"From now on, you all bear the surname Zhao. This is your home, and the Master is your kin."
"If I find anyone breaking the rules I've just laid out, I will drive her and her entire family out."
"Have you all remembered what I said?"
Jinyi sat in a chair while the three little maidservants stood before her in perfect order.
She was laying down the rules for the three girls — to forestall any trouble that might arise once their families arrived.
"We remember, elder sister."
"Good. Now go — it's time to meet your families."
Jinyi rose and led the girls toward the front courtyard.
Zhao Baihui had originally intended to receive the guests himself, to treat everyone to a proper meal — after all, these were the families of his maidservants. But Jinyi had stopped him, firmly insisting that he keep his distance from the others. Otherwise, she threatened, she would run away from home and refuse to acknowledge him as her Master-brother any longer.
Very well. Zhao Baihui accepted the ultimatum.
After so much time together, he had grown accustomed to the girls. He could not imagine being without them. With them around, the household ran like clockwork, and he could sit about as uselessly as he pleased.
Pure bliss.
In the front courtyard of the three-courtyard compound, fourteen people from three families had gathered. The men and women who headed each household, along with the older children, stood at respectful attention; only the smallest children dared to glance around and take in their surroundings.
These were the families of Jinxiu, Jinwen, and Jinyuan.
Jinxiu's original surname had been Sun — her birth name was Sun Chunhua. Her father was Sun Tiezhu, her mother Sun née Shen. Her elder brother was Sun Dazhu — father Tiezhu, son Dazhu, quite the pair of names. Then came second sister Xiahua, third sister Qiuhua. A pity Donghua was never born; if she had been, the family would have had all four seasons in bloom — what a lovely thing that would have been.
Jinwen's family had also come in full — all five of them. Her birth name was Wang Xiaoni. Besides her parents, she had three younger brothers.
Jinyuan's name had been Li Daya. Besides her parents, she had two younger brothers.
The day before, the three girls had each gone home to explain the situation, and today all three families had come, bringing everyone with them.
By now they had been waiting a good while, yet the legendary scoundrel — or rather, the legendary philanthropist — was nowhere to be seen.
Word had spread that Zhao Baihui had no interest in beauties and preferred young girls, but these families were already acquainted with the true circumstances. The waiting crowd grew restless, yet being honest farming folk, they did not dare to stir. So they simply stood there, proper and still.
The gate between the front and middle courtyards swung open as Jinyuan pushed it wide. Jinyi strode out with her head held high, the three maidservants at her heels.
The four girls stepped forward in matching new clothes of the same color and cut, and the effect was genuinely impressive.
Seeing that all three families had waited so long without a murmur of complaint, Jinyi concluded they were decent, well-behaved people, and she was satisfied.
"Uncles and aunties, I am Zhao Jinyi. On behalf of the Master, I welcome you all."
"Good day to you, Miss Jinyi." The men hurried to return the greeting, clearly flustered.
So this must be the head maidservant who managed the household on the Master's behalf — what an air she had about her. Their own daughters were surely only junior maids, trailing behind without daring to utter a word. If only their girls could rise to become head maids someday.
"You are all family to Jinxiu, Jinwen, and Jinyuan. There is no need to be overly formal, but you must observe the rules of this household. The Master is not a harsh man. As long as you conduct yourselves properly, he will not treat you ill."
"We'll follow the rules — absolutely, we'll follow the rules."
Jinyi's manner of speaking was rather bookish, lending her an air of quiet authority. She had spent half of the previous day peppering Zhao Baihui with questions and then rehearsed alone for a long while before she could deliver it all smoothly.
"The household has few rules. First: no one is permitted to set foot in the rear courtyard without being summoned — under any circumstances."
"If you have business there, you must report it at the gate."
"Anyone who violates the rules should not expect mercy from me."
Jinyi's expression turned cold, and every last adult and child in the crowd hardly dared breathe.
Then her tone softened. "You may lodge in the middle courtyard. Each family may choose two rooms to start. If the space is insufficient, come and tell me."
"Jinxiu, you three — take your families and get them settled."
"Yes, elder sister."
Jinyi turned and walked back toward the rear courtyard.
Only once she was safely inside did she stick out her tongue and pat her own cheeks. She had nearly died of nerves out there.
Zhao Baihui, who had been in the courtyard all along, gave her a thumbs-up. "I sneaked over to watch earlier and caught your little speech. Well done — better than I could have managed. Jinyi, from now on, this whole household is in your hands."
Jinyi's face went even redder. "Master," she said shyly, "please don't tease me."
Out in the front courtyard, the moment Jinyi's figure disappeared completely from sight, everyone seemed to come back to life. A few of the children made to run off, but their parents grabbed them and held them back.
Jinyi was gone, but the three identically dressed maidservants were still there. Your own daughter was one thing — who knew whether the other two were easy to get along with? Their own girl mustn't be made a laughingstock.
The three maidservants each made their way to their own families.
Jinwen's mother leaned close and whispered, "Xiaoni, which rooms are ours?"
Hearing the name Xiaoni again made Jinwen cringe — it sounded so grating now.
"Mother, please don't call me Xiaoni anymore. Call me Jinwen."
"What nonsense are you talking, girl? I've been calling you that for—"
Wang née He was cut short by a tug on her sleeve from her husband.
"Listen to the girl. Jinwen is a fine name. Don't let our daughter be laughed at by the others."
Wang née He fell silent, and something clouded in her eyes.
It was true. Wang Xiaoni had been sold away. The young woman standing before her now was a maidservant in a wealthy household — Zhao Jinwen.
Jinwen still cared for them, still willing to extend a helping hand. They would have to mind their manners.
Wang née He managed a strained smile, with just a trace of ingratiation in it. "Then I'll trouble you, Jinwen, to help us get settled."
Jinwen paused. She had caught the note of flattery — and distance — in her mother's voice, and a pang of something bittersweet, hard to name, stirred in her chest.
"All right. Follow me. Dalü, Daniu, Dama — come along."
Well — that family certainly had no shortage of livestock: donkey, ox, and horse, all present and accounted for.
"Sister, will we really get to live here?" The eldest brother, Wang Dalü, stared around the spacious room in disbelief.
It was worlds better than the thatched cottage back home — solid earthen walls, room to breathe, a proper bed and table. Best of all, it was just for him and his two brothers; they wouldn't have to crowd in with their parents.
Jinwen ruffled his hair. "Dalü, work hard and the Master will look after you. By the time you're grown, you'll find yourself a good wife, I'm sure of it."
Dalü nodded vigorously. "Sister, I don't want a wife. If I work really hard, do you think the Master could give me a proper name like yours? Everyone teases me about Dalü. I don't like being named after a donkey."
Jinwen laughed. "All right. Work hard, and I'll ask the Master to give you a proper name."
Daniu and Dama crowded in too, clamoring that they also wanted new names — and that they, too, did not want wives.