Chapter 130: Picking a Name

They rode together on a single horse along the road back home. Even though it had been a full day since they had confessed their feelings to each other, Embroider Maiden’s cheeks were still tinged with red.

Fortunately, with the summer heat bearing down, no one would think twice about it.

Wu Wei reflected that while her confession to Embroider Maiden had felt a bit rushed, the outcome could not have been better.

Ever since they had formalized their relationship, Wu Wei felt as though her heart had finally found a true anchor. She no longer drifted aimlessly like before. Even after accepting this era, there had still been moments when she felt unmoored.

When it came to matters of marriage, Wu Wei had sought Embroider Maiden’s opinion, and the two women saw eye to eye: as long as they held each other in their hearts and were committed to one another, there was no need for anything flashy or attention-grabbing.

Embroider Maiden had already endured the wounds of gossip and rumors once before. She had no desire to drag Wu Wei into that mire or to shatter the peaceful life they now enjoyed.

Her own reputation was ruined beyond repair anyway. The folks in Zhang Family Village never spoke of it with malice, but no one dared make a play for a “Broom Star” like her.

As for Wu Wei, with no elders by her side, such matters were entirely her own to decide.

In truth, this was the greatest blessing heaven could bestow upon them.

Late the previous night, as Embroider Maiden lay watching Wu Wei sleep peacefully at her side, memories of her own past injustices and misfortunes flooded her mind. Strangely, she felt a quiet sense of relief.

It was precisely those unbearable experiences that had freed her to chart her own course from then on.

…

With their relationship freshly confirmed, the two had endless words for one another. Even idle chatter carried a special sweetness.

They laughed and talked the whole way, and before they knew it, the journey home no longer felt long.

…

On this trip back, Wu Wei and Embroider Maiden had brought plenty of gifts for Old Lady Zhang—foodstuffs and daily necessities, along with some delicate little trinkets.

Embroider Maiden understood Wu Wei’s sentiments and didn’t protest. Old Lady Liu, however, fretted over the items for a good while after receiving them, urging Wu Wei not to waste her silver like this. She insisted she was perfectly content with life as it was.

With her leg ailment steadily improving to the point where she no longer needed her crutch, Old Lady Liu kept their little courtyard impeccably tidy. There was no heavy labor left for Embroider Maiden or Wu Wei to handle. They simply changed out of their travel-worn clothes—Embroider Maiden took them to wash, while Wu Wei chopped two bundles of firewood and neatly stacked them against the courtyard wall.

Wu Wei set down the axe just as Embroider Maiden finished with the laundry. Together, they hung the clothes out to dry. “Third Sister,” Wu Wei said, “I’m off to the Zhangs’ place.”

“Mm. If it’s convenient, invite Second Sister and Second Brother-in-law over for dinner tonight. The weather’s fine—tell Second Sister to bring Zhuzi along too. Mom and I will get dinner ready here.”

“Got it.”

Wu Wei hitched up the ox cart and headed out. Just like last time, father and son from the Zhang household were out in the fields.

After chatting with Old Lady Zhang for a bit, Wu Wei learned from her that the Zhang family had managed to save more than half their fields. At this point in the season, it was too late to replant seedlings and have them mature—they could only pour all their efforts into keeping the surviving ones alive. Father and son headed to the fields before dawn each day, each shouldering a pole and endlessly carrying water to the paddies.

Old Lady Zhang added that some households had lost most of their seedlings. Seeing no hope in replanting, they’d simply given up—one person left at home to mind the elderly and children, while the able-bodied young ones banded together and headed off to Taizhou Prefecture for work.

…

Before Wu Wei departed, Old Lady Zhang nagged on: “Grain prices are bound to go up this year, you mark my words.”

On the way back to their courtyard, Wu Wei heard much the same from Second Lady Liu: some families had missed the final hiring deadline in Taizhou Prefecture, and with their fields beyond saving, they’d taken short-term labor jobs elsewhere. Better to bring home a bit of silver than face starvation come harvest.

Not every household was as fortunate as Wu Wei or the Zhangs, with full granaries to fall back on.

Wu Wei’s heart grew heavy as she listened. This year’s weather was truly freakish—scant winter snows, hardly any summer rains, soil starved of moisture, and now drought on top of it all. Procuring grain could not wait.

“Second Sister,” she said, “I’ve got a job that needs Second Brother-in-law to come along with me. It pays wages.”

“What sort of job? How long will it take?”

Wu Wei thought for a moment. “Second Sister, I’m trusting you with this—don’t tell a soul. The fewer people who know, the better.”

“Don’t you worry. My lips are sealed when it comes to anything you ask of me.”

“I’m planning to acquire a rice shop in Taizhou City. You’ve seen the situation yourself—grain prices are sure to skyrocket this year. I need to snap up a big batch fast and store it in Cangshi County. If all goes smoothly, we’ll be back in eight or ten days. Conservatively, allow half a month. At most, not longer than a month.”

“Cangshi County? I’ve heard the name—quite a ways off, isn’t it?”

“About five hundred li, give or take. It’s a long haul. We’ll have enough hands on the return trip, but heading there, it’ll take two people to keep an eye out for each other. That’s why I want to bring Second Brother-in-law along, and have him recruit one reliable fellow we can trust. The three of us. Ten taels of silver wages apiece.”

“Wages? Between our families? You’ve got no brothers at your side—a young woman can’t go traipsing that far alone. When your Second Brother-in-law gets home tonight, I’ll speak to him about it.”

“The wages have to be paid, or it’ll be hard for you to explain at home. With him gone, your fields will suffer. On top of the ten taels, I’ll throw in some extra grain when the time comes. This isn’t a year for bumper crops—we all need to prepare early.”

Second Lady Liu nodded. “All right, we’ll do it your way. That way, even my mother-in-law won’t have grounds to complain. Worst comes to worst, I’ll leave Zhuzi in her care and head to the fields myself to help my father-in-law with the watering. When do we leave?”

“In about half a month. First, I need to stop by Hundred Flavors Building and have them gradually clear out the ice from the cave—settle the silver then. That’ll free up the cave for other storage. Plus, a trip to Taizhou to sign the deed for the rice shop. I’ll handle Second Brother-in-law’s ice too—one tael per block, and any losses are on me.”

Second Lady Liu’s eyes lit up. “Weiwei, you’re the one with real ability. Hoarding ice and selling it off like that—I wouldn’t have believed it if anyone else told me. Now we’ve got no worries about scraping together silver for Zhuzi’s schooling.”

An idea stirred in Wu Wei’s mind. “Second Sister, do you know what a Honored Madam is?”

“…”

“If Zhuzi rises high in the ranks someday, he can petition the Imperial Court for an honored title for his mother and wife. Honored Madams receive support from the court—annual silver stipends, all sorts of rewards. It’s quite the spectacle.”

Second Lady Liu’s thoughts drifted off into daydreams for a moment before she laughed it off. “Way too early for that—the babe’s still in swaddling clothes. No need to get ahead of ourselves.”

“Now, Second Sister, that’s the wrong way to look at it. What’s the difference between someone without dreams and a salted fish? Zhuzi’s so young—his future holds endless possibilities. It’s just…”

“Just what?” Second Lady Liu tensed.

Wu Wei put on a look of feigned regret. “If you became a Honored Madam but without a proper name of your own, the Ministry of Household’s rolls would list you only as ‘Liu Shi of Qinglu County.’ How would they know which Liu Shi? What if the rewards and honors went astray? You’re blood sisters, after all. Eldest Sister Liu has a name—if her son ever petitions for her, the Imperial Decree will read ‘Liu Cuicui of Qinglu County.’ Sounds so distinguished, doesn’t it?”

Wu Wei’s words seemed pointed. When Second Lady Liu thought back to the shameless antics of Liu Cuicui and her husband in the past, she could well imagine her trying to steal the honor. The very idea made her heart ache like a knife twisting in it.

“She wouldn’t dare!”

Wu Wei smiled to herself without a word before continuing. “That’s all far in the future, of course. But the daughters of scholarly families don’t just have given names—they have courtesy names too. Zhuzi will learn all about that when he enters a proper academy. We can’t let the boy lose at the starting line, can we? All the other children’s records will list their mothers by name, but his will just say ‘Liu Shi.’ Goodness, I wonder if that might make him feel a little downhearted.”

Wu Wei nearly burst out laughing as she finished. This line of reasoning would only fool someone like Second Lady Liu, who had never studied books. After all, how could children casually utter their parents’ taboo names? Even when copying texts, one had to alter a stroke to avoid them—never speak them aloud.

Still, if this was what it took to secure a name for Embroider Maiden, Wu Wei had no qualms about the ploy.

It was best to name all three daughters while Old Lady Liu remained hale and hearty.

As an outsider, no matter how close their bond, Wu Wei could never presume to name Embroider Maiden herself, let alone bring it up. Much better for Second Lady Liu to raise the issue—it was fitting.

The eldest already had a name, but not the second daughter. That wasn’t fair. And with the Zhang household’s fortunes on the rise and living so near their maternal home, Old Lady Liu was bound to grant her reasonable request.

…

By the time they returned to the courtyard, Embroider Maiden and Old Lady Liu were busy preparing dinner—one kneading dough, the other chopping filling.

For a farm family that had known hard times, serving guests a stuffed main dish made from white flour was the highest honor imaginable. Add a few meat dishes on the side, and there was nothing finer.

“Second Niang’s here—quick, let me have a look at Zhuzi,” Old Lady Liu said with a beaming smile.

“Second Sister, we’re making dumplings tonight—cabbage and pork filling, plus a few stir-fried veggie dishes.”

“Alright, I’ll help out.”

Wu Wei pulled out Zhuzi’s special little mat and spread it across the courtyard. Second Lady Liu set the child down on the mat and asked Weiwei to keep an eye on him, then rolled up her sleeves and headed off to wash her hands.

Embroider Maiden had already prepared all the ingredients. Second Lady Liu sat on a wooden stool, picking through the vegetables, though her eyes kept drifting toward Old Lady Liu now and then.

Once Old Lady Liu finished kneading the dough and took a seat to rest, Second Lady Liu finally spoke up. “Mother, there’s something I want to discuss with you.”

“Go ahead.”

“Mother, why don’t you give me a name?”

Old Lady Liu looked rather puzzled. In families like theirs, plenty of women went by surname alone without a proper given name. “Why bring this up out of the blue?”

Embroider Maiden understood immediately. She glanced toward Wu Wei, who had her back turned and was busy entertaining Zhuzi.

“I’ve got Zhuzi now, and he’s going to need to go to school someday. When he grows up and heads off to the academy, all the other boys’ mothers will have names—but I won’t. Folks will look down on our family. And besides, how come Eldest Sister gets a name, but not me or Third Sister? Mother, please—just give Third Sister and me some names!”

Old Lady Liu seemed troubled. She glanced at Zhuzi, then at Embroider Maiden, before explaining with a wry smile, “Your eldest sister was the firstborn daughter, and back then, your father asked the clan uncle to name her. But your father’s gone now. How on earth would I know how to come up with names?”