Chapter 695: February 2nd: Is this also repaying a favor?

February 2nd: Is this also repaying a favor?

February 2nd: Is this also repaying a favor?

Last time the book said that Yucun, carrying Daiyu and holding a recommendation letter from Ru Hai, boarded a wooden boat, traveling by day and night, and soon arrived at the Jia mansion in the capital. How Daiyu would meet Jia Mother is what Cao Xueqin wrote; it has little to do with me. I am only responsible for the Yucun chapter of this book.

Yucun adjusted his mood, prepared his words, took the letter written by Ru Hai, and went to see Jia Elder. Jia Elder, seeing that he was a person recommended by his brother-in-law and also a clansman, and noticing that Yucun could speak well, had an impressive appearance, and spoke eloquently, strongly praised him to the chief; soon Yucun was promoted to Heaven-responding Prefecture.

Yucun's obtaining this office was unexpected in this way: it was due to connections. If Yucun had not initially had Ru Hai's recommendation, he would still be a petty scholar adrift in the rivers and lakes. Even if Yucun was well-versed and exceptionally talented, what good would that do?

After Yucun became an official, in order to curry favor and repay the Jia family's kindness, a close relative of the Jia family broke the law and had a capital case pending. Yucun abused his authority, favoring personal connections and perverting justice, arbitrarily decided the case, and easily settled it.

Is this also repaying a favor?

When Yucun settled the Jia relative's capital case, he said to the Jia family: 'Your nephew's matter is settled; no need to worry.' Your nephew's killing, I have already settled it; you can relax, don't bother yourself over this.

This is officials protecting each other! When one prospers, all prosper; when one suffers, all suffer.

The gatekeeper who advised Yucun said to Yucun: 'Nowadays every local official has a private list.' This private list writes down the names of people in this locality whom one must not offend. These people are wealthy and powerful locally, with deep and extensive roots, connected in all directions. 'If one is unaware and offends such a family,' losing one's official rank is trivial; 'one might even lose one's life.'

The gatekeeper's words, Yucun naturally understood them implicitly, hearts in sync, instantly grasped. Because his office was obtained solely through connections. Reality tells Yucun: to become an official, without background, without connections; to handle affairs, with reason but no money, also no connections.

This is called power-money transactions, do you believe it?

The gatekeeper who gave Yucun a 'golden idea' only understood one part, not the other. At first, the gatekeeper thought himself clever, and in front of Yucun he showed off his petty cleverness. Saying things like 'A great man adapts to the times, moves toward good fortune and away from misfortune, that is a gentleman.' Trying to curry favor with Yucun to gain a minor official post, the result was 'cleverness backfires.'

Please look at that gatekeeper's.........