Chapter 26: Everyone Has Their Own Ambitions

Although the shop had already been auctioned off, Wu Tiande had long since stipulated that the handover would not take place until early September, just before his departure for the Tongguan Garrison. Consequently, the Wu family was permitted to continue residing in the premises for a while longer.

As the buyer, Prince Zhongshun, Qi Qin, was in no rush. His true motive in instructing his chief steward to spend a fortune on the "Zhen You Wei" fast-food chain was merely to maintain a close vantage point to monitor the Ning and Rong households and gather intelligence on the Jia clan. A delay was, in fact, welcome, as it helped avoid making his intentions appear too obvious or suspicious.

Nevertheless, the employees of the "Zhen You Wei" chain were now faced with the decision of whether to stay or go. Wu Tiande and his wife, along with his brother-in-law Qin Zhong, his cousin Wu Caiming, the maids Qingwen, Ruizhu, and Baozhu, and even the large yellow dog named Wangcai, had long since decided to head for the Tongguan Garrison together.

Lou Shi and her son, Jia Jun, were also joining them. Lou Shi had previously served as a manager for Wu Tiande and felt a deep sense of gratitude for his patronage. Her son, Jia Jun, had been serving as Wu Tiande’s personal guard and page, training in martial arts under his tutelage. Wu Tiande had promised Lou Shi that once they reached Tongguan, he would open at least one fast-food shop in the city, ensuring she would have steady employment. Having previously relied on laundry and mending to survive in Beiping, Lou Shi knew well that this was the better path.

Bu Shi and her son, Jia Yun, after much deliberation, concluded that there was no future for them in Beiping and decided to join the migration. After all, one had to work for a living regardless of the location. In Beiping, the abundance of high-ranking nobles made life for commoners like them feel devoid of dignity; perhaps a fresh start in the provinces would offer better prospects.

Bao Er and his wife, two of Wu Tiande’s most capable subordinates, chose to stay; they were unwilling to abandon their luxurious home in Beiping. Meanwhile, the cook, Hu Shi, was concerned that her son, Jin Rong, would not receive a proper education in a remote region. Wu Tiande understood their reasons, and since they were not coming along, their employment relationship naturally came to an end.

The head chef, Duo Guan, had recently become deeply involved with a girl named Deng'er. As she was enamored with the prosperity of Beiping and unwilling to move to a remote frontier, Duo Guan was influenced by his lover and pleaded with Wu Tiande to let him stay behind.

Qingwen was furious. It was through her personal connection and favor that Duo Guan had secured the position of head chef at "Zhen You Wei" in the first place. For him to resign the moment the employer left felt like a slap in the face. She scolded her foolish cousin, calling him ungrateful, which left Duo Guan looking quite sheepish.

Wu Tiande intervened, saying, "People have their own aspirations; there is no need for this." He then asked Duo Guan about his plans.

At the mention of this, Duo Guan’s eyes lit up, his previous awkwardness vanishing. "I have a plan! The chief steward of Prince Zhongshun's manor has already arranged it for me. I will remain as head chef at this flagship store, and the pay will be even higher than before! Most importantly, the steward promised that the three-room suite in the back courtyard will be given to me and Deng'er as our wedding home, so we can live a stable life behind closed doors!"

He spoke with such exuberance that he seemed to envision a blissful life settled in Beiping. Wu Tiande smiled, but his heart sank, and a wave of suspicion washed over him. He strongly suspected that the Prince’s steward had ulterior motives, though he could not articulate a clear reason. He could hardly tell Duo Guan that, in the original story of *Dream of the Red Chamber*, this girl Deng'er was a woman of loose morals who would later commit adultery with many from the Ning and Rong households, bestowing upon him countless "green hats" (cuckoldry). He could already visualize the scene: Duo Guan getting dead drunk in the main room while his wife, Deng'er, philandered with others in the side chamber.

Suddenly, it clicked. Wu Tiande finally understood the steward's calculated kindness. The steward must have long since recognized Deng'er’s promiscuity. With her in the shop, she would naturally attract many from the Jia household for illicit trysts. The steward would only need to station one or two sharp-eared servants in the back courtyard to uncover many of the Jia family’s deepest secrets. Realizing the deep-seated schemes of the Prince’s manor hidden behind this, Wu Tiande did not try to dissuade him and readily accepted Duo Guan’s resignation.

Jia Zhi, on the other hand, wanted to leave. Alone in Beiping with no kin, he had endured cold treatment; under Wu Tiande, he was not only valued but also had the chance to spend time with the wine-selling girl, Jiao Ya. Thinking of this, Jia Zhi suddenly realized a problem: everyone else was traveling as a family—Lou Shi and her son, Bu Shi and her son—they all had companions. He, however, was all alone. What was the point of that?

Perhaps he should take Jiao Ya with him? But there was a catch: Jiao Ya was the apple of her father Jiao Er’s eye. Currently, Jiao Er and his wife, Qin Shi, were pinning their hopes on Jiao Ya to secure a dowry that would fill the financial hole left by their sons, Jiao Fu and Jiao Gui.

Jiao Fu and Jiao Gui had been seduced by a girl named Xia'er. Not only had all their hard-earned wages from "Zhen You Wei" ended up in her hands, but they had also stolen several taels of silver from their parents to buy her cosmetics. Jiao Er and Qin Shi were so angry they nearly coughed up blood. They had confronted Xia'er several times, hoping to recover some money, but Xia'er was no ordinary woman. She had many lovers, and even Jiao Fu and Jiao Gui dared not show her any disrespect.

Xia'er, completely unreasonable and unashamed, stood with her hands on her hips and cursed, "They’ve touched what they’ve touched, kissed what they’ve kissed, and even tasted the 'big white buns'—what more do you want? Do you think a beautiful girl like me is meant to be enjoyed for free by your two wretched sons?"

"What? They even tasted the 'big white buns'? No, no, I, 'Drunken Vajra' Ni Er, must also taste them," interrupted Ni Er, who was nearby. As a man of the underworld, he had been flirting with Xia'er for days but had only managed a few hugs. Hearing that the Jiao brothers had surpassed him, he could not let it slide.

Xia'er retorted coquettishly, "Don't be so shameless, 'Drunken Vajra.' The Jiao brothers have spent dozens of taels on me. You’ve only given me a pair of small silver rings and you want to taste the 'big white buns'? Forget it."

Spending dozens of taels was too much for Ni Er. He was a veteran of the pleasure quarters and knew that money didn't buy true love. "I don't have that much silver," he said, shaking his head, "but I won't regret it later and come asking for it back. Compared to them, I am more sincere."

This touched Xia'er's heart. "That's true. Since you won't ask for it back, I don't mind letting you taste the 'big white buns' today."

The two flirted, their conversation becoming increasingly explicit, leaving the furious Jiao Er and Qin Shi to return home in tears. This couldn't go on. Regardless of how much money they had, it wouldn't last with the brothers acting this way. "Perhaps we should find them wives to settle them down," Qin Shi gritted her teeth. "Then they won't waste money on those loose women anymore."

After reaching a decision, they hired a matchmaker and bought a maid—Wan'er, who had recently been dismissed from the Ning household. Wan'er had originally hoped to marry into a prominent family, but she hadn't caught the eye of Jia Zhen. On the eve of her expulsion, she had been forced by the steward, Lai Er, losing her virginity. With nowhere else to go and the possibility of being pregnant by Lai Er, she dared not refuse. She settled for ten taels of silver and decided to marry one of the Jiao brothers.

The problem was, which one? Both wanted her. The two "dog-lickers" began to compete, showering her with gifts. While the money stayed within the family, Xia'er was displeased. She had grown accustomed to the brothers' offerings and was furious at the competition. Thinking it over, Xia'er bit the bullet and agreed to marry Jiao Fu, intending to become Wan'er's sister-in-law and eventually steal Jiao Gui away. She demanded fifty taels of silver as a dowry—ten times what Wan'er had asked for. Wan'er, suffering from morning sickness and desperate for a husband to cover her situation, had no choice but to ignore it.

The small lane of Xiao Hua Zhi was decorated with red lanterns and colorful silks—a stark contrast to its usual decay. The Jiao family was holding a double wedding for the brothers. Jiao Er, dressed in a new blue cloth jacket, beamed with pride, forgetting the financial ruin behind the spectacle. To fund the weddings, he had emptied his savings and borrowed one hundred taels from his elder brother, Jiao Da.

"I borrowed it based on my own ability," he whispered to his wife. "If he asks for it back, I’ll be too embarrassed to repay him." Qin Shi, though wearing a new dress, sighed with hidden worry.

Wu Tiande also received an invitation. As he arrived at the lane, he felt a twinge of sentimentality. He had sold this house to Jiao Er at a low price, and it was now clean and well-maintained. He offered his gift and was warmly welcomed. Finding a seat in a corner, he noticed a discordant figure: Jiao Ya. She was serving wine and food, dressed in a faded old shirt, her eyes red from crying.

Listening to the guests nearby, Wu Tiande learned that Jiao Er intended to sell her as a concubine to an elderly painter in Tianjin for two hundred taels. The man was nearly a hundred years old—it was akin to pushing her into a fire pit. Wu Tiande felt a deep sense of injustice. While he didn't wish to interfere in family matters, he whispered instructions to his attendant, Jia Zhi.

Moments later, Jia Zhi slipped a heavy purse into Jiao Ya’s hand. "Miss Jiao Ya, Commander Wu saw your hard work and offers this as a token of his appreciation."

Jiao Ya looked toward Wu Tiande, who gave a slight nod. Clutching the ten taels of silver, her eyes welled up again. It was a glimmer of light in her dark reality. "Commander Wu is so kind to me," she said, looking at Jia Zhi with bright eyes, "but what about you?"

Jia Zhi felt his heart flutter.