Chapter 32: Taking Out My Anger on Tang Rong

Chapter 32: Beating Tang Rong to Vent Anger

After several consecutive days of eating and drinking outdoors, Tang Mo felt somewhat unwell. He reclined on Xin An's chaise longue, closing his eyes to rest. Chun Yang brought over hangover soup and a bowl of vegetable porridge. Tang Mo opened his eyes and glanced at her. "So kind-hearted all of a sudden?"

"What, are you afraid I'll drink myself to death and there will be no one left to work for you?"

As Chun Yang prepared to snap back, Xin An raised a hand to signal her to go rest. Chun Yang didn't forget to shoot Tang Mo a sharp glare, thinking he was utterly heartless.

"Why is your maid's temper so fierce?"

The hangover soup felt soothing once it hit his stomach, and the light vegetable porridge made his entire body feel relaxed and rejuvenated. Lying on the chaise longue, he lost all sense of decorum. Xin An smiled but didn't answer his question, only asking if his day had gone smoothly.

"It was alright. I'm waiting for the results."

Tang Mo propped his head up with one hand. "I didn't interact much with Second Uncle in the past, nor did I have much contact with my cousins. I spent half the day there today and had a meal with him. I feel like Second Uncle is quite a sincere person; he doesn't put on any airs."

Xin An sat down beside him. "I didn't know it before either; I only realized it after the Marquis Mansion fell into trouble. At that time, everyone avoided him. He had been partitioned off early on and wasn't implicated, nor had he received many benefits from the Marquis Mansion. He could have easily stood by and watched the spectacle, yet he was the one who traveled most diligently to help."

"I felt regretful back then. If only I had offered him some support and convenience in ordinary times, if only we had been a bit closer—not only would it have made me feel better, but if he had been in a better position, he could have had more strength to save us."

Tang Mo stared into her eyes. "Can you tell me exactly what happened to the Marquis Mansion? That way, we can prepare and avoid similar issues, right?"

Xin An's gaze turned unfriendly again. "Such a thing will never happen in this lifetime."

Seeing that she wouldn't speak, Tang Mo began to fidget restlessly. "My dear lady, please tell me. How am I supposed to sleep tonight if you act like this?"

Xin An's expression darkened bit by bit. She let out a huff and prepared to stand up and leave, but Tang Mo grabbed her. "Tell me, I beg you."

"This is the first time in two lifetimes that I have begged you. Speak."

Xin An sat back down. "Your son committed massive corruption and was involved in factional struggles. After the incident, he framed my son. My son died unjustly in prison, and it was Second Uncle who collected his body."

Tang Mo: "..."

He had wanted to ask about his son, Tang Hui, for a long time but had never found the right moment.

He had not received his father's favoritism, so naturally, his son had not been highly regarded either. After he was gone, how did his son manage to frame Tang Xuan?

Thinking of the only possibility, his brow furrowed. When he looked at Xin An again, a flash of heartache crossed his eyes. He gritted his teeth. "That pig-like wretch, Tang Rong! How could he do such a thing!"

Xin An wiped the corner of her eye. "I thought you might be happy."

"Happy?"

Tang Mo gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Tao Yiran looked down on me. Influenced by her, Tang Hui only had his eldest uncle in his heart; he thought I, as his father, was only an embarrassment. How old was he then?"

"Four, I believe."

Recalling the past, Tang Mo closed his eyes. "He was disrespectful to me, and when I reprimanded him, he shouted that he didn't want me as his father and said it would be better if his eldest uncle were his father instead."

The words of a small child can pierce a father's heart most deeply. Even now, remembering it made him feel miserable.

Both of their moods were poor. The more Xin An thought about it, the angrier she became, so she punched him directly. "It's all your fault. Why did you even ask?"

"I don't care. Go find Tang Rong tomorrow and make him suffer a bit to make me happy."

Tang Mo rubbed his forehead. "How about I send someone to kidnap him and lock him in a secret room? Whenever you're unhappy, you can go give him a few lashes?"

Xin An raised an eyebrow. "Just find someone to put him in a sack and give him a beating to vent your anger."

Tang Mo's eyes darted around as an idea formed. He hadn't intended to use such underhanded methods, but since he was feeling frustrated, he could only vent by beating him. "I'll arrange it. You just wait for the news."

Xin An nodded. Even before the beating happened, she felt a bit better. Tang Mo changed the subject, mentioning that he had asked Yan Shimao to help mediate. Upon hearing that he had spent a thousand taels, Xin An shared her thoughts. "No one can predict the future. It's not guaranteed that you and I will succeed in the end, so we must leave ourselves a way out."

"But no matter how we prepare a way out, silver will be indispensable."

Tang Mo agreed deeply. He mentioned that he actually owned two shops and had co-opened a teahouse with Yan Shimao and others, which earned some silver every month. "Each person can get a few dozen taels."

Xin An said, "I want to start some businesses, but I cannot let outsiders know that the Marquis Mansion is involved. To put it bluntly, even if the Marquis Mansion is seized one day, these businesses should not be reachable."

Tang Mo sat up, realizing they indeed needed to plan for a rainy day. "Do you have suitable candidates in mind?"

Xin An nodded. The Xin family were salt merchants and had many managers; transferring one wouldn't be a problem. "But I will have to use your name, or perhaps the name of the Marquis Mansion. Do you understand what I mean?"

Tang Mo understood. "You want to use the Marquis Mansion's name to protect your business, but without letting people know the business was originally yours."

"Fine. The old man won't interfere in such matters; at most, he'll scold me a few times. But I want half of your business."

"On what grounds?"

Xin An reacted strongly, but Tang Mo spoke as if it were only natural. "Because you need me! What I provide is more than just protection, okay? Look, you can order me around at any time, I have to take the blame for annoying the neighbors to make you happy, and I even have to be filial to your parents. As a son-in-law, I am deeply loved by them. Shouldn't you reward me with something?"

Xin An smiled. "Have I not been filial to your mother?"

Tang Mo countered, "Think about how much you've gained from my grandmother and mother these past few days. Don't be stingy. You'll need me for many things in the future. I am someone who is willing to go all out. Believe me, at most in half a year, my mother will be pressuring you to get pregnant. When that time comes, I'll just say I have a hidden ailment so you won't be in a difficult position. Even so, am I not worth half?"

Xin An's expression was incredibly complex. Compared to Tang Rong, this was a different kind of shamelessness—one that left her with no reason to refuse.

"Deal."

Tang Mo smiled triumphantly. He got off the chaise longue, bowed to Xin An, and spoke with great solemnity, "I shall look forward to the great Boss Xin's care in the future. This humble one will follow you to make a fortune. If there are any orders, I will surely go to the ends of the earth to ease Boss Xin's worries."

Xin An couldn't stop laughing. "Very well, very well. I shall also look forward to the Second Young Master's care in the future."

The two, who had been feeling aggrieved and angry just moments ago, were now in an extremely pleasant mood, and their relationship had grown closer. It wasn't until late at night that Tang Mo returned to his own room. Lai Lai, who was guarding outside the courtyard, stepped forward to serve. "I thought the Young Master was staying over tonight. Why have you returned?"

Although he didn't know what had been said inside, he could clearly hear the laughter coming from the room. Tang Mo smiled and tapped his forehead. "Your Young Master is a gentleman; stop letting your imagination run wild."

Lai Lai was unconvinced and muttered, "You're both officially married people; what does being a gentleman have to do with it?"