Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 1145 Grandmother Jia Wants to Donate an Official Position
The backyard of Ningguo Mansion
In the main hall,

Li Wan looked surprised and murmured, "I thought Baoyu was studying in the courtyard. Everyone said he was smart and had already shown some promise in poetry. I never expected him to stumble on policy essays."

Remembering her father's words, she thought that studying the classics thoroughly was for the purpose of solving policy questions. If one could not write a good eight-legged essay, one would be in trouble. However, if she and her son were to rashly go to Rongqing Hall to talk about these things, it would probably displease the old lady.

While she was pondering, a maidservant entered carrying a food box. Suyun went over, took it, and placed the food inside on the table.
“Grandma, why think so much? We’re already at Ningguo Mansion. You can’t control what’s going on at Rongguo Mansion. If you say too much and it’s not to your liking, others won’t be happy either.”

Pouting, Grandma suffered quite a bit at Rongguo Mansion.

Li Wan turned around and glared at her, saying in an annoyed tone;
“You have a bad temper. Once you say something, nothing will be done. That Guo Xuezheng must have something to do. There are empresses in the palace watching over Baoyu. His status is rising, and some people are trying to curry favor with him, while others are testing him. I just didn’t expect that he would ask Lan’er to pass on a message.”

Li Wan thought about it. What they said today should not be ignored. If it were to leak out someday, it would be difficult to explain.

"What Grandma means is that in the past, we would have told the old lady that, but today, Master Bao just came back."

Su Yun looked worried. The Second Madam had a bad temper. Her eyes fell on Rong Mama from the Marquis's mansion. Rong Mama understood and advised her.
“Grandma, according to this old woman, it would be better to inform the Second Madam of Rongguo Mansion about this matter first, and delay it for a few days, since Grandma is feeling unwell.”

Perhaps as a reminder, Rong Momo's gaze remained fixed on the eldest mistress. After eating for a while, Jia Lan, seeing her mother's hesitation, also agreed.
"Mother, why don't we just let it go? Uncle Bao might not agree to this."

Despite the advice from several people, Li Wan sat there without speaking, but she weighed things in her mind. What Feng was worried about was Bao Yu's future arrangements. If he really had an official position, the Second Madam would be much more at ease. If he bought an official position, he would have the support of the Imperial Concubine. A leisurely but substantive post should not be difficult to obtain, after all, many sons of noble families still hold positions in the capital.

"Alright, don't try to persuade us any further. Some things are better done sooner rather than later. The two families have always been closely connected. If Baoyu finds an official position, the old lady will be happy."

"Yes, Grandma."

The others dared not persuade her any further, as Grandma had her own thoughts to consider. Thus, the group, not wanting to wait any longer, followed the bluestone path in the backyard to Rongqing Hall. Just as they reached the corner gate of the central courtyard, they heard laughter and cheerful voices coming from inside. Li Wan paused for a moment before stepping inside.

As soon as I entered the house,

They saw a room full of people sitting inside. Grandmother Jia was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed), and Jia Baoyu was sitting next to her at the table, eating breakfast.

Only Jia Lan behind her was still in his official robes, and his expression was different from his usual calm and gentle demeanor, showing a hint of solemnity. Su Yun and Rong Mama stayed by her side to serve her.

When Grandmother Jia saw the two of them, especially when she saw Jia Lan in his court robes, her eyes lit up and she asked;

"Lan-ge'er, what brings you back to the manor today? Is there something going on at the Imperial Academy?"

For many days, I've heard that Jia Lan has been busy with official duties at the Imperial Academy and hasn't even returned home. Now that he's back, I wonder what his purpose is.

Li Wan smiled, pulled Jia Lan forward, and greeted Grandmother Jia, the First Madam, and the Second Madam. Her gaze swept over Bao Yu and Feng Yatou sitting in front before she lowered her hands and said.
"Thanks to the old lady's good fortune, Lan-ge'er is also on leave today. He just got back and I urged him to come over and pay his respects to the old lady."

"Oh dear, look at you! You haven't been back for days, and you're already causing such a fuss as soon as you get back. Rest at home. Why are you looking at this old woman like me? Come on, sit down with me."

Grandmother Jia disregarded formalities and invited Li Wan to sit down. After the two were seated, Yuanyang served tea to the eldest mistress and Lan-ge'er.

The second wife had many questions she wanted to ask, but seeing that Li Wan never looked at her, she felt slightly annoyed. Her prayer beads spun rapidly. Only Madam Xing wore a strange expression. This Li family girl hadn't shown herself since going to the East Mansion. Her coming today with Lan-ge'er must mean something; she wondered what she wanted.
"You've come at the perfect time. In the kitchen, Sister Liu has made lotus seed soup with a little ginseng. She's served a bowl to Li Yatou and Lan Ge'er."

Immediately, the maidservant brought over the lotus seed soup, doing so with great thoughtfulness, which pleased Grandmother Jia.

"Look, the eldest son is really good at getting things done. By the way, Lan-ge, how's your job at the Imperial Academy?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Lan rose and bowed slightly.
"Reporting to Grandfather, I am doing well at the Imperial Academy. The Academic Commissioner is personally teaching me in the West Dormitory. Last night, the Academic Commissioner even spoke with me privately and asked when Uncle Bao would return home."

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia raised her eyebrows and looked at Jia Lan.
"The person you're talking about, is it Guo Xuezheng, who asked Baoyu when he would return to the mansion and what he was doing? But Baoyu wasn't doing well in his studies at the Imperial Academy."

Upon hearing this, Li Wan, who was standing nearby, quickly nudged Jia Lan's arm and whispered;
"Leaving aside other matters, let's talk about the matter of buying official positions."

Jia Lan nodded, and then said;

"Reporting to the old master, Lord Guo said that Uncle Bao is very intelligent, but studying at the Imperial Academy is time-consuming and laborious. It would be better to find a shortcut to enter officialdom so that he can help the Jia family in the future."

"shortcut?"

The second wife frowned, exclaimed "Eh?", and asked;

“The sons of the Rongguo Mansion have no need to take shortcuts. It’s just that officialdom is hard to come by. If they want to enter the officialdom, they need to take the imperial examination.”

Jia Lan nodded quickly and replied;
“Madam, you may not know this, but Lord Guo said that although the court now has the imperial examination system for selecting officials, the path to officialdom is long and the competition is fierce. There are still many vacancies in the court. If Uncle Bao wants to enter officialdom as soon as possible, why not first donate an official title, and then use the connections in the palace to secure a sinecure in one of the Six Ministries? In this way, he can serve the court as soon as possible and also bring glory to the Rongguo Mansion.”

Upon hearing the words "buying an official position," everyone in the room perked up. Even the talkative Wang Xifeng couldn't help but turn her head to look over. If they bought an official position, their path to the imperial examination would be over. It was unclear whether this was Jia Lan's own wish or his sister-in-law's idea, but then again, it was a viable option.

The Second Madam's face was grim. She had just seen Baoyu's studies improve, but now he wanted to buy an official position; all their previous efforts would be wasted. Grandmother Jia squinted, noticing Jia Lan hadn't moved. Was this Guo Wen's idea, or the Li family maid's?
"Although buying an official position is a backup plan, if the position is too low, you'll have nowhere to go; if it's too high, it will attract attention. Besides, the imperial court only considers those who have formally graduated from the imperial examinations when selecting officials."

This is unavoidable; without a mentor, fellow townsman, or classmate, one will face great difficulties in officialdom in the future.

Seeing that the atmosphere in the room was not right, Li Wan quickly interjected with a smile;
"The old lady is right. Lan-ge doesn't understand official matters. When he came back, he told me that Lord Guo said that the opportunity was rare. With Bao-yu's status, it just so happens that the Empress will be returning to the mansion to visit her family next year. In this way, given his status as the Emperor's brother-in-law, it wouldn't be difficult to secure a substantive post beforehand."

When the gentle voice was spoken, everyone in the room was startled. They had forgotten about the empress in the palace. When they thought of Baoyu's identity, wasn't he the "Imperial Brother-in-Law"? The so-called opportunity was before the visit to his family. Thinking of this, Grandmother Jia actually had an idea and looked at the Second Madam, asking her a question.

"Second wife, what do you think?" The second wife was somewhat flustered. How could she not know about the opportunity mentioned earlier? Even if the Emperor's favor was only given once, this official position would definitely be filled. If she could go to the Ministry of Works like her husband, that would be even better.

"Grandma, the news came quickly, and I didn't think it through for a while. What Lord Guo said makes sense. If one were to buy an official position, one could buy a fifth-rank official position, but there's no way to fill a substantive fifth-rank position."

"Feng girl, what do you think?"

Grandmother Jia didn't answer, but instead asked Wang Xifeng, who was unusually quiet today.
“Oh dear, old lady, how could I dare to make a decision on this? The front courtyard is already mostly finished, and the main hall’s beams have been installed. After the New Year, the garden will be completed. This is a rare opportunity.”

Wang Xifeng didn't think much of it. If something could be solved with money, then it wasn't a big deal. The imperial examination was like crossing a single log; whether one could pass or not depended on fate. Unless, like her sister-in-law, Marquis Luoyun was the chief examiner, she secretly glanced at Baoyu and saw him sitting there blankly, his face full of displeasure. Was he disagreeing or unwilling?

Seeing that everyone was arguing endlessly, Jia Lan bowed again.
“Grandmother, Madam, Uncle Bao, actually, Lord Guo also said that with our family background, if we were to buy an official position, we wouldn’t need a very high one. We could start by buying a seventh-rank position as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy or a minor official in one of the Six Ministries. Then we could slowly build up our seniority and eventually get a real post outside the capital. This way, the money spent on bribes wouldn’t be too much. Besides, the Hanlin Academy and the minor official positions in the Six Ministries are both low-level government offices. Although they don’t have any real power, they are good places to gain prestige. In the future, if Uncle Bao gets to know more officials and builds up some connections, it will be much easier for him to get a real post.”

Jia Lan spoke casually, thinking that what the Education Commissioner said might not be without reason. If he only hoped for the imperial examination, even he himself would not have confidence. After all, his success in passing the examination was probably due to the Marquis's influence.

These few words caused the people in the hall to fall into deep thought. Wang Xifeng looked at him strangely. She hadn’t expected that Lan’er would become an official at the Imperial Academy. His demeanor and literary talent were impressive. But what was her sister-in-law’s intention? She looked at her sister-in-law, who was dressed in a dark, loose-fitting robe that concealed the changes in her body. Even at this time, she dared to come here. She wondered what would happen when her pregnancy became obvious.

“What Lan’er said makes sense. The Hanlin Academy is a good place, while the Six Ministries’ official positions are a bit less desirable. Old Madam, I think that if we buy an official position, we could go to the Military Affairs Bureau. Lord He and the Duke’s Mansion have a long-standing friendship. It would be good to go there and gain some seniority.”

After all, they are a noble family. Going to the civil officials' place would always be awkward. It would be better to stay in the place right in front of them. Lord He of the Military Command and several Assistant Military Commanders are all old friends of the Duke's Mansion. If it is a common matter, they will not need to ask others for help. It is said that having someone in the court makes it easier to become an official. This is a win-win-win situation.

Perhaps influenced by Wang Xifeng's words, Grandmother Jia hesitated for a moment. Even so, the Military Command was mostly a place for military men, and she figured that the Xue family member had never been there. She just wondered if the Xue family member had purchased the official position.

“What you say makes sense. Lord He is grateful, so it wouldn’t be difficult for him to go. But if he joins the Military Command, he might not be able to return to the Hanlin Academy. Lan’er, which one do you think is better?”

Grandmother Jia looked troubled, and glancing at Second Madam, she seemed even more at a loss, unable to make up her mind. Her own brother was a military governor in the capital garrison, so going there would be the safest option. But she only had this one son left, and he was ill-suited for martial arts. Even Jia Lian had almost died in the south. If he went to the Hanlin Academy, although it would be peaceful, he would have little chance of advancement. If he stayed in the Military Command, his rank could still be improved.

Jia Lan stood there, somewhat hesitant. Although he didn't know much about the Military Affairs Bureau, there was almost no exchange between civil and military officials.
"Grandma, what Second Aunt said earlier makes sense. For military officers, if you buy an official position, you will be demoted if you get a real post. So you have to spend more money when you buy an official position. Fortunately, it is also related to the Duke's Mansion. Uncle Bao will probably be much more relaxed there."

Both paths are viable; it's up to the old lady to choose. With Jia Lan's approval, Grandmother Jia turned to the Second Madam and asked.
“Second son’s wife, where do you think would be a suitable place for Baoyu? If possible, the Hanlin Academy and the Military Command would be good options. Or, Xue Pan from the Xue family is getting on in years, is there a place for him?”

Perhaps it was a hint, for the second wife paused for a moment, then suddenly realized. The Xue family's son was free-spirited and unrestrained, and also quite strong and powerful. If he were to buy an official position, he would surely go to the military command. In that case, going with Baoyu might provide mutual support.

"Grandma, we haven't asked about the Xue family yet. But I think that if Xue Pan buys an official position, he will definitely take a sinecure in the Military Affairs Department. It would be good if the two of them could look after each other. Although the Hanlin Academy is good, without someone to take care of him, he may have difficulty moving around in the future."

"Well, fine. If we go to the Military Commandery, I'll use my connections to buy an official position. I'll pay for it myself. I'll also ask the Xue family if they want to go there together."

Grandmother Jia finally made up her mind: since the path of a noble relative was difficult, she would try a different route.
"Yes, madam, I'll go and ask about it today."

The second wife was also somewhat anxious. If she could run into Baochai, she could talk to her and ask about the Marquis's attitude, since Baochai was, after all, a member of the Wang family.

"Alright, now that everything's been explained, go and inquire. Feng girl, go ask your old connections in the inner court if there are any positions left for someone to donate for a military post. If there are, don't wait any longer, just buy it and send the money over later."

"Yes, Madam. I happen to have some free time these few days, so I'll go and ask about the Xue family later. Second Madam, don't worry, I'll go and take a look at them while I'm at it."

Wang Xifeng readily agreed. Since there was such a shortcut, why didn't she use it for Jia Lian in the first place? She only bought him a nominal fifth-rank position. But she dared not show her true feelings.

"Alright, don't stay here with this old woman anymore. Go and get busy. Come over at dinner time and we'll set up two tables to welcome Baoyu and Lan'er."

"Yes, old lady."

Everyone bowed and led their maids back one by one. The Second Madam went back to her room first, while the Second Mistress waited for her sister-in-law, Li Wan, in the courtyard. When she saw her sister-in-law come out, she quickly went to greet her. When she saw Lan Ge'er in front of her, she hesitated to speak.

Seeing this, Li Wan instructed Jia Lan;
"Lan-ge'er, go back and wash up and have your meal first. Your second aunt and I still have some nice things to say."

Jia Lan bowed, nodded, and left. As soon as he was gone, Wang Xifeng couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.
"Sister-in-law is living a good life. Lan-ge'er is becoming more and more successful. Now he can even talk about official matters."

A surge of jealousy welled up inside Li Wan, but she just smiled, took Feng's hand, and patted it.
"You know, don't you think that it's better to do things sooner rather than later? Jia Lian has gained Yu Meng and has already established himself in the Beijing garrison. Only Bao Yu is left. If Bao Yu has a place to go, wouldn't things at home be much easier?"

Those involved are often blinded, while bystanders see things clearly. Many matters in the household are hindered by Baoyu. If Baoyu were to become an official, things might change considerably. Wang Xifeng isn't foolish; she understands her sister-in-law's words. With Baoyu's wedding approaching, an official position would undoubtedly bring glory to the family. This might influence the Second Madam's situation, but the situation with the Military Command is far more complex. Could she have said something wrong?
"Sister-in-law, you've thought things through perfectly. But just now, inside the house, I said I was going to the Military Command, and that I have some relatives there to look after me. That place isn't like the Hanlin Academy; it's mostly staffed by soldiers. What if Baoyu goes there?"

If she didn't get used to it, she might get complaints, but her sister-in-law just smiled.
"You, looking back and forth is not like you. After all, the Military Command is in the capital. Every day is just a matter of clocking in. Even if there are many people to hang out with, it's just drinking and carousing. If you go to the Hanlin Academy, you will have to do the same. As for those dirty things, those who come from the military are much better than those who come from the civil service."

Warriors kill with sharp blades, while civil officials kill without shedding blood. It's easy to dodge a spear in the open but hard to guard against a hidden arrow. Some things are neither right nor wrong. These words greatly shocked Wang Xifeng, and she looked at Li Wan with a strange gaze. These words could only come from her sister-in-law's mouth, so she must have heard them from Marquis Luoyun. It's true that one is influenced by one's company.

"Alright, I'll do whatever you say, sister-in-law. There's one more thing. You mentioned before that the Ningguo Mansion has a restaurant in the south of the city. I'd like to invest in it. What do you think?"

"That's easy to do. The restaurant is under my name. If you want to open a restaurant, you can find people yourself. We'll split the money in half and the profits in half. The southern part of the city is mostly populated by ordinary people. As the saying goes, small profits but quick turnover. Set the prices low. If you do a good job, it can be a long-term business."

In the capital, how could a restaurant not make money?

"Then thank you very much, sister-in-law. Tomorrow, I will arrange for Laiwang to recruit some people from the clan and go directly to the south to set up the restaurant and open it as soon as possible."

"Since there's money to be made, why wait?" he said as he left the courtyard.

(End of this chapter)