Uncle Lai in the Red Chamber

Chapter 140 Prelude
"Have all the charcoal gifts been distributed?"

In the conference hall of the Department of State Operations, Lai Shangrong sat crookedly on the upper official hat chair.

Huang Xinbi said respectfully: "My lord! They have all been distributed according to your instructions. Those who have followed Master Qin and have not returned home have also been distributed to their homes in double amounts according to your wishes!"

After thinking for a while, I added: "I specifically told them that it was your wish, my lord!"

Lai Shangrong nodded. Huang Xin, who had decentralized logistics management, had already expressed his loyalty, but he was still in charge of the later stages. However, in order to set an example, he also arranged some errands appropriately.

"The Craftsman's Children's Academy cannot be left behind. After the new year, some down-and-out scholars will be recruited. Those who know numeracy will be given priority. In addition to the Four Books and Five Classics, the Craftsman's Academy will also teach some numeracy."

"Oh! My lord is wise!"

Xiao Henian said: "Sir! The exclusive sales of glass and paper for next year have been delivered by Qian'er!"

Lai Shangrong waved his hand and said: "This is our company's expense, you can record it in the book!"

After thinking for a while, he said: "The dividends at the end of the year should be paid out as soon as possible, and everything that should be paid out will be paid out!"

Hu Kuang said: "The rubber factory you mentioned, I have already planned it according to your instructions!"

Yuan Chengtao hurriedly added: "In my humble position, I went to help Governor Xiao calculate the cost. I'm just waiting for you to take a look at it!"

Lai Shangrong stood up and said, "Well! I don't have time to look at it today. I'll put it on my desk and wait until I, Xiumu, come back to look at it!"

"Hey! Don't worry, my lord, I'll put it on your table in a while, the road is slippery in snowy weather, my lord, please go slowly!"

After inscribing a plaque for the Grand View Garden, it will snow heavily in the capital.

Even if he had the key, he would have no chance to go to Sister Feng's house to occupy the magpie's nest, after all, it is easy to leave footprints in snowy weather.

So he didn't go to Rong Mansion for more than ten days in a row.

Mrs. Wang sent Jin Chuan to visit three or four times, saying that she was holding a banquet to apologize for Baoyu. Lai Shangrong could not refuse, so she invited him to take a rest tomorrow.

The reason why it is placed at the beginning of the month is that this year is not like last year, and there are things such as dividends to be busy at the end of the year, so it is better to take an early break to save time at the end of the year.

When I got home, I had dinner and came to the courtyard of Second Sister You.

"Is it better?"

Unable to resist the temptation, he pulled Second Sister You wildly on a snowy day. After all, she was not as strong as Lai Shangrong and she felt cold.

"It's been much better these past two days!"

Seeing Sister You's gesture of pulling her up so that she could have fun with her father, Lai Shangrong comforted her and said, "We'll get better soon!"

After helping her grind for a while, she broke out in a weak sweat, and then slowly returned to the house.

It's not that Lai Shangrong didn't want to accompany her. Ancient times were no better than modern times. Qingwen was driven back by Mrs. Wang because she was ill.

Wind-cold was considered an infectious disease in ancient times, and Second Sister You was afraid that it would be passed on to him if he got sick.

…………

Rongguo Mansion, inside Mrs. Wang's house.

"Brother Lai, come over tomorrow. Remember to apologize to others, but don't be petty again!"

Although it is said that a banquet is going to be held to make amends for Baoyu, but the Lord's son is not present, so it is inevitable that he will not show sincerity.So Mrs. Wang summoned Baoyu and exhorted him thousands of times.

"It was mine last time, my son knew he was wrong, but it's a pity that Brother Lai hasn't come for a while, and my son is looking for him too!"

Because he broke the jade and made provocative remarks last time, Qingwen glared at him frequently on the way back to Rongqing Hall.

However, he was quite narcissistic, and all the girls in the house circled around him. Over time, he developed the idea that all the pretty girls were looking forward to being in his house.

After all, there is no better way to follow Lai Shangrong than to follow him!

So Qingwen's angry eyes seemed to him to be a way to attract his attention.In addition, he didn't hear Daiyu's sarcastic words, and he became more determined to save people. Unfortunately, Lai Shangrong never came, otherwise he would have redeemed people with him, so that Qingwen and Xiangling could be rescued from the sea of ​​suffering.

Yes, and since Xiangling likes to learn poetry, if she followed me, it would be convenient for her to teach her poetry every day.

Mrs. Wang didn't know what he was thinking, so she was quite pleased that her son knew his mistakes and could correct them.

He said: "Okay! After tomorrow, you should be busy reading. I will check your homework when I get back later, so go down and rest early!"

Baoyu shrank his head when he heard Jia Zheng's return.

He thought to himself, why did one year come so quickly? It would be great if the master never came back.

After all, it is the nature of a young man. Thinking that Lai Shangrong will come to the house tomorrow, there will be two more lovely people in the room.

Thinking of this, Jia Zheng's sadness about returning home disappeared, and his steps became much lighter.

"Why is the second master so happy? Is there some happy event?"

When I went out, I happened to bump into Jin Chuan who was sending a message to the Xue family.

Mrs. Wang's apology for Baoyu is false, and it is true for Lai Shangrong and Baochai to match up, so Jin Chuan is sent to Xue's house to spread the word.

Baoyu lost her temper and asked instead, "Hey! Where are you going, sister? I wonder if I didn't see you in my wife's room just now!"

"My wife asked me to ask my concubine and Miss Bao to come over tomorrow."

"Huh? Will Sister Bao come tomorrow too?"

"My wife said that Uncle Lai is familiar with economics, and my concubine can ask him for advice on her family's property."

Hearing that Baochai wanted to ask Lai Shangrong for advice, for some reason, the happy mood just now seemed to be blocked by something.

"Huh! Madam, it's true. A good daughter's family can't learn anything bad, but she is full of copper stench!"

Jin Chuan observed the words and quickly agreed: "What the second master said is that there is no benefit for our daughter to learn those things at home, it is not as useful as learning some needlework and cooking skills!"

Traditionally, most maids and aunts have one specialty, especially needlework. Jin Chuan has good cooking skills, so he specially compares his cooking skills with needlework.

However, Baoyu didn't care about those things. Thinking of Xiangling learning poetry, he couldn't help but sigh: "It's better to learn some elegant poems!"

Jin Chuan was already bent on getting into Baoyu's house, and he got Mrs. Wang's promise.

Immediately he muttered, "I have something to tell the second master, don't tell others!"

Baoyu was intrigued by her and asked hurriedly: "What's the matter?"

Jin Chuan looked shy and said, "My wife said that she would like me to serve the second master in his room soon!"

Baoyu said happily after hearing this: "Sure enough! You also want to go to my room, right?"

He had felt before that Qingwen and Xiangling would definitely be willing to follow him, but Jin Chuan's words now confirmed his guess.

Jin Chuan immediately expressed his loyalty and said: "That's natural. How many people in the house don't want to go to the Second Master's house? I went to the Second Master's house. Is the Second Master willing to teach me poetry?"

Of course she didn't just want to tell Baoyu about Mrs. Wang's arrangement, but she had other plans.

Although Yuchai is now tight-lipped about the affairs of the Lai family, Lai Shangrong studied poetry with Daiyu because of Xiangling, and was willing to help with the preparation of Ginseng Yangrong Pills.

Obviously, she loves Xiang Ling, who is studying poetry. Now Zi Baoyu also said that studying poetry is elegant. Of course, she must seize the opportunity to follow his fancy, so as to show her ambition.

Baoyu patted his chest and said, "If you want to learn, of course I will teach you!"

Said happily and left!

(End of this chapter)