Chapter 13
Ailin
The spread on the Jiang family’s table was more extravagant than their usual fare, which was already elaborate by the standards of Nuolan Garden.
A dozen cold dishes were on the table, with space for many more warm dishes to be served once everyone sat down.
As Ailin took her seat next to one of the new lady guests, she sincerely hoped the appetizers would make everyone forget about the heated exchange between Meilin and Captain Bai.
Despite Ailin’s efforts to hold her back, Meilin had revealed to everyone how much she liked Master Wei and despised Captain Bai.
Ailin sighed. It wasn’t that she wanted Meilin to actively discourage Master Wei or encourage Captain Bai, but she wished her sister would show a little more restraint before expressing potentially offensive opinions.
Giving respect to the other guests of Batong Mansion was the least she could do.
Instead, Meilin sat next to Master Wei, laughing at something he whispered in her ear.
The one redeeming note was that her laugh sounded nervous, like a high-pitched effort to play off something unpleasant rather than true enjoyment. At least Meilin knew to be embarrassed about her indiscretion.
Captain Bai sat across from them on the other side of the table, next to Sandy and the other children. Whenever he glanced at Meilin and Master Wei, his brow wrinkled with something like consternation, or maybe a hint of vinegary jealousy.
Ailin silently cheered at the entry of servants bringing hot dishes on steaming plates, hoping the spectacular feast might make the atmosphere more relaxed.
The empty spaces on the large wooden dining table were soon filled with spiced duck, chicken wrapped in lotus leaves, and braised pork glistening in dark-red soy sauce.
These were followed by prawns garnished with green tea leaves, crab with ginger and vinegar sauce, and a fish fried so skillfully that it looked like a squirrel with a fluffy tail.
The menu also showed Aunt Meng’s vegetarian influence, with several varieties of bean curd, vegetable dumplings, sweet steamed buns, and honeyed lotus root slices.
As bellies were filled, conversation flowed, and Ailin got a glimpse into a world she had never thought about as a girl in the quiet house of a retired scholar.
It was fascinating. Father always avoided talk of politics, but the members of the extended Jiang family discussed such matters openly, even in front of children.
Master Pang complained vocally about the high tax rates in Hangzhou. “I think I was made tax captain because Magistrate Gao hates me. I don’t know how I can make the quota without asking more of the tenants.”
“You’ll do fine, dear. I fully believe in your abilities,” Madame Pang said as she rubbed Master Pang’s back.
Begonia had told Ailin rumors that Madame Pang was madly in love with her husband, which seemed to be true.
It must have been nice not having to hide her feelings, although such a public display of affection was a bit excessive.
“We won’t let you fail, Tai,” Uncle Meng said as he raised his cup. He spoke with the assurance of a man who had once been in a similar place. “Just stick it out. Magistrates change every few years.”
“Although you might try getting on this one’s good side a little more while he’s in office,” Grand-mother Jiang suggested.
“A few gifts here and there never hurt. Nothing so extravagant that it smells of corruption, of course. We don’t want to ruin our family reputation while trying to win over one hard magistrate. ”
Though he had no stakes in the Jiang family business, Master Wei added to the conversation. “Perhaps everything will get better in Jiangnan once the Wōkòu are defeated.”
Master Pang sipped gingerly from his cup. “It’s definitely hard to transport goods when we don’t know when the next raid will happen. Things don’t seem as bad here as they are in Hangzhou, though.”
“Suzhou might feel safer because we have so many capable soldiers defending us. With military leaders like Captain Bai around, I’m sure the Wōkòu will be driven back to Japan in no time.” Master Wei smiled as if he was giving a compliment.
Captain Bai stiffened when Master Wei used his name.
Dis-like was clear in his frown. “It’s a common misconception that Wōkòu come primarily from Japan when, in fact, we only talk as if they are to ignore the fact that so many Ming citizens turn to piracy because of the lack of legal trade opportunities. ”
“I think the point is that we would all feel safer if the imperial army did a better job protecting the people,” Meilin added rather extraneously.
Captain Bai looked wounded at Meilin’s words.
Ailin snagged a piece of honey-soaked lotus root and placed it in her sister’s rice bowl. Perhaps if Meilin was chewing on the sticky, fibrous vegetable, she wouldn’t feel as much temptation to antagonize Captain Bai.
As dinner continued, Master Pang’s niece, who was seated next to Ailin, quietly addressed her.
“Your sister is so brave for talking with the men, Miss Duan,” she said in a low voice, as if she wanted to keep their conversation private. “My name is Shen Lusi, by the way. I’ve heard lots about you, and I’d love to get to know you better in person.”
“Is that so?” Ailin wondered who had been talking about her to Miss Shen.
Aunt Meng didn’t speak much, but she cared about making everyone feel welcome, so perhaps she thought telling Miss Shen about her beforehand might help them become friends easier.
Or maybe Grand-mother Jiang had been chatting about her because that was her natural way.
Miss Shen, the picture of demure humility in her cotton ǎoqún and lack of jewelry, turned out to be quite talkative.
As dinner progressed, she took up all of Ailin’s attention with stories about her sad childhood as an orphan sent to live with her older maternal uncle, how lonely she had felt when her older sister moved away to marry a doctor, and how bereft she had been when her older uncle died from illness.
Ailin was confused by her eagerness to share so much of her life with a near-stranger, but she listened patiently, feeling pity for Miss Shen’s difficult life.
“I grew up in Suzhou because this is where my late uncle set up his school,” Miss Shen explained.
“When he passed away, my only remaining relative was my younger Uncle Pang and he had already moved to Hangzhou to live with his wife’s family, so it was quite terrifying to be suddenly left without relatives in the city. ”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Ailin said, believing that sympathy was what Miss Shen sought.
Miss Shen dabbed at a tear in the corner of her eye.
“How-ever, one of my older uncle’s students was kind enough to escort me to Hangzhou after arranging the funeral and burial.
Wasn’t that chivalrous? Especially considering how dangerous things have been in the region lately with bandits and pirates. ”
Ailin agreed. Teacher Pang’s student seemed like a noble person, a jūnzǐ.
Miss Shen dropped her voice even lower. “May I ask you a personal question as a new friend, Miss Duan?”
Ailin disliked the idea of revealing anything to such a recent acquaintance, but Miss Shen had shared so much about herself that she didn’t want to appear standoffish. She nodded reluctantly.
“Have you ever fallen in love?”
Ailin immediately thought of Enze and flushed.
She had fallen in love, so assuredly that every brushstroke she painted carried her hopes for their future together, so deeply that her chest ached every day they were apart.
But that answer was too private to share with someone she just met, even someone as friendly as Miss Shen.
“I don’t think so,” she said, hoping to end the conversation.
Miss Shen’s eyes grew wider and darker as she stared into Ailin’s face. “You’ve never met any man you desire to be your future husband?”
Ailin shook her head. Despite Miss Shen’s pressing, she would not reveal her greatest hope. After she built up her dowry and Enze officially proposed, she would proclaim her love with pride, but doing so prematurely felt like tempting fate.
Miss Shen smiled, suddenly happier than she had been all night.
“I am glad. You see, that chivalrous student of my late uncle was my childhood sweetheart. We promised to marry each other, but I recently learned that another woman has been trying to steal his heart. Now I can rest assured that fox spirit is not you, my new friend.”
Ailin blinked. What on earth was Miss Shen talking about? Why would she suspect Ailin, who hadn’t even known of her existence until today, of having designs on the man she loved?
“That is a strange thing to say.”
“Is it?” Miss Shen laughed, a high-pitched sound like the jingling of little bells sewn onto a child’s toy. “My Enze is a very attractive man, and he recently cut short a visit to his older sister’s house because his sister found a woman in their household trying to lure him in.”
“Your Enze?” Ailin tried to make sense of Miss Shen’s words. She couldn’t mean the same Enze that Ailin loved. Ailin’s Enze was an upright and gentle scholar. He would never have made promises to her—he would never have kissed her—if he had promised to marry someone else.
“You know my Enze, don’t you, Miss Duan? Fan Enze of Hangzhou, younger brother of Madame Fan Fulan, brother-in-law of former magistrate Duan Junyou. That is the man who has promised himself to me for life. Here, I even have a lock of his hair.”
Ailin’s heart thudded as Miss Shen pulled out a small silk sachet from around her neck. She opened the sachet to reveal strands of hair tied with a red string before tucking it back under her shirt.