B: If the father was quoted by the son (Mr. Berry) as saying "it's only money" that probably reflects his "softer edge" when it comes to spending on his workers. The son quoting the father is presumably running the wine company in question and is probably mentioning that family-run companies can't quite function that same way anymore in his view because they face so much competition from large corporations. The specific triggering phrase for this part of the dialogue was not the one you identified in Part C of your question but rather the phrase "They have all been sent to acting courses to polish their customer service". "they have all been sent" in this context means "the company paid for their rather unique training regime" - in other words Mr. Berry (the son) views his expenditure on acting classes as an employee benefit that he doesn't have to do, but reflects a tradition in his family that is coming under pressure from the "harder edged" family-run firms in his industry or in general. C - You identify "tap away on computers kept discreetly out of sight". Embedded in this phrase is the idea that computers in a wine cellar or winery are a bit antithetical to the ambiance of the business or space. In other words, the customer service reps are "tapping away" on technology to run the wine business, but the only thing presumably visible are the accoutrements of a proper winery such as wine barrels, antique furnitures, and perhaps wine-related artwork. The need to keep computers discreetly out of sight has more to do with style than substance, but the phrase presumes that you understand that without bothering to explain it. Hope this helps and please feel free to reach out any time with further questions.

First of all, excellent choice in reading material: The Economist is an excellent resource for those looking to improve their English vocabulary and awareness of current world affairs. Your A, B, and C questions touch on a particular interest of mine: idiomatic phrases. I hold the somewhat unorthodox view that if you want to really learn English well you actually have to start with the idiomatic phrases and colloquialisms, because they are where an enormous trove of meaning and culture are hidden in the language. Through the gift of the Internet you really just need to know what they are in order to look them up and familiarize yourself with them. A: "harder edge" - By all rights this idiom should be "sharper edge" because it would make more sense, but that's what makes it idiomatic - it doesn't really make much sense literally so you have to learn its meaning definitionally. So what is being conveyed in this context is that family companies no longer have a relaxed attitude toward business expenses and corporate inefficiency. One reason may be competition from larger and more sophisticated companies that eschew nepotism for the more open and meritocratic governance structure required of publicly listed companies. Closely held companies that face little market competition can offer lavish incentives and bonuses on their employees, which are treated as "part of the family". This brings me to the part B you identified...