Chapter 4, A Narrow Encounter

Jiang Ruan couldn't help but smile inwardly. In fact, it didn't matter which garment she wore. When she arrived at the manor, she had brought along quite a few items and clothes, but those ornaments and garments were soon deceived and taken away by Zhang Lan and her daughter Chen Fang. In the end, she was left with not even a single piece of her own clothing. Chen Fang took all her clothes and exchanged them for rough, tattered old garments, which, not to mention their appearance and fabric, had such thin cotton filling in the winter that it was hardly sufficient for warmth.

Jiang Ruan shook her head, slowly lifted the quilt, and got down. Lian Qiao hurried over to support her. Jiang Ruan walked to the table and sat down, glancing at the bracelet on the table before reaching out to put it on herself. She compared it for a moment and said: "To seek a good omen"

Bai Zhi was fiddling with the firewood in the brazier, recalling how Lian Qiao had told her everything about Qiu Yan last night. In the end, she said: "Why do I feel that the young lady is not quite right? The change is simply too great. Could it be that her past compliance was all a deception?"

"You choose." Jiang Ruan said

I went to buy some New Year goods. Lianqiao was not annoyed at all, still smiling cheerfully. She stepped into the room, opened the oiled paper package on the table, and said to Jiang Ruan: "Miss, come and have some, the spring pancakes are still warm."

After searching for a while, Lianqiao and Baizhi finally selected a dark green buttoned old padded jacket, paired with a wide, modified light yellow thick skirt underneath, and topped with a beige long cloak. Concerned that her delicate hair would not match the outfit, Baizhi styled her hair into the simplest bun. Given her young age, it surprisingly suited her well. This ensemble was not particularly festive; however, with Jiang Ruan's fair complexion and the outfit not appearing rustic, combined with her calm and indifferent demeanor, she looked like a different person from her usual self.

It is the youngest son of the Zhang family, Chen Zhao

Bai Zhi did not know how to respond to her. In fact, Lian Qiao was not wrong; Jiang Ruan's transformation was indeed significant, especially for them as her close maidservants, the change was even more pronounced. Since Jiang Ruan was sent to the manor four years ago, she had always been in tears. The various difficulties imposed by the Zhang family had eventually left her without even the energy to cry, and she silently endured it all, with her sorrow festering in her heart, making her even more withdrawn and taciturn in her daily life. However, her demeanor and attitude towards Qiu Yan yesterday seemed as if she were a different person. Bai Zhi felt puzzled; after a serious illness, could a person's temperament really change as well?

Bai Zhi found it strange: "Where did you get this?" Zhang Lan's family surely wouldn't be so kind. Nowadays, due to the matter concerning Chen Zhao, Zhang Lan harbors considerable resentment towards Jiang Ruan. The servants would not take the initiative to touch this bad luck, and they certainly do not have any spare silver to buy snacks.

Bai Zhi and Lian Qiao exchanged a surprised glance. Usually, Jiang Ruan was reluctant to go out for a walk, except when she was working. The servants in the village often mocked the three of them to the fullest. Lian Qiao had a fiery temperament and could barely keep some people in check, but it was of little use. Over time, Jiang Ruan became increasingly unwilling to see anyone and always stayed in her own courtyard

Lianqiao felt a pang in her heart and thought to herself, which noble family’s young lady does not have a pile of jewelry and ornaments for the New Year, yet her own daughter only has a copper coin string worth ten wen, which is hardly worth mentioning even among ordinary families. Turning her head to hide the bitterness in her eyes, Lianqiao smiled again and said, "Miss, why not have another spring pancake?"

Bai Zhi set up a fire basin by the door, half of her body blocking the entrance, fanning away the choking smoke, allowing a meager warmth to fill the room. Sunlight streamed into the courtyard, which was the most remote and dilapidated of all, with the eaves leaking wind and rain year-round, and field mice often scurrying about. The blankets sent from the village were already thin, and many had been gnawed by the mice. Bai Zhi sighed, unable to resist glancing back at Jiang Ruan, who was sitting on the bed wrapped in a blanket.

Jiang Ruan knew that she had misunderstood his intentions, but she did not explain. She merely glanced out the window and said, "The weather outside is quite nice; let's go for a walk."

"Be careful," Bai Zhi gently reproached, "Why are you being so reckless?"

Zhuangzi and the others began to get busy, whether intentionally or forgetting about the three of them, Jiang, Ruan, and their servant, after the New Year's Eve dinner, not a single person came to the courtyard of the three.

Bai Zhi chuckled and said, "What is the point of buying a string of copper coins for good fortune? Are we really praying for the young lady to have a windfall in the coming year?"

On the first day of the lunar new year, the sound of firecrackers echoed through the long street early in the morning. Children from the village eagerly came out to set off the "opening firecrackers." After the firecrackers, the ground was covered with fallen petals, dazzling like brocade, referred to as "full house of red."

"What is wrong with a steady stream of wealth?" Lian Qiao replied, "Money can make the devil push the mill; what is wrong with having silver? If there were silver, these people would not dare to bully the young lady like this."

"Yes, yes, yes," Bai Zhi quickly replied, "This year, the young lady has had great fortune throughout the year, everything has gone very smoothly!"

Lian Qiao furrowed her brow, while Bai Zhi discreetly shielded Jiang Ruan behind her. Jiang Ruan looked up, and the shadow of the other person was clearly reflected in her eyes

Bai Zhi hurriedly gave a look to Lian Qiao, reminding her that Jiang Ruan was still present and to refrain from speaking further. Lian Qiao, aware of her slip of the tongue, quickly fell silent and cautiously glanced at Jiang Ruan

Jiang Ruan leaned against a coarse cloth, brown pillow, with a quilt covering her chest, lost in thought. Having been sent to the village for four years, and with the Zhang family's lack of clothing and food, her development was later than that of an average girl. Her hair had taken on a dry, yellowish hue. At this moment, sunlight streamed through the window, casting a flowing sheen on her long hair. Her slightly pursed lips seemed to have a bit more color than usual, making her delicate features appear more refined. What was most striking was her quiet demeanor; she sat still, yet seemed even more tranquil than before, as if she had become a different person, strangely unfamiliar.

Jiang Ruan shook her head: "I can't eat, you all go ahead and eat." She paused with the librarian and continued: "I don't have any money to reward you, come with me to the village. You have endured a lot of hardship over these four years, but fortunately this year, we will not have to suffer anymore."

"Alright, alright, alright," Lianqiao said with a smile as she went to rummage through the trunk of clothes: "Which outfit does the young lady wish to wear?"

However, no matter how much things change, Jiang Ruan is still their master. Jiang Ruan's current attitude is completely different from that of the past, which may be a good thing. While lost in thought, Qian Qiao has already entered with an oiled paper bag, nearly knocking over the brazier.

Having tidied up, the three of them finally walked out of the courtyard. Lianqiao suggested taking a stroll on the street. Just as they exited the grand residence of the village, they unexpectedly encountered a few people, and a surprised voice called out: "Sister Ruan!"

It seems that a noble guest is about to arrive at Zhuangzi's place, and everyone has been preparing for the past few days. There are also more snacks being prepared. I have some acquaintance with the new lily in the kitchen, so I asked for a few. She smiled and said, "Although we may be a bit rough around the edges, we still need to celebrate the New Year. Look, I also have this." She took out a string of copper coins from her bosom and said, "I bought this for ten wen on my way back, to bring good fortune and ensure that the coming year goes smoothly."