serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 322 Three Brothers and Sisters of the Xue Family 2
Just like outside the customs, it is also snowing heavily in the capital.

Xue Baochai, wearing a fox fur cloak, held Xiang Ling's hand and walked into the Xue family's courtyard. The maid Ying'er followed behind holding a green silk oil umbrella.

There was silence in the small courtyard, and Xue Baochai walked straight into the backyard.

It happened that the maid Tongxi came out to pour water and quickly opened the cotton curtain, "Grandma has just gotten up, girl, please go in quickly."

Xue Baochai nodded with a smile, bent down and walked in.

At this time, Aunt Xue was washing and changing clothes in the inner room. When she saw Baochai coming, she smiled and asked, "What are you doing here so early in the morning? It's so windy and snowy outside, I'm really braving the cold."

Baochai handed the fox fur cloak to Xiangling, went to sit down next to Aunt Xue, and said, "I couldn't sleep when I went home yesterday. I looked through several letters written by Xue Biao and calculated carefully. My brother should hurry up." Arrive at Uriyasu Terrace.”

Aunt Xue was stunned for a moment, then sighed and said, "I hope everything goes well."

"Don't worry, Mom."

Baochai stood up and brought a bowl of tea to Aunt Xue, "There are patrolling frontier cavalry everywhere in the grassland outside the pass. The more you go north, the more you go. Besides, there are also officers and soldiers escorting military supplies."

Aunt Xue looked at Baochai deeply: "Your brother risked his life for you, you have to help him in the future!"

Baochai was anxious: "What did mom say?"

"That's all."

Aunt Xue put down the tea bowl, pulled Baochai to sit down, and asked in a low voice: "Can this be done? It's just some dumplings and Yuanxiao."

Xue Baochai asked with a smile: "Mom, do you still remember that the eldest master was promoted to a noble title last year?"

Aunt Xue: "Jia Lian."

Xue Baochai: "I asked Sister Lin about it. The reason why the elder was promoted to the rank of nobility was all because of Jia Lian's military merits. The biggest military merit was to ensure the army's food and supplies. In addition, he also did something during the Dragon Boat Festival. I sent rice dumplings to the fighting army."

Aunt Xue was shocked when she heard this.

Baochai continued: "As the old saying goes, 'Send goose feathers thousands of miles away, but the gift is light but the affection is heavy.' What's more, the military supplies and dumplings and Yuanxiao sent by my brother are a timely help. Eat a bowl of dumplings and Yuanxiao from Guan Nei in the ice and snow thousands of miles away. This will greatly improve the morale of the army. This matter must be reported to the court. If the army immediately wins another victory, the credit will be even greater."

Aunt Xue was ecstatic, but she couldn't believe it, so she hurriedly asked: "Really?"

Baochai smiled: "Don't worry, Mom."

Aunt Xue nodded and asked: "In that case, why do you want your brother to give up such a big credit to Xue Biao?"

Baochai: "Mom should know my brother's temper best. I don't know when he will offend someone again. The only people he has come into contact with now are some noble young men, and even the people he sees in the Ministry of Household Affairs are just doctors from various departments. , and it won't offend any decent big shots. It won't necessarily matter if it rises further.

Xue Biao was different. He was flexible and meticulous. The most important thing was that he was literate and had been familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics since he was a child.If he were not able to take part in the imperial examinations because he was a merchant, with his talents, he would still be a scholar, not to mention being a scholar.With this opportunity, with his talents and the wealth of the Xue family, and with the help of the prince as a big backer, not to mention his meteoric rise, a Liubu minister will not be able to escape in the future. "

Aunt Xue nodded unconsciously after hearing this, then suddenly thought of it again, and then asked: "What if his wings become stiff in the future?"

Baochai blinked and said with a smile, "Mom, don't worry. Firstly, he has a loyal nature. Secondly, whatever we can give to him, we can also take back."

After hearing this, Aunt Xue was completely relieved and said with a smile: "Where will you go later?"

Xue Baochai thought for a while and said, "Aunt Li and the others will definitely go to the old lady's house today. I'll go take a look."

Aunt Xue understood, "I'll accompany you." After saying that, she changed her clothes and took Baochai out.

The Zhou army's camp thousands of miles away was bustling with activity, as if it were a Chinese New Year.

Two simple banquets were held inside the Chinese army's tent, including a large pot of dumplings, a few home-cooked vegetables, a bowl of Yuanxiao in front of each person, and several side dishes prepared, all brought by the Xue family's caravan from the pass. of.

Brothers Xue Pan and Xue Biao sat next to Jia Hu, one on the left and one on the right.

Jia Hu said to Lin San who was standing aside: "Tell the kitchen that each battalion has two jars of wine, and each officer can drink up to three glasses. After dinner, I will personally patrol the camp."

Lin San: "Yes." He replied and walked out.

Jia Hu raised the wine glass: "Everyone, please." He drank it all in one gulp.

Everyone raised their glasses, stood up, and drank.

Jia Hu put down his wine glass and said with a smile: "Eat." He picked up the Lantern Festival in front of him and started eating.

Everyone was not polite and started eating. After the Lantern Festival, they ate dumplings. While eating the dumplings, they praised the Xue brothers for how well they had done this.

As the old saying goes, "A long drought brings nectar." Everyone hadn't seen vegetables for more than a month, and they were so overwhelmed by the few home-cooked vegetables that even the plate of radishes had no skin left.Xue Pan and Xue Biao’s eyes were widened.

It was a simple meal, but everyone was sweating profusely and feeling happy.

Only Jia Hu, after eating a few dumplings, put down his chopsticks and sat there smiling while watching everyone eat.

Xie Qiong drank another glass of wine and turned to Xue Biao: "This is a pleasant meal. What should I reward you with?"

Xue Biao stood up in a hurry: "I don't dare, I don't dare."

Xie Qiong said through her teeth: "Xue and Jia's family are relatives, and you are my junior and elder." After saying that, he rolled his eyes in a circle and said with a smile: "I will give you two How about a Rakshasa girl?"

Jia Hu and everyone laughed.

Xue Pan also smiled.

Xue Biao's face turned red.

Xie Qiong: "Hey, you are blushing and embarrassed. You are all gentlemen. There is nothing to be ashamed of."

Everyone laughed again.

Xie Qiong was still teasing, and Eunuch Zhao spoke: "The Zajia family will truthfully report your achievements to the court. This is a little bit of the Zajia family's wishes, don't dislike it." After saying that, he took out a small cloth bag from his sleeve and handed it over.

Xue Biao didn't dare to answer, so he quickly turned to look at Jia Hu.

Jia Hu waved his hand: "Take it if it's given to you."

Xue Biao: "Yes." He walked over and took it with both hands, "Thank you, Lord Supervisor."

Eunuch Zhao nodded with a smile.

Xie Qiong also took out a small cloth bag and said with a smile: "This is not the capital, and there are no other good things. Like the supervisor, I will give you a bag of gems."

Then, Li Si, Zhang Cheng and others gave Xue Biao a small gift, which was either a gem or seized jewelry.

Jia Hu looked at Xue Biao and smiled and said, "You have indeed made a great contribution this time. Tell me what you want."

As soon as these words came out, everyone looked at Xue Biao.

Xue Biao thought for a long time and said, "Your Majesty will reward me with a glass of wine."

Everyone was startled.

Jia Hu didn't expect that he would make such a request, so he asked, "Why do you only want a glass of wine?"

Xue Biao: "Today is the beginning of the prince's campaign against the Rakshasa people. Shouldn't I be rewarded with a glass of wine?"

Jia Hu was startled at first, then smiled, then poured a full glass of wine and handed it to him.

Xue Biao took the wine glass with both hands and drank it all in one gulp.

Jia Hu smiled appreciatively and turned to Eunuch Zhao: "After the two Rakshasa camps in front are cleared, we can send them to the capital together."

Eunuch Zhao: "Yes."

Xue Pan and Xue Biao looked at each other excitedly, and Xue Baochai understood everything.

Jia Hu picked up the wine glass again: "Please!"

Everyone raised their glasses with both hands: "Please!"

At this time, the Ministry of Rites in the capital was also holding a banquet with drums and music.

In the open space in the middle of the side hall, Nicholas, the governor of Eastern Siberia, dressed in Rakshasa attire, was leading ten Rakshasa ladies in the same attire to perform a ballet.

Zhongjing Hou Shi Ding, Zhongqin Bo Zhao Yi and Nan'an County Prince Prince and others watched with gusto and applauded from time to time.

Major William's face turned blue and yellow, but he did not dare to get up and leave, so he could only sit with gritted teeth.

Wang Ziteng saw this and felt happy.

He had already learned about things in the West from the Xiyi translator, and knew that the Xiyi people were pushed to the ground by the Rakshasa people and beaten, so he did not immediately negotiate with the Xiyi people, but instead held a banquet for them and asked the Rakshasa captives to perform dances. .
(End of this chapter)