Chapter 309

Chapter 310: The Promising Sons of the Clan

Madam Wang straightened her clothes and rose, saying: “You two will come with me to receive them.” Tao Yi Ran and Xin An also stood and followed behind her.

At the main gate of the marquis’s residence, the Tang family’s eldest master, Tang Yu, lifted his gaze to the imposing doors. He looked at the plaque with its gilt characters and felt a surge of emotion in his chest: [His heart surged.]

Beside him stood his wife, Madam Zhao. She was not tall, with features that suggested good fortune, broad shoulders and a sturdy back; when she smiled, she looked festive and kind, the creases at the corners of her eyes smoothing. At a glance one could tell she had lived comfortably and had not suffered hardship.

The juniors of their household behind them could not help but look around as well. The Tang family was from the southeast, in Wei Prefecture. Owing to its connection to the marquis’s house, the Tang family was a great clan locally, rich and honored and not lacking for worldly experience. Yet compared with the splendor of the capital, it was still another matter.

Recognizing him at once, Madam Wang greeted them warmly, saying: “Eldest Brother, Sister-in-law, you have come?” A few years earlier Tang Yu had been to the capital and had met Madam Wang. By age he was a good ten years older than Tang Gang, and naturally looked older as well. Madam Wang added with a smile: “As soon as I received your letter, I counted the days and thought you should be arriving soon. Please, come in quickly.”

The gate was no place to chat. After a brief exchange of courtesies, the party entered. Tao Yi Ran and Xin An waited behind the screen wall and, as soon as the group came in, they both curtseyed to offer greetings, saying: “Greetings, Eldest Uncle.”

Every gaze fell upon the two young women, eyes bright with admiration. The three young ladies who had come along, in particular, had thought themselves quite outstanding, but standing before these two, their confidence suddenly wavered.

Madam Wang introduced them with a smile, saying: “These are my two daughters-in-law. This is the elder daughter-in-law; her maiden surname is Tao. This is the second daughter-in-law; her maiden surname is Xin.”

Tang Yu nodded and voiced his approval, though it was not his place to say much. Madam Zhao proceeded to praise them at length. After mutual courtesies, Madam Wang led the whole group with her two daughters-in-law to Chun Rong Hall to pay respects to the Grand Matron.

Walking at her side, Madam Zhao asked with easy familiarity: “How is Grand Matron?”

Madam Wang replied with warmth: “Mother is well in all things, only thinking of you all. Just yesterday she was speaking of you. Once she sees you, I cannot say how delighted she will be.”

Smoothing her sleeves and then adjusting her coiffure, Madam Zhao said: “We have come off a dusty road. We should wash and tidy ourselves before paying respects, so we do not commit a discourtesy, should we not?”

At her words, the juniors behind them tugged at their clothes and touched their hairpins, a little flustered. Madam Wang halted and reassured them, saying: “Grand Matron is the kindest of people. Knowing you have arrived, she will be impatient to see you and will not think it a discourtesy. She will only feel distressed that you have suffered on the road.”

She added with calm efficiency: “I had your courtyards prepared long ago. I have just sent someone to sweep them again, to drive out the chill with charcoal braziers, and to boil hot water and prepare light refreshments. After you pay respects to Grand Matron, we will go over just in time.”

Madam Zhao exclaimed with sincere appreciation: “Sister-in-law, you are truly thorough.” In that instant she took a genuine liking to Madam Wang. If Madam Wang had shut her eyes and said they were not at all disheveled and perfectly presentable, she would not have believed it; to say Grand Matron would feel sorry for their hardship felt utterly different: [She thought, if Madam Wang had pretended they were perfectly composed, she would never have believed it; hearing that Grand Matron would feel for their hard journey, she felt entirely at ease.]

They had really hurried to the capital to borrow influence; though they said they dared not delay, in truth they had rushed, prepared to be looked down upon by the marquis’s household. Now, welcomed so warmly by Madam Wang with talk of driving out the chill and boiling water, they felt settled at heart.

Soon they reached Chun Rong Hall. Smiling as she entered, Madam Wang announced: “Mother, the clan members have arrived. Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law have brought them.”

Tang Yu and his wife led the juniors to perform great obeisance to the Grand Matron. She extended a hand in a light gesture to lift them, saying: “Quickly, be at ease. We are one family and need not stand on such ceremony.”

She looked at Tang Yu and said with affection: “It has been many years. Yuge, you look even more discerning now.”

Tang Yu straightened, smiling a little sheepishly as he said: “Aunt, I have grown old.”

She laughed, replying: “Before your aunt, you are quite young.”

The Old Marquis and Tang Yu’s father were first cousins, with a considerable age difference between them, so the Grand Matron was only a little more than ten years older than Tang Yu. Well preserved as she was, when she faced Tang Yu the two looked almost like people of the same generation.

Exchanging a few polite words with the Grand Matron, Madam Zhao then turned to the juniors and instructed them cheerfully, saying: “Step forward one by one and tell your Great-Aunt who you are, who your parents are, and what you do at home.”

Sons must strive for advancement; daughters must strive for good matches. The first impression they made on the Grand Matron mattered greatly. A well-featured youth of sixteen or seventeen stepped forward and made a cupped-fist bow, saying: “I pay my respects to Great-Aunt. My given name is the single character Nan, as in the nan-bamboo. I am sixteen and already hold the rank of provincial graduate. My father’s name is Tang You.”

“ Tang Nan?” The Grand Matron thought for a moment, then understood and looked toward Tang Yu, saying: “Is this your younger son?”

Tang Yu nodded with pride and answered: “It is. This boy has a bit of talent for study and works fairly hard. We are waiting for the spring examination next year under the Imperial Examinations. If he can make the list, it will not have wasted his years of hard study.”

“Good, good, good,” the Grand Matron said with delight. She liked this clear-featured junior who could read, and she beckoned: “Come forward and let your Great-Aunt have a look.”

Xin An saw the joy in the Grand Matron’s eyes and fully understood her thoughts at that moment: [In her previous life, when she was older, she too liked to look at handsome young men; though she would not say so aloud, she secretly delighted in it.]

“What is this child’s elder brother doing?” the Grand Matron asked.

Tang Yu replied that Tang Nan’s elder brother was already married with two children and helped manage the clan’s enterprises. The Grand Matron said with some regret: “He should have come as well.”

“There will be an opportunity later,” Tang Yu answered.

Another youth stepped forward and said with a bow: “I pay my respects to Great-Aunt. I am Tang Hua, the hua of birch. I am sixteen and also hold the rank of provincial graduate. My father is Tang An, and at home I manage the fields.”

The Grand Matron was surprised and asked: “You are also a provincial graduate?”

“Yes, Great-Aunt,” he answered.

Tang Yu chuckled and supplied: “He is my younger brother’s grandson. Quick-witted and clever, but a bit mischievous.”

The Grand Matron kept her kindly smile, but in her heart she felt a jolt: [The clan had produced provincial graduates, and she had not known a thing about it.]

The next three lads were Tang Chu, Tang Xu, and Tang Qi. They were younger, but even the youngest was already fourteen, and Tang Chu was a xiucai. It was clear the Tang family had truly selected the most promising members of the clan to come this time.

The girls then announced themselves one after another: “Great-Aunt, I am Tang Quan’er.”

“Great-Aunt, I am Tang Fei’er.”

“Great-Aunt, I am Tang Ke’er.”

These three, at fourteen or fifteen, were delicate and lovely and had not yet been betrothed. Seeing them, the Grand Matron smiled so broadly that two more lines seemed to gather at the corners of her eyes, though she sighed inwardly: [Her earlier worries had been unnecessary. She did not wish to scheme over the girls’ marriages, yet she could not prevent these lasses, or their families, from aiming higher.]

Once everyone had been introduced, Madam Wang silently allowed them the time it takes to burn half a stick of incense to converse. When the time was up, she rose with a smile and said: “Mother, Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law have come a long way and must be tired. Why don’t I take them now to settle in and wash. This evening we will hold a family banquet so our whole household can talk properly.”

The Grand Matron nodded with a smile, saying: “You are always so thoughtful. Do as you propose.”

Tang Yu, Madam Zhao, and the others stood to take their leave of the Grand Matron. Madam Wang and Xin An led them away to be lodged in Ning Cui Courtyard and Fragrant Heights Court.

When Madam Zhang learned that the two daughters-in-law had received them with such heartfelt care, the contrast with her own manner was too stark; she nearly cracked one of her yellowed teeth in fury.