Rebirth of a Farming Wife

“How do you like it, Aunt? Do you like it?” Su Wenyue asked knowingly, feeling a sense of achievement and satisfaction from the appreciation of her work.

“I do. Not to mention the craftsmanship of these clothes, just for the thought you put into them, I have to appreciate them,” Mrs. Pei said with a smile. “Our Lady Yue is not only filial but also increasingly skilled. When did you learn such exquisite embroidery?” Her face was full of joy and surprise. It was rare to find such skill in all of Chang’an.

The more worldly one is, the better they can recognize quality, understanding the difficulty of acquiring such fine things and the sentiment and effort it involves.

Speaking of embroidery skills, Su Wenyue said with a chuckle, “Well, it’s just something that comes with practice; it didn’t take much effort. I’m glad you like it, Aunt.”

“You’re too modest! Who else would say it’s easy? To those unaware, it might seem simple, but the art of embroidery can’t be mastered overnight. It requires great dedication. You’ve got a big heart. Your parents are both shrewd, and I don’t know who you take after.”

“Yes, I don’t seem to take after anyone. Maybe my parents found me somewhere,” Su Wenyue said worriedly.

Mrs. Pei chuckled and scolded her, “Careful, or your parents might scold you. You’re such a mischievous monkey, no wonder your mother has mixed feelings about you.”

“Aunt, I estimated the size of these clothes myself without taking precise measurements. Why don’t you try them on to see if they fit properly? If they don’t, I can make some adjustments right here.” Su Wenyue was actually eager to see if the effect was as good as she had imagined.

Mrs. Pei, too, was curious, though she didn’t show it openly. She was not a young girl who gets excited about trying on new clothes; it would seem too unbecoming. But with Su Wenyue’s suggestion, she found a way to do so and immediately had a servant girl help her with the fitting.

As it turned out, Su Wenyue’s judgment was quite accurate. Once Mrs. Pei donned the clothes, they fit perfectly, with the style and pattern being very suitable for her. They not only accentuated her dignified elegance but also made her look several years younger. Indeed, clothes make the man—or in this case, the woman.

Mrs. Pei stood in front of the bronze mirror, delighted with her reflection, and could not restrain her smile, “Sister Yue, how can your hands be so skilled? Even the finest clothes from Chang’an’s most renowned Embroidery House, the Neon Pavilion, are not as beautiful as the ones you make. Neither the craftsmanship nor the designs can compare.”

“Since you like it so much, Aunt, I’ll make a few more sets for you when I have time, so you can switch them up.”

“That would be wonderful. But you shouldn’t do it yourself; it’s too exhausting, especially since you’re also caring for three children and your health isn’t the best. Design a pattern for me, and I’ll have it made by an embroiderer.”

Su Wenyue had just casually mentioned it; to do the work herself would indeed be too draining. Spending all day on embroidery was something Han Yu would not agree to. She therefore went along with Mrs. Pei’s words, “Alright, I’ve recently taken on some talented embroiderers, including one who used to be a court official in the Imperial Embroidery Workshop. She’s nearly as skilled as I am. I’ll have her make it.”

Pei Yuhan, watching from the side, felt envious. She thought Su Wenyue didn’t know how to behave properly; her cousin and the other two concubine’s daughters got beautiful new clothes, yet she didn’t receive a single piece. Who wouldn’t want new clothes? In her family, she had no footing and had to stay with her Aunt due to financial constraints, sparing no expense for clothes. Other than the standard issue from the government, it had been a long time since she had new clothes, and the ones from the Marquis Mansion’s embroiderers were decent but far from attractive, lacking the style to match her personality.

“Sister Yue’s clothes are truly beautiful. I wish I had a set made by her,” Pei Yuhan couldn’t hold back and blurted out, immediately regretting it somewhat but also feeling expectant. Surely Su Wenyue wouldn’t refuse her, considering her Aunt’s face.

Su Wenyue certainly heard her. If it were anyone else, in consideration for her Aunt’s dignity, she probably would have asked the family embroiderers to make a set. But this person was Pei Yuhan. If she actually made something for her, Su Wenyue knew she would resent it. So, she pretended not to hear, as she had no obligation to gain Pei Yuhan’s favor nor any need to endure such discomfort.

When Pei Yuhan’s inquiry was ignored, she felt humiliated. Naturally, she would not ask again. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and her resentment towards Su Wenyue grew, although Su Wenyue did not care.

Leaving the eldest aunt’s residence, the An Family matriarch had been waiting beforehand. She had hoped her daughter would bring the grandchildren back, and upon learning they hadn’t come, she felt a twinge of disappointment. She really missed the three little ones but also thought it was right not to bring them; the weather was too cold, and they were still too young to withstand such a journey. They would visit on a day when she had time.

“Mother, why come out in such cold weather? You should have waited inside,” Su Wenyue said, assisting An into the warm house from the biting cold outside.

Her daughter had become thoughtful, caring for her needs, which pleased An, “It’s fine. I’ve been cooped up inside all day and wanted some fresh air. But why did you personally bring Lan Xin and Lan Fang today? In such cold weather, they could have been sent back. There was no need for you to trouble yourself.”

Internally, An looked down on the concubine’s daughters, both emotionally and in position. So, seeing her own daughter being so considerate to the main house’s concubine’s daughters was not entirely approved. It was one thing to provide them with extra things on ordinary days, which she didn’t mind, but she disliked the fuss made over them, unsure how they had managed to endear themselves so much to her daughter.

“Mother, I know what I’m doing. There’s a reason for this, and besides, both my cousins are quite agreeable. Since they’re living in our family’s home, you should look after them more. They will be grateful to you.”