The Wealthy Qin Estate

Chapter 283: The Wealthy Qin Estate

Within the capital of Yue, the western district stood in stark contrast to the southern one.

While the southern district was a block of uniform, high-walled mansions, the western district was a jumble of uneven single-story houses. It was home to the lowest class of laborers—menial workers, petty vendors, and the desperately poor. Naturally, it also housed a share of shiftless idlers and destitute families who had moved in from other districts.

Opposite the western district, lying in the east, were the estates of wealthy merchants and influential families.

Although these families lacked official rank and could not reside in the southern district, their mansions and deep courtyards were built with a splendor that rivaled one another. They spared no expense to ensure their own residences outshone their neighbors’, striving to dominate the local skyline.

Of course, there were a few estates so famous that envy simply did not apply. Not only did they dwarf all others in size and opulence, but the families within were colossal mercantile powers whose wealth was measured in mountains of gold.

One such estate occupied a corner of the eastern district: the Qin Estate.

It covered dozens of acres. Anyone who understood land prices in the capital could only gape in disbelief for a long while.

The Qin family was not merely rich enough to rival a nation; they held a monopoly over a quarter of the copper mine trade in the entire Yue Kingdom. Rumor had it that the family head possessed extraordinary connections, with high-ranking court officials willing to speak on their behalf.

Naturally, the servants of such a wealthy household carried themselves with supreme confidence, speaking louder than the servants of any other estate.

Qin Gui, the gateman on duty, thought exactly this.

Every time someone came to the Qin Estate seeking an audience with the household head—regardless of background, rank, or official position—they were invariably polite to him, a lowly servant. No one dared offend him in the slightest.

Over time, Qin Gui had come to feel like something of a big shot himself.

And so it became routine: whenever someone delivered a visiting card requesting entry, a little bribe was expected. Otherwise, Qin Gui would not even give them a pleasant expression. He might even set the card aside for three or four days before bothering to report it.

Naturally, when a truly important personage showed up, Qin Gui was the picture of deference—a model of patient, loyal servitude. To the young masters and ladies who frequently passed in and out, he was obsequiously attentive.

And it worked. Several of the masters had expressed satisfaction with his performance. There had even been whispers that he might be promoted to external affairs steward, charged with managing a branch of the family business. Qin Gui, upon hearing this, had felt positively elated. For the past few days, he had walked as if on air.

At this very moment, Grand Lord Qin Gui had dragged a long bench into the shade of the main gate and was lying on it, enjoying the summer heat. That morning, the family head had gone out on business. The young masters and ladies had gone to the nearby Chongshan Temple with some other young nobles. Aside from the wives, the only person still inside the estate was the widowed cousin.

This gave Qin Gui a sigh of relief. He could finally steal a moment’s leisure.

As the cool breeze began to lull him into drowsiness, a hesitant, young male voice suddenly sounded in front of him.

“Excuse me, is this the Qin Estate?”

Qin Gui’s budding sleep was shattered. Annoyed beyond measure, he did not even open his eyes before launching into a stream of curses.

“What’s all this shouting? Are you at a funeral? Can’t you see that your Lord Gui had just lain down!”

Only after this outburst did Qin Gui open his eyes, his face a mask of fury.

He had judged from the timid voice that the speaker was a nobody, which emboldened his rudeness.

Qin Gui now took in the man before him: about twenty-four or twenty-five, dressed in coarse cloth, with an utterly plain, unremarkable face. He exuded a rustic, earthy aura from head to toe—a country bumpkin fresh in from the village.

Seeing this, Qin Gui’s confidence swelled.

He sat up and, without another word, launched into a blistering scolding, as if disturbing Grand Lord Gui’s rest was an unforgivable crime.

This tirade continued with flying spittle for a full quarter-hour without pause. The rustic youth seemed stunned into silence by Lord Gui’s onslaught, his expression frozen in speechless bewilderment. He simply stood there, at a loss, dumbly enduring the abuse.

After a long while, Qin Gui’s evil fire had finally been vented. He stopped, savoring the satisfaction.

Then he glanced sideways at the youth, seeming to remember the boy’s initial question. He asked casually:

“Why are you at the Qin Estate? We’re not short of servants or laborers. Be on your way! It’s not easy to become a servant in this house! We don’t accept just anyone with an unknown background. Find yourself a guarantor first, then talk.”

Based on his extensive experience, Qin Gui immediately concluded that this rustic youth, still stinking of earth, was having a wild fantasy about landing a job at the Qin Estate. He had seen plenty of that type.

“I’m not looking for a job… Qin Yan is my uncle. My family asked me to deliver this letter to him.” The youth seemed to have just snapped out of the verbal storm. He fumbled inside his jacket and pulled out a crumpled envelope, explaining haltingly to Qin Gui.

“What? The master is your uncle?”

Qin Gui, who was reaching for a nearby teapot to wet his throat, was so startled by this statement that he spat out his tea. He asked, his expression full of shock.

“I’m… not sure. But my family told me to address him as Uncle Qin.” The youth scratched his head, a look of embarrassment on his face.

But this time, Qin Gui did not dare mock him so easily. If this fellow really had some connection to the master, he would be in for trouble himself.

After a moment’s hesitation, he asked cautiously:

“May this lowly one take a look at that letter, sir? Rest assured, I will only look at the envelope. I would never dare open it.”

To his surprise, the youth agreed without hesitation. As he handed over the letter, he muttered:

“That’s exactly what I was hoping to do. I wanted you to pass it on to Uncle Qin anyway.”

Qin Gui took the thoroughly wrinkled letter and quickly studied it.

Though most servants could not read, Qin Gui had attended a private school for half a year in his childhood and could recognize the characters. This was precisely why the enviable gatekeeper job had fallen to him.

“To my worthy nephew, Qin Yan—personally opened.”

These bold black characters on the envelope made Qin Gui’s heart race. The tone suggested it was from an elder of the master’s own generation.

With this thought, Qin Gui’s entire demeanor transformed. He forced a few thin smiles onto his face and addressed the youth:

“Young master, the master is not at home, but several of the madams are inside. Should I deliver this letter to one of them?” His attitude had changed completely, and even his form of address had been instantly upgraded.

“That won’t do. This letter must be opened by Uncle Qin himself.” The youth hesitated, then shook his head firmly.

“I see. In that case, why don’t I report to one of the madams first and see what she wishes to do?”

Qin Gui dared not simply send the youth away. If it turned out to be urgent and he had caused a delay, the consequences would be dire. But handing the decision to a madam absolved him of responsibility. After so many years as a servant, he had learned this much cunning.

This time, the youth agreed immediately.

Qin Gui breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly called over a passing servant to watch the youth, then ran into the estate.

The other servants he passed were surprised to see him moving with such urgency.

He ran straight to the rear courtyard, said a few words to a large-footed maid who tended the gate, and then returned to the front gate to await the reply.

As soon as he was back, Qin Gui had just exchanged a few pleasantries with the youth when a rather pretty little maid came trotting over.

When she reached them, she sized up the rustic youth with clear interest, then recited a message from one of the madams. The youth was to be taken to a side room to rest. He would be received after the master returned, to verify the authenticity of his identity. After all, the Qin clan was a large one; it was entirely possible that some elder from a collateral branch had sent someone with a legitimate matter.

Since instructions had been given, Qin Gui relaxed and returned to his post at the gate.

The little maid led the youth toward the guest rooms.

Along the way, many people glanced at the rustic youth with mild surprise. This seemed to make him deeply uncomfortable. He kept his head down, staring at his feet as he followed the maid in silence.

When the maid looked back and saw him like that, she could not help but laugh. She cast another amused glance at the man, finding him quite interesting.

After settling the youth in a side room in the front courtyard, the maid told him not to wander off, then giggled and went back to report.

The moment the door closed, the clumsy youth’s posture straightened. The foolishness in his eyes vanished in an instant. A faint, relaxed aura emanated from his entire being, and not a trace of his former rusticity remained.

“I never imagined the Qin family would be so famous. There’s no way the demonic path would overlook such an obvious target.” The young man gazed toward the direction of the courtyard, furrowing his brow slightly as he muttered to himself.

He was Han Li, who had traveled at full speed on his flying artifact for over ten days and had finally reached the capital of Yue. The Qin Estate was the target Li Huayuan had ordered him to protect.

But whenever Han Li thought of the identity Li Huayuan had arranged for him, he could not help but feel a deep sense of annoyance.

Li Huayuan’s letter had instructed the Qin family head to give Han Li the identity of a poor collateral relative. Han Li was to pose as a rustic, down-on-his-luck country cousin, so that he could stay on in the Qin Estate without drawing suspicion.

The role of a poor country boy was somewhat irritating, but Han Li found it easy enough to play. After all, in his childhood, he had been a genuine farm boy from a remote village. Mimicking the accent, the deference, and the mannerisms of a simpleton required very little mental effort.

Han Li closed the door, then sat on the bed to begin breathing exercises. He hoped to make even the slightest progress in his cultivation during his stay at the Qin Estate.

Before he knew it, one full circulation had passed, and evening had arrived. Someone finally knocked on his door.

Han Li’s spirits lifted. Then, without a trace, the lively expression drained from his face, instantly replaced by the vacant look of the rustic fool.

He opened the door.

Outside stood a servant’s attendant.

“The master has returned. The madam is calling for you. Come with me now.” The servant spoke brusquely and turned to leave without a second glance. He clearly did not think much of Han Li.

Unlike Qin Gui the gateman, this man was a trusted confidant of one of the madams. Every year, he saw plenty of destitute relatives from the Qin clan come looking for money. He had long since grown accustomed to their presence.

In his mind, the master would probably entertain this country bumpkin briefly, then hand him some silver and send him packing. He would not be allowed to stay in the estate for even a moment longer than necessary.

Han Li obediently agreed and followed the man out of the side room, heading straight for the reception hall of the Qin Estate.

Inside the hall, a dignified woman of about forty was informing the family head, Qin Yan, about Han Li’s arrival.

“Since he came bearing a letter, it is unlikely to be false. It appears that some elder of the family has sent someone to us.”

“Let us see what he requires. If it is not too much, let us satisfy it. We must not let our branch gain a reputation for turning away poor relatives. We cannot afford that disgrace.”

Qin Yan was in his fifties, but because he had taken excellent care of himself, he looked like a man of forty. After taking a sip of bird’s nest tea to moisten his throat, he spoke slowly.