Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

The Zhen family mansion and the large house.

Although Zhen Yingjia could guess his wife's plan, he didn't know everything. He frowned and asked, "What are your plans?"

The eldest wife of the Zhen family said, "Master, in the current situation, if I say something unlucky, the Zhen family will not have a good ending.

We are all half buried in the ground. The only thing I am worried about is the child Baoyu.

He had been doted on by the old lady since he was young and had never suffered any hardship.

If the Zhen family really meets with misfortune, how will they live in the future? How will the bloodline of our eldest family continue?

As his mother, I have to make plans for him. These days, I have sorted out all the belongings that have been accumulated in the eldest wife's house over the years.

However, after Shiwen passed away, the old lady had said that the Zhen family’s business should be taken over by the second branch.

Although Fang Qing went to Shenjing, Liu Xian, the manager of the second house she left behind, kept a close eye on the family business.

I tried my best, but I could only withdraw a part of the silver that belonged to the eldest wife from each store.

After all the things were packed up like this, there were more than a dozen boxes of stuff. Even if something really happened to the Zhen family, the eldest branch would not be in dire straits with these things.

Baoyu will have a foundation when he gets married and starts a family.

Just to be on the safe side, these things must not be kept at home. Nowadays, all the noble relatives in Jinling are trying to avoid our Zhen family.

Therefore, these boxes are not very safe when placed in Jinling.

I thought of sending my trusted servants and my brothers to escort the carts and deliver these boxes to the capital.

I will write a letter to inform our second girl that I want to store these dozen boxes in Prince Beijing's Palace.

If something bad really happens to the Zhen family, we, the eldest branch, will have more ways to escape, Baoyu will have more people to rely on, and he will suffer less."

Zhen Yingjia was shocked when he heard what his wife said. He didn't expect that his wife would go to such great lengths to hide the family's wealth thousands of miles away.

He thought for a moment and said, "Now that the Zhen family is facing disaster, the building is about to collapse. I'm afraid it's not good, so it's better to be more prepared.

When people live in this world, the only things they want are power and wealth. If the Zhen family were to meet with misfortune and could no longer serve as officials, it would be important for them to have some wealth in their hands.

But these things must not be kept in Prince Beijing's Mansion, otherwise it will cause trouble."

Madam Zhen was surprised and said, "Master, what are you talking about? Prince Beijing's Mansion is our eldest family's closest relative. Master's legitimate son-in-law, how can you not trust the relationship between father-in-law and son-in-law?"

Zhen Yingjia smiled bitterly and said, "Madam, you are oversimplifying the matter. Although Shui Rong is my son-in-law, the relationship between father-in-law and son-in-law is natural.

But the marriage between Prince Beijing's Mansion and the eldest branch of the Zhen family was not because of me, Zhen Yingjia, but because the old empress dowager had a respected status and the emperor stood behind her.

The old Prince Beijing only wanted to use this relationship to balance the power and give the Prince Beijing's Palace an extra layer of support.

Although Shui Rong was a king with a noble status, he liked to make friends with scholars and behaved like a wise king who was courteous to the wise.

But the descendants of Prince Beijing are all people with deep minds, and none of them is confused.

Although Shui Rong is kind in his dealings with others, he is a shrewd and meticulous person who knows how to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune.

Even if there is a relationship between father-in-law and son-in-law, I am afraid they would not want to provoke it easily at this time. If they were really so foolish, the Beijing Prince's Mansion would not be able to inherit the title of king now.

The status of a prince with a different surname is already very delicate for the royal family, and Shui Rong takes the title of prince very seriously, so he is more cautious than ordinary people.

Even if Madam delivers the box to his door, he will probably find an excuse to refuse, so Madam, please don't make things difficult for the second girl."

……

Mrs. Zhen frowned after hearing what her husband said, and murmured to herself, "Master, what you said makes sense, but where are these boxes?"

Zhen Yingjia said: "Our Zhen family in Shenjing has more than just relatives in Beijing Prince's Mansion."

Mrs. Zhen's eyes lit up and she said, "Master, are you talking about the Rongguo Jia family?"

Zhen Yingjia nodded and said, "Although our generation has no in-laws with the Jia family, our old lady and Madam Shi were close friends when they were young.

As for Fang Qing, she was even arranged to be married to Jia Cong. Although something unexpected happened and their arranged marriage was revoked, the marriage decree from the retired emperor was set in stone.

The royal endorsement is of great importance. Even if the marriage is not granted, Fang Qing will never be able to marry anyone else in her life. She and Jia Cong are special.

Just based on the connection between the two families, the Rong Jia family is not a royal family and does not have so many concerns, so they should not stand idly by.

However, Jia Cong became famous at a young age and is also a man of outstanding wisdom. I am worried that he will have some concerns..."

Mrs. Zhen's eyes suddenly lit up and she said, "Although Master's thoughts are reasonable, the current situation of the Jia family is somewhat different from the past, and Master is unaware of this."

Zhen Yingjia looked puzzled and asked, "What's different about the Jia family now?"

Madam Zhen said, "It is a coincidence that among the old relatives I visited today, one is the wife of the eldest wife of the Wang family in Jinling.

The eldest daughter of the Wang family's first wife was named Wang Xifeng. In her early years, she was called Fengger by her relatives. She married the eldest grandson of the eldest wife of the Rong family.

Jia Lian, the eldest grandson of the eldest branch of the Rong Kingdom, is now exiled to Liaodong because of a crime he committed.

However, Miss Feng was a capable person and did not lose her status in the Jia family because of this. Instead, she became more honorable.

Because she is Cong'er's legitimate sister-in-law, and Cong'er's biological father and mother have both passed away, his stepmother Xing is now a widow and lives in the inner courtyard all year round, ignoring worldly affairs.

This Miss Feng treats Cong'er like an elder sister-in-law who is like a mother to her, and she has Cong'er's trust in her.

Congge lives in the East Mansion of the Jia family, and leaves the West Mansion of Rongguo to Miss Feng to manage. Now she is the mistress of Rongguo Mansion.

In my opinion, there is no need to disturb Brother Cong about these matters of wealth. Just ask Miss Feng for help.

I was thinking of going to the Wang family again tomorrow to present a gift and ask Mrs. Wang and her daughter to make peace.

Besides, Miss Feng is helping Congge'er to run the household, so Fangqing and Congge'er are only one step away from becoming husband and wife.

As a sister-in-law, she must take the affection between them into consideration, and this matter will definitely succeed.

With Miss Feng's help, we can find an inconspicuous place to temporarily store a dozen boxes. After a year or so, when things are settled, we can retrieve them in time.

If we do it lightly and don't alarm others, it will definitely be safe."

After hearing this, Zhen Yingjia nodded slightly and said, "Madam, if you put it this way, this matter is feasible. These financial matters can be handled by the women in the inner chambers, which is much more convenient."

When Mrs. Zhen saw that her husband also agreed with her method, she felt quite proud.

Said: "I will prepare the gifts now and go to Wang's house early tomorrow.

As long as we can get this done sooner, we can feel more at ease. After that, it all depends on the luck of our Zhen family..."

……

Suzhou, Jingqian Street, Fengxiang Shop.

This is the Wangpu Street area in Gusu, where the streets are lined with shops and bustling with people, making it very lively.

As a famous commercial port on the south coast of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Gusu is as prosperous and wealthy as Nanjing, and even more gentle, warm and elegant.

At the beginning, Jia Cong made plans and Xinchunhao became the imperial merchant of the Imperial Household Department. Qu Hongxiu paved trade routes in Jiangnan, and officials from the Imperial Household Department also participated in the promotion.

Later, Xinchunhao opened a branch in Fuzhou, and officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs also got involved.

Therefore, the branches of Xinchunhao in Jinling and Fuzhou were royal businesses well known to officials and civilians and were in the public eye.

At that time, a Xiuniang incense shop in Shenjing could earn a profit of 50,000 taels every year.

Jia Cong and Qu Hongxiu knew clearly that with its unique and exquisite products and distinctive marketing methods, Xinchunhao's future profits would surely be even more astonishing and more eye-catching.

In any matter, when the implicit benefits are too huge, it will always attract unpredictable covetousness.

Just like when Xiuniang's perfume shop aroused the greed of Jia Zhen and his son...

Even though Xinchunhao now has the reputation of a royal merchant and can avoid most of the troubles, things are changing, no one can predict the future, and there is nothing in the world that can be solved once and for all.

As the saying goes, a business has two routes and a cunning rabbit has three burrows. In order to build the necessary protection and back-up plan for the future of Xinchunhao.

Jia Cong built trade routes for Xinchunhao in Yangzhou, Suzhou and other places, borrowing the background and connections of the Suzhou Lin family.

On the surface, the businesses established in these places had nothing to do with Xinchunhao.

There are two such businesses in Suzhou. After two years of establishment, they gradually became large local businesses in Suzhou by selling sea-transported goods and Xinchun products.

With the support of the local prominent family, the Suzhou Lin family, the business of these two companies in the local area can be said to be smooth sailing.

One of these two shops is Fengxianghao located on Jingqian Street. …

Early in the morning of that day, Fengxianghao was still bustling with people coming in and out, and business was booming.

At this time, a carriage stopped at the door of the store and a girl about thirteen or fourteen years old got out.

She has a slim figure, exquisite clothes, beautiful appearance, and when she purses her lips, two cute dimples are revealed.

She entered the store, walked back and forth in front of the shelves, picked up a piece of beautifully packaged perfumed soap, put it to her nose and sniffed it, an intoxicated look on her little face.

A woman who was in charge of the store came up with a smile and said, "Young lady, you have a good eye. You just happened to like the most fashionable perfume soap in the store."

The little girl said: "Auntie, Xinchun's perfumed soap is also often used in my family.

Why is yours different? It has the same scent, but it smells cool and refreshing."

The housekeeper saw that her clothes were exquisite and said that her family often used perfumed soap, which made her sound like she came from a wealthy family.

He smiled and said, “The girl is an expert, she really knows the value of the perfumed soap.

This kind of soap is added with high-quality Taihe mint leaves. You can use it to clean your face and take a bath in the summer. After washing, your whole body will feel cool and comfortable.

This new stuff sells extremely well in the shop, and it is always sold out every time it arrives. Girl, would you like to buy some to try?"

The little girl asked, "I had never seen this kind of soap in the main store of Jinling Xinchunhao half a year ago. Is it a new product?"

The housekeeper smiled and said, "This method of making pancreas was the idea of ​​our shopkeeper, and we asked Jinling Xinchun to make it specially.

It has only been on the market for a month or so, so it certainly wasn’t available half a year ago, and you certainly couldn’t have seen it in Jinling half a year ago.”

The little girl smiled and said, "This new soap is really strange. It turns out that the shopkeeper is actually a girl, and she has such clever ideas, just like our family..."

The little girl was naive, but she also knew her limits, so she stopped talking halfway through.

She continued, "I must try this new soap. I want five pieces. Please pack it for me."

The housekeeper agreed with a smile on her face, thinking that she was right, this little girl was indeed from a wealthy family.

This new perfume soap was sold for eight cents a piece, but the girl didn't even ask the price and just paid five pieces, which was four taels of silver. She was really generous.

……

After the housekeeper finished her business with the girl, she went back to sort out the accounts on the counter, then turned around and went up to the second floor of the shop and went to the room at the end of the corridor.

There was a little maid sitting at the door of the room, dozing off sleepily.

The old woman ignored him and went straight into the room. There sat a young girl in the room with a beautiful and charming face.

She wore a pink and white double-breasted jacket embroidered with exquisite green branches of winter plums, and a light blue satin pleated skirt.

Her long hair was tied up in a bun, without any other head ornaments except a gold hairpin with a plum blossom pattern and kingfisher feathers, which shone dimly and was beautiful and stunning.

At this moment, she was writing something at her desk. When she saw the housekeeper come in, she smiled and put down her brush and asked, "Madam, how is the business today?"

The housekeeper handed him the account book and said with a smile, "Business is still good today. The girl is smart and thought of adding mint leaves to the perfumed soap.

This kind of new product has been selling very well recently. In addition, our store is the only one that sells it in the whole city of Gusu, so it is sold out as soon as it arrives.

I just checked the accounts. In the past month, the business has increased by 30%. This girl must have a way of doing business.

Shopkeeper Wang really has good vision to hire a young lady to manage the shop."

Zou Miner smiled and said, "I was often taken care of by the shop in Gusu, but now Shopkeeper Wang has important matters to attend to and cannot return to Gusu for the time being.

He asked me for help, so I naturally did not refuse."

……

Originally, the two shops in Suzhou were managed by Wang Dequan, and he frequently traveled between Suzhou and Nanjing on a daily basis.

But since the last time he followed the Zhen family ship to escort the Xinchun's goods for overseas marketing, the Zhen family ship lost contact midway and Wang Dequan's whereabouts became unknown.

The two shops in Gusu have special significance for Xinchunhao. The temporary loss of the person in charge has caused headaches for Jia Cong and Qu Hongxiu.

There are quite a few capable young apprentices in several shops of Jinling Xinchunhao, all of whom are orphans taken in and raised by Xinchunhao in recent years.

Although these young men are diligent and loyal to Xinchunhao, they are too young and inexperienced to be able to help manage a place.

Qu Hongxiu couldn't mobilize suitable personnel in a short time, so he thought of Zou Min'er who was living in seclusion in Suzhou.

Although Jia Cong was very caring towards Zou Min'er, Qu Hongxiu felt a little sad, and she was also very clear that the relationship between the two was probably very ambiguous.

However, Jia Cong did not hide Zou Min'er's origins from her.

Therefore, Qu Hongxiu knew that Zou Min'er was originally the daughter of an official, was literate, and was quite knowledgeable.

Moreover, after many trials and tribulations, she took up a position in the Zhongchesi as a lady of the Jiaofangsi, and her courage and boldness were different from those of ordinary women.

Although Qu Hongxiu felt a little jealous of this woman, he was no longer afraid of the itch when he had too many lice...

Moreover, the two shops in Gusu are of very special nature, and Jia Cong and Qu Hongxiu can only feel at ease if they hand them over to people they can absolutely trust.

Qu Hongxiu knew Zou Min'er's background and knew that she and Jia Cong had a deep entanglement of love and hatred. Now that the past was gone, she was probably already devoted to Jia Cong...

No matter from which angle Qu Hongxiu thought, there was no other trustworthy person in Gusu, and Zou Miner was the best candidate.

Let Zou Min'er take care of the Suzhou business temporarily. Qu Hongxiu won't have to worry about it, and Jia Cong will definitely be relieved. Although the situation is really strange, it seems to be the truth...

……

Since arriving in Suzhou, Zou Min'er has been living in seclusion in Heguangfang. Although she is filled with homesickness and has difficulty finding her lover, her life is peaceful and calm.

She originally thought that she had someone in her heart in this life, but it was a bit regrettable to be alone in an empty courtyard.

But the past is unbearable, and being able to escape unscathed is already a blessing. There is no need for any more delusional hopes.

She originally thought that life would remain peaceful until she received a letter from Qu Hongxiu.

When she learned that the two businesses in Gusu were actually Jia Cong's properties, she naturally would not refuse Qu Hongxiu's plan.

She was originally just a daughter of an official who never left her house, but after going through many hardships, her mind and courage have changed a lot.

Wang Dequan has already laid a solid foundation for the two businesses in Suzhou, so it is not difficult for Zou Miner to maintain the status quo.

When she took over the business, it was the beginning of summer. She grew up in a wealthy family and saw many foreign skills in Jinling City, so she came up with the idea of ​​adding mint to the perfumed soap.

Afterwards, after being processed and manufactured by Xinchunhao workshop, this seasonal perfumed soap became a big seller in Suzhou, greatly increasing the business of the company.

……

After the housekeeper left, Zou Min'er finished writing the letter in her hand and woke up the maid Shuanghe who was dozing at the door.

He said, "Go to Qinghong Lane and ask Miss Chen to deliver this letter to Shenjing."

Shuang He took the letter and said with a smile: "Miss, this is a letter to Master Jia, it is now being circulated in the streets and alleys, the Master has become very famous.

Not only did he pass the exam to become a Li Yuan Lang, he also became a Hanlin scholar. They all said that this was the first time in the Zhou Dynasty that such a young Hanlin scholar existed, and they were afraid that there would never be another one in the future. "

Zou Miner smiled and said, "I knew he was good at studying, but I didn't expect him to be this good. It's just that Gusu and Shenjing are far away, and we got the news very late.

I made him a long gown and an embroidered handkerchief as a gift. After you send the letter, I will ask Aunt Zhou from the shop to mail it for me..."

……

Suzhou, Chayuan Street.

There is an exquisite two-story courtyard here, which was purchased by Zhen Yingquan and has been vacant for many years.

Last year, Zhen Fangqing was worried that something might happen to his family sooner or later because Zhen Shiwen was involved in a major firearms case, so he secretly sold off his idle properties one after another, but retained the house on Chayuan Street in Suzhou.

It took her six days to travel from the capital to Nanjing. She stopped in Suzhou and stayed in a house on Chayuan Street for two days.

Before she left the capital, she received a letter from her trusted steward Liu Xian, in which he said that Wang Zhangjiang, a captain of the Imperial Guard, had led his men south to Quanzhou to arrest Chen Rong, an official of the Zhen family's Haiyun Pavilion.

Zhen Fangqing knew very well that Chen Rong was the confidant of his cousin Zhen Shiwen. As long as he fell into Wang Zhangjiang's hands, there would most likely be evidence that his cousin was involved in the private manufacture of firearms.

By that time, the Zhen family would face an unpredictable crisis. It would not be wise for her to rush into Jinling City at this time... (End of this chapter)