Dream of the Red Chamber: Rising from Refugees to Sweep Across the Land

Chapter 102 Shorting the Father-in-Law

In his previous life, the Liu family had been poor farmers toiling in the fields for generations. It wasn't until Liu Feng's generation that they finally managed to escape poverty and secure a stable government job. Unexpectedly, he transmigrated and found himself living the life of a wealthy landlord.

Twenty Siamese pork, twenty stewed pork, twenty wild boar, twenty cured domestic pork...

""

Liu Quan held up the account book and loudly recited the list of New Year's goods, while outside the courtyard, servants kept shouting, "Carry it in! All of you, come in!"

It's already December, and there's not a single snowflake in the sky, not even a cloud. For several days in a row, the sun has been shining brightly.

Liu Feng leaned back in the armchair at the bottom of the steps, listening to Liu Quan report the list while looking at the New Year's goods sent from the estate.

As Liu Feng was looking at the New Year's goods, he suddenly caught a glimpse of Li Shoutian coming in from outside the door, and turned his head to look over.

Li Shoutian glanced at the yard piled high with New Year's goods, and walked over with a smile: "Thanks to your blessing, we can all have a prosperous New Year this year."

"Have some people from the two thousand-household stations come over later and take half of these pigs back to distribute among the people below," Liu Feng said, pointing around.

"Thank you for your kindness, sir." Li Shoutian smiled and cupped his hands, then leaned forward slightly. "Sir, a rumor has suddenly spread outside, saying that the lack of snow since the beginning of winter is a warning from heaven..."

'

"Oh?" Liu Feng sat up slightly, intrigued.

"Several areas in the East and South of the city were spreading this rumor at almost the same time, which clearly shows that someone is deliberately spreading rumors behind the scenes."

Li Shoutian glanced discreetly at Liu Feng's expression and lowered his voice, "I'm wondering if someone is deliberately using this strange phenomenon of no snow to smear Lord Lin?"

These words reminded him, and Liu Feng quickly started to think. He immediately had an idea: why not use this rumor to his advantage, remove Lin Ruhai from office, and get him out of the quagmire of Jiangnan?

Thinking of this, Liu Feng waved his hand.

Li Shoutian immediately leaned closer, and after hearing Liu Feng's idea, his eyes widened in surprise.

Liu Feng smiled and waved his hand: "Go ahead."

"Yes." Li Shoutian turned and left, full of doubt.

The thought of shorting his father-in-law's stock filled Liu Feng with joy; even drinking iced plum juice on a sweltering summer day couldn't bring him this pleasure. He leaned back in his chair and hummed a little tune.

Li Shoutian was very efficient. The rumors that were originally vague and unspecified were suddenly all turned against Lin Ruhai, who was impeached because of the Xue Pan case.

The unexpected turn of events caught everyone off guard. Whether it was a Tartar spy spreading rumors to try and restrain the Great Qian Dynasty, or someone taking advantage of the situation...

The Jiangnan civil officials who had been stirring up trouble and trying to take advantage of the chaos were all dumbfounded.

Bad news always travels the fastest, and Lin Daiyu, who was chatting and laughing in Grandmother Jia's room, soon learned of the news.

Today, Grandmother Jia's room was unusually lively. With Liu Feng's guidance, the Xue family successfully delivered the bribe. Having made a fortune without delaying the impeachment of Lin Ruhai, the civil officials no longer objected, turning a blind eye and tacitly allowing the Jia and Wang families to transfer Xue Pan's case to the Shuntian Prefecture for trial.

After so many days, Aunt Xue and her daughter finally had smiles on their faces. The two of them went to Grandmother Jia's room early in the morning to chat and joke, waiting for good news from Jia Zheng.

Instead of good news, Jia Lian brought bad news about Lin Ruhai.

The atmosphere inside the room instantly became heavy, with a strange and oppressive feeling.

Aunt Xue and her daughter lowered their heads silently, seemingly lost in thought.

Madam Xing silently sipped her tea, appearing completely indifferent.

Madam Wang closed her eyes slightly, turning her prayer beads and silently reciting Buddhist scriptures, but a barely suppressed smile lingered at the corners of her mouth.

Grandmother Jia observed everyone's reactions discreetly, then turned to look at Lin Daiyu, who was lost in thought.

Just then, Jia Baoyu, who was sitting next to Grandmother Jia, suddenly stood up and walked towards Lin Daiyu, who was sitting with the three sisters of the Spring Festival.

Xi Ren, who had been keeping a close watch on him, quickly pulled him back, thinking to herself: My little darling, what kind of trouble are you trying to cause now? My brother only has one good leg!

"He who takes a bribe is bound to be obligated to serve it," and since Wang Xifeng had accepted Liu Feng's favor, she naturally had to keep her promise. She went to Jia Baoyu's side and threatened him, "Be careful, or Master will find out and give you a beating."

Jia Baoyu wanted to say that he only wanted to comfort Lin Daiyu, but he was so afraid of being beaten that he swallowed his words and could only turn around and go back to sit down.

Wang Xifeng secretly curled the corners of her lips, secretly planning that she would definitely ask Liu Feng for some benefits when he came.

As Lin Daiyu's emotions gradually calmed down, she suddenly remembered that shameless man and understood what was going on. A faint smile appeared on her lips, and she silently thought, "Bad guy."

Grandmother Jia had been keeping a close eye on Lin Daiyu. At this moment, her eyes flickered slightly, as if she had guessed some of the inside story. She slowly said, "Yu'er, send Granny Wang to the Liu residence to inquire about it."

Lin Daiyu was startled and felt a little uneasy. She secretly glanced at Grandmother Jia, then quickly got up, curtsied, and hurriedly left with Zijuan.

Now Grandmother Jia was even more certain of her guess and couldn't help but wonder to herself: What exactly does Liu Feng want to do?

Just then, Jia Lian came running to deliver the news.

"Grandma, Grandma has good news..."

""

Aunt Xue and her daughter Xue Baochai were the most excited. They quickly stood up and looked at Jia Lian with expectant eyes.

Grandmother Jia: "Is it a happy occasion at your concubine's house?"

Jia Lian nodded and replied, "Just now, the Second Master sent someone to bring back news that the Xue brothers have been sent to the Shuntian Prefecture prison... and the Prince of Beijing has also given his approval."

Grandmother Jia smiled and looked at Aunt Xue: "Now Aunt Xue can finally rest easy."

Aunt Xue dabbed at the corner of her eye with a handkerchief and said with a smile, "It's all thanks to the old lady's good fortune and the helpfulness of the gentlemen in the household that that good-for-nothing brat has been given a glimmer of hope..."

17

"You're too kind, Madam..."

"7

Just as Grandmother Jia was about to continue, she noticed Jia Lian's hesitant expression and quickly asked, "Is there anything else?"

Jia Lian then spoke up: "I just came out of the master's study and ran into the steward from the East Mansion who came to deliver a message. He said that the master of the East Mansion has suddenly fallen ill and is planning to submit a memorial requesting an imperial decree to return to the capital."

Grandmother Jia's heart tightened, and she hurriedly ordered, "Quickly find out what happened!"

"Yes."

Seeing that Grandmother Jia was distracted, everyone took their leave and departed.

Back at her residence, Lin Daiyu sat at her desk, lost in thought, unsure how to write the letter.

She knew that her father, Lin Ruhai, had great ambitions, but as a daughter, she did not want him to get stuck in the quagmire of Jiangnan. She supported Liu Feng from the bottom of her heart, but she could not bear to ruin her father's future.

Liu Feng's previous advice echoed in her ears, and her mother and younger brother also appeared in her mind.

Lin Daiyu closed her eyes briefly, then finally picked up her brush. With a few quick strokes, a boy and a girl appeared on the paper. Both had large heads and small bodies, but unlike Liu Feng's drawing, the little girl in the painting extended a finger and lightly touched the boy's forehead, as if scolding him…

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