The Red Mansion

Chapter 17: Departure for Beijing (Part 2)

"Everyone, get up." Jiang Nian asked Feng and Xiangling to stand up, then looked at Qiu Fu and said, "Tell us in detail about your search."

Qiu Fu reported concisely and clearly, "According to Master's instructions, we arrived in Daru Prefecture and found the Feng family. We met Sister Feng and her father, Feng Su. However, Miss Xiangling's father ran away from home several years ago, and his whereabouts are still unknown. I explained Miss Xiangling's situation to Sister Feng and Feng Su, and I will bring Sister Feng to Jiangning to reunite with Miss Xiangling and her daughter."

"But Feng Su is so greedy and hateful. He even said we were trying to kidnap Mrs. Feng, and that Miss Xiangling was his granddaughter, who was abducted by a kidnapper. We bought Miss Xiangling, so the money should be given to him, not the kidnapper... He went on and on, all trying to extort money from us, and he even asked for an exorbitant amount of five hundred taels."

"Master, you're such a foresighted person. You could even predict this might happen, so you asked me to bring fifty taels of gold. I followed your instructions and didn't give all fifty taels away easily. I negotiated with Feng Su, saying I only had twenty taels of gold and would give it to him. If he didn't want to, we'd leave and he wouldn't get a single tael of silver. Plus, Sister Feng started arguing with Feng Su, saying she'd run away if he didn't let her go, so Feng Su reluctantly agreed. So, I still have thirty taels of gold left."

After saying that, Qiu Fu took out a package and opened it carefully. Inside was thirty taels of yellow gold. He held the package in both hands and handed it respectfully to Jiang Nian.

According to the description of Feng Su in the original novel, Jiang Nian anticipated that Feng Su might take the opportunity to blackmail Qiu Fu and He Zhong when they went to look for Feng, so he asked Qiu Fu and He Zhong to bring fifty taels of gold as a backup.

According to the gold-silver exchange rate of that era, fifty taels of gold was equal to five hundred taels of silver.

The reason for choosing to carry gold instead of silver is that five hundred taels of silver weighs more than thirty catties, which is inconvenient to carry, while fifty taels of gold weighs only more than three catties.

At this moment, Jiang Nian took the package, took out two ten-liang gold ingots from it, and handed them to Qiu Fu: "You have done a good job on this mission. Moreover, I will leave for Beijing the day after tomorrow, and you and your wife will stay to guard this house. I hope you will guard it carefully and make no mistakes. These twenty liang of gold are a reward for you and your wife."

Qiu Fu's face lit up with joy, and he quickly bowed, his tone filled with gratitude and solemnity: "Thank you for your gift, sir! Don't worry, my husband and I will do our best to protect your house."

Jiang Nian nodded slightly, knowing that Qiu Fu was a loyal man and was reliable in his work.

At this time, He Yun asked, "Master, have you decided to leave for Beijing the day after tomorrow?"

Jiang Nian looked at He Yun, a smile on his face, and said calmly, "Now that we have found Xiangling's mother, we shouldn't delay any longer."

Xiangling stood aside, her eyes still wet, tears trembling slightly on her eyelashes.

She raised her tearful eyes and gazed at Jiang Nian, her heart filled with gratitude and relief. She sighed to herself, "I am truly blessed to be able to follow Master. Master is both civil and military, rich and noble, and treats me very well. Now he has even found my mother for me, allowing us to be reunited. From now on, I will serve Master with all my heart and soul to repay his kindness."

……

……

You can go to Beijing from Jiangning by land or by water, and the water route is more convenient than the land route.

However, Jiangning is not a city along the Grand Canal. To reach Beijing by water from Jiangning, one needs to pass through Dashengyi, Longjiangyi, Jiangdongyi, Longtanyi and other water stations to reach Jingkouyi in Zhenjiang Prefecture. Only after arriving at Jingkouyi can one go north along the Grand Canal.

The next day, to be exact, was the eighth day of February.

The weather is good, the sky is clear and blue today, which is suitable for leaving home by boat.

The Jiangning wharf is bustling with masts, sails and crowds of people, creating a prosperous scene.

The steps paved with bluestone slabs lead directly to the river surface. Because they are soaked by river water all year round, they appear slippery and ancient, and moss grows between the cracks in the stones.

There is a wooden pier on the shore, and many thick hemp ropes firmly tie many large and small boats. The large and small boats sway in the waves of the river, as if whispering the story of a long journey.

Behind the dock, warehouses and shops are lined up one after another. Under the tung oil cloth sheds, sacks and bamboo baskets are piled up like mountains. The air is mixed with the smell of rice, tea, pickled goods and other things.

The porters carried bags on their shoulders and walked hurriedly, sweating profusely; the vendors shouted loudly, trying to attract customers in various ways.

Many people have just arrived in Jiangning.

Many people are also bidding farewell to Jiangning.

Aunt Xue, Xue Pan, and Xue Baochai stepped onto the deck, preparing for a long journey.

Xue Jin and Xue Ke stood at the dock, waving goodbye.

Xue Baochai walked lightly, her skirts fluttering in the breeze. She entered the cabin and sat by the window. Her gaze passed through the window, gazing blankly at Jiangning outside. Her heart was in turmoil, and her thoughts were in turmoil. She sighed to herself: "After leaving today, when will I return? Perhaps I will never set foot on this land again in this lifetime." She had come to the capital this time, ready to marry in the capital...

While Xue Baochai was stunned, the large ship hired by the Xue family had already set sail, and its hull broke through the surface of the river.

The river flows slowly and the boat moves slowly. Xue Baochai's eyes are still looking at Jiangning through the window.

The big ship went farther and farther away, and the outline of the dock disappeared.

……

……

The next day was the ninth day of the second month.

Today is also a sunny day with clear blue sky, which is also suitable for leaving home by boat.

Jiang Nian arrived at the dock in Jiangning, accompanied by He Yun, Meng, He Zhong, Qi'er, Qin'er, Xiangling, Meng Xiong, Dong Liang's family of four, and Feng.

Feng was willing to follow Jiang Nian and was even willing to sell herself into slavery to show her loyalty.

However, Jiang Nian did not let her become a slave, but hired her to stay.

Although Feng had only been there for two days, Jiang Nian had already noticed that she was a virtuous woman with a deep understanding of etiquette and morality.

At this time, Jiang Nian stood on the deck with his hands behind his back. The river breeze blew the strands of black hair in front of his forehead and lifted the corners of his wide clothes.

He gazed at Jiangning with deep eyes, muttering to himself, "If nothing unexpected happens, Xue Baochai and her family will go to Beijing. I just don't know when. Miss Bao, let's meet again in Beijing!"

The Xue family didn't know that he was leaving for Beijing today.

He also didn't know that the Xue family had already left for Beijing yesterday.

Only one day apart.

It seemed like fate played a little joke on me.

However, the journey from Jiangning to Beijing is long and time-consuming. Perhaps they will meet on the way?

Jiang Nian withdrew his gaze and thoughts, turned around and walked into the cabin.

Soon, the large ship hired by the Jiang family slowly set sail and left the dock.

The boat sailed away.

The endless river seems to carry the thoughts of countless people as it flows into the distance.

Jiang Nian sat by the window, gazing at the river outside.

The water is vast and the sky is boundless, and my heart follows the waves.

Although the journey is long, my ambition is higher than the mountains.

The wind blows and thousands of sails compete, the stars hang low for thousands of miles.

Why fear the dangers ahead, when your heroic spirit will soar to the sky?

(End of this chapter)