Chapter 8 Chapter 8 On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, at the hour of Hai. Jiang...
The twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month at the hour of Hai.
Jiang Wan came down from the second floor of the pawnshop. The shopkeeper waved to her with satisfaction and handed her two taels of silver.
"You've been doing a great job lately, and you've increased our pawnshop's profits quite a bit. Here's your wages. Even though you only worked for half a month, I'm still paying you more than double what other guys here make in a month. Keep working hard, and you'll be indispensable."
The shopkeeper patted her shoulder and said, "I'm going home for the New Year. The pawnshop will be closed starting tomorrow and will reopen on the eighth day of the first lunar month. You should also go back and have a good rest, and buy some more delicious food. You look so thin, as thin as a bamboo pole."
Jiang Wan took the silver with both hands and bowed to the shopkeeper: "Then I wish you a happy new year in advance, and a prosperous business in the coming year."
"Okay, let's go back quickly and be careful on the road."
Jiang Wan left the pawnshop and walked along the commercial street.
Many shops were closed, and the streets were much less crowded than they had been two weeks ago. The lights were also much dimmer. Jiang Wan bought a blue cloth dress and a wooden hairpin—inexpensive, but elegant. She was naturally delicate, but the three months of starvation and cold had left her thinner than before. The blue dress gave her a rather pitiful look, but it didn't overshadow Madam Li.
Jiang Wan had considered buying some powder and applying vanishing cream to cover the cut on her hand, as Madam Li had instructed. However, firstly, the original owner's skin was striking, still delicate even after three months of torture. If she added powder, she might steal Madam Li's limelight and cause displeasure. Secondly, leaving the scar there would easily arouse the pity of important figures. Thirdly, the money would be better spent on buying two cotton-padded jackets for her mother and brother instead of powder and ointment.
Thinking of this, she went to the cotton-padded clothing shop again and picked out two cotton-padded jackets. Although the styles were not popular, they were warm. She gave them to her mother and brother as New Year gifts.
Jiang Wan only had ninety taels of silver. She had already spent a hundred copper coins on the long skirt and wooden hairpin, and another three hundred on two cotton-padded jackets, almost equivalent to two or three days' wages. She also wanted to open her own shop, so she had to save money.
In the blink of an eye, it is New Year's Eve.
When Jiang Wan got off work and went home, there were few pedestrians on the road, every house had its doors closed, and the air was filled with the aroma of food.
Jiang's mother and Jiang An were already waiting for Jiang Wan in the thatched cottage. A month after arriving in Xiaofangpan City, Jiang's mother bought a piece of meat for the first time to celebrate the New Year.
But the meat hadn't even been cooked yet. Both mother and son knew that tonight was crucial for Jiang Wan. If she could win the magistrate's favor, she would be free. If she displeased him, her life would be in danger.
The Jiang family mother and son looked very nervous. They couldn't eat at all and didn't dare to ask anything that would affect Jiang Wan's condition.
They wanted to wait for Jiang Wan to come back from the magistrate's office and have dinner together.
On the other hand, Jiang Wan, the person involved, remained calm and composed. While tidying his clothes in front of the water tank, he jokingly said, "Mom, brother, why are you so sullen? Are you mad at me because I left you guys out to eat some delicacies?"
Having said that, both Jiang's mother and son had served the Duke, so they certainly knew that at a family banquet, only the master had the food to eat, while the servants could only stand and serve. What's more, Jiang Wan was not even Madam Li's maid.
Jiang's mother carefully combed her daughter's hair and adjusted her hairpin: "It's already late, and you still have the mind to joke. When you get to the magistrate's house, you must not speak carelessly."
Jiang An frowned, as if he wanted to give his mother some advice, but fearing that his mother would worry even more, he pursed his lips and remained silent. But Jiang Wan knew what he was thinking just by looking at his twisted facial features.
"Don't worry, eat if you're hungry and wait for my good news!" Jiang Wan gave his mother a big hug and winked at his brother mischievously.
"Wait a minute," Jiang An suddenly remembered something and took out the cotton-padded jacket Jiang Wan had given him from his room and put it on Jiang Wan. "It's cold at night, remember to wear it on the way, don't catch a cold."
"No need, brother. I'll ask Madam Li to send a groom to take me there."
Unexpectedly, Jiang An, who always listened to his sister, got stubborn and blocked the door: "If you don't put it on, I won't let you go."
Jiang Wan found it both funny and heartwarming to see her brother blocking the door with a look of grievance. Whether in the original owner's memories or during their nearly month together, Jiang An, in his early twenties, had always been gentle and refined. She hadn't expected him to have such a childish side.
Jiang Wan obediently put on his cotton coat, wrapping his thin body tightly, and joked, "You're 21 years old, aren't you ashamed?" and pretended to scratch his nose.
Jiang An blushed and scolded, "Look at how disrespectful you are to your brother..."
Jiang Wan didn't give him a chance to continue, and hurried away, leaving behind a sentence:
"I'm leaving first!"
The setting sun stretched her shadow very long. Jiang An put away his playful look and watched Jiang Wan motionlessly until her figure disappeared around the corner.
At the county magistrate's family dinner.
Magistrate Li, dressed in his everyday attire, sat at the main seat, his concubine beside him. On either side sat his two concubines, a son and a daughter. Six tables were laden with dishes. Jiang Wan and Madam Li's maids knelt behind Madam Li, one on each side.
According to custom, at the banquet, the concubines' children would present gifts to the county magistrate, who would then give them rewards.
Madam Li glanced at Jiang Wan, then stood up and bowed to the magistrate. Jiang Wan took the tray containing the daughter's red wine and the luminous cup, knelt behind Madam Li, and raised the tray above her head.
"I wish you a happy new year, Master. I wish you good health and a prosperous career," Madam Li said gently. "Here are the gifts I've prepared for you. Thirty-year-old daughter's red wine, and this luminous cup, made of unicorn jade, whose color changes with the light. The wave pattern on the cup and the sun-shaped notch on the rim symbolize the rising sun over the East China Sea, bringing blessings and longevity."
"Oh, there is such a good thing? Let me see it quickly." When the magistrate heard that it was Linyu, his eyes suddenly lit up.
Before evening, Jiang placed the tray on the magistrate's desk. Under the light, the wine glass shone with golden light, interspersed with emerald wave patterns, a dazzling brilliance. The magistrate picked it up and gently shook it, and the emerald swayed instantly, like surging waves, a breathtaking sight.
The magistrate was immediately delighted and kept saying, "Okay, okay—Amei, you really understand my feelings."
A Mei is Mrs. Li's maiden name.
Upon hearing this, Madam Li smiled shyly, a blush on her cheeks, and stepped forward to receive the reward.
"I just gave you some advice. Ultimately, it's the craftsman's skill that made this masterpiece possible." Madam Li said softly.
Jiang Wan complained inwardly: Actually, the idea was mine.
But she certainly wouldn't compete with Madam Li for credit at this time. As long as Madam Li could help her escape slavery, she didn't care about anything else. Besides, she was alone now, and showing off too much wouldn't be a good thing.
"Amei is so clever, it's a blessing for me," the magistrate said with a roll of his eyes. "Where did you find the craftsman?"
"The girl kneeling before the master is her."
"Oh? You're a woman?" The magistrate finally noticed Jiang Wan and saw the tattoo on her forehead. He asked in surprise, "Are you a convict?"
"Your Excellency," Jiang Wan bowed, "I was originally a maid, and I learned a lot of crafts in the capital. Because my master was convicted, I was exiled here."
Jiang Wan's words were simple, but they conveyed a message: she was just a maid before.
The wealthy families of the capital were entangled by marriages and factional disputes. Someone convicted and exiled today might be exonerated and return to the capital, or perhaps even be found guilty of a greater crime and beheaded. If Jiang Wan were a legitimate daughter, the magistrate wouldn't dare set her free, fearing trouble. It was precisely because she was a mere maid, insignificant, that the magistrate was willing to help her escape slavery.
A month ago, when Jiang Wan and his young lady arrived in Xiaofangpan City, they had been separated from the Jiang family and assigned to work as a maid in an official's house. She was under closer supervision, but they dared not abuse her easily. Jiang Wan's family, on the other hand, were forced to do hard labor. Starvation and beatings were commonplace, and their lives were of little importance.
However, at this time, this insignificant identity made it easier for her to escape from slavery.
The magistrate looked down at her and asked, "Do you want to be free?"
"Of course I do! I'm in the laundry house, hungry, cold, often beaten, and my mother is sick. If this continues, I'm afraid I'll die there." Jiang Wan said, spreading his palms to reveal traces of frostbite, tears streaming down his face. "I beg for mercy, sir. If you can rescue me, I will repay your kindness with a gift of grass and a ring!"
The county magistrate hummed, then asked, "Next year on the eighth day of the fifth lunar month, it will be the sixtieth birthday of the Lady Dowager of Dunhuang County. I haven't decided what gift to prepare. Do you have any suggestions?"
Xiaofangpan City was under the jurisdiction of Dunhuang County, meaning the Dunhuang County Magistrate was Li Zhixian's immediate superior. For the County Magistrate's mother's birthday, the gift had to be both agreeable and not too expensive, lest it be reported to the emperor, who accused the two of corrupt conduct and mutual protection.
Jiang Wan didn't want to take over this mess at all.
Magistrate Li stared at her intently, looking quite dignified.
This was forcing her to agree. Only if she came up with a good idea would the magistrate release her from her official duties. If she didn't dare to respond, she would offend the magistrate and would be dragged into a dark alley and beaten to death the moment she left the mansion.
One thought can lead to life, another to death. This has always been the case in officialdom. Even Duke He, a noble duke, made a mistake and died tragically in prison.
Jiang Wan really didn't like this feeling, but he had no choice but to agree.
"Sir, the gift from the Lady Dowager is extremely important. It cannot be too light, which would make people feel that it lacks thought, nor too heavy, which would make people feel that it is out of proportion. I have some knowledge of the art of firing porcelain, and I have a rough idea. If you believe me, I will definitely present you with a satisfactory work before your birthday." Jiang Wan replied.
Magistrate Li looked down at Jiang Wan's expression. After a moment, he stroked his beard and laughed, "Not bad, get up. Come on, bring—"
Madam Li kindly reminded her, "Jiang Wan."
"Yes, bring Miss Jiang's indenture and return it to her. Miss Jiang's name can be crossed out from the criminal slave register."
Jiang Wan breathed a sigh of relief, but a cold sweat had already broken out on his back.
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