Page 82 of Silk and Sensibility

Listening to the adult ladies chat as they worked together to make wedding invitations was soothing. The table was covered with piles of red paper and gold string. Ailin’s reputation with the brush meant her task was writing each invitation while the others cut and folded.

“Do we really need to make quite so many invitations?” Meilin asked as she cut large sheets of paper into squares.

“Of course we do,” Grand­mother Jiang replied as she passed a long list of names to Ailin. “Do you know how many people would be disappointed not to receive an invitation to a wedding banquet held at Batong Mansion? Captain Bai is a local hero, and our family has a reputation to uphold as a flourishing merchant house.”

Ailin willed herself to focus as she copied the character 囍 for “double happiness” over and over. The only wedding she had attended before was when Junyou brought Fulan to Nuolan Garden for the first time. That ceremony had been respectable, but not boisterous, because Father preferred quiet simplicity to noisy extravagance. She wondered what Father would have thought about Grand­mother Jiang’s tastes. Their family’s current circumstances were very different from what Ailin was used to growing up.

“We should thank Grand­mother Jiang for planning such a grand banquet,” Mama said as she folded another piece of red paper for Ailin to write on.

“We are family, so there’s no need for thanks, Xiuyun. Besides, your embroidery has been selling so well lately that this will all be paid for with your own earnings.” Grand­mother Jiang winked.

“Xiuyun-jiě has talent and works hard. She deserves all the blessings,” Aunt Meng said as she moved several ink-wet invitations to a smaller table to dry.

Ming­ming suddenly ran into the hall, red-faced and out of breath. “Lucky, Jade, and I were playing in the front courtyard when a guest knocked at the gate. He’s in the receiving hall now.”

Mama stood up. “You let a strange man into the house without asking an adult?”

“He isn’t a stranger.” Ming­ming puffed in annoyance, offended that her fourteen-year-old judgment was called into question. “The man is Enze-gēge.”

Everyone’s eyes turned toward Ailin at precisely the same moment, and her brush slipped, marring the crimson sheet of paper with an unintended black stroke. Did they all sense her embarrassment and agitation, even Grand­mother Jiang and Aunt Meng?

“Did he say why he dropped by?” Grand­mother Jiang asked calmly. If only Ailin had half her presence of mind!

“He said he’s on his way to Beijing for the metropolitan exam and would like to thank Grand­mother Jiang and Mother for their support,” Ming­ming replied.

“Anything else?” Mama asked. Ailin had already told her about the information Wei Luobi passed on, so she must be wondering about Enze’s marriage to Shen Lusi too. Grand­mother Jiang had not yet received her report from Madame Cai, so no one knew any details of the wedding.

“Why don’t we go and see?” Grand­mother Jiang suggested. “We’ll hear everything from the top scorer himself.”

Aunt Meng, who did not like meeting new guests, asked Meilin and Ming­ming to stay with her and continue invitation-making.

As Ailin followed her mother and Grand­mother Jiang down the corridors of Batong Mansion, she struggled to breathe inconspicuously. This would be the first time she saw Enze after his marriage. Would he be different?

Of course. He’s married to Shen Lusi now. Her stomach churned.

Deep breaths. She could not allow herself to appear upset. It was improper and wrong. She needed to congratulate him and let her feelings go.

As the three women entered the hall, Enze stood up.

Despite her best efforts to prepare herself, Ailin’s heart jumped at the sight of him.

He looked the same as he always had, tall while trying to not take up space. He wore the cotton jacket that Mama had made for him last year over robes of pale blue. His hair was neatly hidden by his black scholar’s cap, and his face was wind-worn and sun-kissed. He looked like he had walked a long way, but in good spirits, as expected of a recent exam passer and newlywed man.

Enze bowed deeply at the waist to the older ladies, his back and clasped hands almost forming a table with their angle.

“Quit the formalities, top scorer.” Grand­mother Jiang lifted Enze’s arms as she smiled. “Let’s not waste time. We want to know everything about your achievements since we last met. I think many congratulations are in store based on what we’ve heard.”

Enze looked down in his usual self-effacing manner. “I’m still beginning my journey, but I owe you much thanks, Grand­mother Jiang. Without the gifts you sent, I wouldn’t have been able to quit my many jobs and focus on the provincial exam. Your support and Madame Duan’s letter—”

“How is Madame Fan doing?” Mama asked abruptly, quite unlike her usual self.

Ailin wondered why she wanted to prevent Enze from talking about a letter of hers. Had Mama sent him something in addition to the short message from Ailin? That wouldn’t have been strange, but she was acting so evasive.

Enze seemed surprised by Mama’s interruption and took a moment to recover. “My stepmother is in good health. Thank you for your concern.”

Grand­mother Jiang looked sympathetically between Mama and Enze. “She meant the younger Madame Fan, my dear boy. How is your wife?”

Enze’s face turned pink. “My wife?”