Volume 1, Chapter 9: How Did You Find Your Way Here?

"I hear from the neighbors that Tiantian has been going into town to buy things these past few days. If the Marquis’s estate left you any money, you must remember to show some filial piety to your grandmother. After all, without her, you wouldn’t be here today..."

Cui Heng wore a mocking expression.

"Indeed, without Grandmother, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I have a broken leg, and I’ve implicated my parents, who were beaten by the Marquis’s estate because of me. Grandmother, are you here to visit, or to kick me while I’m down?"

She had come to visit, yet she arrived empty-handed.

The commotion caused by Madam Jiao was significant; every household had been keeping an eye on the Shen residence for the past few days. Outside the door, a crowd had already gathered to watch the spectacle. Madam Jiao was shameless enough to try and profit from someone else’s misfortune, but she still cared about maintaining a facade of decency.

"Of course I’m here to visit! But our family is poor, with over a dozen mouths to feed. We truly can’t spare anything, so I had to be thick-skinned and come see you empty-handed."

"My dear grandson, if your household is well-off, won't you spare your grandmother a bite of meat?"

Cui Heng offered a cold, thin smile.

"Grandmother, if you don't mind the distance, why not go to the Marquis’s estate in the capital to demand some benefits? You swapped me with Shen Fuzhu, and the Marquis’s estate hasn't even held you accountable yet. Who knows when they might return?"

Madam Jiao’s expression changed instantly.

"My dear grandson, you focus on healing; I’ll be going now!"

She was terrified that if she lingered, the people from the Marquis’s estate might return to deal with her.

"Auntie, you’re leaving just as you arrived? Ever since Shen Dalang’s family moved out, you haven’t visited once. Now that your grandson has finally returned, why not sit a while longer?"

Originally, everyone had been curious about how the Shen family managed to swap their own son with the young master of the Marquis’s estate.

Now that Madam Jiao had arrived, her booming voice had told everyone that she was the one who did it. People recalled that eighteen years ago, a caravan had indeed arrived in the neighboring village. A noblewoman had gone into labor and couldn't find a midwife, so she had come to Madam Jiao here in Qinghe Village.

So, the noblewoman who gave birth back then was the mistress of the Marquis’s estate...

"That Madam Jiao is truly bold!" Auntie Li whispered to Wang Cuihua.

Seeing that the show was over, everyone dispersed to return to their own chores.

Cui Heng was in a foul mood, perhaps because some word of Madam Jiao’s had touched a raw nerve. Yin Tiantian didn't know how to comfort him, but seeing him in pain, she felt distressed as well.

"Young Master, the sun is out. When your leg heals, let’s go to the mountaintop to watch the sunrise! The sunrise at the summit is beautiful. When the red sun rises from the horizon and the birds fly freely in the sky, it makes one feel envious."

Cui Heng replied with a quiet "okay" and then fell silent.

Yin Tiantian put on her shoes, prepared hot water for him to wash his face as usual, and served him his porridge.

"I’m heading out!"

She left without eating, walking into town under the morning sun. The county school was already in session. She circled the area twice and asked the gatekeeper about the school's dismissal time before deciding to head to the embroidery workshop first.

After asking for directions along the way, she finally found the manager of the workshop.

"Manager, this is a handkerchief I embroidered."

The woman looked at the work on the handkerchief, sized her up, and said, "We are currently hiring apprentices, but they must live and eat at our workshop. Taking embroidery work home is not permitted. Can you do that?"

Yin Tiantian said with difficulty, "Manager, can’t you make an exception? My husband is injured at home, and I must return every day to take care of him."

"You’re married?"

Yin Tiantian was still dressed like a young maiden, and the manager looked somewhat regretful.

"I am a child bride."

Since ancient times, child brides, like men marrying into a wife’s family, held little status and were treated much like domestic servants.

"Manager, I know you don't trust me, but I can pay a deposit. If I take the work home and it’s not up to standard, you don't have to pay me, and I will even compensate you for the materials!"

"Please, give me a chance to make a living!" she pleaded.

The manager couldn't bear to refuse.

"Come with me to see the owner. If the owner agrees, I have no objections!"

Her embroidery skills were excellent. In the winter, there were many gatherings for the wives of local gentry, and the workshop was swamped with orders. New recruits required training, and it was rare to find someone who didn't need it.

"Thank you, Manager! You are as kind as you are beautiful. I wish you eternal youth and boundless wealth!"

The manager was amused by her flattery.

"You have a sweet tongue, girl. Don't say that to the owner later; he hates people who are glib!"

Yin Tiantian stuck out her tongue and followed the manager to the back courtyard.

Over a dozen embroiderers were sitting in the workroom, dressed in beautiful clothes, each with fingers as slender as scallions.

Behind a gauze curtain, she didn't dare look around. The manager went in to present her work, and she heard a pleasant male voice.

"What is your name? Where do you live?"

The owner of the embroidery workshop was a man?

Yin Tiantian suppressed her curiosity and answered honestly.

"Embroidery a piece on the spot for me to see."

The manager came out from behind the curtain, brought her an embroidery frame, and gave her a new pattern.

Yin Tiantian chose her threads and began to embroider on the blank silk.

Her memory drifted back to her previous life. Shen Fuzhu had abandoned her, leaving her unattended in the back courtyard. To survive, she had learned embroidery from an old servant of the Marquis’s estate and sold her work to make ends meet.

Through the day-after-day torment in the Marquis’s estate, her skills had become increasingly refined. It took her only half an hour to complete a complex pattern.

On the silk, lifelike butterflies rested among blooming peonies. Both the color coordination and the stitching technique were superb.

The manager’s eyes revealed her surprise as she took the embroidery piece behind the curtain.

"With this level of skill, waive her deposit."

Yin Tiantian stood up, delighted.

"Thank you, Owner!"

The manager led her out of the back courtyard, giving her instructions as they walked.

"Our workshop takes orders from the local gentry and official families, so mistakes are not tolerated. All embroidery must be done with great care! Especially for work you take home—if there is any error, you will not only have to compensate us at the full price, but our workshop will never hire you again. Do you understand?"

Yin Tiantian nodded. "I will cherish this opportunity!"

"Can you write?"

Yin Tiantian nodded. "Yes!"

"Come and register! Name, home address, how much work you’re taking, when you’ll deliver it..."

Yin Tiantian followed the manager’s instructions, registered her information, received a package and an embroidery frame, and agreed to deliver the work in three days.

"Thank you, Manager, I will work hard!"

When she left the workshop and checked the time, the county school was about to let out!

She hurried back, running until she reached the gates of the school. Students were pouring out, and she spotted a familiar face!

Zhang Jing was clutching a few books, promising someone else, "Two days, I’ll definitely finish copying them in two days!"

"There are three books. If you don't finish, I won't pay you!"

"I’ll finish them! Even if I don't sleep, I’ll get them done!"

Zhang Jing looked haggard, with dark circles under his eyes that looked like soot. He smiled obsequiously at the man.

"Zhang Jing!" she called out. Both of them turned around.

"Zhang Jing, when did you hook up with a village girl?" The man teased Yin Tiantian with an unkind look. "She looks quite delicate..."

"Young Master Guo, that’s my sister, my cousin. Please don’t tease my family! I’ll go see what she wants. You go ahead, Young Master Guo!"

Zhang Jing sent the man away and walked over to Yin Tiantian with a straight face.

"How did you find your way here?"