The Zhao estate was being renovated again.
This time, the project was the installation of glass windows.
Glass was one of the gifts that came with township-tier technology.
The manufacturing process was not particularly complicated, though the technology provided was rudimentary — what came out at first was the old-fashioned kind of glass, poor in clarity and color, and prone to shattering.
Even so, it was a tremendous delight for Zhao Baihui.
He had been dreaming of it for years — sitting by a window and gazing out at the scenery. Before, you had to open the window entirely, and the moment the wind picked up, or sand blew in, or rain or snow came down, it became unbearable.
After all, windows had always been made of paper, easily damaged and barely translucent.
Now the craftsmen had followed the steps and produced glass at last — and naturally, the master used it for himself first.
The Zhao estate was the first to have it installed.
Not a soul disliked it. The young were overjoyed, and even the old agreed it was a fine thing.
After the Zhao estate came the other important establishments: the district government office, the public security station, the bank, and several businesses under Jinxiu's name.
The bank was on the first list for renovation, and the first to be renovated was the Taoyuan Bank headquarters, situated on Taoyuan Street, the most bustling avenue in the city.
A six-story building — currently the tallest landmark in Longcheng.
Jinxiu was fond of working there as a rule, in her sprawling, lavishly appointed office on the sixth floor.
On any given day, she only had to push open the window to see nearly half of Longbei District spread before her. Looking out along the sill into the distance, she could make out the Zhao estate. She knew the master was there, and simply knowing that set her heart at ease.
She did not mind climbing six flights of stairs every day. She was glad to do it.
Now with glass windows installed, it was even more convenient — whenever she wanted a glimpse of the place where the master resided, she only had to lift her eyes.
And since her office was the highest point in the entire city, there was no need to hang curtains against prying eyes — though in the end, curtains were hung anyway.
Jinxiu sat in a wide sofa, dressed in an outfit of sumptuous, elegant splendor, pen in hand, reading through line after line of documents.
A knock at the door, and a capable-looking young woman with a ponytail stepped in.
"Director, the district's year-end summary meeting is about to begin. We should head over."
"All right. Bring along all the relevant documents."
Jinxiu took a party of attendants by carriage to the district government office, where the middle and upper management, who were usually scattered about their own affairs, had all converged.
People exchanged greetings as they crossed paths.
Jinxiu went to Jinyi's office, knocked, and let herself in with a call of "Elder Sister." Seeing that Jinwen and Jinyuan were already there, she tossed her handbag aside without ceremony and settled herself casually onto the sofa.
Whenever there was a general meeting, the four sisters would always confer among themselves first, and on occasion, if the matter warranted it, they would bring in Mingcheng and the others to discuss things together.
Jinxiu was responsible for government finances and the commercial affairs of the Zhao household. Jinwen oversaw civil servant management and urban planning and construction. Jinyuan focused primarily on public welfare and public security.
Jinyi held overall command and made final decisions.
Jinyi looked up and studied Jinxiu, her brow creasing. "Why on earth are you dressed like that?"
"Elder Sister, the government uniform is so dreadfully plain."
"If you find the government uniform unsuitable, then hand the government financial work over to someone else. You can limit yourself to the commercial side of things under our banner."
"Tee-hee, that suits me perfectly — that's exactly what I've been thinking. The workload has gotten so heavy I haven't had time to do my makeup."
Jinyi was momentarily struck dumb. Had she just walked into a trap?
She was so exasperated she almost laughed. "With a workload like yours, you still manage to paint yourself up like a vixen every single day. If the work gets any lighter, there'll be no living with you — you'll be floating off the ground!"
"Hehe, never mind that — Elder Sister, you promised. I'm putting down the government finance work, and whoever wants it can have it."
Jinyi could see this had been planned well in advance. After a moment's thought, she agreed.
"These past two years, you have worked hard. If you're feeling worn out, focus on cultivating capable subordinates. Manage them well enough and you can live exactly like the master — heh."
The others laughed. It was true enough — weren't they all working for the master? He went through his days without a care in the world, comfortable as could be.
"Since you've made up your mind, I'll reassign your government work to someone else. But see out your final shift properly — go and change your clothes."
"Yes, Elder Sister." Her objective achieved, Jinxiu grinned and took her leave.
"Jinwen, Jinyuan — do either of you feel your workload is too heavy? If so, you can delegate some of it as well."
"Elder Sister, I'm managing fine. No problems here."
Jinyuan smiled cheerfully. "I don't need to spend hours on makeup every morning like Sister Jinxiu."
"Good. Then Jinyuan, go and call Mingcheng, Mingjing, Mingqiao, and Mingzhen in."
That afternoon, the district government's annual meeting was held.
It reviewed the year's work across the district and set out several adjustments.
The most sensational piece of news was that Jinxiu had relinquished every government-related post she held, including the deputy directorship.
Tongues began to wag — was the master's head maidservant falling out of favor?
Jinxiu's father, Li Tiezhu, came rushing over in a panic to find out what had happened.
Jinxiu received her parents at her residence. Facing her father's anxious questions, she replied with indifference: "Don't listen to the gossip. I simply felt the workload was too much. I was worn out."
"You both know the master's temperament better than anyone. Never mind that I haven't done anything — even if I had truly overstepped, the worst he'd do is give me a tongue-lashing. What else could possibly happen?"
"Falling out of favor — ha."
"Good, good, that's all right then. Jinxiu, you must stay close to the master. Everything you have now is by his grace. If anything were to happen — ahem, well, there won't be anything."
Jinxiu rolled her eyes. "If there's nothing else, you can head back. I'm going to the master's for dinner shortly."
"Nothing at all, nothing at all — your mother just missed you and wanted to come see you."
Catching her husband's eye, Jinxiu's mother quickly spoke up. "Jinxiu, after the New Year you'll be fifteen. Have you given any thought to the matter of your future — your marriage?"
"Your mother has heard that Lord Lin Xuejin's family..."
Her mother's voice trailed off as she suddenly sensed something was wrong. She looked up to find her daughter regarding her with an expression she had never seen before — a look that frightened her.
"Are you both out of your minds? Have you forgotten? You already sold me to the master!"
Jinxiu shot to her feet, planted both hands on the table, and bore down on them with a stare that made them tremble.
"Do you not understand your own place? Who are you to go poking into such matters? Who are you to presume to make any decisions here?"
Crack! Jinxiu swept her hand across the table, sending a fine and costly teacup flying. It struck the wall and burst apart with a sharp crack.
Jinxiu's mother let out a frightened cry.
Two young maids outside heard the commotion and rushed in, and at the sight before them froze where they stood, too frightened to stir.
"From now on, unless something truly serious has come up, don't bother coming."
She said this, held her parents in her gaze for a moment longer, then turned and walked toward the stairs.
"And if you ever again conduct yourselves in a manner unbecoming of your station, don't come back at all."
The husband and wife stood dazed, shaken by the force of Jinxiu's reaction, which they had not anticipated in the least.
Li Tiezhu's lips quivered. His wife simply burst into tears.
It seemed that among the fathers of the three maids, Jinyuan's father Sun Dabao appeared to lack a certain ambition — and yet, all things considered, he was perhaps the finest of them.
Jinxiu's parents left in a state of frightened disarray. Jinxiu sat in the second-floor study, her mood thoroughly unsettled.
She herself did not understand what had come over her. It had been an entirely ordinary conversation, and yet her reaction had been so violent.
"M-Miss, it's time to go to the master's for dinner."
"All right. Let's go." Jinxiu composed herself and headed downstairs with her maid.
"Chunhong, I'm sorry — that must have given you a fright. I was in a poor mood today."
"Not at all, not at all, Miss. We were perfectly fine. It's Master Li and the Madam who seem to have been badly shaken."
Within this large compound, it was the rule set by the senior maids that there could be only one "master," unqualified — all other masters were to be addressed with their surnames attached.
"Never mind them."