Chapter 13 #2
Ailin was speechless. Hair was a precious gift from one’s parents.
For adults who weren’t Buddhist monks, it could only be cut as part of a wedding ceremony, to symbolize the union of a husband and wife.
To bind one’s hair was an incredibly intimate act that Ailin couldn’t imagine Enze doing before marriage.
“Is that really his hair?” she asked in disbelief.
Miss Shen narrowed her eyes. “Of course it is. A proper young lady would not jest about something so serious as the man she intends to marry. Besides, he promised my uncle on his deathbed that he would take care of me for the rest of our lives. You wouldn’t doubt that, would you?”
Ailin felt dizzy. She didn’t know what she believed.
Her heart told her that Enze couldn’t have promised to marry this woman, but she didn’t know if she could trust her intuition.
Enze should not have hidden the existence of a childhood sweetheart like Miss Shen when he had been so open and honest about Miss Mo. Unless he had lied from the start?
Ailin shook her head. There was no way Enze could have lied so thoroughly.
Not only had he told Ailin his insecurities, but he had also played wéiqí with Ming-ming and confided his childhood stories to her mother.
He had won over her whole family with his genuineness. They couldn’t have all been fooled.
And yet, Miss Shen was right. No proper young lady would make such claims about tying her hair with a man’s if they hadn’t made a sincere commitment to marry, a commitment perhaps even more binding than whatever Enze shared with Ailin. The thought made Ailin sick.
“I’m so glad you understand me now,” Miss Shen continued.
“Having the support of such a clever and accomplished fellow-woman such as yourself means everything to me. One of the reasons I was so excited to come with my Aunt and Uncle Pang to Batong Mansion was because I need all the support I can get. I’ve heard Grand-mother Jiang is a business genius who loves mentoring ambitious young people.
I plan to ask her to help build up my dowry so Enze and I can marry faster.
Having stayed here longer, do you think that is a good plan? ”
While Ailin struggled to control her distress, the chatter at the head of the table wound down and Grand-mother Jiang’s attention turned toward her and Miss Shen.
“Lusi and Ailin, you girls seem to be deep in conversation. What interesting news are you discussing? If it’s about love and marriage, I may need to fish some information out of you.”
“Oh, madam, you don’t need to fish to find out who I want to marry.
” Miss Shen covered her smile with her hand, a gesture any outsider might interpret as a sign of modesty.
Ailin regretted not being able to see Miss Shen in that light anymore.
“My Aunt and Uncle Pang already approve of the gentleman since he visited their home twice. We saw him only a few days ago too. I am not ashamed to admit my hopes at all. If you’re willing, I would appreciate your help to formalize a betrothal with him. ”
“And who is the lucky man you’ve set your heart on?” Grand-mother Jiang asked.
Miss Shen smiled again, revealing pearly white teeth. “The man I want to marry is known by many present. His name is Fan Enze.”
Ailin looked at her mother, who was politely listening to the conversation near Grand-mother Jiang at the head of the table.
Shock flashed across her mother’s face but was quickly controlled and masked.
Ailin’s stomach tightened. Mother loved Enze like a son and had moved their family to Suzhou to avoid Fulan’s malice.
Mother’s pain and disappointment hurt Ailin more than her own.
“What?” her two younger sisters exclaimed at the same time. It was the first time that evening they showed attention to the table’s main conversation.
“What is so surprising?” Grand-mother Jiang asked as her shrewd eyes moved between Meilin and Ming-ming.
Mother’s face was pale, but after Ailin caught her eye, she replied to Grand-mother Jiang’s question with the composure expected of a scholarly family’s matron.
“I think my daughters are reacting to the name of the gentleman. My family is also acquainted with a young man named Fan Enze. He’s the maternal uncle of my grandson, and he spent many happy weeks with us at our family home in Nanjing. ”
“Is he the same young man that Lusi is talking about?”
“He is, Grand-mother Jiang,” Miss Shen replied. “My Enze told me all about the wonderful Duan family when he visited me. That’s why I was so eager to sit by Miss Duan. Friends of my beloved are friends of mine as well.”
The calculating gleam in Miss Shen’s eyes made Ailin suspect that the girl had planned this all along, from the disarming small talk to the final reveal of her ambitions for Enze.
Ailin chewed her lip. She was within her rights to challenge Miss Shen’s claim. Enze had made a promise to her as well as to her mother. Even without a formal proposal letter or betrothal gifts, that was enough to at least raise a dispute.
Ailin looked at Miss Shen, determined to say something, when a wave of nausea rose in her gut. She swallowed her words. Her heart was shattered, but the thought of arguing in public was worse. Contradicting another guest would put her family’s hosts in an awkward position.
“Are you all right?” Meilin asked.
Ailin startled at Meilin’s question and light touch on her arm. Only then did she realize she was shaking. She clasped her hands in her lap to suppress the involuntary movement. She couldn’t afford to break down in front of so many people. She needed to keep herself and her family calm.
“I’m fine,” she whispered to Meilin. “Let’s listen now and talk later.”