Dream of the Red Chamber: Madam, please have some self-respect!

After leaving Jigu Zhai, Jia Yun carried the warm, smooth mutton-fat white jade dragon pendant in his arms, but his heart was pounding with anxiety, like he was carrying a live rabbit.

The young nobleman's words and actions, the exorbitant price of revenge "one word for one coin," and the astonishing coincidence of his elder brother's fondness for "carpentry" all intertwined to create a huge implication that truly unsettled Jia Yun.

Although he tried to remain calm, he could not immediately process the experience of living two lives, which brought him both a sudden opportunity and potential turbulent waves.

Jia Yun shook his head, suppressing his chaotic thoughts for the time being. He thought that he didn't need to rush back to the Iron Threshold Temple outside the city today, but should go home and stay for the night.

Having not seen his mother for almost half a month, Jia Yun was quite worried about her, not knowing how she was doing.

The thought of his mother, Madam Bu, warmed Jia Yun's heart. Although he had transmigrated and taken over this body, over the past six months, Madam Bu's heartfelt care and her motherly love—working day and night just to ensure he had a full meal—had already nourished this lonely soul in another world like a gentle spring breeze.

Furthermore, the lingering attachment in his body and blood, along with the bits and pieces of his memories, made him regard Bu Shi as his own mother with respect and dependence from an early age.

When Jia Yun recalled the time he first transmigrated, seeing his family in dire poverty, he had considered finding work or returning to his old profession as a medical apprentice. With his surgical knowledge from his previous life, he might be able to make a living.

But then he realized this path was fraught with difficulty. Even if he managed to enter the trade by chance, what good would it do? He'd be struggling to make ends meet, living like any other servant in the mansion, constantly at the mercy of others.

The Jia family may appear prosperous and thriving now, but in reality, their coffers are empty, and the collapse of the empire is imminent. According to the original story, Jia Yun could still find a way to survive after the downfall through his resourcefulness.

But the world today is so similar to the chaos at the end of the Ming Dynasty! The Liaodong region is engulfed in flames, eunuchs hold power, and bandits are rampant... When that day comes, what good will happen to a collateral descendant who knows a little medicine?

As for the "grand ambitions" of those time-traveling predecessors who were always talking about gunpowder, steelmaking, and reform, Jia Yun didn't even dare to think about it.

He was a surgeon who wielded a scalpel, yet he knew absolutely nothing about this field, truly bringing shame to the ranks of "time travelers".

After much deliberation, Jia Yun became convinced that only passing the imperial examinations was the most secure path in the world. Now, it seems that although this path is difficult, it is gradually showing signs of improvement.

At least, life now is much better than it was six months ago when we were struggling to make ends meet and had to be wary of sneaky attacks from the shadows.

However, apart from the fact that the phrase "You think you're worthy?" still hasn't been heard from again, life is still getting better day by day.

Who exactly dislikes them? Is it someone from the Ning and Rong mansions? Or perhaps the other six branches of the family?

The two taels of silver that Sister Feng had promised for medicine had already been paid, and Jia Yun handed it all over to his mother. Although he repeatedly told his mother not to be frugal and to eat and use what she wanted, Jia Yun, who knew his mother's temperament well, also knew that Madam Bu would absolutely refuse. He figured she would definitely stretch every copper coin in half and secretly save it for his wedding.

The other source of income was the one tael of silver per month from the public funds, a sum promised by Lord Zheng himself, for his studies. This silver had to be collected from the steward, Lai Da.

With this in mind, Jia Yun composed himself and headed straight for Lai Da's residence.

Lai Da was the head steward of the Rong Mansion. His mother, Granny Lai, was a respected elder in the household, and he himself enjoyed the deep trust of Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang. Among the servants of the Rong and Ning Mansions, he was a top figure. Even ordinary masters would treat him with great respect.

Upon arriving at Lai Da's courtyard, Jia Yun was quickly led inside after being announced by a servant. There was nothing unusual today; Lai Da was sitting on the kang (heated brick bed) leaning against a pillow, holding a hand warmer, with an account book spread out on a small table in front of him, and two maids attending to him, massaging his legs.

Seeing Jia Yun enter, Lai Da merely raised his eyelids slightly before slowly saying, "Oh, it's Brother Yun. What brings you here today?"

Jia Yun stepped forward and bowed respectfully, saying, "Greetings, Uncle Lai. I've returned today to collect this month's tuition allowance, as instructed by Master Zheng."

Upon hearing this, Lai Da feigned sudden realization, then drawled out, "Oh—it's that one tael of silver. Yun-ge'er, it's not that I don't want to give it to you, it's just that the accounts are incredibly complicated. There are hundreds of people in the household, and the money coming in and going out every day is like flowing water; every single transaction has to be checked carefully."

"Although the master personally ordered this money, the accounting department hasn't finished the procedures, and the money in the treasury hasn't been allocated yet. Please wait a few more days, and once the paperwork is complete here, I will send someone to deliver it to you, how about that?"

Lai Da's words were smooth and seemingly reasonable, but in reality, they were just an excuse to delay and give Jia Yun, the suddenly powerful young master from a collateral branch, a little hardship.

But if you bring it up in public, people will have their own explanations, and you'll still be the one who loses face.

Jia Yun understood that this was Lai Da's usual tactic of manipulating people. In the past, he might have had to swallow his anger, but now, having just experienced the incident at Mengpo Studio, his attitude was different.

Just as Jia Yun was about to speak, he suddenly heard a series of slightly heavy footsteps outside the door, followed by a voice filled with impatience and arrogance: "Lai Da! You old servant, what are you up to now?"

Before the words were finished, a person lifted the curtain and entered. The person was about fifty years old, wearing a royal blue satin robe with floral patterns, and an outer garment of dark blue Japanese satin with eight floral patterns and tassels.

The man was thin with heavy eye bags, and his brows carried an air of pampered arrogance. He was none other than Jia She, the eldest son of the Rongguo Mansion.

Jia Yun's heart skipped a beat. How did this real Buddha come here? So he quickly bowed and said, "Greetings to the Master."

Lai Da was so frightened by the cursing that he quickly slid off the kang (a heated brick bed) and stood respectfully to the side, his face plastered with his usual obsequious smile: "Oh, Master She, why did you come in person? You could have just sent a servant to give the order."

Jia She ignored him, his slightly cloudy yet still cunning eyes sweeping over Jia Yun before he said indifferently, "Is that Yun-ge'er? What are you doing here?"

Before Jia Yun could answer, Lai Da hurriedly explained with a smile, "Reporting to the Master, Yun-ge'er has come to collect the one tael of silver for his studies that Master Zheng instructed him to provide. He's in a hurry, not because I'm deliberately making things difficult, but because the accounts aren't complete yet. I'm explaining to Yun-ge'er that he should wait a few more days..."

"Bullshit!" Jia She spat out before he could finish, cursing, "You heartless lackey, always playing favorites! You dare to use a trifled official's orders as a pretext, making excuses and stalling? Do you think Yun-ge'er is young and inexperienced, easy to bully?"

Lai Da's face flushed red and then turned pale from the sudden, loud scolding, but he dared not refute it and could only bow repeatedly: "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare! It's really..."

"What is it?" Jia She sneered, his eyebrows almost falling off. "Hurry up and fetch it! Do you expect me to personally go to the accounting office to get the money for you?"

"Yes, yes, yes, I'll go right away, I'll go right away!" Lai Da dared not say another word and practically tumbled and crawled into the inner room. In just a moment, he came out with a small envelope made of mulberry paper.

Then Lai Da respectfully handed it to Jia Yun with both hands, repeatedly saying, "Brother Yun, please keep it safe."

Jia She then gave a satisfied "hmm," and turned to look at Jia Yun, managing a rare, somewhat amiable expression: "Yun-ge'er, it's a good thing that you're now interested in studying. Even though our family relies on our ancestors' legacy, we still need some scholarly atmosphere. Very good, very good."

Jia Yun didn't understand the implication in the second half of the sentence. He seemed to be implying something and said, "If you encounter any difficulties outside, or if some ignorant servant makes you angry, don't bear it. Just tell me, and I'll take care of them for you."

Jia Yun was extremely surprised, as everyone knew Jia She's character. He had originally thought that, given the influence of a noble family, there couldn't possibly be so many纨绔子弟 (spoiled brats) among them.

Later I realized that this was already the best I could do. He was known in the mansion as a greedy and lustful man who only cared about his own pleasure and didn't care about the lives of others. Why would he suddenly stand up for him today?

And to say such "considerate" things? Did he just take a fancy to my skin? Jia Yun was suspicious and horrified, but he didn't show it on his face. He just respectfully accepted the silver and bowed deeply: "Grandson thanks you for your kindness, Master."

Jia She smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Alright, we're family, let's not talk about this. You should go back now."

With that, he ignored Lai Da and turned to leave.

What kind of nonsense is this?