Chapter 217

Chapter 217: You Were Too Tired Before

Tang Mo took Han Feng to see Liao Zhi. Liao Zhi gave them face and told Han Feng to come to the Northern Garrison Army the next day; if he passed the assessment, he would be accepted. Overjoyed, Han Feng leaped onto Tang Mo and wrapped him in a hug. Tang Mo took several steps back, [speechless: my wife has not even hugged me yet, and I end up hugging this brat first].

Han Feng declared with boisterous affection, “Second Brother Tang, from today you are my real brother.”

The room roared with laughter as they poured a few more cups for Han Feng. He was not tall nor particularly sturdy, but his capacity for drink was impressive. He downed cup after cup with hearty gusto.

Once the meal was over, a few guests who had matters to attend to took their leave, and Xin An rose to make the arrangements.

Each guest received a small gift: a set of pre?portioned soup ingredients, plus four fresh autumn pears and four pomegranates, all packed in a hand?woven, delicate little basket. The basket was lined with a ring of calico, which gave it a touch of novelty.

All the ladies, regardless of age, received an extra Bird’s Nest Cup. In these guests’ eyes the gifts were not especially expensive, but receiving them made all the difference.

Madam Wang, delighted with the Bird’s Nest Cup, said with a smile that this was too generous, the banquet alone was grand enough. Xin An smiled in return, “I am already very happy you came to support us, and you even helped me find such lovely baskets. I should be the one thanking you.”

Those exquisite little baskets were sourced by Madam Wang from retired soldiers. They cost less than wooden boxes and were more practical. Xin An liked them very much and decided to place a long?term order so that on future festivals she could use them to present little tokens to guests who came to dine.

Madam Wang waved off the thanks, but she was deeply taken with Xin An now and stayed on to help her see the guests out.

Han Feng sidled up to Xin An with a grin and greeted her as second sister?in?law. Just then Qiu Wenyuan was on her way out and happened to see it. She was Han Feng’s sister?in?law and understood at a glance. She asked with a knowing smile, “Did Second Brother Tang take you to see Commander Liao?”

Wei Ye’s wife, Han Wan’er, also came out. She was Han Feng’s elder sister. She said with relief, “At last your wish is fulfilled.”

Han Feng smiled from ear to ear, then someone came to fetch him. He bowed to the ladies and ran off.

Han Wan’er said to Xin An, “We have troubled you and your husband.”

Xin An replied, “What are we to each other to be so polite?”

Then she asked, “I heard Sister Zhao is ill?”

Xie Chang You had come alone today, and his complexion was not good. Remembering that in her previous life the second Madam Xie had passed away early, Xin An sighed inwardly. Han Wan’er lowered her voice and said, “Sister Zhao’s health has never been good. It has always been managed with medicine. She caught an unusual chill some days ago and it grew serious. She has seen many physicians. Even two imperial physicians from the Imperial Infirmary went, yet no one could say exactly what it is. Alas.”

“I did not know a thing,” said Xin An. She felt a twinge of guilt. Though she knew the woman would not live long, when the time truly approached she still felt uneasy, especially now that she had accepted Tang Mo, accepted his friends, and formed friendships with Lin Yao and the others.

Han Wan’er added, “The Wei Family’s Grand Matron has also not been well. The Wei Family deliberately kept the news down. It is normal you did not know.”

Xin An said she would visit the Wei Family later. “We have a physician at home whose skill is quite good. If I bring him, would it be appropriate?”

Han Wan’er suggested she discuss it with Wei Ye. Some matters were difficult for outsiders to step into.

Yan Shi Mao and the others were already tipsy and had fallen asleep on the luohan beds in the private rooms. Since they had helped host and accompany the guests, they surely had not eaten well. So Xin An purposely planned to set another table that evening to thank everyone for their help.

She said to Lin Yao, “Sister Lin, go back and rest. They will surely wake by evening.”

Lin Yao laughed, “Your Herbal Cuisine House is thorough. Those who get drunk have a place to lie down, and you even prepared quilts. This business cannot help but prosper.”

Each private room had a small luohan bed that could be used for sitting or lying down, and even provided a chessboard. It was extremely useful.

“All arranged by Steward Fang, aiming at convenience,” said Xin An.

“Today, if not for Sister Lin and Sister Xu helping, I would have been in a mess,” she added. “The elder brothers accompanied the drinking all noon and their stomachs must be uncomfortable. In the evening I am preparing a table of stomach?nourishing soups and dishes. You must come.”

Madam Liao smiled, “We will. The soups here are truly delicious. My husband never eats on a regular schedule, and stomachaches are common. I would like to ask you for a stomach?nourishing prescription. Would that be convenient?”

“It must be convenient,” said Xin An. She thoughtfully proposed that Qin Bai take Liao Zhi’s pulse and compose a dietary prescription according to his condition: “I have heard that soldiers’ bodies all carry hidden ailments or old injuries. With Commander Liao’s military merits, he must have been wounded. Now the realm is peaceful and there is no war. It is exactly the right time to nurse his health.”

“You are right. It should be properly tended,” said Madam Liao. “Then I must trouble you to arrange for Physician Qin to take his pulse later today.”

With that bond formed, Madam Liao later instructed her steward that whenever they hosted banquets, they would come here.

Relationships ought to be reciprocal.

Lin Yao suggested they go to her Qian Ya Garden to drink tea and admire the flowers: “Since we will be going out again later, why go back home?”

Xin An was pulled along. Yan Wenhui and the others had already agreed to go listen to opera. Madam Gu was roped into going with them. They said that after the opera they would come directly here. Yan Wenhui said to Xin An, “Qian Ya Garden is a fine place. You should go rest a while, or you will wear yourself out.”

“We will go hear the opera together next time,” said Xin An.

Calling Xin An along to the opera would only oblige her to make arrangements again. Among close friends, one should be considerate. After giving a few instructions to Fang Da, Xin An went out with Lin Yao.

At Qian Ya Garden, after a cup of tea, she finally let out a long, turbid breath. The saying goes that when the guests depart, the host finds peace. Now she felt immeasurably relaxed.

Setting down her teacup, Madam Liao looked much improved from having gone out often these days. Just yesterday Physician Zhao had come to beautify her complexion, and today her color was rosy. She said, “I suddenly remembered I should ask Physician Qin to take my pulse as well, to regulate my qi and blood. I have felt fatigued these days, unable to summon energy.”

“You were too tired before,” Lin Yao said bluntly. “Since the day you married into the Liao family, you have never stopped, laboring until your body and mind were exhausted. That you can still look this well is thanks to your sound constitution.”

“I see you and Younger Sister Xin are very congenial. You should learn from her. Look how carefree her days are,” she added with a smile.

Xin An said, “Sister Xu and I are not the same. Sister Xu manages the household. Think how many matters there are every day in a family as large as the Liao family.”

“I have nothing to do at all. If I were not too idle, I would not have thought of opening the Herbal Cuisine House to pass the time.”

Lin Yao gave her a meaningful look and asked, “Has Tao Yi Ran still not returned to the residence?”

The situation was growing ever more interesting. Leaving aside Tang Rong’s momentum and reputation before his marriage, even Tao Yi Ran was publicly praised as a talented woman. The two of them coming together should by rights have prospered. Even if they could not become a powerful pairing, they should not be in their current state, husband and wife both seeming wrapped in misfortune. Meanwhile, the one whose reputation had been poor, Tang Mo, was steadily improving, becoming ever more openhanded and magnanimous. She did not believe there was nothing behind all this.