The Red Mansion Big Liar.

Chapter 133 Delay
The Xue family was also in a difficult situation after receiving the invitation.

In the small courtyard in the northeast, Aunt Xue sighed.

"Alas! I'm afraid I can't hide from this now."

"I advised mom at the beginning that even though we have more than ten thousand taels of silver a year, we still have that ten percent of sugar. Even if we have to pay for the labor and the store, it is limited. Why should we worry about it?"

Xue Baochai went on to advise, "It's not too late now. Take advantage of this birthday celebration to make up for the arrears. Just say that there are too many things going on in the East Palace and it's not good to disturb them because of such a small matter. And with my aunt and the others around, it can be covered up."

"That's easy for you to say. Among the eight imperial merchants, our family got the least. Not only did it all go to others, but we also had to pay for it. Ten thousand silver coins a year is not much, but what about ten years?"

Although she felt that she had suffered a loss and was in the right, Aunt Xue also knew that she could not afford to offend Zhang Yunyi.

However, Wang Ziteng and Mrs. Wang, the brother and sister, were promoted to higher positions and tried to climb up the social ladder, and their own family's fortunes also rose with the tide.

I would be unwilling to endure such a loss in silence.

Xue Baochai's face was as calm as ever. She only frowned slightly and said, "My daughter thinks that as long as we can keep the title of the imperial merchant, it is worth spending more than ten thousand taels a year."

"I thought so at first, but this Yi Ge'er is really greedy. This time he asked for 40% of the profit from caustic soda. That 40% profit is at least 50,000 taels of silver a year. Isn't this cutting my flesh?"

She was so emotional that her body was shaking and rising and falling.

Xue Baochai glanced at it and thought to herself, if it could really be reduced a little and not be so conspicuous, that would be great...

Thinking of this, she quickly spat inwardly, apologized to Aunt Xue in her heart, and waved away the disrespectful thoughts.

Then he advised: "This business is exclusively provided by Tiangongyuan. If Brother Yi leaves our family, we can still find someone else to cooperate with, but if he leaves, our family will not even be able to make that 30%..."

"What you said is indeed reasonable, but he is just a young boy who has just entered the officialdom. How can he understand the ins and outs here?"

Aunt Xue said disapprovingly, "Look, last time we asked Brother Zhen's daughter-in-law to deliver a message, but there has been no response since then. They haven't mentioned the revenue for the past three months, which shows that they are guilty..."

Even if Zhang Yunyi didn't come to ask for it, as long as Youshi came, Aunt Xue wouldn't dare to detain her.

But three months passed in a flash and there was no news, which gave her confidence.

Xue Baochai was aware of the situation she described, but she had another consideration.

"My daughter heard that last time my uncle invited him alone and had dinner in my aunt's yard. He didn't even let the servants get close to him. I don't know what important matter they discussed. If this causes unhappiness between the two families, my aunt will lose face. Isn't it a case of losing the big picture for the small?"

"What about this? Last time I heard your aunt complain that your uncle invited him but he refused in every possible way and sounded quite unhappy. Why did you invite him alone again?"

"Jinchuan in my aunt's room has a figure similar to my daughter's, so my daughter gave her two old clothes that she didn't wear. What she said during the conversation must be true..."

At this point, Xue Baochai hesitated for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "It's just that... no one was there to see him when we were having dinner. I don't know what happened. It seems that my uncle didn't see him off, but left on his own. He hasn't spoken to my aunt for several days."

"What is the reason for this?"

Aunt Xue fell into deep thought. After a long while, she looked up at Baochai and said, "Could it be that you offended your uncle and ended up parting on bad terms?"

"My daughter doesn't know either. If he really offended my uncle, there's no reason for him to vent his anger on my aunt, right?"

She thought for a moment and said thoughtfully, "However, I heard that my uncle originally planned to invite him to Aunt Zhao's room. Maybe because of this, he had a quarrel with my aunt."

"We have to be careful about this matter. If he really offends your uncle, we can't be so tactful." Aunt Xue stood up and said, "I'll go ask your aunt right away."

"Don't worry, mother!" Xue Baochai hurriedly stopped her and said, "Please don't ask about what happened that day!"

"Then what are you asking?" Aunt Xue turned and looked at her daughter.

"Mom is confused, isn't this already available?"

She shook her head, pointed at the invitation on the table, and said with a smile: "Mom, just say that if you are not sure what the rules should be for honoring the old master's birthday, just ask Aunt's attitude."

"What does this have to do with it?" Aunt Xue asked in confusion.

Xue Baochai said calmly, "The situation in the East Palace is like this now, and it's a birthday party. It's not worth it for Aunt to mobilize so many people. If we make it a serious matter, it will only be for the sake of Brother Yi's face. We can also take the opportunity of celebrating the birthday to muddle through the matter."

"Yes, yes, yes! You still have a way!"

Aunt Xue exclaimed in admiration, then said, "What if your aunt is just going through the motions? What should we do then?"

Xue Baochai urged, "Let's stop guessing. Mom will go ask first, and we can discuss it when she comes back."

Today, the Xue family is no longer in Lixiangyuan, but is only a few steps away from Rongxitang.

In just a stick of incense's time, Aunt Xue came back.

I informed my daughter of the details of the inquiry.

"According to reason, with the current situation of the East Mansion, and following the rules of the previous year, it is obvious that they are intending to promote her, but she just doesn't want to go. What's the reason?"

Xue Baochai was also puzzled. She frowned and pondered for a long time before she slowly said, "I can't guess. Maybe he really offended my uncle, but I don't want the relationship to become too strained... However, there is a ready-made solution that can help slow things down for now."

Aunt Xue was in a dilemma after hearing the first half of her sentence. She didn't expect that there was actually a way to deal with it. She hurriedly urged, "Tell me quickly!"

"Since Auntie is unwilling to go, it must be because of Uncle's dinner last time. So, we can't show it too much, lest Auntie be upset. Mother can stay at home with her, and just ask Brother to follow the example of last year and bring gifts."

"Your brother?" Aunt Xue hesitated.

Xue Baochai hurriedly explained, "Everyone in the mansion knows that my brother doesn't manage things, and Brother Yi won't ask him for business matters."

"I'm afraid your brother might say something rude and piss people off!"

"Mom, you're worrying too much. When my brother found Xiangling's mother last time, he said that he had wrongly blamed Brother Yi. It shouldn't lead to any trouble."

She paused and continued, "Besides, my brother has always been on good terms with Big Brother Zhen. How could he not go to the East Palace for this event? Even if there is really something unpleasant, with Big Brother Zhen mediating, it won't end badly."

Seeing that Aunt Xue was still hesitating, Baochai said, "Even if Brother Yi really uses the caustic soda business to make up for the deficit of the East Palace, it also shows that he values ​​friendship and loyalty. If we can take this opportunity to let Brother Yi become friends with him, he will be embarrassed to target our family again in the future."

"Well! Then do as you say!"

Now Aunt Xue had no more hesitation.

……

(End of this chapter)