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

Jia Lian smiled, gestured for him to sit down, and then took a sip of his wine.

"What's so strange about it? It's not like we're having a drinking contest. We're just having a few private words under the influence of alcohol. These past few days, you've been running around for me, and you're a hundred times better than those guys in the manor who just drink and loaf around. I know that."

As he spoke, he poured Jia Cong another half-cup of wine, lowering his voice and glancing at the tightly closed door:

"You're a shrewd person, you should know that this mansion looks glamorous, but there are many intricacies inside. Although I have some responsibilities, I'm also subject to many constraints, especially from your sister-in-law. She's very controlling! She manages everything from the mansion's accounts to the purchasing, making it difficult for me to move an inch."

Jia Cong noncommittally picked up a slice of ham, put it in his mouth, and chewed it slowly.

"Second brother is joking. Everyone in the manor knows that you and sister-in-law are the pillars of the eldest son's family."

Seeing his composure, Jia Lian's eyes showed a hint of approval.

"We are brothers, and you are capable of getting things done. I'm here today to ask you for a favor. There are some private purchases in the manor and some social obligations outside. I can't handle them myself, and I don't want your sister-in-law to know. So I'd like you to run some errands for me."

He paused, carefully studying Jia Cong's expression.

"These tasks are not difficult; they are mostly inventory and delivery work. I will have my trusted steward assist you, and I guarantee no one will dare to make things difficult for you. Naturally, you will also receive generous benefits. In addition to the monthly allowance from the manor, I will provide you with additional subsidies..."

Jia Cong, however, remained respectful on the surface.

"My second brother trusts me, and as his brother, I shouldn't refuse. However, I am of low status and I'm afraid that if I don't do a good job, I might ruin my second brother's future, which would be undesirable."

"Don't worry," Jia Lian waved his hand, raised his wine cup, and lightly clinked it against his.

"I've arranged everything for you, there won't be any problems. Just do as I say, and I'll take care of everything, even if the sky falls! Besides, you've caught the old lady's eye now, who in the whole mansion would dare to make things difficult for you!"

Having said that, Jia Cong had no reason to refuse, so he immediately picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.

"Since you are so kind to me, Second Brother, I will obey your orders and do my best to ensure that I do not make any mistakes."

Seeing this, Jia Lian finally revealed a cunning smile and poured Jia Cong another cup of wine:

"Good, you're truly a straightforward person! From now on, brothers working together, our strength can break through anything."

The two drank a few more cups, and Jia Lian gave them detailed instructions on which managers were available, which purchasing channels needed to be kept out of Feng Jie's sight, which favors needed to be cultivated, and even gave some pointers on which factions to choose among the old women and maids in the mansion.

Jia Cong kept everything in mind, occasionally interjecting with a question or two, each one hitting the nail on the head, making Jia Lian even more convinced that he hadn't misjudged him.

Jia Cong had no idea that the Rong Mansion was so complicated; the infighting and factionalism among the maids and servants alone was enough to cause him a lot of trouble.

"Don't underestimate these old women and maids."

Jia Lian seemed to see through his thoughts, picked up a piece of pickled goose and put it in his mouth. His voice was slightly drunk, but every word was clear-headed. "The news in the mansion first comes from their mouths. They know better than anyone else which room is missing what, and which master is thinking what."

"Yes, thank you for your advice, Second Brother." This time, Jia Cong genuinely poured wine for Jia Lian, as there were some things that he, the originally unfavored young master, could not possibly know.

The two brothers drank for a full two hours before Jia Lian, with a smile, instructed his servant to escort Jia Cong back to his own courtyard.

Before leaving, Jia Lian also gave Jia Cong a jade pendant with cloud patterns and auspicious beasts made of Hetian white jade. He said it was a piece of raw jade he had collected while on a business trip years ago, and that the jade craftsmen in the mansion had carved it. He said the material was pure and the patterns were auspicious.

Jia Cong thought to himself that his cheap older brother was very thoughtful, noticing that he, as the master, had no decent high-end items at his waist, and was even more generous than Wang Xifeng.

As the year draws to a close, Sun Tai visits less often, knowing that wealthy families are very busy. He only instructs Jia Cong not to neglect his studies and to practice diligently every day. After the family visit next year, he will teach him riding and archery.

A true military general cannot be without learning horsemanship and archery. The Six Arts of a Gentleman have existed since the Spring and Autumn Period. However, a good horse requires a lot of money, and the public funds alone are probably not enough to buy Jia Cong a fine horse.

What's more, there's the most important thing next year: the military examination!

Jia Cong was the legitimate eldest son of the Duke's mansion, and could skip the basic selection for military scholars and directly participate in the military examination the following year (Ming History, Elections II: "The military examination was established in the first year of the Wu dynasty. In the twentieth year of the Hongwu reign, Yu, the Ministry of Rites, requested the establishment of military academies and the use of military examinations. The sons of military officials took the examinations in their respective provinces.").

In late December, the school had already closed for the New Year and would not resume classes until after January. So Jia Cong took some time to borrow several military classics from Jia She and Jia Zheng's study, such as "Sun Tzu's Art of War" and "Wu Zi's Art of War," which were to be tested the following year.

"This is absolutely boring!" he grumbled, slamming the book shut. The obscure and difficult classical Chinese text was giving him a headache.

However, these were necessary steps to pass the martial arts examination. Moreover, Jia Cong had to spend money to hire a teacher who was well-versed in martial arts to teach him.

Fortunately, this kind of work did not require much education. There were plenty of failed scholars or old students in the capital, or even military officers who were old acquaintances of the Jia family. All that was needed was to spend some money after the New Year.

A day later, after practicing the kung fu taught by Sun Tai, Jia Cong felt hot all over and thought about going to the perfume workshop to see Qin Keqing.

He took Li Rong with him, but they had barely stepped out of the courtyard gate when they encountered Siqi, the head maid of Yingchun's room, who was with two younger maids and carrying a small blue cloth bundle in her hand, walking very fast.

However, the other party had an uncontrollable anger on their face, unlike their usual shrewishness, as if they were holding back a lawsuit.

Jia Cong didn't want to meddle in other people's business, and was about to pass by when Siqi looked up and saw him first. She quickly stopped, curtsied, and said in a still-breathy voice, "Greetings, Third Master."

Jia Cong's gaze swept over the bundle in her arms, noticing a few strands of ordinary silk peeking out from the edges. The silk was dark and rough, not appearing to be of high quality. He casually asked, "Where are you going? What's in this bundle that you're in such a hurry?"

Siqi, who was naturally outspoken, didn't mince words when Jia Cong asked her directly.

"Reporting to Third Master, it's nothing serious. It's just a matter concerning my young lady's household. We servants want to seek justice from Second Madam."

Jia Cong raised an eyebrow slightly. Since he had nothing else to do, he simply turned around.

"Oh? Is that my second sister? Tell me clearly!"

Seeing that Jia Cong seemed willing to help, Siqi's heart leaped. She simply lifted a corner of the bundle, revealing several bolts of coarse, gray silk inside, their weave sparse and thin, even worse than the fabric of an ordinary maid's garment.

"Third Master, look! The other day, the manor distributed New Year's clothing materials. My young lady received two bolts of top-grade cloud and crane patterned silk and one bolt of dark blue embroidered silk crepe, all newly arrived tribute materials. But yesterday, Wang Zhuer's wife coaxed the young lady, saying, 'Keep these for her, so the maids won't waste them,' and then she secretly replaced those good materials with these inferior coarse silks! When I asked her for them back, that old woman threw a tantrum!"