Instructor, Retainers

The day after Jia Yucun appeared at the welcoming banquet, Sun Shaozong met Shuntian Prefecture's big boss—the Prefectural Governor, Han Anbang.

After summoning him, Han Anbang merely exchanged a few official pleasantries. Aside from encouraging him to be diligent in public service and enforce the law for the people, he said virtually nothing of substance.

Yet those few empty words conveyed a clear signal—Han Anbang had no wish to fall out with his future deputy over Sun Shaozong!

And so, over the next several days, everything became calm once more, as though that initial string of deliberate difficulties had been nothing but Sun Shaozong's imagination.

Naturally, Sun Shaozong did not truly believe it had been an illusion, much less lower his guard because of it. On the contrary, he became even more careful and cautious.

Han Anbang had chosen to furl his banners for now chiefly because Jia Yucun's sudden intervention had caught him off guard. Once he recovered his bearings, he might not necessarily continue to prize harmony above all else.

Thus, during this period, Sun Shaozong could not afford to let anyone find the slightest fault in him or seize even a single handle against him. Otherwise, should Han Anbang and Jia Yucun turn hostile one day, Han Anbang would surely make an example of him to frighten the monkeys!

For seven or eight days running, Sun Shaozong familiarized himself with his official duties while taking time to review the case files his predecessor had piled up. Whenever there was something he did not understand, he had to consult the Da Zhou Law, or lead Zhao Wuwei and the others to inspect the scene in person. He was so busy that he had not a moment's leisure.

Yet he did not trust a single one of the clerks and scribes in the Criminal Division, and truly did not dare let them lay hands on the Official Documents. So he began considering hiring a secretary—or, as they were called these days, a legal adviser—to assist him.

After discussing it with his nominal elder brother at home, Sun Shaozu said, "Everyone in our family knows only how to wield blades and spears. Where would we find a legal adviser? The Second Master of Jia Manor is fondest of keeping retainers. The Lantern Festival gives three days off, so why not go to Rongguo Mansion to take up your post? While you're there, ask Jia Zheng whether he has any reliable candidates to recommend."

Sun Shaozong was in urgent need of help and could not think of a better solution for the moment, so he could only proceed as suggested.

Thus, on the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, Sun Shaozong took Ruan Rong with him and paid another visit to Rongguo Mansion.

But when they arrived before Rongguo Mansion this time, they found the normally quiet long street packed with carriages and horses, a bustling crowd blocking more than half the road.

"Move aside! Move aside! Don't block the manor's honored guest!"

As Sun Shaozong frowned at the badly congested road, he heard someone ahead screeching a rebuke. Several donkey carts hurriedly moved to the roadside, revealing Xing'er, Jia Lian's personal Servant Boy.

Xing'er held a street-clearing whip in his hand. Amid the crowd's respectful, fawning gazes, he swaggered toward the carriage with a rolling gait. Only then did he bow deeply and say with a smile, "Second Master Sun, please forgive this mess for making you laugh at us. Come, I'll lead you inside."

Along the way, Sun Shaozong saw men and women, young and old, all dressed in bright and splendid clothes, yet unable to conceal the air of poverty in their bones. Curious, he urged his horse up beside Xing'er and asked what was going on.

"Isn't it because His Majesty's boundless grace has permitted our family's eldest Young Lady to return home for an imperial visit?" Xing'er said boastfully. "And since she's coming home for an imperial visit, naturally we have to prepare an Imperial Visit Villa!"

He swung the street-clearing whip in two broad arcs from Rongguo Mansion toward Ningguo Mansion and said extravagantly, "A few days ago, the master and madam gave orders to connect the gardens of the Rong and Ning Mansions and properly set them in order!"

Then he swept a contemptuous glance over the impoverished-looking people around them and sneered, "A project this huge naturally has plenty of grease to skim. Just look—anyone with even the slightest family or social connection to our manor has come sniffing after the scent."

Then he lowered his voice and said smugly, "But these people outside have no standing. Those with real connections snapped up the fat posts long ago!"

Judging by that self-satisfied expression, he had most likely already secured some "fat post" for himself.

Sun Shaozong secretly reflected that if his nominal elder brother had failed to inherit the title back then, the Sun family might well have been among those "with ties and connections." He simply did not know whether they would have counted among those without standing or those with real connections.

With Xing'er clearing the way before them, they naturally reached the manor gates without obstruction.

As usual, Sun Shaozong first sent Ruan Rong to Lin Daiyu in the West Chamber. Only then did he have Xing'er lead the way to Rongxi Hall to pay a visit to Jia Zheng. Though Jia Lian had personally come to invite him on the fifth day of the month, it had been Jia Zheng who issued Sun Shaozong the letter of appointment. Before taking up his post, it was only proper that he meet Jia Zheng.

In contrast to the blazing bustle outside, Rongxi Hall was quiet and solemn.

Since he was hiring an instructor for his son, Jia Zheng did not put on airs as he had last time. He came out early to greet Sun Shaozong and invited him into the main hall.

Once host and guest had taken their seats and exchanged a few pleasantries, Jia Zheng could not help sighing. "Your elder brother Zhu had known how to strive upward. What a pity... Now, I no longer ask that that cursed wretch learn anything remarkable. So long as he can strengthen his bones and pass on this family estate of mine, that will be enough."

"You jest, Uncle."

Sun Shaozong laughed and casually humored him. "I have heard that Brother Baoyu is naturally intelligent, and that he was even born carrying a Spirit Communication Jade. His future will surely be boundless. I only fear that my own skills are mediocre, and that I might muddle through and delay him instead."

Hearing Sun Shaozong praise Baoyu, Jia Zheng's brows and eyes gained several traces of pride. Yet he quickly waved a hand and said modestly, "What natural intelligence? His head is merely full of crooked ideas! Virtuous Nephew, feel free to act as you see fit. Whether in character and learning or martial arts and horsemanship, so long as you can make that unfilial son improve in any way, I will certainly reward you handsomely!"

He called him "unfilial son" and "cursed wretch" at every turn, yet Sun Shaozong had come this time to teach far more than Baoyu alone. Jia Zheng did not mention the illegitimate son Jia Huan or his legitimate grandson Jia Lan at all. Clearly, Jia Baoyu remained the one he valued most in his heart.

Sun Shaozong rose and solemnly agreed. Then, changing the subject, he cupped his hands and said, "To be frank, Uncle, I have been rather stretched thin at Shuntian Prefecture lately. I wish to hire two legal advisers to help me, but I truly cannot find suitable candidates. I hear that Uncle has many worthy talents at your side. Might you bear the pain of parting with them and recommend one or two to your nephew?"

These so-called retainers were mostly Recommended Men who had failed the examinations but were unwilling to become petty officials chasing crumbs. They relied on their writing and glib tongues to earn a few idle meals in great households. They were said to be lofty and refined, but only they themselves knew the warmth and coldness of their lot.

To become a legal adviser to a sixth-rank Judicial Commissioner could be considered an excellent post—especially since Sun Shaozong had won fame while young and might well be entrusted with great responsibilities in the future.

Jia Zheng was naturally happy to do a favor that cost him nothing, so he had several of the more outstanding men brought out. There were Zhan Guang, Hu Silai, Cheng Rixing, Shan Pinren, Bu Guxiu, Wang Zuomei, and several others, seven or eight in all.

Though Jia Zheng did not openly mention the matter of hiring legal advisers, these men were all sharp-eyed human spirits. After only a few casual exchanges, they had guessed seven or eight parts of the truth. At once, every one of them eagerly stepped forward, each trying to outdo the others. Their praise blossomed like flowers in full riot, and their competition left them red in the face.

Had Jia Zheng not been present, they might have begun attacking one another outright.

But in Sun Shaozong's eyes, most of them were empty talkers. They could move their lips well enough, but when it came to actually doing things, they were likely useless.

Only Cheng Rixing seemed passable among them. In particular, besides being a retainer, he also served as a manager at an antique shop belonging to the Xue Family. He had experience handling mundane affairs and was fairly proficient with accounts.

Still, a first impression alone was not enough for Sun Shaozong to make up his mind. So he invited Cheng Rixing to visit his residence that evening, so they could deepen their understanding of one another.