Chapter 38 Gift Giving

If Qi Xuansu had some intention of visiting incognito in Bai Nang Ben Prefecture, then he was open and aboveboard in Lion City. He met with Lin Dadu Hu and Jia Yin Lingguan successively, and walked around Lion City accompanied by a deputy duhu of Nan Ting Du Hu Prefecture.

This is the most prosperous port in the entire Nanyang, and it cannot be sloppy.

The local tyrants also gave face and put on a big show to welcome Qi Cixi to visit, and even expressed their feelings.

As early as when the rumor that Qi Xuansu was going to take office in Borneo Daofu just came out, they had already inquired clearly that Qi Cixi had been engaged to the noble lady of the Zhang family, was chaste, and had a wealthy family. Apart from other things, he was able to buy a house in Taishangfang for the purpose of marriage, which was not something that ordinary people could do, so it was not easy to make a fuss about money and sex, and he would not want it even if he was given it.

This is reasonable. There are many people who are lustful and greedy in the Taoist sect, but their positions are not particularly high. At least, it is not common at the first level of the real person. It is not that all the real people are clean-handed, but they know how to cherish their feathers and will not be ugly.

Take Qi Jiaozheng, the real person of Wan Miao, for example. In addition to the regular silver from the Taoist sect, he has no other income. Let alone exploitation and embezzlement, even if you give him money directly, he will not accept it. But how can the Qi family maintain the style of a big family? That's to ask Qi Muyu. As for what Qi Muyu relies on to support the expenses of the Qi family, is she a genius in business? Of course not, but because the identity of the real person of Wan Miao is there, the Qi family stands behind, so that they can be successful. The two complement each other and are indispensable.

To put it bluntly, the face must be bright and not stained with any dust. The inside must support the face, and then rely on the face to support yourself.

In fact, it is not just the Qi family. Most of the other major families are in this form, and family members perform their duties. Li Tianlan is the second deputy lord of Jiangnan Daofu, while Li Tianyue does business and travels along the Grand Canal. Li Changge is rising step by step in the Daoist sect, while Li Tianzhen takes over the family's internal business. It doesn't matter whether he goes to Yujing or not.

These young people from aristocratic families naturally don't have to worry about these "trivial matters". With the support of their families, they don't have to be tempted. Taoists from ordinary families are not so lucky. They are often torn between temptation and ethics, and they are searching up and down. After all, the hard life is hard to bear. Who doesn't want to enjoy it?

It's like when Mr. Gao gave money, Qi Xuansu, who was afraid of poverty, had to struggle in his heart. If it was Li Changge, a child from aristocratic family who was determined to be the head of the sect, he wouldn't even look at it.

Of course, Wang Danqing, a child from aristocratic family who was not interested in Daoism, was another matter.

These outsiders far away in Nanyang certainly didn't know that Qi Xuansu had come from poverty. In their opinion, he must have been supported by a nobleman when he was young. Since he was a nobleman, he must not lack Taiping money. Qi Cixi settled down in Taishangfang, which also proved this. In short, this Qi Cixi must have a good background, but they just couldn't find it out. On the other hand, the reason why they couldn't find it out also proved the strength of the family behind him.

Such a person is going for the real person of the Advisory and the Great Real Person of the Pingzhang, and he would never accept the gift in public.

So they racked their brains to prepare a big gift for Qi Cixi. In addition to the open battle to give Qi Cixi enough face, someone found out that Qi Cixi loved to play Xuansheng cards when he was in the Taoist Palace, so they specially invited famous card players in Nanyang. They had explained in advance that they must serve Qi Cixi well and definitely not win, but they also couldn't let Qi Cixi see the traces of giving in. This is like playing a draw, which is a great test of skill.

These wealthy merchants also prepared several sets of special Xuansheng cards made of rattan paper. Generally speaking, the imperial court used white rattan paper to announce imperial edicts and promulgate imperial decrees, while the Taoist recommendation words used green rattan paper. Because Qi Cixi was a Taoist, these Xuansheng cards were made of special green rattan paper, with imitations of the Qiongqi blood-written pattern text, and each card was a talisman. If jade, jadeite or crystal were used to make cards, it would appear too luxurious and inevitably inferior, and it would be easily rejected. Paper is an elegant object, a matter of literati, or a matter of scholars, and it would never be taboo.

After the game of cards is over, it is natural to send the cards away, just as a "memorabilia".

Of course, it will never be a competition, but a small episode, a small entertainment activity, which will not take too long, at most half an hour. Let a few players perform for Qi Cixi first, and then let Qi Cixi play a few games himself to have fun. .

They specially renovated a shop to sell Xuansheng cards and allow people to play cards in it, similar to the chess club in the past, claiming to be the first card club in Nanyang. Qi Cixi will definitely be interested after hearing this, and when he leads Qi Cixi to visit, he will take the opportunity to suggest playing a few games. Those players who prepared in advance appeared in this place, which did not seem abrupt at all. It was reasonable for the players to be in the card shop. This set did not leave any traces, everything was so natural. It's like writing an article, without a single word, it is full of elegance.

Otherwise, how to say, the most clever hunters always appear in the form of prey.

Whether it is the people above who hunt them, or they hunt the people above, it is hard to say.

In fact, Qi Xuansu did not expect it. It was not until he saw the "souvenir" sent over that he reacted and had to sigh in his heart: "It's hard to guard against."

What is it called racking your brains? This is it.

Qi Xuansu took the set of Xuansheng cards and smiled: "Local specialty? Souvenir?"

A wealthy businessman said, "This is customary."

Qi Xuansu said, "Currently? I think it's better to have less of this kind of custom."

Qi Xuansu did not refuse this "souvenir", but he did not put it in his pocket. Instead, he asked Ke Qingqing to seal it up and then hand it over to the government. Some dignitaries in Southeast Asia often presented gifts to the government in Borneo, most of which were rare treasures, gorgeous and exquisite. The government could not refuse, so it opened a special exhibition hall in the library of Thang Long Mansion, put these gifts in the exhibition hall, and marked who presented it and who received it.

In this way, Qi Xuansu turned a private gift that gave others a handle into a gift to the government.

Then Qi Xuansu told Ke Qingqing: "Pay attention to the gift-giving matter. There is indeed such a bad trend in the Taoist sect nowadays. Some secretaries also benefit from it and have a lot of money. I hope you don't covet these things. If someone wants to give me a gift through you, you should refuse it. If you really can't refuse it, let them come to talk to me directly."

"Yes." Ke Qingqing hurriedly wrote it down.

Qi Xuansu planned to stay in Lion City for two days. On the afternoon of the second day, he visited Hu Fuli of Taiping Money House Nanyang General Branch. Hu Fuli's deputy, Zhou Yonghe, was also with him.

Qi Xuansu did not wear a crane cloak, but a Taoist robe. Coincidentally, Hu Fuli was also wearing casual clothes today, which seemed to mean that today's conversation had nothing to do with official business, but just a private meeting.

Obviously, although Hu Fuli made Qi Xuansu hit a soft nail, he did not want to be hostile to Qi Xuansu. This was intentionally repairing the relationship.

Qi Xuansu also brought a gift to Assistant Hu - he didn't spend his time in Yujing idle.

Qi Xuansu signaled Ke Qingqing to take out the gift: "I have a small gift to show my appreciation. I hope Assistant Hu won't despise it."

Assistant Hu stood up and said solemnly: "I hope Qi will forgive me. I never dare to accept gifts from others."

Qi Xuansu kept smiling: "I understand Assistant Hu's integrity and prudence. But today's gift is not just from me, Qi Xuansu, so please take a look at it first. If Assistant Hu still refuses after reading it, I will take it back and return it to the original owner."

Ke Qingqing put a gift box on the table and waited respectfully.

Assistant Hu thought for a moment, then reached out to open the gift box. There was a painting inside.

Hu Fuli carefully unfolded the scroll and was surprised. He was a person who knew the value of things. He blurted out: "This is Mr. Shuijing's "Red-robed Arhat Picture" during the Great Jin Dynasty."

Qi Xuansu admired: "Hu Fuli really has a discerning eye. Please appreciate it."

Hu Fuli looked at the painting carefully: "It is an authentic work. To put it bluntly, if this painting is put on the market, it will cost at least 100,000 Taiping money. This gift is too expensive. Hu dare not accept it."

Qi Xuansu just said: "Please finish looking at the painting."

Hu Fuli had to continue looking.

Soon, Hu Fuli saw the place where the signature was placed, and he was surprised again.

Whether it was the poem on the painting or the signature of the painter, it was irrelevant. The key point was that this was the place where collectors of all generations had stamped their seals.

What caught my eye was a seal with the words "Jianxinzhai owner appreciates it" on it.

Who was the owner of Jianxinzhai?

It was Cihang Zhenren Su Yuanyi.

As Qi Xuansu's future mother-in-law, Cihang Zhenren also prepared some things for Qi Xuansu's trip to Nanyang, but the focus was different from Donghua Zhenren.

This is not a question of rejecting Qi Xuansu.

As the saying goes, the gift of the elders cannot be refused.

Although the Confucian school has gone away, the Confucian school's philosophy is still deeply rooted in people's hearts. In most cases, "respect" and "elder" are closely linked. The monarch is the father of the monarch, the monarch is the father of the people of the world, and this is the core of Confucianism.

No matter how much Taoism shouts for equality, it is impossible to erase this deep-rooted concept.

Hu Fuli and Qi Xuansu's status are barely at the same level, but when they meet Cihang Zhenren, they are the younger generation. This generation has nothing to do with the generations of disciples, but only with the height of the position and the size of the power.

Qi Xuansu smiled and said, "Assistant Hu, you are from Luzhou, and your ancestors were famous ministers who fought against the Japanese invaders in the previous dynasty. Master Cihang is from Jiangzhou, and Luzhou is not far from Jiangzhou, separated by a river. Whether in the previous dynasty or this dynasty, Luzhou, Jiangzhou, and Wuzhou were all under the jurisdiction of the Governor-General of Jiangnan. In this way, Assistant Hu and Master Cihang are from the same hometown. The friendship between fellow townsmen is always precious, especially since Assistant Hu has been away for many years."