Uncle Lai in the Red Chamber

Chapter 296 Year (two in one)

Jingdezhen, outside a church.

Thirty people dressed as the security department of the state-run department blocked the front and rear doors, and then the rest filed in.

"The Security Section of the State-owned Enterprise Department is handling the case and now suspects you of stealing our Daxia porcelain firing technology..."

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

With several gunshots, two members of the security department fell down.

The remaining ones did not flinch. They had participated in the Qianxiang Kingdom's war and knew the weaknesses of firearms. Taking advantage of the opportunity to reload, they swarmed up and subdued the few Xiyi people who fired the weapons to the ground.

Followed by well-trained rescue of the wounded, from house to house search.

"Boss! I found some letters, but I can't understand them!"

"Take them back first, seal them all and send them back to the capital, and hand them over to Mr. Lai!"

"These Xiyi people injured our brothers..."

"Just don't beat them to death. We'll take them to the capital together!"

On New Year's Eve, the same scene happened not only in Jingdezhen, but also in Yangzhou and Gusu, where officials and businessmen in charge of salt affairs gathered.

There are foreign bandits as well as internal thieves. In ancient times, salt was hugely profitable, and collusion between government and businessmen was not uncommon.

Originally they had Lin Ruhai as the Salt Patrol Censor, and they were somewhat restrained, but since his death, the emperor has not appointed a new Salt Patrol Censor, and they have become even more unscrupulous in the past two years.

The reason why it is placed on the New Year's Eve is also the time specially chosen by Lai Shangrong.

In ancient times, clans were powerful, and the local sages and clans cooperated with the imperial court to govern the country. Although the Security Department had recruited nearly a thousand veterans, it was still weak in strength and only had cold weapons. If it could not be taken by surprise, it might not be possible to arrest and bring to justice, and it could even easily cause unnecessary crimes. trouble.

This is still only catching small fish and shrimps inside the Salt and Iron Division. If you want to catch big tigers, the security department is not qualified yet.

Although the task was formulated in advance by Lai Shangrong, ancient times were no better than modern times. A single phone call could deliver the message.

Therefore, the news will not be delivered to the capital until the next year.

At this time, he was at the new house of the Lai family in Dongfu, and had just worshiped his ancestors with his family.

After Jia's ancestral hall was moved out, Lai Shangrong moved his own ancestral hall here. This is the real dove occupying the magpie's nest. The sly slaves deceive the master. Not only did he occupy the mansion of Ningfu, but he even took his ancestors to occupy Jia's house. Ancestral land.

In the Wujiang Hall in the main hall of Ning'an Hall, three banquet tables have already been set up.

At the first table are the Lai family, two well-known concubines, Xing Xiuyan and You Erjie, and his apprentice Qin Zhong.

Qin Zhong had no father or mother, and his only sister was at Lai's house, so Lai Shangrong called him to celebrate the New Year with him.

The remaining two tables were occupied by Mrs. You, Qin Keqing, Third Sister You, and a group of maids who had taken over the house.

Lai Shangrong looked around, but he didn't see Xichun, and said to You, "Why didn't Xichun come?"

"She...maybe still can't wipe it off her face."

Youshi and Qin Keqing are more or less related to the Lai family and are his people, but Xichun's identity and situation are very embarrassing.

Therefore, although Youshi invited her according to Lai Shangrong's instructions, Xichun still couldn't save her face. Youshi knew her cold temperament and was afraid of forcing others to do something difficult. When the time came, she would spoil the mood with cold words.

"Go ask her to come over, just say that I said it, we are all a family, there is no reason not to celebrate the New Year together!"

Just after You left, her mother Xu complained: "The fourth girl is a Miss Jia family after all. She doesn't want to come, probably because she is thin-skinned. Why do you have to ask her to get emotional? If she comes and cries, it will disturb the atmosphere of the New Year!" "

Aunt Lai also echoed: "You are a child who is old enough to celebrate the New Year. Why don't you tie her up in our house? Why don't you let her go to the old lady's house to celebrate the New Year, so that no one will talk about her!"

"What does it mean to be tied to our family? Sooner or later, you will be our family member."

Lai Shangrong did not hide his ambition at all and asked: "At her age, can I still bear to call her a servant?"

If these words are put in modern times, they will definitely be regarded as both false and negative teaching materials, and they will definitely be criticized by righteous people from all sides.

But in this era, it is a manifestation of compassion, affection, justice, and thoughtfulness.

As the former Miss Ning Mansion, the fourth girl of the Jia Family, if she really matched her with a servant, I'm afraid it would be better to kill her.

Even if Lai Shangrong deports himself, his experience as a slave is still a stain that cannot be erased.

It is impossible for an innocent family with a better family background to marry someone home as a wife.

Therefore, it can be said that Lai Shangrong is the best destination for him to take possession of his house.

Of course, always accompanying Qingdeng is also an idea. If Xichun has this idea, Lai Shangrong is not unacceptable, but it can only be a fake nun like Yang Yuhuan.

In fact, if you think about it, the scenery set off by the hundred-year-old clothes is quite special.

Lai Da revealed his son's feelings without much fluctuation. He often ran outside and knew more about Lai Shangrong than Aunt Lai and Xu.

Not only those he had business dealings with, but also the stewards of King Zhongshun and Uncle Tian Guo's house, and even the senior officials from the six ministries he met were polite to him.

As for the Jia family, not to mention that the Ning Mansion has fallen, even if the imperial concubine Yuanchun is born, she may not be able to catch up with her own son when it comes to the Holy Family.

After all, for the emperor, there are three thousand beauties in the harem and many concubines, so it is easy to lose sight of everyone.

But he didn't have any fluctuations, but Grandma Lai and Mrs. Xu were different.

Especially Aunt Lai, who has been in Rong Mansion for most of her life, and her fixed ideas still cannot be changed.

Originally thought that the last two years would definitely bring Xichun back to glory, but now hearing his grandson express his heart, it can be described as mixed joy and sorrow.

She felt that her grandson was getting married to a girl from the Jia family, not to mention that it sounded like he was just taking over the house?

The old man doesn't know what's going on outside, he only knows that there is a concubine in the Rongfu, so he can't help but worry that the Rongfu will feel unhappy.

Lai Shangrong did not publicize Rongfu's attitude, otherwise the old lady might not be worried about it.

Just when he was worried about Rongfu's reaction, he saw You entering the hall with Xichun, who had her head lowered.

He hurriedly stood up and came to Xichun, took him into his arms, his heart and liver ached, and then he pulled Xichun to sit between him and Mrs. Xu.

Then came the dishes and the words of care, which can be described as meticulous.

The two of them didn't know Rongfu's attitude, but Xichun was told by Mrs. Xing face to face, and they didn't know what they really thought.

If in the past she was only grateful to Lai Shangrong for this new home, now she really feels the warmth.

If I hadn't known about the Chinese New Year, I might have been unable to suppress the emotion in my heart and burst into tears at this moment.

Even so, his eyes were filled with tears.

Looking at the female family members, except for the three elders, only Xing Xiuyan, Second Sister You, and the two concubines Lai Shangrong were sitting at the table, I couldn't help but think a little more.

In fact, Lai Shangrong has not thought about how to arrange Xichun in the future, but just takes a step-by-step attitude.

He originally planned to place her at the table with Youshi and Qin Keqing, but since his grandma was so enthusiastic and proactive, of course he would not stop her.

Lai Shangrong didn't pay too much attention to Xichun. He was asking Qin Zhong about his plans. "The new red-coated cannon has been equipped. When are you going to return to the State-owned Division?"

Originally, he planned to set up a security department and let Qin Zhong take charge. It happened that the Shenji Battalion was equipped with new artillery, and Qiu Yijun repeatedly requested, so he let Qin Zhong stay for a while.

Now that the soldiers are familiar with the operating procedures, he also plans to transfer him back.

Although Sun Yun and Chen Wu were promoted by himself, they are not as reassured as Qin Zhong. Only when the gun is in his own hands can he feel at ease.

"Asking for master's permission, I would like to follow the mission in the new year and visit the Western Yi together."

"How can this be possible?" Lai Shangrong said hurriedly: "Although there is not much risk in following the mission, after all, sailing on the sea is very windy and rough. Your sister is now only a relative like you. If anything happens, how can I tell you Did she explain?"

"Sister, doesn't she still have a master now?"

Qin Keqing didn't hide her relationship with Lai Shangrong from Qin Zhong, and Qin Zhong didn't like the Ning Mansion, so she was very calm.

After a pause, he continued: "Master has great foresight, but the officials of the Xiyi Office may not understand the master's profound meaning. The disciple is in danger in the capital, why not just go out for two years to avoid the limelight?"

When he said this, Lai Shangrong hesitated.

He does have many arrangements for the Xiyi Office. If Qin Zhong can go with the team, at least in terms of execution, he can be completely assured.

Moreover, the Emperor is getting older and will inevitably become soft-hearted. Coupled with the Empress Dowager's pillow style, she has recently been thinking of lifting the ban on King Beijing.

The emperor now holds great power and does not want to dissatisfy the Supreme Emperor on such a trivial matter, so there are signs of relenting.

Although after the King of Beijing lifted the ban, the momentum was definitely not as good as before, but after all, a dead camel is bigger than a horse, so it may not be possible to target Lai Shangrong, but it may not be that difficult to deal with Qin Zhong's calculated calculations and unintentional intentions.

Even so, he still had to take care of Qin Keqing's thoughts.

"You can have your own ideas, and it's quite gratifying to be a teacher. It's just that you have to say it yourself to your sister. She will only let you go out to practice if she agrees to be a teacher."

Qin Zhong didn't procrastinate, he immediately got up and came to Qin Keqing, and explained his thoughts.

Qin Keqing held back her tears and held Qin Zhong's hand and said, "Dad told me to take good care of you. How can I rest assured that you are so far away? In the capital, I have an uncle to take care of everything. What can't you handle? Why run so far?" "

In front of her brother, an insider, she was embarrassed to call her uncle again.

"Sister! Zhong'er is no longer the powerless Zhong'er. It's not just to avoid disaster. The world the master said is so big, I want to see it."

"Then you are willing to leave your sister behind?"

Qin Zhong smiled and said: "My sister is taken care of by the master, so what else can you worry about?"

When Qin Keqing heard this, her pretty face turned red, and she felt very happy when she saw that her younger brother was no longer as timid as before.

"Then how long are you going to go? It could be as short as two years, or as long as three to five years!"

"Now that Zhong'er is older, he can help me take care of my worries!"

…………

At the same time, inside Yihong Courtyard.

Musk Moon and Qiu Wen pushed Zicuckoo all the way to Xiren who was lying on the kang.

"Sister Zijuan, you are too ignorant. When Sister Xiren is sick, you are going to join the second master. Don't you know about him? You have to cause trouble during the Chinese New Year and hurt us before you are willing to do it?" "

"I...I just want to wish the second master a happy New Year!"

"Bah! Why don't you look at your identity? Do you need you to wish the second master a new year?"

"If you hadn't been talking nonsense last time, the second master would have been grounded by his wife for so long? When you came in, we agreed to let it go for the next two years. When Miss Lin gets married, we will arrange for you to come into the house to serve. It's older for the New Year. You haven’t settled down yet.”

Zicuckoo has been in Yihongyuan for more than two months. With Sheyue, Qiuwen and others strictly guarding her, she has never even seen Jia Baoyu's face.

And Jia Baoyu has been spending time with Xue Baoqin recently. He even forgot about her, let alone asking about her.

It's hard to be thirty this year, and Xiren has been ill in bed recently. He wanted to use the excuse of congratulating the New Year to show his face in front of Baoyu, but was stopped in time by Sheyue and Qiuwen.

Zijuan quibbled: "I...I saw that Sister Xiren was sick, and I wanted to help share the burden."

Speaking of being sick, Xiren's pretty face turned red. Uncle Lai was unhappy because Jia Baoyu deliberately caused mischief last month, so Xiren apologized for Second Master Bao.

It was just snow and ice, and the cold wind was howling in the dark cave. Although strenuous exercise could help relieve the cold, Uncle Lai's beating was so intense that he broke into a sweat.

When the clouds closed and the rain stopped, the cold wind blew, and I was infected with the wind chill when I came back.

Of course, even if she didn't catch the cold, she still had to pretend to be sick, otherwise, if Jia Baoyu saw the palm prints and scratches left on her body, she would get it.

Shaking his head, he shook the scene of Uncle Lai's torture out of his mind, looked at Zijuan and said, "Sister Zijuan, why bother to quibble, why don't you let Miss Lin's maidservant do nothing, and go to the second master's yard wholeheartedly? Mind, can't we see it?"

"I...my family members are all in the mansion, but I just can't bear to be separated from them."

As he spoke, he straightened his chest slightly and said, "Besides, I didn't come on my own, it was the old lady who arranged for me to come and serve."

Xiren sighed: "Why should Sister Zijuan deceive herself? Lai...what is the identity of Uncle Lai? If Jin Chuan commits a crime, he can even open his mouth and send the whole family away, not to mention that you are still with Miss Lin?"

When it comes to Lai Shangrong, I can't help but feel a little palpitated, and I calm down.

Then he said: "This is not a shameful idea, you have the second master in your heart, why would I stop it?"

"Really?" Zijuan said happily: "Sister Xiren means to allow me to enter the house and serve you?"

Xiren shook his head and said: "We are all for the second master, how could I stop you? It's just that the second master was grounded by his wife because of his sister's nonsense. I don't know if he annoyed my sister, so I dare not let you Come in and wait."

Zijuan blurted out: "No! No, the second master said that we will live together, even if we die, we will be ashes and smoke together. Why are you not allowed to enter the house to serve?"

Although she was in Yihong Courtyard, she was not as good as being by Lin Daiyu's side before. She couldn't even see Jia Baoyu's face, so she could only recall the past and chat for comfort.

I often take out Jia Baoyu's words to reflect on them, and this time I blurted them out.

But when her words fell into the ears of Xiren Sheyue and Qiu Wen, they became even more wary.

"Because you are also worthy to be ashes and smoke with the second master?"

"Zicuckoo doesn't dare! This is what the second master said, I just..."

The attacker said earnestly: "It's not that I'm trying to shirk the blame, it's just that it's been two or three months since you left Miss Lin's place. Doesn't the second master know that?"

Seeing Zijuan's sad face, he murdered and said: "But why did the second master ever ask you? If the second master really asked you, would we dare to deliberately hide it from him?"

"How could it be... what the second master said..." Zijuan muttered to herself as she felt a buzzing sound in her head.

"Sister Zijuan, you might as well think about it more. If you don't believe us, you can go out and ask and listen to what others in this courtyard have to say."

Seeing Zijuan's dull expression, Xiren winked at Sheyue and Qiuwen.

The two of them understood and half-pushed the confused Zicuckoo out of the house.

(End of this chapter)