Chapter 817

They either wanted to enter politics, go into business, or take up a trade.

Yet not a single one was willing to join the military.

Regarding this, Jia Huang, Jia Heng, Jia Guang, and the others looked at each other in dismay, and then some lowered their heads in shame.

Off to the side, Zhao Yun, Jia Xu, and the others were all filled with emotion.

A dignified family of military nobility.

Yet not one person was willing to join the military.

This could only be described as absurd.

However, upon closer reflection, it was not strange at all.

In reality.

Starting from the generation of Jia Zheng, it was already the third generation.

Those of the 'Wen' generation, such as Jia She, Jia Zheng, and Jia Min, were born with silver spoons in their mouths; with the imperial favor at its peak, both titles and official positions were theirs for the taking.

However, the family had reached a period of transition; the military achievements that had founded the family business were no longer of any use, and the world had shifted toward civil governance.

Therefore, in order to keep pace with the times and to ensure the family possessed the power of self-renewal, starting from the third generation, the Jia clan had to consider abandoning the martial for the literary.

But the fourth generation, starting with Jia Zhen, Jia Lian, and Jia Baoyu, had gone completely astray.

If the arrogance and extravagance of the third generation were still somewhat restrained and dared not be too reckless, then by this fourth generation of Jia Baoyu, the flaunting of wealth had become blatant.

The fourth generation of the 'Yu' character.

There was no better way to describe them than "gold and jade on the outside, rotten cotton on the inside."

"The outer frame has not yet collapsed, but the inner stuffing has already surfaced"—it had already shown signs of decay.

And by the fifth generation of Jia Rong, Jia Qiang, Jia Qin, Jia Yun, and Jia Lan.

The wealth and glory had been gnawed away by their elders, leaving them with nothing but the empty name of wealthy young masters.

*Cao* (grass) is a group without protection, which is why there is a modern song that goes, "A child without a mother is like a blade of grass."

Now, this 'Cao' generation is already like a child without a mother, unable to enjoy the shade and protection of the family.

*Cao* is derived from 'wood'; the characteristics of wood are "growth, gentleness, and the ability to bend and stretch."

Yet Jia Lan from the main branch and Jia Yun from the collateral branch possess the resilience of grass—"wildfires cannot burn it out, the spring breeze brings it back to life"—and even after experiencing the ruin of their homes, they are still able to radiate vitality.

Jia Hui pondered for a moment.

The entire *Dream of the Red Chamber* likely uses the rise and fall of a single family to perform the natural laws of the Dao's cycle; as the saying goes, "when water is full, it overflows; when the moon is full, it wanes." Falling to the bottom of the valley, there will be a rebound, and only then will there be another cycle of moving from decline to prosperity, and from prosperity to decline.

The mansion has already tilted and the family has collapsed—this is already a great tragedy, yet amidst these broken walls and ruins, there are still a few blades of grass growing stubbornly, relying on their own strength.

Humanity is like this, endlessly flourishing, because hope always exists!

It can be said that the gold/jade and the grass/wood, the 'Yu' generation and the 'Cao' generation, have thus formed a stark contrast.

Rather than spoiling them into disaster, it is better to simply let go and let the children grow on their own like wild grass!

Therefore.

Jia Hui was not angry; he just said calmly, "If you have made your choices, then go and do it. I will give you the opportunity to act. However, these are troubled times; it is no longer a prosperous age. There is much to be achieved in the military, but you must think it through."

Upon hearing his words.

The group pondered for a while.

Among the crowd, a young man named Jia Zhen, with a broad face and a small but sturdy build, his eyes relatively firm and resilient, chose to step forward after listening to Jia Hui: "Master, I choose to join the military!"

This made Jia Hui hold him in higher regard.

After all, none of the others chose to join the military.

One reason was that going to war nowadays was very likely to get one killed!

This required a certain amount of courage.

"It seems the Jia clan still has vitality."

Jia Hui smiled slightly and took note of this person.

Among the others, Jia Qiong and Jia Chang also stepped forward, wanting to join the military as well.

Jia Hui granted their requests one by one.

And so.

These ten or so people each chose a path, represented by Jia Huang going into business, Jia Heng into politics, Jia Guang into trade, and Jia Zhen into the military.

Each chose a road.

Upon returning, Jia Hui's subordinates would handle the assignments.

Those in business and trade would start as junior managers.

Those in the military would start at the very least as junior officers managing a dozen or so soldiers.

Those with good luck would become high-level generals, such as serving as adjutants or personal guards for Lu Bu, Zhang Fei, and the others.

As long as they were willing to work hard, even if their abilities were mediocre, as long as they were loyal to Jia Hui, the lowest they would reach would be mid-level pillars in their respective fields, and a few might even become high-level officials.

That would depend on them.

In any case, Jia Hui had bestowed the opportunity!

"We kowtow and thank you, Master, for your grace of rebirth!"

After receiving their rewards.

Jia Huang, Jia Chen, and the others kowtowed in excitement, gratitude, and agitation.

After settling them, Jia Hui planned to pay a visit to the Shi family.

"Marquis, are you going to the Shi family to propose marriage?"

"Yes, why?"

Seeing this, Jia Huang, who was about to leave, spoke up.

"When I was coming here, I happened to run into people from the Wang family, also beating drums and blowing horns, heading in the direction of the Shi family."

"Hmm?"

【568】 The suddenly bustling Shi family, Wang Ziteng's wishful thinking.

Jia Hui, who was preparing to go out, paused slightly upon hearing Jia Huang's words.

Jia Hui's deep, domineering eyes looked at Jia Huang: "The Wang family, Wang Ziteng?"

"Ye, yes."

Because Jia Hui's stature was overly tall and imposing, and his aura was incomparably powerful and shocking!

Jia Huang, who was a head shorter, had a voice that was trembling.

After nodding like a chicken pecking at rice several times.

His brain, which had become stiff and slow, took a moment before he hurriedly replied: "I think it is Wang Ziteng who wants to marry a Shi family girl to his son."

Hearing this.

Jia Hui's gaze turned cold.

Off to the side, Jia Xu looked respectfully at Jia Hui and said: "The Wang family, like the Shi family, is one of the four great families of Jin Ling. Being old relatives, it is quite common for them to intermarry."

"However, if it were the Wang family of the past, they would likely look down on the current Shi family... after all, although the Shi family has two marquises in the mansion, they have actually fallen so far that their female relatives have to do needlework for a long time to support the family."

"Therefore, the Wang family of the past would not have looked down on the Shi family of today."

Hearing this, Jia Hui understood his meaning and smiled faintly: "But today is different from the past; the Wang family has also fallen. The Wang family was raided, Wang Ziteng lost his office and title, and they are not even as well off as the fallen Shi family. So Wang Ziteng wants to marry into the Shi family!"

Jia Xu nodded in agreement: "That should be it. The reason they chose the Shi family is likely because there is nothing else to choose."

"The Wang family is ruined, and there are not many who look favorably upon them. Because of Lady Wang and her niece, as well as the previous falling out, the relationship between the Jia family and the Wang family has broken, so that is unlikely."

"As for the Xue family, they only have some silver and cannot provide much help to the Wang family in politics or the military to make a comeback, so the Shi family has become the most suitable choice for the Wang family now."

Hearing this.

Qingwen, who understood what was going on, stood by Jia Hui's side, her willow eyebrows raised, and her fox-like face turned frosty. She immediately said with indignant anger: "Marquis, this Wang family is truly a toad wanting to eat swan meat."

"It really is; the Wang family doesn't even have a home of its own anymore."

"They are just stray dogs, yet they actually want to let that Wang family dog-son marry Miss Shi; it is truly a case of lust blinding the heart."

Ping'er, dressed in a pink-orange silk brocade and a rainbow-colored five-colored arrow-sleeve robe, wearing a flower-gray small-stitch magnolia skirt, with a honey-yellow floral-patterned embroidered sash tied at her waist, a begonia gold-thread embroidered sachet hanging lightly, and a pair of gold-thread embroidered pearl-studded sleeping shoes, looking atmospheric, peaceful, and beautiful, had a fair face, and the delicate eyes beneath her brows were filled with anger.

"They truly deserve to die; who else could they want to marry, yet they actually set their sights on Miss Shi!"

The others, Xiren, Yuanyang, Lin Hongyu, and the other women, were all indignant.

They condemned and denounced Wang Ziteng and the others in a one-sided manner. ===== CHAPTER 818 =====