Chapter 6

Madam Qiu’s small courtyard was located in the backyard of Mrs. Ma’s residence, with a separate side gate opening into it. The courtyard was modest in size, featuring a well in the center and pomegranate trees planted on either side. The shade from the trees covered a side chamber used as a kitchen and sewing room. Mrs. Ma mentioned that Madam Qiu also taught cooking and needlework there.

Under the eaves of the east wing, a few pots of white magnolias were arranged. In the heat of early autumn, their presence seemed to offer a soothing coolness.

At the entrance hung a bamboo curtain adorned with a few strings of wind chimes, which tinkled crisply whenever the breeze stirred them.

Miao Zhen thought to herself that Madam Qiu must be a person who truly appreciated the finer aspects of life. Just then, a woman in her thirties emerged from the inner room. She wore a light purple hemp shirt, over which was draped a white vest embroidered with golden osmanthus blossoms. Beneath, creamy white knee-length pants peeked out. Her appearance was delicate and refined, exuding an aura of scholarly grace.

Mei approached and said, “Madam Qiu, I am bringing my daughter over.”

Madam Qiu looked on attentively, her gaze fixed on Miao Zhen. The girl wore a pale green cross-collared top paired with a pink horse-face skirt. Her hair was styled into three small buns, each tied with red ribbons. Though not strikingly beautiful, her eyes were remarkable—dark, bright, and sparkling with a clever intelligence.

Madam Qiu nodded approvingly. “Very well, she seems to be a smart child.”

Mei smiled politely. “Thank you for your care.”

“Don’t worry, I will teach her earnestly. By the way, did she bring her books? We’re starting to study the Four Books today,” Madam Qiu asked, glancing at Miao Zhen.

Miao Zhen quickly nodded, “Yes, I have them.”

Madam Qiu sent Mei away and then led Miao Zhen inside, where four other girls sat, all about her age. After greetings, Miao Zhen introduced herself, “I am the daughter of the owner of the Jin Chang Confucian Bookstore, surnamed Xu, named Miao Zhen.”

Ma Yulan was someone she already knew. Among the others, the first was Wang Xie, whose family ran a silk and satin shop. She was eleven this year, with slightly full skin and a somewhat flattened nose, but altogether looked very graceful. Miao Zhen thought she was the most beautiful girl with a flat nose she had ever seen.

Next was Lin Xiaoxiao, who ran a fan shop and was about the same age but appeared somewhat frail and pale, looking rather uneasy.

The last was Tong Pan’er, daughter of a student official, who smiled broadly.

After introductions, seating arrangements became awkward. The others paired off two to a table, but Miao Zhen was left alone. She didn’t mind and took a seat in the last row.

Composed, she took out her book. Unlike the rigid recitations of the scholar Yu, Madam Qiu’s lessons were more detailed and expansive, prompting Miao Zhen to take careful notes.

Madam Qiu nodded approvingly. The girls all cherished their chance to study, so they were diligent, and this new student, Xu, seemed clever and eager to learn.

Since Miao Zhen had joined mid-term, they had already covered two lessons. During the break, she asked Wang Xie to borrow her notes. Wang Xie readily handed over her book and said, “If you don’t understand anything, just ask me.”

“Thank you, Sister Wang,” Miao Zhen replied. Having transferred schools four or five times in her previous life due to her parents’ divorce, she was experienced in joining new classes. She knew it wasn’t necessary to rush into friendships right away; academic progress came first.

While copying notes, Tong Pan’er, sitting in front of her, turned around and commented, “Your handwriting is really beautiful. Mine isn’t good at all—my mother says I write like a dog crawling.”

Miao Zhen thought back to Yu’s class and knew her own handwriting was indeed excellent, firmly in the standard clerical script. She was proud of it.

After the morning lessons, Madam Qiu’s two maids brought in lunch. To Miao Zhen’s surprise, it was all vegetarian but beautifully presented: vegetarian roast goose made by wrapping thin tofu skin around yam, garnished with cucumber cubes; a dish of tea-scented bamboo shoots, fresh and appetizing; and a bowl of bean soup rice—delicious indeed.

Tuition was ten taels per year, and meals plus miscellaneous fees cost about three to five qian monthly. Though the meals were vegetarian, Madam Qiu put much thought into them.

The afternoon was supposed to be calligraphy and painting, but Miao Zhen had not brought brushes or paint, so Madam Qiu switched to tea ceremony.

Each girl had a small pinch of tea leaves on her desk. Madam Qiu taught them how to brew tea and explained, “Today’s tea is Songluo tea, a green tea with a fresh and tender flavor. It leaves a slight bitterness afterward, so it’s best paired with sweet pastries like mung bean cake, Tiger Hill cake, or flower cakes.”

Miao Zhen took mental notes diligently, as her father often entertained guests, and it would be proper to know such customs.

Madam Qiu even had them help in the kitchen making sugar-glazed cakes, an experience new to Miao Zhen. Using a wooden pestle in a stone mortar, they crushed roasted pine nuts and walnuts into a paste, then powdered rock sugar with a small mill. These ingredients were mixed and pressed into plum blossom molds. Once set, the cakes were ready to eat without steaming.

With the day’s lessons complete, Miao Zhen found it relaxing and enjoyable.

Life was strange—back in the modern era, she had no real home and few friends due to frequent school changes. Yet here in the past, she had devoted parents and friendly classmates.

After school, she hurried on without going home, directing the carriage driver toward the Tao family.

Since they had made sugar-glazed cakes today, she and the maids each took several pieces, with some wrapped in oiled paper to share with Madam Ru.

Xiao Xi asked, “Miss, are you tired?”

“Not at all, the afternoon felt like play,” Miao Zhen replied, propping her chin on her hand with a smile.

When she arrived at the Tao residence, Madam Ru was already waiting. Miao Zhen thought that accomplished women seemed invariably punctual and disciplined; both Madam Qiu and Madam Ru had that air, exuding confidence in managing affairs. Madam Ru had prepared a copy of the Pulse Manual in advance.

“I’ll teach you how to take pulses first. Knowing it theoretically is one thing, but true understanding comes from practice,” Madam Ru said.

Though Miao Zhen had some foundation, she treated this as a fresh lesson—feeling the pulse at the inch, bar, and cubit positions on both wrists, distinguishing floating or sinking, deficiency or excess, length or shortness, rapid or slow, and finally identifying the pulse type.

Not a prodigy, Miao Zhen found taking notes was the best method. While Madam Ru spoke, she palpated the pulse and recorded everything carefully.

When they finished, Miao Zhen took out the sugar-glazed cakes. “Teacher, these are cakes I made myself. They’ve cooled a bit, but please try some.”

Worrying Madam Ru might decline, she was surprised when Madam Ru accepted eagerly. “I only have two sons and no daughters. No one has ever shown me such filial kindness.”

Hearing this, Miao Zhen was delighted. “I will make more for you when I have time.”

Madam Ru invited her to stay for dinner, but Miao Zhen declined, “It’s my first day here, and my parents are waiting at home. Please forgive me.”

After leaving Madam Ru’s, Miao Zhen returned home to a sumptuous dinner—beef and chicken dishes. At the table, she recounted the day’s experiences with a smile.

Her father, Xu Erpeng, told Mei, “Our daughters ate vegetarian at noon. For dinner, ask the kitchen to prepare some meat dishes.”

Mei hastened to comply.

Miao Zhen also shared what she had learned about pairing green tea with pastries. Xu Erpeng took mental note.

Half a month passed quickly. Miao Zhen arrived early each day at the girls’ school. She was closest to Lin Xiaoxiao, who, though frail, was knowledgeable and genuinely taught her things. They often confided in each other.

Because she lived nearby, Miao Zhen was the first to arrive. The maids helped arrange the books before leaving. At this moment, Lin Xiaoxiao and Ma Yulan came over. Lin Xiaoxiao said, “I was planning to wait for you at your house just now, but at your door stood an old woman and a girl in shabby clothes asking me for directions.”

“Really?” Miao Zhen was puzzled.

Lin Xiaoxiao replied, “They’re probably your relatives. This isn’t unusual. A few days ago, some country relatives came to visit us.”

Lin Xiaoxiao’s family fan shop had been passed down since her grandfather’s time. Her father expanded the business, and she was their only daughter.

With wealth and only one daughter, many cast covetous eyes, hoping to claim a piece.

Just like Miao Zhen’s family, where Mei was always deferential to Mrs. Bao, who dominated the household because she bore sons.

The Lin family’s wealth and sole heir status made Lin Xiaoxiao a prized asset among clan members.

Meanwhile, standing at the gate of the Confucian Bookstore were none other than Madam Xu and Xu Siniang. Madam Xu was advising her daughter, “You need to curb your temper and treat Miao Zhen kindly for a few days. Then you’ll have someone to serve you. Besides, Miao Zhen is still young—not yet at the age for marriage talks. Your second brother’s earnings should soon provide a dowry for you. We are getting older and cannot handle everything ourselves.”

Xu Siniang, beginning to grasp the situation, thought about living in the cramped building on Maple Bridge, dusty whenever she went out. Looking at the grand mansion before her, she resolved firmly that she must stay.