Chapter 296

Chapter 297: Sooner or Later This Scoundrel Will Be the Death of Me

Wang Jin assented, and the gardener expressed his thanks again and again. Widely generous masters were hard to come by. His son had skill, and he himself was old; naturally he wanted to pull his son up. To be able to tend flowers for Young Madam long-term was an excellent post and enough for one man’s wages to support a whole family.

After looking over the flowers, Xin An spoke with Auntie Wang about the New Year gifts. Auntie Wang served tea and reported: “Young Madam may rest easy. The cloth shop will deliver the materials I ordered in three days, and I have already placed deposits with the pastry shop. Each household will also receive five jin of meat and half a jin of sugar, and in addition I have prepared handkerchiefs and silk flowers. They are all things that can be put to real use.”

“For the staff, the clerks at the shops will get three more chi of cloth and two jin of wine than the people on the estates. This was Steward Fang’s suggestion,” she added. “As for cash bonuses, Young Madam will have to decide.”

After sipping her tea, Xin An smiled: “With Aunt here, I have nothing to worry about. Have you been settling back in these last few days?”

“I have. It is busier than when I was at your side, Young Madam, but I feel steadier when busy,” Auntie Wang answered, her expression relaxed. “Is Cui Ping attending you well?”

“She is thorough, of course, but it is still not as good as having Aunt by my side. After all, she is not kin,” Xin An said.

These words brought a smile to Auntie Wang’s eyes. She said: “Cui Ping has vision and knows a great deal. As for the social exchanges among noble households, I do not match her. With her arranging these things for you, I am at ease. Besides, most matters are handled by Chun Yang and Chun Lv. Even if Cui Ping wanted to do something beyond her station, she could not.”

“I am thinking that Chun Yang and Chun Lv are coming to marriageable age. We should write to Madam to have Xia He and Xia Hua sent over. When Chun Yang and Chun Lv marry, those two must be lifted into the positions of chief maids.”

Xin An agreed. Attendants who serve close should indeed be brought up from young, and it was best if they came from her maiden family.

“Many things I had not anticipated, Aunt has helped me think through,” Xin An said. “We have been smooth enough these six months since coming to the capital. Only when the Xin Family is well will I be better, but the premise is that I first must steady myself.”

Auntie Wang added that in addition to maids they should call a few clever boys from Huaijiang: “Running errands, delivering messages, handling small matters, we cannot do without hands. Although there are Second Master’s men at your side, Young Madam, we are still rather stretched.”

“One step at a time,” Xin An said with a smile. “We must make sure the Xin Family has a place in the capital.”

She did not leave the Xin residence until the sun dipped behind the western hills. As soon as she entered the marquis’s residence, Steward Zhang came bustling up to say that Madam Zhang was demanding vegetables and accusing the household of treating relatives thinly: “The Marchioness personally went to Chun Hua Courtyard and told the Heir Apparent to handle the matter.”

“The Heir Apparent sent people out to buy vegetables and said there would be no shortage day to day,” he added.

Xin An paused and said: “Thank you for telling me, Steward Zhang.”

“And I must thank Second Young Madam for sending vegetables,” he said with a grin. Without telling him in advance, they had been delivered straight to his home. His old mother was delighted and had sent his nephew over specially to have him thank Second Young Madam.

“It was only a few vegetables, not worth thanking,” Xin An said. “In future, if the Grand Matron at your home wants a change of taste, bring some back directly from the residence. There is no need to come to Qiu Shi Courtyard to ask.”

“Ah, thank you, Second Young Madam,” said Steward Zhang, more eager than ever. He told Xin An several more matters of the household and only turned back at the gate of the inner courtyard.

When Tang Mo returned to the residence, Steward Zhang courteously invited him to Tang Gang’s study. As soon as he crossed the threshold, Tang Mo dropped into a seat, reached sideways to pour himself tea, took a drink, and then met his father’s angry stare: “Father called me here just to glare at me? Are you practicing the art of the glare?”

“You are insolent!” Tang Gang came around the desk, pointed a finger at him, and said: “You scoundrel, I see you no longer know who you are. Who permitted you to be so slovenly?”

Tang Mo lifted his hand and gently pushed the pointing finger aside: “I am already very proper. Father does not know how rough the men of the Northern Garrison Army are. Before you see the man, you hear three great laughs. They neither sit nor stand properly, and their tongues always move faster than their brains. If you saw them a few more times, you would know how well-behaved your son is.”

“Father may as well treat his son as a rough fellow,” he added with a grin. “Between father and son, why be so formal and distant? Your son admires you the most.”

Tang Gang drew a deep breath and thought, his temper rising: [Sooner or later this scoundrel will be the death of me.] He said curtly: “Less nonsense. I do not believe a single word you say.” Inwardly he conceded, a little helplessly: [So be it, he is a rough one.]

Crossing one ankle over his knee, Tang Mo said lazily: “If you do not believe me, why call me here? What is the matter, exactly?”

Just looking at his unserious posture made Tang Gang feel he could not be relied upon. Then he thought that, reliable or not, he had to rely on him now. He was at least more dependable than Tang Rong. He said: “Go back and change your clothes. Come with me to a banquet tonight.”

“A banquet?” Tang Mo waved both hands and protested: “I cannot. I am poor in letters and lacking in martial skill. How could I follow Father to a banquet and make you lose face? Better to let big brother go. I hear he has been pacing around his courtyard, idle and bored, and bathing three times a day. The people in Chun Hua Courtyard spend the whole day boiling water.”

“Scoundrel, when I say go, you go. Why so much talk? Be off with you,” Tang Gang snapped, glaring, whiskers practically bristling.

Tang Mo put on a mock-scared face: “Since Father forces me, even if I do not want to go, I must go. After all, I am your prized son at the moment.” He added as he backed out: “Wait for me. I will be right back.”

Outside the door he laughed, feeling uncommonly pleased. [How satisfying. I just love seeing the old man jump with rage. Who knew that getting along in a different way could be this much fun.]

Learning that he was to attend a drinking banquet, Xin An had people bring him a newly made outfit, and she told him about the vegetables. Tang Mo understood at once and said that otherwise why would his father suddenly think of taking him out drinking; this had always been Tang Rong’s privilege. He cupped Xin An’s face and planted a cherish­ing kiss. Only after a long moment did he release her: “You are beautiful and fragrant and so clever. I want to tie you to my belt and take you wherever I go.”

Carrying the clothes, Chun Yang entered, head lowered, tittering. She set the garments down and said with a smile: “Young Madam, the clothes have arrived,” then withdrew, still smiling.

Xin An gave Tang Mo a light punch: “That was rash of you. Now look.”

Tang Mo hugged her and stole another kiss: “I dote on my wife. How was that rash?”

Xin An pushed him toward the screen: “Hurry and change. Otherwise Father will kick you again.”

When Tang Mo came out from behind the screen, Xin An’s eyes lit up. She circled him once and said: “Truly, a Buddha needs gold and a man needs clothes. I had this outfit made to aim for grandeur and dignity. You look much more aristocratic in it. If you put on a proper air, people will praise you as a gentleman, upright and refined.”

“Good-looking,” she concluded.

Admiring himself in the mirror, Tang Mo turned left and right, the corners of his mouth lifting high: “I should not wear this tonight. It would be perfect to wear to a banquet another day.”

“Banquets have their own attire,” Xin An said.

She stepped up to straighten his clothes, then took two steps back and nodded with satisfaction: “Exceptionally handsome.”

He was just about to step in to hug and kiss her again when Chun Lv brought in a bowl of hot soup. Xin An handed it to him and said: “A formula mixed by Qin Bo, to protect the liver. Best to drink before wine. Drink.”

Delighted, Tang Mo thought with pride: [I now have a wife who cares for me at all times.] His heart bloomed, and when he went to see Tang Gang he still wore a cheerful smile.