Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Shenjing, Qingyufang, Xiafu.

Suddenly, Miss Xia reprimanded her sharply, startling Granny Chen so much that she instinctively knelt down on the ground.

He said, "Miss, even if I were bold, I wouldn't dare to lie to you. The young master really did agree..."

Miss Xia shouted, "Shut up, you old fool who doesn't know his own limitations! You think I'm young and easy to bully? You're blind as a bat!"

I have been to the Jia family mansion many times, and I know the way everyone behaves in the household a hundred times better than you do. Baoyu is usually lazy in his studies and is often beaten and scolded by his father.

If he weren't like this, Cong-ge'er, who was the same age as him, would have already passed the imperial examination, while he wouldn't even be a Xiucai (a lower-level scholar).

For just one tael of silver on Ningrong Street, one could find out all sorts of strange and absurd theories about his dislike of reading.

If I give him the Four Books and Five Classics, neither Old Madam Jia nor Second Madam Jia can say anything bad about it, but Baoyu would never say anything good about it.

With your stupidity, you dare to lie to me? I think you're asking for a beating.

Baochan, go to the outer courtyard and call two servants in. Bring them ropes and a cane, and bring them to the main room to hear my instructions.

If that old hag dares to lie again, I won't kill her. I'll just break one of her legs and throw her out to feed the dogs. Let's see how she runs errands for my mother then.

When Baochan saw her young lady lose her temper and look so menacing, her legs went weak with fear. She didn't dare to be negligent in the slightest and hurriedly went to the outer courtyard to call for help.

Upon hearing Miss Xia's words, Granny Chen was so frightened that she trembled all over, as if she had lost half of her soul.

She was an old servant of the Xia family, who had watched the girl grow up since she was a child, and knew best that this young lady was not to be trifled with.

Not only is he a first-rate scoundrel, but he is also extremely shrewd and capable, just like his wife, and he acts recklessly.

My wife isn't home right now. If this girl throws a tantrum, no one can control her, and I'll lose my life.

At this point, she dared not hide anything anymore, kowtowing repeatedly and begging for mercy.

Miss Xia said coldly, "Tell me the truth, or I'll skin you alive!"

Granny Chen said tremblingly, "This old servant dares not lie again. The young lady gave the books to the young master, and he was indeed a little unhappy."

They even said a couple more things, like "how could this be?" and then something about "extraordinary young ladies" and "corrupt officials," but I couldn't understand the meaning of those words.

But I guess it was because they were saying something was wrong with the girl. Later, Old Madam Jia and Second Madam Jia said that the young master was not feeling well and asked the maid to help him to his room to rest.

The young master was interrupted and didn't continue. "This old servant is telling the truth now; I dare not hide a single word from the young lady."

After speaking, Granny Chen was filled with remorse. She shouldn't have listened to that wretched maid from the Jia family and lied to the young lady.

Knowing that she had delivered gifts to the Jia family and was even criticized by her son-in-law, the young lady, with her domineering and fiery temper, would surely be furious.

Now that she hasn't married into the Jia family yet, she naturally can't cause trouble for her son-in-law. Most likely, she'll vent her frustrations on me, since I was the one who lied first.

Granny Chen was in a terrible state, waiting for the girl to unleash her fury and make her suffer greatly.

After waiting for a while, two servants from the outer courtyard came in with ropes and canes, but there was no movement from the girl's side.

Granny Chen mustered her courage and looked up. She saw that her daughter had a strange expression and was muttering the words "禄蠹" over and over, making no sense to her.

Suddenly, Miss Xia waved her hand at Granny Chen and said, "Get out! If you dare to lie to me again, you'd better watch out!"

Granny Chen felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She kowtowed twice to Miss Xia and fled the inner courtyard in a panic.

……

Baochan dismissed the two servants and noticed that her young lady had a strange expression and kept muttering something about "prosperity scoundrels," seemingly lost in thought.

Logically, if Baoyu speaks ill of the young lady, she should be angry and scold him, but she is not angry at all, which is quite strange.

Just as Baochan was wondering, Miss Xia seemed to have figured something out and laughed, "I finally understand why Baoyu would call someone a parasite."

Baochan was quite interested in anything related to Baoyu, so she casually asked, "What reason does the young lady want to understand?"

Miss Xia said, "I had someone spend money to inquire before, and they all said that Baoyu is a blockhead when it comes to studying, and even more so, a lewd and lazy good-for-nothing."

Jia Cong was the same age as him. While others had entered the Hanlin Academy, he couldn't even pass the county-level examination. His father often humiliated him because of this, frequently beating him so badly that he couldn't get out of bed.

They even made him kneel at the entrance of Rongqing Hall in the inner courtyard, so that the female relatives and friends passing by could see him make a fool of himself. His father was quite a character.

Compared to Baoyu's stupid, dirt-eating mother, his father was far superior; he was a truly decisive and efficient person.

If his mother had died earlier, and no one had pampered Baoyu, and his father had disciplined him, he might not be as useless as he is now.

I heard that his father liked Jia Cong the most, treating him like his own son, but he was very uncomfortable with his own son, Bao Yu.

You can imagine how jealous Baoyu must be of Jia Cong, since he's such a blockhead when it comes to studying, while Jia Cong is such a brilliant student.

Every time we visited the Jia family, these two cousins ​​rarely spoke, which showed that they didn't get along at all.

Jia Cong was not only the elder brother but also the head of two households. He was also incredibly capable, and Bao Yu dared not speak to him when he saw him.

But secretly, they couldn't stand it and would mostly curse him as a parasite, so it became a habit for him.

Baochan asked curiously, "Miss, what is a 'prosperity worm'?"

Miss Xia said disdainfully, "You don't even know that you and Baoyu are the same kind of useless fools. You don't like to read or study."

"Lu Du" is a term used to insult educated people; only ignorant fools would speak ill of those who are literate.

Although Baochan was unconvinced, she didn't dare utter a single word.

He kept thinking to himself, "Scholars are so precious in this world. Does that mean all the uneducated people on the street are idiots? That doesn't make sense."

The girl was bewitched by Jia Cong, a scholar, but no matter how promiscuous she was, she could only marry Baoyu.

She'll probably only get to see Jia Cong a few times, and he probably doesn't even remember who she is. All this fuss is pointless for the girl.

Miss Xia continued, "I gave books to Baoyu, deliberately encouraging him to study and improve his education. He got furious and, in a similar manner, called me a parasite."

Baochan said softly, "Master Bao shouldn't have scolded the girl like that. Maybe he really doesn't like studying..."

She cautiously defended Baoyu while glancing at her mistress's expression. She noticed that her mistress didn't seem angry at all, and even seemed somewhat pleased, which looked quite strange.

The young lady's pretty face flushed slightly, making her quite charming. She said dreamily, "I am also a parasite, and he is also a parasite. This is quite a good match."

At least he should know that I'm more knowledgeable than that Baoyu, and I know that for a man, studying and pursuing an official career is the right path..."

Baochan listened to Miss Xia talking to herself, and she could only vaguely understand what she was hearing, but she could tell that the girl seemed quite pleased.

The young lady was scolded by Master Bao as a parasite, shouldn't she be angry? Why is she happy? She must be thinking of Jia Cong and getting carried away again.

Baochan couldn't help but shudder. The girl was getting more and more insane; who knew what kind of trouble she would cause after they got married...

……

The Earl's Mansion, Jia Cong's Courtyard.

That morning, before dawn, snowflakes began to fall outside and never stopped.

Even after noon, the sky remained overcast and gloomy, and the courtyard was covered with snow.

Jia Cong returned from the meeting hall a little earlier than usual, around sunset.

During this period, I visited Ellie's house every day because after the New Year, Ellie would be accompanying her mother south.

The two would be separated for a long time, and Ellie showed a lot of affection for him in her words and actions, so Jia Cong often went to keep her company and talk to her.

Afterwards, he specially sent a message to Jinling, asking Jinling Xinchunhao to purchase a residence in Liuhe so that Ellie and her daughter would have a stable place to live after returning to their hometown.

That day, he used a flying feather to send a message to Jinling about the Xue family's shop. Five or six days have passed, and Jinling Xinchun Shop must have received the news by now.

That afternoon, while he was at Ellie's house, he received a reply from Jinling Feiyu, in which Qu Hongxiu and Qin Keqing provided detailed information about the shop rental.

After reading the letter, Jia Cong did not linger at Ai Li's house and returned to the mansion ahead of time to discuss matters with Baochai.

He read the letter again in his study, and then asked Qingwen to deliver a message to Baochai.

Not long after, a graceful figure could be seen moving in the courtyard, accompanied by the light sound of footsteps on the snow.

The study door was pushed open, and Baochai, her pretty face flushed and smiling, wore a bright red cloak adorned with peony flowers, making her look exceptionally graceful and charming.

Upon entering the house, she removed her bright red floral cloak, revealing a honey-colored satin long coat with a cross-collar, underneath which was a bright red cross-collar undergarment, and a light blue embroidered long skirt tied around her lower body.

Her glossy black hair was styled in a bun, adorned with a kingfisher feather hairpin, and a delicate pink palace flower adorned her temples, making her quite pretty and eye-catching.

As she walked, her figure was graceful and her steps were like those of a willow, her beauty and elegance captivating Jia Cong.

Baochai smiled and said, "I heard from Qingwen that a reply has arrived from Jinling. It sounds a bit strange, how could it be so fast?"

I remember that it had only been five or six days since Brother Cong sent his letter; normally it would have just arrived in Jinling by then, but now it's already been exchanged.

Jia Cong was slightly taken aback upon hearing this; he felt that the matter of the flying feathers needed to be kept secret to some extent.

The reason for this is that Feiyu played a huge role in the expansion of Xinchunhao's trade routes, which is an immeasurable advantage.

Having some reservations about it is ultimately more beneficial than harmful...

He said, "Xinchunhao's business in Jiangnan is expanding, and the transmission of letters and messages is becoming increasingly important."

I went to Nanjing twice on official business and became familiar with the mail delivery system of military and civilian stations along the way, which earned me some goodwill.

"Xinchun Shipping carries the sign of an imperial merchant and has specially assigned fast horses and manpower to post stations in various places, so letters are delivered much faster than usual." Baochai was slightly surprised to hear this. Even with fast horses, the two places are still thousands of miles apart. It is really fast that they can go back and forth in six days.

However, she had always admired Jia Cong's abilities and thought he must have his own methods, so she only thought about it briefly and then didn't take it to heart.

……

Jia Cong laughed and said, "I think Sister Bao has a good eye. Sister Xiu's letter made it very clear."

She set her sights on four shops: Ping Shi Street, Feng Qi Street, and Gao Chun Old Street.

"Several points were mentioned by Sister Bao, almost exactly the same. You two are of the same mind."

Baochai laughed and said, "What kind of hero am I, a girl? I've only read some books and have a superficial understanding of things outside. I'm just like a blind man touching an elephant."

Anyone who has done business in Jinling and stayed there for a while will know which places are the most prosperous in Jinling, and Miss Qu will naturally be interested in them.

Jia Cong said, "Sister Xiu mentioned in her letter that these shops are still open."

Has Sister Bao considered whether renting it out would result in a loss, and what solutions she could devise?

Baochai said, "Although the shop has been open for business these past few times, business has been rather bleak. In the past year or so, the accounts have only yielded a slight profit."

Given the location of these shops, such profits are tantamount to losses; it would be more profitable to rent them out at full price.

The inventory in these shops can be distributed to other shops of the Xue family for resale. Even after accounting for the beginning and end of the sales, the Xue family will still make a profit.

Now that our family has settled in Beijing, we can't always take care of the family business properly. It would be better to tighten our belts a bit so that the family business can be passed down for generations.

I only hope my brother will be more upright and well-behaved, or that his descendants will produce outstanding individuals; but that's all for the future.

Upon hearing Baochai's words, Jia Cong felt quite moved, as it seemed that the sisters and relatives of the Jia family all shared similar situations and troubles.

Tan Chun devoted herself to her younger brother Jia Huan, Bao Chai devoted herself to her elder brother Xue Pan, and even the纨绔无能 (spoiled and incompetent) Bao Yu had a Yuan Chun who sacrificed her youth for her family.

It was precisely because the daughters of the Jia family were so outstanding that their brothers appeared increasingly decadent and incompetent in comparison.

……

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Since Sister Bao has thought it through, then that's perfect."

These shops need to be vacated and rented out, and the staff and inventory need to be reorganized and cleared out. These things are quite complicated.

If the shopkeeper and his staff are left to handle these matters alone, there may be oversights.

"It would be better to have another capable person from the Xue family involved to avoid any mishaps."

Baochai said, "Brother Cong is right. These shopkeepers and employees are involved in the livelihood and interests of the business."

Renting out the shop is tantamount to them losing their livelihood, which inevitably leads to ulterior motives and selfishness. If they are left to manage and handle the business, unforeseen changes are likely to occur.

I just received a letter from Baoqin the day before yesterday, saying that her second uncle would take her and the tadpole brothers back to Nanjing for the New Year before the twelfth lunar month.

This matter is perfect to ask my second uncle to handle; it couldn't be more appropriate.

After my father passed away, my second uncle gained considerable prestige within the clan. He was quite shrewd and resourceful in his dealings with others, and even the shopkeepers of the old shops were wary of him.

Upon hearing Baochai's words, Jia Cong couldn't help but recall that he had seen this Second Master Xue at Rongqing Hall last year.

This person was handsome and refined, with exceptional manners and speech, leaving a deep impression on him.

Based on the description of this Second Master Xue's demeanor, Xue Baochai said he was quite capable, and Jia Cong had no doubt about it.

For some reason, he suddenly thought of Xue Baoqin, the second daughter of the Xue family, whom he had heard of before.

The two did not meet at the time, as Xue Baoqin was unwell and remained seated in the carriage.

But the fleeting glimpse of the carriage curtain being lifted when the second branch of the Xue family was about to depart remained vivid in Jia Cong's memory.

They chatted about other miscellaneous matters. Jia Cong personally ground the ink and dipped the brush in it. Baochai sat down at the desk, picked up the brush, and began to write a letter to her second uncle.

……

After Baochai finished writing the letter to Xue Yuan, she smiled and said, "Part of the Xue family's shops have been rented out. After the spring, the remaining business at home will also need to be reorganized and sorted out."

I heard from Baoqin's letter that my second uncle will likely be in Jinling until next winter, so I'd like to ask him to take care of things for me.

Jia Cong asked curiously, "Is Second Master Xue going on another business trip next winter?"

Baochai smiled and said, "This time, Second Uncle is not going out to travel as a merchant, but to send his daughter off to get married."

Last year, Baoqin was engaged to the Mei family, and next year she will reach the age of marriage. At the earliest, in the winter of next year, or at the latest, in the spring of the year after next, she will be sent to the capital for marriage.

Second Uncle and the Tadpole brothers will be traveling together, and the two branches of the Xue family will have to gather together again.

"Brother Cong, the Hanlin scholar Mei's given name is Jinlin. He's also your colleague in the Hanlin Academy. That's quite a coincidence. Do you know him, Brother Cong?"

Jia Cong laughed and said, "I am just a Hanlin Academician, but I don't hold any fixed position in the Hanlin Academy. I just show up every day to show my face."

The Hanlin Academy has a large number of people, and I don't know everyone. However, when I first entered the academy, Lord Ge introduced me to the heads of each department.

Among them was Mei Hanlin, a man of composure and few words, who left an impression on me.
He was a sixth-rank Hanlin Academy lecturer, and it is said that he had been in the Hanlin Academy for ten years without ever being transferred to another post. He was a senior figure in the academy.

Lord Ge said that he was a learned scholar, well-versed in classical texts, and had once served as a lecturer in the Imperial Study.

Both the Prince of Zhao and the Prince of Ning received his instruction, making him a well-established figure in the Hanlin Academy.

I only met him once, and we never spoke or got along. However, the Mei family is a well-known scholarly family in the capital.

Jia Cong said self-deprecatingly, "Compared to the Jia family's sudden acquisition of the Hanlin Academy status, the Mei family has already produced two generations of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), and their Hanlin scholarship is much more profound."

Baochai smiled and said, "According to Brother Cong, Mei Hanlin sounds quite respectable. No wonder Second Uncle arranged a marriage between his family and his..."

……

Jia Cong also wrote a letter to Qu Hongxiu. By this time, the sun had already set, leaving only the afterglow in the distance, and it was gradually getting dark outside the window.

Yinglian took a tinderbox into the study and lit the octagonal candlestick next to the desk. The room was filled with a warm glow, which made her small face look exceptionally beautiful.

Jia Cong said, "Sister Bao, it's getting late, why don't you stay for a simple meal?"

Baochai smiled and said, "I've heard that Brother Cong's family usually eats southern-style food, so I'll trouble you today."

She then sent Jin Chuan back to Pear Fragrance Courtyard to tell Aunt Xue that she would not be coming back for dinner.

Jia Cong then summoned Lingguan and asked her to instruct the kitchen to prepare some southern dishes, which would surely suit Baochai's taste.

As the lamps in the main hall were lit, the lanterns on the eaves of the veranda were also lit, and hurried footsteps echoed in the courtyard.

She was originally a lowly maid in Wang Xifeng's courtyard, and was instructed by Ping'er to deliver a message to Qingwen.

It was said that the accounts of the West Mansion were complicated at the end of the year, so she and Wu'er invited Wang Xifeng to have dinner in her room and would return home after reviewing the accounts that evening.

Qingwen sent a maid to the kitchen to relay a message, asking that the amount of food prepared for dinner be adjusted accordingly. Then she saw Lingguan come out of the study and say that Miss Bao was staying for dinner today.

Upon hearing this, Qingwen glanced towards the study and thought that Miss Lin and Third Miss used to frequent the study, while Miss Bao rarely went there.

He laughed and said, "Second Miss, Miss Lin, and Third Miss often invite us to stay for meals. They are quite familiar with us, and we often sit together at the same table, creating a lively atmosphere. There's no need to be too reserved."

Since Miss Bao is a relative by marriage and this is the first time she's invited to dinner, we should be more courteous and make sure Third Master looks presentable.

Let's go to the west wing and get a small, unused table, just for Third Master and Miss Bao to use. We can sit at the main table."

Lingguan smiled and said, "Sister Qingwen is so thoughtful."

The two carried the small table over and placed it down, then Lingguan went to the kitchen to supervise the preparation of the dishes.

Jia Cong and Baochai chatted for only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea in the study before Lingguan came in to invite them to dinner.

The two entered the main room, where Baochai saw a round table and an exquisite small table, clearly intended for her and Jia Cong's use.

I suppose it's because I don't come here often, so my thoughts are quite thorough.

On the table were five or six dishes, including baked eel chunks, braised ham and pork knuckle, stir-fried goji berry sprouts, and stir-fried vegetarian chicken with shiitake mushrooms, as well as a bowl of lotus leaf soup.

Baochai smiled and said, "Brother Cong lives a very comfortable life. The maids around you are all very thoughtful and considerate, so you don't have to worry about anything."

The two sat down to eat. Baochai only ate a small bowl of rice, but she enjoyed the various dishes. She only ate a little and didn't eat too much.

She drank a couple more cups with Jia Cong, her pretty face flushed slightly, and then she put down her wine cup. In the candlelight, she looked even more beautiful and intoxicating.

The two chatted about old Nanjing stories, their conversation flowing smoothly and their words resonating with each other, creating a very pleasant atmosphere.

Baochai smiled and said, "When you first met Brother Cong in Jinling, you were busy copying scriptures and had various official duties, so you didn't have much free time."

I should have accompanied you on a tour of Nanjing's historical sites, but there weren't many convenient options back then, and I was the one who neglected my duty as host.

Jia Cong laughed and said, "It's nothing serious. There will always be other opportunities in the future."

Baochai said, "You men are doing important things for the court, so you can travel all over the country."

We young ladies are confined to our homes, rarely able to venture far in our lifetime. How many places can we possibly visit? To be blessed like Miss Qu is a privilege not every woman has.

"The kind of opportunity Brother Cong mentioned, who knows when or how long it will come..." (End of Chapter)