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

Chapter 83 The High-Ranking Official Plans His Path to Success Again
Madam Wang sneered, "No matter how powerful Lord Lin is, he is still surnamed Lin! He is an outsider! He is a scholar-official of the Qing Dynasty! He is ultimately separated from our Wang family by a layer!"

“Once Lin’s daughter-in-law really becomes my daughter-in-law, with her status, the old lady’s favoritism, and her father, a scholar who ranked third in the imperial examinations… just think about it, will I, as a proper mother-in-law, still have any say in this mansion? When the old lady passes away, will she be in charge of the entire Rongguo Mansion, or will I be in charge? How should our Wang family conduct itself in this Jia family?”

She paused, a complex and indescribable emotion flashing in her eyes: "Sister, we are both daughters-in-law, can't we see clearly? With just one word from the old lady, I, as the head of the household, am walking on thin ice! Do you want this scene to repeat itself between me and my daughter-in-law in the future? To let her rely on her family's power and the old lady's remaining influence to step on my head?"

Madam Xue felt a chill run down her spine, and her palms became slightly sweaty. She finally understood Madam Wang's fear—it wasn't just a conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, but a life-or-death struggle for dominance and control within the family! It was a power struggle between the Jia and Wang families! Letting Lin Daiyu into the family was tantamount to inviting a wolf into the house, completely suppressing the Wang family's influence within the Jia household.

Seeing Madam Xue's face turn pale instantly and her eyes light up with sudden realization, Madam Wang knew that she had completely grasped the key to the matter. She picked up the half-cooled teacup again, her fingertips tracing the delicate glaze, her tone regaining some of its composure, yet carrying an unwavering resolve:
"Therefore, Baochai is truly a match made in heaven. Her surname is Xue, she is my own niece, and even more so, a blood relative of our Wang family! With her entering the family, Baoyu will have someone he knows well and who is wholeheartedly devoted to us by his side. Only then can the entire household truly unite as one, relying on our elder brother's prestige to protect Baoyu and the future of the entire Jia family. This is true solid foundation, this is the true 'golden and jade match'!"

Madam Xue took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in her heart. When she looked at Madam Wang again, there was no hesitation in her eyes: "Sister's words are like a wake-up call! I was confused for a moment and did not think of this profound meaning. Sister, rest assured, Baochai's matter is our Wang family's matter! This 'golden and jade marriage' is related to the foundation and fortune of our two families, and we must not allow it to be lost! As for Miss Lin... we have a good understanding of the situation."

The Jia family is scheming here.

They call themselves a family of scholars and officials, but beneath their skin lies a web of hidden traps and schemes.

What talk of a wealthy and powerful family? Their banquets are nothing but a scheme to undermine their very foundations.

Let’s not mention it for now.

Meanwhile, after Lai Bao and Dai An had been scheming at the residence of Grand Tutor Cai in Tokyo, they had a sudden inspiration and spent two more nights entertaining the steward and several gatekeepers of the Grand Tutor's residence.

Then, leading Dai'an and the others, they rode swiftly, kicking up clouds of dust, and hurried back to the Ximen Mansion in Qinghe County. The two dismounted, not even bothering to brush the dust off themselves, and trotted into the front hall.

"Father! We're back!" Lai Bao knelt down with a thud, his voice brimming with barely suppressed obsequiousness: "Congratulations, Father! Congratulations, Father!"

Dai'an also knelt down, repeatedly saying, "Father, may you be blessed! May you be auspicious, Father!"

Seeing the expressions on their faces, Ximen Da Guanren knew that the matter was settled. Overjoyed, he sat down and took big gulps of white tea before saying, "Tell me every detail carefully, without missing a single one."

Lai Bao then recounted all the details in detail.

Dai An, who was missed, carefully followed and added to the list.

Finally, Lai Bao rubbed his hands together and said, "Back then, we were like dogs wagging their tails, asking, 'Old Master Zhai, what are your orders? We'd die for you!' Guess what that old bastard said?"

Dai'an chimed in, "That old codger lowered his eyelids, picked up his covered teacup, skimmed off the foam, and said slowly, 'I appreciate your kindness in helping me, but it depends on whether your master has the good fortune to let my master accept the gift.' Father, those words sounded polite, but... he didn't utter a single useful fart!"

Master Ximen Qing was in a great mood. He had knocked on the door, and everything was ready except for the birthday gift!

He chuckled, "That old bastard is incredibly shrewd! He's practically making it clear that my gift is just a stepping stone! The door's open, but whether he's one of us or not still depends on Grand Tutor Cai's approval." "Only after the birthday gift reaches the Grand Tutor and he's satisfied will I be qualified to work for his steward, Zhai. Understand?"

Lai Bao and Dai An suddenly realized what was happening and immediately kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Father is wise! Father is truly insightful! We are as stupid as pigs, not even as smart as one of Father's toes!"

Lai Bao pulled the heavy money pouch from his sleeve, held it high above his head, and said with an extremely obsequious smile, "Of the fifty taels of silver that Father gave me the other day for bribes, I used about twenty-three taels. After the matter was settled, it was already as dark as if I had been pulled out of an inkwell. I dared to take the liberty of inviting the gatekeepers of the Grand Tutor's mansion, along with a few of my own errand boys, to the 'Capital Hidden Spring Pavilion.' We called a few prostitutes, poured several rounds of hot wine, and did our best to please them. We stayed for another day, making those little devils very comfortable. Now, I still have eight taels left, and I dare not keep a single copper coin for myself."

Ximen Da Guanren was sipping his tea, not even lifting his eyelids, and said indifferently, "Keep six taels of the remaining eight taels. Give the remaining two taels to Dai'an. If you succeed in getting things done next time, you can go to a better brothel."

Upon hearing this, Lai Bao and Dai An were overjoyed, as if they had drunk ice water in June. Every pore on their bodies opened up, and they hurriedly kowtowed repeatedly, their voices sweet as honey: "Thank you for your reward, Father!!"

When Ximen Da Guanren noticed that Dai'an, the little monkey, was grinning from ear to ear, a thought struck him. He deliberately put on a stern face and asked, "You little brat, all you do is grin like an idiot! This trip with Lai Bao to the capital, through wind and rain, with money paving the way, did you learn anything of real value? Tell me!"

Dai An was having such a good time that he was completely lost, but when he was suddenly asked this question, he was like a chicken with its neck being choked. His smile froze on his face, and he looked at Lai Bao for help.

Lai Bao was also taken aback. He was skilled at handling things like retrieving coins from a frying pan—expert as he was—but when it came to explaining how to do it and teaching others, he was like trying to boil dumplings in a teapot—completely unable to get the information out. He rubbed his hands, stammering, "This...this..."

Ximen Qing chuckled, stood up, and paced back and forth a couple of steps. The shadow cast by his tall figure completely enveloped the two servants.

"Fool! Think about it carefully. Although Steward Zhai may not read Wen Shusheng's letter, without it, we would lack a huge 'pretext'! Why should the steward inform you? Why should the gatekeeper let you see Steward Zhai? If you can't see Steward Zhai, even if I pile mountains of gold and silver at the gate of the Grand Tutor's mansion, I won't be able to step into his mansion!"

He turned abruptly, his gaze sharp as he scanned the two lackeys: "What does this mean? Hmm? When it comes to getting things done, asking for favors, and cultivating relationships, you have to work your way up, like ants carrying a mountain, climbing layer by layer! Spider webs are connected, sticking firmly together, so that you can climb up! Only then can you pass the money up layer by layer, making sure every detail is covered and no water is wasted! Only then can you get things done!"

"Those who decide life and death are not necessarily those sitting high in the hall, but rather those below who pass the stick and relay the message. They only need to block a little wind from you through their fingers to make you feel like a deaf and blind person."

He paused, took a sip of tea, and his eyes grew even more profound: "On the contrary, after borrowing power, you must press down level by level! Like a thousand-pound millstone grinding wheat! With the power of Grand Tutor Cai, it will be easy to suppress Steward Zhai; with the power of Steward Zhai, it will be as easy as crushing ants to suppress his stewards and gatekeepers!"

"This power structure, from top to bottom, is like a vast net, a millstone! The net must be woven tightly, the money must be distributed evenly, and the power must be exerted forcefully! It ensnares people, feeds them, and subdues them!"

Before Ximen Da Guanren could utter a single word, he realized that this borrowed power was ultimately just that—borrowed. Borrowed things are like castles in the air, reflections in a mirror, or the moon's reflection in the water; one cannot simply rely on borrowing.
Dai An and Lai Bao both agreed.

"Alright, you two should get some rest," Ximen Qing said, then sat back down.

After Lai Bao and Dai An left, Dai An suddenly called out to Lai Bao, took out two taels of silver from his sleeve and handed it to him: "Uncle Lai Bao, please keep this silver. I didn't do any work, I just followed behind and learned a few tricks of behaving..."

(End of this chapter)