Chapter 307 — Facing the Moon
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 2 of 4
He looked at Song Yan with ever greater warmth, and fell to talking of his duties: "Young as you are, there will surely be those who resent it. But you must never be haughty. Understand that those old clerks of many years are the hardest to deal with. Most are full of experience and thoroughly versed in the ways of money and grain. Some even have private ties with the petty officials of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War. They may not be able to accomplish much, but if they choose to trip you up, they never miss. Your road is long yet — never stoop to their level. Be modest and prudent, broad-minded and generous, and learn to overcome hardness with softness . . ."
Dou Yan had to struggle not to burst out laughing.
That fellow Song Yan was doing well if he did not clean others out. Others wanting to clean him out? They were usually like grasshoppers in late autumn — few lasted long. And all her father's advice was to be humble and forbearing; if Song Yan truly acted on it, he would likely be devoured to the last bone shaving. Still, Song Yan ordinarily never let the seven passions and six desires show on his face — was there really any need to put on such a picture of joy before her father?
This fellow was far too good at playacting!
Song Sui wore the look of a docile pupil, listening earnestly and nodding "Yes" again and again, as though every word Dou Huaiying spoke were golden law, so that the old man, before a son-in-law of the third rank, grew more animated and more excited with every sentence.
Gao Sheng poked his head in at the door.
Dou Qu said, "What is it, Steward Gao?" cutting short Dou Huaiying's rambling.
Gao Sheng looked embarrassed and said hastily, "Nothing, nothing."
Dou Huaiying's face darkened at once.
At Dou Yan's banquet Dou Ming had not appeared, saying she meant to make her month-end visit to her natal home, and afterward had offered Dou Yan not a word of explanation; later, at Dou Ming's banquet, Dou Yan had indeed been wrong to send gifts without attending, but her words had had their logic too.
The two sisters had each been given fifty strokes of the rod.
So this time he had deliberately sent Gao Sheng in person to invite Dou Ming, insisting she must come, and had told Gao Sheng to say to her: "Let no one speak of the past anymore. From today on, the two sisters are to be loving and close, like one family."
And now, seeing Gao Sheng's face, how could Dou Huaiying fail to understand?
Dou Ming had simply ignored his words and paid them no mind at all.
But with Dou Zhiwei present, if he questioned Gao Sheng closely, would not the sisters' relations grow only worse? And with his son-in-law there besides . . . were such a thing spoken aloud, what face would his daughter have left before her husband?
Suppressing his displeasure, he said, "Is the feast outside all arranged?"
"It is, it is!" Gao Sheng, who had not known how to answer, breathed a sigh of relief at the question.
A young servant came in to report: "The Fifth Master has arrived and is drinking tea in the hall with the Sixth Master!"
Everyone was taken aback.
A married daughter's month-end visit to her natal home was a matter for the womenfolk — why should he, her uncle, come as well?
Dou Huaiying muttered to himself, then said to Song Yan, "Come, let us go and see your Fifth Uncle. He is well acquainted with the people at the Ministry of Revenue. Now that you have charge of the Jinwu Guard's military pay, make yourself known to that crowd at the Ministry — then, when funds are disbursed more promptly hereafter, both your superiors and your subordinates will look at you with new eyes."