(Or So She Thought)
The day after the grand inspection dawned in a haze of golden sunlight, filtering through gauzy curtains and dust motes like a quiet blessing. Birds chirped just a little louder, and even the morning bustle of the street vendors seemed more musical than usual. Jia Lan stirred in bed, blinking at the ceiling before stretching luxuriously.
"Inspection over," she mumbled to herself, rubbing her eyes. "Time to return to being the adored, pampered beauty of the Jia household."
She padded across her bedroom in soft cotton slippers, her nightgown fluttering behind her like clouds trailing royalty. Her hair was a slightly tousled halo around her face. She paused by the dressing table, glancing at her reflection and smirking. "Not bad for a girl who nearly got judged by the entire state yesterday."
A familiar ding echoed in her mind.
> ✅ Day 63 Sign-In Complete! Reward: A Pair of Handmade Silk Hair Ribbons (Dark Peach + Lotus Pink)
She held up the materialized ribbons between her fingers. Delicate embroidery ran along the silk—tiny lotus motifs and flowing wave patterns. The colors shimmered gently in the morning light.
"Mm, not bad," she mused aloud. "Elegant, feminine, and just enough charm to tie a story around."
She tied one around her half-up bun and the other she slipped into her pocket. It was the kind of detail Grandmother Jia might notice and praise as "tastefully auspicious."
At the breakfast table, the entire Jia household seemed in a particularly good mood.
Grandfather Jia was already sipping his pu-erh tea while reading the news. "Youth Arts Bureau passed with flying colors, they say," he grunted approvingly. "Didn't think much of government inspections, but they seem to have sharp eyes after all."
Jia Lan took a seat next to her father, who looked far too pleased for someone sipping plain millet porridge.
"Papa," she teased, "you're smiling like you're the one who got praised."
"Well, you're my daughter," Jia Chenghai replied, setting his cup down. "The Bureau passing inspection reflects on your capability too. You represented the family well."
Lin Shunhua beamed. "I told your Aunt Meiyun that our Lan Lan handles things better than a whole department of men. Her son can only deliver meat once a week. I said, 'Does your son know how to organize an art showcase with plum blossoms?' She didn't reply."
Jia Lan snorted into her tea.
Just then, Second Brother Jia Wei wandered in wearing a half-buttoned shirt and yawning dramatically. "Lan Lan, you saved the entire Bureau yesterday, right? Can I tell the neighborhood girls my sister runs the government now?"
"Only if you want them to think you're delusional," she replied sweetly.
First Brother Jia Zhe joined them, carefully adjusting his tie as Xu Li, his elegant and commanding wife, placed a bowl of pickled lotus root on the table.
"Lan Lan, you've been making headlines among the wives' groups," Xu Li remarked with a sly smile. "The wife of Deputy Director Meng said you made a very dignified impression."
"Too dignified," muttered Yao Jing, Second Sister-in-law, strolling in with a slice of apple in hand. "They'll try and set her up with some golden bachelor next. Hide while you can."
The morning meal was lively and full—steamed buns oozing red bean paste, golden youtiao resting on absorbent parchment, tender pork congee sprinkled with scallions, and tea fragrant with chrysanthemum blossoms.
Amid laughter and clinking bowls, a new announcement derailed Jia Lan's calm.
"Lan Lan, you're not free this weekend, are you?" Xu Li asked, eyes gleaming.
"…Why do I hear trouble in that question?"
"Your grandmother promised you'd attend that charity poetry luncheon with the Mayor's wife."
Jia Lan stared, horrified. "I just survived government scrutiny. Can't I have one weekend of peace?"
"Not if you're the Jia family's golden goose," Yao Jing piped up, cackling. "Every auntie with a cultured son will be out sniffing for dowries and silk-threaded bridal veils."
Jia Chenghai cleared his throat. "We've already said Lan Lan is too young to marry. She's only sixteen."
"And don't forget," Lin Shunhua added, slicing a boiled egg in half. "That Zhang family approached us again. We said no, but they insist their son would wait three years."
Grandfather Jia snorted. "Let him wait until he's grey. Lan Lan will marry when she wants. Or not at all."
"Exactly!" Jia Lan lifted her chopsticks like a banner. "I'm busy building a future. Not handing out wedding invitations."
Everyone chuckled.
The rest of the day stretched comfortably ahead, but Jia Lan could already sense the next arc of her story brewing on the horizon. Charity luncheons. Auntie ambushes. Possibly a matchmaking ambush disguised as poetry appreciation.
She sighed dramatically, rising from the table. "If anyone needs me, I'll be hiding in my room with the pretense of sketching."
"Lan Lan," Jia Wei called out after her. "If any prince shows up at the door, should we send him away or offer tea?"
"Offer him tea with vinegar, so he knows what kind of reception he'll get," she replied without turning back.
As she disappeared down the hallway, laughter followed her like trailing incense.
Yes, the storm of inspection had passed. But clearly, a new kind of chaos was already waiting in the wings.