Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Early the next morning, after my sister-in-law respectfully served tea to Mother, she handed Mother a forehead band and gave me a sachet. Embarrassed, she said, “The things are simple. Please do not dislike them, Mother-in-law and Little Sister.”

Before a bride married, she was supposed to embroider a few items for her husband’s family. But all of her dowry had been carried back by the Qiao family. Even her change of clothes had been bought in a hurry by servants sent out overnight. Where could she have gotten a forehead band and a sachet?

My brother helped her sit down and explained with distress, “Jinniang stayed up all night embroidering these. She said the rites were already incomplete, so she had to make up whatever she could.”

When we looked carefully, there was indeed a bluish shadow under her eyes.

Mother was right. My sister-in-law felt uneasy, so she refused to make even the smallest mistake.

I quickly took her hand and said, “What Little Sister? Sister-in-law, from now on, just call me Xiaozhi like Brother does. Your hands are so clever. The butterfly on this sachet looks like it could fly. Unlike me. I cannot even make neat stitches.”

Her brows and eyes relaxed a little, as if she had found something she could do. “If Little Sister is willing, we can practice together.”

Mother interrupted her. “That will not do. Dashu’s wife, once the three-day return visit is over, you should take charge of the household. How would you have time to play with a child?”

“You want me to manage the household? How could that be? I am still young and should learn more from my elders. You honor me too much.”

My sister-in-law refused in alarm, as if such a thing were impossibly precious.

Mother stuffed the keys into her hand. “Just take it as helping this old woman. Every day they bring this account and that account to me. I barely know a few characters. How could I understand? It annoys me to death. Here, the storeroom keys are yours. When you have time, start checking the inventory.”

In the storeroom were the gold Mother had moved in and some gifts exchanged with other military households.

When my sister-in-law realized Mother was serious, and even my brother held her hand and asked her to accept, she finally gripped the keys and answered solemnly, “I promise you that every account in this family will have a clear source. I will not fail your trust.”

That very afternoon, she ignored even my brother, her newlywed husband, and plunged into the storeroom with Mama Tao and Cuihuan, counting and recording everything.

Mother was afraid they would suffer in the heat, so she asked me to bring them mung bean soup. Just as I reached the door, I heard Cuihuan’s mouth rattling away again. This time, though, she was saying good things.

“I truly did not expect the old madam to be so generous. The right to manage the household! In which residence does the matriarch not hold that tightly in her own hands, refusing to hand it over until the daughter-in-law grows old from waiting? Miss, the son-in-law’s family trusts you.”

My sister-in-law did not speak, but there was a smile on her face. It was not the cautious smile from the morning, but a steady, grounded one that made people feel comfortable just looking at it.

How wonderful. She understood Mother’s intention.

I poked my head out and said, “Sister-in-law, I brought you soup. I also want to say a word for my brother. This gold and silver will not grow legs and run away if you sort it later. Pay him some attention. He has passed this courtyard gate ten times already.”

I did not know whether my sister-in-law was startled or shy, but her face flushed bright red. She did not answer. Instead, she beckoned. “Since Xiaozhi is here, help your sister-in-law. You are thirteen now. It is time for you to learn too.”

Alas. I had wanted to help my brother, but I ended up dragging myself in as well.