Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 68 Ning Mansion Old House
……

"Brother Rong, please!"

Xue Ke warmly invited Jia Rong into his home.

The house of the second branch of the Xue family is not far from the old house of the Xue family. It is a mansion with four courtyards, and a straight corridor in the front yard leads directly to the gate.

At this time, the door was open, and a dozen housekeepers and servants stood in a row at the door, bowing cautiously to greet him. In fact, they were all secretly sizing up this top-level official from the capital.

The disaster that befell the eldest branch of the Xue family some time ago inevitably made many people think that the Xue family was doomed. As a result, the Xue family's assets shrunk by almost 20% in just a few months.

Naturally, the second branch also suffered misfortune. Several cooperating merchants chose to stand by and watch, and some even prepared to take advantage of the Xue family's decline to take a bite.

To make matters worse, Xue Li's health was not good, and it was unknown how long he could hold on. Under such circumstances, the servants in the family were naturally in a panic, and many even became disloyal after seeing their master's family in decline.

Xue Li and his son Xue Ke were helpless in dealing with the issue.

now.

With Jia Rong's arrival, Xue Ke felt that his waist straightened a lot when he walked. He glanced at the housekeeper at the door and said, "This is my elder brother Rong. Find a few smart ones to follow and serve him!"

"Yes."

The housekeeper nodded in agreement.

"Brother Rong, come this way." Xue Ke led Jia Rong inside and said with a smile, "My father caught a cold a few years ago and has been bedridden and taking medicine ever since. Today, after hearing that you are here, he has recovered a lot and can sit up now."

Jia Rong smiled and said, "That's really cause for celebration."

The two of them entered the inner house while talking.

In Xue Li's room.

The room was filled with incense.

Although the air was not very fresh, it did not have the strong herbal smell that Jia Rong had imagined.

An old man with a somewhat pale face was sitting upright on it, and next to him stood a bright and pretty girl who was wearing a lilac flowered silk skirt, with a slim figure and a pretty face.

Jia Rong stepped forward and bowed as a junior.

Xue Li hurriedly ordered Xue Ke to help him up, and said with a smile: "Rong'er, there's no need to be polite. Now that you're here, we're one family now."

"Baoqin, come meet your elder brother Rong."

Baoqin hurried forward and bowed.

"Meet Brother Rong."

"Sister Xue."

"Haha, good!" Xue Li said with a happy smile, "Brother Rong, please sit down."

Jia Rong took out a piece of letter and handed it over, saying with a smile, "This is a handwritten letter from my grandfather."

Xue Li quickly took it and started reading it impatiently.

After a while, Xue Li was already in tears.

"My Lord, you still remember me!"

Jia Rong didn't read the letter, and didn't know what was written in it that moved the second master of the Xue family so much.

I can only sigh in my heart: The master is really good at winning people's hearts!
After a while, Xue Li gradually recovered and sighed with a smile: "I am ashamed that I still lost my composure at such an old age."

Jia Rong said seriously: "This old man is really kind."

"Ahem." Xue Li coughed and sighed, "I still remember the first time I went to Shenjing... Well, it's all old news, so I won't talk about it."

"I am in such a bad shape that I can't accompany you young people anymore. Tadpole will go with your brother Rong to have a drink."

Jia Rong saw that Xue Li was gritting his teeth and insisting on sitting here to talk, so he stood up and said with a smile: "Old man, please take a rest. Let's go outside to have a drink."

Xue Li smiled and said, "Go ahead, just treat this place as your home, and don't be polite."

"Brother Rong, please."

"..."

After the two of them left, Baoqin escorted Xue Li into the inner room and said with a smile, "Father, you were crying just now."

Xue Li lay on the sickbed and said with a wry smile: "Father doesn't want to cry either, but I have to cry."

"My few tears are worth it if they can earn me some friendship with the Ning Mansion."

Xue Baoqin blinked to show that she didn't understand.

Xue Li smiled and said, "You are a girl, and you have an older brother. You don't need to understand these things. You will just be able to take care of your husband and children in the future."

Xue Baoqin stamped her feet and said shyly, "Daddy, what are you talking about? If you keep saying that, I won't bring you medicine."

Xue Li begged for mercy: "Daddy is wrong. Qin'er is still young and needs to stay with daddy for a few more years. Let those young talents wait impatiently! Haha."

……

outside.

Xue Ke prepared a table full of delicious food and two pots of Shaoxing wine. "Brother Rong, please wait a moment. I have invited two prostitutes from Minglou to sing at home. They should be here soon." Xue Ke kept looking at the door, seeming a little anxious.

Jia Rong sat on the chair and chuckled, "You can do this too?"

Xue Ke smiled and said, "Normally, I don't. Today, Brother Rong is here. I'm happy."

Don’t all the young men from the capital like this when they come here?
He specially spent a lot of money to get someone to buy it...

"No need." Jia Rong waved his hand and said seriously, "We brothers are here to discuss serious matters. It would be inconvenient if outsiders were here. Don't ask them to come."

Xue Ke understood immediately.

"I understand, little brother."

"Call them over in the evening."

Jia Rong: “…”

You know a lot of things!
"Really, no need. I plan to go back to the Ning Mansion tonight to take a look."

Xue Ke nodded to show that he understood.

This means that he should send the person to the old house of Ning Mansion.

"Brother Rong, wait a moment. I will go and arrange it."

"Okay." Jia Rong said seriously, "Remember not to do these things in the future."

Xue Ke nodded.

"I know!"

After a while, Xue Ke came back and said with a smile, "Don't worry, Brother Rong, everything has been arranged."

"Okay, let's talk business while we eat."

"Brother Rong, please!"

"please……"

They both drank a full glass.

……

As the sun sets, Jia Rong walks out of the gate of the second house of the Xue family, with Xue Ke following behind him, smiling and seeing him off.

The two had a very pleasant conversation today.

"Brother Rong, I will follow your instructions and prepare to go to Beijing with my younger sister."

"Ah."

Jia Rong nodded, patted Xue Ke on the shoulder and said with a smile: "We will set off for Beijing in mid-June at the latest. Grandpa has already made arrangements with the Ministry of Revenue, so we can directly collect the documents when the time comes."

"Do your best. From now on, you will be the hope and pillar of the Xue family. The Xue family needs you to support it."

Xue Ke was a little excited for a moment.

"Brother Rong, rest assured, I will definitely get things done."

"I believe you."

Xue Ke is a hundred times better than Xue Pan in both ability and character. Jia Rong fully believes that Xue Ke will lead the Xue family to a bright future...

The prerequisite is that Ningguo Mansion remains standing.

……

Unlike in Shenjing, the old houses of the four major families in Jinling are almost connected together. The Xue family is at the southernmost, and to the north are the Wang family, the Shi family, and the Jia family.

The Jia family's residence here is also divided into the Ningguo and Rongguo mansions, and there is also a Ningrong Street. On the east side is the Ningguo mansion of the eldest branch, and on the west side is the Rongguo mansion. The two mansions are connected, occupying most of the street. Their grandeur is far beyond the reach of the Shi, Wang, and Xue families in the south.

At this time, the news that Ningguo Mansion's eldest grandson Jia Rong had come to Jinling had spread here, and the entire Ningguo Mansion became lively. The servants were busy cleaning everywhere, the maids were busy tidying up the halls and houses, and Jiao Da led the guards on patrol.

Xiao Xiao...

He frowned at the two women in the room.

None of the Xue family members are good people!

"Can you two boil water?"

The two prostitutes looked at each other.

"Sister, we don't know how to boil water."

Xiao Xiao smiled gently.

"No, it's okay."

“You can learn it.”

……

(End of this chapter)