Chapter 063

Chapter 63: Tang Mo Strives Upward

Tang Gang asked with a frown: “The Eldest Young Madam did not make any gesture?”

Steward Zhang was an old hand of the residence and had enjoyed the Old Marquis’s regard. He had grown up alongside Tang Gang, and his status in the household was second only to the few masters. Because he managed all matters great and small, even Tang Rong and Tang Mo were very courteous before him. Now that his old mother was having a birthday, it was only reasonable for the masters to send gifts.

Steward Zhang replied modestly: “Marquis, you jest. To be remembered by Second Young Madam is already a blessing; how would I dare expect every master to bestow something.”

Tang Gang’s brows knit tighter. He felt that Tang Rong had treated his previous admonitions as air, changing not a whit.

Steward Zhang kept his smile and stood by. Over these days he had also formed an impression of the two young madams. [In the end, the Heir Apparent is likely to regret his choice.]

Unable to bear seeing his beloved son fall behind, Tang Gang summoned Tang Rong in the evening. Seeing that his injuries were mostly healed, he nodded, satisfied, then exhorted him not to rest these next days but to master the procedures of the Ministry of Rites as quickly as possible and make up the lost time. Only then did he bring up the matter of Steward Zhang’s mother’s birthday.

He said bluntly: “Your younger brother and his wife have already sent gifts today and have moved ahead of you. Do not tell me you have not even prepared anything.”

Tang Rong truly did not know and promptly said he would make preparations as soon as he returned and deliver them to Steward Zhang tomorrow.

Tang Gang snorted: “Qiu Shi Courtyard can obtain this news, yet your Chun Hua Courtyard knows nothing. Have you not considered what that reveals?”

Tang Rong lowered his head without answering. Tang Gang sighed and decided to apply pressure: “You are my eldest son, born amid my highest expectations. From your birth until now I have always held hopes for you.”

“Your mother is not wrong either. Between you brothers, I have indeed been partial to you, but you must be worthy of that partiality. It has not been long since your marriage, and Qiu Shi Courtyard has already opened the situation completely. Today they even received an invitation from the Liu family, which shows that neither inside the residence nor outside have they been idle. Yet as for Chun Hua Courtyard…” He lifted his eyes to Tang Rong and said coldly: “You know very well how it stands. In the residence you are deaf and blind, and outside is even worse. Your younger brother has also helped your second uncle; Tang Yao Ming is now at the Inspection Court, and who knows how far he may go in future. You have lost the initiative. If you still have no strategy in response, then the resources of the household cannot continue to be for you alone. As your father, I must consider the marquisate’s future.”

It was both a warning and the plain truth. If Tang Rong simply lost, then even if his pride was bruised, Tang Gang could only lean on Tang Mo. He could not gamble the marquisate away.

Tang Rong’s heart gave a jolt; he bowed and said: “Your son understands.”

Tang Gang gestured for him to withdraw, then paused and told his people to find out where Tang Mo had been that day.

At that moment, Tang Mo was hosting a banquet at a restaurant for Liu Ming Yuan. Not only did Liu Ming Yuan arrive on time, he also brought two colleagues, since one man alone could not accomplish the matter. Yan Shi Mao and the others were there as well. Tang Yao Ming was excited and thrilled, and his gratitude toward Tang Mo deepened. Not good at drinking, he nevertheless downed several cups. His face turned as red as the god of war’s, and when the others teased him he only grinned foolishly.

Relationships are mostly forged like this: you help me get things done, I introduce you to my network, we all get familiar faces so that when something arises later, we know which way to turn for help.

Someone laughed and said: “My cousin is decent, just two words, solid and sincere.”

Another chimed in: “Second Brother Tang is indeed a straightforward man, and Brother Yao Ming of the Tang family is naturally the same. Look at that red face, hahaha!”

A third urged with good cheer: “Brother Yao Ming, drink with us often. After a few more rounds, your capacity will grow…”

The brothers laughed together. Tang Yao Ming raised his cup to toast everyone again. He lifted the cup, stood up, then forgot what he meant to say and stared at them blankly. At last he forced out one line: “I… I’ll drink one to you all.”

With that he tipped back his head and drained it in one go. The crowd roared with laughter and obligingly drank as well. Even Liu Ming Yuan and the men he brought laughed along. When the time was about right, the feast broke up. Slightly tipsy, they walked out, then lingered talking at the restaurant door for quite a while before heading off in different directions.

The two men with Liu Ming Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and murmured: “People say Second Young Master Tang and his friends love pleasure; just now I was worried he would invite us to the brothels.”

Liu Ming Yuan smiled and said: “When these fellows gather, it is just eating and drinking. Their families indulge them, but not without restraint. The signal firework quarters are off-limits.”

The two nodded, their view of Tang Mo’s circle changing. They felt the group was not as disreputable as the rumors claimed.

Yan Shi Mao pulled Tang Mo aside to remind him: “Remember to send generous gifts to those two officials’ residences. One man alone cannot make this happen.”

Tang Mo understood at once and said with a grin: “I will see to it tomorrow so nothing is delayed. A gift will also go to Brother Liu. As for you…”

Yan Shi Mao waved it off and said: “We brothers do not stand on ceremony.”

“That will not do,” Tang Mo laughed, adding: “I must give you some face too. I will have my wife handle it.”

Yan Shi Mao did not refuse. He too had a wife. What husband does not want to look good in front of his own?

By then Tang Yao Ming was dead drunk and had slumped against the carriage to sleep. Tang Mo got him aboard, waved to the others, and took him back to the residence.

It was Tang Yao Ming’s first time handling a major matter. Tang Yong and Madam You were worried and could not rest, so they waited in the front courtyard. Madam Gu was there as well. Learning that Tang Mo was bringing him back, they hurried out to meet them. Tang Mo felt a little abashed and said with a smile: “We were happy today and drank a few extra cups. Cousin is drunk. I will have to trouble sister-in-law to have sobering soup prepared, or he may not be able to get up tomorrow.”

Madam Gu stepped forward to support the drunk and said with warmth: “It is all ready. Second Brother, you should have a bowl too before you go.”

Tang Mo declined gently: “No need. My wife prepared some for me.”

He helped settle Tang Yao Ming in his room, then came out and told Tang Yong about the two officials from today, including their addresses. Tang Yong laughed and said they should offer thanks: “I will arrange it tomorrow. You worked hard tonight. You must have drunk a good deal.”

Tang Mo said cheerfully: “We are close brothers who help each other. From now on I will have people at the Censorate too. Just thinking of it makes me happy; how could I feel it was hard?”

He added with sincerity: “Second Uncle, come to me whenever there is anything in future. By the way, do you have enough silver on hand? I will bring some over tomorrow.”

“It is enough,” Tang Yong replied. He said that though he was not very accomplished, he had a few businesses under him: “We are not fabulously wealthy, but we do not worry about food and drink. No need to fret. As for you, if you are short, come to your second uncle rather than always asking your father-in-law.”

So that the Xin family would not look down on him.

Tang Mo agreed with a smile and did not linger. He returned to the marquisate and went to Qiu Shi Courtyard. Xin An had not yet gone to bed. Seeing him come in, she said that sobering soup was simmering on the small stove. Tang Mo happily lifted the lid and took out the porcelain bowl, blew on it cautiously, found it just right, and drank it down in one go. Setting the bowl aside, he sprawled on the beauty couch and let out a long breath. Xin An yawned and asked softly: “How was it, did it all go smoothly?”