Qiu Niangzi’s small courtyard was located in the back garden of Ma Taitai’s house, with a separate side gate leading in.
The yard was not large, with a well in the center and pomegranate trees planted on both sides; their shade covered a side wing, which served as both the kitchen and the needlework room.
Ma Taitai had said that Qiu Niangzi also taught cooking and needlework here.
Under the eaves of the eastern wing, several pots of white magnolia were arranged.
In the sweltering early autumn, looking at them seemed to bring a sense of coolness.
A curtain of mottled bamboo and several strings of wind chimes hung at the entrance.
When the wind blew, they rang out with crisp, clear sounds.
Miaozhen thought that this Qiu Niangzi must be someone who truly understood the pleasures of life.
As she was thinking this, she saw a woman in her thirties come out from the inner room.
She wore a light purple ramie shirt, covered by a white vest embroidered with golden osmanthus, and pale cream knee-length trousers beneath.
Her appearance was very refined, carrying a scholarly air.
Mei Shi stepped forward and said,
“Qiu Niangzi, I’ve brought my daughter.”
Qiu Niangzi looked over, her gaze settling on Miaozhen.
The girl wore a light green cross-collar top and a pink pleated skirt, her hair done in three little buns tied with red ribbons.
Her features might not be stunning, but her eyes stood out—dark, bright, and full of cleverness.
Qiu Niangzi couldn’t help but nod.
“Good, she looks like a clever child.”
Mei Shi smiled along.
“I’ll have to trouble you to take care of her.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll teach her well. By the way, did you bring your books? We’re starting on the Four Books now, yes?”
Qiu Niangzi asked, turning to Miaozhen.
Miaozhen nodded quickly.
“Yes, I’ve brought them.”
Qiu Niangzi sent Mei Shi back and led Miaozhen inside, where four other girls about her age were already seated.
She had them greet each other, and Miaozhen quickly introduced herself: “I am the daughter of the owner of Jin Chang Scholar’s Bookshop, my surname is Xu, and my given name is Miaozhen.”
She already knew Ma Yulan from before.
The other three were new to her.
The first was Wang Xie, whose family owned a silk shop.
She was eleven this year, her skin fair and plump, her nose a bit flat, but her whole person looked very elegant.
Miaozhen thought she was the prettiest girl with a flat nose she’d ever seen.
Next was Lin Xiaoxiao, whose family ran a fan shop.
She was the same age as Miaozhen, but seemed a bit frail, her face pale and her manner a bit timid.
The last was Tong Pan’er, the daughter of Tong Jiansheng.
She greeted everyone with a wide grin.
After introductions, arranging seats became a bit awkward.
Everyone else sat in pairs, but Miaozhen was left alone.
She didn’t mind, and took a seat in the last row.
She calmly took out her books.
Unlike Yuxiucai, who just read from the text, Qiu Niangzi explained things in detail and expanded on the material.
Miaozhen made a point of taking notes.
Qiu Niangzi noticed and nodded approvingly.
The girls all cherished the chance to study and were very attentive.
This new Miss Xu was clever and diligent too.
Since she had joined mid-term, the others had already covered two essays.
During the break, Miaozhen took the initiative to borrow Wang Xie’s notes to copy.
Wang Xie quickly handed her the book and said,
“If you don’t understand anything, just ask me.”
“Thank you, Sister Wang.”
Miaozhen had switched schools four or five times in her previous life due to her parents’ divorce, so she was experienced with transferring.
She knew she didn’t need to force herself to fit in right away—focusing on her studies came first.
As she was copying notes, Tong Pan’er, who sat in front of her, turned around to watch her write and said,
“Your handwriting is really pretty. Mine isn’t good—my mother says it looks like chicken scratch.”
Miaozhen thought that her handwriting had really improved under Yuxiucai’s teaching, and it was the standard official script.
She was quite proud of it.
At noon, after class, two of Qiu Niangzi’s maids brought in lunch.
It was all vegetarian, but beautifully presented.
There was Vegetarian Roast Goose, actually made by wrapping yam in a thin layer of tofu skin, garnished with a few diced cucumber pieces.
There was also Tea Scented Bamboo Shoot, refreshing and tasty, and a bowl of Bean Soup Rice.
It was delicious.
The tuition was ten taels per year, and meals and other expenses came to about three to five qian per month.
Qiu Niangzi served vegetarian food, but put a lot of care into it.
In the afternoon, they were supposed to have a calligraphy and painting lesson, but Miaozhen hadn’t brought brushes or paints, so the class was changed to tea ceremony.
Each of them had a small portion of tea leaves on their desk.
Qiu Niangzi taught them how to brew tea and said,
“Today we’re drinking Songluo Tea. It’s a green tea, fresh and tender, but turns slightly bitter after tasting. So this kind of tea should be paired with sweeter tea snacks, like Green Bean Cake, Tiger Hill Cake, or Flower Pastry.”
Miaozhen made a mental note.
Her father often entertained guests, and their family came from humble beginnings—if she didn’t know the proper etiquette, it wouldn’t do.
Qiu Niangzi even had them go to the kitchen together to make Sugar Frosted Cake.
This was something Miaozhen had never experienced before.
They used a wooden pestle to crush roasted pine nuts and walnuts into a paste in a stone mortar, then ground rock sugar into powder with a small grinder.
The three ingredients were mixed together and pressed into a plum blossom mold, then taken out and eaten directly, without even steaming.
After they finished, the day’s lessons were over.
Miaozhen felt it was all very relaxed and fun.
People are strange—she had no family in modern times, and because she moved schools often, she didn’t have many classmates or friends.
Yet after coming to the past, she had a pair of wonderful parents, and all her classmates at the girls’ school were friendly.
After school, she didn’t have time to go home, so she had the coachman drive her straight to the Tao family.
She happened to have made Sugar Frosted Cake today—she and the maids each had a few pieces, and she wrapped some in oiled paper to give to Ru Shi later.
Xiaoxi asked Miaozhen,
“Miss, are you tired?”
“Not at all. The afternoon was more like playing.”
Miaozhen propped her chin and smiled.
When she arrived at the Tao family, Madam Ru was already prepared.
Miaozhen thought that women who achieved things usually kept to a strict schedule and were self-disciplined.
They were especially trustworthy in handling affairs.
Qiu Niangzi was like that, and so was Madam Ru.
She had already prepared a copy of the Mai Jue.
“I’ll teach you how to take the pulse first. Reciting is one thing, but to truly understand, you need to experience it yourself.”
Although Miaozhen had some basics, this time she listened as if it were all new.
The positions on the wrist, distinguishing floating and sinking, telling the difference between emptiness and fullness, telling long from short, counting slow and fast, and finally distinguishing the pulse.
For someone like Miaozhen, who was not a genius, taking notes was the best way.
Ru Shi lectured while she practiced and wrote things down.
When the lesson was nearly over, Miaozhen took out the Sugar Frosted Cake and said,
“Teacher, I made this myself. It’s a little cold now, but please try it.”
She was afraid Ru Shi would refuse, but Ru Shi accepted it right away and said,
“I only have two sons at home, no daughter, and no one has ever shown me such filial care.”
Miaozhen was happy to hear that.
“Then I’ll make more for you whenever I have time.”
Ru Shi wanted her to stay for dinner, but she said,
“It’s my first day here, and my parents are waiting for me at home. Please forgive me.”
After leaving Ru Shi’s, she went straight home.
Dinner at home was lavish—braised beef, freshly slaughtered chicken.
At the table, Miaozhen shared what she’d learned that day, all with a smile.
Xu Erpeng said to Mei Shi,
“Our daughter had vegetarian food for lunch, so you should have the kitchen prepare more meat dishes for dinner.”
Mei Shi quickly agreed.
Miaozhen also told her family about pairing green tea with certain snacks.
Xu Erpeng made a mental note of it.
In no time, half a month had passed.
Miaozhen went to the girls’ school early each day.
She was closest with Lin Xiaoxiao.
Though Lin Xiaoxiao was frail, she was very knowledgeable and truly taught Miaozhen things.
They could even share their thoughts with each other from time to time.
Because Miaozhen lived nearby, she always arrived first.
The maids helped her set out her books before leaving.
Just then, Lin Xiaoxiao and Ma Yulan arrived.
Lin Xiaoxiao said,
“Just now I was thinking of waiting for you at your house, but I saw an old lady in shabby clothes standing at your door with a young girl, asking me for directions.”
“Huh?”
Miaozhen was puzzled.
Lin Xiaoxiao said,
“They must be your relatives. It’s nothing unusual—my family had some country relatives come by just a few days ago, looking for handouts.”
The Lin Family Fan Shop had been passed down from her grandfather.
Her father inherited the business and made the Lin Family Fan Industry flourish.
But the family had only one daughter—
Lin Xiaoxiao.
When there’s money and only one daughter, there are always people hoping to take advantage.
Just like in Miaozhen’s family, where Mei Shi always yielded to Baomu.
Baomu monopolized the in-laws and acted as if it were only natural, simply because she had given birth to a son.
The Lin family had money, and Lin Xiaoxiao was the only child.
To the clan, she was a piece of fat meat, and everyone wanted a bite.
Meanwhile, the old woman and young girl standing at the entrance of the Rulin Bookstore were none other than Xu Laotai and Xu Siniang.
Xu Laotai was advising her daughter,
“You’d better rein in your temper and coax Miaozhen for a few days. Then you’ll have someone to serve you. Besides, Miaozhen is still young—she’s not at the age for marriage yet. When your second brother earns money, some of it should go toward your dowry. We’re getting old and can’t handle everything ourselves.”
Xu Siniang was becoming more sensible.
She thought of the cramped apartment in Fengqiao, where even going outside meant dust everywhere.
Looking at the grand house before her, she steadied herself—she had to stay.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.