Chapter 313

Chapter 314: Tao Yi Ran is not a generous person

[Tang Gang once again congratulated himself on the Tang family’s fine bloodline, and he thought that if the three girls listened to Madam Zhang and dressed themselves drably, that would not be beautiful.]

Tang Gang said: “Frugality is a virtue, but there is no need to take it too far; the girls of our Tang family should of course have good food, clothing, and daily use. Later, have the second daughter-in-law take the three girls to choose some fine materials for new dresses, so that during the festivals they can go along to the banquets.”

[Although he had never said it aloud, in his heart he approved of Xin An’s style of dress: appropriate, dignified, and sumptuous, the very look of a lady from a wealthy household, and not ostentatious at banquets.]

[He also thought the two girls of the Wei family going out to banquets and, like the eldest daughter-in-law, performing music and song was not presentable, all in an eager-to-show-off way.]

[In his eyes, girls raised in the inner chambers should be precious and reserved; only thus are they valuable.]

[It was like doing business: powder and jewelry are capital. With little capital you cannot fetch a high price; with more capital, people see the worth at a glance. The comparison might be inelegant, but this is how most great households act.]

Madam Zhao said: “We have troubled their second sister-in-law enough as it is. The girls also brought fabric of their own. If it is not enough, I will take them out to buy more.”

Tang Gang replied: “It is no trouble. There are still some bolts in the household storeroom, all sent by the cloth shop some time ago. I will pick a few bright, fine pieces and send them to Ning Xiang Courtyard. The second daughter-in-law has some fashionable patterns and dress cuts; copying those will also look excellent.”

Madam Zhao led the three girls to give thanks, smiling from ear to ear, and even shot Madam Zhang a triumphant glance. Kin are not all the same; there is near and far, and they were the ones truly considered family.

Madam Zhang nearly ground her yellowed teeth to bits and could no longer sit still; making an excuse, she turned and left.

Still smiling, Madam Wang grew ever more delighted with the sight of the three well-behaved girls; to the five boys and three girls she said: “Your eldest sister-in-law is with child, and Cousin Rong is not feeling entirely well. In a while I will take you to Chunhua Garden to pay respects to your Cousin Rong and your sister-in-law.”

[Tang Gang was very satisfied with Madam Wang’s arrangement; after all, Tang Rong was the marquisate’s Heir Apparent and ought not be overlooked.]

Tang Yu nodded, and he said to Madam Zhao: “I still have things to discuss with the Marquis. You take the children over, and deliver the New Year gifts prepared for our two nephews as well.”

Hearing that they had even prepared New Year gifts especially for Tang Rong and Tang Mo, Tang Gang felt they were being too polite, and he said: “It should be the juniors who honor you; how is it that you keep thinking of them?”

He spoke thus, yet he was pleased in his heart, feeling the clan had made him look good.

After some courtesies, Tang Yu stayed behind to speak with Tang Gang. As an elder, he should of course await Tang Rong’s call of respect; Madam Zhao’s going to see Tang Rong, on the other hand, showed an elder’s care. One could say this couple truly knew how to conduct themselves.

On the way, Madam Zhao admonished the juniors: “The capital is colder than our hometown in winter; if the brazier coal in your rooms is insufficient, send someone to tell me. Wear enough layers; do not sacrifice warmth for looks and catch a chill…”

She kept reminding them like this, making the younger ones feel she was a broad-hearted person. Madam Zhao herself spoke with them warmly, and before long they reached Chun Hua Courtyard. Before they even entered, they heard Auntie Cai shouting at someone inside. Ping Qiu hastened in, and the courtyard soon fell quiet. Only then did Madam Wang lead everyone through the gate.

Tang Rong had already come out from the house. He stepped forward and bowed to Madam Zhao, saying: “Your nephew pays respects to Eldest Aunt. Eldest Aunt has come all this way, and your nephew failed to go out far to welcome you; I beg your pardon.”

Madam Zhao said with a smile: “Do not stand on ceremony; we are all one family, there is no need for such formality. I heard you were injured; are you better now?”

Tang Rong said he was almost recovered: “Many thanks for Eldest Aunt’s concern. Eldest Aunt and younger cousins, please come inside.”

Tang Nan led his younger brothers and sisters to pay respects to Tang Rong. Tao Yi Ran also came out. After a few polite exchanges, everyone went in and took their seats.

Tang Rong naturally displayed the bearing and propriety of the marquisate’s Heir Apparent: his words were pleasant and his courtesy thorough.

Madam Zhao had the gifts for Tang Rong brought forward, and she said: “I do not know whether you will like these; they were prepared according to your past preferences.”

There were books and jades, and in addition a banknote of two thousand taels. Tang Rong and Tao Yi Ran rose to give thanks, after which Tang Rong signaled to Tao Yi Ran that she should present meeting gifts to the younger brothers and sisters.

When Tang Gang learned the clan members were already on the road, he had told Tang Rong so he could prepare. After returning, Tang Rong had instructed Tao Yi Ran, and Tao Yi Ran had in turn ordered Auntie Liu to see to it.

[Short on funds, Tang Rong had not given money, and since Tao Yi Ran was unwilling to supplement from her own purse, she gathered some things from the storeroom instead: for the lads, brushes, ink, and inkstones; for the girls, plain cloth and two hairpins with simple designs.] When these were brought out, Tang Rong’s face darkened for an instant. He immediately patched it over, and he said: “We did not correctly anticipate Eldest Uncle and Eldest Aunt’s exact day of arrival. The headpieces made for the younger sisters have not yet been delivered. When the jewelry shop sends them over, I will have them sent along to the three younger sisters.”

Still smiling, Madam Zhao helped him save face, and she said: “You two should be recovering, one nursing a pregnancy and one a wound. You ought to rest properly. Having you worry over us makes us feel guilty.”

She added: “I hear there is a new little son. Is he in the courtyard?”

Tao Yi Ran said the baby had not yet been brought back to the rooms, and she said: “I will send someone to fetch him at once.”

“Do not,” Madam Zhao stopped her, saying: “It is cold and windy. Carrying him back and forth may chill him. I will go see him myself tomorrow.”

She had not known there was a child, and so had not prepared a gift suitable for meeting him; seeing the infant without a gift would be awkward.

After a few more words, Madam Wang rose and said that a welcome banquet had been set in the front courtyard that evening, and she asked the two to come make merry.

Tang Rong escorted the party to the gate and, only after watching them enter the doors of Qiu Shi Courtyard, did he turn back. He ordered Auntie Cai to leave through the side gate and go to the jewelry shop to commission headpieces at once, and he naturally reproached Tao Yi Ran as well. Tao Yi Ran said her hands were not free with money, and she asked whether Tang Rong could use the dowry left by his birth mother.

She said: “Year-end expenses are heavy, and we have received no extra allowance. Next, did not my lord say you must also go to see friends? You cannot go empty-handed.”

This time, the already-about-to-depart Auntie Cai was frightened. She had originally only intended to take one or two items from the chest, but once she started she could not stop and had taken seven or eight pieces already; once the chest was opened, anyone would be able to tell. She hurried forward to dissuade them, and she said: “What Madam left for the Heir Apparent must be kept well and should not be touched unless there is truly no alternative. The young lady’s dozen or so trunks, I see, have not even been opened. Husband and wife are one body; taking out a few items to help arrange matters for the Heir Apparent would not be amiss.”

If it had been a few months earlier, Tao Yi Ran would naturally have agreed. In any case, she had not cared for those gold and silver things. But now she no longer had much feeling for Tang Rong, and so she meant to keep hold of her dowry. To say nothing of anything else, the winter charcoal had been bought from her own purse; how could she let Tang Rong use it?

Tao Yi Ran said calmly: “If it is needed, then open the storeroom and take what you like.”

[Tang Rong was short of money and naturally thought of her dowry, but how could he so easily nod to that?] He said: “Even if I am temporarily short, how could I use my wife’s dowry? There is no need. I will find a way myself; even if it is somewhat difficult, it does not matter.”

[He thought that Tao Yi Ran would be moved and then bring it out of her own accord to persuade him to accept. Was that not how the previous famille rose vase had come to him?]