Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 297 Visiting the Zhen Family
Turn around several corridors, bypass several garden yards, and walk through a forest path.

Arriving at the courtyard, there is a majestic main room in the center, no less than the Rongxi Hall of the Jia family in the capital, which can be described as a replica of another style.

Zhen Yingjia, who led the way, also made a gesture of invitation and said,

"Madam Wang, Lord Hou, Eunuch Zhao, here we are. The old matriarch is in the main room, please."

"Master Zhen, please,"

"Please,"

A group of people were polite outside the door, and then entered the house together.

There were two big tables in the center of the room, Mrs. Zhen was sitting at the middle table, accompanied by a group of girls and daughters-in-law.

In the majestic house, there were many candles lit all around, illuminating the house like daytime. When Mrs. Zhen heard movement at the door, she raised her head and looked over.

Seeing a graceful and noble lady walk in, there is no idea that this is the girl from the Wang family back then, so she got up and greeted her, and said with emotion,
"But the girl from the Wang family is here, come quickly and let my old lady have a good look."

Mrs. Wang also took a few steps, held Zhen's mother's hand, and shouted with some sobs;
"It's me, I met the old lady."

"Okay, I haven't seen you for more than ten years, and I've survived it. Hurry up and take a seat. Eunuch Zhao, the young master will not greet you anymore. Second child, eldest brother, you go and accompany me."

After speaking, he took Mrs. Wang's hand and sat at the main seat, and let a group of daughters-in-law and young ladies take their seats to accompany him.

Zhang Jinyu hadn't had time to reply yet, and Zhen Yingjia dragged her to make another table.
"Master Hou, Eunuch Zhao, sit down quickly and come and taste the cooking skills of Jiangnan cooks."

Seeing such enthusiasm, Zhang Jinyu was unambiguous. She sat down and picked up the chopsticks to taste it. It was indeed delicious. Looking at so many dishes on the table, it wasted a lot of effort and thought.

Eunuch Zhao also kept silent and only cared about eating, while Zhen Yuandao made an apology from the sidelines.

Mother Zhen asked after sitting down;
"Girl, you are really good. You went outside the pass by yourself, and you are not afraid of accidents. Fortunately, you survived."

Mrs. Wang seems to still remember that rainy night,

"Old Madam, I have survived, and there are some things that I can't help."

"it's already over,"

Mrs. Zhen patted Mrs. Wang's hand, then pointed to the dishes on the table, and said;

"Quick, try it. It's the cook bestowed by the Supreme Emperor back then, who cooks Jiangnan delicacies."

Mrs. Wang nodded, took a bit of perch white meat with chopsticks and put it in her mouth. It melted in the mouth and was delicious.

"It's still you, old lady, I haven't tasted this taste for many years."

"Oh, then eat more."

When Zhen's mother was talking to Mrs. Wang, the women who sat with her were all cautious and silent, for fear of making a mistake. The second wife and the eldest wife had met Wang's. The girl back then is now a first-rank wife, and she couldn't help but envy her .

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of food, Mrs. Wang also put down her chopsticks, then looked at the old lady and asked,
"Old Madam, how have you been all these years?"

"Okay, okay, my old lady eats well and sleeps well, but she is always worried about some things in her heart. You also know that the big girl back then found an uncle, but who knows that she was given a job in Tianshui County Yes, but the second girl has a good life, she entered the Beijing Palace and became a princess, but there is always some uneasiness in her heart."

I don't know if it's really disturbing, or if it's implying something. After the old lady Zhen finished speaking, Mrs. Wang also had a general idea. It seems that Jin Yu said that many forces in the Northern Frontier Army and the Border Gate are the Beijing King Shui Rong. People under his command, at this moment, what does the old lady mean by saying it.

Mrs. Wang was also quite puzzled, how could she be uneasy?Could it be that Beijing Jing Wang Shui Rong had an idea.

"Isn't the second girl very nice, born rich and honored, the things you said are nothing more than a few trivial things, children's freedom and blessings, and there are many things that you can't help yourself."

"Yeah, I can't help myself, but in the north, the border is complicated, and the old woman has nothing to ask for, even if she needs a little help from Luo Yunhou in the north, it can be just in case, as long as it can be suppressed, it is also good. "

Mrs. Zhen doesn't know that Wang Shuirong of Beijing is unwilling, but there are some things that cannot be forced. The world is stable, and it has long been sealed. The civil servants will inevitably criticize and criticize, and it will be difficult to end at that time.

Only then did Mrs. Wang understand what the old matriarch meant, she nodded and replied,
"Don't worry, the old lady, there will be no problems in the Northland, but the old lady still needs to make some preparations in advance, so as not to be in a hurry, and I'm afraid that there are some things that I want to do but can't do."

"Well, the old man knows, come! Try this, the sweets of Jinling Land, this is the first time I have seen such sweets."

Then Madam Wang was made into a small bowl of glutinous rice, in which there were actually many dried fruits mixed with the glutinous rice and steamed together, Mrs. Wang tasted it, it was really sweet, and she ate another mouthful.

The old matriarch was also happy to see it, suddenly glanced at the third girl, weighed it up in his heart, and shook his head, the emperor didn't want it.

"Wang girl, what do you want to do with the Jia family when you come back this time?"

Mrs. Wang paused her hand holding the chopsticks, and said with a smile;
"I'm not going to hide it from you, the Jia family's ninth house can't escape."

Mrs. Wang was not polite, she said it directly, Mother Zhen was not surprised, the people of Jia's family are too domineering now, but there is still a reminder in the capital;
"Then can the capital be willing?"

"Don't worry, old lady, we're done talking."

Mrs. Wang also replied in a low voice, and Mother Zhen inevitably took a deep look at Mrs. Wang when she heard the words.

And another table,
Zhen Yingjia also took out a stack of land deeds and bank notes, and put them on the table. Zhang Jinyu didn't understand, so she asked;
"Master Zhen, what do you mean by this?"

"Master Hou, this is returned to the original owner. The shops here, Zhuangzi and the old house beside Jinghu Lake were all entrusted by Mrs. Wang to the old lady for safekeeping. Now, after more than ten years, the income and income of these industries have been exhausted. It’s all here, and it will return to its original owner today.”

Zhen Yingjia explained seriously there, Zhen Yuandao also widened his eyes when he heard that, and looked at the second child in disbelief, it was obviously bought with money back then.

Zhang Jinyu also took a deep look at the head of the Zhen family in front of him. He is worthy of being a prominent family in the south of the Yangtze River. With such means and courage, he glanced at the land deed of the bank note on the table. Zhang Jinyu didn't hold it, but asked;

"I never thought Lord Zhen would have such courage, but this Marquis is a bit stingy. Do you have anything to say, Lord Zhen?"

Hearing Lord Hou's inquiry, Zhen Yingjia and Zhen Yuandao also knew it in their hearts, and they had to talk about business.
"Master Hou, the ships and goods of the Zhen family in the north still need to be taken care of by Lord Hou."

"That's easy to say, is there any more?"

Zhang Jinyu was a little surprised that this was the only thing, it was too much fun.

"Master Hou, thank you very much, as for other things, it's gone."

Zhen Yingjia also shook her head and said it was all right.

Zhen Yuandao, who was sitting at the bottom, didn't understand that such a big price was for this. It was enough for the Northern Land to be taken care of by the Northern Prince's Mansion, so there was no need for someone else to take care of it. Besides, most of the goods were given to the Northern King's Mansion.

He also wanted to remind his second son about the salt merchant, but his second son ignored it and continued to eat and drink.

Only Eunuch Zhao's eyes flashed a trace of solemnity, the aristocratic family is indeed a good means, it seems to have said everything without saying anything.

recounted the past,
After eating and drinking, Zhang Jinyu and his party got up and said goodbye. The guests and hosts enjoyed the meal.

Zhen Yingjia even personally sent the person out of the gate, and did not return to the lobby until Lord Hou left.

Once in the house,

The boss couldn't help asking;

"Second brother, so much silver property is for the affairs of the north, what is this, I think this meal is a waste of money tonight."

When Mother Zhen heard the words, she turned around and cursed,
"Bastard, what do you know? Some things can't be used like this. The Zhen family in the south of the Yangtze River relies on the kindness of those people to survive, and they still don't want to go back."

Zhen Yuandao was also resentful and unwilling to go back to his yard, Zhen Yingjia shook his head and said consolingly;
"Mother don't need to be angry. Eldest brother has always been like this, and he is also kind. He has already left, and the land deed and money have also been collected."

"That's good. The matter here has nothing to do with me. I don't want to contact the ninth house of the Jia family. It can be regarded as expulsion. Besides, let me ask you, what is the meaning of that boy, Wang Shuirong of Beijing Jing, who tried it today?" When I asked Beidi, Mrs. Wang meant something."

The old lady is really worried about this matter, the King of Beijing is not so reliable, Zhen Yingjia didn't know where to start when she heard the words, but her mother's intuition was right, the king of Beijing, Shui Rong, was getting bolder and bolder.

"Mother, the Northern Prince's Mansion secretly took over a lot of old troops, and now they have increased the frontier troops, so the expenses have gradually increased. My son also wrote to inquire about this matter. The second girl wrote back and said that the prince wants to go to the border to lead the army. "

"enough."

Mother Zhen suddenly stopped sternly, how could she think of revenge, even the frontier soldiers dared to stretch out their hands, the imperial court, royal family and even nobles all stared at him, it was so unwise.

"Confused, second child, don't you know that the frontier army is the noble's plate, and the Beijing Palace is trying to step in. It's not a single person who offends, but a group of people. If you think about it, it's good if there is no trouble."

"Mother, what should I do?"

Zhen Yingjia naturally turned the corner, Wang Shuirong of Beijing stretched his hand too far, but now it's a foregone conclusion.

"Second brother, the Zhen family should stay behind, so we should prepare earlier."

Zhen's mother was also sad for a while, now the Zhen family seemed to be very powerful, but the emperor didn't want to see him at all, the eldest girl couldn't enter the palace, so she had no choice but to marry that uncle, maybe she would ask the old concubine to find a way.

It was also a moment of sadness.

"Weigh it yourself, the old man is powerless, Tweety, help me into the house to rest."

"Yes, old lady."

Then Zhen's mother was supported by the maid and went back to the house. Zhen Yingjia had mixed feelings in her heart. What the mother said was right, the treasure might have been pressed by mistake, but now it was too late to get away, but the big girl's side was the way out. That uncle is the Emperor's man, leading the army in Tianshui County, he may have done something.

Thinking of this, without hesitation, I went back to my study and started writing letters.

And outside Zhen's mansion,

Su Jinkai saw that Master Hou had already come out of Zhen's house, so he got up immediately, then covered his wide hat, and rushed to the street ahead, and then waited here.

Seeing the convoy reaching the intersection, Su Jinkai walked to the front of the convoy, knelt down straight and shouted;

"The villain is asking to see Lord Hou."

"Who dares to block the frame."

Wei Yong walked in the front to buy, holding a knife and yelling.

Looking at the vicious leader in front of him, Su Jinkai was also a little scared, but he couldn't think of anything else now, so he continued to shout,
"Villain Su Jinkai, president of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce, please see Lord Hou."

As soon as the convoy stopped, Zhang Jinyu lifted the corner of the curtain and looked ahead. It was strange that someone stopped the car, and asked,
"Wei Yong, who stopped the car?"

Wei Yong rode over from the front,

"Lord Hou, this person claims to be Su Jinkai, the chairman of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce, and says he wants to see Lord Hou."

Zhang Jinyu heard the name somewhat familiar, Su Jinkai, the chairman of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce, isn't this the leader of one of the eight major salt merchants, it turned out to be him.

Looking at a fat man kneeling in front of him, Zhang Jinyu's mouth turned up slightly, it was interesting to have such courage.

"Let him follow behind, go back and talk about it."

"Yes, Lord Hou."

(End of this chapter)