Chapter 118

Chapter 118: The Furious and Aggrieved Tang Gang

After meeting Xin An a few times and seeing that she advanced and retreated appropriately and knew how to conduct herself, Lin Yao felt a genuine fondness for her. Add to that Xin An’s generous spending, and Lin Yao made the proposal, partly with the intention of drawing her into their circle.

With opportunity delivered to her door, Xin An had no reason to refuse, so she said: “My family does have dealings with two suppliers of medicinal herbs, so there should be no problem.”

She added with sincere delight: “To have the chance to provide some herbs to Qian Jin Hall pleases me greatly. Thank you, Sister Lin.”

Lin Yao smiled and said: “Given the ties between our husbands, we wives ought to be of one heart. I will not hide it from you, younger sister. I made this suggestion because I can see you hold ample funds. Once such a good deed begins, it cannot easily be stopped. In time it may require much more silver. You should be prepared in your heart.”

Gratitude showed on Xin An’s face as she bowed to Lin Yao and said: “I will not hide it from Sister Lin either. The moment you finished explaining Qian Jin Hall to me, I privately wanted to involve my maiden family. First, my father would be able to secure herbs at the best prices. Second, it would allow my father to the greatest extent to seek self?preservation. Life as a merchant is hard.”

She continued earnestly: “Sister Lin has given me such an opportunity that I do not even know how to repay it. If Sister Lin ever needs anything, just speak. So long as it is within my power, I will never refuse.”

“There is no need to be so formal, younger sister,” Lin Yao said. “You and I are fated. Even without the ties among the men, I believe we could become friends. I sought you out because you have means. I value that the Xin Family has money and connections. If we speak plainly, we are each taking what we need and pulling one another along. There is really no need to bear it so heavily in your heart.”

Merely because their positions differed, Xin An had gained Lin Yao’s constant care. Her heart was a tangle of five flavors. [In the last life she never reached such goals, yet in this one they came to hand so easily. How could she not feel moved?]

“Perhaps to Sister Lin it is a small lift of the hand, but to me it is a great favor,” Xin An said. “Merchants struggle. We ask only that others do not dare to bully us lightly. If my father learns of this, he will be overjoyed.”

Xin An’s frank words laid out her family’s predicament without evasion, which increased Lin Yao’s goodwill. In truth, to Lin Yao it was not such a weighty matter, yet Xin An’s manner made it feel as if she had done a great good deed. Lin Yao found Xin An’s clarity of temperament refreshing and easy to be around. Who does not like someone who lets you feel pleased at every turn?

“That is enough. Since you call me Sister Lin, I will naturally look after you,” Lin Yao said. “When your herbs arrive, I will introduce you to a few people. There is no need for such politeness between sisters.”

She joked as they turned back: “Let us go have tea, or the others will start making up stories about us.”

They returned smiling. Han Wan’er chimed in with a grin: “See, and they say Sister Lin has no favorites. She strolls by the pond and does not call me. I am positively sour with jealousy.”

“Then I shall treat you to wine today,” Lin Yao said lightly. “A new batch of plum wine just arrived. Will that please you?”

Laughter rippled through the group. The young madam of the Zhang Family could not help giving Xin An a few extra glances. Everyone knew Lin Yao was not warm to just anyone. On the contrary, she was quick to loathe what she saw as vice. If offended, she rarely reconciled easily and often delivered barbed remarks regardless of occasion. Was this warmth merely because the men of the two households were close? [Or was it because there was plenty of money?]

Meeting her gaze, Xin An smiled softly, took up the pot, and poured tea for her: “With the gentle breeze and bright sun today, it is a pleasure simply to sit, drink tea, and talk. And having newly met you, young madam, I am even more delighted. I hope you will look after me in the future.”

She was indeed a gossip, but those who loved to boast usually knew many things. It was necessary to cultivate her. Xin An lacked a nimble conduit for news.

The young madam of the Zhang Family gave face, lifted her cup with a smile, and said: “You are too polite. Let us keep each other’s company more often.”

Xin An raised her own cup with a laugh and said: “In that case, I shall respectfully obey.”

The clear breeze stroked past as the women chatted and laughed, feeling all the more at ease. But Tang Rong, who served at the Ministry of Rites, felt none of it. At home he was unruffled, yet the moment he arrived at the Ministry of Rites his whole body felt wrong. He suspected that every courteous smile sent his way was mocking him. The matter of the Tao Family was a thorn driven deep into his heart. In such a mood, mistakes in his duties were inevitable, and he was scolded by superiors.

Vice Minister Wang had accepted Tang Gang’s benefits and naturally shielded him a little, but he also warned him: “The work of the Ministry of Rites can cost a man his head if mishandled by even a hair’s breadth. Nephew, do not let your mind wander.”

Tang Rong hastened to admit fault and could only force himself to focus. Even so, his condition was worse than before. Vice Minister Wang shook his head silently, thinking that the young man was not as steady as rumored. Unlucky and greedy for beauty, he had previously rated him a bit too highly.

Indeed, quite a few court officials at the Imperial Court believed Tang Rong’s entry into the wrong bridal chamber had been deliberate. Beyond disdaining the merchant status of the Xin Family, he had coveted Tao Yi Ran’s beauty. Many households knew the Tao Family’s affairs. But which house has no secrets unfit for light? Everyone simply kept to the principle of mutual convenience and said nothing.

A woman of the Tao Family was truly unfit to be principal wife. Tang Rong was muddleheaded.

If Tang Rong found the days hard, Tang Gang felt even more thwarted at every turn. Today, especially, he was all fire, a powder keg that would ignite at the slightest spark. A certain Lord Tao had even sent a man to invite him to drink that evening. The meaning was obvious. Not only did they want the marquisal household to accept the Tao Family completely, they wanted Tang Gang’s help to keep them in the capital. Tang Gang nearly had the messenger beaten out of the house. He said bluntly that he was not free and would not come, without even bothering to find an excuse. He only wanted to hurry home and then make Tang Rong suffer for it.

Within the residence, Madam Wang kept working her little moves in secret, each aimed squarely at the Tao Family. Since they had dared to scheme against her and her two sons, they should not expect peace.

Tang Mo was not idle either. He had already set his men to befriend the Tao Family’s eldest grandson, Tao Wei, preparing to lurk by his side and plot slowly, only to deliver a heavy blow at the end.

Only the Grand Matron and Xin An enjoyed a leisurely day. One admired flowers in the residence. The other chatted and laughed with friends, took tea together, shared lunch, and even watched a play in the afternoon before returning home separately.

By dusk, Tang Mo returned and ran into Xin An just stepping down from her carriage. He went forward and asked with a half?smile as he supported her arm: “Are you only now getting back? Spent the whole day at play?”

Xin An lifted a hand for him to steady her, which he promptly did. Only then did she say: “My day looked idle, but it was exhausting. Let me tell you, even sitting and taking tea is tiring. Eating is tiring. Watching a play is even more tiring.”

Tang Mo did not doubt her: “Social calls are never easy. There are rules for what to say and what to do. Even a smile must be weighed. How could it not be tiring?”

Xin An nodded, then added: “But there were gains today, and big ones. Sister Lin recommended me to supply herbs to Qian Jin Hall. It is an opportunity, and I accepted.”

“That is excellent,” Tang Mo said. Then, speaking of his own plans, he added: “I have arranged to drink with Yan Shi Mao later. He has taken good care of us. One could say even a blood brother would do no more.”

“You make the arrangements,” Xin An said serenely. “There is no need to be hasty. Let the water flow long and steady.”