Chapter 214: Chapter 213: The Relative Who Comes for a Handout
After dinner, the Maid told the young madam that guests had arrived at the Mother-in-law’s courtyard, and mentioned that these guests were related to Mr. Mo and his family.
She frowned—could they be relatives looking for a handout? With that thought in mind, she smiled scornfully, deciding to have a look. Perhaps it was the family of that poor scholar, who had already brought their Maid to freeload food and drink. If they had to support his family as well, what did they take the Tang Family for?
Not even the Mother-in-law’s relatives were acceptable. She was the current Lady Tang, and utterly refused to allow such people to stay in their home.
Not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry could move into their Tang Family estate!
Lady Tang, accompanied by her maid, paused at the door of the living room to listen in. What were they discussing inside?
It was just after the dining hall guests had eaten their fill and were chatting leisurely in the living room.
Madam Tang liked this young man; after all, he was a relative’s relative. A young man like him shouldn’t stay outside; it would be improper. She said with a smile:
“My dear nephew, since you’ve come here and aren’t staying for just a day or two, don’t bother with an inn. Now that you’re here, it’s only proper for your aunt to play the role of the hostess.”
Zhong Xingwang scrutinized Madam Tang’s expression, then glanced at her husband and this “cheap cousin.”
Their faces seemed genuinely sincere, but he didn’t like living in someone else’s courtyard—it would be inconvenient to come and go.
Although it would save him a considerable expense, such debts of gratitude were not easy to repay.
Moreover, he needed to buy land from the Tang Family and their help to build a house on it, and he looked once more at his elder sister and brother-in-law.
Mrs. Mo was reluctant to let her younger brother stay outside where it might not be safe.
However, this wasn’t her home; it belonged to her employer’s family. There might be a bond of distant kinship, but no blood relation, so she felt embarrassed to have her brother stay here.
She moved her lips but couldn’t bring herself to say a word.
Scholar Mo was even less willing. It wasn’t that he was weak or lacked affection for his brother-in-law; he simply found it beneath his dignity to be beholden to others in such a manner.
If the Young Uncle came here with his family’s blessing, he surely brought money. Even if he stayed so long that he ran out, they could still cover his travel expenses after receiving a month’s wages.
But it looked like the Young Uncle brought so many people, their modest earnings might not even suffice for an inn stay, let alone daily living expenses. As Madam had said, staying with them could save a substantial sum.
These were not words he would utter; not out of cowardice or lack of care for the Young Uncle, but because one can be poor without being short of ambition.
Upon hearing the Mother-in-law’s invitation, Lady Tang frowned. As expected, another relative had come to freeload. She stamped her foot in anger, unable to hold back from entering the living room. She wanted to see just how thick-skinned these relatives could be with her present.
They couldn’t accuse her of being rude if she humiliated them, especially after her husband had thwarted her earlier in the day, leaving her still seething inside.
Just as Lady Tang’s feet crossed the threshold, ready to go inside and embarrass them,
“Aunt, there’s really no need. I brought some guards and attendants with me to ensure my safety. Besides, my family gave me ample funds, and there’s no problem with me staying outside for a while. I also yearn for the freedom to travel and enjoy the sights,” said Zhong Xingwang, refusing Madam’s offer just as it was uttered, causing Lady Tang to suddenly swallow the words she was about to say, feeling somewhat relieved she hadn’t spoken immediately. Yet she still felt slightly uneasy.
“Mother-in-law, we have more guests?”
Seeing her daughter-in-law’s smile, Madam Tang laughed contemptuously in her heart, thinking how petty her daughter-in-law was. Was she so perturbed by the visit of her own relatives?
For the sake of maintaining the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, she still wore a gentle smile as she spoke:
“Daughter-in-law, you’ve arrived just in time. This is the young master from the Zhong Family, a relative of my eldest sister-in-law.”
Lady Tang then pretended to have a sudden realization, saying, “Oh, so you are Mrs. Mo’s younger brother! Why didn’t the two of you come together?”
“Is this the cousin’s wife? I didn’t see you at dinner just now. Oh, right, I came here to have fun, which is different from my sister and brother-in-law who came here to work. I apologize for not staying with my sister and brother-in-law in this place.”
Zhong Xingwang sensitively felt that this cousin’s wife didn’t seem very friendly towards them.
Perhaps this was the only anomaly within the Tang Family, or maybe others in the Tang Family were the same. Hence, staying here for too long with his sister and brother-in-law really wasn’t good. He made the right choice by refusing earlier.
Zhong Xingwang sized up the young woman before him, whose attire seemed quite lavish. Yet to those adorned in the refined elegance of Capital nobility, it appeared a tad vulgar.
More nouveau riche than even the nouveaux riches themselves. Did she wear the best of everything upon her head?
Did it not weigh heavily upon her? Her body was also laden with various pieces of jewelry, and her ears, didn’t the earrings weigh them down?
While Zhong Xingwang was sizing up Lady Tang, she was also taking stock of him.
The young man before her was decent-looking and didn’t bear the naive air of birth present in Mrs. Mo’s appearance.
He was of average build, which typified the slender physique of Southern men, lacking the towering might of Northern men.
It seemed the relatives of her Mother-in-law, these so-called rich young masters and ladies, were all just putting on airs. It would be best for them not to stay with the Tang Family, or else she would feel humiliated with each encounter.
“Cousin, you don’t know much about our family affairs, so let’s not dwell on them, shall we? You mentioned coming here to enjoy the scenery. Have you decided on any particular places yet?”
Zhong Xingwang nodded and said, “At present, I have heard of a few good spots. It seems there are many places worth visiting in this county.”
“Oh, so the Young Master also believes in Buddhism? There are temples everywhere here.”
“Cousin-in-law, I might not be a believer, but since I’m here, I might as well pay a visit!”
Lady Tang stayed in the living room and kept talking to Zhong Xingwang, preventing Mrs. Mo from having the chance to tell her brother not to stay here too long.
Mrs. Mo also wanted to ask her brother some questions but had to wait for a moment when it would be just the two of them, as the Tang Family was around.
“Cousin, cousin-in-law, may I invite you to my study for some tea?”
Mr. Tang grew somewhat impatient. His wife’s demeanor was making him, as a man, feel quite uncomfortable.
After all, this little cousin was still an outsider, despite his young age.
Mr. Tang intended to take the two men along with him. Once they had left, Mr. Tang also found a reason to excuse himself.
“I’m tired as well, everyone may leave!”
Madam Tang waved her hand. In reality, she wanted to talk a few words with Mrs. Mo, but there would be other days for that.
Mrs. Mo and her maid took their leave.
Lady Tang, dismissed by her Mother-in-law, flashed a glance, still lowered her gaze, and bent at the waist to bid farewell to her returning Mother-in-law.
She followed and left as well, and upon exiting, she had one more glance at Mrs. Mo walking ahead in the courtyard. A new thought crossed her mind.