Chapter 120

Chapter 120: Visitors from Huaijiang

That night, Tang Mo tossed and turned so much the bed board nearly gave way; he muttered that he could not sleep without getting to the bottom of that little secret in the household. His restlessness disturbed Xin An, and she kicked him, saying with exasperation: “Why is your curiosity so heavy? When it is time for you to know, you will naturally be told. If Mother is not speaking, she must have her reasons.”

Tang Mo turned on his side and said with certainty: “I don’t believe you aren’t curious.”

Xin An closed her eyes and admitted: “I am… also quite curious.”

Then she opened them again and concluded briskly: “But go to sleep; I will quietly ask around later.”

Tang Mo let out a long sigh and said that he had been busy lately; Liao Zhi had set his sights on him and even assigned him a task, adding with measured pride: “It isn’t exactly difficult but it isn’t easy either, and I want to accomplish it beautifully. It must be that Madam Liao put in a word about you, then he fixed his attention on me, and now my chance has arrived.”

Xin An called it a good thing and told him to focus on his work without worrying about the household, saying with easy confidence: “You have me and Mother here. What can’t we handle?”

Tang Mo edged back a little and, half teasing and half sincere, said: “If you think about it, you are more experienced than Mother. You managed the marquisate longer; in our last life you were ugly and lived a long time.” He shut his eyes at once and played dead, as Xin An opened hers and shot back: “Your whole family is ugly.”

Tang Mo inched closer to the bed’s edge and conceded cheerfully: “Yes, I am the ugliest.”

In the days that followed, Tang Mo almost never came home to supper. Xin An knew what he was doing and did not mind; Madam Wang, however, scolded him soundly in front of her. Xin An only smiled and said with calm good sense: “Men inevitably have engagements outside, and besides there is nothing pressing at home. Let him keep busy.”

She then said she would go to the Wang household the next day to offer congratulations and asked if Mother would go with her, adding by way of explanation: “Wang You is marrying a daughter-in-law and sent an invitation early. I want to go a day ahead with gifts and also ask about those old soldiers of the Wang family. Grandmother’s grain allotment to me has already been issued, and it needs to be distributed.”

Worried that Xin An might encounter snags just after taking charge, Madam Wang agreed, yet added with measured caution: “There is no need to rush this to a single day. We should wait until the Wang family has finished their busy spell before speaking further.”

With Madam Wang supporting at the front, Xin An felt much at ease. The two women chatted idly for a while. Madam Wang had thought Xin An would be curious about the Tao family’s affairs, but from start to finish Xin An never mentioned a word; Madam Wang nodded inwardly at that restraint, thinking her steady.

A maid came hurrying in, saluted, and reported crisply: “Reporting to Second Young Madam, several people have arrived at the gate claiming to be from Huaijiang, come to seek refuge with Second Young Madam.”

Xin An started, then broke into delighted relief: “It must be Uncle Bo and the others. I will receive them.” Seeing her rush out so hastily, Madam Wang smiled and shook her head, instructing Ping Qiu to go see who had come and to make proper arrangements.

Outside the marquisate stood a carriage, with several flat wagons covered by rain curtains trailing behind, all of them loaded high with goods. A man in his fifties stroked his beard as he studied the plaque over the gate and said to the person beside him with a hint of awe: “Look at the front of a marquisate, how imposing.” He added more quietly with genuine concern: “Do you think our big girl is living well?”

This was the “Uncle Bo” in Xin An’s mouth, Qin Bai, a lean, scruffy old fellow; if not for Fang Da at his side, he might not have been able to get the marquisate’s gatekeepers to budge. Fang Da wore a faintly troubled look. Being a native of the capital, he knew how these nobles disdained merchants. Their big girl had been switched from the Heir Apparent’s consort to Second Young Madam without cause, and the Xin family had been mocked in whispers for quite some time, even openly teased by some. In such a climate, he hardly dared imagine that the big girl could be living well.

He lowered his voice and fretted at Qin Bai: “Physician Qin, Divine Physician Qin, the lady prepared such presentable clothes for you, why did you not wear them?” They had come in a jumble, all dust and disarray, and he feared others would laugh.

They had traveled from Huaijiang windblown and weary; Qin Bai, never fastidious about dress, looked distinctly unkempt, but he could not be bothered: “I deal with medicinal herbs all day. Fine clothes are uncomfortable, and besides they are wasteful. This is just right.”

Fang Da wanted to say that while such was fine in Huaijiang, here in a marquisate they ought to win face for the big girl, but before he could speak, a girl of thirteen or fourteen at his side chimed in with a smile: “Father, Master is used to dressing this way. Big Girl will not mind.” This was his eldest daughter, Fang Xiao Xiao.

Just then Xin An arrived with quick steps, her voice warm as she called out: “Uncle Da, Uncle Bo, how did you come so quickly? Xiao Xiao is here too?” Seeing her own people, Xin An was genuinely happy, and the three stepped forward to offer their respects; Xin An reached out to help them, saying with heartfelt candor: “It has been so long. I have missed you terribly.” [In her eyes, it had been more than five years.]

Chuckling, Qin Bai mounted the steps and called out with relish: “Big Girl, hurry and speak to this pedantic scholar who despises my dress and says I will shame you.”

Xin An laughed: “Uncle Da, do not lecture him. Uncle Bo does not rely on clothes. Even if he wore a ragged sack, many would still come begging him to save their lives.”

“Exactly,” Qin Bai said, turning his head with jaunty pride: “If I am willing, I can wear clothes of gold.”

Fang Da muttered under his breath, utterly helpless yet unable to resist the jab: “Clothes of gold weigh a great deal. Aren’t you afraid they will crush you?”

Xin An laughed with open delight and waved them in: “Uncle Da, please come inside.”

Auntie Wang arrived at that moment and went off to arrange for the goods and people, and only then did Fang Da relax enough to follow through the gates. Once inside, he began to observe carefully. When he saw that the marquisate’s servants, though looking them over, showed neither disdain nor contempt, he set his mind a little at ease. As they had just reached the courtyard, Steward Zhang’s voice sounded behind them. He had hurried back and was slightly out of breath; Xin An stopped and asked evenly: “Steward Zhang, what is it?”

Steward Zhang bowed with hands clasped and said respectfully: “Second Young Madam, I did not know relatives from Huaijiang would have guests today. We were remiss in our reception.”

“I received no prior message either,” Xin An replied, then introduced Fang Da and Qin Bai. Steward Zhang did not recognize the name Fang Da, but Qin Bai’s name rang a bell. He ventured cautiously: “I have heard that Huaijiang has a divine physician whose reputation rivals the King of Hell, and that he is a guest retainer of the Xin family. Would that be the gentleman before me?”

The little old man stood with his hands behind his back, wearing a look that seemed to say the steward had the good fortune to recognize talent. Fang Da added, filling in the essential detail: “Before coming to the capital, Uncle Bo and Master Xin Kuan became sworn brothers. He is no longer the Xin family’s guest retainer.”

Xin An tilted her head and blinked, quick to find the jest: “Uncle Bo, you became my father’s sworn elder brother? Do I need to change how I address you now?”

Qin Bai was five years older than Xin Kuan. He and his wife had lived in the Xin family’s other residence for years, and all Huaijiang knew him as the Xin family’s guest retainer. Over the years more than a few had tried to lure him away. First, keeping him cost no small amount of money and he spent with little income to offset it; second, he had fixed his loyalty on Xin Kuan and would not be moved. Xin An squinted at him and asked, half teasing and half curious: “Did my father beg you?” Qin Bai slanted a look at her, then smiled in a way Xin An could not describe, as if he had taken a little advantage; she could only think that the feeling was peculiar.

Steward Zhang’s manner became even more deferential, and he hastened to say he would arrange guest quarters at once. Xin An stopped him with a raised hand and a settled smile: “There is no need to prepare rooms, Steward Zhang. This time Uncle Da and Uncle Bo—no, Qin Bo—will be staying in the capital for quite some time. The Xin family residence is nearly refurbished. Later I will have people escort them there.” Steward Zhang felt a twinge of regret. Fang Da did not mind either way, but Qin Bai was different; a divine physician in residence would be of great benefit to the marquisate.

Fang Da cupped his hands and asked where duty required: “Steward Zhang, is the Marquis at home?” He had brought the Xin family’s annual funds for the marquisate and had to deliver them personally into Tang Gang’s hands.