The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Chapter 14: Punishment and Grace
"Old man, how many melons are there in total in your field?"

Looking at the young man who brought out the teapot and poured tea for them, and at the old man who picked fresh melons from the field and was busy cutting them for food, Jia Lian suddenly asked.

Although the old man didn't understand why Jia Lian asked such a question, he still replied, "It's about 1 catties."

Hardworking farmers have very accurate judgments about the harvest in the field.

Jia Lian then said: "Well, if the old man is willing, I'll buy [-] catties for four Wen a catty from the old man."

As soon as he said this, the old man didn't react, so Laiwang exploded first: "Why did the second master buy so much?"

Jia Lian ignored him.

This is actually the reason why Jia Lian is willing to come to the countryside under the sun, not just for a bowl of herbal tea.

However, he didn't intend to buy so many melons. He just thought that the melons here tasted good, so he wanted to buy two carloads to go home so that his family could try something new.

After hearing what the old man said, Jia Lian made a temporary decision.

It just so happens that he still wants to find a way to improve his reputation, so why not take this opportunity to show some kindness and win over everyone in and out of the house?
As for whether [-] catties of watermelon can be eaten, that doesn't exist.

The Jia family has nearly a thousand people from the Ningrong and Rongfu prefectures alone.Although the other eight houses have few servants, they have many children. If the family gives some, ten thousand catties will definitely be consumed.

Zhao'er also hurriedly asked: "Second Master, we are still going to Yangzhou, what are we buying these melons for? Or, let's buy them when we come back?"

Zhao'er thought, the melons here are delicious and sold at such a low price, if they get some back to the capital, maybe they can make some money.But the second master doesn't look like he's short of money, does he?
Jia Lian said with a smile: "If it's hot today, buy it back to honor the old ladies and wives, and let you people outside follow along."

The old man on the opposite side saw that Jia Lian was not joking, so he hurriedly said, "Your Master, are you serious?"

Jia Lian nodded with a smile, asked Zhao'er to take out ten taels of silver and put it on the table, and then said: "Our home is more than 100 miles away from here, and we may not be able to transport it back in a while. The carriage comes over, no matter once or several times, until the ten thousand catties are pulled.

The ten taels of silver are fixed money, and the remaining 20 taels will be given when they come to collect the goods. Does the old man think it is okay? "

At this time, the purchasing power of one tael of silver is far greater than that of a penny (thousand Wen), which can be exchanged for about 30 Wen, so [-] taels of silver is roughly equivalent to [-] cash.

Seeing the cash on the table, the old man finally couldn't control the excitement in his heart and trembled a little.The boy next to him also opened his eyes wide, staring at the ingot of twelve taels of ingot.

"I know that the young master intends to help us, but the young master bought so much at one time and still doesn't let us escort it. The price of four Wen is too high. Why don't you... just use the price of two Wen to calculate it."

When the old man heard what Jia Lian and his servants said, he didn't mean to sell them, but to eat them at home...

He couldn't imagine what a family that could eat [-] catties of watermelon would be like, so he became more cautious.

Think again and again, and finally say so.

Although it is sold at a price of two renminbi, there is still not much profit this year, but at least there is no need to worry about the ground rent, right?Besides, it was originally someone who intended to help, so how could he deliberately earn other people's money?
Jia Lian shook his head and said with a smile: "This price is already very fair, so there is no need for the old man to say more.

Well, thanks to the old man's kind hospitality, but the younger generation has something to do at the moment, so I won't bother you.

After returning home, the elderly can prepare with their families. Our family’s motorcade will come by the day after tomorrow at the latest. "

Even though Jia Lian and the others only took half a day to get here from the capital, that's because they all packed lightly and traveled fast.

If you really want to catch up with the horse-drawn carts, mule carts, etc. to pull the goods, it will take at least a day or two, and it will be even slower after the goods are loaded.

This is also the reason why these melon farmers were clearly forced to be helpless, but they did not transport the melons to the capital for sale.

The journey is too far!

Moreover, the market in the capital city is not something these rootless farmers can occupy...

Jia Lian got up to leave, although Lai Wang and the others disagreed with Jia Lian's "crazy" behavior in their hearts, they dared not object and could only keep up.

The old man hadn't figured out all the joints for a while, and he didn't dare to stop Jia Lian and the others, so he hurried up to watch the two dogs, not daring to let them disturb the nobleman.

Suddenly remembered something, and called Jia Lian and the others: "By the way, my lord, you have to pay attention when people come from your family. Then Li Yuanwai is the tyrant of the ten miles and eight towns here, and he has already spoken early to prevent others from coming." We buy melons here, if he finds out, I'm afraid he will send someone to make trouble..."

The old man was a little worried in his words.

Zhao'er sneered and said, "Who is Li Yuanwai and Wang Bayuan? They are shit in front of our family! They annoyed my second master and asked someone to demolish his house!"

Jia Lian waved his hand to stop Zhao'er's wild words, and smiled at the old man, "You don't have to worry, old man, if Mr. Li troubles you, just say that the melons were sold to the Rongguo Mansion in Beijing."

After saying goodbye, he took Laiwang and others and turned back the same way.

"Grandpa, where is Rongguo Mansion? It sounds amazing."

When Jia Lian and the others walked away, the grandson who recognized his birth finally couldn't help tugging at his grandfather's sleeve and asked.

The old man lowered his head and smiled and said, "Grandpa doesn't know where it is, anyway, it's amazing, we really met a nobleman today!"

He raised his head and looked at the fellow villagers who were poking their heads to see the excitement in the field in the distance. The old man didn't say anything, but he took his grandson and went back to the thatched cottage happily.

……

On the official road, Laiwang and the others looked at each other in blank dismay, still not quite understanding why his second master suddenly wanted to do such a waste of time and money without meaning.

30 taels of silver is not too much, and it is not too much to say less.

Most importantly, how much effort would it take to transport those watermelons back to the capital!
With that kind of skill, buying directly in the capital can also honor the old lady and the others.

Could it be that the second master was just out of kindness and wanted to help a bunch of those old men?

Jia Lian didn't explain much, looked at everyone and called out, "Wang'er."

Lai Wang rushed forward.

"You untie the things that are on the horse and give them to them, then go back and do it yourself. After the things are brought back, tell your second grandma and ask her to figure it out for herself. The elders in our mansion, Dong mansion and the eighth house are all Send some to each.

And the servants at home, also reward some, do you hear me clearly? "

Hearing Jia Lian's words, Laiwang immediately said: "It's the same if you leave this matter to them. The slave should go to Yangzhou with the master..."

Jia Lian suddenly laughed: "Follow me to Yangzhou, so that you can help your second grandma continue to monitor me?"

Laiwang suddenly trembled in fright, and opened his mouth to explain.

"Okay, the two of you came from the Wang family to accompany you, and it's a duty to be loyal to your second mistress, and I don't mean to blame you.

It's just that you are used to following me and understand my thoughts better than others, so I let you do this for me to avoid mistakes. "

When Laiwang heard the words, even if he didn't want to, he didn't dare to refute.

It was confirmed that Jia Lian's meaning could not be changed, so he could only unload the things he had prepared for this trip and hand them over to others before returning to Beijing on horseback.

The others watched Laiwang leave thoughtfully.It seems that Second Master Lian's trip was intended to be romantic and happy, so he took the opportunity to dismiss Laiwang from Laiwang, so as not to inform Second Mistress Lian after Laiwang returned.

There are even more people who secretly think that they will definitely fall out of favor after coming to Wang, so the second master is short of people, if this time Jiangnan's affairs please the second master's favor, maybe he will be able to follow the second master often in the future, and the benefits will not be used Say more...

In fact, Jia Lianzhi's prosperity is not out of shameful considerations, but simply because he doesn't like being watched by others.

Moreover, a large part of the reason why the predecessor was restrained in front of Wang Xifeng was that most of the people around him were controlled by Wang Xifeng.So from now on, he must intentionally cultivate some confidants who are only loyal to himself, so that he can advance and retreat freely no matter at home or away.

He turned the horse's head and looked towards the end of the official road.

The scorching sun was still shining, but Jia Lian had no intention of resting here.

"Get ready to go, find a place to eat ahead, and then continue on your way. Try to reach Yangzhou within five days!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's complexion became a little bitter, even the five nursing homes were no exception.

Jia Lian encouraged: "Everyone has worked hard these few days. If you can arrive in Yangzhou on time, I will give each of you a reward of ten taels of silver. Even after arriving in Yangzhou, I will give you a holiday in turn. How about everyone?"

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces suddenly turned from worry to joy.

Is there anything more beautiful than rewarding so much money and being able to have a holiday?

So one by one thanked each other again and again, and all of them were in high spirits, without the slightest bit of bitterness just now.

Jia Lian smiled, tightened the reins, and clamped his legs together: "Drive!"

A group of seven riders rushed southward quickly.

……

But he said that after Laiwang rushed back to the mansion at night, Wang Xifeng immediately found out about it, so he asked him to go in and answer.

"Didn't you follow your grandfather to the south, why did you come back suddenly?"

Seeing Lai Wang coming in through the door curtain, Wang Xifeng asked.

Laiwang was very cautious and only stood at the door of the room. Hearing this, he thought about it and decided to tell the truth.

"The servant originally followed, but before reaching the boundary of Ping'an Prefecture, the second master told me to come back."

Wang Xifeng frowned: "Why did you call you back?"

"Go back to Second Mistress, Second Master asked me to come back to do something for him, that's it..."

Therefore, Laiwang told Wang Xifeng everything that happened along the way.

Hearing that Jia Lian and others ran more than 100 miles away in a fit of anger, Wang Xifeng was still a little surprised. When he heard that Jia Lian bought 30 catties of watermelon for [-] taels of silver, his eyes widened and he couldn't believe it: "[-] catties ? Is he crazy?"

"Second master said, not only to honor the old ladies and wives, but also to give some to the elders in the East Mansion and Eight Houses, even..."

"Say what else, don't hesitate in front of me!"

"What's more, the second master said that the slaves outside of us should follow suit and have a share."

Wang Xifeng mocked: "He is generous, even you have thought about it, but, bah, he will only pretend to be generous with other people's money!"

When Wang Xifeng thought that she had worked so hard to make money for her family, but Jia Lian was spending money extravagantly, she felt very upset.

30 taels of silver, just to buy a few broken melons, and spend it?

Doesn't he know how much thought the old lady usually spends for such a little money?The old ladies and wives above seem to be discerning, really think her money is so good?

If I had known earlier, I shouldn't have been tricked by his rhetoric and given him so much money at once...

　Tested the waters this week...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)