Silk, Sense, and Sensibility

南京與杭州可謂雲泥之別，

不僅是我們家和姐夫家的差別。

在諾蘭園連丫鬟的談吐都像淑女。

嘉靖三十三年秋。

Little brother, Nanjing and Hangzhou are as different as earth and sky, or perhaps it is merely the difference between our house and our brother-in-law’s house. Here at Nuolan Garden, even the maidservants speak and walk like refined ladies.

I will keep writing to you, even if I cannot deliver my messages until the next time we meet.

—Unsent letter from Fan Enze to Fan Ruoze, year 33 of the reign of the Jiajing Emperor