Chapter 291

Chapter 292: Can’t You Be Proper

Luo Qi Wen was short on money. The silver he had earned from the Tao family, after paying off debts, had all gone into improving his household and buying many books for his career. With year’s end approaching, his purse felt tight. Tang Mo gave him a way to make money and even promised that all the silver would be his, so [of course he took the job].

Cai Quan was so frightened he nearly wet himself. Luo Qi Wen set down his teacup and said: “Cai Quan, the heir apparent of the marquis’s household told you to hire a killer to murder the second young master in the residence. How is that task coming along?”

Cai Quan gaped, and someone at the side stepped up to kick him, saying: “Our boss gets the news; don’t act like you’ve never seen the world.”

Luo Qi Wen smiled and said: “If I tell this to the second young master, or directly to Marquis Weiyuan, what do you think will happen to you?”

Cai Quan blurted: “Good sirs, please spare me.” He could not understand how his secret had leaked, and he begged for mercy.

Luo Qi Wen said: “I seek only money. Work with me. The more you earn, the more silver I’ll have for the New Year.”

About the time it takes to burn two sticks of incense later, they pulled a sack off Cai Quan’s head and dropped him outside his mistress’s door, adding a threat: if he didn’t behave, they would report to the old Mrs. Cai that he had been stashing silver to keep a mistress.

As soon as the men left, the mistress came out wailing, then began persuading him to cooperate, saying: “You have already done what the heir apparent asked, and you can still earn the silver; isn’t that the best of both worlds? They’re only after money; even if they run into the heir apparent they won’t sell you out. Besides, if you really kill the second young master, the marquis could take the lives of your whole family. An unloved son is still a son. What, do you want me to live on thin air?”

Thinking of the humiliations he had suffered of late, Cai Quan gritted his teeth and agreed. He still had no idea who that masked lord was, yet the man could state the second young master’s movements for tomorrow with precision.

Sometime in the night, snow began to fall. It was the first snow of winter. Xin An opened the window for a moment, and Tang Mo pulled her back onto the bed, saying: “Aren’t you afraid of catching cold?”

She answered: “It was just for a moment; how could I, so easily?” A charcoal brazier glowed in the room, making it not too cold and not too hot. Tang Mo tugged the quilt up over them both and swept her into his arms with a big hand, sighing: “Truly warm.”

Xin An’s hand slipped, practiced, inside his underrobe to rest on the flesh at his waist, using his slightly cooler skin to warm her fingers. In the dead of winter, there was no better, more comfortable place to warm one’s hands.

Smiling, Tang Mo drew a small booklet from beneath the pillow and said: “I’ve got something good. Want to look at it together?”

She asked: “What is it?” He said: “A top-secret technique that keeps one clear-headed and radiant.” Curious, Xin An lifted her head from his chest and said: “Let me see.”

Tang Mo opened to the first page; Xin An glanced up and could not pretend not to understand, saying: “Can’t you be proper for once?”

Tang Mo laughed and said: “We’re already in bed, how proper can we be? You should have one like this among your dowry, right? I’ve never seen you bring it out. Don’t tell me you’ve been sneaking looks behind my back.”

Xin An fell silent. She did, in fact, possess this kind of pillow book about two people wrestling; not only did she have it, it was quite fine and much larger.

Holding her in his arms, Tang Mo said: “Come, let’s read mine first, and later yours. They’re delightful.” [What could Xin An do?] Blushing, she told herself she was a proper person even as she opened her eyes wide to look, and she looked quite carefully; [she could not hide the little, furtive curiosity in her heart].

Halfway through, Tang Mo tossed the booklet aside, pulled the quilt up to cover them both, and lowered his head to kiss her. Xin An did not play coy; she met him boldly and let herself fully enjoy the moment’s pleasure.

Outside, the snow fell ever heavier, while on the bed the two of them grew swiftly warmer.

After a night of indulgence, Xin An looked even more radiant the next morning. Chun Yang brought new winter clothes, along with a rabbit-fur scarf, a fox-fur cloak, and a hand warmer, all prepared early.

The instant she stepped outside, the biting cold wind made Xin An shiver. She said: “The weather was fine the other day; it didn’t feel so cold. How is it that one snowfall makes it this frigid?” The snow in the courtyard had already been swept clean, and only a thin layer clung to the eaves.

Auntie Cui Ping said: “The first snow is indeed a bit cold. You’ll adapt soon enough. Wait another half month for the big snow, now that is cold.”

Xin An strolled under the eaves and asked: “Are you all warm enough at night?” “We are,” came the reply. Nan Feng said that the charcoal could be kept burning until daybreak, adding: “Not only did the young madam give us a charcoal allowance, she also arranged new quilts for each of us. The beds are soft and warm, and it’s hard to get up in the morning. We can hardly bear to leave them.”

Xin An turned her head to tell Auntie Cui Ping: “Cold water chaps the hands. Through the winter, have the servants work with hot water. The small kitchen must keep hot water available at all times.”

Auntie Cui Ping said that Auntie Wang had already arranged it when she left: “We bought several hundred jin of low-grade charcoal specifically for warming water.” In her heart she thought that the attendants in this courtyard were truly fortunate to have such a generous mistress. For those who serve, who doesn’t get frostbite on their hands in winter? Only here did the brazier never go out and the hot water never run dry.

A maid from the front courtyard came to announce: “Young madam, Steward Yang from the estate has arrived.” Xin An said: “Please have Steward Yang take tea first.”

After the girl withdrew, Xin An asked Chun Yang: “Is the monthly pay prepared?” Chun Yang answered: “Prepared.”

She returned carrying a tray and accompanied Xin An to the front courtyard. Seeing Xin An, Steward Yang quickly set down his teacup and came forward to pay his respects, saying: “Greetings to the young madam.” Xin An said: “Please, be seated, Steward Yang.”

Steward Yang had come with good news: “The warmhouses the young madam ordered are built. The first batch of vegetables has come up. I brought some today for the young madam to see.” He lifted the cloth covering the basket to reveal neatly arranged, tender greens in several varieties.

Picking up some spinach to examine, Xin An said: “The color should be a bit deeper.” Steward Yang replied: “They can’t match what’s grown in season.” He added that, to make the vegetables more succulent, they would let them see the sun and feel a breeze when the weather was good.

Then he brought out another basket and said: “These I bought early this morning. To tell the truth, they don’t look as fresh and crisp as ours.” A small handful of spinach cost more than twenty times the seasonal price; Steward Yang felt both heartache and excitement.

Xin An ordered a brazier lit on the spot and had several greens blanched to compare their taste. She asked Steward Yang: “How many jin are in the first batch?” He said: “Second Young Madam gave plenty of capital, and we have the space. This batch comes to two to three hundred jin.”

Xin An said: “You’ve worked hard.” Building a warmhouse was no easy task, and managing the fire was difficult; someone had to watch it around the clock. Steward Yang bowed and said: “In winter the people on the estate are all idle. In previous years they went into the city to find work and earn a bit of silver. This year they helped build the warmhouses and now have income. Though it’s tiring, everyone is happy.”

Xin An smiled and said: “Carry a message back: this year, not only will there be New Year gifts, after we settle the profits from the vegetable sales after the holiday, there will be rewards for all.” Overjoyed, Steward Yang made a deep bow; such words filled not only the people below with energy, but even a steward like him.