Chapter 122
Chapter 122: The Xin family’s firm stance
The Xin family were all openhanded, and Xin An was no exception. Fang Da rose and bowed as he said: “Back then, when we were driven out of the capital with nowhere to go and I led my wife and children to drift down to Huaijiang, it was the master who saved me. These years under the master have been prosperous, even better than when we lived in the capital. Such a great kindness remains unreturned; now that there is a chance, it is only right that I take not a single coin. How would I dare ask for twenty percent? Please, eldest young lady, rescind that decision.”
Xin An was about to persuade him when the silent Qin Bai coughed and said to Xin An: “Before we came to the capital, I, Fang Da, and your father became oath brothers of different surnames.” He then turned to Fang Da and said: “The eldest young lady now counts as your niece; take what she gives. Even among brothers the accounts should be clear. If you feel you are taking too much, then you must help the eldest young lady with even greater care going forward.”
Xin An instantly guessed the reason and felt a sour sting at the tip of her nose: [Father tied them to me for my sake.]
These two men mattered greatly to her father, especially Qin Bai. When her father first met him, he was only a somewhat gifted itinerant physician; the achievements he enjoyed today were all the result of her father seeking medical classics for him, providing herbs without limit, and even spending money so he could travel and study medicine far and wide.
All because of one sentence from her, her father had sent both men to her side and even sworn brotherhood with them; one aim, she feared, was to secure their wholehearted aid.
She stood and invited the two to sit, then paid them a respectful salute. They scrambled to their feet; Qin Bai accepted readily enough, but Fang Da felt unworthy of Xin An’s courtesy. After a round of polite refusals he finally accepted, yet he still urged Xin An not to speak of their sworn-brother bond, so that he could move about the capital with greater ease.
Having status attached is certainly good, but under certain circumstances it can also be a shackle.
Their relationship grew warmer, and Xin An felt the chance to show her abilities was right before her.
Qin Bai gazed at Xin An with eager eyes, waiting to see what assignment she would give him. His old wife had told him before he left that he must do his utmost to support the eldest young lady; she would come next year to inspect the results, and [if the results were poor, her temper would be more than he could bear].
“Whether the medicinal-cuisine kitchen can get up and running depends on Uncle Fang, and whether we can make a name and attract patrons depends on Uncle Qin,” Xin An said with a smile, before adding: “Uncle Qin, you must think up many names for the dishes: ones to boost qi, dispel dampness, strengthen the body, soothe the lungs; sweet and savory alike. When the head chefs arrive, we will coordinate to test each dish in turn. I’m afraid I must trouble you.”
“Taste-testing new dishes?” Qin Bai brightened at once; this was work he had never done. He imagined that each time the restaurant launched a new dish, he would be the first to taste it, and it felt wonderfully novel. He said: “I guarantee I will see this task done well.”
After nearly an hour, the three of them had settled all the matters at hand. They even used tea in place of wine to share a cup. They had just put down their cups when Steward Zhang from the marquisate sent someone to announce that Tang Gang had returned.
At such a moment, with the Xin family sending people, Tang Gang naturally knew what it was about. He had spent heavily of late for Tang Rong, his funds were tight, and he was waiting for the Xin family’s silver.
Fang Da counted several large chests and brought them once more to the marquisate. He smoothly met Tang Gang and reported that thirty percent was to be given to Tang Mo. Tang Gang was thoroughly displeased and asked: “Is this Xin Kuan’s idea?” His first thought was that Tang Mo had privately contacted Xin Kuan to damage his interests. He said: “Since our two families agreed long ago, and these years we have acted per that agreement, the money should all enter the marquisate. How it is allocated is no affair for outsiders. If Master Xin pities his son-in-law, he can subsidize him from the side.”
Fang Da cupped his fists and said: “In reply to the Marquis, the original agreement between the Old Marquis and the Xin family had two premises. First, the marquisate would act as the Xin family’s backer, ensuring our business would not be suppressed or squeezed by other powers. Second, the Xin family’s eldest young lady was to become the marquisate Heir Apparent’s wife.”
One could say that the marriage of their eldest young lady had been purchased by her father’s money. The Tang family had taken the money but failed to follow the rules; the Xin family naturally had grounds to dissolve the agreement.
“When the Xin family’s son-in-law suddenly changed, we in Huaijiang suffered much ridicule. Our rivals concluded that the marquisate’s protection was unstable; in just two months they struck at us repeatedly, and the Xin family suffered losses.”
Tang Gang’s gaze grew dark. Fang Da, neither humble nor overbearing, said: “If the Xin family’s son-in-law were still the marquisate’s Heir Apparent, then of course there would be no thirty percent for the second young master. Now that the second young master has become our son-in-law, the Xin family will naturally show him some partiality. Fortunately, whether it is the Heir Apparent or the second young master, both are legitimate sons of the Marquis. Silver in the second young master’s hands is no different from silver in the Marquis’s hands.”
Even Xin An did not know that, while preparing these funds, Xin Kuan had cursed the entire time. Every time he thought of sending the Xin family’s hard-earned silver to the marquisate to pave the way for the shameless Tang Rong, he felt sick. He only regretted that Tang Mo’s current position was still weak and he could not go too far, or else not a single copper would have gone to Tang Rong.
As the Xin family’s steward, Fang Da felt that he represented the Xin family’s face and attitude. Since the marquisate had handled the matter so badly, did they still expect the Xin family to be grateful and pretend nothing had happened?
Tang Gang drew a long breath. [The money was in their hands; they would only give seventy percent.] His rage surged, yet he was helpless. Outsiders all knew that the Xin and Tang families were already joined by marriage; he could not act against the Xin family, especially with Tang Mo watching like a tiger beside him.
More importantly, apart from the Xin family, he could not find a second merchant house with comparable strength. Not merely one a little weaker; there was not even one half as strong.
“From now on, can we follow this arrangement?” he asked.
Fang Da did not give a definite answer and said: “This matter must depend on the master’s opinion.” He then cupped his hands again and said: “If the Marquis has no further instructions, I will take my leave. The master has brought some Huaijiang local gifts for the second young master, and I must deliver them.”
At the mention of gifts, Tang Gang remembered that aside from the silver, Fang Da had brought nothing else. He also recalled the Huaijiang silver blossom tea; he had already learned that Xin An used that very tea to open doors when making connections outside. Thinking further that he had not yet gotten his hands on any of that tea, his dissatisfaction nearly overflowed. Rising slowly, he said: “In that case, This Marquis will personally take you over.”
Fang Da bowed and withdrew. Once outside, he had the chests carried to Qiu Shi Courtyard. Auntie Wang had already come to meet them; not everyone was permitted entry to the marquisate’s inner court.
At that moment, Tang Mo was in his room laughing in secret until tears came to his eyes. He said: “I still can’t believe it. Did Father-in-law really give me thirty percent?” He knew how much silver the Xin family paid the marquisate each year. He said: “Thirty percent, that is thirty percent. How much silver is that?” He answered himself: “More than thirty thousand taels!”
Heaven bear witness; his monthly allowance was fifteen taels, and his mother had always quietly supplemented him. Counting the money he had scraped together in the household, the ready cash he had saved over the years was still less than six thousand. With a single move, his father-in-law had given him over thirty thousand. This kind of wealth felt unbelievable. [Heaven help me, this is real.]
Xin An set down the pastry in her hand and said: “You should think about how to face your father. In his heart, these thirty thousand taels should all be spent on his beloved eldest son. He is surely furious.”
“What is there to fear?” Tang Mo was no longer afraid of him. Moreover, his mother had grown formidable. He said: “Am I, a marquisate’s second young master, not worthy of using thirty thousand taels? How much was spent before and after to put Tang Rong in the Ministry of Rites, as if I do not know?”
More than thirty thousand taels. In his past life and this one together he had never spent so much. No wonder in his past life he could never outdo Tang Rong; that scoundrel lived in blessing without knowing it. At this moment, the image of Xin Kuan in his eyes was incomparably tall.