Chapter 232

Chapter 232: Xin An Gets Drunk

At Tang Yong’s residence, Madam You gazed with delight at several baskets of crabs still blowing bubbles and said: “These crabs are truly excellent. They came from so far away and are still so lively; I cannot imagine how much thought and effort went into sending them.”

Smiling as he looked at the crabs, Tang Yong said: “We will keep ten for our household. Pick ten for the elder daughter-in-law to deliver to her father, send another ten to Uncle Yao Ming, and give the rest to Yao Ming’s teacher. When he returns, he can deliver them himself.”

Madam You nodded and said: “Crabs are all about freshness and sweetness, so a token share is enough.”

Lady Gu was happy as well. Madam You then praised Xin An without stint and said: “Ever since she entered the Marquis’s residence, our relations with them have grown much closer. When we dined at Herbal Cuisine House, Mother even exchanged a few cheerful, kindly words with me; that never happened before. More importantly, the boy Tang Mo is becoming more motivated by the day, which shows she is a young woman who brings prosperity.”

Continuing to speak, Madam You said: “Some people look down on merchants; their vision is truly short-sighted.”

Tang Yong only smiled without replying. [On the second day after Herbal Cuisine House opened, his lofty, high-nosed elder brother actually came to see him in person, speaking of being one family and mutually supporting each other. He did not grasp the meaning at first, but when he caught the implication he realized the man coveted his silver.] [Perhaps the elder brother had only just realized that the “unpresentable” younger half-brother he despised was in fact a man with money.]

Back when Father was alive, he had arranged for the elder brother to pursue officialdom to uphold the marquisate’s honor, while Tang Yong would enter commerce. Father said Boss Xin was an honest man, but keeping the purse strings in another’s hands was never ideal; since the family had someone capable, they should support him fully. Yet the elder brother looked down on him, and with unfounded confidence assumed the Xin family would remain forever loyal to the marquisate, even staging a farce of swapping marriage partners. [By now he should have learned his lesson; they would not even send a single crab to the Marquis’s residence. Tsk tsk.]

Meanwhile, the Wang family was also dividing crabs. Sitting contentedly, Wang Mian discussed different ways to eat them and said: “There is a reason people say marriage settles a man; look at that boy Shun Shun, he really changed after he married.”

Someone quipped: “Because he married a good wife.”

Lady Wang laughed and said: “Now whenever there is something good, he thinks of you the uncle first; you deserve to be pleased.” She teased further and said: “And really, how old is he that you still call him Shun Shun; be careful or he will take offense.” “Hahaha~~~”

The Wang family was neither fabulously wealthy nor short of spending money, and Wang Mian’s happiness was not due to a few crabs but because his sister’s days at the Marquis’s residence were growing better and better. Only a woman who was truly living well would send small gifts home every few days.

At the same time, the households who received crabs from Xin An either kept them alive to wait for family members on duty to return for supper, or had already set the pots boiling, eager to eat. In their conversations they could not help mentioning Xin An and sighing in appreciation.

Xin An’s carriage returned all the way to the Marquis’s residence, and the crabs were taken over by Chun Yang and Chun Lv. Worried that by morning more would be dead, they decided to cook all of them that night; whatever they could not finish would be simmered into a paste, perfect for tossing with noodles or filling buns.

Xin An went to Chun Rong Hall. When Cui Ping had asked the Grand Matron for a letter of passage, the Grand Matron had readily lent her the card, allowing Cui Ping to enter the palace smoothly. Xin An came to give thanks and said: “Crabs are delicious but must not be eaten in excess, and they are difficult to keep alive. On the short journey from the docks to the Xin residence we already lost quite a few. I feared more would die if delayed, so I had to arrange everything quickly.”

The Grand Matron had not seen the scene herself and did not know how many there were; she laughed and said: “It is your father’s kind, doting heart. You handle matters thoroughly, even thinking to send a share into the palace.”

“If not for you, Grandmother, I could not have sent them in even if I wanted to,” said Xin An. She glanced at the Grand Matron’s face and said: “I feel your color is better today; why not stroll in the garden this afternoon.”

Waving her hand, the Grand Matron said: “I do not know why, but lately I feel somewhat tired. I plan to nap this afternoon.”

Xin An had no idea that Tao Yi Ran had arrived too early; the Grand Matron, who liked to sleep a little longer in the morning, did not wish to keep a pregnant woman waiting, so she rose too early and then had to spend time with the tactless Tao Yi Ran, which left her drained. Xin An continued with polite concern and said: “I will ask Physician Qin to prepare a medicinal diet suited to Grandmother. I hope Grandmother will enjoy health and strength.”

Seeing weariness on the Grand Matron’s face, Xin An added: “Why not take a short rest now. I smell of crab and will go change my clothes, so I will take my leave.”

The Grand Matron replied: “Very well. You have been busy all morning; rest well this afternoon. There is no need to come for lunch.”

After leaving Chun Rong Hall, she went to see Madam Wang. The two, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, shared lunch and discussed the upcoming banquet. Only then did Xin An return to Qiu Shi Courtyard. She changed her clothes and went to take a nap, while Chun Yang and Chun Lv were still in the small kitchen busy with those big crabs.

Xin An was wakened by the fragrance. The two maids entered, one carrying a crab and the other a tray with ginger-vinegar sauce and warm wine, and said: “Young Madam, get up to eat crab.”

Glancing at the light outside, Xin An asked: “Is it evening already?” The maid replied: “No, it is mid-afternoon. We saw two on the verge of dying and quickly put them in the pot. Please get up and eat.”

Delighted, Xin An sat down, first took a sip of warm water, then a quick sip of wine, then picked up a crab. She did not forget to urge the girls and said: “Steam a few more; let us eat together.”

“We do not need to; we are still busy at the stove,” they said with a laugh as they turned to go. Xin An called after them and said: “Wipe your mouths.” They had stolen bites and forgot to eliminate the evidence. The two gave dry laughs, hastily wiped their mouths clean, and jogged back to the small kitchen.

Thus Xin An sat in the bedroom, sucking the fragrant crab meat, recalling the sight of the Huai River, and sipping her little wine. As time slipped by, she grew ever more tipsy. When Tang Mo returned, he felt the atmosphere in the courtyard was odd. Chun Yang and Chun Lv looked particularly guilty. He stepped into the room intending to ask Xin An, and at once smelled wine. On the beauty couch, the person was curled into a ball, eyes closed and twitching.

“My lady ancestress, what has happened now,” he said as he gently turned Xin An’s face toward him. Her boozy breath hit him full on. “How much did you drink?”

“You are only getting back now, wuwuwu~~~,” whimpered the drunkard as she threw herself into his arms and cried her heart out. Chun Yang and Chun Lv peeped from the doorway until Tang Mo summoned them in. Learning that she had been drinking alone since mid-afternoon, he was torn between laughter and tears and said: “Did you not know that warmed wine hits harder?”

They did know, but had not imagined the Young Madam could drink so much.

“Go on now, and close the door,” he said. The two scurried away.

Xin An sobbed lustily and muttered: “Those bastards stole my crabs; I will poison you.” She cried: “Wuwuwu, shameless, my crabs~~~”

“Who stole your crabs? Oh, my lady ancestress. How about a nap,” he coaxed. Xin An cried and talked by turns; soon she announced she would set fire to burn the neighbors to death. Tang Mo coaxed and cajoled and said: “Burn them, I will go burn them in a while.” He soothed her further and said: “Do not make a fuss, my lady ancestress. Sleep a while now, sleep.”

Only after working up a sweat did he manage to coax her to sleep. He lifted her horizontally, laid her on the bed, and tucked in the quilt, then rose with a smile and shook his head.

Remembering how she had once sketched his ugly drunken state, he glanced at the sky, then gleefully took up brush and paper and began to draw, chuckling as he worked. When it was finished, he held up the picture next to Xin An to compare, then could not help a snort of laughter and said: “The portrait is a bit ugly. When this woman wakes up, will she tear me to shreds?”