King Xiang of the Red Chamber

Chapter 9 Xue family has a daughter
[Below the introduction of the starting point, you can see the character cards. There are more than a dozen in total. If you are interested, you can go and have a look! 】

In the palace, Zhu Jinghong began to prepare for tomorrow. The Xue family's old house in the north of Fucheng is also busy in the lobby at the moment.

The Xue family is a family of officials for generations, and is quite famous in the local area, and the idlers would never dare to provoke them.

However, in fact, since the old Mrs. Xue passed away 20 years ago, the Xue family has been going downhill, and it has long since lost its prestige.

Now that it has been handed over to Xue Pan, even the position in the household department has not been found.

The most serious crisis of the Xue family is the renunciation of the Xue family members themselves.

For example, in the main hall of the Xue family's ancestral house at this moment, the elders of the various houses of the Xue family gathered together are already arguing.

"I agreed to clarify the matter today, but now we are left here, what is this?"

"The three of him, mother and son, sit back and watch the family decline for their own selfishness, it's really cruel..."

Seeing that the people at the scene were talking too much, an elderly man put on a cane, and after everyone was quiet, he said: "Okay, there is an agreement today, what are you talking about now? After all, we are still a family!"

"Second uncle, you treat them as a family, I'm afraid they may not have such a heart!"

This old man called "Second Uncle" is exactly the younger brother of Mrs. Xue, and is now the most senior and most prestigious in the Xue family.

"Stop talking, Pan'er will arrive in a while, just explain the matter clearly!"

After the old grandpa Xue passed away, the children of the Xue family couldn't read well, so they were forced to start the road of transformation.

Up to now, although each house of the Xue family has not given up studying, the focus has already been on business.

Accustomed to living a comfortable and comfortable life, the Xue family in Hefu has nearly a hundred children, but there is no one like Xue Pan's father.

Just three days ago, the Supervisor of Rituals issued an urgent order to Xue's family, asking them to purchase thirty cannons and two thousand shells from foreigners.

In addition, the Xue family has to use internal funds to save silver and purchase [-] shi of grain for military supplies.

With such a heavy task at once, the entire Xue family felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy.

This matter was supervised by the Lijian and Jinyiwei, plus the patrolling censor's yamen, and the doctor of the Ministry of war and the capital of the capital were involved in the cooperation. If it was not done well, they would be punished.

As an imperial merchant, the Xue family's properties spread all over Jinling, and they also had shops in other provinces. It was actually very easy to buy items.The crux of the matter is silver.

Food plus weapons cost at least 10 taels of silver.

The money left in Xue's family is 12 taels on the account of the Lijian Supervisor, which is enough.

But the problem is that the numbers on the books are not equal to the actual situation.

Silver is a dead thing in the treasury. When the Xue family's business needs it, it will inevitably be used effectively.

Therefore, 12 taels of silver actually belonged to domestic funds, but now there are only 3000 taels.

Even if only the purchase needs are considered, the gap is 7000 taels.

Where did the silver go?

Some became goods displayed on the shelves of the Xue family shop, some became the property of the Xue family outside the city, and some became antique calligraphy and paintings on display...

It is not too difficult for the Xue family to make up the shortfall of more than 3 taels of silver, as long as they sell the goods and good land.

But the problem now is that the time given by the Supervisor of Rituals is simply not enough, and the task must be completed in early June.

So today, the Xue family held a family meeting to call the whole family to tide over the difficulties. Xue Pan, as the head of the great sect, was the core figure in this discussion.

On such an important matter, Xue Pan just played and disappeared, and the most anxious person was the wife of the Xue family, that is, Aunt Xue in the original book of the Red Chamber.

"Pan'er is too nonsense, the matter has been decided in advance, how dare he neglect the elders like this!" Aunt Xue's face was ugly, and she patted the table while talking.

"Ma'am, the elders of the clan outside have already begun to curse..."

"What are they scolding?" Aunt Xue's expression froze.

The servant girl described what happened in the front hall, and Aunt Xue was almost furious when she heard it, she wanted to scold for a while, but she couldn't.

Most of the deficits of Xue's family are related to other houses, and now they are summoned to tide over the difficulties, but these people slander her mother and son for personal gain.

"Ma'am drink tea!"

"Get out!" Aunt Xue yelled loudly.

Being forced to this point by the people in the house, even Aunt Xue has a gentle personality, and she can't control her anger at this moment.

The servant girl who was reprimanded by her was trembling and didn't know how to deal with herself at the moment, provoking the master's anger was tantamount to the sky falling to her.

"Go down!"

When the surrounding servants were silent, this gentle voice came from outside the door, making everyone present feel amnesty.

Everyone looked at the door, and saw a young girl standing at the door, with beautiful muscles and bones, and elegant manners.The lips are not pimple but red, the eyebrows are not painted but green, the face is like a silver basin, and the eyes are like water apricots. They have a good character and a plump appearance.

This person is Baochai. She was embroidering and drawing flowers in the boudoir, but she came to have a look when she heard the noise.

Helping his mother with the housework these past few years, Baochai naturally knows what's going on in the clan.

When all the servants left, Baochai went to Aunt Xue generously and said comfortingly, "Mother, why should you be so angry, it would be a pity to lose your body!"

"I don't know this, but now everyone in the house, except you, won't make me angry?" Aunt Xue said while holding her forehead.

In the years since her husband passed away, she had to raise two children while also taking care of the housework. The burden that should have been borne by a man, Chen, was all on the shoulders of a weak woman like her.

Now that the child is grown up, I expected her son to hold up the sky, but I still often cause trouble for her. On the contrary, it is my daughter who understands righteousness and courtesy and helps her a lot.

Sitting next to Aunt Xue, Baochai said softly, "Mother, there is a shortfall of 7000 taels of silver, which can be provided by all the households in the family. Today they are making a fuss... just to get more benefits!"

"In today's matter, all families in the family share honor and disgrace, and it is really going to be over the top...Everyone should not think about it, we are in a hurry and they are not in a hurry?" Baochai looked out of the door, quite contemptuously .

After hearing this sentence, Aunt Xue was taken aback for a moment, and after thinking about it for a while, she found that this was indeed the truth.

"Mrs., the elders of the clan sent someone to spread the word that if the uncle doesn't come, they will leave..." The voice of the servant came from outside the door.

Aunt Xue was about to speak, but she heard Baochai say: "Then tell the elders that my elder brother has something to go out today, and the discussion can be changed to tomorrow!"

Hearing this, Aunt Xue made a gesture to get up, but was grabbed by Baochai.

After the boy left, Aunt Xue finally couldn't help but said, "Baochai, why are you messing around!"

"Time waits for no one. If we don't make a decision today, how can we afford it if we miss the job?"

Baochai smiled slightly, and asked: "Mother, we can't afford to suffer, so can those people outside also afford to suffer?"

"Don't worry, they won't leave. These people are more greedy than us. They will be more anxious than us when the words just got out!"

"Really?" Aunt Xue was dubious.

"Wait until you find out!" Baochai replied lightly.

Whether things will develop as expected, Baochai is not [-]% sure, she just finds the best solution within her ability.

Xue Pan, who is in charge, is not there, and their mother and daughter can only wait quietly, who made them women.

However, within a few minutes, another servant came to report: "My wife, several clan elders discussed it, and said that if the uncle does not come back, it is the same if the wife goes to discuss the matter!"

Hearing this, Aunt Xue looked at Baochai with a hint of joy in her eyes.

As for how to show off the money, they actually had a plan long ago. Now that the elders of the clan invite her to go out to make decisions, Aunt Xue can naturally go to the council.

Just as she was about to agree, she heard Baochai say again: "Go and tell them, this matter is very important...let's discuss it after elder brother comes back!"

(End of this chapter)