Madam Qian, upon hearing this, took a length of silver-red lake silk woven with a subtle waterwave and plum blossom pattern from an opened trunk and held it against Song Jiyun’s body, smiling tenderly, "Your younger sister’s marriage has been settled, and I’ve been thinking it’s time to start preparing her dowry. Over the years, I’ve saved quite a lot of fine things for you sisters. Using the occasion of your sister’s marriage, we can sort and distribute them."
After speaking, she remembered her eldest daughter’s marriage.
She wondered when Song Jiyun would find a desirable groom.
She handed the length of silk to a young maid by her side and said, "You should also pick two or three items you particularly like to take for yourself, and the rest shall be evenly divided among the four of you sisters."
Song Jixue playfully chimed in from the side, "Mother, if both big sister and I take a liking to your Jade Guanyin, who will you give it to?"
Madam Qian, annoyed by her incessant complaints, raised an eyebrow and said, "Then neither of you will have it! I’ll keep it for myself."
Song Jiyun chuckled and replied, "I don’t need it. Let the younger sisters choose."
Madam Qian deliberately pushed the Jade Guanyin into Song Jiyun’s hands, saying, "I know you are capable and not in need of these things. When Xiao Si gets married, we will surely have to rely on you to contribute. But you are my daughter too, and whatever your sisters get, you should have as well." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
Song Jixue then purposefully accused Madam Qian of "playing favorites" at the side.
The three of them laughed and chatted, creating a lively scene.
However, by the afternoon, when Song Jixue went to Yinyu Hall for her lesson, she didn’t see Yuan Yunzhong and he hadn’t left a single word.
She ran to Song Jiyun with confusion clouding her mind, "Not only is the brother-in-law missing, but Shao Qing is also gone. I asked Liu Zi, and even he doesn’t know where they went."
Perhaps feeling disheartened, they moved out overnight along with Shao Qing.
A stab of pain seemed to pierce Song Jiyun’s chest.
Suppressing the discomfort in her heart, with a smile tinged with an effort she herself didn’t fully understand, she reassured, "Young Master Yuan is not your teacher. He has his duties; it’s perfectly normal that he can’t give you lessons occasionally. Instead, it’s you who shouldn’t always disturb him." She then reminded her, "Didn’t you say you haven’t finished the assignments Young Master Yuan gave you? Why did you have time to go to Yinyu Hall? Go finish your assignments quickly."
Song Jixue, who had always had immense respect for Song Jiyun, dared not talk back and said quietly, "But brother-in-law always leaves a message when he goes out and assigns me extra homework. This time he disappeared without a word, of course I’m a bit worried!"
Song Jiyun gently patted her head, saying, "Perhaps it’s an emergency and he didn’t manage to inform."
Song Jixue felt somewhat disheartened, "Alright then! I’ll go look for brother-in-law again tomorrow."
Yet Song Jiyun was pondering how to separate the two promptly.
"Tomorrow the Xiong Family are coming over, and you probably won’t be free," she said, "If you have time these days, spend it with your second sister. As for your studies, I’ll discuss with Young Master Yuan to see if we can hire a proper teacher for you."
"No way!" Song Jixue protested, "No one is better than brother-in-law."
"Being great is one thing, but he can’t always be your teacher," Song Jiyun coaxed Song Jixue.
Song Jixue was a child who listened to reason; she felt sad but also understood that her sister was speaking the truth, and her spirits were soon lifted.
Song Jiyun instructed her, "Your mother is going to help draft your second sister’s dowry list these next few days. If you have time, help her look after your fourth sister. I will be busy discussing the firing of new blue and white porcelain with Old Master Yan and the others, and won’t have time to manage household matters, so you will need to lend me a hand."
Song Jixue indeed shifted her attention, repeatedly assuring with "Sister, don’t worry," she threw the matter of Yuan Yunzhong not being at Yinyu Hall to the back of her mind, and dashed off to Madam Qian’s place.
Song Jiyun breathed a sigh of relief, accompanied by Zheng Quan, went to the porcelain business meeting in Jingde Town.
Ever since Eunuch Wan lost face and rarely appeared before Jingde Town’s public, Chairman Ma had regained his spirits and perked up. Hearing that Song Jiyun was going to discuss with Old Master Yan and others the firing of new blue and white porcelain, he volunteered and suggested they convene at the business association to discuss the matter, adding, "This is a big matter for the association, and Boss Song’s good deed should not pass quietly and unnoticed by the world."
Song Jiyun thought about how in the past there were newspapers and magazines to help with publicity, but wondered what means were available now.
It was only when she arrived at the association that she discovered Chairman Ma had invited a down-and-out scholar to write down the event and had shared it with storytelling teachers to spread the word far and wide, also whispering to Song Jiyun, "Those storytelling teachers can earn One Hundred Wen Money for one session from the association. If the teahouse is full, they can earn two hundred wen."
Song Jiyun couldn’t help but laugh heartily.
It was evident that at any time, if one wanted to do something, there were ways to do it.
Mimicking Chairman Ma, she lowered her voice and said, "We cannot let the association suffer a loss; I will cover the cost."
Song Jiyun couldn’t possibly settle each and every account with the association, she was certain to give more money.
Chairman Ma, with a beaming smile, personally escorted Song Jiyun to the Flower Hall where discussions were held.
Old Master Yan and the others were already waiting in the Flower Hall.
The group of people assessed every porcelain-making family in Jingde Town before they began to finalize the list for making new blue and white porcelain.
In Jingde Town, nine out of ten households were involved in porcelain-making; thus, it took four or five days to complete this task.
Song Jiyun, up early and returning late, had no time to attend to her household affairs. Having finally settled the porcelain-making families earlier than usual by two Shichen Chinese Time, she ran into Shao Qing at the door.
He seemed in a hurry, carrying a large bundle and appearing to be on his way out.
Song Jiyun couldn’t help but greet him, "Young Master Shao, where are you heading? I’ve been busy with kiln factory matters these past few days and haven’t had the chance to see you."
Shao Qing was somewhat anxious and spoke quickly, "Our young master caught a cold from the rain, got wind-chill, and has been deliriously feverish, speaking nonsense. Fortunately, today he has come to his senses, and I came here to fetch a few clothes."
Song Jiyun’s heart tightened as she rapidly inquired, "What happened? Where is Young Master Yuan resting now? Have you consulted a doctor? What did the doctor say? Is it serious?"
Shao Qing smiled and said, "He is recovering at Lord Jiang’s place. Several doctors are waiting outside, and Lord Huang even invited Celestial Master Zhang from Dragon Tiger Mountain. He’s taken medicine and will be fine. It’s just that illness comes on like a landslide but goes like unraveling silk; he’s still a bit weak and is quietly recuperating."
Song Jiyun fell silent for a moment, then said, "Young Master Shao, could you wait a moment? I have some hundred-year-old ginseng and well-formed Polygonum multiflorum here. Even though I’m not sure if they can be used, please bring them to Young Master Yuan to help nourish him."
Shao Qing didn’t decline and agreed readily.
Song Jiyun instructed a young maid to fetch the medicinal ingredients from Steward Wu, while she herself hurried back to her courtyard, packed up several packets of quality bird’s nest and fish maw from the tea room, and quickly went to Shao Qing, who was waiting in the sedan chair hall. "Bring these to Young Master Yuan as well to nourish him."
Fearing that Shao Qing didn’t know how to consume fish maw, she explained the method over and over again, and added, "Although Magistrate Jiang is the parent official of Liang County, he has only recently arrived and doesn’t know the area as well as I do since I grew up here. If Young Master Yuan craves something to eat or drink, and you can’t find where to buy it immediately, just send a message to me. I’ll take care of it."
Then, thinking that someone with a cold would have a poor appetite, she said, "In a while, I’ll make some Sichuan and Chongqing pickles for him, which he can eat with porridge to help stimulate his appetite."
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