The splendor of the Red Chamber, the power that reigns supreme.

Chapter 53 The County Magistrate Asks for a Visit

"And another thing!" Wu Yueniang lowered her voice even further, with a hint of caution, "We spent three hundred taels of silver just to smooth things over with Grand Tutor Cai in the capital, and that's not even our most precious gift."

"In addition, the official has been out socializing these past few days, and the monthly allowance, social obligations, and purchases at home have all cost more than three hundred taels. With the end of the year fast approaching, the New Year's gifts and festival presents from various officials and old friends will be another considerable sum..."

She gently placed a piece of deboned fish into Ximen Qing's plate: "If the path of Grand Tutor Cai in the capital can really be opened up, there will probably be even more and more urgent places to spend money in the future. As the saying goes: Money flows away like water without leaving a trace, and wealth melts away like spring ice."

The official took a sip of the sour bamboo shoot soup to sober up, then picked up a snow-white handkerchief and wiped the corner of his mouth.

He naturally understood the unspoken meaning behind Yue Niang's words—she was reminding him that money was flowing out like water, and if income couldn't keep up, even a wealthy family like the Ximen family couldn't withstand such spending.

"Alas!" Master Ximen sighed, "Indeed, if we keep spending like this, the bottom of this treasure bowl is visibly thinning. We need to find some other sources of income."

Suddenly, hurried footsteps were heard outside, and a servant bowed and reported from outside the curtain: "Father, Li, the clerk in charge of the county magistrate, requests an audience, saying that he has something important to discuss."

County Magistrate?

Ximen Da Guanren raised an eyebrow, chewing on the fish belly of Yue Niangbu. He slowly swallowed the food in his mouth, took a sip of Jinhua wine to moisten his throat, and then said in a drawn-out tone, "Let him in."

Before long, a man dressed in a blue satin robe and a belt around his waist, bowing and smiling, cautiously entered.

As soon as he entered, he didn't even glance at Ximen Qing, and quickly bowed in greeting:
"I kowtow to Master Ximen." He then bowed down.

Ximen Qing didn't even lift his eyelids, only using his silver chopsticks to fiddle with a piece of fish in his dish, casually saying, "Have you eaten yet? If you don't mind the leftovers, sit down and pick up some food?"

"You're too kind! You're too kind!" Li Zaoli bowed even lower, waving his hands wildly. "I just ate a couple of bites when I came, how could I dare to soil your precious plate! Even smelling the aroma of your delicacies would be a disservice to me!"

Ximen Qing then lifted his eyelids, his gaze a half-smile: "Oh? What brings you here? Does the magistrate have any orders?"

Li Zaoli's smile froze: "What are you saying, sir! How dare you speak of the imperial decree! It is the magistrate who is grateful for your usual help to the yamen and has been keeping it in mind."

"The master said that it has been a long time since he had a drink with the esteemed gentleman, and he misses him dearly. He specially sent me to invite the esteemed gentleman to come to the back hall of the county government office at noon tomorrow. The master has prepared some wine and water, just hoping to chat with the esteemed gentleman and warm our friendship."

"A warm gesture?" Ximen Qing said casually, "Please trouble you to go back and inform the county magistrate. I've been feeling listless these past few days, and I caught a cold last night. I'm currently taking medicine, so I'm afraid I shouldn't drink any alcohol, as it might interfere with the medicine's effects. I appreciate the county magistrate's hospitality, but I'm afraid I cannot accept this invitation to the feast."

Li Zaoli never expected that Ximen Qing would refuse so decisively, without even offering a way out!

He panicked, wringing his hands and bowing repeatedly.
“My dear sir! My dear father! You…you…are you still concerned about that sordid affair with Master Zhang the other day? Your grandfather was also put on the spot! That Master Zhang was climbing the social ladder in the prefecture, and your grandfather was caught in the middle, truly…truly like a mouse in a bellows—suffering from both sides! It wasn’t that I intended to stand idly by and watch you suffer in silence!”

Ximen Qing's eyelids remained droopy. He put down his chopsticks and said in a flat voice, "You've misunderstood. I'm just a lowly merchant. How could I dare to hold a grudge against the upright officials? And what 'grievance' is there to speak of? The county magistrate is just and impartial, what wrong has he done? I, Ximen Qing, can only bow and burn incense in gratitude. I would never dare to utter a single idle word."

"Oh dear! My dear Uncle Ximen!" Li Zaoli was so anxious that he almost knelt down: "My father was filled with remorse afterward! At home, he kept stamping his feet and beating his chest, saying that he had not thought things through properly that day and had wronged you, and that his heart was being torn apart by a knife! He repeatedly told me to kowtow and apologize on his behalf! My father said that he hoped you would take it to heart and not hold it against me, considering our friendship over the years."

As he spoke, he stole glances at Ximen Qing's expression.

Ximen Qing remained noncommittal, only bringing the wine cup to his lips and taking a small sip. Li Zaoli, steeling his resolve, knew he couldn't get past this hurdle without telling the truth, so he took a half-step closer and lowered his voice to a whisper:
"Father is a man of great influence, I dare not conceal the truth! In fact... in fact, besides wanting to clear up the misunderstanding and make peace with Father, there is another extremely important matter that Grandfather is holding this banquet for. In a few days, the newly appointed Imperial Inspector Wang will be visiting our Qinghe County to inspect the military administration and the people's conditions!"

"What my grandfather meant was that Uncle Ximen was the most respectable and wealthy gentry in Qinghe County, and only a hero like my father could handle the occasion. Firstly, it would bring honor to Qinghe, and secondly... it would also let Censor Wang know that we have a man of such extravagance as my father in our area. If my father's imposing presence weren't there to keep things in order, my grandfather would be as uneasy as if fifteen buckets of water were being drawn up and down!"

Ximen Qing gave a cold laugh.

So it turns out that Ximen Qing is being asked to spend so much money to support this event and entertain that Imperial Censor Wang!

This kind of affectation has many advantages:

Firstly, showing off the abundant wealth of merchants under his jurisdiction would be a way to glorify himself and make him appear as a capable local official.

Secondly, the county magistrate doesn't have to spend a single penny; he only needs to use his words to earn a reputation as a clean and upright official!

The delicacies and entertainers enjoyed by the Censor-in-Chief are, after all, tributes from merchants; what do they have to do with him?
With such hospitality and such "filial piety," the county magistrate remained unperturbed, winning the favor of the censor while avoiding any danger, leaving no room for error!
This is called: using someone else's resources to achieve your goals, or using someone else's resources to make money! This official is respectable, so please be considerate!

Upon hearing this, Ximen Qing snorted and curled his lip in a mocking smile: "Hmph! So now that the county magistrate has thought of me, Ximen Qing, you've come to think of me? Why don't you go to Zhang the wealthy and powerful for such a 'respectable and perfect' opportunity?"

Before he could finish speaking, Li Zaoli, who was standing nearby, bowed and put on a fawning smile. He took half a step closer and lowered his voice to reply, "Reporting to your Excellency, please calm down. That...that wealthy Zhang, last night, vomited blood and...he actually died!"

Ximen Qing was slightly taken aback by Li Zaoli's words. He was somewhat surprised, not expecting that his anger would lead to his premature death. Normally, he should have fallen ill in winter.

He said indifferently, "Oh, dead? What a pity."

Li, the constable, glanced at Ximen Qing's face and said with a fawning smile, "What you say is true, sir. However, my magistrate received the news this morning and stroked his beard, saying—there's nothing to regret!"

"The magistrate said: 'These cunning merchants who exploit the villagers and oppress the people, relying on their meager wealth, have no restraint and have incurred the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people! Now that they have died suddenly from illness, it is a clear manifestation of divine justice and retribution! Good riddance! They have rid the county of a scourge and saved the court from being tainted by the law!'"

"Oh?" Ximen Qing said slowly, "Your Excellency is extremely perceptive and insightful!"

“Who says otherwise!” Li Zaoli hurriedly nodded and bowed, “It is indeed Your Excellency’s wisdom! But…” He paused deliberately, shifted furtively to the left and right, then leaned forward half a foot, his voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz:

"But the old man also said that although this wealthy man is dead, he left behind a mountain of bloody debts! Only a strong-willed person can clean up this festering sore and prevent the pus from flowing out and polluting our Qinghe County!"

Ximen Da Guanren knew that everything before was just a prelude; the most important thing was about to happen.

He raised an eyebrow, put down his teacup, and the porcelain bottom tapped against the rosewood table with a crisp sound. "Oh? What brings you to this?"

[Dear friends, tomorrow is the first day of September, please give all your monthly votes to me, the head housekeeper! Let's aim for a good ranking, thank you!]

(End of this chapter)