The Heavens Begin with Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 17: Rich
It was noon, and the sunlight shone through the mottled window lattices, slanting onto Jia Zhen's large old wooden bed.

This middle-aged nobleman had just woken up from his drunkenness after overindulging in alcohol and sex last night. His face looked a little haggard, and there was still fatigue in his eyes.

He is only about thirty years old now, but his body is already showing signs of fatigue.

Jia Zhen struggled to lift the heavy brocade quilt, half leaning against the head of the bed, rubbing his swollen eye bags feebly with one hand, trying to drive away the remaining hangover, while the other hand hung feebly on the edge of the bed, his fingers slightly curled, his fingertips white, and his movements slow, as if he were an old man in his twilight years.

His eyes were blurred as he looked at the bronze mirror beside the bed. The mirror showed his pale face and deep eye bags. His silk pajamas had slid loosely to his waist, revealing his loose skin and slightly bulging abdomen. His once strong figure had been completely worn away by age and indulgence.

He forced a bitter smile, shook his head, struggled to sit up, took the teapot from the bedside and took a sip, but found that the tea inside was cold. He suddenly became furious, slammed the teapot on the table, and shouted:

"What about people?"

"Where did they all go?"

There was a sound of chaotic footsteps, and a beautiful woman in her thirties came in hurriedly, with a slim and plump figure, holding toiletries in her hands.

"Master has woken up. I have been waiting outside and have never left."

"What's up with the tea?"

"Why is it cold?"

It's almost noon, how could this tea not get cold?

Yu Shi was secretly complaining in her heart, but she didn't dare to complain out loud. She quickly waved her hand to signal the maid behind her to come forward, "I'll have someone change it right away."

After shouting for a few words, Jia Zhen became much more sober. He sat up and began to wash with the help of Youshi.

After he finished washing up, new tea was served, but he complained it was too hot.

"Humph, you guys are all sneaky and cunning all day long, and you don't care about the master's business at all!"

Listening to Jia Zhen's complaints, Youshi and others just lowered their heads and served by his side, not daring to say anything back.

Jia Zhen rubbed his hangover forehead, vaguely feeling as if he had forgotten something.

"Master, how did I get back last night?"

"It was sent back by a Master Zhan."

"Oh, yes, I almost forgot!" Jia Zhen just remembered and tapped his forehead twice with his fingers. "Brother Zhan seemed to say that he needed help from me. Where is he?"

"After returning it to the master last night, Mr. Zhan said goodbye and left. But he left a note for five hundred taels of silver, saying it was a gift for the master."

"Tsk! He is indeed a businessman, so rich!"

When Jia Zhen heard that there was money in his pocket, he immediately became happy.

The Ningguo Mansion was living beyond their means and relied entirely on the harvest from the farm to maintain its dignity. They simply could not enjoy a luxurious life. A gift of five hundred taels for a meeting immediately made Jia Zhen treat Zhan Twenty-four as an even better brother.

But when Jia Zhen heard that the God of Wealth had left, he became unhappy and glared at Youshi and shouted:

"Why didn't you keep him here? We have many courtyards in our house, why didn't you let him stay overnight?" Yu Shi immediately looked bitter, "The master was drunk at the time, and I am a woman, how could I let a stranger stay overnight?"

"How can he be a stranger? He is the nephew-in-law of Master Zheng and his wife. We are brothers after all. What do you mean by stranger?"

Yu Shi had no choice but to lower her head and said, "I understand. Next time Master Zhan comes, I will definitely let him stay here."

As they were talking, footsteps were heard outside and a young couple walked in with their maids. It turned out to be Jia Rong and Qin Keqing, who had heard that their father had woken up and had come to pay their respects.

As soon as he saw his daughter-in-law, Jia Zhen's face was immediately filled with a warm smile.

"No need to be polite, we are all family, it's enough to show your appreciation."

He waved his hand, motioning Jia Rong and his wife to sit down, and began to ask about their well-being with concern.

Jia Rong lowered his head and answered respectfully, ignoring his father's eyes that were lingering on his wife. Youshi even found an excuse to leave the room with a few maids, leaving Qin Keqing there, her pretty face slightly flushed, and her beauty dripping with temptation.

Fortunately, it was broad daylight and Jia Zhen could not do anything. After looking at Qin Keqing from head to toe several times and satisfying his eyes, Jia Zhen let Jia Rong and his wife leave.

After making up his mind to let his son go to the study to study hard tonight, Jia Zhen left the bedroom and started to have breakfast and lunch.

Yu Shi knew her master very well and had prepared everything long ago. She presented everything to him as soon as he came out.

After lunch, Jia Zhen went to the yard to stretch his arms and legs, intending to save his energy for the evening's activities, when he saw the housekeeper Lai Sheng coming in to report.

"Master, Master Zhan Niansi, who sent you back home last night, wants to see you."

"Oh!" Jia Zhen was immediately refreshed upon hearing this, and hurriedly ordered: "Hurry up and invite him! Please ask Brother Zhan to go to the living room to serve tea first, I will go change my clothes and come back."

Lai Sheng had been the steward of the Ningguo Mansion for many years and was accustomed to guessing his master's thoughts. When he saw his enthusiastic attitude, he knew that this Master Zhan was an important person, so he hurried back and welcomed Zhan Twenty-four in with a smile on his face.

Zhan Ershisi stepped into the courtyard and casually threw a silver ingot over. When Lai Sheng took it, he felt it was very heavy, weighing at least fifty taels. He was immediately surprised and delighted.

Although he was the manager of the mansion, the Ningguo Mansion itself was not as wealthy as the Rongguo Mansion, so naturally the amount he embezzled was not as much as his brother Lai.

Although these fifty taels were not particularly much for Lai Er, they were enough to make him excited.

Especially since we just met and he hasn't done anything meritorious, yet he has received so many rewards. If he tries to curry favor with him in the future, won't he be able to get even more?

At that moment, Lai Er's waist was bent even more, and his smile became much more sincere.

This is exactly what Zhan Ershisi wanted. Since he was plotting against someone else's mistress, he certainly needed the cooperation of these greedy servants. It was just like that poor scholar who wanted to plot against the rich girl. The first hurdle he had to overcome was to bribe those personal maids.

Although the servants of the Ning and Rong mansions were mostly of bad character, there was at least one thing that was certain, that is, they would take money from people to help them get rid of disasters, and they would absolutely follow the principle of whoever feeds them is their mother.

Not only was he generous, but even the "maids" in the Rongguo Mansion, such as Hongye, were very generous. They spent money lavishly in each room and courtyard in the name of Aunt Xue and Miss Baochai. Everyone they met for the first time was given a gift, and anyone who tipped off them was given various gifts.

The word that stands out is “rich”!

(End of this chapter)