Page 2 of Silk and Sensibility

“And the reason for your visit?” Uncle Chen asked with more curiosity than impatience.

Ailin took a breath to tamp down her fears. She had rehearsed for this moment to sound as respectable as possible while also soliciting help. She shouldn’t feel nervous. “Since my father’s passing, I have been concerned that his name might be fading in the scholarly world. You are a discerning connoisseur of art, so I wanted to see if you would be interested in buying some of my father’s paintings or introducing others to them. I’ve brought several for your perusal.”

“Are these Duan-xiōng’s works?” Uncle Chen gestured to the bundles on the table.

Ailin nodded as she swallowed. “Yes.”

Uncle Chen walked to the table and unwrapped the bundles carefully, almost reverently. He opened one of the boxes and lifted out a scroll, unfurling it to reveal a landscape of mountains covered in snow—majestic, pure, out of reach. His mouth formed a sad smile that matched the one in Ailin’s heart.

“This is surely one of your father’s best paintings,” he said, carefully returning the scroll to the box. “Why would you want to sell this?”

Ailin mentally reviewed her prepared justification, the one she hoped would not draw attention to the embarrassing discord in her family. Even if Uncle Chen saw through her act, perhaps he would be magnanimous enough not to call out her real reasons.

“You are a known collector of fine art with connections to other gentlemen of consequence. His paintings would be better off in your hands than in our house collecting dust.”

Uncle Chen stroked his beard. “Does Duan Junyou know about this? He’s not the kind of man to send his younger sister out to do business.”

Ailin shivered. She had been right to fear the experienced merchant’s powers of perception.

Her older half-brother, Junyou, was Father’s only son, the only child of his first wife, and the sole heir to the entire Duan estate. The system of inheritance in which sons received everything and widows and daughters received nothing worked perfectly well when the heir provided for everyone. However, when Junyou moved back to Nuolan Garden six months ago to begin his official mourning period, he had shifted control of household finances from his stepmother to his wife, Fulan, causing Ailin’s mother to suffer.

“My brother thought it would be better for me to approach you since he isn’t familiar with this neighborhood anymore.” Afraid her lie sounded too obvious, Ailin added a truth. “He spent many years away on government assignments.”

Uncle Chen laughed kindly. “Child, I’ve known your family for decades. Duan Junyou is a decent bureaucrat, but he’s too tightfisted to leave money matters to his sister. Tell me the truth.”

Despite Uncle Chen’s understanding tone, Ailin hesitated. She didn’t know if she should disclose the information about Nurse Liu’s dismissal and Mother’s health. Even if it wasn’t proper, however, she had few choices. There was no one else she could ask for help.

She explained the situation without blaming anyone. “Since Father’s passing, our household budget has tightened. Last night, our old nurse was let go, and my mother is distraught because of it.”

“Does your mother need a doctor?” Uncle Chen asked with rising concern.

Ailin shook her head. “Her spirits have been low, but I hope that gaining the resources to provide for Nurse Liu’s retirement will ease her worries.”

Mother’s condition had been poor for a while, but it was not an illness a doctor could cure. It was more a matter of the heart. Already sentimental by nature, Mother was more affected by Father’s death than anyone else in the family. Ailin had often found her staring out the window of her bedchamber for hours on end. Mother’s dispirited spells worried Ailin and her younger sisters, who all felt powerless.

Uncle Chen sighed. “Child, you are shouldering too much. It’s your older brother and sister-in-law’s responsibility to take care of your mother and old nurse. Why did they dismiss your nurse, of all people? Surely Duan-xiōng did not leave so little behind that your family can’t afford to keep such an important person. Is your brother choosing to be unfilial?”

Ailin flinched. She had chosen her words precisely to avoid this question. It would have broken Father’s heart to have people think badly of his children. “Please don’t say that, Uncle Chen.”

“So you would let his heartless behavior stand to preserve the illusion of family harmony?”

Ailin looked down. She never worried so much when Father was alive. Back then, matters like respect, balance, and harmony existed as naturally as water, earth, and air. Now they seemed as elusive as the mythical peaches of immortality. She often wished she could tell Junyou, Fulan, or even Mother how she actually felt about the state of their family, but what would that do besides create more conflict? Feelings were burdens she was better off discarding. It was better to be numb than in constant pain.

Junyou had a legal right to do whatever he wished with the estate, and Fulan must have reasons for acting the way she did. Confrontation would only lead to more friction, not peace. And of course, Ailin couldn’t complain to her one remaining parent. The best Ailin could do for her frail mother was to take care of things quietly. That was why she had slipped away without telling any family members besides her seventeen-year-old sister, Meilin, who was supposed to hide her absence until she returned in order to avoid worrying Mother.

Uncle Chen frowned as he clasped his hands behind his back. “Duan-xiōng’s paintings can certainly be sold for high prices, but when word gets out that such rare works are appearing at market, Duan Junyou may be upset that valuables have been taken out of Nuolan Garden without his knowledge.”

Ailin blanched at the implication. “The paintings I’ve brought today aren’t taken from the family. They’re part of my dowry.”

Uncle Chen looked shocked for the first time since Ailin had known him. “You took out your own dowry to support your family?”

Ailin nodded, uneasy about his impending judgment. She knew her choice was unconventional, but she could think of no better option.

Uncle Chen rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Child, your dowry is the only property you will ever own. It’s meant to help you marry well and strengthen your position in your future household. You can’t be using it to make up for your brother’s shortcomings before you’ve married out.”

Ailin bit her lip. She knew as much as anyone how important a dowry was in securing a good marriage, but supporting her mother and Nurse Liu was more urgent. It was better to sacrifice a part of her dowry than let the current crisis escalate. Ailin would pay any price to prevent her mother from worrying to death.

Uncle Chen was silent for a moment, then said, “I simply cannot sell these paintings for you. Imagine what people will think when they find out you traded away your dowry instead of asking your brother for money. What will they think of your family and your brother’s character?”