Chapter 318

Chapter 319: Madam Zhang’s Thick Skin

Seeing Tang Rong still seated, Madam Zhang launched into a second round of chatter, the gist being that his mother had died early, their Wei family was not valued, and by association Tang Rong himself suffered grievances. As she spoke, she watched his expression closely.

Tang Rong’s smile did not reach his eyes as he said in a conciliatory tone: “Girls all love beauty. Who could look at bright fabrics and jewelry and not like them? The two cousins have come, and my wife and I ought to take extra care of them. Let them choose together today so that they will be presentable during the New Year festivities.” Since the money would have to be spent, the polite words should also be in place; spending the money and still offending people would be a loss. He rose and said: “Maternal Aunt, please wait a moment. I will go speak with Yiran.”

Madam Zhang was delighted inside, though outwardly she protested in quick succession: “Child, why be so polite? We are family. How could Maternal Aunt quibble with you? Do not trouble your wife. People might say your two sisters are shallow and take a dislike to them.”

Since Tang Rong had already stood up, he would not sit back down. He answered smoothly: “Maternal Aunt, not at all. Please wait just a moment. I will be right back.”

Tao Yi Ran was eating bird’s nest when she heard what Tang Rong said. She set down the bowl, brow faintly furrowed, and asked coolly: “How could they be so lacking in propriety?” She thought, displeasure cold and sharp: [So they really came to sponge, and even had the nerve to ask to our faces.]

Tang Rong handed her a banknote for two hundred taels and said, practical and grim: “There are things we will need Maternal Aunt to do later, so consider this a sweetener. Please trouble yourself to make a trip.” That money had come from Madam Zhao. Thinking of that made him all the more resentful of the Wei family. [Uncle only wants to protect himself, Maternal Aunt is insatiable, and then there is the Tao family. It seems I encounter nothing but the worst.]

Tao Yi Ran said bluntly that two hundred would not be enough: “The fabrics and jewelry that can be delivered to the marquis’s manor are all top grade, and there will be one or two rare pieces among them. If the cousins take a fancy to those, what then? Since they can open their mouths to ask, do you expect them to know their place and not choose the expensive ones?”

It had to be said that, with no chance to make further mischief and having lost interest in Tang Rong, Tao Yi Ran had begun to think more clearly. She asked, brisk and pointed: “Maternal Aunt will certainly follow along and will be sure to choose several items for herself. Do I agree or not?”

Tang Rong had not considered that. The people he dealt with in the past had at least maintained a show of shame, but his Maternal Aunt might indeed pick the priciest pieces. That would bleed him white. He asked, giving up on pride: “How much would be appropriate?”

Tao Yi Ran said to prepare two thousand taels, then immediately felt a twist of discomfort at the idea of spending that money on the Wei family. A spark of inspiration flashed, and she proposed: “The shops your second sister-in-law called over may not have brought enough stock for this. Better to send Qing Mo to invite two more shops and instruct them properly. That way we can control how much is spent. It will also look more sincere.” She thought, dryly satisfied: [That would be summoned specifically for the Wei family. Is that not attention enough?]

At that, the tightness in Tang Rong’s chest eased sharply. He looked at Tao Yi Ran with genuine approval and said: “You always have a way.”

The two of them had a decent plan, but they could not outpace Madam Zhang’s calculations. She figured that the merchants called by that nouveau riche Xin An would certainly bring the best goods. After all, Xin An did not lack money. Tao Yi Ran, however, was stingy and might even have warned the shop in advance to send cheaper stock. After some back-and-forth, Tang Rong had no choice but to hand over the full two thousand taels that Madam Zhao had given him to Tao Yi Ran. Only after he added a few more polite phrases did Madam Zhang finally look satisfied; her mouth was full of courtesies, but the smile in her eyes never faded.

Tao Yi Ran was speechless and said she would change clothes before going out. Auntie Liu stepped up to advise her, murmuring that she should present herself magnanimously and say a few polite lines. She added, voice lowered: “I overheard a couple of her remarks just now, and they match her background exactly.” She had learned that Madam Zhang’s mother had been a concubine and that Madam Zhang herself was concubine-born. She explained with blunt practicality: “Women in the concubine’s position have to use tricks to get what they want. Habits formed from childhood are hard to change, even if she is now an official’s wife. Fortunately, they are leaving on the third day of the New Year and will not be around long. Please bear with it and do not offend her.”

Tao Yi Ran did not want to deal with her at all and agreed that offending her would be unwise. She said with cool restraint: “Say that I am not feeling well, and you speak more in a moment.” “Yes,” Auntie Liu answered, quietly resigned. She thought, relieved in a small way: [Life is easier now that Tao Yi Ran is not as fond of stirring up trouble as before and is content to enjoy herself. It makes serving her far simpler.]

Urged on by Madam Zhang, Tao Yi Ran had to quicken her steps, and soon they reached Ning Xiang Courtyard, just as the shopkeepers were arriving at the gates of the marquis’s manor. After greetings, Madam Zhang smiled and explained, sounding full of good humor: “When my niece-in-law heard fabrics were being delivered, she could not sit still, and she proposed choosing a few bolts and some jewelry for her two cousins as well. We had planned to summon additional shopkeepers, but that would be troublesome, so we thought it best to do it together.”

Neither Madam Wang nor Xin An minded at all; in fact, they both had a look of enjoying the spectacle. Madam Zhao, however, was astonished at the thickness of Madam Zhang’s skin. She thought, caustic and clear: [The Wei family does not seem poor. With someone as shallow and grasping as Madam Zhang following her husband to his post, will she not try to line her pockets?]

The sight of Madam Zhang’s beaming face and eager hands made Tao Yi Ran feel a tight blockage in her chest. In her mind, Tang Rong’s standing, already on a steep decline, fell through the floor. She thought, a bitter flick of contempt: [What sort of relatives are these?]

The two shopkeepers were not new to the marquis’s manor. After entering and bowing, they laid out their goods on the tables and began to pitch with silver tongues. The three girls liked this and that, but all within measure. They consulted one another and each chose two bolts of fabric. Xin An rose smiling and chose one good bolt more for each of them, then said gently: “With the fabric settled, choose the jewelry. Once everything is chosen, we will start taking measurements.”

The cloth shop’s shopkeeper promised to hurry: “It is a busy season around the New Year, and there are many orders. Even if we rush, we can only deliver by New Year’s Eve.” The jewelry shop’s shopkeeper added with a laugh: “The three young ladies can match your jewelry to the fabrics you just selected. To be frank with Second Young Madam, this batch is our final pre–New Year collection. Everything is here. We will be closed during the holiday, and when we reopen it will be with spring pieces.”

Xin An urged the three girls onward with a cheerful nod and instructed the shopkeepers to help keep an eye on things: “Price is secondary. What matters is what suits them.” “Second Young Madam, rest assured, we understand,” the shopkeepers replied. She was one of their biggest patrons; naturally, they would help with care.

When the jewelry was already being tried on the three girls, the Wei sisters were still standing motionless. Anxious, Madam Zhang snapped, prodding them forward: “What are you two doing just standing there? Go choose.” Inside, she fumed, petty and panicked: [Can you not see those three brats will soon pick the best pieces clean?]

The Wei sisters did not move. Though their sister-in-law’s face wore a smile, the scorn and disdain in her eyes were not concealed in the slightest, and the young girls were too thin-skinned to pretend they had not seen. Madam Zhang chuckled and rose, smoothing her expression as she said: “Girls are shy and easily embarrassed. I will help you choose.” Madam Zhao’s expression did not change. She could see that the two girls still possessed a sense of shame and cared about their dignity. Unfortunately, with a mother like Madam Zhang, that dignity was bound to be torn away.