Chapter 99: Chapter 98: A Sense of Threat
ng Zhaojun did not disturb Tang Shunyan in his study as she had once done before, having noticed that Tang Shunyan did not like to be disturbed while he was studying.
She was unwilling just to wait there; with her mood already sour and having slept poorly the night before, she couldn’t contribute to the adults’ conversation. Forcing herself to stay alert with pursed lips, she fought the urge to sleep. To keep herself awake, she continuously drank tea and ate pastries.
Unexpectedly, drinking the chrysanthemum tea prepared by the young madam made her feel refreshed instead of drowsy, and the pastries tasted different from the usual ones.
Mrs. ng also noticed that the pastries she had at the Tang Residence today tasted different from what she usually ate. In the past, she concerned herself with maintaining her figure and dignity, seldom eating or drinking much in public.
However, today was an exception. Just like her daughter, she felt refreshed after several cups of chrysanthemum tea, feeling refreshed throughout her body.
“Young Mrs. Tang, what did you put in the tea besides honey? And the pastries, they’re so delicious—what are they made of?”
...
Lady Tang, hosting the guests today, had sent a maid to her mother-in-law’s courtyard to get so honey, which was then used to make pastries for the guests.
The Madam naturally agreed. For such a distinguished guest as Mrs. ng, only the best would do.
Hearing the county magistrate’s wife praise the tea and pastries, Lady Tang covered her mouth with her right hand, giggling as she said:
“I just added chrysanthemum and honey to the tea. The chef made the pastries the sa way as before, only using a different kind of honey. You all find it special, don’t you? Doesn’t it sll wonderful?”
ng Zhaojun and her mother, Mrs. ng, nodded in agreent upon hearing Lady Tang’s words. Mrs. ng then said:
“Please, tell us more. So, the unique taste of today’s food and drink is all due to the honey? Where did you buy this honey that makes such a difference?”
Flushed with the complints from her guests, Lady Tang forgot her usual dislike for Mrs. Li, smiling as she replied:
“The honey wasn’t purchased; Yan’er got it from playing at the Li Family ho. Their daughter, only a little over four months old, gave Yan’er so honey, along with so toys. It was quite a rich gift Yan’er brought back this ti, to the wet nurse’s ho—not a bad deal at all, getting honey and toys.”
Mrs. ng was only concerned with the Tang Family and paid no mind to a wet nurse from the Tang Family. Only her daughter, with her thoughtful and ticulous mind, considered such things at her young age, even more than her mother had anticipated.
“Oh, does the wet nurse keep bees at ho? And does their family carve wood as well?”
“According to Mrs. Li, they don’t keep bees at ho. Perhaps her husband bought it from sowhere else. The toys he gave Yan’er were indeed carved by Mr. Li.”
Lady Tang did not believe that a farr girl of just over four months could carve and would not entertain the idea of a child prodigy. She believed her own son to be the best. Even at the nominal age of three, he had not achieved much more, and her words deliberately downplayed the intelligence and skill of the child from the Li Family.
After all, the wife of the county magistrate was an official’s wife, and she had no desire for soone of such station to take interest in a re commoner.
Subconsciously, Lady Tang steered Mrs. ng away from inquiring about Mrs. Li. But the matter of the honey was not so easily concealed—it was a matter anyone could inquire about.
Mrs. ng, having listened, simply nodded, choosing not to dwell on the topic and instead brought up the upcoming New Year—only a month or two away—when families would exchange gifts. She expressed hope that the Tang Family could bring in so finer items from elsewhere for the occasion.
The conversation then turned to the latest trends in fabric, hairstyles, and attire in the Capital City. Young Mrs. Tang and Mrs. ng chatted about household matters, steering clear of discussing the official business her husband dealt with in the county.
ng Zhaojun quietly listened to her mother and Lady Tang chat, her thoughts lingering on Tang Shun. The Li Family seed increasingly mysterious. From a family of woodworkers, they now added carving to their skills. Could it be the Tang Family wanted to collaborate with them?
ng Zhaojun was lost in thought with her own matters, thinking about the novels and TV shows she had watched in her past life. A Cinderella transformation? A rich girl’s downhill journey, a farr girl defying fate to help her family get rich?
She felt that her only “Golden Finger” was her mories from her past life and her good family background; being reborn without any special characteristics, her previous self-conceited thoughts now seed a bit ridiculous.
ng Zhaojun always had a feeling that the daughter of the Li Family posed a threat to her, the idea of wanting to et her, yet unable to co up with a reason why. How could she, a young lady from the County Magistrate’s house, visit common folk?
If word got out, what would people think? Would her actions cause trouble and unwanted gossip that she did not wish to bring upon her father?
The Tang Family had interactions with The ngs, but these were rely between Madams and did not involve the n.
In the past few years, ng Zhaojun, being by her father’s side, knew that he was assessed every three years and had been here for over a year now.
If he perford well in the assessnt a year later, he would be promoted, perhaps even reassigned. Her parents wished even more to return to the Capital City; after all, working as a minor official in the bustling Capital was better than being exiled to distant lands like now.
As ng Zhaojun thought about her concerns, she wanted to find out if the Tang Family had any business collaboration with the Li Family.
As a child, she knew it was inappropriate for her to discuss such topics. She could only maintain an innocent smile and ask casually:
“Lady Tang, are the toys that Tang Shunyan received very novel? Will your family consider turning these toys into a business or perhaps collaborate with the Li Family to make money together?”
Mrs. ng was surprised to hear her daughter inquire Lady Tang in such a manner and knew her daughter was intelligent and quick-witted, but she had not expected her to have a business mind as well.
Lady Tang was stunned as she looked at ng Zhaojun, wondering how a three-year-old little girl could be so precocious. What was she doing at three years old? The mories were blurry; back then, she only cared about eating and obeying, fearful of punishnt from her Mother-in-law and of making mistakes.
“Madam ng, you truly are remarkable! You’ve raised your daughter so well.”
Lady Tang’s complint made Madam ng laugh and respond:
“What does a child know? Perhaps she’s overheard managing household affairs and the dowry shop, and now she’s talking nonsense! It’s not a deliberate attempt to pry into your family’s secrets.”
ng Zhaojun cast her gaze down upon hearing her mother’s words. The Li Family, being in business, had dealings that were underway and not yet publicly announced, preferring secrecy. By questioning Lady Tang in such a manner, she left room for Lady Tang not to respond.
Yet Lady Tang considered it a trivial matter; their family’s business collaboration with the Li Family involved only small enterprises, and she had little regard for the Li Family’s prospects, better if their endeavors failed.
She wasn’t concerned about leaking information that could lead to taxes, knowing well that in the county, the officials’ watchful eyes missed nothing.
With such thoughts, she felt that both Mrs. ng and her daughter were quite capable.
Their family was indeed about to collaborate with the Li Family, and The ngs being inford so promptly of this matter didn’t seem like it was due to her previous words hinting at such.
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