Chapter 11: Inner Thoughts (Part 1)

Translator: Tygris
English proofreader: 247Reader

Bailu saw off the several pozi then turned back and called to Lixia, “You stay here and attend to the young lady. I will lead the young maidservants to fetch the meal.” With that, she hurried off. Seventh niangzi looked as though she wanted to say something, but, in the end, let her do as she pleased.

After all, she, too, had a sense of curiosity. When it came to matters in the main courtyard, she also wanted to know more.

While waiting for the meal, she called Lixia over. “Count how much silver is in the money box.” She had always wanted to take care of this matter, but with Bailu always by her side, Seventh niangzi was a bit too embarrassed to do so. Such a small amount of silver, what was it even worth in her eyes?

Lixia enumerated one by one. “There are thirty-three taels of whole silver and about two taels of loose silver. Elder Sister Bailu also exchanged three taels worth of copper coins with some pozi to be used when rewarding the lower-ranked maidservants. Those are all still here.”

Of the six taels of silver that Second niangzi gave her, she had returned two taels to Bailu on the spot. The remaining four taels, along with the thirty-six taels that Eldest Madam had sent over, should total forty taels. There were only thirty-eight taels of silver left in the box, which meant that over the past two days, two taels had already been spent.

Seventh niangzi could not help but feel a pang of pain. She stared blankly at the money box. Lixia could also only ‘tsk tsk’ repeatedly. “The expenses in the main courtyard are much higher than those of the southern side courtyard.” In the southern side courtyard, Ninth yiniang had received an allowance of only two taels per month.

Seventh niangzi then asked Lixia, “Are the lower-ranked maidservants all still considered obedient?” The four lower-ranked maidservants were named Shangyuan, ^[1]Lantern Festival – Wikipedia Zhongyuan, ^[2]Ghost Festival – Wikipedia Xiayuan, ^[3]https://www.chinawiki.net/thread/17/13.html and Duanwu. ^[4]Dragon Boat Festival – Wikipedia This batch of people bought by the Yang Mansion had been mostly named according to festivals.

Lixia nodded. “They are all very well-behaved, and they are also not lazy.” She hesitated for a moment, then tentatively said, “It is just that the vacancies in the courtyard are now full. Qiufeng…” 

Seventh niangzi gave a cold laugh. Back at the southern side courtyard, mother and daughter had struggled to survive. Lixia need not be mentioned: although she was somewhat naive, she had never slacked off or tried to cut corners. And she also had a sense of shame—one who possessed a sense of shame could not be too evil a person. Qiufeng seemed obedient on the surface, but, secretly, she hoped to use Seventh niangzi as a pathway into Ninth ge’s quarters. If Seventh niangzi had not unintentionally overheard this matter, she might have actually succeeded.

At that time, Ninth yiniang once said, “Lixia is a person with potential. Qiufeng is cunning and opportunistic, yet she is so wholeheartedly devoted to us. She must have something to gain.” Ninth yiniang was indeed a clever person, but, unfortunately, her fate had been harsh.

Seventh niangzi suddenly thought of Ninth ge’s expression when he asked that question. His small face had been filled with helplessness and melancholy. Ninth ge did not have an easy time living in the main courtyard either.

She then thought of Sixth niangzi’s pure and innocent smile, and a wave of sorrow washed over her, her eyes reddening.

Lixia thought that she had unintentionally poked at Seventh niangzi’s sore spot. She quickly jumped up to admit her faults. “Seventh niangzi, it is Lixia’s fault for not knowing how to speak properly. It is my fault…”

Suppressing her feelings, Seventh niangzi,wiped her tears away with a smile. “Money is being spent too quickly. My heart aches.” Speaking thus, she closed the money box and began to calculate the expenses for the month with Lixia.

Lixia had originally been a third-class maidservant. After following Seventh niangzi to the main courtyard, she was promoted to second-class. Bailu was also originally a second-class maid. Both of them received a monthly allowance of one tael of silver. The four lower-ranked maids and the two pozi received five hundred qian. ^[5]Cash (Chinese coin) – Wikipedia Seventh niangzi herself received four taels of silver monthly. Every month, they could get nine taels of silver from Eldest Madam.

In some courtyards, the young ladies or the concubines would even withhold monthly allowances. This had happened under Fourth niangzi before. One of her higher-ranked maids, Mangzhong, came from a family that was not very wealthy, and relied on the money that Mangzhong brought home to survive. One month, Mangzhong brought home only five hundred qian, and she hemmed and hawed and refused to say where it had been spent. It was only after the matter blew up that it came out that Fourth niangzi had withheld half. Because of this matter, Fourth yiniang had lost great face in front of Master Yang. The Yang family even skimped on the servants’ wages. Those who did not know better would even think that they were some newly rich upstarts, to behave in such a petty and mean manner.

The entirety of Seventh niangzi’s monthly allowance was four taels. Besides the various tips she had to give out for newly moving in, whenever she was craving something and had to have the small kitchen specially make it for her, she had to send money over. Lixia had already asked around: Fifth niangzi was generous and gave three or five hundred qian as a reward each time. Seventh niangzi’s monthly allowance could only allow her to enjoy eight special meals. And in addition, the servants had to be rewarded during holidays and festivals. Although Seventh niangzi was not obligated to take out her own money for this, one should still show extra generosity toward the people of one’s own courtyard.

And there were also influential figures such as Liang mama, Wang mama, Lichun, etc., who would need to be given some token of thoughtfulness during holidays and festivals. This would prevent her from having no connections and being maligned or gossiped about to Eldest Madam without anyone to defend her.

The more Seventh niangzi calculated, the more she felt that there was no money that could be saved. She pushed aside the money box with a sigh. Reaching for a stack of scrap paper, she began to note carefully: On the twenty-third of the First Month, Income of six taels of silver… Then she tore it up. This was not her previous life. She did not have enough money to make keeping accounts worthwhile. It was much safer to remember in her mind than to write it down on paper.

Bailu, with Shangyuan following behind, came in holding two large boxwood ^[6]Buxus sinica – Wikipedia trays. She lifted the curtain and walked in with a smile.

“After rewarding them with money, the small kitchen is treating us much better,” she said, laughing as she walked. “There is deer tendon to eat tonight! Young lady, I specifically filled an extra bowl of rice, knowing that you probably were not able to eat your fill at the main courtyard…”

Seventh niangzi felt much more at ease. Patting Lixia, she rose and smiled. “Deer tendon is a rare delicacy.” Lixia hurriedly moved to take over the tray and place it on the table. Seventh niangzi smiled at Shangyuan. “Quickly go and eat. You all have worked hard.” The maidservants’ meals were always delivered during mealtimes.

After Shangyuan left the room, Bailu turned around and closed the door. “It is better to close it. With the cold wind blowing, the dishes will cool down in only a short while.” She then found a small stove and settled the pot of deer tendon upon it. “It is not as warm here as in the main hall. It is more comfortable to eat this way.”

Seventh niangzi gazed expectantly at Bailu.

Bailu could not help but smile. She glanced at Lixia, then leaned in close next to Seventh niangzi’s ear. “It was Xiaoxue, the little maid who serves Ninth ge’er. She suddenly had an upset stomach. She always eats lunch together alongside Ninth ge’er. Whatever Ninth ge’er does not finish is given to her as a reward. Eldest Madam was worried that Ninth ge’er would also begin to have diarrhea, and sent someone to fetch the kitchen lady over what ingredients were used at noon.” There was a hint of dismissiveness in her tone, as though she disapproved of Eldest Madam making a fuss over such a trivial matter.

Seventh niangzi immediately thought of that plate of cherries Xiaoxue had knocked over.

Without any change in her expression, she called for Lixia and Bailu to sit down with her. “Let us eat together.”

Lixia was just about to sit when Bailu hurriedly replied, “That is against the rules. If any mama were to see it, they would scold us.”

Seventh niangzi sighed, “Then you two take turns going to eat. There is no need for both of you to stay and serve.”

Bailu told Lixia to go first. Lixia, surprisingly, did not insist on yielding, ^[7]谦让 (qiān ràng) means to defer to others out of courtesy. It shows good manners and consideration. and instead simply hurried off. Seventh niangzi had not even finished half a bowl of rice before she hurried back to switch with Bailu.

Just as she arrived at the door, she heard Seventh niangzi and Bailu speaking inside.

“Second Madam…” Seventh niangzi’s voice came through the thick cotton curtain, sounding somewhat muffled.

Lixia paused her footsteps. After thinking deeply for a moment, she turned around towards the room she shared with Bailu, her steps steady and unhurried, not revealing the slightest hint of disappointment or anxiety.

Inside the room, Seventh niangzi was speaking with Bailu.

“…Second Madam comes only a rare few times a year.” Bailu’s words were spoken very cautiously. “Based on convention, she and Eldest Madam are cousins. ^[8]表姐妹 (biǎo jiě mèi) refers to female cousins connected through some maternal line, i.e. not sharing the same last name, under the assumption that everyone follows their father’s last name. Eldest Madam was born of the stepmother, and Second Madam’s maternal aunt was the original wife. They really should not be so distant with each other.”

Seventh niangzi seemed to grasp something. “How many times in a year does Ninth ge fall ill?”

Bailu gave a slight smile. “Ninth ge is usually very healthy. Perhaps he and Second Madam have a zodiacal incompatibility. ^[9]生肖犯冲 (shēng xiào fàn chōng) is similar to saying that their fates conflict, causing bad luck, ill health, or other disharmony. Every time they meet, he will develop some small ailment.”

She phrased it very delicately, but Seventh niangzi felt her heart jump about in alarm upon hearing those words.

It was unexpected that Second Madam would be so brazen… She could not quite understand it. Ninth ge was the flesh of Eldest Madam’s heart, ^[10]Meaning ‘apple of one’s eye’. and Eldest Madam, as the eldest sister-in-law, held authority akin to a mother. Why would she not confront Second Madam?

Before she could speak, Bailu muttered, as though speaking to herself, “Eldest Madam arranged this marriage personally… and she is someone who cares very much about appearances…”

Seventh niangzi’s heart was as bright as the light reflected off snow. ^[11]Same meaning as ‘as clear as a mirror’.

For the sake of her reputation, Eldest Madam could not make a scene under any circumstances. It was likely that Second Madam understood this as well, and that was why she kept making these small moves. These were never too excessive, just in case Eldest Madam, truly provoked, tore the facade apart.

The situation of medicine in ancient times was poor. If one were unlucky, even diarrhea could lead to death.

“You go switch with Lixia,” Seventh niangzi said. “Just now, as she passed by, her shadow appeared right on the window. What a foolish child.”

With a smile, Bailu retreated.

Seventh niangzi sank into deep thought.

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