Chapter 133

Chapter 133: Tang Gang: Who Does He Think He Is?

“In sending Er Shan for martial training you will be short a man, leaving only Lai Lai. Will that be enough?” Xin An asked.

In the room, she reclined lazily against the chair back. The Tang Mo of today was not the Tang Mo of before. A frivolous young lord needed only one serving lad, that was enough. Now that he was striving upward, he had errands to run and many shadowy matters to handle. Even two people might not suffice.

Tang Mo admitted it was really not enough, but a close-serving lad was not something you could casually reassign or buy. “Er Shan had not even been trained properly. Big and small matters rely on Lai Lai. I feel Lai Lai is about to be overworked,” he said.

Truly, as the master, even he could not bear to keep exploiting Lai Lai.

After a moment’s thought, Xin An said: “If so, find two more helpers. They do not have to be serving lads. Among the Tang family and the Wang family, are there no fallen relatives?”

“Those who are more distant, whose days are difficult. See if there are one or two clever lads among them.”

“Relatives?” Tang Mo paid little attention to the clan’s relations. “I will ask around later,” he said.

He glanced at Xin An and said softly: “Why are we always short-handed?”

“You should ask yourself,” Xin An replied, stifling a yawn. “What were you doing earlier?”

“I do have a few maid candidates. Do you want them?” she added.

Tang Mo grunted twice: “In a couple of days I will take a look around. I refuse to believe I cannot find a few usable men.”

At the dinner table, Tang Gang and Tang Rong were both absent. Putting aside the confined Tao Yi Ran and the Grand Matron who preferred quiet, there were only three people present. Madam Wang and Tang Mo felt nothing amiss. Without those two unlikable ones, they even ate more at ease.

Xin An glanced at the empty seats but was less optimistic than they were. Back in Qiu Shi Courtyard, she summoned Nan Feng and told him to buy over Tang Rong’s serving lad, Qing Mo. She wanted to keep track of the Heir Apparent’s movements.

“Second Young Madam?” Nan Feng hesitated. Xin An lifted her eyes and said: “By purchase or by pressure, either way. I believe you have a way to bring him to heel. I need to know the Heir Apparent’s movements as soon as possible, whom he meets and what he says, the more detailed the better.”

Nan Feng still did not immediately agree. “Second Young Madam, you…” he began.

“I am doing this for our Second Young Master,” Xin An said. “There is no need to let Mother and Second Young Master know, lest they misunderstand.”

Only then was Nan Feng at ease. He had worried that the Second Young Madam had renewed other designs on the Heir Apparent. After giving him two more instructions, Xin An sent him off. No sooner had he left than Tang Mo arrived.

“What did you send Nan Feng to do?” he asked.

“To find out the movements next door,” she said. She had told Nan Feng not to speak of it, yet she herself spoke plainly now. “I am not at ease without a grasp of his doings.”

“You rate him that highly?” Tang Mo was a little unconvinced.

Looking at him very seriously, Xin An said: “You have always underestimated him.”

“He has some ability by nature, is skilled at calculation, and has no bottom line. Beside him stand your father and Master Tao. Do you think Master Tao reached where he is today by sending gifts?”

“Now the Tao family will surely hold tight to Tang Rong, and Tang Rong will not be soft-handed in using the Tao family. One is willing to strike and the other is willing to take the blow. The two combined, how great an obstacle will they be to you and me?”

“The message from next door is as we expected. Tao Yi Ran has given a portion of her dowry to Tang Rong.”

“One piece, a five-colored glazed plate, has already been delivered to Lord Cao, the Minister of Rites.”

Tang Mo sneered: “Fast enough.”

“So,” Xin An said, turning her head slightly, “cultivate a little sense of crisis. Use whatever moves you have quickly. Do not wait until he grows large. By then there will be nowhere to cry.”

Tang Mo nodded: “I will give him arrangements soon.”

Before they even lay down to rest, a man from Tang Gang’s side came to say that Tang Gang wanted Tang Mo in the study. Though puzzled, Tang Mo followed.

In the study, Tang Gang, who had returned at some unknown time, was writing. He did not lift his eyes when Tang Mo entered. Only when he set down his brush did he look at him and say: “At dawn tomorrow go to the Zhang family. The Zhangs are willing to move out of their ancestral residence.”

“Father is worried over your son’s affairs?” Tang Mo found it curious. “Has Father met Elder Lord Zhang?”

With a glare, Tang Gang said curtly: “Even if you are not accomplished, you are still a son of our marquisate. Can I really let you run around like a headless fly?”

“Tomorrow take heavy gifts and go yourself to see Elder Lord Zhang. Speak pleasantly.”

Tang Mo cupped his hands: “Many thanks to Father. Only…”

“Only what?” Tang Gang asked.

“Elder Lord Zhang’s son, Editor Zhang of the Hanlin Academy, went in person to the Northern Garrison Army to state how important that ancestral residence is to the Zhangs. Commander Liao went to look at the house as well. Its upkeep is excellent. He felt it would be a pity to demolish it outright, so he made a trip to the Ministry of Works. At present, only the southeastern corner of the residence and two side rooms need to be removed. The Zhangs need only rebuild the enclosing wall after demolition, and the main courtyard along with the Ancestral Hall can be preserved,” Tang Mo said.

He had personally followed up on this matter and had brought the man to Liao Zhi. The result could be called a win-win. Editor Zhang had thanked him warmly.

“When did this happen?” Tang Gang asked. He was displeased. He had rarely been willing to lend a hand, only to have people seem ungrateful in the end.

“This afternoon,” Tang Mo said.

“You handled it?” Tang Gang’s voice was hard.

Tang Mo nodded: “I went to see the house and looked carefully at the Ministry of Works drawings. Only then did I think of each side taking a step back, not delaying the Ministry of Works and still preserving the Zhangs’ old residence.”

[Tang Mo had originally wanted to tease his old father, but then thought he should not dampen his father’s initiative. He bowed and said:] “Your son did not know Father had already planned for me. I am very moved. Thank you, Father.”

Tang Gang gave a cold laugh. By the timing, he had approached Elder Lord Zhang first, and the process had not been pleasant, even tinged with threat. The elder had left in a huff. When he returned that day and did not see Tang Mo, he had not told him at once. Who knew that he would offend the man first, only for Tang Mo to resolve the matter perfectly after. So… [So what did he amount to?]

“Father?” Tang Mo prompted when the silence stretched. “Does Father have other instructions?”

“How do you plan to spend the money your father-in-law gave you?” Tang Gang asked.

“I handed it all to your daughter-in-law to keep,” Tang Mo replied.

Tang Gang drew in a deep breath: “All of it?”

“All of it.” Tang Mo nodded honestly. “My father-in-law gave me the silver only for Xin An’s sake. What merit do I have before him? I felt embarrassed to take his money for nothing, so I gave it all to Xin An. When your son needs any, I will ask her for it.”

Tang Gang’s head buzzed. How could such a large sum be handed to a wife to manage?

“As for the Northern Garrison Army and your elder brother’s installation gifts, the household has spent a great deal,” he said. “Do you know that your elder sister-in-law has already taken out parts of her dowry to pave the road for your elder brother?”

The corners of Tang Mo’s lips quirked. [He guessed his esteemed father wanted to say: If the Northern Garrison Army post had not been given to you, how would the household have spent so much silver? He also wanted to say: That Tao Yi Ran is so generous, while your wife, holding so much dowry, did not put out a single coin and even took more than thirty thousand taels. Is that fitting? What sort of character is that?]