The Red Mansion

Chapter 8: Boating on Qinhuai River, First Meeting with Baochai

Fortunately, the next day was a sunny day.

In the morning, the warm sun was shining brightly and the sky was clear, blue and deep.

The sunlight is like fine golden silk, spreading on the surface of the Qinhuai River, interweaving with the river water to form a flowing picture, with rippling green waves and sparkling water, which is so beautiful that it is breathtaking.

The willow trees by the river are like smoke, and the willow branches are soft and swaying in the wind, as if they are the most delicate brushstrokes of nature.

Some boats are cruising on the Qinhuai River, shuttling through the waves, some fast, some slow.

Jiang Nian was standing on the deck of one of the cruise ships. His gaze was deep and focused, as if he wanted to take in the beautiful scenery in front of him. The river breeze blew through his hair, bringing a hint of coolness, but it could not blow away his intoxication and enjoyment.

Xiangling stood behind Jiang Nian.

The master and servant seemed to have merged into the scenery of Qinhuai River and become a part of the scenery.

He Yun and Meng were sitting opposite each other in the cabin. The couple were enjoying tea, snacks and dim sum while admiring the scenery through the window. They worked loyally and hard every day, and it was rare for them to have such leisure time.

"Uncle, the scenery of the Qinhuai River is so beautiful, like a painting."

Xiangling praised sincerely, her voice clear and pleasant, her excitement and joy beyond words.

It is strange to say that Xiangling was kidnapped when she was young and was abused by the kidnapper for seven years, but her personality now is positive and optimistic.

She had only been following Jiang Nian for a few days, and seeing that Jiang Nian treated her very well, she had already opened her heart and shown a positive and optimistic attitude. She seemed like a completely different person from the reserved and shy Suzhou girl who had just arrived a few days ago.

At this time, a gorgeous cruise ship slowly rowed towards the cruise ship where Jiang Nian was.

Two girls were sitting opposite each other by the window in the cabin of this gorgeous cruise ship.

One of them was surnamed Xue and named Baochai. She was not yet of marriageable age, but she was very pretty, with lips that were red without any makeup, eyebrows that were green without any eyebrow paint, fair skin and bones, and she was dignified and elegant, wearing simple and elegant clothes.

The other one also has the surname Xue and is named Baoqin. She is Xue Baochai's cousin. Although she is a few years younger than Xue Baochai, it can be seen that she is more beautiful than Xue Baochai. Her face is pure and elegant, as if she has condensed the spiritual energy between heaven and earth, making people unforgettable at first sight.

On the deck of the gorgeous cruise ship stood a young man. Although he was not handsome, he was above average in appearance. He was just a little fat, and he was wearing gorgeous clothes, which showed his wealth.

His name is Xue Pan, and he is Xue Baochai's brother and Xue Baoqin's cousin.

At this moment, on the Qinhuai River, the Xue family's cruise ship intersected with the cruise ship where Jiang Nian was.

Just as the two boats were passing each other, Jiang Nian, who was standing on the deck, saw Xue Baochai and Xue Baoqin in the windows of the Xue family's cruise ship opposite, and the two girls also saw him.

Jiang Nian and Xue Baochai looked at each other across the boat. He looked at her with admiration and thought to himself, "I wonder whose daughter she is, but her appearance is very much in line with my aesthetic. She has a face that represents peace and prosperity."

Xue Baochai quickly turned her head to avoid Jiang Nian's gaze.

In this era, girls from wealthy families would not easily meet men outside their family, and Xue Baochai was a dignified person.

Then, Jiang Nian saw Xue Pan standing on the deck of the Xue family's cruise ship, and Xue Pan also saw him and Xiang Ling.

"Xue Pan!"

This name suddenly popped up in Jiang Nian's mind.

The Xue family is a well-known and prestigious family in Jiangning. They are descendants of Xue Gong, a servant of Ziwei. They are very wealthy. The saying "In a good year, there is heavy snow, pearls are plentiful, and gold is as abundant as iron" refers to the Xue family.

Xue Pan was nicknamed "Dai Ba Wang" because of his unruly nature. He was unruly and would do anything for a living. He spent money like dirt and was a well-known figure in Jiangning City.

Jiang Nian could recognize Xue Pan now because the original owner had seen Xue Pan before.

"Today I unexpectedly met Xue Pan on the Qinhuai River. So it seems that the girl in the window who just stared at me was most likely Xue Baochai."

Jiang Nian speculated in his heart and turned to look back at the window of the Xue family's cruise ship.

Xue Pan had also seen the original owner, but he could not remember the original owner's name.

At this moment, Xue Pan's eyes lit up, not because he saw Jiang Nian, but because he saw Xiangling dressed as a maid. He thought this maid was extremely pretty and very much in line with his aesthetic taste.

"Stop the boat! Stop the boat quickly!" Xue Pan shouted to his boatman anxiously, and then shouted to Jiang Nian, "Brother, stop the boat quickly, I have something urgent to discuss with you." Jiang Nian was confused, but he still ordered the cruise ship he was on to stop. He was very interested in the Xue family, especially Xue Baochai.

"Pan'er, why did you stop the boat? What do you want?"

Aunt Xue, Xue Pan's mother, was sitting in the cabin with Xue Baochai and Xue Baoqin. Suddenly, she heard Xue Pan shouting outside the cabin to stop the boat. She hurriedly got up and went to the cabin door and asked with concern.

"Mom, I met a friend and I have something to discuss with him."

Xue Pan turned and smiled at Aunt Xue.

Aunt Xue didn't suspect anything.

Xue Baochai immediately thought of the boy who had just looked at her through the window.

She looked through the window at the cruise ship where Jiang Nian was...

Both cruise ships were parked on the river, with the sparkling water flowing between them, but the two ships were more than ten meters apart.

Xue Pan hurriedly ordered his boatman to row the Xue family's cruise ship backwards, approaching the cruise ship where Jiang Nian was, until the two boats were only a few feet apart, and he and Jiang Nian met face to face across the boat.

Jiang Nian looked calm, gazing at Xue Pan with deep eyes.

Xue Pan asked loudly, "Brother, you look familiar. I think we've met before. What's your name?"

Jiang Nian said calmly, "We have indeed met before, but I am not from a prominent family, so my name is not worth mentioning. I wonder what Brother Xue can help you with?"

"Not from a prominent family? Well, then things will be easier."

Xue Pan thought to himself, his lips slightly raised with a hint of pride.

He pointed at Xiangling behind Jiang Nian and asked with a smile, "Is this girl your maid?"

Jiang Nian nodded and thought to himself, "I stole Xue Pan's Xiangling by chance, and today I happened to meet Xue Pan on the Qinhuai River again. This Xue Pan must have taken a fancy to Xiangling!"

As expected, Xue Pan's true colors were immediately exposed. He chuckled and said to Jiang Nian, "I've been looking for a maid recently. I happened to meet yours today and I'm very fond of her. I fell in love with her at first sight. Sell her to me. Just tell me how much you want, even eight hundred or a thousand taels is fine."

Jiang Nian sneered, he was indeed the Dai Ba Wang, his reputation was well-deserved!

Xue Pan spoke quite loudly, and Aunt Xue, Xue Baochai, and Xue Baoqin were all paying attention to the situation outside the cabin and heard it.

Aunt Xue spat, "I thought he was up to something serious, but he actually fell in love with someone else's maid and even asked to buy her in person."

Xue Baochai sighed softly, a look of helplessness on her face: "Brother is being naughty again."

Jiang Nian's voice could be heard from outside the cabin, responding to Xue Pan: "Just now I saw a dignified and elegant girl in your cabin. Who is she?"

Xue Pan said frankly: "There are two girls in my cabin, one is my sister, and the other is younger, my cousin."

Jiang Nian said, "I like your sister very much. I fell in love with her at first sight. You can sell her to me. Just tell me how much silver you want, even two thousand taels will do."

Xue Pan: "..."

Aunt Xue: "..."

Xue Baochai: “…”

Xue Baoqin: “…”

At this moment, on the Xue family cruise ship, Xue Pan outside the cabin and Aunt Xue, Xue Baochai, and Xue Baoqin inside the cabin were all stunned.

The water of Qinhuai River and the wind on the river seemed to have suddenly stopped because of this sudden farce...

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(End of this chapter)