Chapter 352

Chapter 353: Another Day of Learning

In Xin An’s view, Master Lin’s skill in cultivating flowers and plants surpassed even his father’s. As they walked, the flowers and shrubs throughout the residence looked particularly vibrant, and the several pots of red plum before her had real charm.

She immediately took a liking to one pot of plum. The basin was large, the branches thick, moss covered the soil, and two ceramic immortals sat on the green moss playing go, with a ceramic bridge beside them as a complement. It was quite amusing.

“When the red blossoms open and petals are scattered among them, it will have even more spirit,” said Master Lin, satisfied with his work.

Xin An liked it too, and she said: “Plant more in this style, each with a different posture and a different interest. There’s something to it.”

“Your craft is excellent.”

A thought flashed through her mind, and she asked: “Have you ever considered cultivating more flowers and then opening a shop in the city?”

“My lady means to establish a nursery and sell the flowers ourselves?” Master Lin was excited. He had of course entertained the idea, but a man bound by a deed of sale could not act freely. He was already very content with his present post; how would he dare think of anything beyond it?

Xin An said that he could select a plot on the estate devoted to flowers and plants: “Have your father help you manage it. I’ll lease a shop in the Flower and Bird Market and assign you a shopkeeper. You’ll be responsible for delivering arrangements to various households. I’ll give you thirty percent of the profits. How about it?”

With a thump, Master Lin dropped to his knees and said: “I will do exactly as my lady arranges.”

On his own, he could never have done it. Apart from being bound by contract, he had no land and no capital. Even if he opened a shop, to whom would he sell? With the young madam taking seventy percent and opening the market for him with a single word, how could the earnings be small? He would have agreed even to twenty percent. Even if he were given nothing, with his deed in her hands he would still have to do it.

“Then it’s settled,” Xin An said. “You and your father should take some time to return to the estate and choose a site. Ask Steward Zhao to help you produce a plan as soon as possible. Tell Steward Zhao I will take twenty percent of the profits to distribute among the estate workers. You two can decide which people can assist at the nursery. Once the plan is out, come to me for the startup funds.”

Master Lin rubbed his hands, overcome with excitement, and vowed to do his utmost. Xin An added: “From today, you are the nursery steward. Starting next month, your monthly pay will increase.”

“Though you’ll be busy with the nursery, you mustn’t let matters here slip. See that the few pots I want are arranged quickly,” she said.

Master Lin nodded repeatedly. Xin An assigned the task of selecting a storefront to Wang Jin and had Wang Fu temporarily take on the role of shop manager. As he was about to be married, she treated the appointment as a congratulatory gift; once he had gained experience, better positions would naturally await him.

After spending a little over an hour at the Xin Residence, she left. She had intended to stop by the Wan Yuan Trading House, but she had barely gone a few steps when a half-grown lad delivered a slip of paper to her. Reading the note, Xin An’s eyes dimmed. She then told Cao Gui to turn the horse toward a teahouse.

“At the foot of the stairs, wait for me,” she said.

At the teahouse entrance, Xin An lifted her eyes toward the second floor. Chun Yang was uneasy, and Cao Gui was not at ease either. He said: “Better let Miss Chun Yang go in with you and stand at the door. If anything happens, she can call out. I’ll be downstairs.”

It was not merely that he was loyal; to be honest, the Second Young Madam had given him so much that he had no desire to lose this post.

Xin An did not act high and mighty and said: “Do that.”

On the second floor, as Xin An reached the private room, the door opened. With a gentle, cultured smile, Tang Rong said: “I thought you wouldn’t come.”

“It seems Second Brother truly holds a different place in your heart,” he added.

Xin An stopped three steps from him and said: “You went to such lengths to invite me; I couldn’t very well disappoint you. I wonder what instruction Elder Brother has for me?”

“Must you and I be so distant?” Tang Rong asked, helpless, even with a touch of doting in his gaze that made Xin An shiver: [how creepy].

“I was presumptuous,” he said with a rueful smile. “I know that in your heart I’m probably not a good person. In the end, I wronged you.”

He took a sachet from his breast, carefully drew out a jade pendant, and looked up at Xin An as he asked: “Do you remember this?”

Xin An was silent. [That was the token her father gave as proof when Old Marquis and Tang Rong’s father arranged their betrothal. She had long since forgotten it. Why bring it out now, this scoundrel?]

She said with a cool smile: “The jade looks fine in quality, yet it’s rather ordinary. Elder Brother is the marquisate’s Heir Apparent with a splendid future. It’s best to wear fewer such plain pieces; otherwise people might think the marquisate has fallen on hard times.”

Tang Rong did not get angry. With a bitter curl of his lips, he said: “I used to think this jade was ordinary and unimportant. Later, the more I examined it, the more extraordinary it seemed, and I found I could not let it go.”

At that, Xin An nearly laughed aloud and thought: [I almost gagged up last night’s dinner.]

She said: “Good jade has a spirit. When Elder Brother disdained it back then, that spirit was likely lost. Now it’s just a pretty stone. Don’t waste your thoughts on it. If you feel regret, have Elder Sister-in-law find you some finer jade.”

Tang Rong extended the pendant to her and said: “The past was my fault, and I’ve received my retribution. Now things go poorly in all directions. I am to be assigned out of the capital; I’ll be gone three years. When I return, people and things will have changed. Let this jade return to its rightful owner.”

Xin An took it without ceremony, thinking: [It would be best if this thing shattered.]

She said: “Don’t speak as though you’re so pitiable. I pity the common folk under your jurisdiction. To meet a magistrate filled with resentment like you, who knows how much suffering they’ll endure.”

Tang Rong paused, seemingly surprised at the strength of her opinion. He reflected that since she had entered the household, they had not had much direct conflict. Aside from the matter of the exchanged marriage, he had not offended her otherwise. Perhaps Tang Mo was stirring the pot between them; he did not know how much ill had been spoken of him behind his back.

“It seems you misunderstand me deeply,” he said at last. “But that’s all right. With time, you’ll see I’m not as hateful as you imagine.”

“Today I invited you only to return the jade pendant,” he continued. “I didn’t return it to you at the marquisate because I feared Second Brother would misunderstand.”

“Second Brother, he…” He wore that same helpless look and said: “He has some misunderstandings about me. I see that he’s treated you well these days. I’m happy to know you’re doing well, but there’s something I want to tell you.”

He took a step closer and lowered his voice: “I originally thought Second Brother would vent his dislike of me on you. Now it seems that isn’t the case. Perhaps he wishes to use you to deal with me…”

With that air of difficulty and helplessness, if Xin An were not clear-headed, she might have been deceived. She thought: [Tang Mo really should come see this. All honeyed words and a look of sincerity. That composure is formidable.]

She said: “After all this, you mean that Tang Mo’s feelings for me are false, that what he wants is my dowry and my father’s wealth, and that he is even deliberately guiding me to hate you?”

Tang Rong did not deny it and said: “These are only my suspicions. I merely want you to be wary and guarded, not to believe whatever he says, and to protect yourself.”

“I’ll be away for three years and can’t look after you,” he added softly. “Take care.”

Xin An thought with dry humor: [Another day, another lesson. Is this the part where my heart should be moved and I should be deeply touched?]