Chapter 026

Chapter 26: Are you satisfied with my arrangements?

Yan Shi Mao and his two companions were all adept at social niceties; after chatting with the Xin family for a while, they rose to leave so as not to disturb a household enjoying its harmony, and as they departed they repeatedly invited the Xin family to dine together that evening to show their regard, which Xin Kuan accepted.

Once they had gone, Xin Kuan praised the trio’s sincerity and added that friendship need not be judged by rank, saying to Tang Mo: “You know the situation at home more or less; a son-in-law is half a son. If you ever need your father-in-law’s help, just speak.”

Tang Mo immediately stood, stepped back, and saluted with clasped hands, saying: “My thanks, Father-in-law.”

Beaming, Xin Kuan waved him to sit and drink tea, saying: “We are one family; there is no need for such formality. I ask for nothing else, only that you grow better and better. If my daughter does not suffer while following you, and her days go well, then when people mention the bride swap in the future they will only say she was blessed by fate.”

Xin An felt her heart turn sour, [her family truly thought of her at every moment, while she had been an unworthy daughter].

Tang Mo let his gaze pass briefly over her, then attentively refilled his father-in-law’s cup and spoke of his plans. He meant to seize the moment and make a name for himself, saying he longed to let those who cared for and cherished him share in his glory.

Xin Kuan was gratified, and the atmosphere in the private room grew ever warmer.

After leaving the teahouse, Tang Mo led the group to a jeweler’s and a cosmetics shop to buy small gifts to take back to Huaijiang, then fulfilled Xin Huan’s wish to drift on the lake listening to songstresses and musicians; they even ate lunch aboard. No one disturbed them as the lake breeze caressed their faces; now and then a fish leapt, the zither flowed in mellow waves, and the ease was exquisite. Xin An lounged comfortably in the wind, with Xin Huan’s nonstop chatter and laughter at her ear, and found a smile rising unbidden to her lips.

Feeling the quiet contentment himself, Tang Mo asked with a sideways smile: “How is it, are you satisfied with my arrangements?”

Tang Mo indeed felt at ease; although he was taking his in-laws out for diversion, he himself also needed a chance to loosen the knots in his chest. He had not returned much earlier than Xin An; [dying young himself was one thing, but learning that the wife he had treated wholeheartedly had entangled with the man he hated most, Tang Rong, into their old age, what man could accept that? Who could easily let it go?] [The worst was that she was spending his money!] Elder Brother’s treachery, Father’s partiality, and a wife who ate from his bowl while spying for others made those days a misery to recall. At the instant he discovered the bride had been switched to Xin An, his heart had been a tangle, yet a thin thread of relief was something he caught keenly; at the time he thought he would marry anyone at all so long as it was not Tao Yi Ran.

In the last few days, however, Xin An and the Xin family had surprised him again and again. That feeling of having someone to shield him and someone to respond to his efforts was addictive, and the ease and tacit understanding between him and Xin An left him light and happy; hence today’s plans.

Xin An turned to him with eyes crinkling: “Very satisfied. I see you are quite good at arranging these things; the trip to the estate next time also needs proper arranging.”

He answered simply: “All right.”

Slowly exhaling the stale breath and drawing in the clear air, he felt it cleanse him to the core.

By evening, they went to the banquet hosted by Yan Shi Mao and the others. They drank wine sent by the Grand Matron; in Wei Ye’s words, everything had been arranged perfectly.

The three had also considered that Madam Xin and Xin An, both womenfolk, might feel ill at ease, so they had specially called their own younger sisters to keep them company and even arranged a separate table. The older girl was about Xin An’s age, while the younger was only nine, Xie Chang You’s younger sister; Xin An could not help laughing when she saw them and could only say the arrangements were exceedingly thoughtful.

The Xin family felt honored and took an even better view of Tang Mo as a son-in-law. They had happened to buy quite a bit of jewelry that day, and Madam Xin decided on the spot to present each girl with two pieces as a meeting gift. The young ladies themselves were short of pin money; although daughters of noble houses, they usually had to wait for a household celebration or a seasonal festival to add new ornaments. Moreover, today’s pieces were not cheap; it was an unexpected delight.

The Xie family’s little girl, Xie Yu Huan, lived up to the joy in her name and was delighted. She received an especially pretty pair of pearl flower hairpins and a bracelet hung with a tiny goldfish charm, and she chirped to Xin An: “Second Sister-in-law Tang, put them on me quickly. When I get home I’m going to show off properly to Mother; this little fish bracelet is my very favorite.”

She truly had luck today. It was supposed to be her sister-in-law who came, but as her sister-in-law had something come up and could not, she had taken the spot for herself.

Xin An fastened the hairpins and bracelet for her and nodded with satisfaction, saying: “Lovely.”

The little girl was as bright as a morning-blooming flower, and simply looking at her made one feel younger.

At the other table the cups rose and fell without pause. Yan Shi Mao and the others were skilled at toasting, and one pleasing phrase followed another; cup after cup went down. With a rosy, contented face, Xin Kuan laughed and invited the youths to visit Huaijiang, saying: “When you arrive, stay at your Uncle’s residence; your Uncle will see to every arrangement perfectly.”

The three grinned from ear to ear, and within a few words they had set the date. Madam Xin laughed and shook her head, saying: “Your father is in rare good spirits, and our son-in-law’s friends are all excellent, warm and loyal.”

They were legitimate sons of noble families, yet how warmly they treated a mere merchant. It was all to give their good brother face, and it was worthy of friendship.

Xin An nodded. The lines of attack and defense had shifted; before, she had been at odds with these people, but now they were all on the same side, and her mindset naturally changed. She slowly discovered that some of the people around Tang Mo were indeed fine. If these people could be drawn together to accomplish a single task, binding affection with shared interest, it would certainly be wings on a tiger for Tang Mo. [She already had a few ideas in mind, but she would wait a while longer.]

As the drinking reached the latter half, everyone was slightly tipsy. Tang Mo and Yan Shi Mao stepped outside to relieve themselves and ran into Lord Tao dining with colleagues. Smelling the wine about him, Lord Tao took an instant dislike; in his eyes, to be out drinking only a few days after the wedding was unseemly. He was at once relieved his daughter had not married this man. Would that not have wasted a girl raised with such care?

Sensing that trace of disfavor, Tang Mo still moved aside cheerfully and said: “Uncle Tao, please.”

With Lord Tao came Assistant Minister Xu of the Ministry of War. He had heard a thing or two about the Tang family’s affairs, and any clear-eyed observer could see that with the switched bride, Tang Mo had come out the loser. Yet seeing he had not made a scene and was out dining made the man interesting. He asked with a smile: “Second Young Master Tang, are you gathering with friends?”

Tang Mo saluted with clasped hands and said: “My father-in-law will return to Huaijiang in a few days. Today I’m showing him around the capital, and we are dining here this evening.”

“Boss Xin?” asked Assistant Minister Xu.

“Yes,” Tang Mo replied.

Assistant Minister Xu looked Tang Mo over twice, then smiled and asked: “If convenient, could you introduce me?”

Xin Kuan was not only a salt merchant but also the vice-chairman of the Huaijiang Chamber of Commerce, able to mobilize no small amount of silver. The Ministry of War was poor and often needed to supplement military stipends; cultivating a few great merchants was necessary. Besides, though the Xin family was kin by marriage to Marquis Wei Yuan, that did not mean they were bound solely to him. Others might have a chance as well.