The splendor of the Red Chamber, the power that reigns supreme.

Chapter 11 Coming to Demand Debt

Qinghe County is located in the suburbs of Beijing.

Because of the well-developed canals and transportation, especially the river port, merchants from both the north and south were brought in.

Therefore, among the several sub-cities of the capital, it is undoubtedly the most prosperous.

It is even comparable to other major cities.

The county town has a network of streets, especially the main street in front of the county and Lion Street.

Shops lined both sides of the street, including silk shops and even Ximen Da Guanren's herbal medicine shop.

Pawnshops, taverns, and teahouses stood side by side.

Vendors gathered, carrying loads on shoulder poles and pushing carts, their cries of hawking rising and falling.

Brothels and taverns dotted the area, bustling day and night, creating a strong sense of local life.

Ximen Qing rode a green horse, its hooves pounding across the plank bridge on East Street.

Along the way, the vendors bowed and greeted him, hoping that the high-ranking official would stop and casually sprinkle some sesame seeds on his plate.

I passed by Wang Po's Tea House.

Two idle men wearing tattered felt hats were eating steamed buns and drinking tea. When they saw Ma Lai, they quickly shrank back and made way for him, not even bothering to pick up the beans that rolled into the ditch.

"Greetings, sir!" Old hag Wang, with her sharp eyes, saw this from afar and, with a beaming smile, lifted the curtain.
"Good morning, sir! These are freshly steamed meat buns, the meat oil has even seeped out of the skin! They're just waiting for you to come and enjoy them!"

“Wang Mama’s business is booming.” Ximen Da Guanren laughed as he rode on his horse. “Since we’re already having a meal at home, I’ll just take out some loose silver and toss it over, as if I’m having another meal.”

Granny Wang grinned from ear to ear: "Thanks to the great man's blessing!"

"If you ever need anything from me, just let me know!"

Ximen Da Guanren thought to himself: I dare not provoke Pan Jinlian.

Although he himself has passed that hurdle, who knows what other variables might arise?

Anyone who wants to taste Wu Song's fist, which is as big as a bowl, can go ahead and try it!

Before Wang Po could finish speaking...

Hearing the conversation, a sycophant wearing a tattered handkerchief darted out from inside.

But it was none other than Earl Ying, the number one real scoundrel.

Lord Ying rushed over to Master Ximen, bowing deeply: "Master, you are radiant today! Yesterday at the Lichun Courtyard, I heard Li Jiao'er crying and complaining that Ding Erguaizi cheated her out of three taels of silver for cosmetics!"

As he spoke, he made a gesture as if to brush the dust off Ximen Qing's robe, "I've already called my men to smash Ding Er's noodle stall, to vent my anger for you!"

"Well done!" Master Ximen tossed a piece of silver: "Here's some wine for you."

Just as the silver coin was about to fall, Earl Ying rolled up his sleeve and scooped it into his arms: "Thank you for the reward, brother! Li Jiao'er has just learned 'Hanging Branch,' I'll go ask her to prepare to sing it for you tonight to cheer you up?"

The silver had already slipped into the lining of his belt, and he pretended to grope around with his empty hands.

Ximen Da Guanren took out another silver ingot and beckoned to him.

Earl Ying was quick-witted and knew that his elder brother had something to say, so he stepped forward, stood on tiptoe, and whispered, "Brother, please give your orders!"

"Find me two unfamiliar faces. Remember, they must be absolutely trustworthy."

"I have something for you to do. If you do it well, you know my temper. I'll make sure you can enjoy a month of fine food and drink, and I'll also give you some money."

“If you don’t do a good job, don’t call yourself my brother Ximen Qing in Qinghe County anymore. I won’t recognize you anymore, and we’ll go our separate ways.” Upon hearing how serious the matter was, Lord Ying was astonished.

He kowtowed loudly on the ground before standing up: "My dear father, you've even said such things. If I don't do well, may I be tainted with venereal disease by the most lewd prostitute and my whole family die!"

"You should choose a comfortable way to die!" Master Ximen laughed. "Go and find someone to wait at my residence."

Ximen Qing rode his green horse to the Wutou Gate of Zhang's residence.

The stone lions in front of the Wutou Gate of the Zhang Residence were polished to a shine.

The gold paint on the plaque above the gate, which reads "Zhang Mansion, a family that accumulates good deeds," has peeled off slightly, revealing the blackened nanmu wood underneath.

My memory of this wealthy family is rather vague.

A servant boy came out.

Everyone in Qinghe County knew Master Ximen, so he quickly stepped forward to take the horse and said, "Master, please wait a moment, I will go and inform the master!"

Not long after.

The servant came over and said, "My lord, please follow me."

Ximen Da Guanren sneered inwardly.

What a big rack!
They didn't even come out to greet us.

Step through the gate and walk through the courtyard.

Holding a bamboo-handled fan, Zhang the wealthy man saw a servant leading a figure past the screen wall and hurriedly slipped on his jade-inlaid warm shoes to greet him in the hall.

The warm soles of the shoes slapped against the blue bricks with a loud thud: "Oh my! What fragrant breeze has brought you here, sir? My humble abode is truly blessed with your noble presence today!"

Ximen Da Guanren bowed slightly and said, "I heard that you have recently opened a chrysanthemum garden, where the golden stamens and silver petals are in full bloom. I have come to ask for a cup of tea to enjoy the autumn sunshine."

"Please sit down, please sit down! I was saying the magpies have been chirping nonstop today! Quick! Quickly bring that set of Jun ware chrysanthemum petal cups! And brew some of the newly arrived Lion Peak Longjing tea!" Zhang the wealthy man shouted to his maid.

He held the boxwood tea tongs himself and personally lifted the bubbling copper kettle from the red clay stove.

Boiling water is poured into the purple clay teapot, and the aroma of chestnuts rises with the steam.

He squinted and poured the amber-colored tea into the celadon teacup in front of Ximen Qing: "My lord, look at the color of this tea, so deep and green, it surpasses even jade! The water was specially drawn from Yuquan Mountain outside the city, it's so sweet!"

He put down the pot and picked up a piece of freshly steamed osmanthus sugar cake from the agate dish on the small table. "Try it. It was made by the old woman in the village with freshly harvested glutinous rice flour. It's sweet, soft, and doesn't stick to your teeth."

Ximen Qing lifted the teacup with his fingertips, not touching the cake, but just sniffing it with the rising steam: "Indeed, fine tea. I heard that the eight hundred acres of paddy fields outside the South Gate had a bountiful harvest this autumn, with grains as plump as pearls. The county magistrate was so pleased when he inspected the fields that he personally inscribed the plaque 'Abundant Prosperity for the People'? This is a great honor that brings glory to one's ancestors."

"Ha! Empty fame! Just empty fame!" Zhang the landlord swung open his folding fan, revealing four large gilded characters on the fan: "Contentment brings happiness."

"After paying the imperial taxes and tenant rent, there's barely a few bushels of grain left, not even enough to fill a tooth gap! It's not as precious as a tiny ginseng rootlet the size of a fingernail in that rich man's shop!" He suddenly lowered his voice and leaned forward:
"I heard you recently acquired some top-quality borneol from Siam? That stuff has a wonderfully fragrant aroma when burned, incredibly invigorating. It's perfect for serving at banquets during the Double Ninth Festival; the aroma is truly elegant… If you could share some with this old man, the price is negotiable…"

Ximen Qing blew away the foam, and the emerald green tea leaves in the cup swirled and sank to the bottom. He took a sip and said slowly, "Dignity is good, but in the end, it's not as important as saving your life. These past few days, the autumn plague has been rampant, and people inside and outside the city have been coughing and feverish and have fallen ill everywhere."

"My pharmacy is rushing to make three thousand catties of 'plague-avoiding pills' to save the day, but the crucial honeysuckle I bought from Hebei—" He raised his eyes, his gaze fixed on Zhang the landlord's oily face with a half-smile:
"They actually intercepted us halfway! Sir, you have such keen eyes and ears, do you know which powerful figure has such influence?"

The bamboo-ribbed fan snapped shut, the ribs striking Zhang the landlord's own thick palm.

He lowered his eyelids, pretending to reach for the shiny, roasted pumpkin seeds in the tea tray, avoiding the gaze: "These days, all over the country is collecting honeysuckle from Hebei, and it's common for some wealthy merchant to monopolize it."

"My lord, don't be anxious, we can search again!"

He picked up a melon seed, but instead of cracking it open, he twirled it between his fingers. Suddenly, as if struck by a sudden realization, he slapped his shiny forehead: "Oh! You mean those daylilies... I just remembered something!"

(End of this chapter)