Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

The incense burner was warm and fragrant, and the hairpins shone brightly. The maid, Emerald, served freshly brewed Lao Jun Mei tea, its refreshing aroma spreading gently, exuding a tranquil and languid charm.

After hearing Lady Wang's method, Grandmother Jia also thought it was feasible, and it would be even better if it could help her son Baoyu accumulate wealth.

Therefore, both of them were in a very good mood and enjoyed themselves. They drank tea and chatted idly, occasionally laughing heartily, and seemed quite content.

Outside the hall, on the covered walkway, Aunt Xue, accompanied by Xue Baochai, slowed her pace slightly as they approached Rongqing Hall.

He asked, "Bao'er, do you think that if the old lady speaks up for reconciliation, Cong'er might agree to it out of consideration for her feelings?"

Baochai smiled and said, "Mother, Brother Cong is very methodical in his work and is also an outstanding person. He is the least likely to be controlled by others."

Xinchunhao has been in business for three years, and its business has been growing year by year. There must have been people who wanted to distribute it and make a profit, including some high-ranking officials and nobles.

But no one has ever succeeded, which shows how determined Brother Cong and Miss Qu are in their distribution strategy, not allowing outsiders to make any changes.

The Cong brothers were favored by the emperor, and everyone knew that their background was unfathomable, so no one dared to overstep the mark.

"With Aunt relying on family ties as leverage, it's highly unlikely that Cong and his brother will comply. When we enter the hall later, Mother, please be careful what you say; listen more and speak less."

……

Just as Jade stepped forward to refill the teacup for the second time, Aunt Xue led Baochai into Rongqing Hall.

Seeing her sister's smug expression and the old lady's beaming face, Aunt Xue knew that her sister had already spoken up and that the old lady seemed to have given her approval.

Madam Wang smiled and said, "Sister, I have already told the old lady about this, and she also thinks it is a very good thing."

The old lady has already sent someone to call Cong-ge'er; as long as they talk things out, things will be settled.

A family of close relatives running a business together is both respectable and stable—it couldn't be better.

Aunt Xue thought of her daughter's words earlier. Baochai and Congge'er seemed to have a tacit understanding: if she said that this matter could not be accomplished, then she was right.

It's laughable that my sister, before anything has even been finalized, is already talking about close relatives going into business together, and she's already smugly showing off.

Just as his daughter said, Cong-ge'er has the strong character to accomplish great things, and he would not change his plans and ideas just because of the family's mourning rites.

Although she knew perfectly well what was going on, she wouldn't say a word and continued to deceive her sister.

He smiled and said, "Xinchun Company is now a major imperial merchant under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, so it would be excellent if this matter could be accomplished."

Lady Wang noticed that although her younger sister was enthusiastic, she stopped speaking halfway through her sentences, and her usual flattering and elevating manner seemed to have lost its edge.

Although she had some reservations, she didn't care. Since the old lady had agreed to mediate, she didn't need to owe her sister a favor.

Grandmother Jia smiled and said, "Bao'er, you and Cong'er discussed the plan the other day. Have you made any progress yet?"

Baochai smiled and said, "Replying to the old lady, we have already prepared the arrangements and sent them back to Jinling several days ago."

Now, my second uncle is reorganizing the shop according to the rules, and it will be sublet to Xinchun before the end of the year, at which point this matter will be settled.

Grandmother Jia laughed and said, "Bao'er is so capable. It's a pity she was born a girl. If she had been born a boy, she would probably be just as capable as Cong'er."

"My concubine is truly blessed. None of the maids I've raised are as capable as Bao'er in this matter."

Aunt Xue quickly smiled and said a few words of humility, and Grandmother Jia smiled and said, "Now that this matter has been settled, there is another happy event in the family."

"Since Bao'er has these skills, she should help her aunt more often when she has free time. We're all family here."

Baochai smiled and said, "Xinchun Company is a major merchant house under the Imperial Household Department. As long as there is no official explanation, this matter can naturally be accomplished."

"We'll be family then, so there's no need for formalities. If my aunt ever needs my help, I'll naturally do my best."

……

Both Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang had a deep impression of it. Back when Jia Zhen's incident happened, it was rumored that the embroidery shop owned by the woman could earn 50,000 taels of silver a year.

Nearly three years have passed, and the Embroidery Shop has become a royal store under the Imperial Household Department, likely earning even more money each year...

Now, even though each shop can get a share of the profits, even if each shop's share is less than 10,000 taels of silver, the two combined are more than the income from the Xifu noble estate!
Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang were so overjoyed at the thought that they seemed to have found a way to rely on her that they failed to grasp the hidden meaning in Baochai's words.

As everyone in the main hall was filled with joy and lost in their own thoughts, a maid outside the hall suddenly announced, "Third Master is here."

As soon as he finished speaking, the red brocade curtain with floral patterns at the entrance was lifted, and Jia Cong, with a composed demeanor, stepped into the hall, with Yuanyang following a step behind him.

Just moments ago, Madam Wang was full of hope, expecting the second wife's family to become incredibly wealthy, turn their fortunes around, and finally achieve great success.

But upon seeing Jia Cong appear, he instinctively felt a tightness in his chest and an involuntary sense of unease rose within him.

Even though she brought up Grandmother Jia to mediate the matter, she knew very well that she had always resented Jia Cong and now wanted to extract benefits from him.

This made Madam Wang feel a little ashamed, but when she thought of the kindness her husband had shown to Jia Cong, that vague shame was immediately replaced by a sense of righteous indignation.

Then she thought that she was originally the mistress of the Rongguo Mansion, and her righteous indignation instantly turned into a sense of entitlement.

……

Grandmother Jia smiled and invited Jia Cong to sit down, then had a maid serve fresh tea.

He laughed and said, "Your official position is exhausting, you leave early and return late every day. The trivial matters at home shouldn't bother you and waste your energy."

But this matter today is a good thing for the family; if it's done well, it will benefit everyone, which is why I'm talking to you about it."

Grandmother Jia recounted from beginning to end how Lady Wang intended to distribute the Xinchun brand's creations. Although Jia Cong already knew about it, he still patiently listened to the whole story.

Madam Wang was somewhat excited and waited for the old lady to finish speaking. She knew that even if Jia Cong had something to say, he would surely agree out of consideration for the elders in the family.

By then, the second wife will have a source of income and will no longer have to depend on others for survival.

Although there were absurdities such as the second wife taking advantage of the first wife's position to rival her, as long as the second wife gained more prestige, she didn't care about such things anymore.

Just as Lady Wang was filled with strange anticipation, she saw that Jia Cong, after listening to the old lady's words, did not express his opinion or speak, but instead remained silent with a gloomy expression.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she began to feel that something was amiss, something that seemed to be outside her expectations.

Not to mention that Lady Wang noticed something, even after Grandmother Jia said some warm words, her grandson didn't respond at all, and his face even looked rather sour...

The old lady sensed something was wrong. Although she was a little uneasy, she had no choice but to be patient and wait for Jia Cong's reply before making any plans based on the situation.

When Aunt Xue saw Jia Cong's serious expression, which showed no sign of being happy about family matters, she couldn't help but admire her daughter's foresight and just waited to watch the show from the sidelines.

……

Jia Cong said in a deep voice, "When Miss Qu first settled in the capital, she was kind-hearted and adopted five orphans, but she was not very well-off."

So we started Xiuniang Incense Shop together. Since I was going to pursue a career in the imperial examinations and it was inconvenient for me to be a merchant, the business was managed by Miss Qu.

Later, she worked day and night, and the incense shop business flourished. Unexpectedly, it was coveted by Brother Zhen of the East Mansion, who used forceful means to seize the shop, causing a huge uproar.

His Majesty heard rumors in the palace and was furious. He summoned me to the palace to reprimand me.

It is reprehensible that a person of official rank would engage in business, which is extremely improper and invites trouble.

To atone for his sins, Cong offered Xiuniang Incense Shop to the Emperor. The Emperor was kind and benevolent and disdained to compete with the people for profit.

Seeing that Miss Qu had a kind heart and that the incense business of Xiu Niang Incense Shop was beneficial to the country, the Emperor bestowed a great favor upon her, allowing Xiu Niang Incense Shop to be listed under the Imperial Household Department and renamed Xin Chun Hao.

The cause and effect of this matter all stemmed from Jia Zhen's moral depravity, greed, shamelessness, and reckless desire to rob; otherwise, how could such a turmoil have arisen?

From then on, Cong deeply resented the fact that his disciples were disloyal and unfilial, lazy and averse to work, bullied others, and robbed others of their private property.

The family fortune established by Ningguo's ancestors was ruined overnight due to Jia Zhen's immoral actions. He is a sinner of the Jia clan and deserves to die; both gods and men bear witness!

When Jia Cong did not express his opinion on the matter, but instead spoke of the origin of Xinchun Company in a cold and indifferent tone, both Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang felt increasingly heavy-hearted.

As Jia Cong finished speaking, his words became increasingly harsh and stern, even directly addressing Jia Zhen by name, saying that he deserved to die, and his expression was one of deep hatred and disgust.

Grandmother Jia's face changed color. Her original worries were indeed correct. This boy was unwilling to do this at all, and she began to sulk and curse.

……

Even though Jia Cong's words were harsh, Grandmother Jia, as his grandmother, could not find fault with them.

Jia Zhen was originally the head of the Jia family and held a very noble status, but he was wicked by nature and his crimes were well-known, which led to the Ningguo Mansion being raided.

When Jia She was alive, whether it was to kick someone when they were down or to seek personal gain, he rallied the clan elders to discuss removing Jia She from the clan genealogy and prohibiting him from being buried in the ancestral land after his death.

Therefore, no matter how harsh Jia Cong's insults were, no one could utter a single word of dissent.

But was Cong-ge really scolding Jia Zhen...?

Grandmother Jia glanced at her daughter-in-law and saw that her face was rather unpleasant, and she seemed somewhat resentful. The old lady felt a pang of regret. Jia Cong continued, "Xin Chun's name has been recognized as a royal merchant by the Imperial Household Department. This is truly due to His Majesty's magnanimity and great favor. How can a subject not be grateful?"

To repay the Emperor's favor, Cong and Miss Qu made a promise to him that Xinchun Shop would achieve its target profit within three years of opening.

They also pay a large sum of taxes and profits each year to replenish the national treasury in gratitude for the Emperor's leniency.

In order to fulfill the promise made to the Emperor and to maximize the profits of the business, Xinchun established the rule that it would not engage in distribution.

This rule has never been broken in the three years since the brand was established.

In the past two years, Xinchunhao's business has been booming, and many high-ranking officials and nobles have had designs on it, but Cong Zhengyan has refused them all..."

Seeing that Jia Cong's words were becoming increasingly cold, and that neither the old lady nor her sister spoke up for her, Lady Wang noticed that Jia Cong's words were becoming colder and colder.

As his elder, I should ask the old lady for her opinion on what I want to do. If I am so easily rejected, what face will I have left in the Jia family?

If word got out, countless people would laugh at her, and she simply couldn't let it go.

Moreover, although Jia Cong's words were cold and aloof, he did not seem to give up harshly, which made it difficult for Lady Wang to give up.

Moreover, the idea of ​​a profit-sharing business is simply too tempting...

She forced herself to say, "Brother Cong, what you said makes sense. It's only right to prevent outsiders from taking advantage of Xinchunhao's convenience."

But Baoyu is your cousin, and your father treats you like his own son. We are close relatives from the same school, so how can you compare to your maternal family?

The two shops owned by the second branch were inconspicuous. Even though they distributed Xinchunhao's goods, it was their own business, and outsiders wouldn't dare to gossip.

……

Upon hearing Madam Wang's words, Aunt Xue's face turned awkward. Cong-ge'er had already put it this way, so how could her sister still say such a thing?

Do you really want them to tear each other apart and start cursing? My sister is too stubborn, always bringing up her brother-in-law's feelings for Cong-ge.

Even the best things in this world will become useless if used too often.

We can't let Cong-ge give all his belongings to the second wife just because of my brother-in-law's past kindness.

Grandmother Jia already sensed something was wrong and was already having second thoughts. Seeing her daughter-in-law being so foolish as to say such things without considering the consequences, she was even more disheartened.

Just as Grandmother Jia was about to speak up and stir things up, she wanted to let the matter drop as soon as possible, lest her grandson, with his sharp tongue, say something unpleasant and embarrass everyone in the room.

Before Grandmother Jia could speak, Jia Cong said, "Madam, you are mistaken!"

Hearing Jia Cong's stern voice, Grandmother Jia's heart skipped a beat; she knew something was wrong...

Hearing Jia Cong say coldly, "Second Madam is oversimplifying things. Don't talk about your own business, and don't say outsiders dare not gossip."

As soon as Xinchunhao's goods are put on the Second Madam's shop, the news will spread throughout the capital overnight.

Xinchunhao had upheld its ironclad rules and regulations for three years, but they were all lost in an instant. What would become of the business's reputation? How could Miss Qu manage the business now?

Those high-ranking officials and nobles who were refused distribution by Xinchun must have felt resentment. People with grievances are bound to cause trouble.

Once the news reaches the palace, whatever the emperor's thoughts, those foul-mouthed censors of the Censorate will all be on their feet like cats smelling fish.

The Imperial Clan Court will likely send piles of impeachment memorials to our door. My husband and I will both be unable to escape the charges of inflated personal desires, favoritism towards relatives, unfair treatment, and embezzlement of national resources!

By then, the Jia family, a noble and scholarly family, had enjoyed imperial favor for generations, and their two mansions were prosperous and envied by everyone.

All the hard-earned reputation and respect are about to be destroyed! Does the Second Madam want me to become Jia Zhen?

When Jia Cong finished speaking, his voice was stern and his expression fierce, sending chills down the spines of everyone in the hall.

Even Grandmother Jia couldn't find a way to ease the situation. She was absolutely unwilling to let the second branch's savings and family fortune bring disaster upon the Jia family.

Jia Cong's remark that he wanted me to become like Jia Zhen sent a chill down Grandmother Jia's spine.

She sensed that these words were not kind; they were sharp and menacing, sending chills down her spine...

As Madam Wang's face darkened, she forced herself to remain calm and said, "Even if this matter is inappropriate, how does it concern you, sir?"

Jia Cong said calmly, "Husband and wife have always been one. The second wife has been handling this matter single-handedly. As an official of the court, how can you, sir, absolve yourself of responsibility?"

If something serious happens, my reputation and my husband's reputation will be damaged, and our careers will likely face setbacks.

I hold a noble title, and I am still relatively young; perhaps there will be a time for me to be reinstated.

But the master is over fifty, and I'm afraid he'll be retired until old age, and will most likely regret it for the rest of his life..."

……

When Grandmother Jia heard that this matter would implicate her son, she was even more unwilling. Her youngest son was obsessed with studying for the imperial examinations, but he had never achieved his goals in his life.

His current official position is his greatest honor and comfort. If he were to lose his position and be dismissed because of family troubles, he would lose all face.

Cong-ge'er's words about being unemployed until old age and having regrets for the rest of his life are too mild; he'll probably drive his son to his death in just a few days.

Grandmother Jia quickly replied, "We women of the inner quarters have no idea about these risks outside."

"Cong-ge'er, now you are the head of both families, and Xinchun Company is an enterprise you founded. Since you say this matter is inappropriate, then let it be dropped, and no one is allowed to mention it again."

Upon hearing Grandmother Jia's words, Jia Cong's cold expression softened slightly, and he said, "Grandmother is wise and understanding. I will do as you say."

Upon hearing Jia Cong's words, Baochai's lips curled up slightly, but she subconsciously pursed them to prevent herself from revealing a smile.

Her bright eyes swept over Jia Cong's face, and she couldn't help but want to laugh.

The Cong brothers knew that the old lady was also involved in this matter, yet they still said that the old lady was reasonable, which meant that their aunt was unreasonable.

He was just cursing people so harshly, yet now he's saying things like "I'll do as you say," as if he only curses people because the old lady tells him to.

This is a tactic of pulling one person down while stepping on another; even the old lady had no choice but to side with him. With such shrewd methods, how could his aunt possibly be a match for him?

Then Jia Cong said, "Old Madam, a family with lasting prosperity is not afraid of hardship and poverty, but only of unworthy descendants."

The property of the Xifu noble family, as long as they live frugally and simply, is enough for the old lady, the second sister-in-law, the master, and the second wife to live a wealthy life.

There's really no need to get involved in business anymore. Less trouble, more refinement—that's the true way to be at ease.

Grandmother Jia sighed slightly and said, "You're right. For now, our family reputation is prosperous, and we should enjoy it for the rest of our lives. We can talk about the future later."

She naturally knew that the produce of the Xifu noble family was more than enough for everyone in the family to eat.

But when Baoyu was about to become a single man, how could he still enjoy the wealth and property of the Western Mansion? If it weren't for the desire to accumulate a family fortune for him, he wouldn't be in this predicament today.

However, this is a long-term matter, and by then I will have long since passed away. It seems premature for me to create trouble for myself now.

Grandmother Jia was a cheerful person who disliked dwelling on things that didn't go her way, which made her feel uncomfortable and restless.

Given the current situation, we are powerless to resist the powerful. We cannot benefit from this situation for the time being, so we can only wait for future plans and try to get through the present.

……

Jia Cong continued, "Old Madam, Jia Zhen was morally corrupt, greedy by nature, and cunningly seized wealth, which led to the execution of Ningguo."

The events of that time also originated from Xinchunhao. We must learn from the past to guide the future.

Xinchun Company is an imperial merchant, and therefore must shoulder national responsibilities, operate trade routes, and respond to national affairs; this is the right path.

We must never allow any of our disciples to be lazy, covetous, or attempt to seize power, lest the tragedy of Jia Zhen be repeated and the calamity of ruining our ancestral legacy befall us once again.

Not only should the main branch's descendants set an example, but the seven branches in Shenjing and the twelve branches in Jinling should also follow suit.

"From now on, if any member of this sect harbors any reckless thoughts, the laws of the land and the rules of the family will prevail, and Heaven and Earth will punish them without mercy!"

The phrase "Heaven and Earth shall punish him" was clear, cold, and unwavering, conveying an unquestionable resolve that instilled a sense of awe in everyone present.

Aunt Xue glanced at Madam Wang and saw that her sister's face had turned pale. She dared not say another word.

She sighed inwardly. Her sister's actions today had alerted Cong-ge'er. He was making veiled accusations against her, tearing her sister's face to the ground and trampling her into the dirt.

He's using his sister as a figurehead to establish his authority. The matter at Rongqing Hall can't be kept secret. Once word gets out, which member of the Jia family will dare to cross the line again?

My sister's skills might be considered among the best in the inner quarters, but in front of Cong-ge'er, they are nothing more than showing off her limited abilities. How could she possibly succeed?

After hearing Jia Cong's words, Baochai's bright eyes sparkled. Cong was only fifteen years old, but he already had such a remarkable ability to manage affairs and run the household.

He cannot be regarded as an ordinary person; no wonder he is so brilliant and accomplished so many great things...

Jia Cong said, "The old lady is a duke's consort, the most esteemed person in the family, advanced in years and of high moral character, and deeply knowledgeable in matters of state. What does the old lady think of what Cong has said?" (End of this chapter)