Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 281: Madam Wang's Bold Statement
……

Lin Daiyu then lowered her head and said nothing, reluctantly agreeing, but she did not dare to look at Jia Rong.

"Come on, go to my place."

Xichun held Lin Daiyu in front, fearing that she would run away.

Yingchun asked, "And where are Sister Bao and Sister Qin? Why didn't they come?"

Tanchun said, "I just went back."

Xichun said, "Call them quickly, let's have a drink together to celebrate Rong'er's success in winning the third place in the imperial examination. We didn't enjoy the meal well with so many outsiders just now, and Sister Yuanchun has also gone home, so Ruhua, go and invite them."

"Ai!"

Ruhua quickly agreed and went to ask for help.

……

Jia Rong was already a little tipsy, and he helped Xiao Xiao back home.

Qingwen had already prepared some hangover soup and said with a chuckle, "I guessed that you would definitely get drunk today, so I prepared it in advance. I will serve you the soup, Mr. Tanhua."

Jia Rong said: "Thank you, but I am not drunk and I don't need to sober up."

He was just tipsy.

This is the feeling you want.

"Xiang Ling."

Jia Rong shouted.

"Ai."

Xiangling replied sweetly, ran to Jia Rong, and asked with a smile: "Master, what's the matter?"

Jia Rong pinched Xiangling's pretty face and said, "Go get someone to prepare some hot water so that Master can take a bath."

"it is good……"

Xiangling nodded shyly in agreement.

Qingwen put down the hangover soup and pouted her lips as she said, "I want to help you bathe, too!"

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Okay, go change your clothes quickly, and you two will serve me tonight."

Tonight, the scholar will have some fun.

Qingwen immediately smiled.

"I'm going right now!"

Xiao Xiao was beside him, and said angrily, "Master, you are making trouble again."

Jia Rong smiled and said, "You can stay if you want."

"Bah, I don't."

"I'm looking for Ping'er, hehe."

Having said that, she went out with a pout.

It's over, and the jealous jar is about to fall to the ground again.

Fortunately, although a few people were jealous, they didn't make trouble and just made some jokes at most.

The main thing is that he holds the bowl of water very evenly.

I'll ask Xiaoxiao to serve me tomorrow.

I’ll ask Ping’er to serve me the day after tomorrow.

I have to say, it’s really tiring.

Fortunately, I don’t have to read or write these useless books or articles anymore.

After bathing, Jia Rong took Qingwen and Xiangling to rest in the house.

The weather was getting warmer and the clothes were thinner. Jia Rong was considerate and untied them all in a few simple moves.

"Master...don't."

"Qingwen is watching."

Xiangling covered her face in shame and dared not look up.

Jia Rong threw aside Xiangling's clothes and said to Qingwen seriously, "Why don't you go to the small bed next to you and come back later."

Qingwen bit her red lips and said shyly, "Master, I am fifteen this year, it's okay."

Jia Rong rubbed Qingwen's head and comforted her, "My dear girl, wait another year. It's still too little now and it will hurt your body."

Qingwen knew that Jia Rong loved her very much, but she still didn't want to leave like that. She stepped forward and raised her hand and said, "Can I serve you like this?"

"Hey...be gentle."

"Um……"

……

Small Buddhist temple in the backyard.

Mrs. Wang, with her hair full of white, held a Buddhist rosary in one hand and struck a wooden fish in the other, kneeling devoutly in front of the Buddha statue.

The wooden fish was struck very skillfully and rhythmically.

"May Buddha bless my son Baoyu to become the top scholar, may Buddha bless my brother to be made a marquis and become a prime minister, may Buddha bless my daughter..."

"Mrs."

Yuanchun's gentle voice suddenly came from outside.

Mrs. Wang paused and stopped tapping her hands.

The daughter came back from the palace, but she did not marry into the royal family.

It’s hateful. It was all because of that old fellow in the East Palace who was causing all the trouble. Otherwise, she would have been the imperial concubine’s mother by now.

"Ma'am, are you there?"

Yuanchun's voice came from outside again.

Mrs. Wang had no expression on her face: "Come in."

"Mrs."

Yuanchun bowed respectfully.

Mrs. Wang said, "I heard that you are going to marry into the Nan'an Palace? That's good, their family is also rich, but you must not forget that you are half a member of the Wang family. From now on, you must always think about the Wang family and Baoyu."

Jia Yuanchun: “…”

It is natural to think about Baoyu.

But, the Wang family?
"By the way, didn't your uncle Wang Ziteng return to Beijing to be awarded a title for his great achievements? Why didn't he come to see me? Is there something wrong?" Mrs. Wang suddenly asked.

Yuanchun thought for a moment and said, "I haven't paid much attention to the affairs of the court. I only heard that my uncle was promoted to the inspector of nine provinces as soon as he returned, and he continued to patrol the nine borders."

Madam Wang frowned and asked in confusion, "Why do you have to patrol the border after being promoted? Can't you let someone else go? Your uncle is old and has been fighting outside for years. I am worried about him."

Yuanchun said cautiously: "It may also be that... the court has no one available right now, and my uncle is very capable, and I look forward to making new contributions."

Mrs. Wang nodded in agreement.

"Yes, your uncle is the best."

"When the time comes, we will be granted titles of nobility and appointed as prime ministers, bringing honor to our family. Sooner or later, our Wang family will surpass the Jia family."

Yuanchun: "..."

"Madam, Rong'er has won the third place in the imperial examination. Grandpa must be very happy now. Tomorrow, I will go and ask Rong'er for help. If he is willing to say a good word in front of Grandpa, Grandpa might let him off..."

"Don't beg that little bastard!"

Before Yuanchun could finish her words, she was interrupted by Mrs. Wang.

Madam Wang gritted her teeth and said angrily, "Do you know how much suffering and grievances I have endured in this small Buddhist temple? I will not leave casually unless the grandson comes to me personally to admit his fault and ask me to leave!"

Yuanchun: "..."

Mrs. Wang: "By the way, I haven't seen Baoyu these few days. Is he studying seriously? You, as his sister, must keep a close eye on him."

"Baoyu, I'm fine."

After all, Yuanchun helped to tell the lie because she was really afraid that Mrs. Wang would worry.

Baoyu has lost interest in studying recently. He goes out every day to hang out with a bunch of bad friends and lives even worse than Huan Lao San.

She had advised him several times, but it was of no use. Now that he was about to get married, he was busy with many things, so how could he take care of Baoyu?

……

The next morning.

Jia Rong got up a little late.

My waist is a little tired.

This won’t do. For the sake of future happiness, I have to exercise more. I practiced martial arts with Xiao Xiao for half an hour and felt that my body had improved greatly.

"Go to the warehouse and get two jars of Shaoxing wine and load them onto the carriage."

Today he was going to pay a visit to his mentor, Lord Wen Ting, who would be the first in the imperial examination.

This is a custom. The gift doesn't have to be too good, as long as the meaning is there.

Xiao Zhuzi drove the car, and Xiao Xiao insisted on following, and had already sat in the carriage in advance.

"Grandpa, I'll go back home and see you later."

"Yes." Jia Rong nodded: "Go ahead, how is the old man?"

Xiao Xiao smiled and said, "That's great. Grandpa's martial arts have improved a lot in the past two years. This year, there are more than a dozen junior brothers and sisters who can go out to learn martial arts. I plan to send them to travel around with the caravan to gain some experience, and then use them again when they come back."

"Okay, you have the final say on these."

With the support of Ningguo Mansion, the caravans controlled by Xiao Xiao are now spread all over the country. In addition to selling salt and coal, they also engage in the escort business. After deducting expenses, they can make a profit of tens of thousands of taels a year.

These profits are actually not important. The main thing is that we can understand the economic conditions in various parts of the country from them and lay the foundation for the young cabinet minister to do things in the future.

……

(End of this chapter)