Details

Written by: Realhistories

Category: Officialdom Unmasked

Published: 23 November 2024

Created: 23 November 2024

Hits: 80

Mrs. Qu returned from outside, and as soon as she got into the palanquin, she heard that her husband had broken his leg, which startled her. "What happened? How did this happen?" she asked anxiously. The servant replied, "This morning after the master saw you off in the palanquin, he went to the government office to handle some matters. But he looked worried all day, didn’t eat anything, and came back. Just as he walked in the door and was about to go to the toilet, I happened to pass by and saw a wet spot near the potty, not knowing who dropped a copper coin there. The master saw it, bent down to pick it up, and accidentally slipped. Getting urine on him was a minor issue, but the key was that he exclaimed 'ouch' and said his leg was broken." Mrs. Qu immediately scolded, "You lazy good-for-nothings! If money falls on the ground, why didn’t you pick it up? So, of course, he had to do it himself!" The servant explained, "I missed it; I only found out later when the master mentioned it."

Mrs. Qu asked, "What if he's hurt? Have you called a doctor?" The attendant replied, "After the old man fell, he kept groaning in pain. He's a hefty one; no way I could move him alone! It was only after I managed to call a few servants, cooks, and sedan bearers that we were able to lift him onto the bed. Luckily, Mr. Hu Er, who knew a bit of foreign lingo, was paying a call. When he heard that the old man had broken his leg, he was frantic, saying, 'For us officials, our legs are everything! We bow, we scrape, we run around – if they're gone, we're done for!' Mr. Hu Er was very concerned, and after examining the old man, he immediately went out to fetch a foreign doctor." Mrs. Qu exclaimed, "Why didn't you call an orthopedist? Can we even afford a foreign doctor?" The attendant replied, "The old man said the same thing. When he heard Mr. Hu Er suggest calling a foreign doctor, he was in a panic, saying, 'I'd have to give up all my possessions just to afford him; I'd rather limp!' But Mr. Hu Er insisted and brought the foreign doctor himself. The old man flat-out refused, but Hu Er grabbed his leg and made him look. After examining him, the foreign doctor said, 'It can be treated, but you'll limp when walking in the future.' Mr. Hu Er said, 'Fine! Fine! Fine! So long as he can get around and do his kowtows, even if he's crippled, it's all good.' The foreign doctor said, 'If he only needs to bow and greet, I guarantee I can cure him.' Then Mr. Hu Er asked for a fixed fee, thirty taels of silver." Mrs. Qu inquired, "What did the old man say?" The attendant replied, "The old man was beside himself with worry, and kept secretly signaling Hu Er not to agree to a set price. Hu Er had no choice but to mutter something in the foreign tongue and left with the doctor."

Mrs. Qu finally relaxed, walking towards the back room and asking, "Did you see the bonesetter?" The servant replied, "We hired a charlatan, asking for fifteen taels of silver for treatment, but the master thought it was too expensive. Later, we got a guy who sells charms to draw a talisman; we didn't spend a penny, but it had no effect." Mrs. Qu said, "Why didn't you send me a message earlier?" The servant replied, "I rushed to the Dai Mansion and heard that you went to the governor's office. You know you can't just waltz into the governor's office! So I came back."

As they were talking, Mrs. Qu arrived at the upstairs, went into the back room, and saw the master lying on the bed groaning. She lifted the curtain, looked at him, and asked, "What happened to your leg?" She then asked, "How bad does it hurt? That faith healer said you'd be fine, that you wouldn't be crippled, right?" The master was in pain and confused; hearing his wife's voice, he seemed to understand and said intermittently, "You're back? I could have died from that fall today!" After speaking, he groaned again. Mrs. Qu sat by the bed, sighed, and said, "We are not poor people. If you need money, just tell me; there will be a way. Why break your leg for a few coins? If it can't be cured, you won't even be able to kowtow to pay respects, then your life will be over. What am I supposed to do now?" Saying this, she started crying.

Qu Nai'an said, "Don't cry. Now that you're back, hurry and find a doctor to check on me." His wife replied, "Foreign doctors are too expensive; we can't afford them. Don't mention him. Hurry and invite Mr. Wang, the bone-setter, and ask him how much he wants. I will pay him. He must come tonight, even if I have to wake him up!" The attendant went away for a while and returned, saying, "Mr. Wang said that after ten o'clock at night, even if they had to carry him in a palanquin, he wouldn't come. Let's talk about it tomorrow." His wife exclaimed, "The nerve of that guy! Go tell him, if he doesn't come again, I will have the officials from the yamen bring him here, and we'll see if he dares not to come!" As she spoke, she was about to take a sedan chair back to the yamen. Qu Nai'an hurriedly waved his hand and said, "What time is it now? You can't go, you can't go! How much time will you waste going back and forth like this? Wait a little longer until dawn. Invite him again then; he will come eventually. Why disturb the yamen in the middle of the night? If he comes, we must pay him in full, not a penny less. I can wait a little longer." She thought about it and held back. Sure enough, not long after, it was dawn. After a while, his wife quickly sent someone to invite Mr. Wang. The family member went for a while before returning, saying, "Mr. Wang just got out of bed; he's seeing patients and has to finish before he can come." They had no choice but to wait.

Around four in the afternoon, Mr. Wang finally arrived. After entering the room, he first asked Qu Nai'an, "How did you fall?" Qu Nai'an quickly stretched out his injured leg for him to see. Mr. Wang, with only one eye, tilted his head and squinted to look carefully, saying, "The bone is dislocated; as long as I pop it back into place, it will be fine, nothing serious." In the inner room, Qu's wife said, "Since that's the case, please help set it back."

Mr. Wang said, "If it were someone else's house, it would cost at least fifty dollars. As a favor, let's make it a 10% discount." Mrs. Qu immediately became anxious, "This is too expensive! Even more than a Western doctor!" Mr. Wang didn't say anything, and Mrs. Qu continued to haggle with him for a long time. Mr. Wang said, "If you want me to treat him, it will be at this price. If you don't want to spend money, then don't invite me. You should know that your master's leg is valuable, not just any old leg. I can guarantee that he will be able to walk in three to five days. I use high-quality herbs and ingredients, all worth forty dollars. Even if I just set the bone without using medicine, it will still take me half an hour, and I will have to charge at least five dollars." Mrs. Qu asked, "If you just set the bone without using medicine, would that work?" Mr. Wang said, "It's not that it won't work, it's just that the recovery will be slower. Although the bones are broken, the surrounding flesh is dying from lack of blood flow. It will slowly decay in the future and will need medication to heal. In the end, you will end up spending more money than me, and it will take even longer. You can consider it yourselves; I don't mind." Mrs. Qu thought that forty-five dollars was still too much, and she calculated in her mind, "Let him set the bone first; I can find a way with the medicine. I saw various trauma medicines and healing salves in my grandmother's glass cabinet yesterday. I just need to ask for some; maybe they are even better than his." With a decision made, she said, "We have good medicine ourselves; we can just ask the magistrate's office for some. Right now, all we need is for you to set the bone." When Mr. Wang realized that he was losing business, he felt unhappy, and losing his patience, he grabbed Qu Naian's leg and forcefully set it. A cry of pain erupted from the bed, and Qu Naian passed out.

Mrs. Qu heard the sound in the inner room and felt that something was wrong. She quickly ran out and asked, "What happened?" Mr. Wang ignored her. Mrs. Qu lifted the curtain and saw the master rolling his eyes, breathless, and sweat pouring down his face, beading like peas. Seeing this situation, Mrs. Qu knew that Mr. Wang had nearly killed the old man. Mr. Wang rolled up his sleeves, tucked the leg under his arm, and tried to use brute force to reset it. Mrs. Qu was anxious, "Hey, stop it! If you keep this up, the master's leg, which wasn't broken before, might actually break! He might be a goner!" While speaking, she pressed on the master's pressure point. Fortunately, after a while, Master Qu slowly regained consciousness, moaning and groaning in pain. Seeing the master coming back to life, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, "Phew, we almost lost him!"

Mr. Wang was scolded by Mrs. Qu and had to let go, standing aside with a blank stare. When Master Qu recovered, he wanted to try again. Mrs. Qu quickly waved her hand, "Don't come near him again! If you do, my master might really die at your hands! Get the gatekeeper to pay this quack and send him packing!" Mr. Wang had no choice but to follow the servant to the gatekeeper's lodge to demand five silver dollars for his fare. Mr. Wang disagreed and insisted, "I was hired by you, your wife agreed to pay me five dollars, medicine or no medicine. You don't want me to treat him now, that's your problem! You're not paying me less!" The gatekeeper said, "Your skills are rubbish, that's why we stopped you! Honestly, you're not worth a cent! Four hundred cash is already more than you deserve, get lost!"

Mr. Wang was scolded by the gatehouse keeper, but he refused to leave. He stayed at the gate and said, "You're trying to ruin my name, I'll fight ya!" The gatehouse keeper said, "If this bum doesn't leave, I will have to use force!" Then he decked Mr. Wang twice. Mr. Wang was furious, lying on the ground shouting for help. The ruckus woke the whole house up. Qu Nai'an, lying on the bed, said, "Why argue with the guy? Just give him some money and get rid of him." Mrs. Qu said, "If you have money, you give it to him! I don't have that much. If he leaves, fine. If not, I'll go to the cops and have them haul him away!" Then she went outside and had someone drive him away.

As the argument continued, Mr. Hu came to visit Qu Nai'an. Mrs. Qu hurried back inside. Mr. Hu asked, "What's all the noise about?" The gatehouse keeper explained the situation. Mr. Hu, still considering the overall situation, sweet-talked Mr. Wang and eventually took out a big stack of cash from his own pocket. Only then did Mr. Wang agree to leave. As he left, he said, "If it wasn't for Hu, I woulda beat the crap outta him!" Then he dusted himself off and split.

Old Man Hu followed a servant of the Qu family into the inner room, while Mrs. Qu hid behind the bed. Old Man Hu immediately asked, "How's big brother's leg? Is it getting better?" Qu Nai'an couldn't speak; he just shook his head. Old Man Hu, who was sworn brothers with Mr. Qu, was particularly anxious and said to the servant, "We've tried Chinese doctors, but they haven't helped, so we need to try something else. We can't just wait like this. When will he get better? I know your master's situation; we have a good relationship. I can cover twenty or thirty bucks for him." When he said this, Mrs. Qu heard that he was willing to pay, so she spoke from behind the bed, "Old Man Hu, you are so caring about us, over and over. As long as the foreign doctor is reliable, please help us invite him!" Old Man Hu replied, "This foreign doctor graduated from a foreign medical school; he's well-known. If even he can't cure him, what kind of doctor can? Besides, thirty bucks isn't much." Mrs. Qu said, "That's great, I'll leave it to you!" Not long after, Old Man Hu really brought the foreign doctor, charging thirty bucks for treatment, with a written agreement. The foreign doctor worked on Qu Nai'an's leg for a while, without prescribing any medicine. Surprisingly, the foreign doctor was really skilled, and he felt much better that day. After three visits, he could walk again and wasn't limping anymore. They were so happy!

Mrs. Qu has been going to see Miss Bao every day since she recognized her as her child's godmother, except for the two days when Mr. Qu was ill. She also went to the Governor's yamen with Miss Bao twice, and the Ninth Madam has also invited her. Although they are not particularly close, in the eyes of others, it is already something to brag about. Mrs. Qu took the opportunity to ask Miss Bao to help her husband find a good job, saying, "I won't hide it from you, ever since my husband took this position, he has racked up a mountain of debt. Although he has had a few jobs, the expenses in the city are high, and his salary is not enough. These days, having a job, big or small, just means everyone wants favors. It's better to have nothing to do. Now my husband is suffering from these tasks, so the more he owes, the more he will owe. Don't laugh at us, at this rate, in another two years, we will go broke. So please, help us out. We're desperate!"

Miss Bao listened to this and felt quite sympathetic towards them, so she deliberately went to the prefect's office to tell Ninth Madam about it. Ninth Madam said, "Just tell your godfather about this." Miss Bao replied, "I'm sure my godfather will agree. But I still need to ask my godmother to help persuade him to make it quicker." Ninth Madam agreed. Miss Bao immediately ran to the private office and begged the prefect to get Qu Nai'an a good job. At first, the prefect disagreed, saying, "He already has a job and can manage. There are people in the provincial capital waiting for a good position for over ten years, and they still can't get one. Tell him not to be ungrateful." When Miss Bao saw that the prefect disagreed, she started to throw a tantrum. Since there was no one in the office, she sat on the prefect's lap, pulled his ear with one hand, and said, "Godfather! I've promised someone about this. If you don't agree, how can I face them?" With that, she took out a handkerchief and started crying. The prefect, worn down by her, finally agreed. Miss Bao waited until he agreed, wiped her tears, and sat aside. At that moment, Ninth Madam also came in and put in a good word. Naturally, the prefect could not refuse anymore, so he agreed on the spot, saying that he would secure a decent position for Qu Nai'an when he met the prefect the next day. Then Miss Bao left. Turns out, Qu Nai'an and his wife, both in their late forties, were desperate for a son.

Qu Nai'an desperately wanted a son. Whenever the lack of a son was mentioned, he would sigh. He longed to take a concubine but was afraid of his wife and didn't dare to bring it up. His wife also understood his intentions. She was barren, and despite being generally accommodating, she never agreed to him taking a concubine. Whenever she saw her husband anxiously longing for a son, she would comfort him by saying, "It'll happen eventually. It's just a matter of time. There are women who have babies in their fifties. We're not that old yet, so why rush?" His wife shot him down a few times, and although he didn't say anything on the surface, the idea still lingered. His friends all knew he was henpecked and would tease him about it. At first, he denied it, but eventually, he confessed.

One day, a friend invited him to dinner, and everyone who joined them were people who loved going to brothels. Two of them suggested that after dinner, they should go to Hankou to drink flower wine and party until dawn before returning. Everyone agreed, except for Mr. Qu, who remained silent. They began to tease him, saying he was afraid of his wife and scared to go home to kneel and scrub the washboard. At that moment, Mr. Qu had already had a few drinks, his face flushed with alcohol, and suddenly he felt bold enough to say, "I'm going too!" They all asked him, "Are you serious?" Mr. Qu replied, "Of course I'm serious! I need to relax too. If I'm really afraid of her, can I still consider myself a man?" Everyone found his behavior surprising. That night, they indeed went to Hankou and partied all night. The next day, once they sobered up, they regretted it, fearing their wives would be angry. When they returned home, they concocted a lie, claiming there was official business at the office and that a gang of bandits had been brought in from out of town. Because he was experienced, they said, he had been specially assigned to interrogate them, which was why he didn't come back. His wife believed it, thinking it was an honorable task for him to handle, and not only did she not blame him, but she also said, "Since there's official business, why didn't you send someone to deliver a message back home instead of making us wait? And it's cold at night; someone should have sent you some clothes." Mr. Qu was touched by his wife's thoughtfulness and thanked her profusely. After ten days or half a month, his friends noticed that he was fine after drinking flower wine, so they began inviting him often. At first, he declined a few times, but later, realizing that his wife had been deceived, he grew bolder and started going out with his friends more frequently. Although he had a family, he had long been oppressed by his wife, feeling only fear and no joy. Then one day, he visited a brothel, flirted with a girl, and felt an overwhelming sense of relaxation, as if he were experiencing being a man for the first time—a joy that was indescribable.

In Hankou, there was a prostitute named Aizhu, who wasn't much to look at and business was slow. Once, Qu Nai'an went to a place with girls with a friend, but since they didn't have an introduction, the friend introduced him to Aizhu. Aizhu had few customers, so when one finally came, she went out of her way to please him. After drinking that night, it was already late, and Aizhu wanted Qu Nai'an to stay. He was worried about what people would think and what his wife would say, but he ended up staying the night, with Aizhu accompanying him. The next day, he crossed the river back home and fed his wife a line. This was his first slip-up, and although he didn't spend the night, he was touched by Aizhu's warmth and felt she was different from others.

Later on, Qu Nai'an often went across the river to party with his mates. Aizhu would usually show up, and his friends would ask him to treat them. He couldn't get out of it. One day, his wife went to visit Mrs. Dai and wasn't coming home that night. Qu Nai'an was thrilled; he knew she would be at Dai's or the governor's mansion all night. He quickly changed into new clothes, took his salary and 20 yuan, and went across the river to find Aizhu. His Hankou friends soon arrived, and Qu Nai'an unexpectedly became the main man, with Aizhu sitting beside him, whispering sweet nothings in his ear, making him feel like a king, happier than ever, on cloud nine.

That day, Aizhu wanted to stay with him again. Knowing that his wife wouldn’t be back, he agreed. Let's just say things got intimate. Aizhu cried on his shoulder and said, "I was originally from a good family, but they sold me here because we had no money. This place is driving me crazy, and the madam is too difficult to serve. I can't take it anymore. Master, if you truly want to save me, then please save me completely. Let me leave here; even if I have to be a servant, I’m willing." She cried non-stop as she spoke. Qu's heart ached, and he started to cry too. Aizhu asked him again, "Master, what do you really mean?" Qu Nai'an couldn't answer for a moment. He both pitied and sympathized with her, wanting to help, but his wife was a real firecracker, so this plan would definitely not work. If he did it behind her back, there would surely be trouble in the future. So he hesitated. Aizhu hugged his neck and cried, saying, "Master Qu, you are too heartless! I am begging you like this, and you still don't pity me. Don't worry, I only sold myself for two hundred and fifty yuan initially; if you add half, five hundred yuan would be enough!" Qu Nai'an was shocked to hear five hundred yuan, thinking to himself, "Where am I going to get five hundred yuan?" He was stunned but couldn't bring himself to refuse her, so he said, "Let's talk about it tomorrow." He let her have her way, for now.

The next day, his wife was likely still out, so a friend invited him to go out drinking and gambling, and he didn't go home again. Aizhu kept asking him. Qu Nai'an also wanted to help her, but his wife disagreed, and there wasn't enough money, so he couldn't promise anything for the time being. As luck would have it, the friend who invited him to drink was Da Xuandong, a famous wealthy man from Hubei. He'd made his fortune as a military officer. His father had been dead for several years, and he was supposedly still in mourning, yet he spent his days eating, drinking, womanizing, and gambling, making friends with everyone and drinking together. But he had a strange temperament: when a friend urgently needed money, he wouldn't lend a penny; but if a prostitute needed to redeem herself, or if he lost money gambling, he would be willing to lend hundreds or thousands, and never backed down. Therefore, Hubei officials, bureaucrats, and gamblers all liked to associate with him. He also used his influence to bully the brothel owners. Qu Nai'an knew his temperament, and since it was his treat, a plan formed in his mind.

He first went to the house that Da Xuandong often visited and asked, "Has Lord Da arrived?" The woman in charge said, "He just woke up and is smoking in the room." Qu Nai'an went in, and Da Xuandong got up to greet him, immediately asking, "Are you free tonight?" Qu Nai'an replied, "I'll definitely join you." The two chatted for a while. Qu Nai'an wanted to speak but hesitated several times before finally leaning in to Da Xuandong's ear and saying, "I want to discuss something with you." Da Xuandong had already put down his opium pipe and was waiting, asking, "What is it?" Qu Nai'an hesitated, his face turning red, and said, "It's about Aizhu." Da Xuandong asked, "Do you want to marry her?" Qu Nai'an responded, "Wow, you got it!" He then explained the situation regarding the money to buy her freedom in detail, saying, "Everything else is fine, but the five hundred yuan for her freedom is too difficult, so I came to discuss it with you." Da Xuandong said, "The money for her freedom is a small matter. You know my temper; I don't lend money to friends or relatives in need, but I’m willing to help with redeeming someone or if someone loses money gambling. However, does your wife agree? Don't make everyone uncomfortable later." Qu Nai'an blushed and said, "Um...". Da Xuandong asked, "Um... what do you think?" Qu Nai'an replied, "...I'll think about it." Da Xuandong said, "Let me know when you've made up your mind. I've got the cash."

Qu Nai'an went back to Aizhu's room, just stared at her, speechless, like a lemon for ages. Aizhu asked him again, "So, how'd it go?" After a while, he couldn't take it anymore and blurted out, "Whatever you say." Aizhu urged him to quickly call the madam to discuss. The madam showed up, and Qu Nai'an stammered, his face turning red as a beet, couldn't get a word out. Luckily, Aizhu just laid it all out. The madam first asked for eight hundred, but after some negotiation, they settled on five hundred and fifty. Aizhu asked Qu Nai'an, "What do you think?" Qu Nai'an said, "I do have five hundred, any more and I have nowhere else to borrow from." The madam said, "Mr. Qu, you're loaded, fifty bucks is nothing to you, right?" Aizhu also got angry and said, "Mr. Qu! Fifty bucks is all it takes, and you won't help me?!" She started to cry. Qu Nai'an had no choice but to seek help from Da Xuandong. Da Xuandong was all over it, said he'd lend the five fifty, and then added, "Once you're married, you'll need a new place. I've got a spare place on the west end of Yang Street you can use." He continued, "Rent's not gonna cover it, you'll have other expenses too. I've handled this a million times, I know the drill. I'll cover everything, consider the five fifty a loan, and here's two hundred for a wedding gift. That's it." Qu Nai'an was stoked, and that day he checked out the place and started buying furniture.

Sorted. Qu Nai'an went to the brothel to straighten things out with the madam, and that same evening, he used a sedan chair to bring Aizhu out. On that day, Qu Nai'an only had his new missus in his heart, and his courage had grown. He'd completely forgotten his wife. That evening, he did not go home. The next evening, he laid on a couple of tables of food and invited friends to dinner, with Da Xuandong naturally sitting at the head table. During the meal, everyone started playing a drinking game, enjoying themselves. After the dinner, it was half past midnight. Qu Nai'an had not returned home for three days running. His wife and Miss Bao were staying in the Yamen during these three days.

Details

Written by: Realhistories

Category: Officialdom Unmasked

Published: 23 November 2024

Created: 23 November 2024

Hits: 76

Now, the head maid of Tuan Zhitai's ninth concubine, seeing that Tuan Zhitai favored her, intended to play the field and often flirted in front of him. Later, when Tuan Zhitai suddenly brought in two more concubines from outside, she knew she had no chance. Since then, whenever she met Tuan Zhitai, she would give him the cold shoulder and wouldn't give him the time of day, forgetting about her duties. Tuan Zhitai already had twelve concubines, and the newly acquired ones had him completely under their thumb, so he abandoned this idea. But every time they met, it would bring back memories, making him feel a pang of guilt. The head maid remained silent, always looking angry, which made him feel even worse. Thus, Tuan Zhitai was in a dilemma and decided to find a rich and handsome young man for her, so they could live a stable life together and make up for past mistakes.

With this plan in mind, he searched among the eligible bachelors in the government but found that either they were too old or already had a legal wife, making them unsuitable. As for candidates from other regions, the variety of men was too overwhelming, and the scholars were unbearably stuffy, so he was not satisfied with any of them. Tuan Zhitai was bummed out. Later, for a public matter, he called a meeting of the officers from the various camps. Among them was the acting commander of the right camp, Dai Shichang, a handsome man, probably in his early thirties. At this time, Tuan Zhitai had the intention of choosing a son-in-law for the head maid. After the meeting, he grilled Dai Shichang with many questions and was really impressed. Fortunately, Dai Shichang was a sharp cookie. Tuan Zhitai was thrilled.

After seeing off the guests, that evening the deputy general of the central army, Wang Zhancheng, went to the inner yamen to check in and inquire about Dai Shichang, asking if he had any family members here. Wang Zhancheng reported, saying, "He became a widower last August and hasn't remarried. He has no parents and no children." The boss was very pleased to hear this and said, "This guy's got a great future ahead of him. I really want to promote him." Wang Zhancheng replied, "The boss really likes him. If you take him under your wing, it will be the fortune of Dai the guerrilla." The boss was thinking of asking him to be a matchmaker but suddenly thought, "It doesn't look good for me, the boss, to be matchmaking." After some thought, he said, "There is a troublesome matter now. Before our main wife passed away, she adopted a girl from a relative's family as her goddaughter. After our main wife passed away, she's been living with me as my ninth concubine. She's just turned eighteen. It's time she got married. Although she is my goddaughter, I treat her like my own daughter. Today I see that Dai the guerrilla is very interested in her, and my old brother said that he hasn't remarried since becoming a widower. It's a perfect match. I'll have my friend Wang talk to him. Tell him not to worry about money; I'll take care of everything."

Wang Zhancheng kept nodding. After leaving, he rushed over to Dai Shichang's place that very night, laid out the whole story, and showered him with congratulations. He said, "My friend, this is a golden opportunity! Your future's looking bright!" Dai Shichang was beside himself with joy, surprise, and fear. He was happy that the governor wanted to marry his daughter off to him, but a military man like him? How could he possibly be good enough for the governor's daughter? He thought to himself, "If I marry her, it's a great match, but how much will it cost me?" His mind was a whirlwind. After a while, he just smiled. Wang Zhancheng understood his thoughts and explained how the governor wanted him to handle everything for both families. Dai Shichang was so grateful, he kept thanking Wang Zhancheng. So, first thing the next morning, Wang Zhancheng went straight to the governor. After hearing the report, the governor headed straight for Aunt Nine's room.

At this time, he had long forgotten about the Ninth Concubine, and suddenly seeing her come in today was like a bolt from the blue. He wanted to flatter her, but he realized he was favored and needed to save face. If he ignored her, or if he changed his mind at this moment, he feared it would upset her. In his dilemma, the steward had already sat down and said, "I came to see you today not for any other reason, but for the maids in our main room. The older ones are just asking for trouble. I want to send two away; it's clear to see. The older maid in front of you is also not young anymore, so she's easily dismissed. You don't lack people to use, so I specifically wanted to tell you." The Ninth Concubine was uneasy at first when she heard the steward wanted to send away her maids. She was afraid to disobey him. If she agreed, why would he accuse her of bullying? While she hesitated, she heard the steward say, "I've got something in mind for your maid. I found a son-in-law for her who is young and wealthy, which is a good match for her. But how can we call her a maid when she's marrying an official? I thought about it and had no choice but to say she is your goddaughter. Do you agree?" The Ninth Concubine was initially unwilling, but when she heard he was promised to an official, she calmed down. She thought, "This maid has indeed grown up; keeping her at home is also a disaster. If the master takes a liking to her again and makes her his thirteenth concubine, it would be even worse. It might be for the best to let her go." After thinking, she said, "I can't have her as my goddaughter, so let's say she's your goddaughter." The steward said, "We are not separate families; what's yours is mine, isn't it?" The Ninth Concubine said, "In that case, she should come out and kowtow to you on your behalf." The steward said, "That's not necessary." As they were talking, the Ninth Concubine had already called the older maid out, asked her to kowtow to the master, and change her title. The maid shyly kowtowed to the steward, who returned a slight bow. Then she kowtowed to the Ninth Concubine. The Ninth Concubine ordered everyone to address her as Miss Bao, since her nickname was Baozhu.

Two days later, the Intendant urged the groom to quickly prepare the betrothal gifts. The Intendant's office allocated three thousand yuan to Dai Shichang as wedding money and assigned him two tasks related to the wedding arrangements. The Intendant did not have a daughter of his own, so he treated this eldest girl like his own daughter and gave his ninth concubine three thousand yuan to help prepare the dowry for Miss Bao. With the money, everything became easier. The Intendant chose the second day of October for the wedding. Dai Shichang specially rented a large mansion. Within three days, the matchmakers delivered invitations, gifts, and jewelry, and the event was quite the spectacle. The two matchmakers were Wang Zhancheng from the central army and Kang Naifang from the capital. They both wore uniforms to the Intendant's office that day. The Intendant, citing official business, sent his nephew to receive them instead. The matchmakers did not sit in the main hall but in the flower hall on the west side. The Intendant, ever mindful of appearances, preferred it this way.

On the day of the wedding, the groom's family threw a lavish celebration, the house ablaze with lights and festive decorations. Although some people knew that Miss Bao was the Intendant's ninth concubine's maid, everyone pretended not to notice and came to flatter her. Many officials also took this opportunity to give gifts, and the Intendant was happy to receive valuable presents. The wedding yielded twenty thousand yuan in gifts, and the Intendant even gained a new godson—a truly profitable affair! The details of the wedding will not be mentioned. A few days later, Miss Bao and the groom returned home, with the ninth concubine as the hostess. Childless herself, she was overjoyed by the addition of a charming and attentive son-in-law.

Now, about Dai Shichang. Being young and inexperienced, and having this newfound power, he got a bit cocky and looked down on his colleagues. Of course, some of his colleagues envied him. Others knew her real story and were constantly making snide comments. Dai Shichang didn't pay attention at first, but after hearing it more often, he felt something was wrong and told Miss Bao when he got home. Miss Bao said, "My mother was good friends with the deceased madam, and I had just been taken care of by her for three days when the madam passed away. Who cares what people say, true or false?" Although she said so, her face fell. Dai Shichang didn't say anything more.

When Miss Bao returned to the yamen, only the Chief Secretary and Ninth Madam treated her like a daughter; the other wives and their nephews still treated her like a servant, though a bit better than the rest. She couldn't afford to act like she was one of them. Her former companions teased her when they saw her, asking her to sit down, offering her tea, calling her "Miss" one after another, which really got to her. Of the twelve wives, only the Ninth Madam was nicer than the Twelfth, who had a real knack for cutting remarks. It got under her skin when the master showed favor to the Ninth Madam's maid. One day, when she heard everyone praising Miss Bao, she became even angrier and sneered at her own maids, "So she's a 'Miss,' huh? Call her 'Miss Maid'—it'll do you all good in the long run!" Word spread like wildfire. Some mean girls started mocking her to her face, which made her furious but left her powerless. Dai Shichang heard about it and felt terrible. But he needed this 'fake' connection to get ahead, so he just had to grin and bear it.

This "Fake Mount Tai" indeed has power. Less than a month after getting married, Dai Shichang was promoted to the rank of junior officer. In addition to his usual tasks, he was also put in charge of a fleet. Everyone saw how capable he was, and all the civil and military officials in the city, except for the governor and the town's general, were fawning over him; even some assistant magistrates had to consider his opinions. Miss Bao became even more arrogant and domineering, treating Dai Shichang like her servant. Later, someone tried to follow Dai Shichang's path, but Dai Shichang instead followed his wife's lead, helping the magistrate of Tuan broker a deal that earned sixteen thousand yuan, which the magistrate accepted. From then on, Miss Bao took control and became even more arrogant, completely disregarding her godfather.

Miss Bao had a strange quirk; she liked to be called "Auntie" by others and disliked being called "Madam Dai." Why? She said being called "Madam Dai" just meant she was Mr. Dai's wife, nothing special. Being called "Auntie" was more fitting for her status as the magistrate's goddaughter. She often said, "Let me tell you, every family in Hubei has a young lady, right? And they all get married, so they become 'Auntie.' But which one of those 'Aunties' is as powerful as me?" She enjoyed flattery, and everyone was eager to flatter her. Some aspiring officials who couldn't follow Dai Shichang's path would have their wives go and flatter Miss Bao. Everyone knew her temper well, and when they met her, they would keep calling her "Auntie" endlessly. Not many of these aspiring officials were wealthy, so these wives who interacted with her knew she came from money and spent it freely; their gifts had to be expensive, and some even pawned their belongings to afford them.

This wife, her husband's surname was Qu, called Qu Nai'an, who had been a magistrate and served as a local chief for two years and as a local official for half a year, all of which were difficult tasks. He had not held any other official positions. He thought about getting a better job and discussed it with his wife, hoping she could help him with connections. The wife got all high and mighty and said, "Wives just sit back and enjoy the good life; we don't get involved in that sort of thing." Qu Nai'an hurriedly bowed and almost knelt down. The wife said, "We have to agree on the price first before we do this." Qu Nai'an replied, "Okay, I'll do what you say." The wife asked, "If you get promoted, how much money will you give me in a year?" Qu Nai'an said, "We don't separate; what's mine is yours, what's yours is mine, why even say it?" The wife said, "It's not the same. If you get promoted, it'll be harder to get money out of you than pulling teeth, so let's make it clear first." Qu Nai'an said, "If the wife wants money, how could I dare to refuse? Without money, there is no way." The wife said, "I don't know what position you will be promoted to and how much money you can get; you figure it out yourself." Qu Nai'an thought for a long time and said, "We split it 50/50." When the wife heard this, her eyes went wide, and she yelled, "What do you mean half for each? Who will use that half?" Qu Nai'an hurriedly smiled and said, "It's for you to use; I'll help you keep it." The wife said, "You don't need to worry; I can handle it myself." Qu Nai'an repeatedly said, "Right, right," not daring to say a word. The wife continued, "I will help you with your affairs, and it will cost money. You can't skimp on the first bribe; not even a penny can be missed. If you want to get promoted, you will have to bribe regularly. You're so poor now; how can you give me money? I'll have to use my connections to borrow the money. If I can't borrow it, I'll have to pay it myself. Do you think this money doesn't need to be repaid?" Qu Nai'an said, "It should be repaid! It should be repaid! If the wife says so, all the money for getting promoted will be managed by the wife. Even if I need money, I have to ask the wife for it. Is that okay with you?" The wife said, "That's fine." They figured they'd get a monk at the temple to pull some strings.

Miss Bao is very sociable, with many friends. In the provincial city, apart from the wives of the Fan and Liang families, all the other wives are in contact with her. She has more female friends than male friends. Today she drinks at one friend's house, tomorrow she plays cards at another friend's house. She'd go around in a palanquin, carried by four bearers, with official lanterns hanging from it, making quite a splash! In the provincial city, she ran things like a big business. Bao also loves to visit temples; every temple in town owed her a favour. For example, if she donates one hundred yuan, the monks and nuns must give a portion to her household, with each person receiving at least ten yuan. She has a lot of income and expenses. Even if she didn't want to, her staff would encourage her to give more. The monks and nuns would regularly visit, showering her with blessings and flattery, bowing with their hands together, chanting "Amitabha," and asking, "Madam, are you well?" Bao is used to hearing all kinds of sweet words. She became friendly with them, visiting the temple daily and even hosting vegetarian feasts for her friends. Seeing her piety, people invited her to join them, usually at the temple. Word got around, and everyone who knew how to work the system started cozying up to the monks and nuns.

Take Longhua Temple in Wuchang, for instance. Longhua Temple is located inside the Binyang Gate, with a large scale and always packed with devotees. It is said to have a history of several hundred years. The temple has a grand main hall dedicated to Shakyamuni Buddha, as well as halls for Guanyin, Arhats, a dining hall, guest quarters, meditation, and monks' quarters, among many other buildings. There is also a private parlor for female visitors. Longhua Temple is a famous scenic spot in Wuchang, and officials and tourists in the city love to visit. The temple has an abbot (the head monk) who is responsible for spiritual practice and nothing else. The monk in charge of hospitality is called Zhike, and he is responsible for welcoming guests and liaising with various government offices. He was on a first-name basis with everyone, from the governor on down. To be a good Zhike monk, one must first be handsome and affable, and secondly, know how to talk to different people. Zhike monks specialize in receiving guests and do not need to perform religious ceremonies. They say it's easier to deal with the men (they're stingy!), but the women are where the real money is. Therefore, they work harder to please the wives of the guests. He knew who their husbands were, who their relatives were, and who held sway – and he never got it wrong.

The Zhike monk at Longhua Temple is called Shanzai; he was from Zhenjiang. He became a monk at Jinshan Temple when he was young. He is good-looking and smooth-talking. At the age of twenty-three, he returned from a pilgrimage to Sichuan and stayed at Longhua Temple in Wuchang for a few days. At that time, Longhua Temple was short of manpower, and seeing his intelligence and likability, they wrote to Jinshan Temple and asked him to stay as an assistant. Several months later, he was promoted to Zhike monk. In less than a year, he knew all the bigwigs and fat cats in Hubei Province, and he could converse with them all. What's more, the wives of these officials and merchants all liked to visit his temple. The temple's coffers swelled several times over. With his good connections, he was happy to play matchmaker, and people always made sure he got his cut.

The monk Shan Zai heard that Miss Bao was the adopted daughter of the governor of Hubei, with a wealthy background. He sent some gifts in the name of donating to the temple renovations and also sent two invitations, saying that in a few days he would be holding a grand ceremony and asked Mr. Dai and Miss Bao to attend. Miss Bao was young and lively, and as soon as she heard about the lavish affair, she immediately agreed. The monk Shan Zai had arranged with the steward of the Dai family in advance, and on the day of the event, the whole place was spruced up.

The male guests were divided into three levels: the first level was for senior officials such as governors, prefects, and magistrates, as well as their staff and relatives; the second level was for lower-ranking officials and some wealthy merchants, foreign traders, and money lenders; the third level was for lower-ranking county officials and ordinary businessmen. Each level had someone responsible for reception. Although Dai Shichang was only a low-ranking military officer, he was arranged in the first-class seat because he was related to the governor. The female guests were also divided into three levels, with similar arrangements to the male guests. The monk specially prepared an elegant room for Miss Bao, with an imported bed, new bedding, a lake-blue canopy, duck down pillows, and snacks on the table, saying they were for Miss Bao's use during nap time. There were four imported chairs in front of the bed, a small round table, and a dressing table by the window with various cosmetics, combs, mirrors, etc., for Miss Bao to use after waking up or after meals. There was also a toilet behind the bed. Miss Bao lived comfortably, and the monk served her attentively, better than he would his own parents.

Miss Bao often visited Longhua Temple, and her reputation grew. This gave Shan Zai considerable influence, allowing him to exploit his connections for personal gain. Some people who wanted to get ahead began to flatter the monk Shan Zai, who lined his pockets and acted the big shot.

Mrs. Qu, a devout woman who frequented Longhua Temple, knew Monk Shanzai well. However, she was short on money, and the monk only recognized wealth. Miss Bao donated five hundred taels of silver for a meal, while Mrs. Qu only managed to scrape together ten measly dollars. The monk barely registered her, treating her with disdain. Mrs. Qu tried to brown-nose him, but because she was generous, she always felt embarrassed.

Before you knew it, the forty-nine days were up. Monk Shanzai hit on another money-making scheme: ordination. He distributed flyers, attracting many people who wanted to be ordained. This time, he set the rule that each person had to pay up and suffer the indignity of kneeling in front of the old monk with burning mugwort on their heads until their scalps were blistered and oozing, causing them to cry in pain and only be able to chant "Amitabha Buddha." Those who have been ordained say that as long as they chant "Amitabha Buddha," they will not feel pain and can also shed their earthly attachments. After being burned, scars will be left on the head, and hair will never grow back, known as the "cauterized scalp." Monks with these scars could beg anywhere; those without were just "wild monks." Those ordained had to meditate for nine straight days and nights in the meditation hall, without a break; any rule-breaking resulted in a beating.

So, about Longhua Temple, only the monks received precepts this time, no women. This monk came up with an idea and said to the wives, "Ladies, your good fortune in this life is thanks to past lives' good deeds. Keep at it, and your next life will be even better!" The wives asked how to cultivate, and the monk said that as long as they received precepts like the monks and then gave, that is cultivation. Miss Bao asked if she needed to shave her head, and the monk said no, as long as she sincerely took refuge. Miss Bao also decided to receive precepts, asking how much money was needed. The monk said, "Give what you can." Upon hearing this, the wives all expressed their intention to receive precepts. Miss Bao was generous and gave the monk three hundred dollars as an offering, one hundred for the monks' meals. The monk gave her the Dharma name "Miao Shan." The other wives also donated money to receive precepts, and Mrs. Qu donated ten dollars. Afterwards, the monk hosted a banquet for the wives who received precepts.

Mrs. Qu was particularly eager to get in good with Miss Bao, taking every opportunity to show her attentiveness, constantly trying to win Miss Bao over. She often went to Miss Bao's house to pay respects, showering her with gifts. One time, Miss Bao got drunk at a friend's house, and Mrs. Qu was also there. Seeing the situation, Mrs. Qu quickly went over, rubbed Miss Bao's back, lit her a cigarette, and personally helped her into the sedan chair, seeing her home. That night, Mrs. Qu slept over at Miss Bao's. The next morning, when Miss Bao woke up, she felt mortified. Later, the two became close, and Miss Bao got used to it. Mrs. Qu had a particularly good temper, even put up with her mother-in-law. Some maids asked her for things, and she'd give them what they wanted and even joke around with them. Seeing that, Miss Bao joined in and teased Mrs. Qu too.

One day, Bao got drunk again. Mrs. Qu went over to pour tea for her and also prepared a smoking pipe. Bao, swaying and tipsy, hugged Mrs. Qu's neck and said, "If I could have a daughter like you in my next life, I would be so happy!" Mrs. Qu replied, "How could I be worthy of being your daughter? I'm nowhere near your level." Bao said, "Everything else is fine, I'm just worried that you're older, and I'm so young—how could you be my daughter?" Mrs. Qu responded, "What are you talking about, dear! As the saying goes, 'It's not about age.' How can I compare to you? As long as you're willing to take me in, I would gladly kneel and call you 'Mama,' and serve you well." At that moment, Bao was already a bit confused from drinking and blurted out, "Since that's the case, you should kowtow to me, call me 'Mama,' and I will take care of you in the future." This made Mrs. Qu very happy; she immediately knelt down and kowtowed to Bao, calling her "adoptive mother." Bao agreed in a daze. After Mrs. Qu finished kowtowing, Bao didn't move. That night, after Mrs. Qu took care of Bao until she fell asleep, she hurried back home.

Her husband, Qu Nai'an, had already secured a position at the Qingdao Bureau through his connection with Dai Shichang. One day, he received his salary and returned home. He waited for his wife until midnight, but she was nowhere to be seen; he thought she must have stayed at the Dai family and wouldn't come back today. Unexpectedly, after midnight, he suddenly heard someone knocking on the door. When he opened it, it was his wife. As soon as she entered, without saying anything, she bluntly asked, "Did you get your salary?" Qu Nai'an replied, "I just received it today, but since you haven't seen it yet, I didn't dare to use it." His wife said, "Okay." She immediately took out the salary, and upon seeing it was a total of seventy silver dollars, she ordered him to prepare a couple of feasts and use the remaining money to buy some men's and women's clothing and other gifts for tomorrow. Qu Nai'an was terrified of his wife and always did what she said, so he could only repeatedly promise, not daring to disobey.

Early the next morning, everything was ready. Miss Bao got up early to dress and prepare. With everything in order, they carried the banquet gifts and went to the Dai family. Miss Bao was very tired because she had gotten drunk the night before and slept until noon. Someone came to report that Mrs. Qu had arrived. Mrs. Qu was wearing a quilted jacket and a red skirt, and her husband wore an official's peacock feather, so Mrs. Qu also had a four-inch long small feather on her head. She walked demurely into the gate, with two people carrying gifts and the banquet behind her. Miss Bao forgot about her drunkenness from the night before and was surprised. After they met, Miss Bao asked what was going on, but Mrs. Qu just smiled and didn't say anything. She walked into the living room and placed two high-backed chairs, a cushion in the middle, and a red carpet behind. Mrs. Qu said, "Please, esteemed guests. My daughter is here to pay her respects to her godfather and godmother today; there's no need to be shy." Dai Shichang hid in the room, confused, and Miss Bao was also stunned. A maid and an old mother nearby remembered what had happened last night and told Miss Bao. Miss Bao said, "Just drunken ramblings, how can it be true? How can I accept Mrs. Qu as my goddaughter? You've put me in a terribly awkward position!" She walked to the door to refuse, but Mrs. Qu had already knelt down, saying, "Since the godfather is not coming out, it's the same to pay my respects to Heaven." Miss Bao hurriedly returned the courtesy, saying repeatedly, "The honor is all mine!" After Mrs. Qu finished bowing, she quickly presented the gifts, saying that they were two gifts for the godfather and godmother and a banquet to honor the god-grandparents. Miss Bao modestly refused to accept. But Mrs. Qu wouldn't give up. She said, "Last night, my godmother already took me in. Today doesn't count; how can I face people in the future?" So the maid and the old mother beside her persuaded, "Today, Mrs. Qu came to pay her respects to the godmother sincerely. Madam should accept her goodwill and make her happy. Just be kind to her in the future." Miss Bao had no choice but to reluctantly accept her as her goddaughter. Later, Dai Shichang also came out to pay his respects. Miss Bao had the maid, old mother, servants, and cooks all come to kowtow to Mrs. Qu. Everyone changed their address to call her Grandma Qu. They then had a feast and drank. After dinner, Miss Bao felt guilty and thought, "Why not take her to the Magistrate's Office today and let her meet the god-grandparents, to enhance my reputation?" She immediately told Mrs. Qu about this idea. Mrs. Qu was willing and even said, "It's only right to pay respects." So Miss Bao sent the old mother to the Magistrate's Office first to explain the situation, saying that Grandma had accepted a goddaughter and would come to pay respects to the master and the ninth concubine, but not to reveal who it was. After the old mother left, Miss Bao then took Mrs. Qu in her sedan chair to the Magistrate's Office.

In the blink of an eye, we arrived at the Tuanzhi household and, of course, went straight to the Ninth Aunt's room. By this time, Tuanzhi had already heard from my mother and knew that Miss Bao had adopted a goddaughter. Everyone thought she was a young lady from another family. The Ninth Aunt quickly prepared a gift. Just as she was busy, someone came to report that Miss Bao had returned. Everyone stood up, wanting to see what she looked like. Miss Bao walked in front, followed by an old lady with a wrinkled face, and upon closer inspection, there were a few strands of gray hair. Everyone was very surprised, thinking it was the young lady's mother who had come along. But it was just the two of them. So everyone was even more puzzled. Tuanzhi was also in the room at the time, looking through the glass window and feeling intrigued. Then they heard Miss Bao shout in the yard, "Godmother, I brought someone to show you." As she spoke, she entered the room and told her mother to unroll the red carpet. Miss Bao pulled Mrs. Qu and said, "Please meet my grandparents." Everyone finally understood that this old lady was Miss Bao's goddaughter. But why would she choose an elderly woman instead of a younger one? It's really hard to understand. However, with such sincerity, the Ninth Aunt could only come out and be polite to her, accept her gift, let her sit down, and exchange pleasantries for a while. Mrs. Qu also presented the prepared gift. The Ninth Aunt reciprocated with fifty dollars. Then they had a meal, eating until late at night before dispersing. Although Tuanzhi did not come out to meet her that day, she accepted her gift, which was considered a polite gesture.

Mrs. Qu, since it was her first day here, didn't want to overstay her welcome, so she left when it was time. Ninth Aunt repeatedly urged her, "Come over whenever you have time; we're family now, no need to be polite." Mrs. Qu was extremely happy and, as she got off the sedan chair, was busy making plans, thinking about when to come again. She also considered throwing a dinner party another day to entertain her grandparents. She pondered, "They're loaded, so I can't be cheap; it's gotta be fancy." She thought again, "Anyway, Grandma gave me fifty bucks today, so I'll use it to entertain them. If I cozy up to them, they might help my husband get a better job. It'll be worth it if I can land a good position." She reflected, "I owe it all to Monk Shanzai. When I have some money, I must go to the temple and donate to repay his kindness." Just as she was figuring things out, the sedan chair stopped, and it was said that they had arrived at the doorstep. Mrs. Qu collected herself and got off the sedan chair. Before she could step out, a follower ran over and said, "Madam! The master's had a fall! He broke his leg in the loo!" Mrs. Qu was shocked. To find out what happens next, stay tuned for the next installment.

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Written by: Realhistories

Category: Officialdom Unmasked

Published: 23 November 2024

Created: 23 November 2024

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A long time ago, there was a bigwig from Hubei named Tuan Zhitai, who had previously served as the top judge in Yunnan. At that time, the provincial governor of Yunnan was a Han Chinese man named Liu Jinji. These two had a good relationship, both working in Yunnan, and became sworn brothers. Later, Tuan Zhitai's career skyrocketed, moving up from top judge in Yunnan to governor of Guizhou, then to governor of Jiangning, and shortly after to governor of Jiangsu, eventually becoming the governor of Huguang. Liu Jinji, on the other hand, faced more challenges. He worked in Yunnan for eleven and a half years before being transferred to governor of Hunan, which happened to be under the jurisdiction of the governor of Huguang. According to tradition, as sworn brothers who were now in a superior-subordinate relationship, they had to exchange brotherhood tokens. When Liu was on his way to report to the capital and passed through Wuchang, he presented the brotherhood tokens exchanged with Tuan Zhitai, sealed in a red envelope, to be delivered to the yamen. Tuan Zhitai, upon seeing that Liu Jinji had arrived, immediately had him summoned. The servant explained the purpose of the visit, and Tuan Zhitai, wanting to maintain their relationship, said, "Tell him official business is official business, but this brotherhood thing? Nah, we're still brothers." The servant relayed the message, and Liu Jinji had no choice but to take back the brotherhood tokens before meeting with Tuan Zhitai. During their meeting, Tuan Zhitai warmly welcomed Liu Jinji, even calling him "elder brother" and referring to himself as the younger brother. Liu Jinji, feeling reassured by this, decided not to mention the brotherhood tokens again. After staying in Wuchang for five days, Tuan Zhitai invited Liu Jinji to a meal. Later, Liu Jinji bid farewell and crossed eastward, taking a boat to Shanghai, then transferring to Tianjin before boarding a train to Beijing. After arriving in Beijing, high-ranking officials like governors and judges had to pay their respects in the palace and visit members of the Grand Council. After socializing in Beijing for half a month, Liu Jinji, being a stick-in-the-mud who didn't know the ropes, was quickly reassigned. After a warm send-off from Tuan Zhitai in Wuchang, he finally arrived in Changsha to take up his post.

Liu Fansi was old, tall, and fat. He'd only been in the job for three months when, on the day of the Wanshou Festival (the Emperor's birthday), he followed the governor to pay his respects. While bowing deeply, he accidentally had his robe stepped on and fell headfirst. This fall caused a stroke, leaving his mouth drooped, one eye wonky, and he was foaming at the mouth. The governor was frightened and had him carried back to the office. His eldest son, Liu Yibo, who held a junior official post in Hubei and was in Beijing for his official introduction, was not in Changsha. At the office, there were only a few mistresses, his youngest son, eldest daughter-in-law, and granddaughter. Seeing their boss have a stroke, they all freaked out and wired Liu Yibo immediately. After finishing his introduction, Liu Yibo immediately returned to Changsha. Liu Fansi changed several doctors and took many medicines. Eventually, he came to, but his body was weak and he couldn't work. He asked the governor for a month's leave to recover. After a month, he still couldn't return to work. Realizing he was old, his son held a position, and he had enough money, he decided to retire and enjoy his remaining years in peace. He wrote the governor asking to retire on account of ill health. The governor initially tried to keep him on, knowing how valuable he was, but eventually agreed to his request. After the approval came through, the governor put someone in temporarily until Liu Fansi could hand over his work. After the handover, he stayed in Changsha for a bit and felt a lot better.

So, Liu Yibo, the eldest son, saw that his father's illness had improved, and because his leave was time-limited, he said his goodbyes and left his dad to go report back in Wuchang. Before leaving, Liu Fanzisi, using his connection with Tuan Zhitai, wrote a letter for his son to deliver, mostly to ask Tuan Zhitai to look out for his son, saying he was staying in Changsha for a bit and would join Liu Yibo once he got a job. Once he was done with the paperwork, Liu Yibo took off. After arriving in Wuchang, he saw Tuan Zhitai and gave him the letter. Tuan Zhitai was really interested in him, asking him all sorts of questions. You know how it is in the office; seeing how well Tuan Zhitai treated Liu Yibo, everyone said he'd get a promotion any day now. Liu Yibo figured that with his old man's connections, he'd land a job no problem. But three months went by, and nothing. Tuan Zhitai was friendly enough, but when it came to a job, he clammed up. Liu Yibo even got someone to ask Tuan Zhitai, who said, "First off, everyone knows me and his old man are brothers, and second, Liu Dao's still pretty green. Let him get some experience under his belt before I give him a job, or people will start talking." Liu Yibo heard what Tuan Zhitai said and knew he was stuck. Then, a letter showed up from Changsha. His dad was bored and wanted to visit Wuchang for a few days. So Liu Yibo sent someone to get him.

The night before his father was to leave, while cooking in the mansion's kitchen, a cooking fire accidentally spread to the firewood pile, engulfing the house. It burned two streets from evening until the next morning. Liu Jinji's lifetime savings were all burned, and he barely escaped with his family. At the height of the blaze, Liu Jinji was ready to throw himself into the flames, crying out that he didn't want to live anymore, but luckily his youngest son and steward stopped him. The fire raged all night, with city officials and soldiers battling the blaze until dawn, and the governor himself came to survey the damage. Upon learning of the former magistrate Liu's misfortune, officials arranged for temporary housing and provided clothing and food at county expense. The governor, remembering their past association, donated one hundred taels, and other officials contributed, bringing the total to seven or eight hundred taels. The ordeal left the already frail and elderly Liu Jinji bedridden. His son, Liu Yibo, arrived from Wuchang after receiving a telegram, only to find his father unconscious. After securing medical attention, he gradually regained consciousness after several days of treatment. After two weeks, Liu Jinji was insistent on returning to Wuchang, so his son, having scraped together the funds, moved the family back.

The old man thought that the provincial governor in Wuchang, Tuan Mou, was his old friend, believing that since he was in trouble, Tuan would definitely not ignore him. When he arrived in Wuchang, he sat in a sedan chair, leaning on a cane, and went to the governor's office to ask for a meeting. He felt that he was no longer an official, so he didn't need to be so formal, and called him "my old friend" directly when they met. Governor Tuan appeared warm on the surface, insisting he stay for tea and dinner, but in fact had no intention of securing a job for Liu Yibo, Liu Jinji's son. Liu Jinji became anxious and brought up the matter of his son's job to Governor Tuan. Tuan replied, "Look, we're old friends. Your son has only been here a short while, so if I find him a small position, you might think I'm not doing enough for you. But if I get him a good one, people will talk. You understand my predicament, but others won't. Don't worry, I'll look out for your son in the future." Liu Jinji had no choice but to return home.

Later, Liu Yibo learned that Governor Tuan was very particular about etiquette. The first time Liu Jinji came to Wuchang, he did not present his official documents, which made Governor Tuan unhappy. More importantly, the character "Yi" in Liu Yibo's name clashed with the name of one of Governor Tuan's ancestors. These two issues left Tuan bothered. One day, Tuan said to a fellow official, "Liu's given name shares a character with one of my ancestors; it's quite awkward to address him." He wanted Liu Yibo to change his name. Unfortunately, the fellow official was forgetful and did not inform Liu Yibo. Liu Yibo never knew about this and did not change his name. Governor Tuan assumed Liu was deliberately defying him, which only fueled his anger.

Liu Yibo later learned about this matter and told his father. Liu Jinji got angry again, but for the sake of his son, he dared not resist. However, everything in the house was burned in the big fire in Changsha, so where was the ancestral register? Liu Jinji was very anxious. Fortunately, Liu Yibo came up with a solution. He knew that the magistrate was illiterate, so the ancestral register must have been written by the clerk. "Just forge a new one, copying the three generations of ancestors' details. As long as it’s about his ancestors, he can't refuse, right?" Hearing his son say this, Liu Jinji had no choice but to comply. There was an Old Lu in the clerk's office who was Liu Yibo's fellow villager and often went to the mansion, so Liu Yibo asked him for help. Old Lu said, "This is simple. I'm familiar with the magistrate's details. I recently helped General Jingzhou write one. Just remember the year of the magistrate's change of ancestral register, and don't write the age wrong, and there won't be any problems." Liu Yibo was overjoyed and quickly asked the old man, then told Old Lu the year. After Old Lu went back, he wrote a new one and sent it over. When Liu Jinji saw it, he said, "As long as the names of the three generations of ancestors are correct, he probably won't recognize the other characters." Liu Yibo simply changed his name to Liu Qibo—a small detail, but one that could save them a lot of trouble. The next day, father and son went to the government office together; the old man returned the ancestral register, and the young man reported the name change. The officer went in, came back smiling, and said nothing, not even inviting them in. The officer just shrugged them off, and the pair went home empty-handed.

Because Nie Tai is quite reasonable and understanding, and his relationship with Tuan Zhi Tai is also good, the next day, Liu Qibai went to visit Nie Tai, explained the situation, and asked for his help. Nie Tai readily agreed. The next day, Nie Tai went to see Tuan Zhi Tai and explained the situation again. Tuan Zhi Tai smiled and said, "Before, his son was not under my command, so I overlooked his failure to submit the required paperwork. Now that his son is working under me, if people gossip, saying that I’m friends with someone and yet I favor his son, I can’t afford that kind of gossip. So, this time he must pay his respects, and I won’t be lenient. As for the issue of his son having the same name as our ancestors, you know we Manchus take this matter very seriously. They're both officials in the same province; they'll be meeting, so they need a way to address each other. If he doesn't change it, what should I call him? Since he has changed it, then so be it." Nie Tai continued, "Old Master Liu is elderly, frail, burdened with family responsibilities, and lost everything in the fire. Liu Dao has been in the province for several months now, hoping that the General can arrange a good job for his son, so he can retire in peace." Tuan Zhi Tai said, "Need I say more? What kind of relationship do I have with him! Go tell him, consider his son my own; he can rest assured!" Nie Tai passed the word to Liu Qibai, and that was that.

So, two days later, Tuan Zhitai indeed met Liu Qibo. They chatted a bit first, asking about Liu Qibo's recent health with genuine concern. Then they talked about the job. Tuan Zhitai said to Liu Qibo, "The Silver Bureau is one of the best gigs in Hubei. Wei has been working there for two years, and somehow, it is said that he left with a deficit of over twenty thousand. This morning, Fan Tai told me that he wants the next person to make good on that. Honestly, I don't have much of a relationship with Wei, but I gave him this job mainly to keep Xu Zhongtang happy. Now I want to ask you, can you agree to help him cover his losses?" Liu Qibo thought to himself, "Sounds like he wants me to guarantee that he can cover the deficit before giving me this task. The Silver Bureau is known to be a good opportunity, rumored to earn twenty to thirty thousand a year. If that's true, this deficit is nothing. I'll agree to it. If it really can earn that much, this amount of money is nothing at all; if it doesn't earn much, I'll find a better opportunity in the future." With his decision made, Liu Qibo said, "Thank you for looking out for me. You don't need to worry about Wei's deficit; I will find a way to cover it myself." Tuan Zhitai was very pleased to hear this: "It's great that you can cover it." Liu Qibo thanked him and left. He told his dad about it, and the whole family was thrilled.

Two days passed, but the appointment letter had not arrived. Liu Qibai asked the director again to inquire about the news. "The day before yesterday, I asked him if he could raise twenty thousand yuan to bail out Mr. Wei. He said he could do it, which means he's financially secure and not in a hurry for a job. So, I have already given the position at the Silver Bureau to Hu Dao." He added, "Liu Dao doesn't really mind. He's young; he can afford to wait a couple of years for a better position. Besides, someone as fair as the governor, as long as he is cautious and keeps to himself, shouldn't worry about missing out on promotion opportunities. So, Liu Dao has accepted the situation regarding the Silver Bureau job. But his old father is getting on in years and always hopes his son can secure a good position, which would give him peace of mind. The ministry wanted to help him get a good position." The official found these words reasonable and said, "In that case, the Likin Bureau is currently short-staffed, so let's give him this job for now. If better opportunities come up later, I'll arrange them for him." The director informed Liu Qibai of this matter. Although Liu Qibai was not happy, he had no choice but to wait for the appointment letter to arrive, and the next day he would go through the motions of formally accepting the position.

What kind of person is Hu Dao, who was appointed as the head of the Silver Yuan Bureau by the Provincial Governor? He used to be a wealthy merchant in Jiangxi; although his family wealth isn't what it used to be, he still has a fortune of several hundred thousand. After taking over, Hu Dao's business declined year by year, suffering serious losses, and he gradually couldn't hold on. Thinking that being an official would bring in money quickly, he sold off all his assets, donated money to obtain the title of a low-ranking provincial official, and came to Hubei waiting for an appointment. After several years, he still hadn't landed any good opportunities. He was used to the high life, spent like a drunken sailor, and couldn't make ends meet, even with a thick family background. Later, feeling anxious, he consulted with friends. They advised him to use connections and spend money to bribe the Governor, so he could make more money and grow his wealth. Hu Dao thought this made sense, so he asked someone to find a clerk responsible for handling official documents. He first gave the Governor twenty thousand taels of silver, specifying that he wanted the position of head of the Silver Yuan Bureau; after taking office, he would give another ten thousand; if he could continue to hold the position, he would give twenty thousand every year. In addition, he gave the clerk eight thousand taels as a reward. All set, just waiting for the official word.

Just when things couldn't get any worse, that Tang Er, always causing trouble, arrived in Hubei for a new job. Since they had spent money on him before, the gofer of the Tuanzhi Tai informed Tang Er about this opportunity and introduced them to each other. Although this young gofer was still in his teens, he had significant influence because the Tuanzhi Tai listened to him, and he wielded a lot of power; everyone in the yamen followed his lead. Moreover, this young gofer was a real whiz at reading people. He didn't flatter those wives; he only buttered up Madam Twelve. Madam Twelve was looking for a backer, so the two of them clicked and kept it from the Tuanzhi Tai. At that time, many of those waiting for postings in the province had gained benefits through the back door thanks to the young gofer. Tang Er hadn't been in the province long and wasn't sure which jobs were good and which weren't. Everyone saw him making a nuisance of himself, but no one was willing to tell him the truth. In fact, he still wanted to curry favor with his superiors. He noticed those big shots visiting the provincial governors every day. The little guys in the yamen flattered them. When they went out, they were escorted by guards, looking like a big deal, and he envied them a lot! So he discussed with the young gofer and wanted to land a cushy position. At that moment, Madam Twelve was busy raking in the bribes, and the young gofer helped him come up with a plan, asking Tang Er to cough up twenty-five thousand taels of silver to guarantee him a position at the Silver Bureau. At first, Tang Er didn't know how much money could be made at the Silver Bureau. After hearing the young gofer's explanation, he was shocked and quickly checked it out. It was true, so he decided to pay the young gofer to grease some palms. Little did they know, just as they had reached an agreement, someone surnamed Hu had also struck a deal with the steward and was waiting for the appointment letter to come down and pay the money. When the young gofer heard this, he thought, "Uh oh," and quickly put the kibosh on any more gifts, telling everyone to hold off and wait for his message. He was in power at the time, and no one dared to disobey him. Then he went back to figure out a plan with Madam Twelve. After brainstorming for a while, it was Madam Twelve who came up with an idea. She said, "Wait for the master to come back tonight and follow my lead." The young gofer understood and promised to make arrangements.

So, one day, Tuan Zhitai finished a job and was in a good mood, just waiting for the money. He had the steward tell the gatekeeper that the manuscript would be delivered today and payment would be made tomorrow. After nagging them a few times, it got dark, and still no manuscript. Tuan Zhitai was too busy to sweat the small stuff. Besides, he'd get the money, so a few reminders were all he needed. After finishing his official duties in the evening, he'd been crazy about his twelfth concubine for the past two months – couldn't go a day without her. So, he went to her room again. Sitting down, he remembered the events of the day and started scolding the gatekeeper for being inefficient: "I asked for the manuscript to be delivered at noon, and it still hasn't arrived! This is ridiculous!" Before he could finish speaking, the young master yelled from outside: "Why hasn't it been delivered yet? I'll go remind them now!" After saying that, he dashed out.

After a while, Xiaoyier returned with the gatekeeper and brought the official documents. Tuan Zhitai saw it and scolded the gatekeeper: "Where the hell have you been? You're only delivering it now!" Then, he dove into the document under the lamp. Just as he was about to write Hu Daotai's name, Twelve Yitai suddenly stood up, ran over, and swatted the pen from Tuan Zhitai's grasp. Tuan Zhitai hurriedly asked, "What's wrong?" Twelve Yitai didn't say anything, only exclaimed, "What time is it? There's a huge mosquito!" Tuan Zhitai finally understood that Twelve Yitai was helping him kill the mosquito and quickly asked someone to light a lamp and find a pen. While she was at it, Twelve Yitai inquired, "What urgent matter is this? Does it have to be written tonight? Can't it be done in the signing room tomorrow?" Tuan Zhitai replied, "This is an urgent matter." She pressed, "What matter?" Tuan Zhitai retorted, "What business is it of yours? It's official business; even if I tell you, you won't understand." Twelve Yitai insisted, "I want to understand!" Tuan Zhitai said, "It's fine to tell you; it's about appointing someone to handle a matter." Twelve Yitai asked, "Why does it have to be done tonight? Can't it be done tomorrow?" Tuan Zhitai said, "It's crucial; it must be settled today." Twelve Yitai pressed further, "What exactly is the matter? Who are you appointing? If you don't tell me, I won't agree!" Tuan Zhitai exclaimed, "You're such a pest! Do I need your approval to appoint someone? I'll tell you, it's the Silver Bureau in the provincial capital; the former chief Ding Jian needs someone to take over." Twelve Yitai eagerly asked, "Who are you appointing?" Tuan Zhitai said, "I want to appoint someone surnamed Hu; he is a Daotai." Twelve Yitai replied, "Wait, I want to appoint someone surnamed Tang, also a Daotai. Give me the task for the Tang surname; don't give it to the Hu surname. Next time, if there's a good task, give it to the Hu surname, how about that?" Tuan Zhitai said, "Don't talk nonsense! Can you women manage the task assignments? The one you mentioned surnamed Tang, I know him; he's that infamous Tang Er Luanzi. Is he suitable for this task? I absolutely disagree; stop messing around. Pick up the pen! This needs to be copied tonight, stamped and annotated tomorrow, so it can go out first thing."

When Tuan Zhitai refused, Twelfth Madam instantly flipped, her eyes narrowed and she glared. Forget the pen, she pounced on Tuan Zhitai like a tiger, nuzzling into his armpit. Tuan Zhitai always spoiled her, and though he couldn't get angry, he could only frown and say, "Look, I'm the boss here, not you!" Twelfth Madam shot back, "I want to appoint Mr. Tang! If you don't, I'm not having it!" With that, she grabbed a teacup and smashed it on the floor, then glared around, ready to wreck the place. Tuan Zhitai replied, "I'm not appointing that Tang fellow, so what's the big deal?" Before he could finish, Twelfth Madam snatched the official document that had just been delivered and tore it in half. "You can't tear up official documents! That's outrageous!" Tuan Zhitai exclaimed. Twelfth Madam ignored him, throwing a tantrum and demanding Mr. Tang get the job. They argued, and Xiao Er Ye watched the whole thing unfold. Seeing Twelfth Madam rip up the document, Xiao Er Ye winked at the messenger and said, "Get out of here, we'll get another copy tomorrow." Xiao Er Ye grabbed his pen and left too.

Aunt Twelve saw that the gatekeeper and the second young master had both gone out, and she put on a different act. The steward didn't know what to do with her. She demanded he tell her about the Mint, then insisted he write out a character for her, and finally quizzed him on how to write Tang Er's name. The steward said, "If you want to assign him a task, don’t you even know how to write his name?" Aunt Twelve glared at him, "I can write; I've already written it down, you don’t need to worry." The steward had no choice but to write it for her to see. Aunt Twelve complained that it wasn't written nicely and wanted it in block letters, not cursive. She found a blank space in a torn official document and asked the steward to write Tang Er's name. Seeing it was a scrap of paper, he carefully wrote the name. After Aunt Twelve read it, she said, "I got it, no need to write anymore. It's late, let's go to bed." The steward was relieved, quickly undressed, and got into bed. Aunt Twelve balled up the torn paper and the steward's writing together, stuffed it into the drawer, and dimmed the lamp. The steward didn't notice. They lay down, and a hushed conversation followed.

After resting for a while, Tuan fell asleep. Aunt Twelve listened for any movement in the room, quietly put on her clothes, got out of bed, walked to the table, lit the oil lamp, gently took out the pile of papers from the drawer, arranged them neatly under the lamp, and spread them out one by one. Luckily, the papers were all folded in pairs and came with ready-made paste, making them easy to repair. She patched one up with some extra paper and paste, flipped it over, and found it looked as good as new. The three characters "Tang Mouren" on it were written by Tuan herself. Aunt Twelve was overjoyed. By this time, Xiao Er Ye had been waiting outside the door, and when he saw that Aunt Twelve had finished, he quietly lifted the curtain and stepped in. Aunt Twelve handed him the official document and pointed to the door. Xiao Er Ye got the hint and immediately went out to handle the matter quietly, not mentioning what happened last night. Aunt Twelve then went back to bed. Tuan was still dead to the world, completely unaware.

The night passed, and morning came. Tuan got up. Aunt Twelve pretended to still be asleep. Tuan didn't call her either; he washed his face, brushed his teeth, ate breakfast, and naturally had maids and servants waiting on him. Halfway through breakfast, a document was suddenly delivered from outside, saying that the newly appointed head of the Silver Bureau, Tang Mouren, was waiting outside to express his gratitude. Tuan was taken aback and asked, "Who’s coming to thank me?" The messenger replied, "The substitute head Tang Mouren is here to thank you for the appointment." Tuan was flabbergasted, "Thank me for what appointment? Was it appointed by the Governor? Why didn’t the Governor inform me?" The messenger answered, "It’s the newly appointed Silver Bureau." Tuan was even more puzzled, stopped eating, put down his chopsticks, and said, "I didn’t appoint him; who did?" The messenger smiled and didn’t say anything, leaving Tuan completely baffled.

Things were at a standstill. Suddenly, Madam Twelve sat up from the bed, rubbed her eyes, and asked, "What's going on?" Tuan Zhitai remarked, "Didn't you take on the task of getting Mr. Tang the silver coin job last night? It's been a night, and he already came to thank you. That's weird, huh?" Madam Twelve replied with a stern face, "So what? That's what you'd expect." Tuan Zhitai was even more confused and responded, "I don't understand what you mean!" Madam Twelve sneered, "How can you not remember what you did? If you didn't authorize him, how could he dare to pretend to be you?" Tuan Zhitai asked, "When did I authorize him?" Madam Twelve shot back, "Who wrote Mr. Tang's name on the official document yesterday?" Tuan Zhitai insisted, "When did I write Mr. Tang's name?" Madam Twelve retorted, "Seriously? You forgot something you did yourself! You scribbled something I couldn't read, then wrote a proper version for me to see. That's the one!" Tuan Zhitai said, "That paper was ripped, wasn't it?" Madam Twelve replied, "To tell you the truth, I repaired it after you fell asleep. I fixed it, copied it, stamped it, and got it to Mr. Tang's by five. He received the document and immediately came to thank you. This person is really sincere in his work. You did it yourself, so don't act surprised!"

This speech made Old Tuan so angry that his whiskers bristled, and he said angrily, "You lot are a bunch of fools! This is outrageous! How can things be so chaotic? That Tang fellow is too restless! I'll report him, see if he keeps his job!" The twelfth aunt sneered, "If you report him, I think you should report yourself first. It's one rule for the rich, another for the poor. You’ve sold official positions and made quite a profit. Share some business with us. The deed's done, so just drop it. If you must report Tang, I’ll be the first to disagree. If things go south, we’ve got your back. Just play along, pretend you don’t know, but don’t be stupid. You sold this position to Hu, took his money, and when Tang takes office, I’ll have him give you another ten thousand taels of silver." Old Tuan was so angry that he sat there in silence. He thought to himself, "If I blow my top, she’ll be involved, and that’ll ruin my reputation. Better to keep my mouth shut, let them finish this, avoid future trouble, and still get ten thousand taels. Even if Hu doesn’t pay up, I can fix him up with another job and get at least half. It all evens out. Whatever, I’m not losing out, so let them be." After thinking for a while, his face calmed down. The messenger was still waiting there. Old Tuan said angrily, "Still waiting? Tell him to wait! What's the big rush? He can wait till I've finished breakfast!" After that, he picked up his chopsticks, finished his breakfast, washed his face, changed his clothes, and went out to meet Tang.

After he left, Twelfth Madam pointed at him and said, "He himself loves selling out offices and titles; how can he tolerate others? If you ever have any trouble, just come to me. I will naturally have a way to deal with it, so don't worry about him not listening." The family members all smiled and said nothing. From then on, Twelfth Madam became more and more bold, and the Tuanzhi Court (the head of the household) was completely outmatched by her. More on that later.

As for the Tuanzhi Court going out to meet Mr. Tang, although his expression was not good, he couldn't turn his face on the spot, so he had to make polite small talk and then see him off. Mr. Tang left.

Mr. Hu drew a blank. Fortunately, it was agreed beforehand to settle the accounts, so no money was paid. Later, when he saw that the Silver Bureau had appointed Mr. Tang, he went to the steward to question why he'd gone back on his word. The steward had to go to the Tuanzhi Court. The Tuanzhi Court couldn't pin it on Twelfth Madam, so they had to be evasive and try to cover it up. Later, the steward was pressured to the point where there was no way out, so in the end, he gave him a less important job and more than ten thousand taels of silver to settle the matter. To be continued.

Details

Written by: Realhistories

Category: Officialdom Unmasked

Published: 23 November 2024

Created: 23 November 2024

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Tang Guancha returned from the palace with a belly full of anger, feeling both anxious and scared, completely frightened. When he got home, he quickly took off his clothes and smoked a pipe of opium to calm his nerves. As he smoked, he thought to himself, "This whole mess was clearly caused by that unreliable guy San Dan! I didn't treat him badly; I counted on him to handle things, and yet he did this! If he had told me earlier that he couldn't do it, I could have found someone else. Why'd he have to make me look like such a fool today?" The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, but now he was stuck with him. Even though he knew he couldn't rely on him, he didn't dare to do anything to him, so he could only hold it in. After finishing the opium, it was time for dinner, but this meal made him even more upset. With nowhere to vent his frustration, he took it out on his son, scolding him from the moment he walked in the door until they finished eating.

San Dan, annoyed by the scolding, asked, "What about the matter of the twenty thousand yuan?" Tang Guancha replied, "What can you do? I'm screwed. I'm gonna lose money." With that, he sent a friend to the money lender to get twenty grand for San Dan. Before leaving, he bowed deeply to San Dan, "Brother, this time you must take care of my brother-in-law for me! He's got money, it's legit, and he's already paid a lot. I don't want anything out of this; I just want this sorted." San Dan felt the sting in his words, feeling uneasy, his face turning red and white alternately. He wanted to say something in response but couldn't find the words. After a while, he managed to say, "We're family, you think I'd screw you over? It's those guys, they won't budge. There's nothing I can do." Tang Guancha ignored him.

Forget about Cha Sandan and his friends getting the money for now. After about five hours, as it was getting dark, Tang Guancha saw that Cha Sandan had not returned yet and started to sweat. Just as he was about to send someone to look for him, Cha Sandan came back excitedly, saying "Congratulations." Upon hearing this, Tang Guancha's previous anger faded away, and he quickly asked, "We got the money? Did we give 'em the gifts?" Cha Sandan replied, "Of course, the money's sorted, and the gifts are delivered. I heard the higher-ups are really pleased, and the supervisor put in a good word for you. They gave you a promotion to a fourth-rank title." Tang Guancha said, "What fourth-rank title? I’m already a second-rank official. After sending these things, I should at least be bumped up to a first-rank title. How can it be just a fourth-rank title? Am I supposed to get demoted?" Cha Sandan said, "I'm not sure about that. But this is an imperial decree; either way, be grateful. Even if you originally had a red hat, it's different. That was donated; this is a special royal gift, totally different." Tang Guancha said, "I’m already a fourth-rank Daotai, so getting a fourth-rank title is nothing special." Cha Sandan said, "What's the big deal? Some people get a third-rank title and are even made acting governor or something! Are you saying an acting governor is lower than a third-rank title?" Tang Guancha was honest by nature, and after Cha Sandan's words, he had nothing to say. He wasn't exactly experienced in politics, so it was no wonder he didn't know that those granted the acting governorship with a third-rank title were selected from dismissed officials. Since receiving the news of being granted a fourth-rank title, Tang Guancha had been feeling unhappy. Cha Sandan advised him, "Regardless, it’s the Emperor's gift. It’s another title, don’t sweat it. Others can't obtain it even if they beg. You gotta go to the ceremony tomorrow. Don't disrespect the Emperor; you'll be sorry if he gets mad. Just do it." Tang Guancha had no choice but to comply. The next day after the gratitude ceremony, he went home bummed out and didn’t see any guests. He thought to himself, "I shelled out 150,000 taels and got practically nothing! What a rip-off!"

As he was thinking, the butler brought a calling card and said someone was visiting. Tang took a look and saw the name "Shi Lin" written on the card. Knowing it was another Manchu person, he was stunned and asked, "I don't know this person, who is he? What does he want?" The butler replied, "I asked as well, and they said he is a low-ranking official in the Imperial Household Department, the brother of the Assistant Minister. Apparently, Mr. Wenming took ten thousand taels of silver from you and didn't deliver. Now the officials in the ministry know about it and sent his brother to investigate. His brother is too busy, so they sent his fourth uncle. After all, they are family and more reliable." Tang was feeling pretty cheesed off about wasting the money, and upon hearing this, he thought, "How did the officials in the Ministry of Internal Affairs find out about this? If they used my money, there must be benefits; if they didn't, then it would reveal Mr. Wen's corruption. It's better to invite him in and ask." So he ordered, "Please come in."

It was June, the perfect time to wear light clothing. Mr. Shi walked out of the carriage wearing a light beige silk robe over a green shirt, his hat perched jauntily atop his head, and boots with layered soles. He was practically jingling with jade ornaments, perfume sachets, and all manner of trinkets hanging from his belt. He also had a small tobacco pouch in his lapel pocket. As he entered, he was fanning himself with a delicate folding fan and sporting large round spectacles. When Tang came out, Mr. Shi quickly took off his glasses, handed the fan to the butler, and bowed deeply. Tang also quickly returned the bow.

After the ceremony, the two sat down and chatted. Fourth Master Shi was very eloquent, and when he saw Tang Erluanzi, he laid it on thick, saying that he had long admired Tang Erluanzi's reputation. He then said, "My brother often mentions you and has always regretted not having the chance to meet. Today, there's some business at the office, and my brother is too busy to get away, so he sent me. You should know what specific matters are being investigated, right?" Tang Erluanzi said, "I know, thanks to you and your brother's efforts, I am truly grateful! I apologize for not being able to visit you and your brother earlier!" Fourth Master Shi said, "We are all family, don't say that!" Tang Erluanzi asked, "My brother and I are from the same office, right?" Fourth Master Shi said, "I work in the silver vault, while your brother handles some minor issues outside. Although we are in the same office, we are in different departments. I have only heard of him. Now the higher-ups know about this matter. To be honest with you, this kind of thing is common; my brother and I often help others deal with such situations. The higher-ups were very angry when they found out, saying, 'This matter has become big; wouldn't it damage our office's reputation?' He was about to fire the person surnamed Wen and punish him. Later, my brother came up with an idea, saying, 'The money that the person surnamed Wen received, he should still have it. Instead of taking action against him immediately, let's scare him privately, deceive him into returning the money, and then ask the higher-ups to let him off. This way, we can preserve his reputation, return the money to the original owner, and demonstrate our office's efficiency.' The higher-ups thought this was a good idea and agreed. However, although my brother agreed, he is busy all day and has no time for such small stuff. This matter has been dragged on for three days, and the higher-ups still remember it and asked about it today. So, my brother specially sent me to understand the detailed situation first and come up with a solution." Tang Erluanzi said, "You are really putting in a lot of effort!" Then, he detailed the matter of the person surnamed Wen and said, "Actually, I am not reluctant to give up the ten thousand taels of silver (a significant sum), but I feel that the handling of this matter is unreasonable." Fourth Master Shi said, "Yes! I'll let my brother know and get back to you."

" "

The two of them chatted about other things. Tang Erluanzi kept complimenting Sir Shi Si, saying, "Now the court has loosened up censorship. Just yesterday, there was an edict allowing people from the Imperial Household Department to recommend censors. In the future, your yamen (government office) will have another way out." Shi Si frowned and said, "What's so good about that? It may look good on the surface, but in reality, it's a loss. The textile workshops in Guangdong, Huai'an, and Jiangning have all been shut down. Calculate how much less money you'll be making in a year. Even if you become a master, don't you still need to spend money? Even if you add a thousand more masters, it still won't compare to the earnings of two supervisors and one textile factory. This is a demotion in disguise." Tang Erluanzi asked where he lived, and Shi Si said, "My older brother and I are mostly not at home. If you need anything, just come directly to me, don't be polite." After saying that, he stood up to leave. Before getting in the car, he bowed repeatedly, telling Tang Erluanzi not to return the gesture. Tang Erluanzi had to agree. After Shi Si left, Tang Erluanzi pondered to himself, "Losing ten thousand taels without a peep—it's infuriating! I didn't expect the officials from the Imperial Household Department to know about this. It seems there is still hope to get this money back. Money is a small matter, but it's good to keep a lid on things." Thinking of this, he felt much better. Because Shi Si repeatedly told him not to return the gesture, he followed suit. He figured he'd treat Shi Si to dinner later to show his gratitude.

Early the next day, Fourth Master Shi came in casual clothes and said, "After I went back yesterday, I told my older brother about this matter, and he immediately brought in someone named Wen. Do you know who Wen is?" Tang Er said, "I don't know." Fourth Master Shi continued, "He's Fu Zhongtang's nephew. His uncle has become successful now, and even before entering the court, he was promoted to the rank of a Plain White Bannerman. Because his nephew is useless and doesn't work properly, he just lets him be and fend for himself. He often uses his uncle's name to deceive people and cheat for money. When Fu Zhongtang found out, he beat the hell out of him and locked him up. I don't know when he'll be released. Our officials, out of respect for his uncle, often assign him small tasks to earn some money, but they dare not let him handle big matters, fearing he'll cause trouble. Now, he’s out again deceiving people in the name of an official. When my brother thought about it, he realized that if this matter is really handled, we will be implicated, and Wen can't bear it. We will also suffer losses. To be honest, Fu Zhongtang isn't happy about this. Although he hates his nephew, when something happens, he always sides with his own people. We don't want to offend Fu Zhongtang because of this. So when my brother heard it was him, he wanted to keep everyone happy. After finding him, it wasn't convenient to speak in the yamen (government office), so my brother invited him to a restaurant. Only halfway through the meal did he reveal the matter to him. At first, Wen wanted to deny it, but later he was set straight by my brother and had nothing to say, admitting his mistake. He said he was confused for a moment and asked my brother to help him think of a solution. Seeing that he was softening, my brother scared him, saying, 'You’re too confused! The plaintiff's already filed a complaint against you, and the documents to arrest you will come soon. The official received the news this morning and was furious, already informing your uncle. When the court documents arrive, to save face, we have to handle this matter officially.' This scare frightened the kid. Regardless of who was around, he dropped to his knees, begging for my brother's help. My brother was startled and said, 'Hey, where are we? Let's talk standing up, it's not good if someone sees.' My brother asked him, 'Have you touched the money?' Wen said, 'I just got it and have been too scared to touch it. I only used over nine hundred in the past two days.' My brother said, 'Okay, bring the remaining over nine thousand. I will help you in front of the official and ensure you are safe.' Wen replied, 'We must first suppress Tang Er's matter.' My brother said, 'With the two of us pleading for you at Tang's office, there is still some face to be had.'"

There is no text provided for translation.

Tang was very satisfied to hear that he could recover more than nine thousand taels, and he said repeatedly, "Nine thousand or a bit less, I'm happy either way. As long as you two brothers say a word, I gotta show my appreciation somehow." Fourth Brother Si said, "We're family, no need for all that. Let's not talk about it, it's embarrassing." Tang said, "Fourth Brother, you say that, but I insist." Fourth Brother Si continued, "I haven't finished yet. Big Brother saw he was willing to pay up, so he kept him on a tight leash. After eating, we will take the carriage home together and have him hand over all the money. Big Brother counted it, and it was correct. Then Big Brother went to the yamen to find me, asking me to deliver a message to you first. He asked me to tell you that a man surnamed Wen took ten thousand taels from you, and both of our yamen's top brass know about it. Later, Big Brother came up with an idea for Wen to return the money and plead his case to preserve his reputation. Now the higher-ups have agreed. Big Brother has also received the money from Wen. But he used more than nine hundred taels and couldn't make up for it, which is hard to explain to the officials. If Wen loses his position because of these nine hundred taels, his uncle would lose face, and Big Brother promised to ensure his safety, so he can't break his word now. But the officials can't return the more than nine thousand taels to you. I'm a bit strapped for cash, so I covered the nine hundred taels for Wen to save face. I just wanted to let you know that once you get the money, you can return the nine hundred taels to me, no need for interest, we're mates, there's nothing that can't be understood. I'm always broke, what with all the socializing. The guy running the treasury couldn't even scrape together nine hundred taels – you wouldn't believe it! If we weren't familiar with each other, I really wouldn't have the nerve to say this." Tang said, "You're kidding me! You've already helped so much, how can I let you pay again? I'll eat the nine hundred taels; I can live with losing that. You don't have to cover for him, and Wen doesn't have to return it. It's to save face, and besides, we're mates. Get Fourth Brother to tell the yamen guys that even if I, Tang, don't want these nine hundred taels, they shouldn't pursue this matter."

Officer Si quickly explained, "You wouldn't worry about a measly nine hundred taels, right? We know that. However, Mr. Wen has to hand over the full ten thousand taels to the magistrate, who will then pass it on to you. That way, everyone saves face. If even a copper coin is short, Mr. Wen won't be able to explain to his superiors, and they won't be able to explain to you. Even if you don't mind, it'll still look bad on the yamen. The magistrate doesn't know Mr. Wen's brother helped him out with the nine hundred taels, so my brother told me to ask you for a loan of nine hundred taels to tide Mr. Wen over until he gets the full ten thousand. Don't worry, it'll all be returned to you. This way, Mr. Wen gets his good name, his uncle saves face, and the yamen keeps its reputation clean. The whole yamen owes you one! As for that 'hard work fee,' we've been more than well looked after by you, sir. We wouldn't dream of asking for more. So, we couldn't possibly accept anything else."

Tang Erluanzi listened to his words, pondered for a while, and muttered to himself: "Nine hundred taels for nine thousand? And he's giving me back my nine hundred? Sure, they need it temporarily... but this Shi guy, second time I've met him, you can't trust anyone. His brother's a big shot, and he's in charge of the treasury? No way he can't get nine hundred taels. I've wasted enough time; gotta be careful. Better lose two thousand than nine hundred. Let's call it a thousand Wen took; I'm not getting that back. Nine thousand, I'll give his brothers a thousand for their trouble. And why involve the magistrate? Let's handle this quietly." With a decision in mind, he tactfully expressed his thoughts to Old Man Shi. Shi Si also knew that he was reluctant to part with more than nine hundred taels, but couldn't lose face, so he remarked, "This isn't your fault. We’re new acquaintances, and it’s hard to believe that Wen didn’t get back the nine thousand taels and instead asked you to advance more than nine hundred." Tang Erluanzi quickly explained, "It's not that I don't trust you, Brother Si; it's just for convenience, to avoid the magistrate knowing." Shi Si replied, "This matter was assigned by the magistrate; how can we not report it? It was my mistake not to consult you first about advancing the silver. Let's not talk about anything else for now. The more than nine hundred taels used by Wen don’t need to be repaid by him. I’ll go back and discuss with my brother; we must find a way to gather the full ten thousand taels and make it clear in front of the magistrate. Since you’re unwilling to intervene in front of the magistrate, my brother and I have agreed that I will send the ten thousand taels of silver notes over in the future. I won’t be rude; just prepare a one thousand taels silver note to give back to me. Although I’ll earn a few dozen taels more and reward some people in front of the magistrate when I go back, that’s only fair. As for the kickback, I absolutely can’t accept that." Tang Erluanzi saw him say this and felt reassured. He immediately agreed. Shi Si asked again, "Whose notes did you give Wen for the ten thousand taels of silver?" Tang Erluanzi replied, "They’re from the Hengli family." Shi Si said, "That’s the best. We also deal with Hengli, so we’ll go to Hengli tomorrow to issue a ten thousand taels note." With that, he took his leave.

Tang Er Luanzi did indeed draw a one-thousand-liang bank note from Hengli, ready to return it to Master Si the next day. He also wrote another one-thousand-liang note, saying that since someone had helped him so much, he had to give a little something extra. Who knew that the next day, he waited and waited, but Master Si did not come. Tang Er Luanzi was anxious, thinking, "He was so sure, he definitely wouldn't not come. Could something have gone wrong, something changed?" He paced and fretted, feeling restless. Finally, when it got dark, Master Si arrived. Tang Er Luanzi was overjoyed, quickly welcoming him in, offering him tea and a smoke. Master Si said, "I should have come earlier, but unfortunately the hall official insisted on seeing you, blaming you for many things, all of which my brother took on for you. You don't need to go now, the money has also been brought, and this matter need not be mentioned. I haven't eaten all day because of this." Tang Er Luanzi quickly said, "Let's go to a restaurant together." Master Si replied, "I still have official business; I'll explain the matter and come back another day." Tang Er Luanzi insisted repeatedly, but seeing that he was unwilling, he had to give up. So Master Si took out a large pile of silver notes from his boot, ranging from a few thousand to several tens of thousands, a total of over a dozen. After fumbling around, he finally found a ten-thousand-liang note. Just as he was about to hand it to Tang Er Luanzi, he said, "Yesterday we agreed on a Hengli note; this one is not it." So he took it back, rummaging through the notes again, and finally found a ten-thousand-liang Hengli note, letting Tang Er Luanzi confirm it. Tang Er Luanzi saw that he had a lot of silver notes and thought, "Wow, these Internal Affairs guys are loaded. He said he was short yesterday – what a fibber!" Master Si also realized this and hurriedly explained, "These are all given to craftsmen by the higher-ups. If I had so much money, I would have made a fortune long ago; why would I still be serving as an official here?" In the midst of the conversation, Tang Er Luanzi also took out two one-thousand-liang notes he had written and gave them to Master Si. Master Si, upon seeing the two notes, asked in a hurry, "What are these one-thousand-liang notes for?" Tang Er Luanzi said, "Your brother and you are busy with official duties; I haven't even offered a toast. Just a little something for your trouble." Master Si frowned and said, "We agreed not to. If you insist like this, how can I possibly take that?" Tang Er Luanzi said, "What's the big deal! I'll be needing your help again sometime!" Master Si replied, "Since you've said that, I can't be too stubborn; I'll accept it." He pocketed the notes, mumbled something about urgent business, and practically ran out the door. Before he left, Tang Er Luanzi asked for his address, planning to visit him the next day. Master Si mumbled an address.

Tang Er Luanzi was cock-a-hoop, bragging to anyone who'd listen about his newfound riches. He even told this to Cha Sandan with a smug look on his face. Cha Sandan just sneered, wondering to himself: "Bloody hell, even *that* bloke gets lucky? Go figure!" Unexpectedly, the next day when he went out to visit, he couldn't find the family with the surname Shi as per the address given by Old Man Shi. Tang Er Luanzi scolded the coachman in vain, and after returning, sent people to inquire at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the treasury, but still couldn't find anyone with the surname Shi. Now Tang Er Luanzi panicked, quickly took out that ten thousand yuan note and asked a friend to cash it at Hengli Bank. The teller gave it a good look, checked the stub, and said, "Where did you get this note from?" The person replied, "Someone gave it back to me. What's the problem?" The teller sneered, "This is a dodgy note! Lucky we know each other, or you'd be in a right mess. Hurry back and tell your employer to investigate the source of this note. Passing off a fake note like that? You'll be in court!" The person's face changed color in fear and quickly went back to inform Tang Er Luanzi. Tang Er Luanzi was so anxious that he stomped his feet, cursed the person with the surname Shi, and immediately reported to the authorities to help catch the culprit.

After that, Tang Er Luanzi stayed home, moping for over ten days. Cha Sandan found out about this and joked about him behind his back, but didn't expose him to his face. After a period of time, on the day of introduction, Tang Er Luanzi attended. He was due a transfer to Hubei, and should have got his posting papers. But the court was tied up, and never called him in. He'd splashed out 150,000 silver coins on bribes, only to get a measly fourth-grade post – nothing else. Tough luck, mate!

Alright, let's get to the point. Tang Er took the transfer order to Hubei for his new post and spent days traveling by train and boat. Passing through Shanghai, he revisited the old place and couldn't help but have a blast with his old pals for more than ten days before taking a Yangtze River boat to Hubei. It is said that at that time, the Governor of Huguang was a Manchu named Tuan Duohuan. This man had a whole harem, with as many as ten concubines, and the people of Hubei gave him the nickname "The Governor's Ten Beauties." The year before, a subordinate wanted to brown-nose him, so he specially bought a couple of beauties from Shanghai to give to him. Tuan Duohuan was overjoyed and immediately accepted them, thus he had twelve concubines from then on. The people of Hubei then called him "The Governor's Dozen," and the nickname "The Ten Beauties" fell out of use. Before Tuan Duohuan took in those two concubines, among his ten concubines, the ninth concubine was the most favored. This ninth concubine came from the backyard of the Tianjin Marquis's family; she was tall and thin, with a long face and big, honey-tongued eyes. She looked pretty good, but she was a real firecracker. She spoke sweetly, which made people love and hate her at the same time. But if you crossed her, she could really lay into someone. She always flattered the governor, acting like a snake in the grass, saying bad things about this concubine and that concubine. At first, Tuan Duohuan listened to her and vented his frustration on the other concubines. However, although Tuan Duohuan was confused, he would eventually come to understand. He was sick of her nagging. One day, the ninth concubine was talking about how bad the first concubine was. Tuan Duohuan got annoyed and coldly said, "I'm tired of hearing you run others down. What's so great about you? I can't just get rid of everyone else and keep only you. Besides, the first concubine served my parents; even my late mother liked her. Out of respect for her memory, I'll overlook her faults. Since you hate her so much, you live in the back, and she lives in the front. Problem solved."

Aunt Nine has always indulged Duo Huan because of her mischievousness, but today she helped someone else, which made her very angry! Before Duo could finish speaking, Aunt Nine's eyebrows shot up, her eyes blazing, and she used her long, slender fingers to slap herself repeatedly across the face. While doing so, she scolded herself, "I know I said the wrong thing. How can I compare to her? They've served the family for years; of course, the master will treat them differently. Since they want to elevate her, why not let her be the main wife now that the mistress has passed away? We might as well all die and leave her to it!" Duo Huan is addicted to opium, and there is opium in every aunt's room. Aunt Nine snatched up a box of opium and shoved it in her mouth. She collapsed, rolling on the floor, clawing and kicking, her hair coming loose, her jade hairpin shattering, all the while screaming and cursing.

Duo Huan was angry, resentful, and anxious. He was furious at her unreasonable behavior, enraged by her suicidal threat, and terrified by her opium overdose. Desperate, he called a doctor, but after administering a lot of medicine, Aunt Nine clenched her teeth and refused to swallow. In his desperation, he coaxed her, saying, "I will send Aunt Big back to her hometown in Beijing so she won't stay here anymore." He thought this might dissuade Aunt Nine from seeking death, but it did no good. From the evening until four in the morning the next day, there were only three hours left. After these three hours, she would not be able to be saved, and they could only wait for her to die and be buried. Duo Huan was exhausted from her torment. Sometimes he would hate her for her bad temper, and sometimes he would secretly shed tears thinking of her kindness. The maids and servants huddled around her, awaiting the inevitable, while he lay heartbroken in the next room.

I was thinking of a way, but I had no clue at all. Suddenly, I saw one of Ninth's personal maidservants coming in. A pretty girl, maybe twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Girls her age often have their own ideas. Unfortunately, Tuan Zhitai was a lustful person. When no one was around, he would always stare at this maid with shifty eyes. The guy was into her, and she was somewhat moved, but she was afraid of Ninth and dared not show any signs. Although unspoken, there was always a lot of affection hidden in her eyes. Tuan Zhitai wasn't blind; he knew what was going on.

Seeing the maid come in alone, he immediately vented his anger on the maid instead of Ninth. Under the pretense of asking about Ninth, he tried to flirt with her. After a few words, Tuan Zhitai suddenly pointed to the room opposite and said, "Wow! Everyone dies eventually. When she dies, I will let you take her place, are you willing?" And with that, he went to grab her hand.

The maid saw this and was afraid of being seen, so she quickly retracted her hand and said, "Hang on a sec. You think she’s gonna kick the bucket right away? She'll probably be just fine! Besides, she might be perfectly alright after eating it!" Tuan Zhitai's eyes widened in surprise, "You mean she didn't eat opium? I clearly saw her take it from the smoking tray!" The maid said, "Listen, keep this on the down low." Tuan Zhitai heard this and quickly got up from the bed, knelt by the bedside, and swore, "May I drop dead if I tell anyone!" The maid said, "Whoa, no need to swear an oath over this little thing." Tuan Zhitai didn't quite catch that and kept nagging the maid to repeat it. The maid said, "Three months ago, Ninth Aunt pretended to be pregnant, saying her belly was getting bigger. The master was tickled pink and gave her tons of medicine, including a whole jar of motherwort cream, asking her to drink it with hot water every day. Two months later, Ninth Aunt's stomach stopped hurting, so she said she wasn't pregnant and stopped taking the medicine. She threw the remaining half jar of motherwort cream into the drawer, and no one touched it. The day before yesterday, when she was cleaning the drawer, she took it out, and Ninth Aunt saw it and snatched it away. Yesterday, Ninth Aunt and Eldest Aunt came back from a screaming match, and Ninth Aunt especially hated Eldest Aunt, saying, 'The master's gotta get rid of Eldest Aunt, or I'll kill him!' Then she said, 'My life ain't worth nothin' to him. If I croak, it'll be a load off his mind!' As she spoke, she took out a small cigarette case, put some motherwort cream in it, and prepared to die with the master. It was just me there, and she made me promise not to tell a soul. So the master's worrying over nothing. I'm telling you the truth, Ninth Aunt ain't dying."

Tuanzhi Tai finally understood and said, "That rotten wretch is actually pretending to be dead and extorting me!" He wanted to say something to the maid, but she had already broken free and ran away, saying, "Gotta run!" Tuanzhi Tai could only watch her leave, fuming with frustration. Knowing that Jiu Yitai was pretending to be dead, he decided to ignore her and left on his own.

Jiu Yitai saw that Tuanzhi Tai was ignoring her and thought the master figured she was faking it and gave up on her. Things were spiraling out of control, and she regretted deeply, not expecting the maid to say so much behind her back. The more she thought about it, the more hopeless she felt. After waiting for a long time without the master showing up, she realized that if she didn't die, she would be exposed. Hesitating for a long time, she faked a coughing fit, retched for a while, and vomited some foam. The people serving beside her said, "She's fine, she coughed up the smoke." At that time, several old women were a whirlwind of activity, one patting her back, another massaging her chest, while others rushed to fetch soup and hot water. Then they heard Jiu Yitai retching again, vomiting out the soup she had just drunk. She said to herself, "If I swallowed the smoke, why can't I just die on my own? Why do I have to be saved and become a pain in the neck?" Saying this, she burst into tears. When everyone saw that Jiu Yitai had woken up, they immediately sent someone to inform the master. They swept up the mess, discovering it was all water, with no smoke at all.

Tuanzhi Tai dozed off in his office. Just as he was sleeping soundly, an old woman came to report that Jiu Yitai had woken up, waking him up. Tuanzhi Tai was so angry that he scolded the old woman and said, "I knew she wouldn't die, what's all the fuss about?" The old woman left in embarrassment.

From that day on, Ninth Aunt feigned a serious illness and did not leave the house for more than ten days. The Governor was also angry and did not receive any guests or visit the main house during that time. After all, Ninth Aunt had pretended to be gravely ill, and feeling insecure, these days were actually more peaceful than before.

Since the Governor heard what the maid said, he no longer cared about Ninth Aunt and focused on making a move on the maid. However, the maid was afraid of Ninth Aunt and did not dare to act rashly. The Governor was also concerned about causing more chaos at home, so he had to give up. But since Ninth Aunt fell out of favor, he ignored the other concubines and felt listless and glum all day.

It's said that the Master is lucky as hell! These days, the yamen has been refusing visitors; after all, they are the big cheese of the province, and every word and action must be careful. There was a deputy magistrate named Guo Qiao, who heard that the Master was refusing guests because of this. Although Guo Qiao had not been in the province for long, he was a real smooth operator. When he caught wind of this, he didn't tell anyone or consult with others. It only takes over three days to travel from Hankou to Shanghai by boat. He took a month off, brought over ten thousand taels of silver, saying he was going for fun, but really to scout for talent. After more than twenty days of searching, he found nothing. Seeing that his vacation was almost over, he quickly sent a telegram asking the Hubei government office to extend his leave for another twenty days. After greasing a few palms and spending eight hundred taels, he bought a woman in Suzhou and brought her back to Shanghai. The Master thought, "Gotta bring a pair to impress the boss." However, he didn't find any of the courtesans in Shanghai appealing. Eventually, someone recommended a place where there was a woman named A Mao, who had charming eyes and a bit of a plump figure. The Master immediately liked her and settled down with her.

One day, Ah Mao went to the old master's house to play and saw the woman bought from Suzhou, thinking she was a relative of the old master. Later, it was explained that she was the concubine procured for the Hubei governor. When this matter reached Ah Mao's mother's ears, she envied it greatly, saying, "She must've done something really good in a past life!" The old master said, "If you're up for it, I'll send both you and your daughter to be the governor's concubines. What do you say?" Before Ah Mao's mother could speak, Ah Mao grabbed the old master's braid and slapped him twice across the face, saying, "You think I'd be your concubine? No way I'm becoming that governor's mistress!" Two days later, it was Ah Mao's mother who played matchmaker, introducing her niece—also a prostitute named Ah Tu—to the old master. The old master was pleased upon seeing her. Ah Mao's mother said, "The only thing is, she's got rather big feet." The old master laughed in Shanghainese and said, "Nah, it's cool. The governor's Manchu, he's seen bigger." He then asked how much money was needed. Ah Mao's mother said, "She had a man before, but now she has broken up with him. With all expenses added up, it will cost a total of 1,200 dollars." The old master said yes immediately and paid the money the next day. A few days later, the old master saw that everything was settled, and he was chuffed he hadn't spent much. He then spent thousands of dollars on clothes and jewelry, dressing up both women beautifully, and bought them some gifts.

Everything has been arranged. Old Man Guo bought the official cabin ticket for Jiang Yu's steamship and returned to Hubei. Coincidentally, Tang Er Luanzi, Hubei's acting governor, had just finished his time in Shanghai and also booked the dining cabin on the same ship to return to the province. Tang Er Luanzi's steward and Old Man Guo's steward were fellow villagers, chatting about their masters' official positions and careers. Tang Er Luanzi's steward came back and told his master that Old Man Guo was escorting the family of the Governor of Hubei. Being new to officialdom, Tang Er Luanzi was anxious about being courteous enough, so he quickly sent his steward with a business card to pay respects to the Governor's wife in the official cabin, saying, "If the Governor's wife is uncomfortable in the official cabin, I'm happy to give up the dining cabin for her." After seeing the business card, Old Man Guo asked his steward and learned that the dining cabin was occupied by the Governor's superior, so he had to go and pay respects. After they met, Tang Er Luanzi felt that Old Man Guo must have a special relationship with the Governor, so he was very polite, asking, "When did the Governor's wife arrive in Shanghai?" Old Man Guo, wanting to boast a bit, didn't tell the whole truth, saying, "It wasn't the Governor's wife who came, but two concubines." Tang Er Luanzi replied, "Wife or concubine, it's all the same. Why not invite them to stay? I smoke, so staying in the official cabin is inconvenient." In the end, Old Man Guo firmly refused, and Tang Er Luanzi had to give up. Tang Er Luanzi recognized that Old Man Guo could escort the Governor's family, so he placed great importance on him. Old Man Guo also thought that since Tang Er Luanzi was the Governor of the province, he might be useful in the future, so he was also very polite to him.

After traveling for several days, they finally arrived in Hankou. After crossing the river, Tang Er Luanzi went to find the official residence on his own. As for Old Man Guo, he returned home with the two women and vacated the main room for the two new concubines to stay. The Governor's aide, who was a sworn brother of Old Man Guo, helped him convey the matter to the Governor and also sent along a generous selection of gifts from Shanghai.

This big shot, without someone to keep him company recently, is feeling unhappy. Upon hearing this, he was thrilled and asked excitedly, "How much did it cost? I’ll cover it." The patrolman replied, "This is a little something extra from the boss, nah, I can't take the money; he provided all the clothes and jewelry." The big shot frowned and said, "He must have spent a whole lot of dough, right?" The patrolman said, "Around twenty to thirty grand; the boss can easily cover it. He works under the General, and the General wants to promote him. It's peanuts to him! He'll be stoked if the General goes for it. Let’s find a day for them to come in." The big shot said, "Forget the date, bring 'em in tonight!" When the big shot married his tenth concubine, the ninth concubine threw a real fit, and it took six months to cool down. This time it was his own fault, so he didn’t avoid it and snagged two more concubines at once. The ninth concubine had no choice but to bottle up her anger and take it out on the maids and her mother. The big shot ignored her.

The master's two concubines, one was bought from Suzhou, older and more down-to-earth, ranked eleventh; the other, named A Tu, ranked twelfth, was incredibly resourceful and scheming despite her youth. In less than half a month after entering the yamen, he kept his eyes and ears open, and with the guidance of the Tuanzhi Tai (probably referring to a certain official position), he figured out all the shady business of selling offices and bribery. When he first arrived, everyone wrote him off. Besides the master, he had no one else to rely on, so he wanted to repay the master. Tuanzhi Tai, remembering the master's kindness in sending concubines, first gave him some paperwork, along with two other tasks to tide him over, waiting for better tasks in the future. The master was unfazed by this, but he didn't expect the twelfth concubine to keep asking the other concubines, "How much money can we earn in a year?" Someone told her that only the ninth concubine used to earn a lot, pulling strings and doing the most backdoor deals, earning at least five hundred, and sometimes even tens of thousands. Upon hearing this, she wanted to worm her way into the ninth concubine's favor and learn her tricks. The ninth concubine had already fallen out of favor at that time and was naturally annoyed when she saw these two newcomers. A Tu tried to cozy up to her, which made her quite happy. The ninth concubine was straightforward in character and let it slip about all her past deeds to A Tu. A Tu was delighted and quickly went to Tuanzhi Tai to lay out her plan, first asking for a good task for the master, and the best one at that. Tuanzhi Tai couldn't say no, and the next day he told the Fanzhi Tai (probably referring to a certain official position) about this matter. In less than three days, he got the job.

Since becoming an official, the master has quickly established connections with everyone in the yamen within half a month. He even befriended a servant by the side of the Provincial Governor, becoming an insider and frequently passing information to the Governor's twelfth concubine. This time, when he received a task, he secretly gave the twelfth concubine five thousand silver coins as a bribe through that servant. The servant spread the word outside, saying that as long as there are tasks, they must give him money every year. This was the twelfth concubine's first "deal." She tasted the sweetness, and after the master took office, she got in cahoots with several members of the yamen and gatekeepers; as long as they could please the Governor, they would follow his orders and benefit from it.

Tang Erluanzi has been in the province for a month, and all the necessary procedures have been completed. However, when he first arrived, he was completely lost and didn't know his superiors, and his superiors didn't know him either. Although they had met, it was just a quick glimpse, and his superiors didn't pay him any attention. Therefore, for newcomers to the province who want to find a job, it's as difficult as climbing to the sky without connections. Fortunately, he was easy-going and liked making friends. He met the master on the road, and they frequently interacted after arriving in the province. However, in the first month, the master hadn't settled his own position and influence, so how could he have time to put in a good word for others? After finally enduring until the twelfth concubine had taken care of the master's affairs, the master was about to be reassigned and couldn't stay in the provincial capital for long. Two days before leaving, Tang Erluanzi hosted a farewell banquet for him at home. After three rounds of drinks, the master told Tang Erluanzi about the connection with the Governor's servant and even helped him make connections.

From then on, Tang Erluanzi had an insider; as long as he was willing to spend money, tasks would naturally come easily. In addition, the twelfth concubine was shrewd and capable, and in less than two months, she had learned the ropes. She wouldn't do anything without money or benefits—a real go-getter! What happens next? Find out next time!