Chapter 048

Chapter 48: Tang Mo Takes the Helm

As the morning light slowly changed color and the unique chill of dawn began to retreat, the two who had been watching the little ones catch fish along the field ridge finally left, still reluctant. Steward Yang had already brought the people from the estate to wait.

A half-grown boy, carrying half a bucket of finger-length minnows, looked at Xin An with pleading eyes and said: “Young madam, do you want these fish? My mother says if you coat them in egg and fry them in oil, they are unbelievably fragrant.”

Xin An smiled and replied: “Your name is Er Shan, right? I will take the fish. Please carry them to the estate. At noon we will have them coated in egg and fried. How about I invite you all to eat with us?”

The children’s eyes lit up, especially the one called Er Shan. In truth, he had never tasted such a thing. How could peasant households afford eggs and oil for frying? Even his mother only spoke of it after seeing a wealthy family do it. Seeing that this good-looking young madam was kind, he had plucked up his courage to speak, hoping to gain a little benefit for his younger companions. [He thought, if they could eat like the gentry just once, it would be worth a bold word.]

He set down the bucket and nimbly knelt to kowtow as he said: “Thank you for the reward, young madam.”

Having knelt himself, he did not forget to call his little brothers to kneel as well. One by one, these half-grown children knelt for the sake of a single good meal. Xin An laughed and bade them rise, then added: “The sun is still low. Why not keep catching for a while? Having more to fry would be even better.”

A pack of dogs appeared in the distance. Xin An glanced up and recognized them as the same ones from the previous evening. Er Shan stood and said: “I will escort young master and young madam back. These dogs do not bite.”

Tang Mo raised a brow and said with amusement: “You do have a sharp eye.”

Grinning, Er Shan told his little brothers to hurry with the fishing, then went barefoot to escort the two back to the estate. On the way, he answered whatever Tang Mo asked, and Xin An learned that they were not tenant farmers. The estate had only sixty mu of land and no tenants. These people all had some connection to Prince Jin’s residence in one way or another. When Prince Jin fell from favor, they were not implicated and continued working here.

Tang Mo asked: “Did Prince Jin often come here before?”

Er Shan replied: “He came every year when the jasmine bloomed, staying for half a month each time.”

He looked about thirteen or fourteen, yet he knew quite a lot about the estate. [Tang Mo grew more certain: the jasmine here truly bloomed exceptionally well.]

At the gate, Er Shan did not enter. He bowed to Steward Yang and then ran off. Steward Yang stepped forward to invite Tang Mo inside and said: “Our estate is not large, just sixty mu. We have three farm stewards who handle the paddy fields, the dry fields, the vegetable plots, and the fruit trees. All are old hands who have been here many years.”

He continued, speaking plainly: “When Prince Jin was still in charge, the grain and vegetables from this estate supplied the Prince’s needs. After the Prince’s troubles, the estate’s produce was sent to the palace. The palace did not want fruit, so we selected some to sell and pooled the proceeds to pay monthly stipends.”

What he did not say was that ever since Prince Jin’s fall, the people on the estate had gone without their stipends, and the palace had not cared. They had to fend for themselves. That was why, as soon as the estate came under the Marquis’s household, he had personally gone to negotiate, mostly to see the stipends resumed.

At this moment, a dozen people stood in the courtyard, men and women alike. Steward Yang introduced Tang Mo to them and explained that from now on Tang Mo would be the master of this estate.

They knelt and kowtowed. Tang Mo told them to rise and, instead of sitting in the grand armchair prepared for him, said: “Though this estate is not far from the capital, it cannot be called near either. When seasonal fruits ripen, send some to the Marquis’s residence, but there is no need to send things constantly.”

He continued: “I have read the register. You are all old hands here. Since Prince Jin trusted you before, I have no reason not to trust you now. From here on, keep doing what you used to do. There is only one thing. This estate is small, and you are few. I do not want to see bullying of men or women. If I find such things, I will show no mercy.”

Everyone hastened to agree. What Tang Mo did not know was that Prince Jin had always been strict with his subordinates. There had once been a steward here who docked people’s wages; when the Prince discovered it, he had the man beaten half to death and expelled. The families on the estate all knew one another well and generally got along.

Tang Mo added: “I see the estate is a little short on fruit trees. I intend to select a plot and develop it properly so that my friends can gather here from time to time. In the next two days, present a proposal. Also, the young madam likes the jasmine here. Tend it carefully, plant more of it, and gardeners must pay attention.”

The gardener, who was currently assigned to vegetables, was delighted to learn his skills would again be valued and agreed with a smile.

Seeing that Tang Mo was easy to get along with, everyone brightened. Those who serve fear most that when a master changes, all the rules change with him. The old Prince Jin’s residence had treated them well. Though the household had fallen on hard times, their hearts still remembered, especially the jasmine that the Princess Consort had loved best. Prince Jin’s consort had been kind as well and treated subordinates well. Being able to keep that jasmine felt like fulfilling an old wish.

When the serving lad Lai Lai came out carrying a tray, they became even more excited. They had waited a long time for the new master to distribute rewards. After a few words of praise and encouragement, Tang Mo announced that everyone on the estate would receive silver: two taels for each steward, and one string of cash coins for every man, woman, and child who labored on the estate, newborns included. At once the courtyard filled with cheer.

After the crowd dispersed, Tang Mo kept back Steward Yang. As the estate’s chief steward, he would be essential in the days to come. Tang Mo was not stingy and immediately rewarded him with five taels of silver as he said: “You manage the estate well. Keep at it with care. This year, do not send the grain to the household. I have other arrangements.”

He added: “I may bring guests from time to time. The garden I mentioned must be managed into something noteworthy, fresh and interesting enough to make people want to stay.”

Smiling with squinted eyes, Steward Yang accepted the silver and said: “The estate is small but the scenery is good, and we draw water from the mountain stream not far away. The mountain also has delicacies to serve guests. There is a lotus pond on the estate. It has some years on it, and the lotus roots are good. We can set the garden by the lotus pond, so there will be flowers and fruit and one can also fish. Add a few pavilions, and on the far side of the lotus pond we keep chickens and ducks. Collecting eggs is a pleasure too. This morning the Grand Matron and madam picked a few.”

He grew more animated as he spoke: “Later we can keep some rabbits. They are pleasant to look at, and their manure enriches the fields.”

[In his eyes, pampered young lords have seen everything. If they come here, they should see something different. The jasmine, for instance. The old Prince Jin’s residence planted plenty of it, spending heavily to cultivate it. Did the Princess Consort not come every year especially to see it? Jasmine is jasmine, but what grows on an estate is another kind of charm.]

Tang Mo felt the silver well spent and said: “This matter I leave to you. See to it.”

He added, as if in passing: “By the way, there is a boy named Er Shan. I think he is quick. Let him follow me for a few days as a runner.”

After all, one cannot run to the stewards for every little thing. And stewards, being smooth, are not as easy to nudge along as a half-grown boy.