Chapter 054

Chapter 54: I Will Be Driven to Death by You Sooner or Later

The Zhang family of three were sold, and although the villagers sighed, none felt it unjust; everyone thought they had only themselves to blame. Old Master Zhao wanted to come plead for them, but Er Shan stopped him; in the Zhao family’s eyes, Er Shan could now speak in front of the young master and would still be serving under him in the future, so he had suddenly become the most promising person in the household, and his words carried weight. After weighing the pros and cons, Old Master Zhao offered Er Shan a long stream of solicitous remarks, then went back.

To make Tang Mo believe the estate folk were still mostly upright, Steward Yang dealt with the Zhao couple at once, then hurried to Tang Mo to confess his failure and report their offenses in full, including how the two had colluded to steal grain.

Tang Mo narrowed his eyes and asked: “Stealing grain?” The people of the estate stealing grain was a serious crime, so he pressed, voice cold: “How did they steal?”

Steward Yang explained: “Even the most meticulous farmers cannot guarantee that every ear of grain reaches the granary. Take the wheat harvest: the stalks are brittle, and ears fall easily. Kind households allow people to glean the fields after reaping; whatever they pick up is theirs.” He added, tone hard: “If the harvesters purposely shake off more ears so their own kin can go in and glean them, that is disguised theft.”

He went on, speaking with care: “Most people on the estate are decent. No one is perfect, but a pair like the Zhangs are rare. Folks keep their hands clean. Even if some favor their sons, they still treat their daughters passably; at least no one tortures their own girls to death. There are quite a few families here whose daughters are raised bright and lively.”

He admitted, a little ashamed: “I used to think that aside from a few petty pilferings there were no great faults, and how someone treats their children is their own matter and hard to interfere in. I never imagined anyone could be so brainless as to brew up a notion like this.”

After all, they were trying to ensnare the marquis’s young master; what kind of beauty had he not seen. Forget the distant, the Second Young Madam before their eyes was so radiant the underlings hardly dared look at her directly. The Zhao couple had clearly lost their minds. A new arrival always lights three fires, and the second young master was bound to light at least one on this visit; he was likely still seeking a pretext, and they ran straight into it. Serves them right.

Steward Yang’s attitude was sincere, though his heart was guilty, and Tang Mo, fortunately, did not pursue it further; he only said, cool and final, that if such a thing ever appeared on the estate again it would never be tolerated.

Although the matter was settled, Tang Mo’s anger still smoldered; he went to bed furious and could not sleep. Xin An said, half helpless, half amused: “Why such a big temper over such a small thing. It is bad for your health.” She added with a soft laugh: “You established your authority today and achieved results. A blessing in disguise.” She muttered, teasing, “You already died of anger once, yet you still cannot change.”

Tang Mo, who had lain down, flipped over and sat up, his tone fierce as he snapped: “If you want this blessing, take it. I, a dignified marquis’s son, elegant and noble as can be, am being rumored as a bought-and-paid-for peasant son-in-law. It infuriates me.” He glared and added, teeth clenched: “Your man is being coveted by someone with yellowed teeth, and you are not angry?”

He jabbed again, vexed: “Can you not put yourself in my shoes. If some man with slanted eyes, a gin-blossomed nose, a mouthful of yellow teeth, and even an underbite started shouting that you were his wife, let us see if you would not be driven mad.”

Xin An was startled for a beat, then could not help laughing. Before she could answer, Tang Mo grew even angrier and accused, voice aggrieved: “You can still laugh. We have at least a few days of sharing a bed between us, do we not. Where is your heart?”

He huffed, trying to rein himself in: “I came this time intending to find a pretext to establish some authority, but not like this.”

Xin An swallowed her laughter and coaxed: “Who does not want to rise in the world. It is just a fancy. And yellowed teeth or not, he only fancied you as a son-in-law; it is not as if he plans to come over and suck on you, so what is there to…”

“What did you say?” Tang Mo’s face darkened in outrage and disgust, and even nausea pricked at him as he burst out: “You will be the death of me sooner or later.”

Xin An rubbed her brow and finally understood: this man did look good and handled matters neatly, but his heart was small and his temper large. [If she did not want to be widowed early in this life because he worked himself into another fatal rage, she had better soothe him.] She softened her voice: “All right, you already sold them off. If you are still angry, do you plan to chase them down and beat them to death?”

She tried another tack, smiling: “Those people on the estate, when have they ever seen someone as elegant, dashing, and rich as you. A little fantasy is understandable. When all is said and done, the fault lies in you being too outstanding. Put you on a field ridge, and how many men and women will swoon.”

Tang Mo fell silent, expression blank. [Not comforted at all.]

Xin An leaned closer, eyes bright with mischief, and murmured: “Do not deny it, do not deny it. This young master truly is exceedingly handsome. Even I, a grand matron, have my heart stirred.”

One sentence sent Tang Mo’s thoughts straight back to the morning; his face turned instantly odd as he sniffed: “A woman with such a slick tongue. Hmph, go to sleep.”

Xin An laughed. Aside from her younger brother, this was the first time she had ever coaxed a man. [All at once she understood Princess Qiong Hua of her previous life; her Princess’s Manor always had a number of handsome youths about, and for no reason she would tease a group of youngsters until the place rang with laughter.] [How very interesting.]

Seeing her lie down still smiling, Tang Mo eyed her suspiciously and asked: “What are you thinking?”

Xin An turned to face him. Seeing that he truly had finely carved brows and clear eyes, she reached out and stroked his cheek. Tang Mo went rigid from head to toe, his eyes round with fury as he snapped: “I knew you were not thinking anything good.”

[Damn it, I am being teased.] [How can this woman be so bold.]

Xin An laughed aloud, bright and unrestrained. Tang Mo sat up, flustered and angry, and scolded: “You wretch, do not you dare let your mind run wild.”

Xin An only laughed harder until tears welled: “Oh dear, what should I do, I cannot stop. My cheeks hurt from laughing, ha ha ha.”

Seeing her laugh herself out of shape, Tang Mo’s anger melted without a trace. He sighed helplessly. [This woman is truly mad.]

Xin An’s laughter was so loud it drifted to the next room. Madam Wang’s heart itched; if not for years of training, she would have crept over to listen at the wall. What could be so funny.

Chun Yang did listen at the wall, and she was baffled: they had not said anything noteworthy, so why all that laughter. Could it be that the second young master performed acrobatics?

When she was laughed out, Xin An rubbed her aching cheeks. Tang Mo said irritably: “If you keep rubbing, you will not be presentable. Hideous.”

One look at his face and Xin An felt another bubble of laughter rise. [She had not expected she could laugh so freely.] She waved him off: “Turn over and sleep. Do not face me. If I look at you, I want to laugh.”

Tang Mo rolled his eyes. The Xin An before him was not at all the Xin An in his memories of their previous life; then, she had been like a nun, dressed as if widowed, always stiff-faced or calculating. When had she ever laughed like this. [He almost suspected the person who returned was not the same one.]

“I will face you, and laugh you to death,” he said, obstinate.

Xin An started giggling again. Even after she fell asleep, the corners of her lips were still faintly lifted. Half-asleep, Tang Mo was smacked awake by her flung arm. He sighed. [She does not settle even when asleep.]

After a night of good rest, Xin An was radiant and dressed with jaunty elegance. Tang Mo could not hold his tongue and muttered: “You are riding in a carriage to go back. Who is going to see you. Dressing up like this is tiring.”

Xin An turned her head and asked, eyes dancing: “Just say whether I look good.” She blinked at him and added, playful as she posed: “Do I seem fresh and ethereal, stunningly alluring. Let me tell you, even if I get jolted until I vomit, I will still be a wan, delicate beauty.”

With her carefully dressed coiffure, exquisite hairpins, bright eyes and white teeth, and a string of pearls setting off her pale neck to look all the more slender and soft, and then lower down… Tang Mo looked up and blew out a breath. He had to admit, she did look very good.