Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 1148 Testing the Xue Family's Intentions

Beijing,

Unfortunately, the weather turned bad; dark clouds covered the sky, obscuring the sun and bringing a touch of coolness to the world.

Inside Rongqing Hall of Rongguo Mansion,
Seeing Ping'er personally place a plate of pastries on the table, Grandmother Jia glanced at it a few times and couldn't take her eyes off it. The pastries looked very familiar, but she couldn't remember them for a moment. Looking around, she saw everyone gathered around the pastries in front of them, marveling at them.

Grandmother Jia picked up a piece and examined it closely. The pastry in her hand was pure white, like jade. Its surface was not smooth, but rather like the surface of a lake after a light rain, with a faint luster. In the middle of the pastry, something seemed to be hidden inside. When the light shone through, a touch of crimson and emerald green could be vaguely seen, like lotus leaves and lotus flowers adorning the lake. Most wonderfully, next to the pastry, a lotus leaf was held up with a thin bamboo stick, like condensed morning dew. With a gentle touch, a fragrance would spread. The name "Jiangnan Misty Rain" was truly fitting.

Baoyu was engrossed in reading it and laughed;
"Wonderful, wonderful! This is not food, it is clearly a painting. Ping'er, you have finally managed to buy it."

The second wife, inside the room, nodded in approval, a rare occurrence.

"Yaoji's skills have become increasingly refined."

Madam Xing held the pastries in her hands and examined them for a long time, but lacking any literary knowledge, she could only give an awkward smile.

After Grandmother Jia put the pastry into her mouth and savored it carefully,
"It's sweet but not cloying, melts in your mouth, and has a light fragrance. Hmm, it's exactly the same as the 'Smoke and Rain Pastry' that the Zhen family used to offer as tribute."

Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts stirred slightly. The Zhen family was a well-established family in Jiangnan. Although they were related to the Jia family, in terms of current family status, the Zhen family was the most prominent in Jiangnan.

Moreover, although the Zhen family does not hold a high official position, they are very powerful in the officialdom and have more connections than the Jia family. Fortunately, Jia Baoyu only wants to settle down in a leisurely official position in the capital.

Wang Xifeng, shrewd and calculating, considered that Xue Pan was Baochai's brother, and Baochai lived in Pear Fragrance Garden. Although the matter the old lady had instructed her to handle yesterday was intended for the second mistress, the second mistress hadn't yet made her move. As the saying goes, some things are better done sooner rather than later.
"That's quite a coincidence. Fortunately, river transport is fast these days. Perhaps it was learned from Jiangnan and Yao's business learned it. It's a pity that Sister Xue isn't here, and even Daiyu isn't here. I wonder what the two of them are doing."

The mere mention of Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai made Grandmother Jia unable to sit still; she reached out and took the dishes off the table back.

"Look at you all, it's all just joking around. Do you even remember that Yu'er sent some?"

Upon seeing the old lady's anxiety, Wang Xifeng quickly came over and placed Jia Mu's hand on hers.

"Look what the old lady said, Yu'er has already sent it over. How could I trouble the old lady to think of it? There is another portion left in the food box. I was thinking that I haven't gone to talk to Baochai these past few days, so I might as well go over today and ask if Brother Pan has any business."

Seeing how considerate Wang Xifeng was, Grandmother Jia sighed, let go of her hand, and said;
"You're still thinking about Baoyu. The whole mansion is thanks to your management. The pastries are just something to try. Baoyu's donation for an official position is a big deal. It's good that you went. Aunt Xue is easily influenced. Some things are better discussed with Miss Bao. I heard that Xue Pan from the Xue family went to the restaurant on South Street."

While Grandmother Jia might not know everything that happened in the household, she had heard bits and pieces about the affairs of the masters and mistresses. Wang Xifeng nodded, somewhat surprised.

"The old lady was right. This eldest brother of the Xue family said he went to Nanshifang to check on the restaurant business. I wonder how the business is doing."

"Whether it's business or not, it has nothing to do with our household. Why don't we go and test the waters? What do you think, Second Brother's wife?"

Grandmother Jia raised her head and looked towards the Second Madam, asking her a question. The Second Madam, Madam Wang, nodded hurriedly. Yesterday, she hadn't figured out how to bring it up, but since someone had asked, she couldn't be happier.

With everyone's minds made up, Wang Xifeng excused herself and withdrew, saying:
"The old lady sat comfortably, while her granddaughter-in-law went back to her room to take care of some chores."

Grandmother Jia understood that some things couldn't be said outright, so she nodded in agreement.

Outside Rongqing Hall,

The sky remained overcast, with leaden clouds looming over the city. A cool breeze swept through the courtyard, causing the bamboo shadows to sway under the eaves. Wang Xifeng, accompanied by Ping'er and several servant women, walked along the path at the corner of the wall towards Pear Fragrance Garden. The bluestone path underfoot was spotless, but she still felt somewhat uncertain.

As she walked through the flowers and willows, her heart was filled with turmoil. Since the Xue family came to the capital, they had not been as rumored in Jiangnan. Although Xue Pan was arrogant, he was still within reason. How could he have been involved in a murder case? However, when she thought of Aunt Xue's family, who came in a marquis's mansion boat, it was only natural. She wondered if Baoyu's purchase of an official position had gone as planned.

"Ping'er, when we get there, tell them to wait outside the courtyard. You and I will go in together."

"Yes, grandma."

Ping'er carried the food box and followed carefully behind, her eyes filled with doubt. How could it be so easy to buy an official position? She wondered how much silver it would cost.

I tried asking a question,
"Grandma, everyone says that it's easy to buy an official position, but difficult to actually hold one. If we were to buy a seventh-rank official badge, I don't know how much silver it would cost."

Wang Xifeng sneered.
“The old matriarch said that the money comes from her. Do you think it’s so easy to buy an official position? Even if you fill a substantive post, you have to be demoted. For example, if Baoyu wants to buy a sixth-rank official position, that’s a difference of three thousand taels of silver.”

"Wow, so many."

Ping'er exclaimed in surprise.

Not long after, the courtyard gate opened again.

The gate of Pear Fragrance Garden was slightly ajar. Pushing it open, one was greeted by a tranquil and elegant scene with a small bridge and flowing water. Wang Xifeng waved to the servants behind her, telling them to stay outside the courtyard. She then led Ping'er into the courtyard and saw Baochai admiring the lotus flowers under the eaves. She was dressed in plain clothes, holding a round fan, and had a calm expression.
“Good sister, it’s such a dull day, yet you’re here quietly observing all by yourself. What a refined taste.”

At this moment, Baochai was sitting in the pavilion, looking through the account books sent from the south of the city. She had been frowning the whole time. When she heard the sound, she looked up and saw that it was Wang Xifeng. She quickly bowed and greeted her.

"Oh, it's Second Sister-in-law. It's stuffy inside, so I came out for some fresh air. Why does Second Sister-in-law have the time to come here? Wenxing, go inside and serve Second Madam some tea."

"Yes, ma'am."

Wenxing hurried inside, and Xue Baochai took her hand and led her into the main hall. Once inside, they sat down casually, and the maid Wenxing quickly brewed fragrant tea and served a dish of Xue family's special "Jade Butterfly Pastry".

After the two were seated, with tea smoke rising, Wang Xifeng first exchanged pleasantries:

"I don't have time at all. The old lady still has some things to ask me. When I came over from there just now, she tasted the newly bought Jiangnan pastries, 'Jiangnan Misty Rain,' and praised them highly. She thought of the tribute that the Zhen family used to offer and thought of you, so she brought them over for you to try."

As they spoke, Ping'er took a plate of pastries from the food box and placed it on the table, vying with Dou Yan for the Xue family's "Jade Plate Pastries." Xue Baochai's eyes showed some surprise; she picked one up, put it in her mouth, and her beautiful eyes lit up with delight.
"It really does have a unique flavor. My sister never tasted these when she was in Jiangnan."

"Alright, these are just small trinkets. Since the recipe has spread to the capital, if you want to eat them, go buy them yourself. Speaking of which, the Zhen family patriarchs in Jiangnan have very successful official careers, which is the envy of many. I was reminded of Brother Pan the other day—you mentioned finding him a job. In this sweltering heat, are you busy smoothing things over?"

Wang Xifeng's eyes flashed, and seeing that the time was right, she changed the subject and pretended not to care.

Baochai gently waved her round fan, paused, and realized with a clear mind that her second sister-in-law's visit must have a deeper purpose. She lowered her head slightly and shook it.

"Second sister-in-law, what you're saying is true. My brother is a leisurely person, how could he stay in the mansion? Fortunately, there's a restaurant in the south of the city. We found some former servants of the Xue family to open a restaurant there, that's enough. As for finding a way out, it's nothing more than becoming an official. Nowadays, the imperial examinations emphasize both talent and virtue. My brother, as taught by our late father, is not literate. I know my limits and wouldn't dare to do anything reckless." Since she had come to ask, she needed to be clear. The imperial examinations were a pretense; buying an official position was the real purpose. She had thought about donating money to get an official position for her brother before, but after the lawsuit in Jinling City, that idea faded considerably.

Wang Xifeng gave a wry smile. Since her purpose had been guessed, she stopped trying to be mysterious and spoke frankly:

“Why should you belittle yourself, sister? Although Brother Pan is young and impetuous, he is still a direct descendant of the Xue family. In this day and age, who cares about such things? The practice of buying official positions is no secret. As long as the money for buying official positions is spent openly, what’s wrong with that?”

Upon hearing the words "buying an official position," Baochai's heart skipped a beat. In the capital, buying an official position was called "donating an official position," both respectable terms. But these matters were ultimately the Xue family's business. Since the Second Mistress had come to discuss these things, it meant that the Rongguo Mansion wanted to know what they wanted to know. However, the reason for asking remained somewhat puzzling. She maintained her calm smile.
"Second sister-in-law, you really speak your mind. If it were before, I might have considered my brother's idea of ​​donating an official position, but now..."

She paused slightly, then tapped her fan lightly.

"It is said that the officialdom is like a vast ocean, full of treacherous waves. My father served as an official in Jiangnan and learned his lesson. If he were to venture in again, I fear he would repeat the same mistake. I wonder why you, my sister-in-law, have come to say all this today? I hope you can discuss it with me."

Her eyes were bright, as if she had a question. Wang Xifeng raised an eyebrow and thought to herself that the lovely girl in front of her was indeed very discreet. If she did not tell her the truth, she would probably not get anything out of her.
"Since we've come this far, I won't hold back anymore. Yesterday, Jia Lan came back from the Imperial Academy and said that the Education Commissioner, Lord Guo, had a suggestion: Bao Yu should buy an official position in the capital, a sinecure with real benefits. That way, when the Empress visits her family, he'll have some face."

Wang Xifeng didn't care about saving face; instead, she guessed that Baoyu's studies were probably not satisfactory, but the education commissioner Guo Wen had Jia Lan say it out loud.

Baochai frowned slightly and tapped her teacup lightly.
"Second sister-in-law's words are all reasonable. It is a good thing that Baoyu went to the Imperial Academy to study. However, the imperial examination is like crossing a single-plank bridge. When he will pass depends on luck. If we follow what Guo Xuezheng said, it is not unreasonable. If he becomes an official, it will fulfill Second Madam's wish."

But if I may be frank—even if my brother has the money to buy connections, his talent and virtue are insufficient, which would only incur public wrath. Moreover, my brother enjoys excitement, and if he were to cause trouble by buying an official position, he would not only harm himself but also implicate his relatives and friends. Sister-in-law, consider these points; don't you agree?"

His speech slowed, and his expression became somewhat wistful.

"Moreover, the matter of buying an official position is easy to cause trouble if it is spread by word of mouth. Since it is going to be decided sooner rather than later, we must be cautious in everything and protect ourselves as the best course of action."

Wang Xifeng was surprised that Baochai was so insightful. Could it be that she really wanted Xue Pan to become a wealthy merchant?
“Oh dear, my good sister, I’ve been too talkative. But the opportunity is right in front of us. As for the old lady, I reckon a sixth or seventh-rank official would suffice. One would be a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, and the other a registrar in the Military Affairs Department. Both are leisurely positions. If Baochai is willing, I’d like to select one of them to go with her, so that we can look out for each other.”

He glanced at Baochai, his gaze carrying a hidden meaning.

Baochai suddenly realized that Wang Xifeng simply wanted to profit by buying an official position, either to consolidate power for the Jia family or to pave the way for her own business.
"Then I wonder what connections you have, sister-in-law? The Military Command and the Hanlin Academy Compiler positions, though nominal, are still substantive posts."

“Don’t worry about this, sister. We’re going through Eunuch Xia in the palace. It’s easy to buy an official position. A sixth-rank official only costs 10,000 taels of silver. Once you fill a substantive post, it doubles to 20,000 taels, but you’ll get the official title. If you’re interested, sister, why don’t we go to the same place together? That way, we can look out for each other.”

At this point, the air in the room became heavy. Wang Xifeng only revealed the purpose of her visit. After all, she was going to the yamen and was unfamiliar with the place. Having someone she knew with her would provide more opportunities. She then took Baochai's hand.
"If my sister doesn't mean it that way, then I was just being nosy! Don't take it to heart, sister. I will naturally never mention Brother Pan's matter again."

“Sister-in-law, what are you saying? If you put it that way, I understand. A compiler in the Hanlin Academy may seem insignificant, but he is still a sixth-rank official. If he wants to fill a substantive post, he needs to donate to become a fifth-rank official, which costs a lot of money. My brother is impatient and can’t sit still. He can only go to the Military Command to buy a sixth-rank official title and become a seventh-rank patrol inspector. If you agree, it’s settled.”

Xue Baochai suddenly changed her mind. The Military Affairs Office had always been a frivolous government office in the capital. A patrol inspector could let her brother go out and relax, which would help him relieve his frustration. After all, doing business was not what her brother wanted.

Seeing that Xue Baochai had agreed, Wang Xifeng's face lit up with joy. It seemed that this trip had fulfilled the old lady's wish. Since that was the case, she wouldn't stay any longer. But one last thing: should she send a letter to the Wang family?

“Sister, you are the most decisive. Since it’s settled, let’s finalize things in the next few days. Lord He from the Military Command is an old friend, so there shouldn’t be any major problems. However, the money will cost at least twenty or thirty thousand taels of silver. I think it would be better to send a message to the Wang family. What do you think, sister?”

It wasn't that she was in a hurry, but every time someone from the palace came, it always cost money. If it were this time, the cost of donating for an official position would be no less than what was expected.

But Xue Baochai's response was a bit strange; she waited a while before replying.
"Second sister-in-law, if we are going to send a letter to the Wang family, then my brother need not do so. This matter should be discussed with the Marquis. If the Marquis agrees, then we can donate the official position; if he does not agree, then we should just let it go."

Hearing these words, Wang Xifeng realized that her previous words had been wasted. After all, she was a concubine of the Marquis's family, and she should really inform the Marquis's family about some things. Thinking of the Marquis's family of Luoyun, Wang Xifeng was somewhat tempted. If she went through the Marquis's family, would she be able to spend less money? But when she thought of her aunt, she suppressed this thought. After all, the money spent was all the old lady's private money.

"Alright, if there is any news, please send me a message in the next few days so that the old lady can rest assured. I'm just worried that the Marquis is too busy at the Marquis's residence. I heard that there has been a lot of trouble at the Ministry of Justice in the capital."

It seems that the Marquis was unlucky to have encountered that student.

"Don't worry, sister-in-law. No matter how busy the Marquis is, he needs to go back to his residence to rest. He will always be able to see him."

"Alright, that's enough with my sister's words. I've troubled you today, so I won't stay any longer."

Wang Xifeng clapped her hands, got up, and took Ping'er out of the main hall. Baochai accompanied her to the garden gate. The wind blew across the lotus pond, creating ripples.

As she turned around, Wang Xifeng said:
"Please wait a moment, little sister."

After leaving the courtyard, he led a group of old women back to the West Mansion, but he was still pondering whether or not to go to the Marquis's Mansion to discuss the matter, and he couldn't make up his mind.

behind,

Baochai watched her retreating figure, stood in the wind, and silently shook her head. Since Baoyu couldn't concentrate on his studies and wasn't cut out to be an official, entering the officialdom might not be a good thing. Even if he went to the Military Command, he would only be filled by someone with military merit. Without martial arts skills, he might find it difficult to make a living.

Seeing that the girl remained silent, Ying'er stepped forward and asked in a low voice:
"Miss, why did Second Madam come here specifically to ask about the eldest young master's purchase of an official position?"

Baochai turned around and sighed:
"Human relationships are like a game of chess. She came to test the Xue family's intentions. If I hadn't entered the Marquis's mansion, I might have agreed immediately. But things are different now. With no shortage of money, entering officialdom is more of a curse than a blessing. You can buy an official position, but you don't necessarily need an actual one. I don't know why my second sister-in-law insists on an actual one."

The wind whipped at her skirt, the clouds grew heavier; the sun wasn't shining brightly today.
"Ying'er, prepare some pastries. Let's go to Yu'er's place to have a chat. Also, let Wenxing go to the Marquis's residence to discuss this matter."

"Yes, ma'am."

Just as Xue Baochai was about to go to the West Garden, Wang Xifeng was already leading people back to Rongqing Hall. The more she walked, the more conflicted she became. Ping'er, who was behind her, saw that her mistress was preoccupied and came closer to her, asking softly.
"Grandma, didn't Miss Xue promise you? Why do you still have something on your mind?"

Wang Xifeng stopped, glanced at Ping'er, and scolded;

"What do you know? She agreed, but she can't make decisions for the Xue family. If we ask the Marquis's mansion, and Marquis Luoyun says no, then this matter is hopeless. I'm curious about how much silver that restaurant in the south of the city can earn. By the way, did Laiwang take people to the south of the city? Do you remember about the restaurant's opening?"

The mention of the Chengnan Restaurant reminded him of the matter he had discussed with his sister-in-law, and he instructed Laiwang to personally go and see if it was possible to set up the restaurant.
"Reporting to Grandma, Laiwang took some people to check it out. He said that all the supplies in the restaurant are readily available. All we need to do is clean and tidy it up before we can start using it. We need to send a few waiters and a couple of managers and chefs, and then we can open for business."

"Okay, that's good. When night falls, remember to make a list of all the idle people in the manor. The sooner the better!"

"Yes, grandma."

(End of this chapter)