Dream of the Red Chamber: A Refined and Elegant Young Man in a Turbid World

Jia Cong listened to the other party's statement expressionlessly, then picked up his teacup and took a sip, while he began to make plans in his mind.

There were many collateral descendants of the Rong and Ning mansions. Even the close relatives, such as Jia Yun, Jia Qin, and the deceased Jia Rui, lived in hardship and had to rely on the Rong mansion to barely make a living.

The woman in front of me, Jia Ping, is probably a very distant relative, only sharing the surname Jia. Judging from her appearance, she doesn't seem to be lying, and she's at least much more pleasing to the eye than Jia Qin.

After pondering for a moment, Jia Cong decided to stay and discuss it further. Li Rong was his servant, and although he could accompany him in and out of the garrison, he could not hold any official position. As an official, one must always have a few trusted confidants around him to get things done.

Thinking of this, Jia Cong looked up at Jia Ping, his tone softening considerably, even carrying a hint of approval.

"It's rare to find someone as kind and honest as Ping-ge. I see you as an honest and reliable person, so I'll help you make a living."

Upon hearing this, Jia Ping breathed a sigh of relief and quickly bowed again.

"Third...Third Uncle, you've agreed? You're really willing to find a job for your nephew?"

"Of course it's true." Jia Cong calculated unhurriedly.

"My garrison is short a few jailers to guard the prison and patrol the area. It's a tough job, but it's stable, and you'll receive a fixed monthly salary and food allowance, enough to make a living. Are you willing?"

"Yes! I'm willing!" Jia Ping nodded hurriedly, trembling with excitement.

"Thank you so much for your kindness, Uncle! I am naturally willing to do my best and will certainly not let you down!"

After saying that, he suddenly knelt down heavily on both knees with a "thump" and kowtowed three times. His forehead was slightly red from the kowtow, but his expression was still full of piety and gratitude.

Jia Cong glanced at Li Rong, who quickly reached out to help Jia Ping up.

"Get up quickly, there's no need for such a grand gesture. We're all family, it's only right to lend a hand."

Jia Cong then instructed Li Rong to take out two taels of silver and hand it to the other party, smiling as he gave his instructions.

"In that case, go to the Left Thousand Household Office before roll call tomorrow and wait for me. I'll take care of everything for you. Take this money for now; it's just a small token of our kinship."

Jia Ping trembled as she accepted the small amount of silver, her voice shaking uncontrollably.

"I am deeply grateful for your great kindness, Uncle. I will certainly not be late tomorrow!"

The next morning, as expected, Jia Ping was waiting at the entrance of the garrison before dawn. When he saw Jia Cong riding his steed, Ba Hongchen, leisurely arriving for roll call, he quickly stepped forward to greet him.

"Nephew greets Third Uncle..."

Without wasting words, Jia Cong led Jia Ping inside, then called over a minor official and pointed to the roster of soldiers, saying that he wanted to add another jailer's quota.

The minor official dared not refute this. Most of these jailers were relatives of officials, and they were paid a monthly allowance of one shi (a unit of dry measure) of rice. Although it didn't seem like much, it was a lucrative job.

Besides the fixed income, the extra income from family visits, meals, and other errands required bribing superiors and subordinates, not to mention the tasks of relaying messages and buying goods. The extra income over the year was often more than the salary.

Zhou Haiyong and Yang Shaoyan tacitly approved of Jia Cong's actions. They had even more cronies, and it was good to get along with everyone since they saw each other all the time.

Having just finished Jia Ping's errand, Jia Cong was unexpectedly rushed to the garrison by a servant from the Rong Mansion, who grabbed him and tried to take him back to the mansion.

"Third Master, hurry back to the manor! The imperial decree has arrived! The matriarch and the master are waiting for you to return and receive it!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Cong was alarmed. He quickly greeted Zhou Haiyong and then sped off on Ba Hongchen. When he arrived at the Rong Mansion, he saw that there were already servants looking around.

Upon entering through the central gate, they saw Jia Zheng and the others. They quickly pulled him over and made him kneel. A court eunuch, smiling broadly, strolled out of the room carrying an imperial edict, slowly reading it aloud in a high-pitched voice.

"The imperial edict reads: Jia Zheng, Assistant Director of the Construction Department of the Ministry of Works, is a descendant of loyal and virtuous officials. He is cautious in his official duties and has rendered meritorious service by presenting a new type of waterwheel. I intend to commend him and hereby promote him to the position of Director of the Construction Department of the Ministry of Works. I hope that you will be diligent and careful and live up to the imperial favor..."

After a long, rambling explanation, Jia Cong finally understood: Jia Zheng, engrossed in court affairs, presented the new waterwheel to the current emperor, temporarily solving the flooding problem in the vicinity of the capital and even half of the country, and in return, gaining a precious opportunity for promotion.

As for Jia Cong, although the emperor did not promote him, he still bestowed upon him a large amount of gifts, including one hundred taels of gold.

After kowtowing to express his gratitude, Jia Zheng, beaming with joy, had gifts prepared and then pulled the eunuch into the house for tea, with Jia Cong having no choice but to accompany him.

After seeing off the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree, Jia Zheng, with a smile on his face, pulled Jia Cong aside.

"Jinghuan is exceptionally talented. His Majesty has spoken highly of you, saying that you are promising at a young age, but you must not be arrogant or complacent. You must proceed with utmost care and steadiness..."

Jia Cong gave a few vague replies, then went to thank Grandmother Jia again before hurriedly sending the gifts back to Qingyan Hall.

"Go and carefully put the Hetian mutton fat jade dragon teaching son inkstone that His Majesty bestowed upon you, as well as the red gold filigree box inlaid with South Sea pearls and eight treasures, into the box and take it with my master's courtyard."

Looking at the hundred taels of gold sealed in the secret box, Jia Cong had already made up his mind. Such a huge reward would be hard to hide from the eyes and ears of the mansion. Jia She was greedy and fond of goods, and Madam Xing was shrewd and calculating. Within a day, they would definitely hear about it and come to the door, either openly or secretly, to ask for money.

If he refuses, he will be accused of being unfilial and disrespectful; if he gives it all to him, he will be unwilling. So he simply takes the gifts from the emperor to shut up!

Before Jia She and Madam Xing could arrive, he went to Jia She's house after lunch, bowed respectfully, and ordered Li Rong to bring out the brocade box before the two could speak.

"Today, I am deeply grateful for His Majesty's great favor and have received several imperial gifts, which I dare not keep for myself! This Azure Dragon Teaching Son Inkstone is made by a skilled craftsman from the Imperial Household Department and is most suitable for Father's scholar's study. As for this filigree and pearl-inlaid box, the gold is thick and the pearls are lustrous, which can be used by Mother to store her jewelry. All of these are gifts from the Imperial Family, which I use to express my filial piety!"

Upon hearing that it was an imperial inkstone made of mutton fat jade, Jia She immediately sat up straight and ordered someone to open it for a closer look.

The inkstone was made of jade with a smooth and lustrous texture, carved with a coiled dragon, exuding a majestic and profound aura; it was indeed a first-class treasure.

Madam Xing also hurriedly opened the jeweled box and saw that the filigree of the red gold was exquisite, each South Sea pearl was round and smooth, and the eight treasures pattern was magnificent and magnificent, which was incomparable to the ordinary items in the market.

Both pieces are rare and precious artifacts, and with the title of "Imperial Gift," they are even more dignified and noble than ordinary gold and silver.

Jia She held the inkstone with obvious delight, but could only suppress his desire to inquire about the gold, chuckling and stroking his beard.

"Good, at least you have the heart to be filial to your parents. This is very good, very good."

Madam Xing also clutched the jeweled box tightly in her hand, her face beaming with joy and less harshness.

Seeing the two men looking delighted and engrossed in admiring the precious artifacts, Jia Cong secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He sat with them for a while longer, drank some tea, exchanged a few polite words, and then got up to take his leave.

As soon as he left the hospital, Li Rong sighed softly.

"Third Master, these two items are both priceless treasures of the Imperial Household Department. Are you just going to give them away like this?"

Jia Cong snorted coldly.

"What do you know? They're just two inanimate objects. Using them would be overstepping your bounds. Protecting that hundred taels of gold is the only worthwhile thing to do!"