Chapter 265

Chapter 265: Coming to Demand an Explanation from Father

Zhuang Shi arrived half an hour later. He too had been promoted after returning from the mission, which was a happy event, and he had already attended two big drinking feasts.

He grinned as he looked Tang Mo over and asked with camaraderie: “Are you feeling better? The brothers are all waiting for you to recover so we can throw you a feast.”

He had formerly taken Tang Mo for nothing more than a somewhat enterprising young master of the Marquis’s Manor, but this time out changed his view. On his first big assignment, Tang Mo had not dragged anyone down and even pulled his weight; clearly terrified and shaking like a leaf, he had not turned back. He was a real man.

Tang Mo laughed and reassured him: “Have the brothers wait a bit. Give it three to five days and I should be almost right. The injury is in my arm; it does not affect drinking.”

After some joking back and forth, Tang Mo shared the news he had just received: “I have already sent Wu San’er to make inquiries. You send Old Gai the wanderer out to look as well. Whether to rescue the boy or to earn a merit, we have to wrap this up quickly. Next month every merchant will start selling New Year’s goods, and we cannot afford delays.”

Zhuang Shi was a little taken aback. He was on duty and had heard nothing of this, yet Tang Mo lying at home had first-hand information. It seemed the silver Tang Mo had sprinkled earlier had paid dividends.

Everyone in the Northern Garrison Army knew Tang Mo had money. When they encountered toughs while on duty, they would first threaten them, then, if the thugs did not behave, beat them. Afterward, Tang Mo would toss out a bit of broken silver and tell onlookers to report any suspicious people they saw. At the time, Zhuang Shi had thought most of that silver would be money down the drain. Now it was clear it had not been wasted.

He nodded crisply: “I understand.”

Knowing Tang Mo intended to pass the credit to him, he met the moment with equal frankness: “We brothers share life-and-death bonds now. No need for polite talk. You rest up. I will handle what is outside. When it is done, I will host a banquet to thank you.”

He had thought as much: Second Brother Tang was a man worth befriending.

Nan Feng saw Zhuang Shi out. Xin An then prepared to go out herself, and Tang Mo caught her hand: “I’m laid up like this and you’re going out?”

She answered matter-of-factly: “I made an appointment with Sister Xu to talk business.”

Tang Mo assumed she meant to go give thanks, but Xin An clarified with a spark in her eyes: “I plan to continue doing business with Sister Xu. We sketched a plan last time, and today we agreed to meet and go over it again.”

She squeezed his hand and promised in a coaxing tone: “You lie down. I will be back in two hours.”

Seeing she really meant to leave, he held on and would not let go: “Your man is bedridden. Can’t you stay home and keep me company? I am so pitiful.”

She mussed his hair fondly and teased: “Be good. I will bring you something tasty when I return.” Then she added with a chuckle: “If I stay here, you will chatter on and on. If I go, you can get some sleep.”

He drew out the words with mock injury: “So you do despise me?”

Xin An laughed lightly and said: “Second Young Master Tang is so clingy. I am not used to it.”

He sighed with theatrical sorrow: “You truly despise me.”

His woebegone expression succeeded in making Xin An laugh again. She waved as she left with the promise: “I’m going now. I will be back soon. There are so many people in the courtyard; if you need anything, just speak.”

When she was gone, Tang Mo felt an emptiness in his chest. Lai Lai came up to comfort him: “Young master, just sleep. Once your injury mends, you will be able to go out with the young madam.”

What could Tang Mo do? He sniffed and ordered: “Go heat some water. I want to wash my hair later. It stinks.”

[He also wanted to sleep in his own room tonight. Without washing up properly, how could he get into bed?]

Lai Lai protested in earnest: “Young master, you must not rush. If your wound splits, Physician Qin does not have a good temper. And besides, you won’t sleep well.”

He coaxed and promised: “Just sleep here. When the wound is better and your arm can bear strength again, go back.”

Tang Mo shot him a glare, [this servant is getting more and more nagging], then said curtly: “Help me up. I am going for a walk.”

At the teahouse, Madam Liao had even brought medicinal salve for Xin An, explaining with wry familiarity: “You may not know this about my husband. Injuries are a matter of routine for him. We have learned by experience which salves are effective. Take this. It works.”

Xin An accepted with a smiling squint and promised: “I will put it on him when I get back. Commander Liao did not get hurt this time, did he?”

“No,” Madam Liao replied, then added with an apologetic look: “I have already scolded him. He took people out so rashly, as if everyone were as thick-skinned as he is, and he did not even let them go home to say a word first. He made you spend days worried.”

She sighed and confessed: “Worse, he took him out and did not protect him well enough, and your husband was wounded so badly. I was embarrassed to come see you today. I feel very sorry.”

Xin An quickly waved it off and tucked the medicine away: “Please don’t say that, Sister Xu. Anyone with eyes can see Commander Liao was deliberately grooming him. You know our situation. Though we are in the Marquis’s Manor, we receive only limited support and must rely on ourselves. My husband has no literary polish and no exquisite martial skills. It is hard for him to make a name for himself. Though he was injured, he is secretly delighted.”

She laughed as she quoted him: “He even told me that once he heals he must train more in martial training and learn from Brother Liao more often. He fears that if something happens later, Brother Liao will consider him incompetent and refuse to take him along. He also told me to prepare a generous gift, and when he is a little better he wants to go in person to offer thanks.”

She ended sincerely: “Sister Xu and Commander Liao are our benefactors.”

“Please don’t put it that way,” Madam Liao said, relieved to find not a trace of resentment in Xin An. She had worried that Xin An’s heartache for Tang Mo would cool their friendship. It would be a pity to lose such a close friend in the capital. “It is rare for us to have the fate to get along so well. When there is a chance, we should naturally help each other. I just want to say your brother-in-law’s work is risky by nature. You must keep that in mind. If there is a better path, take it. If opportunity has not yet come, then keep following him. He has a bad temper, so please ask Second Brother to bear with him.”

With that change in address, their relationship deepened further, and Xin An gladly agreed; [for this couple, it was help in the snow, a precious opportunity].

Having affirmed their closer ties, they shifted to business and talked at length, finding themselves very much in tune.

That midnight, in the dead quiet, the wind scoured the earth outside. Carrying a lantern, Lai Lai tiptoed into Tang Mo’s bedchamber and called softly: “Young master?”

Tang Mo answered at once: “I’m awake.”

Having slept too much in the day, he could not sleep at night and had decided to go to Tang Gang to demand an explanation. Lai Lai tried to dissuade him in a whisper: “Can’t you go tomorrow? In the middle of the night the marquis is sleeping so sweetly. If you show up now, won’t he be angry?”

Tang Mo’s eyes gleamed as he replied with satisfaction: “Angry is exactly what I want. Hurry, bring me a cloak.”

He grinned as he added: “If he doesn’t sleep at night, he can sleep during the day.”

It was truly cold outside, like snow would fall at any moment. Master and servant braved the wind to seek out Tang Gang. That night, Tang Gang was sleeping comfortably in a concubine’s quarters, his dreams filled with the congratulatory voices of Imperial Court officials.

“Father, Father,” came a voice.

The voices in his dream were so vivid that Tang Gang turned over, but the calls of “Father” kept circling his ears. The concubine opened her eyes, pricked up her ears for two more calls, then roused him.

He sat up, face dark, and demanded in a low voice: “What are you doing here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?”

Tang Mo answered with perfect seriousness: “I am, of course, here to have Father give me an explanation.”