Twenty-eight, Tan Lang Has Learned Bad Habits

"Tanlang."

"Hm?"

"Is there... something you've been wanting to say?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"What do you think?"

Madam Zhen set down her bowl, looking at Ouyang Rong across the table with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. He was even holding one of his chopsticks upside down.

Come to think of it, she had noticed that Tanlang had been rather downcast for the past two days, seemingly ever since he returned home the night before last.

During these two days, he had only been staring at the dish directly in front of him while eating. At first, Banxi had rushed over to share the good news with Madam Zhen, saying that the young master loved the Silla-style meat rolls she had prepared. But the next day, when Madam Zhen replaced them with a dish of plain tofu, he simply "lost interest" and wouldn't even let his chopsticks touch the Silla specialty. It had left the Silla maid completely bewildered, her little face crestfallen for a long while.

It wasn't just his appetite; while walking through the Plum Deer Garden, Tanlang seemed entirely preoccupied. Sometimes, Madam Zhen had to call his name three times before he would respond, and his first answer was invariably, "Oh... right."

Madam Zhen was a very traditional, beautiful woman. She lived a life of seclusion, tending to her husband and raising children, focusing solely on household affairs. Here in the Plum Deer Garden, she remained the same, responsible for Ouyang Rong's daily meals, grooming, and sleep. In her spare time, she had no circle of female friends for socialization, no interest in spring outings or shopping, and she never exposed herself to the public eye.

When she had nothing to do, she would sit in the courtyard, sunning herself and snacking on melon seeds, occasionally scolding the maids. Sometimes, she might reminisce about her girlhood days of swordplay and martial arts, but as the mistress of the house, it was impossible for her to engage in such unseemly behavior in front of the servants.

As for embroidery, needlework, or chores, she no longer had to handle those herself. Her only slightly interesting activity was going into Tanlang's private study to tidy up. She never let the maids touch that important room; she did it all herself. Along the way, she would curiously touch and look at his paper, ink, brushes, inkstones, books, and paintings. Although, besides her own name and Tanlang’s, she was barely literate and couldn't understand any of it, that didn't hinder the simple pleasures of a woman.

Beyond that, the time of day Madam Zhen looked forward to most was when she could eat with Tanlang, listening to him talk about the novelties of the outside world.

However, aside from major family matters, she never inquired about any of Ouyang Rong's official business or private associations. She would sit quietly to the side, listening, and as she lowered her head to eat, her clever, charming phoenix eyes would glance upward to study the subtle expressions on Tanlang's face.

This was one of the few joys she had each day.

Therefore, Madam Zhen was highly observant, paying the closest attention to this beloved nephew of hers. Any anomaly in his behavior could not escape those phoenix eyes. So, as they sat at the table for dinner, seeing Ouyang Rong’s hesitant expression, she spoke up immediately.

"If Tanlang has something to say, just say it. Surely you aren't planning to kick your aunt out, are you?"

Madam Zhen hummed through her nose, reaching out to correct the upside-down chopsticks in his hand.

Ouyang Rong looked a bit embarrassed. "I wanted to borrow some money from you..."

"Borrow?"

"Yes. I will definitely pay it back once my salary is issued."

Madam Zhen offered a cryptic smile. "Isn't the money I have essentially yours? Just take it; why speak of borrowing? Your monthly salary is sent by the magistrate's office, and the grain and income from the official land are all managed by me for you. Have you forgotten, Tanlang?"

Ouyang Rong paused, then nodded immediately. "In that case... I will take some, and you can keep the rest for household expenses."

"How much do you need? Don't take it all. I was planning to go to the West Market horse exchange in a few days to pick out a beautiful maid for you. It will likely cost quite a bit. These days, Western Region beauties, Bodhisattva-like girls, and Silla maids are all extremely expensive. Those brainless wealthy merchants keep driving up the prices."

"Buy a beautiful maid? I don't need one. Aunt, don't waste money following the trend of keeping slaves. Those people are pitiful."

Madam Zhen nodded. "They are indeed pitiful, which is all the more reason to buy a few and bring them home for Tanlang to cherish, to give them a warm bed."

"..." That made so much sense, yet it was a bit exhausting for the kidneys.

"Let's talk about that later." Ouyang Rong was speechless, waving his hand to brush the topic aside. He turned serious and said, "Aunt, how about you give me ten strings of cash?"

Madam Zhen hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Very well. I'll get it for you after dinner."

At this time, silver was rarely in circulation; most transactions in the market were conducted with copper coins and silk. One string of cash was equivalent to a thousand coins, which already held significant purchasing power.

At the horse exchange, a sturdy slave usually cost about six or seven strings of cash—though, naturally, the current famine in the region would have caused prices to depreciate. Ten strings, before the flooding, could have purchased nearly two hundred shi of rice. The Plum Deer Garden, where Ouyang Rong and Madam Zhen were currently living, only cost about forty or fifty strings of cash.

However, there was no concept of real estate speculation at the time. Buying a house depended on one's household registration and status; it wasn't something anyone with money could just purchase. The rigid social hierarchy effectively restricted the housing market.

As for Ouyang Rong's salary, since Longcheng County had a population of over six thousand households, it was classified as a "superior county." As a magistrate of the seventh rank, his monthly salary was a little over two strings of cash.

However, an official's salary was not just silver; it included grain, assigned official land, and various year-end bonuses. Calculated together, it averaged about four strings of cash per month.

Overall, the salaries of officials in the Great Zhou Dynasty were decent, but compared to those living in Luoyang or Chang'an, it was hardly worth mentioning.

Ouyang Rong dipped his finger in water and sketched on the table, lowering his head to calculate.

Madam Zhen thought for a moment and couldn't help but ask, "What does Tanlang need so much money for?"

The young magistrate didn't even look up. "I'm going to the Yuanming Pavilion."

Madam Zhen froze, and Banxi, who was serving nearby, also gave him a strange look. They had lived in Longcheng for some time now and knew that the Yuanming Pavilion was not only the largest restaurant in the area but also a place for young women who were "poverty-stricken" but talented in the arts to make a living.

Well, in truth, it was a brothel. However, in the current Great Zhou Dynasty, brothels were relatively formal establishments. Many women sold their talents rather than their bodies, and the focus wasn't strictly on carnal pleasures; it was an elegant venue for scholars, poets, and wealthy merchants to socialize, and it was quite popular among the literati.

But... the upstanding gentleman Tanlang wanted to go to a brothel?

Madam Zhen and Banxi were reminded of the peculiar hobby Tanlang had "exposed" by accident the other day.

The beautiful woman said with a solemn expression, "Tanlang, it would be better not to go there. Aunt will give you some extra money. Tomorrow, go to the West Market and buy a gentle, beautiful maid. Pick anyone you like, even if it's expensive. Some things... Aunt understands; you mustn't suppress yourself."

"???" Ouyang Rong.

...

The next morning.

Longcheng County Office.

The young magistrate, his purse now bulging, walked with a straight back into the Assistant Magistrate's hall in the West Wing. He tapped on the desk of Magistrate Diao, who was already nodding off at work.

"Ah... Why is Mingtang here? My apologies, my apologies. I'm getting old and easily drowsy." Magistrate Diao hurriedly stood up to greet him.

"It's fine. It's just a small matter. I'll be off as soon as I've said it." After a pause, Ouyang Rong nodded. "Though, Magistrate Diao is truly vigorous for his age, coming in early to catch up on sleep."

"..." Magistrate Diao sighed helplessly. "Mingtang, please don't mock your subordinate. I have but one wife at home, and I own no more than five sets of clothes for all four seasons... Anyway, what is it that you wish to entrust to me? Please speak."

Ouyang Rong said calmly, "The day after tomorrow, at the Yuanming Pavilion, I want you to invite all the local gentry, wealthy merchants, and scholars with academic titles that you know. It would be best if not a single one were left out."

Magistrate Diao was stunned for a moment, then beamed with joy. "Yes, yes, yes! I shall go and arrange it immediately. I'll have them set up a banquet to welcome you properly, haha! Mingtang, they have long held you in high esteem and have wanted to pay their respects to their local official for quite some time. Many had begged me, but seeing that it wasn't convenient for you, I turned them down..."

Ouyang Rong, who had turned to leave, suddenly interrupted:

"You misunderstood. It is not they who are hosting me; it is I who am hosting them. Go, call everyone. They are all the people of this county, and I cannot show favoritism. I must properly... care for them."

Magistrate Diao, who owned no more than five sets of clothes for all four seasons, froze in place.