Chapter 087

Chapter 87: Grand Matron’s Thoughts

Tang Gang bowed and said with undisguised delight: “Thank you, Mother.”

Tang Rong and Tang Mo also bowed with smiles they could not fully hide as they added respectfully: “Thank you, Grandmother.”

Father and sons stood in a row and saluted, their faces alight with irrepressible joy.

Tang Gang’s thinking was simple: [Grand Matron says three years, but will it really be three years? If something thorny arises, we will still have to trouble her.]

Tang Rong’s thoughts were practical: [With these things in hand, I will be more flush; everything will be easier to handle.]

Tang Mo’s thoughts were indulgent: [I will take these out and savor them slowly, find a place for each piece, store them by value, and never use them unless absolutely necessary. Later they will be heirlooms for my son.] He suddenly remembered another promise and amended with gusto: [Oh right, I must give half to Xin An. Even so, it is enough to make one rejoice.]

All three thought the matter finished and prepared to take their respective chests away. Grand Matron, however, had Gan Lu bring out three smaller chests, neatly filled with silver ingots. She said with unhurried generosity: “Your grandfather left me some ready silver, and the Zheng family sends some each year. I am an old woman and cannot spend so much. Each of you father and sons take one chest.”

The three were overjoyed anew and felt Grand Matron exceedingly kind today. Gan Lu set a chest before each of them, but when it came to Tang Gang she placed the chest aside. Grand Matron explained without softening it: “When you go out, your wife manages everything for you, so you likely have no need of this. I will have these two chests carried to your wife presently. She is to keep them properly and use them reasonably.”

It was the same as taking the things out to let him look and then depositing them in Madam Wang’s hands. Tang Gang wanted to protest, but saw his mother draw out several banknotes and hand them to Tang Mo as she said with clear intention: “Your father says he will allocate you silver from the public accounts, but your mother knows best how much the public accounts hold. You must not go running to your father-in-law every time you are short of money. Our marquisate is a household that cares about face and does not beg.”

She added with brisk decisiveness: “Take these and use them. In addition, of the grain the Zheng family sends each year, you may have half to arrange as you see fit.”

Grand Matron’s largesse astonished all of them. Tang Mo received the banknotes with a deep bow, his eyes wet, and said with heartfelt emotion: “Grandmother, this grandson thanks you. With you here, I fear nothing. May Grandmother remain in good health, to see this grandson’s son born and grow, and see the great-grandson marry and have children.”

The words rang with sincerity. Grand Matron had circled so far only to place these things in his hands in a way that avoided his father and elder brother’s resentment. It was favoritism toward him.

Grand Matron smiled with narrowed eyes and said with contented affection: “Seeing you brothers in harmony pleases me greatly. I also hope to live long, to see the marquisate flourish without decline.”

Tang Rong bowed and said with polished respect: “Your grandson will abide by Grandmother’s teachings.”

Soon the two brothers led their people away with the two chests that belonged to them. Tang Gang sat sullenly to one side. Grand Matron glanced at him and said crisply: “Do not pull a long face here. I, your mother, do this for your good. Or do you prefer that your wife give you a sour face every day in the marquisate?”

She continued with pointed reminder: “The household’s affairs rely on her, and half of the outside matters also rely on her. Do not be muddleheaded.”

In earlier days Tang Gang would not have thought anything of it; as long as he spoke, Madam Wang would produce whatever he needed. Now he dared not say such things. Grand Matron further admonished him not to play favorites and to treat Tang Mo better, saying with steady emphasis: “It is normal for him to make a few connections when he goes out. When he does well, you as his father will also have face. If he comes to ask you about consoling old soldiers, answer him properly. Do not do things that look like you are stealing merit from your son.”

Tang Gang spread his hands helplessly and said with a thin smile: “How could I do such a thing?” Inwardly he admitted the private truth: [I would not seize the credit myself, but if my son insists on giving it to me, that would be another matter.]

Feeling weary, Grand Matron handed him several banknotes and said with brusque affection: “Do not say your old mother does not favor you. Keep these yourself and do not let your wife know.”

It was a full one thousand taels of silver. Tang Gang brightened at once, tucked the banknotes away with a grin, and said with boyish delight: “Mother still dotes on me.”

No one knows a son better than his mother; precisely because she knew him too well, Grand Matron felt exhausted. She had only just returned today and her body was tired as well. She said with firm practicality: “I will have people say that these two chests were sent over by you. Now go, do not be an eyesore here.”

Tang Gang rose, bowed, and said smoothly: “Your son takes his leave. Mother, please rest early.”

In his happiness he entirely forgot that his elderly mother had not yet eaten supper.

Once he left, Grand Matron sighed. Gan Lu brought in a bowl of bird’s nest and said with quiet comfort: “Please set your mind at ease. The Marquis will understand your painstaking efforts.”

Grand Matron rubbed at the ache in her temples and said tiredly: “Whether he understands or not is of no consequence. I only hope the second will remember that, even if the man is biased, he is still his father, and show some restraint in dealing with him.”

She added with sober worry: “You heard it today. The second no longer intends to endure, and Madam Wang no longer intends to swallow her anger. Mother and son together, with that clever girl Xin An to assist them, I fear that father and son are not their match. The eldest married poorly.” Then she clicked her tongue and said with exasperation: “Does he not consider that the Old Marquis personally chose his wife; how bad could she be?”

As a woman, she understood Madam Wang’s thinking. She was a second wife; she had put her heart into the household and received no response, and her own child had not been treated fairly. Now that her wings had grown full, she naturally revealed her true face. Grand Matron’s voice cooled: “When a woman becomes ruthless for her son, how many men can escape unscathed?”

She concluded with a hard truth: “If I do not help to smooth the way, are we to rely on that useless one?”

Gan Lu sighed in sympathy and said with gentle care: “After you eat the bird’s nest, rest a while, then have some porridge and a good sleep. You have worked hard today.”

Grand Matron answered with a quiet “Mm,” and in her mind she ran through all the events of last month. She felt more and more that the couple, Tang Mo and his wife, were pressing hard, while that business with the Tao family was simply incomprehensible.

At that very moment, Tang Mo swaggered back to Qiu Shi Courtyard with two chests. He set them down before Xin An. Auntie Wang personally escorted the chest-bearers out. Pointing at the chests, Tang Mo said to Xin An with undisguised delight: “Grandmother gave everyone rewards today, and she was lavish with her hand.”

Curious, Xin An did not rush to look at the contents. She only asked him to repeat Grand Matron’s words to her exactly. Tang Mo said there was no hurry. Just then Lai Lai returned with the crispy chicken, along with several other dishes. When the table was set and the door closed, Lai Lai brought out a small pot of wine. Tang Mo poured for Xin An himself and said with a grin: “At the estate I said I would invite you to eat chicken with the doors shut. On the way back today I remembered, so I sent Lai Lai to buy it.”

After filling Xin An’s cup and then his own, he lifted his drink and said with warmth: “Come, let us have one too, to thank you for looking after me these days.”

Finding it amusing, Xin An raised her cup and said with playful sincerity: “And thank you for giving me face in every way these days.”

They touched cups and said together: “Cheers.”

Once the wine went down, Tang Mo set his cup aside, tore off a big drumstick, and handed it to Xin An, saying with boyish enthusiasm: “Hold it like this and bite. It is good.”

Xin An took it. She meant to hide behind a handkerchief, then thought that since she was already gnawing on a big drumstick, what rules were left to fuss over, and she bit directly. The skin was crisp and the meat not tough. She nodded and said with relish: “It truly is good.”

Tang Mo laughed and asked with satisfaction: “I did not lie to you, did I?”

Pleased, he tore off the other drumstick and said with a chuckle: “Later you should gnaw a wing too; it is good as well.”