Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

After Chapter 1183, all matters were planned and calculated.
Inside the Khan's tent at the Black Mountain camp,

Under the gaze of the crowd,

Duomin's sincerity was feigned, her coercion was genuine, and Fucha sneered inwardly, her face turning one of grief and helplessness.

This is the moment he has been waiting for!
Fucha Zhen took a deep breath, no longer looking at Huyan Han, but turning directly to Duomin, and said in a tone that was almost desperate, yet also filled with a resolute determination:

"Your Highness! Your subject... Your subject has something to say!"

Duomin looked at him:
"explain."

Fucha Zhen remained calm, as if he had made an extremely difficult decision:

"Your Majesty, I am well aware that I have failed to bring back news of the peace talks today, and I cannot escape blame. However, the sincerity of my father and I is as clear as day! Now that we are facing a great calamity, my Plain Blue and Bordered Blue Banners are willing... willing to stay behind to defend them,"

After these words were spoken, the tent fell silent once more!
Volunteering to defend the Black Mountain camp is a sure way to die. The morale of the Han Eight Banners has long been shattered, and the casualties are heavy. If Marquis Luoyun launches a fierce attack, it will surely be his Jurchen warriors who will take the lead. Is Fucha Zhen going to... prove his loyalty with his death? Or is he just throwing caution to the wind?
A hint of hesitation flashed in Duomin's eyes, while Helian Chen narrowed his eyes again, sensing something was wrong. But Hauge couldn't stand it and immediately shouted.

“This move is not appropriate. It would be better to leave Nari Song to guard the Black Mountain Camp and let Fucha Zhen be the vanguard.”

"no,"

Almost instantly,

That day, Song and Ma Jiali spoke in unison. Hauge was thinking of something when Guarjia suddenly tugged at his sleeve and shook his head slightly.

Domin remained silent. Hauge's actions were undoubtedly expected. Although his succession to the Khanate was legitimate, Hauge had the support of four banners. If he could not reduce the number of his ally, he would inevitably threaten him. Even if Helian Chen supported him, were the elite troops in the Khan's tent truly of one mind with him?

After a moment of contemplation, Duomin finally made up her mind.

"Good! Commander Fucha is commendable for his loyalty and bravery! I, the Khan, grant your request! Tomorrow, the defense of the valley entrance will be the responsibility of your Plain Blue Banner! Commander Helian, immediately allocate all available sturdy shields, oil canisters, and rolling logs and stones from the camp, giving priority to the Plain Blue Banner! Hold the line at all costs! If we can hold out until the first wave before noon, I, the Khan, will personally lead the army in a breakout!"

He paused, his gaze sharp as a knife, fixed on Fucha Zhen:
"Fucha Zhen, there's no need for a pledge. But I want you to remember this: as long as the valley entrance stands, your banner stands; if the valley entrance falls... then you, the entire Zhenglan Banner, including you and your son, need not come to see me!"

"Yes, Your Highness! I will obey your command! I will not fail you! As long as I am here, I will stay at the valley entrance!"

Fucha Zhen kowtowed deeply once more, his forehead touching the ground, concealing the complex light and a hint of relief that flashed in his eyes. He thought to himself, "It's done!"

Azig knelt behind his father, listening to the chilling verdict. He felt a coldness rise from his feet to his head, and his body trembled involuntarily.
Beijing,

In the front courtyard of Rongguo Mansion, where the garden was being built, there was already a great deal of shouting and cheering. Many men, some even shirtless, were working together to lift the beams and timbers to begin building the garden gate tower, all for the sake of grandeur.

The walls between the two mansions had long been removed, and the remaining bricks and tiles were used for the gate tower. As for the inner courtyards, according to the old mansions, they were still separated by walls, since they were two separate mansions and there was no need for them to be together.

Once these words were given, Wang Xifeng accepted the order and kept it in mind. So early this morning, she took Ping'er to the courtyard and found the steward, Lai Da, to ask him about it.

"Lai Da, the gate tower has started construction. Has the inner wall between the two mansions been repaired?"

Lai Da rushed over, and before long, he saw that Second Madam was already sitting there. Upon hearing this matter, he was at a loss for words and couldn't think of a reply for a moment. After all, hadn't Second Madam said before that the gardens built between the two mansions were not distinguished as one or the other?

"Replying to Second Madam, the wall between the two mansions was demolished and never repaired. The materials used were all used to fill the garden."

To be honest, using old materials to build the garden can save a lot of money, especially the wall bricks, which don't need to be bought again. And the gatehouse, when he thought of the gatehouse, Lai Da quickly changed his tune.
"Second Madam, all those bricks used for the inner courtyard walls were used for the gate tower. After all, the bricks used for the walls were made of the same material, the color was just right, and the size was just right, so several master craftsmen brought all those bricks over. If you want to repair the inner courtyard, you will need to fire new bricks to fill the gaps."

Upon hearing Lai Da's words, Wang Xifeng raised an eyebrow, her phoenix eyes sweeping over the newly built gatehouse. She looked around at the courtyard wall surrounding the gatehouse; the foundation had already been laid, using large bluestones, and it looked quite impressive.

What Lai Da said was true. The old bricks that were removed were all used for the walls of this courtyard. If the partition walls in the inner courtyard were to be rebuilt, it would be a huge expense. They would have to be purchased and fired again, which would be another expense and would take a lot of time and effort.

But she couldn't ignore what the old lady said. She was also complaining in her heart. They were all family. Just leaving a fence would be enough. Why make such a fuss? It couldn't be for Baoyu's sake, could it? Right now, all the money that could be saved from this was in her room. If they rebuilt the courtyard wall, wouldn't that money come in again? She quickly calculated in her mind and spoke quickly.

"That's all,"

Wang Xifeng waved her hand, "Since it's the old lady who's spoken, then it must be built."

"Since all the materials have been diverted, let's put the interior wall repairs on hold for now. Once the gatehouse is repaired, we can build the inner courtyard wall. But Lai Da, you need to keep a close eye on the materials and workmanship of this gatehouse. There can be no sloppiness whatsoever! If there are any oversights, and outsiders laugh at us, you know the consequences. If you don't have enough money, come back to me immediately."

Lai Daru, feeling granted a general amnesty, repeatedly bowed and agreed:
"Yes, yes, Second Madam, rest assured, this servant has been keeping a close watch here, not daring to miss a single detail, and will definitely handle it perfectly for you!"

"Ah."

Wang Xifeng nodded, took Ping'er's hand, and stood up. Her crimson silk skirt stood out brightly against the slightly desolate construction site in the early morning.
"We won't check the accounts today. We'll save some of the lunch we made for Laiwang and the others."

"Yes, Grandma, this servant is listening."

Lai Da quickly agreed, wondering what Lai Wang was busy with, going out early and returning late every day.

Wang Xifeng looked around, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

Ping'er quickly followed and asked in a low voice:
"Grandma, are we going back to our yard now?"

"No,"

Wang Xifeng continued walking without stopping, heading straight towards the East Mansion.

"I need to visit my sister-in-law today. There are some things I need to discuss with her at the restaurant, and also those old houses in the West Garden. Taking advantage of the garden renovation, we should think about how to tidy them up."

Thinking back, Wang has been leading people to clean the restaurants in the south of the city every day, leaving early and returning late, but they don't have enough manpower, so it has been taking a long time.

Ping'er understood, and the two of them walked through the halls and courtyards to the back courtyard of the East Mansion where Li Wan lived.

Speaking of the backyard of the East Mansion,

These days, Su Yun, Li Wan's maid, along with many servants, has cleaned up the entire central courtyard. They also had the partition wall on the south side demolished and replaced with a gatehouse for a small courtyard. After the construction, it became a separate courtyard, bright and spacious, and the entire backyard was almost twice as large.

Fortunately, Li Wan's residence was always elegant and quiet, unlike the lavish and noisy courtyard of Feng Jie. This garden exuded a tranquil charm of bamboo fences and thatched cottages. Several green bamboos were planted in the courtyard, and the flowers in the flower beds in the corners of the walls were still blooming.

When Wang Xifeng stepped into the courtyard, she looked at the scene before her and felt a pang of envy. Without saying much, she led Ping'er and the others to the main house. Upon entering the East Warm Pavilion, she saw Li Wan sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) under the south window, doing needlework in the warm sunlight. Her maid, Suyun, was tending a small charcoal stove, brewing tea.

Seeing Sister Feng come in,
Li Wan quickly put down her work and greeted him with a smile:

"A rare guest indeed! What brings you here today? Please come and sit on the kang (heated brick bed) to warm up." Su Yun quickly poured tea and had Bi Yue bring in some pastries.

"It's quiet here, sister-in-law, so I came to escape the noise."

Fengjie smiled and sat down on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed), took the hot tea to warm her hands, glanced around briefly, and then her eyes fell on Li Wan's belly. Seeing that Li Wan was getting up...
"This place is so much better, sister-in-law. It's so peaceful here, unlike my place, which is always chaotic and never quiet."

Li Wan smiled gently and pushed the cloud cake in the dish towards her.
“Each has its own merits. Come, have a taste. You manage the household, such a big family, so naturally you can’t have a moment of peace. I’m just here to enjoy some quiet life.”

Suddenly remembering the garden, he asked:
"Is the construction in the garden going smoothly? I heard that a lot of old bricks were moved to repair the gate tower the other day? The old lady said it was a partition wall between the two mansions. How should it be repaired?"

"Don't mention it,"

Sister Feng took a sip of tea, pinched a piece of cloud cake, took a bite, and frowned slightly.

"Everything is going smoothly, but money is flowing like water. If things don't go smoothly after spending the money, where can you complain? Besides, the foundation of the gate tower has been laid, but the old ancestor is thinking that the inner residences of the two mansions should still have some courtyard walls to separate them. So, Lai Da came to me and said that the old bricks that were demolished were used for the gate tower. If the inner walls need to be repaired, we will have to start from scratch and buy new bricks, which will be another expense. I told him to put it aside for now. The appearance of the garden is important. We can deal with the things inside later."

They said they were rushing to finish the project, but they didn't mention the accounts. There are some things that can't be said openly now, since the eldest sister-in-law who manages the East Mansion understands the situation.

Li Wan nodded. She knew all too well the cost of household chores, from firewood to rice, oil, and salt; the expenses, both inside and outside the home, were quite substantial.
"That makes sense. There's always a priority in everything. But... since our ancestor specifically mentioned it, we should give him an explanation later."

She was a cautious person and knew that she couldn't keep putting off what the old lady had said.

"Don't worry, sister-in-law, I'll remember this."

Sister Feng waved her hand, took a sip of tea, and found it refreshing.

"Let's see. I've come today to discuss two important matters with you, my sister-in-law."

"Oh? You said."

Li Wan straightened her expression.

"The first thing is about the small restaurant we jointly own. I was thinking of discussing it with my sister-in-law again."

Sister Feng put down her teacup and lowered her voice.
"The other day, the Xue family recommended an accountant. He seemed quite mature. I thought that with autumn approaching and many merchants coming and going, it would be a good time to attract business. Our restaurant has a good location, but the facade is a bit lacking. So, I had Laiwang spend money to renovate it and hire a good storyteller or a small opera troupe to perform a few songs during mealtimes. Therefore, the opening date of the restaurant has been delayed a bit."

Feng Jie's eyes gleamed with shrewdness; she had clearly planned everything carefully. The southern part of the city was mostly populated by ordinary people, and many merchants staying there also spent the night, so there was no shortage of people. However, the accommodations needed to be large, and the neighboring house had already been bought—that would cost a considerable amount of money.
Li Wan pondered for a moment. Although she didn't manage external affairs, the restaurant still cost her a portion of her personal money, so she naturally cared. Account books were sent to her regarding the expenses. But before the restaurant even opened, they'd already spent 50,000 taels of silver to buy the large courtyard behind it—that was quite a sum.
"It's reasonable to buy some things to attract customers, but you should be careful with the expenses. Fortunately, the Hou Mansion Chamber of Commerce said that the business trip will be suspended for today, so all the money will be invested in the restaurant. However, hiring good teachers and a good team, as well as the food and supplies for the staff, will cost a lot. Can the accountant recommended by the Xue family be trusted?"

The flow of money is extremely delicate and cannot be handled carelessly. Feng'er, let them help out; for the rest, we need to use our own people. I see that your servant Laiwang is quite capable in charge.”

The words were left unsaid, but the meaning was clear: in business, you have to keep something in reserve.

Sister Feng smiled. She understood all this perfectly well. She replied...

"Don't worry, sister-in-law! I will personally oversee the accounting. Brother Xue's recommendation is well-intentioned. Whether to use him or not, and for how long, is up to us. As for the expenses, I've calculated it. If this money can attract 20-30% more customers, we can earn it back in the first few months before the end of the year."

They just can't recoup their profits. Even if the storefront is grand and the courtyard is big, those merchants will still have to stay. It's a pity to waste such a stable business outside the Great Wall. Why do those Tartars have to fight for no reason?

The more he talked, the angrier he became. The trade between the border regions was nothing new. Merchants from the north and south knew about it and it was widely known. No wonder the Marquis of Luoyun could buy up any amount of goods they wanted without worrying about selling them.

Seeing that she was angry, Li Wan guessed that she had been holding back her anger in the West Mansion, and nodded in agreement:

"Since you have thought it through, then so be it. The situation outside the pass is temporary. When the Marquis returns with his troops, there will surely be good news. Once the war outside the pass is over, the trade routes will naturally reopen."

Without finishing her sentence, Sister Feng changed the subject and said;
"The second matter concerns the West Garden of our mansion, where my sister-in-law lives. The surrounding area, near the storeroom, consists of old houses, many of which are still empty. Some are piled with old household items, making it a mess. Coincidentally, the courtyard is being renovated, and the old lady specifically instructed that it be reserved for Baoyu as his new home."

"I was still thinking about how to renovate, but seeing your yard today, it's already expanded to the middle section. Now that the garden is undergoing major renovations, the timber and craftsmen are readily available. Why not take advantage of this momentum and demolish those old houses as well, clearing out the good space, leveling it, and combining them into one large courtyard? What do you think, sister-in-law?"

Li Wan thought it was a practical idea. She knew that the West Garden was dilapidated and unsightly. If it could be renovated, it would benefit the family. However, if the whole thing was combined, the space would be no smaller than the Pear Fragrance Garden.

"That's a good idea, but..."

I have some doubts. Will that Meng family girl be easy to get along with?

"This house in the West Garden is nice, but if Baoyu gets married, the second branch of the family will have a proper place. Some things are better left unsaid."

Before, when she didn't concern herself with these matters, she didn't have these troubles. But ever since she took over the management of the East Mansion and the clan's businesses, there hasn't been a single day of peace. The clan elders come to inquire about her affairs all the time, and those who don't know better might think that these businesses belong to a few individuals. So, it's the same with the West Mansion. A newlywed wife is fine if she doesn't compete or fight for anything, but if she has designs on managing the household, things become complicated. Little did she know that Sister Feng was confident and smiled knowingly:
"I will naturally go and inform the old lady and the ladies that this is a good thing for the household and I don't think they will object. As for the future, I'm not afraid of my sister-in-law laughing at me. If the newly married daughter-in-law wants to take over the management of the household, I might even be happy to let her. It's better to spend her own money than to have to put her own dowry into the household before."

She had come to understand that now that she was no longer doing the business of lending money, the Chamber of Commerce and the South City Restaurant were both gold mines. If she separated the family, she might live a more comfortable life.

"You're talking nonsense. If it weren't for you managing the household, who knows what it would be like? Even if you wanted to take over, there's a proper order to things."

Wang Xifeng smiled again, pursed her lips, and waved her hand.

"What my sister-in-law said about first come, first served is all about daily life. Some relationships seem simple, but they're all about putting on a show and spending money. Sigh, we're family, why are we talking about these things?"

His smile became more genuine, and he picked up his teacup and took another sip.

Seeing that Sister Feng was organized and had considered all aspects, Li Wan secretly smiled. Even if she didn't concern herself with these matters in the manor, it wouldn't be anyone else's responsibility. She then smiled and said:
"In that case, it's actually a good thing. Now that you've made all the plans, you can do whatever you want."

After the business was over, the atmosphere relaxed. Li Wan gestured to Su Yun to pour more tea and replaced the pastries with some snacks from the street. After the two of them ate a few bites, Wang Xifeng suddenly lowered her head and whispered.
"Did you hear about what happened at Rongqing Hall this morning, sister-in-law?"

"Rongqing Hall? Isn't Baoyu and the others holding a poetry gathering? What could be going on there?"

Li Wan turned around, somewhat puzzled. Although she was busy, news from all over the mansion was always quickly reported to her by informants. Su Yun had mentioned it that morning, but she hadn't had time to listen carefully yet.

Wang Xifeng sighed, feeling irritated by the trivial and troublesome matters in the mansion. Those servants, with their loose tongues, were indignant. She also thought of the poetry gathering Baoyu had hosted that day, which she and Ping'er had arranged entirely, only to find that the old lady hadn't given her a kind look after all the commotion. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She leaned forward, lowered her head, and spoke in a slightly helpless smile:

"Sister-in-law, you see things clearly. It was all because of the poetry gathering. A few days ago, Baoyu hosted a poetry gathering for the young ladies to keep the old lady company. I also brought some pastries with me. At first, everything was fine. We were chatting and laughing, and with the Shi family maids there, it was quite lively. But for some reason, I started to feel a little uncomfortable later."

Li Wan grabbed a handful of pine nuts, placed them on the table, and began to peel them absentmindedly, her eyes showing interest, though she was somewhat puzzled.

"Oh? What's wrong? Who upset Baoyu?"

(End of this chapter)