Chapter 240

Chapter 240: Madam Wang: Why shouldn’t they pay!

The days grew colder, and a faint New Year atmosphere set in. Xin An no longer nested in Qiu Shi Courtyard living quietly every day; Madam Wang took her along daily to handle all the festival matters. Just the New Year gifts alone had the two of them discussing for two or three days, then there were procurements and arranging silver; large sums went out each day, and Madam Wang sighed that silver is hard to earn yet far too easy to spend.

Xin An was leafing through previous years’ ledgers. The Old Marquis had campaigned for many years and received countless rewards from the Emperor; aside from the gold, silver, and jade held in the Grand Matron’s collection, the household still possessed a good amount of property: more than thirty shops, three estates, and two suburban villas, with decent income. Frowning over the numbers, she said: “The shops seem to be earning well, the last two years’ harvests have been good, the estates’ yields are enough to feed the household, and Father’s stipend is not small; why does it still feel a bit tight?”

Were it not for her own father propping them up with one hundred thousand taels each year, the marquisal household would not truly be comfortable.

Madam Wang felt embarrassed to speak in front of Xin An about the lavishness of Tang Gang and Tang Rong father and son, so she only said: “Besides caring for the old soldiers, your grandfather left some men who still need to be maintained, and your Father often needs to host banquets, so expenses add up.”

That father and son never have their fill of hosting; in a year, what they spend just on food and drink is a large sum, not to mention the gifts they need to send, which are an even greater expense. If she mentioned it two more times, they would say she is a woman of limited vision who does not understand how hard outside affairs are.

Xin An in fact knew full well. Leaving Tang Gang aside, just Tang Rong’s expenses on entertainment were huge, and to maintain the aristocratic sheen of a scion, he demanded the best in food, clothing, and use. He also loved jade. Jade pieces, after all, are pricier than gold. She added: “Now that Elder Brother is at the Ministry of Rites, he hardly draws any stipend, yet what he spends is startling.”

Madam Wang said with a sigh: “Your husband with the Northern Garrison Army spends barely anything, does he?”

In the past, Tang Mo liked to compete with Tang Rong, matching him in food, clothes, and every expense, essentially imitating him. Now he has fully returned to his original self: he does not fuss over food and drink, wears no fine jade on his person, looks much more clean and simple, and naturally spends far less.

Madam Wang said: “Your Father and I have discussed it. Starting next year, beyond the regular monthly stipends, the household will allocate each of you an annual sum: your elder brother gets five thousand taels, you two get two thousand. Once you receive it, you may no longer draw private expenses from the accounts. What you don’t spend is yours; if it’s not enough, the household will not make up the difference.” She added: “In addition, each of you will receive two shops to manage on your own, bearing profits and losses yourselves.”

This would prevent Tang Rong from making endless withdrawals against the accounts.

Xin An found this very reasonable. She did not mind being short by three thousand; so long as Tang Rong could no longer eat more and take more, that would do. [If he runs out of silver, let him go to Tao Yi Ran; then it will be dog against dog, tsk, tsk.]

A servant came to report: “Second Young Madam, Steward Fang is here.”

Xin An hummed an acknowledgment, spoke a word to Madam Wang, and rose to her small side parlor. Fang Da had come to talk about the general-goods shop opening, and he said: “Yesterday the Xu family’s cargo boat arrived in the capital with half a boat of goods. In three days, we can open.”

Xin An said she would go have a look on opening day. The general-goods shop was unlike the Herbal Cuisine House; it did not require inviting guests, sparing them many troubles.

Fang Da added that the shop’s opening would surely be a busy stretch: “The Herbal Cuisine House is already steady. I am thinking to hire a reliable manager to sit in at the Herbal Cuisine House; I do not know what the young madam thinks?”

Xin An replied: “In the future our business will be more than these two places; we should indeed have someone to help you.” She said that Wang Jin and his son were not adept at such matters, then asked: “Are we planning to bring someone up from Huaijiang, or do you already have someone in mind?”

He answered: “I do have someone.”

Fang Da said he had an old friend surnamed Qian: “He is smooth in manner, once served in an official’s household, and when that household fell under punishment he lost his place. These past two years he has done small trade and got by.”

Xin An was willing to give Fang Da this face: “So long as the man is upright, loyal, and capable, that will do. If you think well of him, bring him before the Second Young Master to have a look; if he also approves, then keep him.” She added: “Documents must be signed, but the rest, Uncle Fang, handle as you see fit.”

Fang Da nodded with a smile, turned to lift his teacup and took a sip, then raised the matter that put him in a bind, namely that Tang Gang was eating for free. He said: “From opening until now, the Marquis has often brought people to dine, sometimes three or five, sometimes seven or eight. The Heir Apparent occasionally comes along. The dishes have to be the best, yet for the meals they only say to put it on account.” He continued: “Now he even says the Herbal Cuisine House should reserve a private room belonging to him so he can host guests at any time. I am not sure how to handle it and can only come to ask the young madam.”

This was not unusual in itself; many businessmen long-term reserve private rooms at familiar restaurants, mainly for convenience. It was understandable that Tang Gang had such a need. But he had not said he would pay, which meant a room would be held for him without charge whether he came or not; would that not hamper business? Xin An knew Tang Gang lacked scruple, but she had not expected such disregard. [Had he taken her Herbal Cuisine House to be the marquisate’s property?]

She said: “Keep one private room unlisted and not open for reservation; the Second Young Master will occasionally have need of it, and it will help when something urgent arises. As for the rest, I cannot give you a definite answer yet. Once we have a rule in place, I will have someone inform you.”

Fang Da said: “Even without Second Young Madam saying so, I had not thought of that. Indeed we should keep one private room in reserve, so we can act with composure when needed.”

After the two spoke a few more words, Fang Da took his leave. Once he left, Xin An returned to Madam Wang to continue looking through the ledgers. Madam Wang said: “If you have matters to attend to, go ahead. This here is not pressing.”

Xin An shook her head: “It is nothing major. Steward Fang came to ask me about a matter he could not decide.”

Seeing her hesitation, Madam Wang asked: “What is it?”

A little embarrassed, Xin An explained the situation, then said: “Of course we are happy for Father and Elder Brother to host at the Herbal Cuisine House; they are also bringing guests to us, and among family there is no need to speak of money. It is just that I had already kept one private room for my husband; if I set aside another for Father, that makes two.” She added: “Mother knows this: at year’s end business is good, and the Herbal Cuisine House’s private rooms are never empty. We invested quite a bit of silver to open it and are counting on these cold days to recoup.” She added: “I am thinking that since one room is already set aside, my husband and Father can share it. Mainly, my husband is busy on most days and does not have many occasions to entertain.”

Madam Wang understood perfectly and inwardly despised Tang Gang all the more. He was taking advantage to the point of encroaching on his daughter-in-law’s property, eating without paying; and to think he felt no shame speaking of it. And besides, why should doing favors for Tang Rong be done at her daughter-in-law’s place, and why should they not pay!!!

She said: “You have not yet fully grasped the household rules. Whenever your Father dines outside, he has the steward record it on account. On the first of every month, they bring the ledger to the residence for the accounting office to settle.”

Xin An looked even more abashed: “It is only a few meals’ worth. Let us treat Father; how could we really ask Father to pay.”

Madam Wang said: “If you open shop, you should act like a shopkeeper. Your Father is not the sort who likes to take advantage either. You need not even speak to him about it. Just have them put it on account when he eats; when the time comes, he will come to settle.”