Chapter 341

Chapter 342: The Path Tang Gang Chose for Tang Rong

Several people followed Tang Rong’s gaze and looked over. In their line of sight, a crowd of young men were laughing and joking, and those lads faintly took Tang Mo as their lead.

Tang Yu said with a chuckle: “Say what you will, the second boy’s looks are truly outstanding. The eldest is gentle and modest, the second is cheerful and lively. The two brothers are both first-rate talents.”

If a single person liked to draw close to Tang Mo there might be various explanations; but when lads great and small all liked him, it could only mean he had the ability to win people’s confidence.

Someone added approvingly: “I heard his recent assignments have been especially eye-catching. It really is like father, like son.”

Wei Liang Cai sighed deeply. People said first you married, then you built your career, but not everyone who married could truly establish themselves. One did not grow a brain just by marrying; the foolish remained foolish. Tang Mo had truly stood on his own feet, which showed he had married very well. He could not help feeling a touch of pity for Tang Rong; the girl chosen personally by the Old Marquis would hardly have been lacking.

Tang Gang’s mood eased a little, and there was a shade more appreciation in the way he looked at Tang Mo. He said with restrained pride: “That boy must not be overpraised. Lately I cannot quite take the measure of his temper. The Northern Garrison Army really did change him a great deal. I hope this momentum lasts long, and that he does not give up halfway.”

“With you keeping an eye on him, there will be no problem. I do not think this is a passing fancy,” Tang Yu replied.

Tang Yu hoped the few lads he had brought along could spend more time with Tang Mo. Leaving other things aside, learning simply to endure hardship would be enough for them.

Tang Rong smiled, but not from the heart. The topic he had tossed out had been caught, yet none of this matched his expectations. [He had imagined that Tang Gang would take the initiative to bring up securing him a post after the holiday, or simply let him succeed to the marquisate at once.]

He said warmly, “The more outstanding Second Brother becomes, the happier I am as his elder brother. I had thought, since my health is unwell and I cannot for the moment share Father’s burdens, that now Second Brother can help, and that makes me feel much relieved. Father, this year please include Second Brother in the household’s discretionary fund as well.”

By “discretionary fund” he meant the special sum the household set aside for those who traveled on business outside, to cover gifts and social exchanges. In the past, only Tang Gang and Tang Rong had shares.

Seeing his son’s gentle gaze and just-right smile, Tang Gang would once have been pleased with such magnanimity, yet now he felt a faint alarm, as if he had never truly seen the son he himself had raised. [Had I never seen clearly this son I raised with my own hands?]

“This your mother will arrange,” Tang Gang said evenly. “As for you, I see your injury has mostly healed. What plans have you for after the New Year?” [He wondered whether the forthright, aboveboard Tang Rong had, after successive setbacks, lost his balance. If he gave him a post, would he feel better and stop thinking thoughts he ought not to think?]

Tang Rong kept his mild smile as he answered, “I still wish to seek an assignment, only I have not yet decided where.”

“What about being posted outside?” Tang Gang suggested. [Since the two sons cannot live long under one roof, then separate them. When Tang Rong has honed himself and succeeded, I will slowly hand over the marquisate’s affairs to him, and later pull Tang Mo up as well and send him out. I have only these two sons; I must keep them both.]

“I fear it would be unsuitable for me to be posted outside for the time being,” Tang Rong replied, looking troubled. “Yiran is with child, and the baby is still small. Not to mention that she cannot follow me to be tossed about; if she remains at home, I will not be at ease.”

What he said was true, but Tang Gang did not see it that way. [Tao Yi Ran is of no use; Tang Rong cannot draw the least support from his wife’s family. The two concubines in his courtyard are likewise useless. It would be best to take another secondary consort of good standing. Since I have cherished this son for so many years, I must think everything through for him. I will choose the daughter of a minor official, a woman with some means, clever and not muddleheaded, and bring her directly to his post. Besides attending to his daily life, she can also help Tang Rong manage both inside and out. Half of Tang Mo’s present success is thanks to Xin An; the importance of a woman in the inner court is ever clearer to me.]

“Consider the matter of an external posting carefully,” he advised aloud. “After you gain experience and come back to the capital, compare it with staying in the capital all along and see which suits you better.”

[Tang Mo cannot leave for the moment, so only Tang Rong can go. I am truly frightened, frightened that the two brothers will, in the end, both be hurt. Besides, Tang Rong’s reputation is now in tatters. If he goes out for three years and returns, the people in the capital will have long forgotten the past. Should he achieve some merit in office, he will be entirely different when he comes back. This is far better than remaining in the capital. At present, how could I even secure him some fine post here?]

A pity that Tang Rong could not understand his painstaking intentions. He only felt that the cold-hearted man, seeing him no longer useful, was discarding him first; [in his eyes now there was only Tang Mo.]

“I will weigh it carefully,” Tang Rong said smoothly. “I am obliged to Father for your concern.”

Tang Gang raised his teacup and said, “You and I are father and son. I, of course, should think more on your behalf.”

Tang Rong looked deeply moved, but inwardly he was dismissive. Wei Liang Cai, however, felt that Tang Gang’s proposal was very sound. Going out to gain experience was the best path to promotion. With a father like Tang Gang, so long as Tang Rong did not commit a mistake, it would be easy to scrape together some achievements. After three years he would certainly return to a good post; that was the benefit of having a powerful backing. Yet in his view, this nephew would likely be unwilling.

In the distance the lads’ laughter rolled on without end, with Wei Chuan Zong laughing loudest of all. He had just scored a hit in Pitch Pot and leaped three feet high. Wei Liang Cai smiled and shook his head toward Tang Gang, as if to say: you see, this is exactly why I want to take him away with me.

Tang Gang smiled too, only the smile did not reach his eyes. Of those present, perhaps only Tang Yu and the Grand Matron’s nephew from her natal family, the Zhou family’s eldest son, were smiling from the heart.

Whether or not she had the favor of the gods, that afternoon Madam Wang’s luck returned. Not only did she win back all the silver she had lost in the morning, she even ended up winning two taels off Madam Zhang, while Madam Zhao and the Grand Matron lost the most.

In excellent spirits, Madam Wang, seeing the hour was about right, began to organize the New Year’s Eve dinner. When all the dishes had been set on the table and everyone had taken their seats, no one picked up chopsticks.

That day someone had come from the palace, saying that in the evening His Majesty the Emperor would bestow dishes. The imperial favor was vast, and everyone was jubilant.

Before long the serving lad who had gone to inquire came back to report: “Reporting to the masters, the dishes from the palace have already left the palace.”

Tang Gang rose slowly and tugged his robe straight: “I must ask you all to come with me to receive them.”

To receive dishes from His Majesty the Emperor meant that His Majesty recognized Tang Gang’s ability to carry out assignments that year; it was a commendation and an honor for him.

After about the time it takes to burn half a stick of incense, the imperial envoy entered the marquis’s residence. When everyone had arranged themselves with Tang Gang at the head, the envoy spoke: “By oral decree of His Majesty the Emperor: he bestows upon Marquis of Weiyuan Tang Gang one portion of lotus root tofu-skin rolls, meaning reunion and togetherness; and he bestows upon Deputy Commander of the Northern Garrison Army Tang Mo Three Delicacy Egg Custard, meaning to rise steadily.”

They received the dishes and offered thanks for the imperial grace.

Tang Mo was wide-eyed with surprise. He had thought this year would be the same as past years, with only the old man receiving a portion. How was it that he heard his own name?

Tang Nan nudged him. Coming back to himself, Tang Mo smiled, stepped forward, respectfully took the food box, and gave thanks.