Chapter 011

Chapter 11: You Are Too Much!!!

At Qiu Shi Courtyard, seeing that Xin An still had the composure to sit and sip bird’s nest porridge unhurriedly, Tang Mo began to snipe at her with sour humor: “You are truly generous; thirty percent of the dowry, and you say you do not want it.”

Xin An set down the bowl deliberately: “Switching brides is dishonorable, but the ones who lose face are the marquisate’s people, and it does little harm to your admirable elder brother. When outsiders ask later, a few words will reduce it to a romantic anecdote, a mere joke. They will down a cup of bitter wine, smile wryly, then say they owe me an apology, and that therefore they even gave me thirty percent of his mother’s dowry. Tell me, in their mouths what kind of person would I become? Besides, do you not know how much is left of that so-called remaining dowry?”

She added with a thin sneer: “The good pieces have been switched out by that mother and son, while claiming that it was all used by Tang Gang and Tang Rong. What is left only looks substantial. How much is it worth?”

After speaking, she did not forget to jab at Tang Mo: “Your father’s way of doing things is certainly interesting. The way he died, so stifled and inglorious, was not undeserved.”

Tang Mo was intrigued: “Say it, let me be amused.” From his earliest memory his father had been partial, giving everything good to Tang Rong; only what Tang Rong did not want would come to him. Worse, Tang Rong knew how to perform; with a crowd watching he would take out the very thing Tang Mo coveted yet had not been given, flaunt it, then “sincerely” bestow it on Tang Mo, and so he gained the reputation of a courteous, yielding gentleman. As for Tang Mo, he was forever the grasping, unpresentable stepson.

Xin An rolled her shoulder: “Not telling. It is unlucky.”

Tang Mo refused to give up: “Then tell me whether he died miserably.” “Not miserably,” Xin An answered frankly, “his children and grandchildren kept vigil by his bed; he departed satisfied.” Tang Mo rolled his eyes, and Xin An, lips curving, kindly pointed him toward clarity: “That is your father. Could you rein in the expression that looks like you are wishing him dead? Learn from your elder brother, who mouths solicitous words yet never parts with a single coin, the very picture of a dutiful son.” She went on: “Let me tell you, your father does not especially love your admirable elder brother; he only favors the son who brings him face. If you can make him look good, then naturally you will be his treasure. You performed well today. Did not that posting in the Northern Garrison Army fall to you?”

Tang Mo rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment, then peered at her doubtfully: “Are you serious?”

“Do I have any reason to lie to you?” [She had long since concluded that Tang Gang was a selfish man, a judgment earned over many years.]

“You swear,” Tang Mo leaned close, “say that if you are lying, then what is happening now is only your dream; when you wake you are still in your seventies, driven to spitting blood by Tang Rong and ruthlessly humiliated by him.” [How vicious!!!]

Xin An spat at him: “Believe it or not.”

They fell to bickering again. When they finally paused, Tang Mo asked: “You do not want the dowry, and you also refuse the keys to the household? You used to sharpen your head trying to get them. When did you become so magnanimous?” “Naturally after suffering losses,” Xin An said, since she still hoped to sing in duet with him later and thus did not hide it. “Go ask your mother whether running this household is easy. Apart from the Grand Matron and you, no one here is truly wealthy.” “Nonsense,” Tang Mo snapped, instantly on guard, “since when am I wealthy?” Xin An laughed, staring at him with interest: “Take a guess: after you died, how did Tao Yi Ran handle the nest egg you stashed away like a mouse? If Madam Wang had not died of grief after you, I would never have had the chance to learn how much you left. At least half fell into my hands, and of course I ultimately spent it on your admirable elder brother. As for the remaining half, a portion of that was also used on your admirable elder brother.”

Tang Mo’s face turned iron-blue, his heart bleeding. Dead, yet his money still remained, and his nemesis spent it. He could scarcely restrain the desire to be reborn, squander everything in a single day, and throw what remained into the river.

He glared at Xin An, teeth clenched: “I really want to strangle you right now.” Just then Chun Yang entered with tea; startled by what she heard, she spilled it. Xin An lowered her eyes and feigned tears, and Chun Yang, incensed, set the tea down with a solid thump: “Son-in-law, you are too much!!!” Her lady had suffered so bitterly; how had she married this second young master with such a rotten reputation?

Tang Mo… wanted to strangle mistress and maid both.

Night fell. When Tang Rong learned from his father that half of his birth mother’s dowry had already been spent, he was greatly displeased, instinctively assuming it had been embezzled by his stepmother. Yet when he saw the ledger entries one by one, he could not say a word. Tang Gang’s view was that it was best not to let outsiders know, as it would hurt their reputation; Tang Rong agreed. He did not want people outside saying he lived in undue luxury. “Tomorrow I will give you all those dowry items,” said the father, “and we will say they were handed over in full. Just accept them.”

Father and son chose to keep silent and pretend nothing had happened, which suited Madam Wang perfectly. Tang Mo came to her: “How did it go?” Madam Wang smiled in triumph: “Of course they accepted in silence. Your father values face above all. How could he let this spread? A marquis misappropriating his late wife’s dowry would be drowned by the Imperial Censor’s spittle. Your elder brother, intent on preserving his gentlemanly reputation, will say even less. Over these years the two of them have squandered extravagantly in pursuit of empty fame. How much they used, do you think they even remember?” Her eyes brimmed with scorn: “Besides, those dowries were not silver they earned themselves. Spending other people’s money is easy. Would you expect them to pursue the matter?” [Utterly shameless!!!]

Tang Mo’s smile was very satisfied. To scheme against a partial father and a self-righteous elder brother was no difficult thing. In his previous life he had failed only because Xin An kept interfering; in this life the great general was on his side, so taking those two in hand would be easy. The more they treasured their reputations, the more opportunities he would have.

Madam Wang cautioned Tang Mo not to harbor any illusions about Tao Yi Ran: “I sent people to inquire about Xin An. Back at her parents’ home she helped her father manage outside affairs, and her younger brother grew up under her hand. She has both skill and a firm grip. If she is willing to assist you, it is your good fortune. The Tao family are proud and affected, not worth your thoughts.”

Tang Mo knew well Xin An’s abilities. He did not expect her help; he only wanted her not to hinder him. As for Tao Yi Ran, after all he had suffered, how could he still pine for her? “Rest assured, Mother,” he said, “I know what I am doing.” Madam Wang sighed: “Your father will heed me on many matters, but when it comes to Tang Rong he listens to no one. What you want, you will have to fight for yourself. Fortunately you now have help. You must make good use of it. Go back; do not rush to consummate; be a gentleman.”

Tang Mo wanted to say that even if he had the intention, could he get anywhere near Xin An?