The Red Mansion

Chapter 4 Teeth
The next morning, He Yun saw Ren Pijiang off and then went to find Wang Dian.

Wang Dian was a wealthy businessman in Jiangning. He mainly ran a pawnshop business and was also a private pawnbroker.

He Yun and Wang Dian are old acquaintances. Jiang Nian's family's Qiu Fu and his wife, Qi'er, and Qin'er were all bought by He Yun from Wang Dian. Facts have proved that these servants are not bad people.

Wang Dian lived on the shores of Xuanwu Lake in the outer city of Jiangning, not far from Jiang Nian's home in the inner city.

He Yun came to the shore of Xuanwu Lake and walked to the gate of a house.

The two servants guarding the gate were sitting on the stone steps and chatting. When they saw He Yun coming, they stood up at the same time and walked forward to greet him politely.

A servant said, "Master He is here."

Another servant said, "I pay my respects to Master He."

He Yun said, "I'm looking for your master. I wonder if he's home right now?"

A servant said, "Our master is at home. Master He has arrived just in time."

Another servant said, "Master He, please go inside and wait for a moment. I will go and report to our master."

He Yun walked into the courtyard and waited for a while before seeing Wang Dian approaching in person.

Wang Dian was over fifty years old, not a big man, not tall. He wore a pair of glasses, had two wisps of mustache, a Liuhe Yitong hat on his head, a long robe, and cloth shoes with thousand-layer soles. He looked more like a teacher than a businessman.

Wang Dian bowed to He Yun and said with a smile, "Brother He, you are a rare guest. I have waited for you for a long time."

Wang Dian was older than He Yun, but he respectfully called He Yun "brother".

He Yun said, "I am sorry for disturbing you."

Wang Dian smiled and said, "Brother Congratulations, how could I bother you? Please follow me to the study for tea."

The two walked towards the study together, and on the way He Yun heard bursts of chirping birds.

Because Wang Dian liked to keep birds, the corridor outside his study was hung with various parrots, thrushes and other birds.

After entering the study, Wang Dian ordered the maid to pour He Yun a cup of good tea, and then asked, "I wonder what brings you to my humble abode today, Brother He?"

Wang Dian knew that He Yun was the kind of person who would never come to the temple unless there was something important.

He Yun got straight to the point: "I've come here today to buy six servants from Master Wang. I need a cook, someone young and strong, and a pretty maid to serve as the head maid for my Master Nian. All six servants must be of good character and willing to go to the capital with me. The head maid must also be well-trained."

Wang Dian was naturally pleased to see business coming to him. He smiled and said, "My business has many slaves, but it takes a lot of effort to meet Brother He's request. If someone else came to buy, I might be perfunctory. But since it's Brother He who's coming to buy, I dare not neglect him in the slightest. Brother He, please give me five days. In five days, I will send you six slaves that satisfy you."

He Yun shook his head: "I can't wait any longer. It would be best if it is delivered today or tomorrow, because the day after tomorrow I will be accompanying Master Nian to move to the capital."

Wang Dian was surprised. "Why are you so anxious? I'd like to ask, Nian Ye and Brother He have always lived in Jiangning. Why did you move to the capital so suddenly?"

He Yun said, "There is a reason, but please forgive me for not being able to explain it clearly."

Wang Dian nodded and smiled, "I am sorry for being so presumptuous."

In fact, Wang Dian knew that Jiang Xuelian, Jiang Nian and housekeeper He Yun were all mysterious.

Jiang Xuelian gave birth to a son, but no one knew who his father was, not even her own family.

Jiang Xuelian's family wasn't wealthy, and Jiang Xuelian and her son, Jiang Nian, had no land or property, yet they lived a comfortable life. He Yun, the housekeeper, was a capable man, both civil and military, and possessed an impressive network of connections.

Nine years ago, the man of the Zhen family in Jiangning took a fancy to Jiang Xuelian and wanted to take her away by force. He Yun actually asked Fang Kesun, the then governor of Jiangning, to help resolve the crisis.

Fang Kexun was transferred six years ago, and Tang Jina took over as the governor of Jiangning. He Yun was also acquainted with Tang Jina. After Fang Kexun, Tang Jina became He Yun's backer.

Wang Dian guessed that Jiang Nian was most likely the illegitimate son of a nobleman.

Therefore, Wang Dian was particularly respectful to He Yun.

At this moment, Wang Dian said respectfully, "Okay, since Brother He is so anxious, I will make your request my top priority and do my best to send you a servant that satisfies your needs within the next two days."

He thought to himself, "I have done a very good job in this matter. I can establish good relations with Jiang Nian and He Yun again. My eldest son Zhen'er is now serving in the capital. I can let Zhen'er get close to them."

He Yun nodded, said goodbye and left.

……

……

In the morning, Wang Dian was playing with a parrot with colorful feathers, lively eyes and graceful posture in his study. In front of him stood a young man who was wearing a light fur coat, a precious belt, beautiful clothes and a gorgeous crown, but he was not handsome. This young man was Wang Dian's son Wang Maoan.

Wang Dian had six sons, three of whom died, leaving three.

Among his three living sons, Wang Dian loved his eldest son Wang Maozhen the most.

Wang Maozhen was a man of strong physique. He studied and practiced martial arts since he was young. He passed the military examination and became a third-class military scholar. He first served as a captain of the Tongzhou Camp in the capital, and now he is a fifth-rank garrison commander of the Tongzhou Camp.

Wang Maoan is Wang Dian's third son, born to his wife, and a brother of Wang Maozhen. This son is neither good at literature nor martial arts, and now he is managing the family's dental business.

Wang Maoan said respectfully to Wang Dian, "Father, besides Meng Xiong, I have carefully selected four servants, a family of four, all of good character, who are willing to go with me to the capital."

Wang Maoan introduced the family of four in detail, then said, "It's just that our pawnshop can't afford a good maid right now. Although we have two pretty ones, one is a bit old, already sixteen, and the other is timid and sickly. Which one would you like to choose to send to Mr. He?"

Wang Dian said sternly, "I have clearly instructed you that this matter is of utmost importance and must be completed. You must choose a good maid. An old, weak, or sickly maid will not do."

Wang Maoan said, "There is a way. Gu Bozi has a maid who is very pretty, well-educated and well-mannered. We can get this girl here, but..."

He stopped talking before he finished speaking.

Wang Dian stared at Wang Maoan: "Just what?"

Wang Maoan continued respectfully, "However, this girl is considered a treasure by Gu Bozi, who hopes to make a fortune by selling her. He has asked for a very high price, eight hundred taels of silver."

Twenty taels of silver is enough for an ordinary family's expenses for several people in a year.

Wang Dian had been in the pawnbroking business for many years and had sold many maids, but it was rare for him to sell them for eight hundred taels of silver.

Wang Dian sneered, "What an arrogant Gu Bozi! He's a kidnapper, and he dared to sell this girl he kidnapped from who knows where for eight hundred taels of silver."

Wang Maoan said, "Father is absolutely right. But I've already seen that girl. She's truly very pretty. She was abducted from Suzhou by Gu Bozi seven years ago. He's taken good care of her over the past seven years. She's also well-educated and well-mannered."

Wang Dian paused and said, "Send Gu Lame here immediately, and bring that girl here so I can see for myself."

(End of this chapter)