Chapter 37: The Tan Family Sisters-in-Law

Miaotong attended to Miss Ning as she boarded the eight-treasure emerald-canopied carriage, while Miaoyun took Pear Moon in a small pink silk carriage. Another blue-cloth carriage carried the gifts.

The three carriages traveled in the middle, with Ningguo Mansion servants riding horses before and after them. The party had traveled for less than a quarter of an hour when they arrived at the entrance of the Tan residence.

The Tan family lived in a newly purchased three-courtyard house, its main gate freshly painted and gleaming.

The Tan family steward was already waiting at the entrance, directing them to carry Miss Ning’s sedan chair directly inside.

The two carriages also had their animals unhitched and were pulled through the main gate by Tan family servants.

The carriages and sedan chair proceeded all the way to the Drooping Flower Gate before stopping to let the passengers alight and have the items unloaded.

Miss Tan, accompanied by two young maidservants, was waiting outside the screen wall, overjoyed as she stepped forward to offer support.

“Sister Ning, you’ve finally come! I’ve missed you terribly! My sister-in-law is here—quick, pay your respects to Sister Ning.”

As Pear Moon stepped down from the carriage, she saw a young woman in her twenties standing beside Miss Tan.

She was not very tall, with a plump figure and a purplish-dark complexion—likely General Tan’s wife, Madam Tan.

Her appearance was not striking, but she spoke with great warmth and familiarity, holding Miss Ning’s hand and showering her with praise.

“No wonder my sister keeps talking about you—Miss Ning, your grace and beauty must have been bestowed by the gods!”

As she spoke, Madam Tan began to bow in greeting.

Miss Ning quickly called out “sister-in-law” and held her, refusing to let her bow.

“Sister Yao’er and I are of the same generation, and you are like a sister-in-law to me as well. It is I who should bow to you.”

Though she said this, Miss Ning was the daughter of a duke—how could Madam Tan possibly agree?

The three of them spent a long time at the Drooping Flower Gate deferring to one another before finally settling on a mutual bow. Only then did they join hands and enter through the Drooping Flower Gate.

Miaotong and Miaoyun carried gift boxes and led Pear Moon, following behind, while the other items were carried by Tan family servants.

Pear Moon looked up and saw that inside the Drooping Flower Gate, the Tan residence consisted of only two courtyards.

The small courtyard inside the screen wall was not spacious, with two newly planted pomegranate trees, their branches tender and flowers sparse.

The Main Chamber of the inner quarters had three rooms, all newly papered, with white walls and ceilings like a snow cave.

Madam Tan led Miss Ning into the house, worried that her delicate guest might feel cold, and immediately ushered her toward the Warm Pavilion.

Pear Moon followed them inside. The room was very warm, and she was greeted by the fresh scent of wooden furniture.

All the furnishings in the room were newly made and not yet fully arranged, leaving it feeling somewhat empty.

The three rooms of the Main Chamber were connected without partitions, and the Warm Pavilion featured a northern-style kang bed.

The kang was fully covered with silver squirrel fur bedding wrapped in brocade, and the backrests and pillows were all fox fur lined with bright red satin.

This was an extremely luxurious setup, popular in the northern regions, though in the capital it seemed somewhat ostentatious.

The weather in March was still chilly despite the early warmth, and though there was no charcoal brazier in the room, the kang was warm and cozy.

In the middle of the warm kang stood a small plum-blossom-waisted kang table, where maidservants placed a large tray laden with tea and pastries.

The Tan family sisters-in-law insisted on having their guests sit on the kang. Knowing she was the guest of honor, Miss Ning took the central seat.

Miss Tan sat beside her to keep her company and urged Madam Tan, “Sister-in-law, please sit down quickly so we can talk properly.”

But Madam Tan refused, instead placing a chair below the kang and smiling as she said, “Let our young lady accompany the young miss for tea. I’ll go prepare the meal in a moment!”

Miss Ning quickly replied with a smile, “How could that be? I’m just a young lady—neither an outsider nor here on a formal visit. How could I let you, sister-in-law, cook? If you insist on this, I won’t be able to stay—I’ll have to go home at once!”

Madam Tan hurriedly waved her hand with a smile. “Miss, you are a precious and noble lady, while the kitchen women are unclean. You may not know our customs. Although my husband holds an official position, when at home, I do not put on airs as a lady or madam. Not to mention a distinguished guest like you, even on ordinary days, I am the one who cooks for the two siblings!”

Miss Ning, born into a noble family, had only ever seen the women of her own household since childhood. Outside her home, she had only interacted with women like Shen Shi, all of whom had never lifted a finger for household chores. Even when occasionally preparing food, it was merely brewing tea or arranging fruit platters and pastries. Daily meals were always served by kitchen maids.

Now, seeing Madam Tan, the wife of a fourth-rank official, personally cooking, she was momentarily stunned.

Miss Tan quickly smiled and explained, “Sister, you may not know. Since childhood, my brother has been away serving in the military, and my mother was frail and ill, unable to manage such a large household. It was only after my sister-in-law married into the family that she truly took charge and handled everything. Our family supports over a hundred local militiamen patrolling the borders, all of whom came with their families. Day and night, there is a constant stream of people eating in our home, all managed and arranged by my sister-in-law alone!”

Miss Ning was even more impressed and quickly smiled. “Sister-in-law is so capable, no wonder General Tan has risen so high. Dear sister, you are truly blessed. Though your mother is not by your side, you still have your sister-in-law to care for you.”

Madam Tan modestly replied, “Listen to my sister rambling on, making Miss laugh. What I do is nothing special—just sewing coarse clothes and managing simple meals. Since coming to the capital, I’ve seen all these ladies and madams dressed in finery, with delicate hands and feet. Who is as rough as I am? I only bring shame to my husband!”

Miss Ning and Tan Leyao consoled her, saying, “What kind of talk is this? Sister-in-law is overthinking!”

Miss Ning added, “Sister-in-law is just joking to amuse me. The official wives in the capital respect two things: first, the rank of their fathers, brothers, or husbands; second, the wealth of their families. General Tan’s rank is not low, and sister-in-law is generous in rewarding others. In what way are you inferior to anyone?”

Her words made everyone laugh, and they happily drank their tea.

In ordinary times, a noble lady like Miss Ning would consider a mere nod sufficient when dealing with the family of a fourth-rank official.

She had come to socialize with the Tan family women at the request of both her mother and brother.

Though General Tan was only a fourth-rank official, he was the adopted son of Eunuch Lu from the Directorate of Ceremonial. Without any intervention from Heir Ning, he had secured the position of Commander of the Imperial Guard, making him someone not to be taken lightly.

Originally, Shen Shi would have been the most suitable to handle such social engagements between the families. However, the Young Master could not command her, and Madam Ning disliked her, leaving Miss Ning to step in.

Miss Ning had learned household management from her mother since childhood and was often involved in social engagements, making her clever and perceptive. Though the Tan sisters-in-law came from humble backgrounds, their sincerity and simplicity made her feel more connected to them than to her previous friends.

As the guests chatted and laughed in the Warm Pavilion, the Tan family maids led Miaotong, Miaoyun, and Pear Moon to the outer room to arrange pastries.

These were leftovers from the Warm Pavilion, with only a few items slightly touched.

Pear Moon took a careful look and realized that the Tan family was unfamiliar with the customs of noble households in the capital.

Her godmother, Madam Liu, and her mentor, Aunt Cao, had both said that pastries served to guests were also a form of display.

For such displays, novelty in presentation was essential—they should not be monotonous. Taste, however, was of little importance.

Any household that served pastries as if they were selling goods in a market would surely be ridiculed by their peers.

Though this was the principle, for Pear Moon, these pastries were still a rare treat.

While Miaotong chatted with the Tan family maid, she ate several pieces in succession, deciding to fill her stomach first.

Just as she was eating heartily, she suddenly heard Miss Ning’s laughter from the Warm Pavilion: “We were so caught up in talking that I almost forgot. Last time, you mentioned wanting to learn how to make pastries. I happened to bring a child along—let her make a few varieties for us to taste.”

With that, she leaned out and called, “Miaotong, bring Xiao Yue over to pay respects to Madam Tan!”