Chapter 239

Chapter 239: Tang Gang the Freeloader

Auntie Cai had made her move; first she stirred up public opinion in the manor, then she used Tao Yi Ran’s pregnancy to make a fuss. Other than clamping down on the servants’ tongues, Xin An did nothing more, thinking coolly: [If you wish to bring them down, first drive them to frenzy.]

Madam Wang, of course, also received word. Aside from setting people to watch, she said nothing more. The year’s end was busy; she was occupied escorting Xin An to banquets.

Tang Mo’s change for the better and Xin An’s generosity together improved Madam Wang’s position when she went out to socialize. As the saying goes, a hand is short after taking and a mouth grows mild after eating; after a cup of tea and a crab, relations naturally warmed by a few degrees.

Sitting with familiar ladies at the wedding of the Wu family’s young general, Madam Wang changed her manner and began to air her grievances. She said with a rueful smile: “To be a stepmother is a difficult role. I send her good things like running water and try not to show up before her. When I heard she had abdominal discomfort, my heart tightened.”

Madam Wang had had few particularly close friends in the capital these years, mainly because she valued face and did not like to speak of her difficulties, nor did she join in ordinary gossip. People felt she was not very personable yet carried a lofty air, so they were unwilling to spend time with her and shared little news with her. Now that she was complaining, everyone perked up, finding it novel and interesting.

A certain lady could not help asking: “After so many incidents, there has been no punishment at all?”

She curled a lip and added tartly: “That Tang Rong is out as if nothing happened, still entertaining people. His face is thicker than most.”

Madam Wang gave a bitter smile: “Right and wrong in this are hard to make clear. If we pursue it to the end, no one’s face will look good. A scolding or two, and so long as they do not offend again, that is enough. And now she is pregnant; if I speak too harshly, I worry about the child.”

“You are too lenient,” another said, “but your position is indeed awkward. One not born from your own womb is different.”

Lifting her tea cup, Madam Wang said evenly: “I only wish to have a clear conscience. I do not seek repayment. As long as the two of them live in peace, that is fine. This year has indeed gone poorly; I only hope that after the New Year all will be auspicious.”

Everyone present knew a stepmother’s difficulties, and from Madam Wang’s tone they also heard that Tang Gang was partial. In short, knowing others had it hard stirred a measure of sympathy and made one look on them more kindly; naturally, they were willing to say a few good words on her behalf. One lady changed the subject with a smile: “Your second son is quite good. I hear he has won Commander Liao’s favor?”

Madam Wang waved a hand: “Oh, I will thank heaven if that boy does not cause me trouble. I covet nothing else. I hear your son has been promoted again. How do you teach him so well? You must share a few secrets with me.”

The other lady beamed with self-satisfaction. Her son had indeed been promoted, and she was waiting for someone to offer congratulations; her face was all smiles.

By then, Madam Wang had achieved her purpose, and Xin An’s progress was equally smooth. She first sat and listened as Lin Yao and the others talked; with the year-end approaching, the streets were not very safe, they said. Two big girls and several children had gone missing. Such things happened every year; though not rare, they still deserved sympathy for the families who had lost them.

Before long they spoke of Tao Yi Ran. Having laid the ground, Xin An launched into a complaint: “Ever since she conceived, I even tied up the dogs, and I wish I could tie up their mouths as well, for fear that the neighbor might say she is startled by a dog’s bark.”

She spread her hands helplessly: “My people dare not speak loudly.”

“Yesterday her belly hurt,” she added with a sigh, “and the servants below said we must have collided with something, and claimed the courtyard is not wide enough and feels stifling. Tell me, am I to lose even my own courtyard now?”

Lin Yao and the others expressed sympathy: “Those two, one is practiced at kicking up trouble and the other is sanctimonious. With you living next door to them, of course you will suffer.”

“I fear this is only the beginning for you,” another said, “and who knows what lies ahead.”

“How am I so unlucky?” Xin An sighed, forcing a laugh.

Not far away, Duchess Xiang was in a fury, leading a bitter chorus drubbing Tao Yi Ran and Tang Rong: one had harmed her son; the other had laid hands on him. She would not let either of them go. She snapped to the circle around her: “My son may be headstrong, but his head is clear. If that person had not said something to him, would he have set his mind on someone else’s girl?”

Her voice sharpened: “It is in the blood. She sees a man and wants to entice him. A shameless wretch, thinking everyone is like that brazen creature who cavorted in broad daylight.”

Those who depended on Duke’s Manor chimed in at once, spittle flying. Xin An cast them a distant glance, smiled, and turned away.

After one joyful banquet, Tang Rong and Tao Yi Ran’s reputations were in tatters. Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law returned home satisfied and, as usual, busied themselves with the manor’s affairs, coldly watching as Auntie Cai and Auntie Liu mounted their play.

The weather chilled quickly; in the morning it already numbed the hands, and the wind grew ever colder. As the days cooled, business at Herbal Cuisine House grew better and better. Beyond the portion of opening-day patrons who had become regulars, many merchants now chose Herbal Cuisine House as their first choice for entertaining. Not only did it have sufficient prestige, it was also easy to encounter nobles there. By word of mouth, hosting at Herbal Cuisine House had become a mark of real face, and now, to book a private room, one had to reserve at least three days ahead.

“Herbal Cuisine House truly deserves its reputation. Marquis, thank you for your generous hospitality today; you have gone to great expense.” As evening fell, the door of a private room opened and several officials emerged with ruddy faces. Walking among them, Tang Gang smiled and said: “In winter’s chill, this medicinal cuisine makes the whole body comfortable. If it suits your taste, then come often.”

“Marquis is joking,” one said with a chuckle. “The dishes may be good, but the prices are not low. We do not have the Marquis’s means; how dare we say ‘come often’?”

Another nodded gravely: “My friend speaks truly. We are men of clean repute. If not for the Marquis’s invitation, we would not dare step casually into Herbal Cuisine House.”

Tang Gang felt himself float a little and thought that this establishment truly gave him face. He said expansively: “It is only a table of dishes. If you like it, come and put it on This Marquis’s account.”

At his side, Fang Da nearly rolled his eyes to heaven. Before opening, he had already anticipated there would be freeloaders. For all the capital seemed to teem with the powerful, there were even more whose families had declined, leaving only an empty shell. These people wanted to play at elegance and put on a grand show; they would use their ancestors’ names to eat for free.

He had prepared for this and had ways to deal with it, but he had never imagined that the first to eat for free would be Tang Gang. He had brought people here to eat how many times already, and not a single coin had been paid.

“Is Marquis heading back?” Fang Da forced a smile and stepped forward. However he cursed in his heart, his face had to be all courtesy.

Tang Gang grunted assent: “Get to know these gentlemen. When they come, see to them well, and charge all expenses to This Marquis.”

Fang Da smiled and agreed. The officials gave Tang Gang another round of flattery. Greatly pleased, he turned and said to Fang Da: “Reserve a private room for This Marquis and do not assign it to anyone else from now on.”

Fang Da nearly lost his composure, but he managed a smile and escorted them out. The servers bowed and scraped at the door to see them off; turning back inside, one wore a bitter face and asked: “Shopkeeper, should we inform Second Young Madam?”

“Mind your work,” Fang Da snapped with a glare. “Young Madam already knows.”

The server said no more and hurried in to welcome the next guests. With a sigh, Fang Da went to the counter and entered Tang Gang’s charges in the ledger. Whether the debt could be collected was one matter; whether it was recorded was another.