1. Dowry List

"Young Mistress Wei, you really should take better care of yourself during this rainy season."

The drizzle hung over Gaochun Town, shrouding it in mist. The bluestone path glistened with rainwater, reflecting the low, dark-tiled, white-walled houses on either side. Beneath one of these walls stood a small stall covered by an oilcloth awning, with steam rising from a bamboo steamer. The vendor, a thin, withered old woman, called out, "Fuling cake! Fresh, hot Fuling cake!"

Seeing someone approaching from nearby, she leaned out, looking concerned.

"The summer water bamboo shoots are growing well, and my little sisters have been talking about wanting to eat them since this morning. I hadn't intended to come this way, but the aroma of Auntie Chen's Fuling cake was so enticing that it hooked this glutton right out of her path. While I'm here, please pack a few pieces for me."

Accumulated raindrops rolled down the slope of her umbrella. Wei Jinyun paused in front of the stall. She was dressed in a lotus-pink bodice paired with a cucumber-green pleated skirt. In the bamboo basket slung over her arm were several summer water bamboo shoots still beaded with morning dew. She looked up with a smile; beneath her elegant, dark brows were a pair of almond-shaped eyes, and her nose was small and delicate. Her lips, however, lacked a rosy hue, appearing slightly pale, which contrasted with the jasmine flowers tucked into her double-bun hairstyle.

"Your little mouth is certainly sweet." The old woman beamed, her expression unable to contain her delight. Her rough hands, seemingly immune to the heat, deftly picked out several pieces of cake from the steamer, wrapped them in oil paper, and pressed them into Jinyun’s palm. "Twelve coins in total. Don't tell me you're the only one craving them; you’re surely thinking of those two little ones at home. Rainy days are perfect for Fuling cake, and since you’ve just recovered from your illness, you should eat some too."

As Jinyun touched the oil paper, she noticed two extra pieces inside. She thanked the woman, thought of her two younger sisters at home, and headed back with a gentle smile on her lips.

"Tell me, Sister Chen, how did this Young Mistress Wei suddenly get so much better? Just a while ago, I saw white mourning silk hanging at the Wei family’s gate. Their relatives had even finished negotiating with a coffin shop." A peddler selling amaranth in a straw raincoat watched Jinyun’s retreating figure, his curiosity piqued.

"Who can say for sure?" The old woman sighed, lamenting, "I suppose it’s because Wang Qiulan burns incense and prays every single day, having snatched her granddaughter back from the jaws of the King of Hell."

"Is it really that effective? I might go burn a couple of sticks myself tomorrow. Look at her—even her temperament has changed. In the past, whenever I saw her, she’d be panting after taking two steps, and she rarely spoke to us."

"This family has had a bitter life. Everyone says she brings bad luck to her household. Think about it: she survives, but the Wei couple dies just like that. There’s no such thing as a coincidence in this world; it’s truly eerie." Another person chimed in, whispering to join the gossip.

The oil-paper umbrella could not block the slanted rain. Fine droplets drifted onto Jinyun’s arm, causing her to shiver involuntarily. Her current body was still far too weak; she would need to focus on nourishment and recuperation in the future.

Wei Jinyun had been here for over a month now, sharing the same name as the original owner of this body. In her modern life, she was an orphan raised by her grandparents. Her grandfather was a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, and her grandmother ran an old-fashioned pastry shop. The two of them had fanned away mosquitoes for her in the narrow alleys of Gusu, roasted taro for her on clay stoves, and watched her grow up as they rocked back and forth in rattan chairs. The couple had loved each other deeply, passing away one after the other. After she finished arranging their funerals, she had fainted from grief, and when she opened her eyes, she was here.

A bout of early summer heatstroke had taken the life of the original owner, who had been bedridden for years. Fragmented memories had barely pieced together the outline of this family. The original owner’s grandfather had passed away early, and her parents had died in a shipwreck while traveling for business two months ago, leaving no remains. Now, the Wei family consisted only of their grandmother, Madam Wang, whose health was still relatively robust, and a pair of seven-year-old twin sisters.

The grandmother was kind-hearted, and the sisters were clever and sensible. Since she had taken over the original owner's body, she felt a duty to take care of her family.

The Gaochun Town where Wei Jinyun now resided was under the jurisdiction of Jiangning Prefecture in the Great Song Dynasty. However, the current Great Song was somewhat different from the one in her memories—its backbone had finally straightened. Emperor Renzong had awakened, emphasizing both civil and military affairs. Fan Wenzheng’s reforms had been implemented long-term, and the imperial court had begun to focus on military training rather than blindly expanding the conscription of soldiers.

Just by listening to the nursery rhymes passed down among the street children, she had already heard stories of several awe-inspiring generals recapturing the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. Among them were the Xie clan of Chen, the Lu clan of Fanyang, and the Lu clan of Wu. In this future, there would be no Jingkang Incident.

"Jasmine, pearl orchid..." A young girl’s clear, ringing call echoed from deep in the alley, adding a touch of vibrant color to the dull, rainy season.

"Girl, hurry and look! Your relatives are at your door again!" The neighbor, an elderly man who had gone fishing during the rain, spotted Jinyun and called out a warning.

Jinyun frowned and quickened her pace. The Wei family home was in the small alley by the river. As she hurried, she saw from a distance that the gate was left ajar, with two oil-paper umbrellas leaning against the side. Before she even pushed the door open, the sound of an argument flooded her ears.

"Auntie, you are being completely unreasonable." A sharp, aggressive voice stood out in the somber alley. "That shop is just sitting in Pingjiang Prefecture collecting dust. You don't lease it, and you don't make a cent of rent all year round. It’s just sitting there waiting to be eaten by moths; what’s the point?"

"That’s right, Auntie." A slick male voice followed, wrapped in feigned sincerity. "Uncle left us early, leaving you as a widow with orphans. And now, the Wei couple has suddenly passed away as well. How could we, as your brothers and sisters-in-law, not worry? Right now, our boys are at a crucial age—the eldest needs to get married, and mine needs to attend school. And now Wei Feng has left behind three orphaned girls; money is needed everywhere! As the saying goes, 'The character Wei cannot be written in two strokes,' so the shop is, after all, Wei family property. It’s only right to take it out now to help us out." As he spoke, he wailed a few times, lamenting the unfairness of heaven and the early death of his brother.

Jinyun knew these voices all too well; they belonged to the branches of her grandfather’s brothers. One was her cousin-in-law, Madam Qin, and the other was her third cousin, Wei the Third, who was notorious for his posturing. The day she first arrived and was still weak, they had already caused a scene, only stopping after attracting a crowd of gossiping neighbors. Now, just over twenty days later, they had the gall to come back, coveting her grandmother’s dowry.

In the dim main room, Grandmother Wang Qiulan stood with her back to the door. She wore a brown, cross-collared gown, her graying hair kept perfectly in place by a simple bun cover. Madam Qin stood with her hands on her hips, while Wei the Third rubbed his hands together, chiming in while his eyes darted around, filled with calculation.

Wang Qiulan was annoyed by Wei the Third’s wailing. "That shop is part of the dowry I brought from my maiden home. It has nothing to do with the Wei family."

"Oh, my! You can't say it like that." Madam Qin’s tone sharpened, as if she were determined to win the argument. "A dowry is a dowry. Since you married into the Wei family, isn't it now Wei family property? Besides, that sickly girl Jinyun needs doctors and medicine every three days, and the two little girls, Qu and Ling, are so young... They’ll be married off sooner or later. Keeping a perfectly good shop for them is just benefiting outsiders for nothing. Auntie, you are being foolish! Sell it now, turn it into cash, and we can split it. Everyone will have an easier life, and we can look after you and your granddaughters better, can't we?"

Her tone was so arrogant, it was as if she were bestowing a great favor upon the Wei family.

Wang Qiulan turned around. In the dim light of the room, her expression was unclear, but she let out a cold laugh. "Your so-called 'looking after us' is just coming here repeatedly to scheme for the last bit of property I have to rely on?"

Madam Qin was choked by this display of spirit, but she immediately became furious out of shame, her face turning a liver-like color. Wei the Third also darkened his face, muttering, "Auntie, you are being unreasonable. We came with good intentions..."

*Creak.* The door was pushed open by Jinyun.

The heated argument in the room stopped abruptly. Several pairs of eyes turned toward the door. Rainwater slid down Jinyun’s temples. Her lips were pale from running, and her body trembled slightly in the damp, cold air, making her look frail. She calmly placed the bamboo basket on an old table by the door, her movements measured.

"Grandmother, I'm home." Jinyun turned toward the two faces and nodded slightly, her voice somewhat hoarse. "Cousin-in-law, Third Cousin."

The group was momentarily stunned. Madam Qin was the first to react. She glanced at the few summer water bamboo shoots on the table and let out a snort. "Oh, you returned at just the right time. You only bought this little bit of scraps? Tsk, it’s clear the family really can't keep the pot boiling if there isn't even a scrap of meat." Her spit flew as she spoke, almost landing on Jinyun’s face.

Wei the Third gave a fake cough, his triangular eyes crinkling with a smile. "Jinyun is back? Is your health any better? You see, the family’s situation isn't easy. Sigh, we are just worried about your grandmother and your sisters..."

Jinyun ignored Wei the Third’s hypocrisy. She stepped in front of her grandmother, her gaze fixed directly on Madam Qin.

"Cousin-in-law, you are mistaken." Her voice was steady, yet every word was clear. "The Song Law explicitly states: 'All fields and houses, as well as property, shall be divided equally among brothers. Property obtained from the wife's family is not included in this division.' My grandmother’s shop has all the deeds and contracts in order; it is a dowry from the Wang family and has nothing to do with the Wei family’s ancestral property. This is on record with the government; one check will prove it."

She paused, then continued, "As for my family’s situation, there is no need for you to worry, Cousin-in-law. Grandmother manages the household with wisdom and has her own plans... If anyone tries to forcibly claim this private property, it would be a rather ugly sight."

"You!" Madam Qin was stung by the words "ugly sight" and trembled with rage. She pointed a shaking finger at Jinyun and shrieked, "The world has turned upside down! You’ve only been sick once, and you’ve already learned to talk back to your elders?"

"Shut up!" Wei the Third finally dropped his facade. "Jinyun, who taught you such manners? How dare you be so insolent when your cousin-in-law and I are here with such good intentions..." They had never seen the usually bedridden Jinyun dare to speak to them this way. Now that she had recovered from a major illness, her mind had suddenly cleared, and she dared to talk back.

Did they want to use their seniority to suppress her? Jinyun only found the two of them noisy and tiresome. As for arguing, her background in law wasn't for show. She cleared her throat and mocked, "The 'good intentions' Third Cousin speaks of—is that taking advantage of Grandmother’s solitude and my sisters' youth to force a division of the dowry? Grandmother is still here, and we sisters are not dead yet. How we handle our affairs is for Grandmother to decide; it is not for outsiders to pretend they have good intentions."

Jinyun enunciated the word "outsiders" with crystal clarity, drawing a distinct line between them.

"You... how dare you call us outsiders?" Madam Qin was completely enraged, clawing at her as she lunged forward. Wei the Third also stepped forward, raising his hands. Their true intentions had been laid bare by Jinyun’s words, and they no longer wished to keep up appearances, resorting to physical force.

Jinyun grabbed Madam Qin’s wrist, her gaze icy. She was only inches from her face, leaving no room for them to speak further. "Right now, I can still call you Cousin-in-law, but if you continue to make a scene and covet our family’s property, why don't we go to the magistrate’s office together and let the officials judge? We can let the villagers listen to the trial outside the court and see how the Wei family treats their own kin, forcibly occupying private property and bullying orphans and widows... Hmm, isn't my cousin supposed to be getting married soon?"

She glanced at Wei the Third, a smile on her face. "Or perhaps the academy doesn't require one to cultivate their character and manage their family, nor does it care about the family’s reputation... Wouldn't you agree, Third Cousin?"

The key to winning an argument is to strike at the heart, choosing the things they care about most. Upon hearing Jinyun’s words, the faces of the two shifted from red to white to green. Gaochun Town wasn't large; if this were truly brought to the magistrate and they ended up with a stained reputation, no one would be willing to marry their daughters into their family, let alone allow them into a prestigious academy.

"Fine, fine! You two granddaughters are ganging up to bully people. With that sharp tongue, you should find a husband to keep you in check." Madam Qin, who had hoped to manipulate the grandmother and granddaughter today, was out of options. She stomped her feet, pushed Wei the Third aside, and stormed out. Wei the Third glared at them, squeezed out a sentence through his teeth—"You wait and see, I'll make sure you can't even stay in this house"—before slinking away.

Once they were gone, the curtain to the inner room was lifted with a *swish*. Two little girls, both wearing their hair in double buns and dressed in green skirts, ran out. Their faces were pale; one of them was tearful and rushed over, clutching Jinyun’s legs tightly, her small body trembling.

"Grandmother, Sister... they were so fierce." Wei Fuling said in a tearful voice.

"Do not cry." Wei Fuqu stood beside her, scolding her with a cold face.

Jinyun knelt down, shedding her cold demeanor. She gathered Wei Fuling into her arms and patted her back gently. "Ling, don't be afraid, Sister is here." She comforted her softly and took two pieces of Fuling cake from the basket. "Sister bought Fuling cake, Qu, have some too."

Wei Fuqu took the cake but didn't answer, her gaze lingering on Jinyun with a hint of contemplation. The Fuling cake was as soft as a cloud, melting on Wei Fuling’s tongue with its sweet, fragrant taste, but she still lacked an appetite, burying her head in her sister’s arms.

Wang Qiulan stood where she was, not speaking for a long time. Eventually, she walked to an inconspicuous old wooden cabinet in the room. The cabinet was locked, and the lock was rusted. She pulled a key from the inner pocket of her jacket. With a *click*, the lock opened. There was nothing valuable in the cabinet, only some worn clothing.

Wang Qiulan pushed the clothes aside and pulled out a small package carefully wrapped in coarse cloth from the very bottom. She unwrapped the cloth layer by layer, her movements slow. After a long while, she stroked the paper in her hands and turned around.

Her husband had passed early, and now her son and daughter-in-law were gone without a trace. With so many relatives in the Wei family, how many eyes were watching them? Even if she drove them away today, they would surely find a way to make a scene again in a few days. They couldn't take the old house, but what would happen to her three granddaughters if she were to pass away? Her son had just died, and their household registration would eventually be moved to the Wei family branch. Jinyun’s health had just improved and couldn't withstand their disturbance, and the two little ones were still so young...

She looked at the three sisters huddled together, her gaze resting on them for a long time. That shop had always been hers—from the Wang family.

"Jinyun." Wang Qiulan’s voice was hoarse. "We cannot stay in Gaochun Town any longer. Pack your things. Grandmother will take you back to Pingjiang Prefecture to reclaim your roots."