11 Acting First, Reporting Later

Xu Dalang’s friend spoke very kindly, saying that once there was a vacancy in Jinling, he would recommend him. Full of hope, Xu Dalang was eager, but Mrs. Huang disagreed. She believed they had their home in Suzhou, surrounded by relatives and friends. Even if she no longer worked as an embroidery maid at the deputy commandant’s household, she could still manage at her uncle’s silk and cotton shop.

She earnestly reasoned, “You’re often too proud and don’t understand worldly affairs. Wouldn’t it be better to find a teaching position at a local academy? That wouldn’t be bad at all. Our family can’t always rely on me alone, can it?”

Her words wounded Xu Dalang’s pride sharply. “Yes, you earn money; the household depends solely on your income.”

“I never claimed to be that capable. I know you disdain my looks, think I’m unworthy of you, and just want to ditch me to become a carefree gentleman in Jinling…” Mrs. Huang, already insecure about her appearance, now feared Xu Dalang might truly leave her behind to live a more glamorous life elsewhere.

Arguments never bring peace, but fortunately, Xu Dalang valued his dignity and feared being mocked by his younger brother, so he dropped the matter.

Miaoyun was young but wise beyond her years; she knew to shield her parents and understood that such quarrels were not good. While sewing with Miaozhen, she never mentioned anything else.

Just then, their neighbor Ma Yulan arrived. Miaozhen quickly had tea made and brought out persimmon cakes and goose fat spring pancakes, inviting her: “Sister Ma, please sit down. Let’s talk together.”

“Sister Zhen, my mother wants you to help take a look at Old Madam Li’s illness,” Ma Yulan said.

Miaozhen shook her head. “I’m not yet qualified to prescribe or administer medicine alone. If it’s just some tonic soups, I can share the recipes, but now I’m not ready.”

As a healer, she was naturally compassionate, but Miaozhen felt she hadn’t completed her apprenticeship and it would be inappropriate to treat patients on her own—a way of protecting herself as well.

After some persuasion, Ma Yulan finally said, “Alright, I’ll tell my mother.”

Once Ma Yulan left, Miaoyun thought it a pity. If Miaozhen could help Old Madam Li, she might earn the favor of the Li family. Their second uncle’s fortunes were improving; perhaps in time, Miaoyun herself could marry into the Li household.

Though young, Miaoyun was remarkably mature.

She asked, “Zhenzhen, why don’t you go see her? Old Madam Li has status, it would be good for you.”

“I’m still far from ready,” Miaozhen replied, shaking her head.

As the two sisters spoke, Xu Siyang came in, catching sight of two pairs of silk flowers, carved combs, and several hair ribbons on Miaozhen’s dressing table. Then she glanced at the gold necklace with a gemstone around Miaoyun’s neck and couldn’t help but ask, “Sister Yun, that necklace must be very expensive.”

Miaoyun said, “It was a gift from the Commandant’s wife. I don’t know how much it cost.”

“Sister Zhen, why don’t your parents buy one for you too?” Xu Siyang, jealous, tried to instigate trouble.

Miaozhen was not fooled. “Auntie, you should ask Grandpa and Grandma to get one for you. I already have a silver necklace; I don’t need more.”

Xu Siyang pouted, then, seeing them bent over their needlework, went straight to the front hall.

After sewing, Miaozhen usually took a nap at noon while Miaoyun went home early.

Two days later, as the rain was about to cease, Miaozhen was reading medical texts when Xu Siyang suddenly ran up, sneaking like a thief, and whispered, “Zhenzhen, do you know what I just saw? Miaoyun was talking with a gentleman from the Li family.”

Before she finished, Miaoyun appeared from downstairs and said, “I was just helping Second Aunt deliver the spring tonic to the Ma family and happened to meet the eldest son of the Li family. She only praised Second Aunt’s spring tonic—just a few words. Yet you’re here spreading rumors behind my back. I think you stole Zhenzhen’s purse intending to give it to the Li young master, but I caught you. Is that why you’re accusing me?”

“Auntie, you stole from me?” Miaozhen was stunned by Xu Siyang’s behavior.

Xu Siyang hesitated, then glanced at Miaoyun’s fierce stare and refused to admit it.

Miaozhen told Mrs. Mei about this. Mrs. Mei said, “She’s nosy enough, but also ill-intentioned. The rain will soon stop, and when the sun is out, we’ll send her back.”

Their daughter was always visiting the Ma household but never behaved like this. Xu Siyang’s parents neglected her, making a poor impression.

Even Mrs. Ma next door remarked, “Zhen from the Xu family is a good girl, very upright, but her aunts and older sisters lack discipline.”

Fortunately, the next day was clear, and Suzhou returned to tranquility. The main household still hadn’t bought a new residence. Mrs. Huang asked her uncle to rent a place near Xumen, and Xu Siyang was promptly sent home, wearing a set of clothes Mrs. Mei had given her.

Everyone in the courtyard swept away the fallen leaves and rotting branches left by the long rains. The family’s bookshop had reopened, but the moss on the steps made the ground feel uneven and damp.

Xiao Xi carried out clothes to dry. Because Xu Siyang had lice, Miaozhen immediately ordered her pillow thrown away to avoid infection.

Miaozhen opened the window, letting sunlight flood in, dispelling damp shadows from the corners. She then went to study medicine with Madam Ru.

That day, an elderly woman in her sixties or seventies came, who had already gone through menopause but suddenly experienced bleeding with purple clots. Madam Ru explained carefully to Miaozhen, “Usually women stop menstruating after forty-nine. This kind of bleeding is not like a young woman’s cycle. It indicates the liver cannot store blood properly and the spleen cannot regulate it, so we must use the Anlao Decoction.”

Miaozhen noted down the recipe and reflected on the difference between excessive bleeding after old age intercourse and the return of menstruation in elderly women. Though she once found diagnosis difficult, she was beginning to grasp the principles.

She recorded several easily confused symptoms for reference.

Madam Ru then taught her various diagnostic methods, which medicines to use, and how to apply them. Afterward, she asked, “Zhenzhen, is your female teacher named Qiu?”

“Yes, do you know her?” Miaozhen asked curiously.

Madam Ru smiled, “I heard her brother has just been appointed Inspector of Zhejiang and is planning to bring her back.”

Miaozhen only knew that Madam Qiu had once become a nun after widowhood, and wondered why she never returned home after her monastery closed. Now she learned someone was coming for her.

She wasn’t sure when Madam Qiu would leave but planned to send gifts.

Back home, she discussed it with her parents. Xu Erpeng gave her a tael of silver, saying, “She’s your own teacher. Buy whatever you need, don’t be stingy.”

“Yes, daughter understands,” Miaozhen said, putting the silver safely in her purse.

Unexpectedly, Madam Qiu said the school would remain open until the end of the year, so there were still over four months left—ample time indeed.

Her classmates hadn’t met in over a month. When reunited, they were especially affectionate, sharing many life changes. For instance, the youngest, Tong Pan’er, was engaged. Wang Xie, her closest friend, teased, “You have good news and don’t tell us?”

Miaozhen asked whose son he was. Wang Xie whispered, “The second son of the Li family.”

That was a fine match. Miaozhen congratulated her, and even the carefree Tong Pan’er blushed. The others tactfully changed the subject.

Madam Qiu’s smile had deepened. Mrs. Ma said Qiu’s parents were very formal and conservative, believing a married daughter belonged to her husband’s family and didn’t want her back. Now that the Inspector had learned of his sister’s whereabouts after their parents’ death, he wanted to bring her home and even wrote a praise for her talent.

Fortunately, Madam Qiu did not slack off despite her impending departure. She continued to teach writing, painting, music, needlework, and cooking—sometimes even more strictly.

Although Miaozhen occasionally complained, her growth was undeniable. For example, during the Double Ninth Festival outing with the Xu family, she knew to prepare chestnut cakes and drink chrysanthemum wine—and even made the chestnut cakes herself.

She bought fresh chestnuts, steamed and mashed them, sieved the paste, then mixed it with glutinous rice flour and sugar in the right proportions. She spread the mixture in a pan, sprinkled pine nuts and melon seeds on top, steamed it again, then cut it into diamond-shaped pieces, placing them in a food box.

Afterward, the four of them visited Uncle Fengqiao’s house. Though he had planned to work that day, his wife, Madam Bao, had driven away a skilled female assistant who made flower cakes out of jealousy, causing a sharp decline in business. Uncle Fengqiao wanted to take a break.

They waited half an hour before the main household arrived, fashionably late.

Mrs. Huang, who had stayed with the second branch and gotten along well with Mrs. Mei, immediately spoke, “The deputy commandant’s family can only keep the tutor until the end of the year.”

Mrs. Mei replied, “Our Zhenzhen will study till year-end, then the teacher returns home.”

She then recounted the female teacher’s background, smiling with some pride, “When Zhenzhen goes out in the future, saying she was a disciple of the great talent Madam Qiu will surely add to her reputation.”

Mrs. Huang listened indifferently, while Miaoyun cast an envious glance at Miaozhen.

Meanwhile, Old Madam Xu pulled Xu Erpeng aside. “Your sister is getting older, and we know no one. You should worry about her.”

“Isn’t your third daughter-in-law the one who loves matchmaking the most? If not you, then why come to me?” Xu Erpeng shrugged.

Old Madam Xu asked about a certain young master from the Li family nearby.

Xu Erpeng understood immediately and laughed, “Mother, you really dare to dream. The Li family’s youngest son is betrothed to Tong’s daughter. Even so, I hear the Li family isn’t very happy. Tong’s daughter is at least an official of the eighth rank.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Xu hesitated.

But Xu Siyang’s marriage could not be delayed forever. She would be fourteen next year. Mrs. Huang and Mrs. Mei, under Old Madam Xu’s urging, sought matches for her, but none were suitable.

In the early winter month, Mrs. Huang found a family of weavers. The man worked at the Suzhou dyeing bureau and had two sons and two daughters. The proposal was for the younger son.

Xu Siyang, anxious and hearing that the dyeing bureau was government-run and that the groom was the younger son, recalled how her parents favored Third Uncle and agreed.

However, problems arose. Old Master Xu suddenly demanded a bride price of 150 guan, which the groom’s family grudgingly accepted after much dispute. They also requested a dowry of 150 guan.

Since giving the rice shop to the younger son, Old Master Xu’s funds were tight. He enjoyed playing cards and flirting, so now he openly demanded the bride price, leaving the dowry to be raised by his sons.

Fearing his sons would refuse if told in advance, he decided to accept the marriage proposal first and hold onto the bride price, making the sons gather the dowry afterward.