Dong Jia

Biodata

Background / History

Dong Jia’s father was a dockworker and gambling addict who lost the family home, accumulated crushing debts, and took his own life. Left responsible for her younger sister, Dong Linger, Dong Jia took work carrying cargo at the docks to support them both. Dockworkers noted that she did not let Linger suffer despite their hardship. 15

The Little Knife Society attempted to seize Linger as payment for the Dong family’s debt. Dong Jia pleaded for more time and tried to shield her sister, but Ma the Second assaulted her until Ma San intervened under Lu Shaolin’s authority. 22

After Lu Shaolin forced Liu Bao to cancel the Dong family’s debt, Dong Jia and Linger offered to serve him in gratitude. Lu instead gave them food and lodging in exchange for cooking and cleaning, and sent Ma San to escort Dong Jia safely while she collected their belongings. 23

Lu gave the sisters his late parents’ former room in Panshan Village. Dong Jia quickly took responsibility for cooking, cleaning, laundry, and managing the home; she later persuaded Lu to put his unused fields to use by growing vegetables and cultivating his family’s three mu of paddy land. 24 25

When Dong Linger saw a Vengeful Soul attached to Lu Shaolin, Dong Jia helped remove Linger from danger, verified that the spirit remained outside the sunlight, and explained her sister’s ability to see such entities. Lu then relocated both sisters to the county town temporarily while preparing to destroy the ghost. 42 43

Following Lu’s promotion to External Affairs Hall Master, Dong Jia moved with him and Linger into his gang-provided three-story loft in the county seat. She continued handling the residence’s cooking, cleaning, and organization until the arrival of Nian Chun and Nian Qiu eased her workload. 48 49

Lu later arranged for Nian Chun to teach both Dong Jia and Dong Linger literacy, providing Dong Jia with an opportunity for education that had been unavailable during her years of poverty. 52

As Lu’s status continued to rise, Dong Jia accompanied the household through its successive relocations from Ping County to Prefecture City and later to the capital. Although she was excited to follow the household into its new life, she felt sentimental about leaving her home county. 98 103 178

At Lu’s Prefecture City residence, Dong Jia helped manage the purchase of furniture and daily necessities alongside the other women. She continued welcoming him home from dangerous missions with food, clean clothing, and domestic care. 105 110 148

When Commander Xia Bingran sent twenty maidservants to Lu’s residence as a mission reward, Lu left their placement and management to Dong Jia, Nian Chun, and the other household women. 183

Dong Jia remained part of Lu’s core household at Carefree Residence and later Prince Lin’s Residence, repeatedly helping prepare his baths, meals, and clothing after his returns from the Outer Regions and other journeys. 232 237 241 251

After Lu returned home following several years away, Dong Jia was among the household members who welcomed him back. Lu gave her a Longevity Fruit, which extends the lifespan of its recipient, during the family celebration. 426

Appearance

Dong Jia is a tall, slender young woman with a pretty face and long hair. 42 43 46

• Her cheeks were swollen after Ma the Second assaulted her during the attempt to take Linger. 23
• She is repeatedly described as thin due to her family’s poverty and lack of regular food. 15 24
• She becomes visibly shy around Lu Shaolin after his dramatic physical transformations and during close travel with him. 28 37 43
• Before Lu noticed the condition of the women in his household, Dong Jia wore patched, coarse clothing. He later bought her three complete sets of seasonal clothing. 67

Personality

Dong Jia is responsible, resilient, and fiercely protective of Dong Linger. Even after losing their home and being burdened by debt, she chose dock labor over abandoning her sister. 15 22

Initially reserved and formal toward Lu Shaolin, she gradually becomes more comfortable voicing practical opinions, particularly on household expenses and farming. She insists on contributing through work rather than remaining dependent on his protection. 23 25

She is diligent to the point of overworking herself, rising early to clean and organize Lu’s much larger county-seat residence. Lu notices this and considers hiring additional help for her. 48

Dong Jia is self-sacrificing toward Linger, concealing her own desire for candied hawthorns so that her younger sister can have more. 35

Though attached to Ping County and saddened by the prospect of leaving it, she accepts the household’s move to Prefecture City and adapts to Lu’s changing circumstances. 103

As Lu’s household expands, Dong Jia proves trustworthy enough to share responsibility for managing newly arrived servants. 183

Abilities & Skills

Household Management

Dong Jia is an accomplished cook and household caretaker.

• Prepares substantial meals suited to Lu Shaolin’s extraordinary appetite. 25 28
• Handles cleaning, laundry, food preparation, and the organization of Lu’s residences. 25 48
• Takes initiative without waiting for orders, including cleaning the newly acquired loft and arranging its domestic routine. 48
• Helps procure and organize furniture, bedding, grain, vegetables, and other necessities after household relocations. 105 178
• Assists Nian Chun and the other women in arranging the twenty maidservants assigned to Lu’s household. 183

Farming

Dong Jia understands practical cultivation of land.

• Identified Lu Shaolin’s neglected farmland as a wasted resource. 25
• Proposed growing vegetables to reduce household expenses. 25
• Took interest in cultivating Lu’s three mu of ancestral paddy fields. 25

Literacy

Dong Jia began studying literacy under Nian Chun after Lu arranged lessons for her and Dong Linger. 52

Cultivation Aptitude

Dong Jia does not possess the aptitude necessary to cultivate the Tortoise Breath Life-Nourishing Art, unlike Dong Linger. 93

Relationships

• Lu Shaolin — Benefactor, employer, and head of her household. He protected the sisters from the Little Knife Society, cancelled the family’s debt through force of arms, and provided them a home; Dong Jia manages his household and is introduced by him as family. She has continued accompanying him through his relocations and serving as a trusted household manager. 23 25 44 103 183
• Dong Linger — Younger sister. Dong Jia has cared for and protected her since their father’s death, prioritizing Linger’s food, shelter, and safety. The sisters later begin literacy lessons together, though only Linger displays aptitude for internal cultivation. 15 22 24 52 93
• Ma San — Lu Shaolin’s subordinate who rescued Linger from Ma the Second and escorted Dong Jia while she retrieved the sisters’ belongings. He remains a fellow member of Lu’s household during its later relocations. 22 23 178
• Nian Chun and Nian Qiu — Household coworkers in Lu Shaolin’s county-seat residence. Their arrival reduces Dong Jia’s domestic burden; Nian Chun later teaches Dong Jia and Linger literacy, while the women jointly help manage the expanded household. 49 52 183
• The twenty maidservants — Servants awarded to Lu Shaolin by Commander Xia Bingran. Their arrangements were entrusted to Dong Jia, Nian Chun, and the other household women. 183

Trivia

• Dong Jia’s cooking is good enough that Lu Shaolin considers it comparable to a tavern chef’s. 25
• She initially maintains strict servant etiquette, but Lu Shaolin repeatedly insists that she and Linger eat at the same table as him. 25
• She was the first to raise the issue of the household’s dwindling grain supply, prompting Lu Shaolin to purchase rice and flour. 35
• She initially pretended not to like candied hawthorns so Dong Linger could eat the remainder. 35
• Lu bought Dong Jia three full sets of seasonal clothing after realizing that she and the other women had only worn patched garments. 67
• She received a Longevity Fruit from Lu Shaolin during his return-home celebration; only the first Longevity Fruit consumed by a person has an effect. 426