Xu Jin had arrived at the newly purchased manor when his younger sister, Jiang’er, and their father, Xu Dajiang, were busy sweeping up fallen leaves. The father was managing fine, but the little sister Jiang’er seemed to have been working for a while, with her little face flush from fatigue and her bangs wet with sweat.
"Dad, let’s hire two handymen today, and also a cook," Xu Jin said.
The second courtyard with its rooms, including the front and back courtyards, spanned over a thousand square meters. Relying on little Jiang’er and father alone, they could spend all day doing nothing but cleaning.
As expected, as soon as Xu Jin’s words hit the air, Xu Dajiang immediately objected, "How could that be possible? It would cost at least two taels of silver a month, plus meals. With that silver, we should be saving for your marriage and for Jiang’er’s dowry.
We have hands and feet; we don’t need to hire handymen."
"Dad, what about when my colleagues come in a few days, are they supposed to help clean?"
"Besides, when they come, there might be as few as seven or eight people or as many as twenty or thirty. Should we just order meals from a restaurant to be delivered directly to us?"
Xu Jin’s remark left Xu Dajiang completely dumbfounded. It indeed posed a big problem.
"Dad, Jiang’er turned fifteen after August, and my plan is to sign her up for the Star-pointing Season in August to see if she can begin her Cultivation. So, for the next month or so, I plan to hire a female tutor to continue teaching Jiang’er how to read.
Cultivation is impossible without literacy.
So we still need to hire a handyman and a cook," Xu Jin said.
"This..." Xu Dajiang still hesitated for the same reason: he was used to being frugal and was pained to part with the silver.
"Dad, not to mention my monthly salary, nowadays we can collect seventy to eighty taels just in rent each month. Moreover, if Jiang’er succeeds in Star Pointing, she will also receive a monthly salary."
With these words, Xu Jin managed to persuade Xu Dajiang successfully.
Seventy to eighty taels a month — if they spent ten taels to hire help, they could still save sixty to seventy taels. That seemed acceptable.
"Alright, then I will go and hire two people this afternoon. Oh, it’s my fault; I forgot that you now have the status of an official," Xu Dajiang chided himself.
Although he could have decided these things with a single word, he still had to convince his father. Now earning silver was easier, but back when they were poor, the silver for Star Pointing and medical expenses had been scrimped and saved for by Xu Dajiang bit by bit, from every little corner.
Who dared to say that frugality was bad?
"Jiang’er, did you prepare the things I asked you to?" Xu Jin inquired.
"Brother, I prepared them all yesterday, but Dad..."
Quickly, Xu Jin went to the storeroom where things were kept, only to see the floor covered with neatly wrapped gifts.
"Isn’t this too much?"
"Brother, Dad told me to buy it; he said to prepare four sets."
Xu Jin had thought about buying some gifts when he went to see Ning Yuchan.
He needed to express his gratitude to Ning Yuchan.
Had it not been for Ning Yuchan’s intervention, Jiang’er’s safe return was uncertain.
He hadn’t expected to buy so much, enough to fill an entire room.
Wouldn’t they need a cart to transport it all?
Sending gifts with a cart, not to mention ostentatious, Ning Yuchan would certainly not accept them.
Xu Jin was quite surprised looking towards his father, who had been so miserly before but was now so generous.
"Dad, why buy four sets?"
"Didn’t you say that the people who helped with the rescue included the Mountain Master, Superintendent, Governor, and your teacher? Won’t we need four sets?"
"No, Dad, the Mountain Master and the others, how could they care for my trifling gifts?"
Without any courtesy, Xu Dajiang slapped Xu Jin on the back of his head.
"You know nothing, boy. Our village chief from Xu’s Manor is wealthy enough, but when I bring him a chicken, he beams as if it’s the best thing in the world," Xu Dajiang said, changing his tone, "Jin, the Mountain Master has what he has, but whatever you give, no matter how little, it’s your sentiment.
You don’t seek for people to remember your kindness, just avoid being called an ingrate, especially since they helped rescue your sister, right?"
Suddenly, a lightning strike seemed to flash through Xu Jin’s mind, and he understood some things from his past life.
Why had a senior, who had neither strength nor skill and wasn’t especially diligent, yet in the end received considerable attention and assistance from his advisor and even got personal recommendations for publications and project participation, leading to a charmed life?
Back then, Xu Jin used to get up earlier than the chickens and go to bed later than the dogs, tirelessly working on various experiments, only to end up with a mediocre standing under his advisor.
Then, he was truly naive.
During Chinese New Year, when his parents suggested that he bring some local chicken and wild boar meat to his advisor, he vehemently shook his head, reasoning that his advisor made millions a year and wouldn’t care for such trifles.
Sure, the advisor didn’t lack his meager offerings, but what was missing was that gesture of good will.
The favored senior was said to have kept watch overnight at the advisor’s father’s bedside in the hospital...
It was at that moment that Xu Jin finally grasped the lesson.
Great figures did not lack your gifts, but they did appreciate your gestures of goodwill.
"Dad, I understand now."
Afterwards, Xu Jin picked out one of the burdens, filled with a dozen carefully chosen gifts from his father, and headed straight for the Mountain Master’s house. The gifts weren’t expensive, worth thirty to forty taels of silver, but it was the thought that mattered.
"Eh, Xu Jin has come?"
"Since he has come, why bring any gifts?" The servants of Mountain Master Dong Zhao’s residence ushered Xu Jin in.
"Mountain Master, if you hadn’t intervened that day, I’m afraid my little sister might not have been saved. My dad dared not see you, but he insisted I come to convey his thanks," Xu Jin said.
Upon hearing this, Mountain Master Dong Zhao laughed, "It’s part of my duty; there’s nothing to thank me for. When you’re free, please invite your father to my courtyard for tea."