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

Jia Cong was very satisfied with the other party's reaction and quickly lifted Ni Er's elbow.

"We hit it off immediately, there's no need for such a grand ceremony, it's just a small favor."

Ni Er was helped up by Jia Cong, still trembling with excitement. "Third Master, you have treated me so kindly, I really don't know how to repay you."

Jia Cong laughed heartily, "There's no need to rush to repay me. The sun is shining brightly, and we have nothing to do today. How about we call your brothers and go to Dongxinglou on West Street for a drink?"

Upon hearing this, Ni Er was stunned for a moment, then his face lit up with wild joy.

"It's our good fortune that Third Master thinks highly of us brothers. Let me go and fetch a doctor and medicine for my mother first. We'll definitely be waiting for Third Master on West Street!"

Li Rong was quick on his feet, and soon he brought back the silver and a small box containing ginseng.

Jia Cong also got up.

"Very well, then see you at Dongxinglou on West Street later. Getting your mother's medicine as soon as possible is the most important thing!"

Ni Er hurriedly pocketed the silver, bowing as he did so.

"Thank you, Third Master. I'll be right back. I won't keep you waiting!" With that, he lifted the curtain and strode out of the side gate.

"Prepare the cart, we're going to West Street." Jia Cong also gestured to Li Rong to quickly prepare the mule cart.

"Third Master... such a rogue and scoundrel, he's probably not coming back..." Li Rong cautiously reminded him.

Jia Cong waved his hand impatiently.

"Since when did it become your place to meddle in my business? Say another word and you'll regret it!"

Startled, Li Rong quickly bowed respectfully before turning to find the servant in the carriage and horse stable.

With a silver ingot tucked in his pocket, Jia Cong braved the cold wind and climbed into the mule cart. When he arrived at West Street, he saw Ni Er waiting outside Dongxing Tower with four ruffians.

"Greetings, Third Master!" The ruffians bowed respectfully in unison.

"Alright, alright, we're all brothers, no need for formalities. Let's go have some drinks!"

The restaurant owner also found it strange. He saw that Jia Cong was dressed in fine clothes, had an extraordinary demeanor, and was accompanied by a servant. He was clearly the young master of some wealthy family, but he was associating with Ni Er and his gang of hooligans.

Seeing that he couldn't understand, the shopkeeper had no choice but to dismiss the waiter and personally step forward, forcing a smile.

"Gentlemen, would you like to drink or have a meal?"

Li Rong, the servant boy, answered for Jia Cong, pointing imperiously at the stairs.

"This is my third master. Find a private room and bring out the best wine and food!"

"Yes, yes, I'll arrange it for you right away, Third Master!" The shopkeeper hurriedly replied, and personally led Jia Cong and the others upstairs to a private room. He then quickly ordered the waiter to light a charcoal brazier to keep them warm.

Jia Cong walked to the chair by the window and sat down. Li Rong took off his silver fox fur cloak and folded it aside, then placed a hand warmer next to him. What a refined gentleman he was!

Ni Er and his gang of hooligans stood aside, still not daring to sit down casually, their expressions somewhat awkward and restrained.

Jia Cong then raised his hand to gesture for them, "Please sit down, don't be shy. Today we're just brothers, not about status. Eat and drink to your heart's content."

Upon hearing this, Ni Er and the others exchanged glances before cautiously sitting down on the chairs nearby, still only daring to sit on the corner of the chair, their bodies taut and straight.

Before long, the waiter brought in the food and wine, filling the entire table. There were hot dishes such as steamed fish, braised pork knuckle, braised pork, and roast chicken, as well as several exquisite cold dishes and several jars of fine yellow wine. The aroma was irresistible, making the ruffians swallow hard, but they still dared not touch their chopsticks.

Jia Cong gestured for Li Rong to pour him a glass of wine, and then poured one for Ni Er, pushing it in front of him. "Ni Er, come on, let's have a drink first."

Ni Er quickly stood up, took the wine cup with both hands, and said, "Thank you, Third Master! I'd like to offer you a toast!" After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in the cup in one gulp.

Jia Cong also finished his drink. "Don't just stand there, eat and drink."

With Jia Cong's instructions, Ni Er and the others dared to pick up their chopsticks and carefully put some food into their mouths.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Ni Er and the others gradually relaxed and were no longer as awkward as they had been at the beginning. They even dared to say a few words to Jia Cong occasionally, and their smiles became more frequent.

"Third Master, I toast you!" Some of the bolder ruffians, after a few cups of wine, would get up with flushed faces and offer a toast.

"Alright, alright, we're all brothers, there's no need to distinguish between superiors and inferiors!" Although Jia Cong wasn't a good drinker, he still drank half a cup with him.

He wasn't in a hurry. He waited until Ni Er and his group had eaten and drunk their fill and were all slumped on the brocade stools before smilingly taking a five-tael silver ingot from Li Rong and placing it on the table.

"Third Master, what's wrong with you...?" Ni Er had a good alcohol tolerance and remained quite sober.

Jia Cong picked up his wine cup.

"Ni Er, it's not easy for you to make a living in this place. From now on, I will have someone send you and your brothers a monthly allowance of one tael of silver each!"

The group of hooligans saw it all clearly, and those with tempers immediately became enraged.

"Third Master knows our predicament! A few days ago, we were beaten up while trying to collect a debt, and now we're stuck at home unable to even afford medicine. How could we possibly dream of a decent monthly allowance!"

Ni Er also suddenly stood up at this moment.

"Third Master's kindness to us is as heavy as a mountain. My old mother's illness was saved entirely thanks to your ginseng and silver! From now on, my life belongs to Third Master. Through water and fire, I will follow Third Master's lead without question!"

Seeing this, the group of hooligans scrambled to their feet, patting their chests and loudly echoing their sentiments.

"Don't worry, Third Master! From now on, we'll listen to you. Just tell us to do those dirty tricks!"

A burly ruffian even ripped open his shirt.

"Third Master, wherever you point, we will fight; we will have no disloyalty!"

Jia Cong was very satisfied with this result. Ni Er and his fellow ruffians were not very cultured, so it was easy to bribe them.

The only problem is that if Jia Cong can be bribed, others can naturally follow suit, so a monthly allowance is needed to maintain this relationship.

One tael of silver may not sound like much, but for people like Ni Er, it's a lot. Twenty taels is enough for Granny Liu's family of five to live a lavish life for more than a year. A rogue can even have a good time drinking several times a month with one tael of silver.

Jia Cong, knowing when to stop, got up with a smile as the sun began to set. He called the innkeeper, paid the bill readily, and then put on his silver fox fur cloak.

"Brothers, we should take our leave now. It's time to head back to the manor to pay our respects to the old lady after being out for half a day."

Ni Er and his gang of hooligans hurriedly opened the door for him.

"I wouldn't dare disturb Third Master. From now on, just give me your orders on West Street!"

"No problem..."

After leaving the restaurant, Jia Cong, with Li Rong's help, boarded a mule cart and strolled back to the Rong Mansion. Ni Er and the others escorted him all the way to the street before dispersing.

Jia Cong didn't mind spending an extra five taels of silver every month. Now that he had a room full of gifts, he could easily pawn any one of them for a hundred or eighty taels. Besides, he still had more than three hundred taels left from the eight hundred taels he had last time.