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

Chapter 85: A Turbulent Encounter During a Debt Collection Attempt
The Grandpas' House 2.0 is out; version 1.0 didn't have the garden on the left.

Lai Bao was delighted to see the silver, but when he reached out, he withdrew his hand and coughed lightly, saying, "Since the master has rewarded you, you should accept it obediently... Since the master instructed you to learn to be clever from me, I have a few words to teach you..."

Dai'an chuckled and forcefully stuffed the silver into his sleeve pocket: "Now that you've acknowledged me as your master, isn't it only natural for a disciple to show respect?"

Lai Bao tightened his sleeves and laughed, scolding, "You glib-tongued monkey! It's not for nothing that you've followed me for so many years!"

He paused, then continued, "You've served Master for so many years, how could you not know his temperament? There's no need for me to say more! But now that Master has opened the door to a bright future, he'll inevitably rise higher and higher. As the saying goes, 'A tall tree branches out, a high tide raises a boat.' In the future, this mansion will be filled with more people dressed in red and green, rushing around like fish in a river; what are people like you and me compared to them? Those who are better than you and me are like an ant colony, countless in number!"

"To establish yourself in the Ximen household and earn a living steadily, you must remember: the master's words are law, his expression is the wind, and the rules are your destiny! Being shrewd is a skill, but being able to endure in the face of adversity is the norm. Taking a step back is a way out, taking half a step forward is a skill! Not making mistakes... hehe, that's true fortune!"

Dai'an understood immediately after hearing this, and bowed repeatedly in thanks before going to rest and not mentioning it again.

Ximen Da Guanren frowned and paced back and forth, worried about the matter of sending gifts to Cai Jing.

Gift-giving is a complex art; what you give is a "gift," what you receive in return is "profit," what you rely on is "insight," and what you gamble on is "luck."

First, one must be aware of the times and assess the situation.

Second, one must understand people's hearts and cater to their preferences.

Third, one must know what is important and when to advance and retreat.

Although Steward Zhai was a shrewd man, having risen to his position through his own methods, he was ultimately a commoner, and his vision and mind were always driven by self-interest. He could easily manage with a few ordinary valuables and some silver.

Who is Cai Jing?

Although he was a treacherous official, he was also a master calligrapher of the time, whose calligraphy was worth a thousand pieces of gold and whose works were hard to come by. His brushstrokes were like dragons and snakes, and he was praised as "unparalleled in ancient and modern times". Even the emperor regarded him as a treasure!
His writings are exquisite and unrestrained, possessing a thorough understanding of the classics, histories, philosophical works, and literary collections. His literary talent and elegance are unparalleled in his time. Imperial edicts and decrees are all written by him, his pen carrying immense power, and the entire court of officials eagerly recites them!

He was well-versed in music and had a deep understanding of painting principles; he was a rare polymath among scholars!

Such a person cannot be swayed by ordinary gold, silver, jewels, silks, or other mundane items. The item must not only be valuable but also of high quality, and one's preferences must be thoroughly understood!

Moreover, the gates of the Grand Tutor's mansion are teeming with sycophants, former officials, and wealthy merchants! Countless people like myself, who have only recently managed to pry open a small loophole from the head steward, are eagerly awaiting this birthday celebration!
It would be extremely difficult for him to choose one of the gifts from these people.

The official pondered the matter deeply but couldn't come up with a solution. He had no choice but to summon Yue Niang for advice. Although Yue Niang was adept at managing the household accounts, she was, after all, just a woman confined to the inner quarters and had limited experience.

Both were like fish out of water, completely unsure where to begin. This is the limited perspective of those from humble backgrounds. They only recognize the purity of gold and silver, the quality of silk, but how could they know what truly constitutes elegance in the eyes of high-ranking officials, nobles, and renowned scholars, or what they truly cherish?

The kind of things that Grand Tutor Cai likes, I've probably never even heard of! It seems I'll have to personally go to the capital to find out. But no matter what, I need to prepare enough silver.

Thinking of the silver, the official raised an eyebrow; there were still three hundred taels of bad debts outstanding.

Now, Fu Ming, having accepted the task from Master Ximen, dared not neglect it. He left the Ximen residence, straightened his clothes, and headed towards the neighboring Hua residence.

The gatekeeper of the Hua residence, seeing that it was Fu, the accountant serving Master Ximen, dared not be negligent and hurriedly invited him in, serving him tea in the hall. After waiting for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a clattering sound was heard from behind, and Hua Zixu, wearing a pair of cloud-patterned shoes, rubbed his sleepy eyes and yawned as he came out.

He wore a loose-fitting silk robe, clearly having just woken up, his face still glistening with the oil of a hangover.

"Oh, Accountant Fu? What a rare guest!" Hua Zixu leaned back in the main seat, glancing at Fu Ming with his eyelids. "What wind blew you, the head accountant of the Ximen family, here with me? Does Brother Ximen have any orders?"

Fu Ming hurriedly stood up, his face beaming with smiles, and bowed deeply: "Greetings to Fourth Master Hua! I have disturbed your peaceful sleep, I deserve to die. I am here on the orders of my master, Master Ximen, to ask for your instructions on a small matter."

"Oh? What is it? Please speak freely." Hua Zixu yawned, his eyes squinting comfortably.

Fu Ming rubbed his hands together, being careful, and steered the conversation toward the three hundred taels of silver: "It's like this, Fourth Master, you are wise. A few days ago, the postmaster Li Zhongyi was short of money and borrowed three hundred taels of silver from my master to do his bidding. At that time, I was grateful to Fourth Master for being so kind as to act as guarantor."

"Right now... the accounts are a bit tight, and I'd like to ask you, sir, if you have some free time, to help urge that Postmaster Li to send the principal and interest as soon as possible, so we can tide us over. The master said that you two are sworn brothers who have kowtowed and burned yellow paper in public, so you will definitely help him collect this debt. That's why I've specially sent me to deliver this message to you, Fourth Master..."

Before Fu Ming could finish speaking, Hua Zixu's pale face suddenly darkened, his previously squinting triangular eyes widened instantly, making his consumptive dark circles appear even larger. He slammed his hand on the small rosewood table beside him, making the teacup lid rattle loudly.

"Bullshit! So you've come to my mansion to collect a debt!" Hua Zixu suddenly jumped up, pointed at Fu Ming's nose, and started cursing, spitting all over Fu Ming's face.
"What kind of dog are you? How dare you come to your Fourth Master's door to beg for wildfire? That three hundred taels of silver was borrowed by that scoundrel Li Zhongyi. What does it have to do with your Fourth Master? Fourth Master is only acting as guarantor for him out of respect for Brother Ximen!"

"Now look what's happened! The real boss has disappeared without a trace, and you, this scoundrel, are blocking your Fourth Master's door? Even Brother Ximen hasn't asked me for anything, so who do you think you are? You dare to bare your teeth at your Fourth Master?"

Fu Ming was thoroughly berated, his face flushing red and then pale. He hurriedly bowed and kowtowed, saying repeatedly, "Fourth Master, please calm down! Fourth Master, please calm down! I deserve to die, I had no such intention! I was just following orders to deliver a message..."

"Screw your mother's legs!" Hua Zixu cursed, his anger rising, his face red and his neck thick, as if he had suffered a great injustice. "I don't believe that my good brother Ximen would have the nerve to come and rob me, his sworn brother, for a paltry three hundred taels of silver! Get out! Get out of here with your fourth master! Don't defile my clean place!" With that, he grabbed an empty teacup from the side and made as if to throw it.

(End of this chapter)