, she took out a handful of broken pieces of silver from her waist. “Mamas have worked hard. Here is some silver. Mamas can take it and buy some wine to drink. Mamas, please do not disdain this for being too little.”

The mamas smiled more genuinely. They all said, “Seventh niangzi is generous. Thanking Seventh niangzi,” and left the western side-courtyard like a school of fish. ^[9]鱼贯 (yú guàn): literally, ‘like fish’. Saying that they left in a continuous stream.

Seventh niangzi looked at the smiling Bailu and was at a loss for words for a moment.

Bailu wore a lilac satin jacket that could be considered neither new nor old. Because she had only a pair of bluish-green jade bracelets on her wrists, she seemed very plain, but the smile on her face was very comforting. As she wiped the sweat from her forehead, she said to Liang mama, “Madam said that Seventh niangzi did not have any good outfits, and therefore invited people from Xianxiufang ^[10]纤 (xiān): fine/delicate; 秀 (xiù): elegant/beautiful; 坊 (fāng): workshop/place to make clothes for Seventh niangzi. But the people from Xianxiufang are unable to make them today. She said to have Liang mama take a few outfits from Fifth niangzi’s wardrobe and let Seventh niangzi wear them first.”

Xianxiufang was Eldest Madam’s property, and it had some reputation in Jiangnan. By having the people of Xianxiufang come to make clothes for Seventh niangzi, Eldest Madam could be considered to have given her much dignity. Even Second niangzi and Fifth niangzi could only get ten or so sets of clothing from Xianxiufang in the span of a year.

Liang mama smiled. “Understood. It will be done right away. Conveniently, Fifth niangzi’s clothes are stored right here in the western side-courtyard.” She glanced at Seventh niangzi’s silhouette, made some estimates in her mind, and left the room with Yao mama. 

Bailu hesitated for a moment. Then, saying to Seventh niangzi, “Seventh niangzi, I will go arrange the living quarters for those young maidservants,” she left the room as well.

As expected, Liang mama was waiting for her at the gate of the western side-courtyard.

“Godmother.” ^[11]干妈 (gàn mā) is someone who takes on a maternal role, similar to an honorary mother or aunt. This does not have any religious meaning and is not legally binding. Bailu curtsied. 

“Seventh niangzi is on the thinner side.” Liang mama smiled before she spoke. “You will have to put in more effort. Quickly alter the clothes—when dinner time arrives, do not let Seventh niangzi lose her manners in front of Madam.”

Bailu lowered her head and softly made a sound of agreement.

“You are someone from the Eldest Madam’s room. Once you go to Seventh niangzi’s, you still have to act with the propriety of someone from the Eldest Madam’s room,” Liang mama gently instructed her. “As for the matter just now, you did a great job. Only if Seventh niangzi favors you and respects you will you have dignity… Although Seventh niangzi is in a difficult situation now, after a few years, when Ninth ge’er grows up, she will gain more and more prestige.” 

Bailu pressed her lips together and smiled.

“I will not lose face for Godmother.”

Liang mama gave a profound hum. ^[12]意味深长 (yì wèi shēn cháng) is used to describe something that is thought-provoking or laden with deep/multiple/subtle meanings. She turned and left the western side-courtyard with a smile, going to Eldest Madam’s to retrieve the keys.

“Eldest Madam is compassionate!” She smiled like a blooming flower. “And generous too. One cannot find another matriarch in Suzhou as magnanimous as Eldest Madam.”

It was normal for a single outfit from Xiangxiufang to cost over a hundred taels in just materials, even without counting the wages of the skilled craftsmen. This time, Eldest Madam had indeed been very generous. 

Eldest Madam softly narrowed her eyes and did not respond to Liang mama’s conversation starter. ^[13]话茬 (huà chá) is like the beginning of a conversation, something said so that other people can latch onto it and continue a topic. Instead, she began discussing Fifth niangzi. 

“It is also unknown who taught her to develop such a temperament. At such a young age, she knows naught but the false niceties of an official family’s daughter. In terms of embroidery, poetry, etc., there is not a single aspect that she can show off. I am thinking that I need to find a more strict mama to take care of her, to tamp down on her arrogance.”

Fifth niangzi was Eldest Madam’s daughter, born to her at an advanced age. Only after the age of thirty had she gained such a child, and naturally, she treasured her very much. Before Ninth ge’er was born, [Fifth niangzi] had been the boss of the family. Every day, she would make such noise that even chickens flew and dogs jumped, ^[14]鸡飞狗跳 (jī fēi gǒu tiào) refers to chaos or total disorder, turmoil. until there was no peace to be found.

Now that there was Ninth ge’er, Fifth niangzi must slowly correct her temperament.

Liang mama felt somewhat bad for Fifth niangzi. Cautiously, she said, “After all, she is the daughter of a well-known family. She will naturally improve as she grows up.” If Fifth niangzi were to swap out a momo ^[15]嬷嬷 (mó mo) may refer to one’s wetnurse/caretaker or an elderly woman in general. the moment Seventh niangzi arrived, who knew what stories those not in the know would make up about Fifth niangzi.

Eldest Madam thought for a moment, then reluctantly said, “Then let us observe for a while longer.” She lowered her head and brushed the lid of her teacup against the top of the cup a few times. Casually, ^[16]漫不经心 (màn bù jīng xīn) describes someone acting in a casual/nonchalant manner. she said, “Second Madam just dispatched someone over with some of Eighth niangzi’s clothes.”

Eighth niangzi and Seventh niangzi were born in the same year, in the same month, and on the same day, only differing by less than half a shichen. ^[17]1 shichen = 2 hours. See: Traditional Chinese timekeeping – Wikipedia Now, she was also six, and having been educated carefully by Second Madam, was a well-behaved and proper young lady of an official family.

In a moment of carelessness, Liang mama almost went with the flow and was about to praise Second Madam for her thoughtfulness, but upon careful consideration, she felt that something was not quite right.

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