Chapter 036

Chapter 36: Tang Mo: Risking His Life to Keep His Lady Company

The more they talked, the more excited they became, and the smile on Xin An’s face grew wider and wider until, throwing decorum to the wind, she laughed with bold warmth and cast all her worries aside.

Sensing eyes falling on Xin An, Tang Mo slipped an arm around her shoulders and shot a warning look toward the onlookers; without his saying anything, Xin An leaned closer to him, spared no one else a glance, and kept her attention fixed on the match, while Tang Mo felt a twinge of regret and thought: [For all her ferocity, I forgot that this woman has a face that draws attention; I should not have brought her to sit here.]

Xin An clapped and cried: “Quick, quick, quick, it is about to go in… ah, what a pity.”

Still watching the play, she judged with flashing eyes: “Although Huntianyuan is valiant, they are not as agile as Blazing Lion; they move too stiffly.”

Seeing her bright, unrestrained smile, Tang Mo chuckled and answered: “They are retired military types, after all, not as nimble as the escort bureau boys.”

They watched until midday, and when Blazing Lion finally won, Xin An applauded until her hands hurt and asked with high spirits: “Is there another match this afternoon?”

Tang Mo said: “There should be.”

She leaned in and proposed: “Then shall we come again this afternoon?”

Tang Mo rubbed his forehead and thought: [She is getting addicted.] Still, since they were already out and it would be dull to go back too early, he relented and said: “All right, I will have Lai Lai book us a private room.”

Xin An nodded and replied: “Good.”

Only after the crowd thinned did Tang Mo shield Xin An as they left. On the way to eat, she was still chattering about the excitement: “You know, I feel so young right now. Shouting a few times like that, it was as if all the pent-up gloom in my chest got shouted out.”

She pointed at the wagering boards and asked with curiosity: “How does this work? Do we need to place bets? Let us bet this afternoon too, that is part of the fun.”

Tang Mo felt she might be out of her mind and thought: [Now she wants to gamble.] He set a boundary and said: “We agreed, only one match in the afternoon. After we watch, we go back. And once we are back, this stays secret.”

Xin An answered with a blink of mischief: “Got it. If the secret gets out, I will say you took me. The one who gets scolded will be you.”

Tang Mo groaned and pleaded with mock grievance: “Could you be a little nicer to me?”

He could not help laughing and added with exaggerated indignation: “I was kind enough to bring you out, and you want to turn the tables on me. Where is your heart?”

Xin An burst out laughing, tears beading at the corners of her eyes, and soothed him: “Do not be mad. Lunch is on me today; you can eat whatever you like.”

Tang Mo sniffed and conceded: “That is more like it.”

The servants who had come out with them had luck too. Xin An was generous; after she and Tang Mo went into a private room, she also ordered several dishes for the driver, the two bodyguards, and for Lai Lai and Chun Yang. She picked the restaurant’s signature plates, the same ones she herself was eating. With oil glistening at the corner of his mouth, Lai Lai still found time to angle for intel and asked Chun Yang: “Is this the treatment whenever you go out with Second Young Madam?”

Chun Yang gnawed a chicken leg and answered between bites: “My lady… my young madam is always like this. Serve her well, and benefits will not be lacking.”

Lai Lai grinned from ear to ear; the driver and the two bodyguards simply ate meat in big mouthfuls. They only got to accompany the Second Young Madam when she went out, and how many times a month did she go out?

While they ate, Lai Lai nudged the driver and asked with interest: “Old Sun, are you not eating that drumstick?”

The driver gave a simple, honest grin, asked the waiter for oiled paper, and wrapped it up carefully as he said: “I am saving it for my old mother.”

Chun Yang had not planned to interfere, but remembering Auntie Wang’s advice about winning hearts, she set down the drumstick, wiped her fingers, and said with a smile: “Eat it. Your driving is good, so take this as a reward.”

She turned and ordered crisply: “Waiter, another crispy chicken to go, wrapped in oiled paper.”

The waiter hurried off to make up the parcel, and Old Sun grew flustered and protested: “Miss Chun Yang, that chicken is not cheap. Second Young Madam may blame you. I really cannot let you.”

Chun Yang laughed and reassured him: “I am the head maid by Second Young Madam’s side; I can make this call. Besides, my Second Young Madam is kind-hearted. If she knows you are packing a chicken to honor your mother, she will praise you, not blame you. She is not petty. Now eat.”

Lai Lai shot her a thumbs-up, then, playing the toady, topped off her tea and said: “I will be counting on your guidance in the future, Miss Chun Yang.”

Chun Yang waved it off and replied: “That is easy, that is easy.”

Old Sun received a whole chicken and was too happy to close his mouth, while the two bodyguards, picking their teeth, were already thinking about how to pull strings to be assigned to Second Young Madam more often.

After lunch they went for tea. After tea they returned to watch cuju. When they came out, it was already dusk, so they simply ate another meal before heading back.

By the time they finished dinner the stars were out, and they happened to run into a night market. Seeing the lanterns and the crowd, Xin An brightened and declared: “Come on, let us go stroll.”

Tang Mo resigned himself and followed. In less than half an hour, he was loaded down with bundles of all sizes. Xin An’s spirits were so high that everything seemed interesting, and when she found something interesting, she bought it. The two bodyguards were festooned with trinkets from head to toe.

When one more thing was hung around his neck, Tang Mo wanted to cry and thought: [I knew this woman was formidable, but I did not expect her to be even more ferocious once we stepped outside. Is she not tired?]

Xin An surveyed the stalls and declared with satisfaction: “Say what you will, some of the things in this night market are quite good. We should come often.”

Spotting a crowd ahead, she tugged him and said: “What are they doing up there, breathing fire? Come on, let us take a look.”

Tang Mo rolled his eyes. They had only gone a few steps when they saw Yan Shi Mao and his brother-in-law Liu Ming Yuan coming out of a teahouse. The moment their gazes met, Yan Shi Mao laughed and teased Tang Mo: “So you have become a porter?”

Tang Mo wanted to wave but found both hands occupied, and he quipped helplessly: “Risking my life to keep my lady company.”

Hearing voices, Xin An turned back, saw them, and walked over with a smile as she greeted politely: “Second Young Master Yan, you are strolling the night market as well?”

Yan Shi Mao returned the greeting with courtesy and said: “Little sister-in-law.” He tipped his head toward Liu Ming Yuan and explained mildly: “I was having tea with my brother-in-law; we were just about to head back.”

Liu Ming Yuan nodded amiably. He knew this was the one who had petitioned on Tang Yao Ming’s behalf to secure a post. Xin An, perceptive, offered readily: “If you have matters to discuss, I will head back first.”

Yan Shi Mao waved it off and continued without avoiding her: “No need.” He turned to Tang Mo and reported: “My brother-in-law has agreed to help. Now we wait for news.”

Tang Mo wanted to cup his hands in thanks but, unable to free them, could only bow and say: “Many thanks, Lord Liu.”

Liu Ming Yuan smiled and replied with warmth: “Since you are my second brother’s brother, just call me Brother Liu.”

It would not do to refuse a brother-in-law’s face. Tang Mo climbed the pole with a grin and said: “Thank you, Brother Liu.”

Seizing the chance, he shoved one armful of purchases into Liu Ming Yuan’s hands and coaxed: “These are odds and ends I picked up at the night market just now. They are not valuable, but they are interesting. Brother Liu, take them back for your Yan family elder sister to enjoy.”

Liu Ming Yuan demurred politely: “There is no need.”

Tang Mo stepped closer, lowered his voice, and pleaded: “Brother Liu, please help me. My hands are about to break. When my lady starts buying, it is truly terrifying. I really cannot endure it.”

Yan Shi Mao laughed on the side, turned, and tattled with mock mischief to Xin An: “Little sister-in-law, Second Younger Brother Tang cannot carry anymore. He wants to give away the things you bought.”

Xin An laughed even more brightly and responded with feigned helplessness: “What can I do? Let him do as he pleases. If he strains his arm, will he not come to me for compensation?”

She looked to Liu Ming Yuan and urged with a sunny grin: “Brother Liu, take them. They are trinkets girls like, nothing expensive. Bring them back for Sister-in-law to play with. If she likes them, I will ask her out to stroll next time. It is great fun.”

Thinking of how much his wife liked such knickknacks, Liu Ming Yuan accepted the little pile with a laugh and said: “Many thanks, Second Younger Brother Tang.”

Tang Mo shook his arms in an exaggerated way and exclaimed: “Saved at last.”

He glanced at the stalls and said with a sigh of self-preservation: “Enough. I will take her back first. If we keep walking, half my life will be gone.”

He made his farewells succinctly: “Brother Liu, Brother Yan, we will go ahead. I will treat you to tea another day.”

After a few lines of polite parting, Tang Mo led Xin An away. Watching the two backs recede, Liu Ming Yuan found it amusing and remarked: “They say that after the change of bride, Second Younger Brother Tang suffered a loss. I think he looks rather pleased.”

Yan Shi Mao chuckled and answered: “Perhaps that is fate. He and the Xin family girl look very well matched to me.”

He added in a lower voice with earnest feeling: “Brother-in-law, do help him well. Second Younger Brother Tang is a very straightforward man, just unlucky and not favored by his father. He has had a hard time of it.”