Chapter 411: Blocked at Both Ends?

Among the many offspring in the Jia Mansion who are either poor at worldly affairs, or young, or ridiculous, Jia Lian is one of the few who can shoulder the family's practical matters.

His ability to handle affairs may not be called strong, but it does have a few merits!

In the original work, he dealt with tricky external matters; for example, after Lin Ruhai's death, Jia Mu entrusted him with the important task of escorting Daiyu back home for mourning, and he completed Lin Ruhai's posthumous affairs rather properly.

He also handled private matters in Ping'an Prefecture and the planning of the Grand View Garden, further showing his capability in handling affairs.

His talent and insight may be average, but his emotional intelligence, dealings with people, and social interactions are still handled with ease.

Of course, his flaws are also very obvious: he is overly flirtatious, his private life is extremely chaotic, he cannot control his desires at all, and his conduct, taste, and spiritual pursuits are all vulgar.

For instance, when his daughter Qiao Jie contracted smallpox and needed to observe a fast and separate quarters, he showed no fatherly compassion; first he sent the servant Qing Jun to "start a fire", and then he immediately flirted with several girls.

"The more wanton the daughter‑in‑law, the more Jia Lian's ugly demeanor is exposed," "Jia Lian only knows how to please himself with lewd pleasures, and does not know how to cultivate refinement," are both original lines from the source.

The commentary from Zhi Yan Zhai also pierced the matter, stating: "In the whole book, only this one passage of extremely vulgar and overly exposed writing is about Jia Lian, and it is perfectly appropriate!"

Moreover, all of Jia Lian's flirtatious affairs are almost always accompanied by a lack of responsibility, especially when he strays during critical moments such as his daughter's serious illness, his wife's birthday, or family duties, to the point where his lechery blurs the sense of right and wrong!

Of course, despite many flaws, Jia Lian still retains a bottom line that distinguishes him from Jia She, Jia Zhen, and others—that is his inherently good conscience.

For example, in the original "Shi Dazi" incident, he explicitly expressed displeasure at Jia She's forceful seizure of another's antique fan, deeming it improper, and as a result he was beaten.

It is precisely this sympathy for the lower weak that makes Jia Jing still willing to employ him!

Lust is ultimately a personal moral issue, whereas seeking profit by harming lives and breaking laws is a principled problem.

Regarding his family's major righteousness and minor details, Jia Jing's consistent attitude is to be tolerant of minor faults but merciless toward major errors.

And as Jia Lian's older brother in name, he can give a pull, and Jia Jing is still willing to give a pull!

Feng Jie arched her willow‑like eyebrows, pursed her painted lips, couldn't help shifting her half‑tilted posture, and with an unmistakable look of surprise and jealousy on her face, said:

"Let him become the deputy chief manager of the Jing‑zi‑type Large and Small Trading Firm? Is he suitable for such an important position…?"

She knew the Jing‑zi‑type Large and Small Trading Firm very well; it is currently the most profitable firm in the entire Shenjing city.

Its fresh goods—jade liquor, glass mirrors, soap, and other novelties—are selling like crazy, making money like mountains of gold and silver every day.

At first, people in Shenjing didn't know whose property it was, and countless individuals were itching to get a bite of that juicy flesh.

It wasn't until a few incidents when troublemakers were dealt with by the personal troops of the Jing Guogong Residence that everyone learned that behind this firm stood the currently rising Jia Jing.

Feng Jie had privately and quietly inquired about the firm's situation, hearing Aunt Xue and other informed persons analyze that,

The Jing‑zi‑type Large and Small Trading Firm now has branches in hundreds of prefectures across the Da Han Empire, with the firm employing no fewer than a thousand staff.

Those novel goods even go overseas to the West, earning at least several million silver pieces a year; such a stable cash flow is simply terrifying!

It was only after this that the masters in the Jia Mansion realized that Jia Jing not only has astonishing overt power, but also quietly built such a massive fortune behind the scenes.

Therefore, now that Feng Jie hears Jia Jing intends to send Jia Lian to the Jing‑zi‑type Large and Small firm as deputy chief manager, her first reaction is not joy but deep… jealousy!

She has painstakingly managed, flattered modestly, and worked hard to ingratiate herself, yet in the end she only gets the title of assistant manager.

And Jia Lian (second brother) lacks ability, lacks means, is all flash and no substance, yet is lecherous to death, and was so easily given this lucrative post!

The third younger brother indeed still cares more about his own blood brother; even a sister‑in‑law, however close, is not as dear as a brother.

At the same time, she couldn't help but worry secretly that if Jia Lian truly gains ambition, with such great power and prestige,

He will later dominate the household, and the authority she holds will be greatly weakened; would she then have to submit to him as a subordinate?

Thinking of a future where a concubine enters and she is supplanted by a favored concubine, she involuntarily felt her hair stand on end!

Jia Jing lifted a cup of sour plum soup, took a sip, and said lightly:

"Why is it unsuitable? If Brother Lian truly wants to work outside, the trading firm can arrange it for now!"

The military camp is certainly unsuitable for placing someone of Jia Lian's temperament.

Not only can he not endure hardship, but even if he could, Jia Jing for now would not easily grant him any court titles.

This is also one of his principles: giving money to family members is fine, but giving official positions is absolutely not!

And the trading firm is short of staff, with the Embroidered Uniform Guard overseeing it; assigning Jia Lian there for a few years of experience makes Jia Jing relatively at ease.

Feng Jie's face showed tangled worry; she could not directly say she feared Jia Lian's rise might later overturn the family's order, so she hurriedly changed her line of thought:

"I have no other intention; I just think that if Brother Lian goes to work at the firm, the deputy chief manager position is so high‑ranking and busy that the affairs of the mansion will inevitably be neglected!"

Jia Jing frowned, glanced at Feng Jie, and said coldly:

"The inner quarters of the mansion are overseen by you and Third Younger Sister; the outside affairs are handled by me and Second Elder Master—what is there for Brother Lian to worry about?"

"If you keep him idle at home, you say you need to find him something to do, otherwise the mansion will become a brothel!"

"Now that you've assigned him a task, you still say you're worried he can't attend to the household?"

"What does that mean?"

"Playing a single‑thread that ends up blocked at both ends?"

Jia Jing slammed his cup onto the stone table with a heavy thud, "Bang!"—the sound startled Feng Jie and the nearby Ping Er, whose expressions flickered.

It also caused the little courage Feng Jie had just regained to vanish completely!

Feng Jie glanced at Jia Jing's expression, seeming to catch the displeasure in his eyes, forced a smile, and explained:

"Third brother, don't be angry; I know your good intentions. I'm just worried that Brother Lian lacks proper conduct and will ruin your affairs!"

"You don't know his nature; once he has silver in hand, his backbone stiffens, and he no longer recognizes who his parents are!"

Jia Jing snorted coldly, apparently understanding Feng Jie's concern—that Jia Lian, once he has money, cannot be restrained—then waved his hand and said:

"Then let's drop this matter and let Brother Lian stay idle in the mansion! As long as he doesn't cause trouble in the inner quarters, I don't intend to meddle in the consensual affairs outside!"

Feng Jie's sharp eyes blinked, and with a hint of reluctance she tentatively said:

"It's rare that Third brother gives such a huge favor; how can my brother and I refuse?"

"But… I'm thinking… could Third brother have his salary sent directly to… my hands! He's so short‑sighted, he can't even touch money at all…"

The deputy chief manager brings in at least a thousand taels of silver annually; even with her worries, Feng Jie can't truly afford to push it outward!

Moreover, Jia Jing has barely extended this favor today; if he backs off, it would be ungrateful!

Jia Jing cast a sideways glance at the feignedly embarrassed Feng Jie, thinking to himself, in this era, she even thinks of confiscating her husband's salary card—truly worthy of the domineering "Feng Spicy"!

But in this era where the husband is the wife's authority, being only rigid and not yielding, it's no wonder the couple ended up ruining their marital affection and meeting a miserable end!

Jia Jing waved his hand, his sharp gaze falling on Feng Jie's face, and he refused:

"This is a matter between you husband and wife; you work it out yourselves—just make sure Second Brother Lian has no objection!"

He paused, then finally reminded:

"Second Sister‑in‑law, a marriage without affection is short‑lived! Your words disparage Second Brother Lian too much—this is no good for either of you!"

Some of what you say may be true, but it shouldn't keep coming from a wife's mouth!

Feng Jie pressed her lips, her willow‑leaf brows furrowed; for some reason, being stared at by the other's slightly sharp, "deep" eyes made her a bit uneasy—though she didn't really mind, she dared not say more and forced a smile:

"Third Brother's kindness, I appreciate it……"

"Thanks, Third Brother—I'll go back and discuss it with Second Brother Lian, and have him go to the shop tomorrow to work!"

Even Feng Jie, who used to be lively and a bit sharp‑tongued, could only play the aggrieved little wife under Jia Jing's gaze, hanging her head and sighing in assent.

Of course, although she said yes, what she really had in mind was that only a maiden never‑wed would believe in love; compared to Jia Lian, she trusted the solid silver in hand more……

She even calculated how to plant her own people around Jia Lian to find out his salary and daily movements……

Seeing this, Jia Jing fell silent for a moment, said nothing more, glanced at the sky, lifted his sour plum tea and drank it all, then said:

"Then let Second Sister‑in‑law tell Second Brother Lian this! Give him my words: let him do his job conscientiously, never reach where he shouldn't, and never commit a principled mistake—or I won't let him off lightly!"

"That's settled—there's still some business to handle at the main camp, so I won't stay longer!"

Saying this, he rose to his feet and bade Feng Jie farewell.

Not mentioning Jia Jing's side returning to Bright Scenery Hall to muster his personal troops and rush to the Twelve Regiment Camp, but speaking of the present, inside the central commander's tent in the South City Outer Regiment Camp, a tense, sword‑drawn atmosphere pervaded.